The following is a short bio/sketch of most of the businessmen in the
towns of Sterling & Rock Falls Il. who were in operation in 1896-1897. This article
was presented in "The Sterling Standard". Accompanying each sketch was a
picture of some of these men. (I've inserted NO PHOTO - where there is none available). I only have pages 25 to 52 of this article. The first 25 pages
didn't survive. They are listed in alphabetical order.
(No Photo) - John G. HAGLOCK is the proprietor of the Sterling Steam Laundry, 15 East Fourth street, the largest institution of its kind in the city. He has been in this business since April 1886, when he purcbased the laundry business of Mr. Kern, who was then located under Fernberg's Clothing Store. During tbe first year the work was done by hand with a wash board and tub. After that time the present very excellent steam laundry was begun. In March of the present year Mr. Haglock moved into his present quarters in the I. O. O. F. building. The plant is now fitted with all the modern improvements, employing seven people. In connection with the laundry Mr. Haglock has the finest suite of bath rooms m the city.
(No Photo) - W. H. HAGLOCK began business 16 years ago and has continued ever since in harness making. He has a large stock in his store at 119 East Third street.
Pg. 48 W. H. HARPER, the stone quarryman of Rock Falls, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1832. He came to this country in 1855 and settled in Braidwood, Ill., in 1865. Mr. Harper came to Rock Falls in 1877 and engaged in the business of quarrying stone, which he has followed ever since. His quarry is located on Rock River, about a quarter of a mile above Rock Falls. The product of this quarry makes fine building material and nearly all the stone used in the principal buildings and on the streets in both Rock Falls and Sterling are from this quarry.
Pg. 26 - 27 JOHN HARPHAM, the veteran harness and saddlery hardware man, was born in the State of New York in the year 1828. He came west and settled in Sterling in 1855. A year later he started in harness and saddlery hardware which business he has since conducted. Mr. Harpham does a wholesale and retail business and has one of the largest stocks to be found in Northern Illinois. He is one of our oldest and most successful merchants and a man in whom the community has the utmost confidence. His store is located at No. 12 West Third street.
Pg. 30 W. W. HASKELL, the grocer, who is located at 124 East Third street, was born in Sterling May 15, 1861. In the spring of 1876 he commenced working for Overholser & Gurtisen, grocers. He remained with this firm six years. For the next thirteen years he held various positions in the Galt & Tracy and the Sterling National Banks, leaving the latter bank Dec. 1, 1894, to re-enter the grocery business, having purchased the interest of his father-in-law, L.L. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson & Haskett. Mr. Haskett united with the First Congregational church in 1878. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Y.M.C.A. since its organization, and is also a member of the Sterling school board.
Pg. 27 J. HAYNES, the old photographer, was born in Ohio in the year 1833. He moved to New York City in 1862 and learned the photograph business. In the year 1867 he moved to Chicago where he did business in that city for some time. Sixteen years ago he came to Sterling and opened a gallery and has conducted a photograph business ever since. Part of the photos from which the engravings in this work was made were taken by him.
Pg. 30 FREDERICK J. HEMPSTEAD, the jovial proprietor of the well known Chop House, located on Wall street, known as the "wall Street Chop House" first saw the light of day in New York State in the year 1848. He came west in 1856 and first located at LaSalle, where he remained only a short time, coming to Sterling in the same year.
His first trip to Sterling in 1856 was a visit to his father, who was at that time conducting a livery stable on the same ground where his Chop House is now located. He owns the property he occupies and has one of the best conducted restaurants and lunch counters in the west. While he has been in this business only a few months he has a fine class of trade.
Pg. 28 A.R. HENDRICKS. Unquestionably one of the finest and most reliable drug stores in Whiteside county is the establishment of A.R. Hendricks on Locust street. Mr. Hendricks was born in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, in the year 1849 . He came west in 1851 and settled in Sterling, this city having been his home ever since. On the morning of September 15, 1870, Mr. Hendricks began his clerkship with the late Dr. W.J. Galt.
He was twenty-one years of age and the first year he was with Mr. Galt he received $150 and board, the second year $175 and the third year $200. His salary was increased each year for teh seven years he remained at this establishment. Twenty-seven years ago last September he started in business for himself. Mr. Hendricks' career has been very remarkable and should be an encouragement to all young men who are without capital, and who are ambitious to make their mark in the world.
