(No Photo) - NEW YORK LEADER, 22 West Third street, is one of the recent, though prosperous, business houses in Sterling. It was located here nearly four months ago. The stock comprises a gneeral line of clothing, shoes and furnishing goods.

(No Photo) - Philip NICE - (Biography) The Summitt Place grocery store, located on econd avenue between Tenth and Eleventh streets, is far from the least important of Sterling's houses. Mr. Nice owns his building, having erected it early in the fall, and carries a fine and complete line of groceries. His store is a great convenience to the people of Summit Place.

Pg. 34 Capt. JOHN W. NILES (Biorgraphy) was born in NY. He came west in 1856 after completing his education at the Hamilton Academy. Mr. Niles first located in Jones Co IA, where he resided at the breaking out of the civil war. He responded to the call for troops by enlisting in Co B 9th IA Inf., the first company raised in Iowa. Captain Niles served four years in the army. During the time of his service he was promoted to the position of captain of his company. He was in the seige before Vicksburg, in battles in the Atlanta campaign, and on the march to the sea under Sherman and Logan. Captain Niles is secretary of all the differeent Masonic lodges in the city, has been secretary of the Sterling school board for twenty years and is a charter member of Will Robinson Post, No. 274, of which he has been commander twice. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the IL Soldiers Home, a justice of the peace and notary public of this city, and has served two terms as alderman of the Second ward.

Pg. 30 PETER O'HAIR, inventer and manufacturer of the artificial stone cement paving bearing his name, the reputation of which extends even outside the State, was born in Ireland, coming to America and to Sterling in the year 1855. While working at his trade as a stone cutter he perfected his discovery, and about eighteen years ago patented it. Some twelve miles of this work is laid in Sterling, and more in Rock Falls and heighboring cities. There is nothing finer anywhere, nor anything of the kind that better withstands the climatic eccentricities of this part of the country. It is fashioned also into lawn vases, cemetery coping, window and door sills, carriage and residence steps and curbing.

(No Photo) - G.B. OETTINGER, 17-19 East Third street, came to this city in July 1890, and took charge of the clothign business of his brother, who shortly afterward died. He purchased the stock and rapidly made many acquaintances who go to the "Double Front" for all their necessities in gentlemen's furnishing goods and clothing. Mr. Oettinger has the largest store of its kind in the city.

Pg. 27 Harry. H. OVER the well known proprietor of the Kandy Kitchen, was born in this city in the year 1870. He is a graduate of the Sterling high school, after which he was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Over & Seidel. He purchased the Kandy Kitchen in 1894 and has since successfully conducted the business. Mr. Over deals in all kinds of confectionery, cigars, soda water, oysters and ice cream in season.

Pg. 35 W. H. OVER, the active member of the well known retail grocery house of Over & Seidel, was born on a farm near Sterling in the year 1859. He moved to the city in 1865. Charles G. Seidel, the other member of the firm, was born in Germany and came to this country in 1851 at age 14. The firm of Over & Seidel was formed in 1892, both members having had years of experience in the trade. Mr. Over was for years a grocery clerk. He first started in the grocery business in 1881 under the firm name of Over & Tumbleson. This firm enjoys a very extensive trade in this city and county. They run several delivery wagons in Sterling to accommodate their patrons.

Pg. 30 J.P. OVERHOLSER, the well known grocer, was born in the State of Ohio in the year 1841. He came west in 1854 and settled on a farm near Sterling. In 1869 he moved to this city and has since been a resident here.

Five years later he opened a grocery store which he has successfully conducted since. In addition to a fine line of groceries and provision he has a good stock of crockery.

Mr. Overholser is supervisor for the town of Sterling, and is one of our most public spirited men. He is an earnest worker in the Sabbath school, and interested in all eligious and moral influences which tend to the elevation and bettering of mankind in general.

Pg. 48 W.M. PALMER, the Rock Falls wood-worker, was born in the State of New york in 1858. He moved to this county twenty-five years ago and first located in Sterling.

One year later he moved to Rock Falls and has since resided there. Three years ago he started a shop and equipped it with modern wood-working machinery.