The establishment of which he is proprietor is very commodious and is arranged especially for the conveniences of his business. Mr. Hendricks, as well as his assistants, are thoroughly practical pharmacists. The store is most elegantly fitted up with fine shelving, cases and drawers, and is lighted by electricity and heated by hot akr. This prosperous business was founded by the present proprietor. A full line of pure drugs and chemicals is carried, also everything in the line of druggists' sundries, physicians' and surgeons' supplies, toilet articles, soaps, perfumes, patent medicines, mineral waters, and all the necessaries for the sick room or nursery. The prescription department is under the direct supervision of Mr. Hendricks and his two able assistants and all prescriptions are compounded accurately, special attention being given to those whose medicinal value depends upon the quality of the drugs used and the care exercised in their combination. Mr. Hendricks makes a specialty of handling wall paper. He is the manufacturer of the well known and celebrated Hendricks Cough Syrup, which is made very largely of wine of tar and wild cherry, which for coughs and colds and bronchitis has no superiors in the market. Mr. Hendricks is the originator of many other preparations which are considered very reliable.
Mr. Hendricks does not only attend strictly to business but still has time to devote to the interest of the people of Whiteside county. He is now serving his third term as a supervisor of Whiteside county. During the year 1896 he occupied the honorable position of chairman of that body and made one of the best presiding officers the county board ever had. He is now chairman of the committee on county affiars. He has served the public very acceptably as high school treasurer for eight years. Mr. Hendricks is one of the State officers of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, occupying the office of Grand Overseer of that order, the third highest . He has also held several other positions of trust in the Grand Lodge during the past fifteen years. Mr. Hendricks is also one of the trustees of the local lodge of Odd Fellows and was one of the most active m embers of the building committee that looked after the erection of that fine building known as Odd Fellows' block.
In politics Mr. Hendricks has always been a Republican, and a very active one. He has served on the township committee several times. He was an enthusiastic Mason man during that ever-memorable struggle for the senatorship in having circulated a petition in behalf of Mason and on which he obtained 500 names. Mr. Hendricks is a genial gentleman whom everybody likes.
Click here for view of the Hendricks Residence
(No Photo) - William HESS, located at 409 Ninth avenue, is one of the veteran carriage builders of the city. For years he has conducted a shop here and has always been noted for the excellence of his work. He does repairing and has a paint shop in connection with the business. The shop is well equipped in all of its apartments, includiug blacksmith shop.
(No Photo) - Anna M. HOOVER, located at 121 East Third street, began business nearly seven years ago at the corner of Third street and First avenue. After making one change she moved her store to its present location in December, '94. She employs as many as six trimmers during the busy seasons, and is always thoroughly abreast of the times.
(No Photo) R. L. HOPKINS, ( D. D. S.) came to this city from Clinton, Iowa, three years ago and at once engaged in the practice of his profession. His office is in the Academy of Music Block. He is a graduate of the Dental College of the Northwestern University, Chicago.
(No Photo) - J. H. HOWLAND, 405 Locust street, is the veteran liveryman of Sterling. He has been engaged in this business for ten years. In 1886 he purchased the livery stable then located on Second avenue and Fourth street. In July of of this year he moved to his present location.
(No Photo) - JANSSEN & GOEKEN - This well known firm has been in business in Sterling at 319 First avenue for about eight years. Its main line is groceries, but goods of all kinds are sold. The dry goods department is complete and in the hands of competent salesmen, as is every other department. For one year Mr. Goeken retired to the farm and the firm was known as Janssen Bros. August Janssen being the junior partner. A large portion of its trade comes from the country, where the gentlemen are well and very favorably known.
(No Photo) - C. C. JOHNSON was educated in Fulton, Ill., and began his law studies in Morrison in 1866. Two years later he was admitted to the bar, and in the spring of 1869 began the practice of his profession in this city. Mr. Johnson has served a number of terms as City Attorney; has been supervisor for the township, and has been minority Representative from this district in the Legislature for three terms and at the last election was elected for the coming term. In 1895 he was appointed by the Comptroller of the Treasury as receiver for Loyd's National bank, of Jamestown, Dakota.
Pg. 28 Dr. M.J. HILL, whose offices are located over Chester's store, was born in Indiana in the year 1842. He came west and first located at Rockford in 1855. Mr. Hill came to Sterling in 1878 and established himself in the practice of medicine. Dr. Hill is a graduate of the Chicago Homeopathic College. He makes a specialty of the practice of orificial surgery, in which he has been very successful.
Pg. 25 HOAK BROTHERS
O.A. HOAK is one of the prominent young blacksmiths of this city, having had about ten years experience in his line of work and has worked for all the large factories of this city, Gay & Sons Carriage Works of Ottawa, Ill., Frazier Cart Works of Aurora, Ill., Dixon Steam Pump Works of Dixon, Ill., also Miller & Sons, manufacturers of express wagons, Chicago, Ill., and has given entire satisfaction in every instance. Mr. Hoak is one of the leading members of the firm of Hoak Bros. Wagon Factory, manufacturers of wagons, carriages, etc., also general repair work. This firm is located on East Third street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, and has done a thriving business during the past season. Having recently enlarged their building to double its former capacity, they are now prepared to meet the demands of their growing trade.
I.F. HOAK is one of Sterling's young busines men and also a member of the firm of Hoak Bros. Wagon Factory, having charge of the wood department of the firm.
He is a graduate of the Sterling High School, class of '88, a young man of honesty and good business qualities. For a firm with such worthy young men at the head we cannot but predict success and future prosperity.
Their prices are moderate. Their work is up to date and has given excellent satisfaction. They desire to thank their customers for their liberal patronage in the past and solicit their future orders.
Pg. 31 Dr. H.G. HOOVER, whose portrait appears herewith, was born in Sterling in the year 1865. After graduating in 1893 at the American Veterinary College at New York City he returned to Sterling and purchased the practice established by Dr. Trombower, with an office at J.K. Eshleman's drug store, where he can be found at all times. Mr. Hoover was appointed assistant veterinary surgeon by ex-Governon Altgeld in 1894. He is considered one of the best veterinary surgeons in this part of the State. He has excellent hospital accomodations for horses.
Pg. 47 E. R. HOPKINS, the Rock Falls jeweler, was born in Ohio in 1857. He came west in 1878 and first located in Kansas, where he conducted a jewelry store and where he remained two years. He located at Port Byron, Ill., in 1891. Two years ago last November Mr. Hopkins moved to Rock Falls, where he has since done business. He carries a full and complete line of jewelry, clocks, watches, etc. He is a graduate of one of the best opticial schools in this country. He gives his personal attention to the fitting of glasses, of which he has no superior in this section of the country.
H.F. HUBBARD, Foot of First avenue, a dealer in coal and wood, established his business in Sterling October, 1894. He has been a resident of this city for 27 years and is well known and thoroughly trusted by everybody. Mr. Hubbard looks after the business well, keeping one team busy all the time delivering his goods to his many customers.
Pg. 30 C.H. IVES, the popular chief of the Sterling fire department, was born in Massachusetts in the year 1839. He came west in 1857 and first located in Amboy, where he worked at his trade, that of machinist. In 1881 he came to Sterling and has made this city his home ever since. Mr. Ives has just opened a machine shop near the water works stand pipe which he has equipped with all modern machinery and is prepared to do any and all classes of work. Ten years ago next May he was elected chief of the Sterling fire department and has filled that office continuously ever since. Mr. Ives has taken a great interest in his work and has brought the fire department to a high state of preficiency.
Pg. 28 F. H. JOHNS, the soda water bottler, No. 7 West Fourth street, was born in Connecticut in 1857. He came west in 1873 and first located in Prophetstown, which was his home up to 1887, when he moved to Sterling. For several years after he first came here he was engaged in street sprinkling business. Eight years ago he purchased the soda water plant he now owns. He has revolutionized the business by introducing the most modern machinery and today he has a business fully 500 percent, ahead of what it was when he purchased the plant. He has just introduced the latest patent in a cork, which is called the Crown cork, and hereafter all his bottled goods will have this simple contrivance. Mr. Johns is also well known as a good horseman. He buys and sells first class horses for family use.
Pg. 31 J. R. JOHNSON, Sterling's postmaster, was born in the State of Michigan in the year 1857. He came west in 1882 and located in Sterling. For fourteen years previous to his term as postmaster he was engaged as superintendent of the Rock Falls Manufacturing Company. Mr. Johnson was appointed and took charge of the postoffice May 1, 1894. He is president of the Cleveland Club of Sterling, a member of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias and Uniform Rank.