Mr. Palmer does all kinds of wood-turning, grill work, planing and special furniture and pattern work.

Pg. 33 William P. PALMER, (Biography) the justice of the peace, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1845. He came west and located in Sterling in 1877 and has lived here ever since.

Mr. Palmer served the city as alderman for two consecutive terms and was superintendent of streets and sewers under two administrations. He has also filled the office of justice of the peace for nine years and is filling that office at present. He has also served as city clerk. Mr. Palmer was also a director of the Wallace school.

Pg. 47 Capt. WILLIAM PARKER, (Biography) is the senior member of the firm of Parker & Mentzer, editors and proprietors of the Rock Falls News, which he established in 1883, and has been continuously connected with since. He is a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Illinois since 1855, having all the time been in the newspaper business as printer and editor, except three years spent in the army, during the rebellion, as an officer in the 75th Illinois Infantry. In politics he has been a member of the Republican party since its organization, and keeps in line with his party at all times. He is also prominent in Grand Army circles.
Image of Mr. Parker's Residence

Pg. 34 JOHN PECK, lumber & coal merchant; place of business located at 205 W. Third street, where he has a good stock of all kinds of coal, lumber, salt, lime, cement, etc. He also conducts a planing mill on his premises, where he is prepared to do any thing in the line of interior finish. John Peck was born in Fayette Co. PA in 1845. He left PA in 1862, and located near Zanesville, Ohio. Mr. Peck served his country well during the late civil war. He enlisted May 12, 1862, in the Fifth Ohio cavalry and served uner Burnside in Kentucky and Tennessee, in the Department of Ohio. Mr. Peck was afterwards, in 1864, transferred to the Army of the Potomac and was engaged in all the important battles fought by that army. He served three years and six months. Mr. Peck came to Sterling in 1874. In April 1886 he established the business which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Peck commenced in a small way and has now three teams constantly employed.

Pg. 26 GEORGE G. PERRY, the druggist, was born in Delaware in the year 1849. He came west in 1858 and first located in Carroll county, Ill. He moved to Sterling and established himself in the drug business in 1883, which he has conducted ever since. His place of business is No. 8 East Third street, where he has a full line of drugs, paints, oils, druggist sundries, stationery, photo cameras and supplies. Mr. Perry is a careful and well informed pharmacist, and has a large prescription trade.

Pg 27 J.E. PHILIPS, the senior member of the hardward and stove firm of J.E. Philips & Co., was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1848. He came west in 1872 and first located in Colorado, where he resided only a short time. Mr. Philips moved to Sterling twenty-three years ago and established the business he now conducts. The firm is composed of J.E. Philips and R.S. Philips. This firm carries a full line of hardward, stoves, tinware, etc., and enjoy a large trade throughout this section of country.

Pg 27 ELWOOD J. PITTMAN, the rising young auctioneer, was born in 1875 in Hopkins township, Whiteside county. As a boy he assisted his father on the farm, getting a common school education during the winter months. From a boy up he has had a taste for auctioneering, and about two years ago, acting upon the advice of numerous friends, he decided to make it a business. He makes a specialty of farm and stock sales, and having been raised a farmer's son, is well posted on anything connected iwth a far or stock, and with his natural ability makes a decided success as an auctioneer.

Pg. 32 J. W. PLATT, secretary of the Sterling Manufacturing Company, was born in England in 1858. He came to this country in 1868 and located in this city. Seven years later he became identified with the Sterling Manufacturing Company, assuming the office of secretary, which he still holds. Mr. Platt is eminent commander of the Sterling commandery Knights Templars, No. 57.

Pg. 26 J.D. POLLOCK, the well known dentist, was born in Vermont in the year 1850. After a thorough common school education he attended and graduated from a dental college in New Orleans and afterwards at the dental college at St. Louis, Mo. Directly after his graduation he opened an office in this city where he has been located ever since. He has a large practice and does very satisfactory work as he thoroughly understands the different departments of dental surgery. He is associated in his business with his son, E. W., who has recently completed a course in Chicago.

Illinois - "Our Way"