(No Photo) - Matthias SCHMITZ has conducted a grocery store at 3 Avenue B, for twen­ty years or more. He has always car­ried a complete stock of groceries and proviions and has enjoyed a large trade, confined for the greater part to his immediate neighborhood, though he has also a country trade.

(No Photo) - S.A. SCHMOEGER has conducted a meat market in this city for the past twenty-three years, and has been at 122 East Third street for twenty years. He is the oldest butcher in the city and holds an enviable trade. He employs two men and devotes his own time entirely to his business.

Pg. 27 J.H. SHAFOR, mine host of the Galt House, wsa born in Ohio in the year 1839. Before coming to Sterling he had considerable experience in running hotels in Ohio and Indiana, having been in the business since he was twenty-five years of age. He came to Sterling in 1893 and leased the Galt House, which he has maintained as a very popular hotel, enjoying a large patronage from the traveling publis. The hotel is the larges in the city.

Pg. 35 F.G. SHEAFFER, the well known peddler of oils, was born in Sterling in the year 1855. He has been working in the city for years in different capacities.

Last June he purchased the oil business which had been heretofore conducted by J. St. J. Greenough. He goes all over this city and Rock Falls with his wagon and sells gasoline and kerosene.

Pg. 48 H. L. SHELDON, of the Rock Falls law firm of White & Sheldon, was born in Burear County, Illinois, in the year 1858. He attended Knox college and took a course in the law department. Mr. Sheldon as admited to practice in the State in 1883 and soon afterward moved to Dakota where he served his county as school superintendent for three years and afterwards as a member of the legislature. He lived in Dakota ten years when he moved to Rock Falls and entered into partnership with J.W. White in the practice of law. Mr. Sheldon is city attorney of Rock Falls.

Pg. 33 C.F. SMITH, the photographer, was born in Iowa and learned the trade in Council Bluffs. He came to Sterling and started in business in 1880. Mr. Smith is one of the oldest photograph artists in this section of the country.

A large part of the photo reproductions in this work are from his studio. His place of business is located at 108 East Third Street, Sterling. Mr. Smith makes a specialty of landscape and portrait work, guaranteeing satisfaction in all instances.

Pg. 36 MARION F. SPALSBURY, who conducts a tonsorial parlor at No. 306 East Third street, was born in New York State in 1841. He came west when twelve years of age, with his father, and located on Fox river, at Bristol, Ill., remaining there about four years, when they came to Sterling, Ill., in 1855, remaining here nearly three years, when they moved to Lyons, Iowa, where he was at the time of the first call for troops at the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion. He came to Sterling adn enlisted as a member of Company D, 75th regiment of volunteer infantry, and took part in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Chaplin Hills, skirmish at Lancaster, battle of Stone River, Nolensville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, battle of Ringgold and other engagements to the close of the war.

Pg. 35 FRANK LESLIE SPANGLER, the assistant superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York, was born in Indiana in 1873. His first experience in lief insurance was at Peoria, Ill., where he was solicitor for the same company he now repesents. Mr. Spangler was promoted to the position of assistant superinendent of the same company with headquarters at Rockford, Ill. He was transferred to Sterling lat May and given the territory of Sterling, Rock Falls and Dixon.He is one of the most active men in the employ of the company since he has been here has increased the business wonderfully. The plan of the the company embraces all the members of the family between the ages of one and seventy years. Premiums from five to sixty cents per week. Claims paid immediately at death. Benefitis range from $15 to $1000 and upwards. This company also issues all forms of policies from $500 to $25,000 on the ordinary plan.

(No Photo) - Walter STAGER has been a lawer in Sterling for more than twenty-five years. He was elected State's Attorney of Whiteside county in 1880 and has served continually in that capacity since that time, having recently been elected to the office for another term of four years. This of course, has made him a specialist in criminal law.

Pg. 35 CHARLES STALEY, the horseshoer, located at no. 5 West Fourth street, was born in the State of Ohio in the year 1862. When only two years old the family moved to Illinois and first located at Farmer City. When 16 years of age Mr. Staley learned the trade which he now masters. He then started out to see the country and learn what he could from other men. After working for four years in the principal cities throughout the western States he located at Bouulder, Col., where he ran a business for himself until he located here in 1893. He has just finished an addition to his place of business in the shape of an engine house, for the reception of a Charter gas engine, which he uses to run a fan to supply blast for the forges and run an emery wheel to sharpen his tools and polish shoes. Mr. Staley is a licensed horseshoer and is considered one of the best in the State.

(No Photo) - Mrs. J. W. R. STAMBAUGH, 213 First avenue is a hustling dealer in wall paper, window shades, glass, picture frames, etc. In connection with this business, she con­ducts, under the management of Ed.F. Baker, a large paste manufactory.

Pg. 47 A.C. STANLEY, the popular and well known grocer, of Rock Falls, was born in DuPage County in 1844. He came to Rock Falls in 1873 and worked at his trade of carpenter for over a year when he accepted a position with the Rock Falls Manufacturing Company as superintendent. Mr. Stanley remained with this firm nine years when he resigned his position to engage in the grocery business, purchasing the stock of John Newton. The large brick building he now occupies was erected by him in 1892, the lower part being devoted to his large grocery and the upper part as a hotel, named after him. Mr. Stanley has the largest grocery in Rock Falls and does the biggest business. He is president of the Rock Falls Building & Loan Association and a member of nearly all the different secret organizations.
Biography with photo of home & business

(No Photo) - Sterling Department Store was established by Messrs. Morris & Tripp, in their present location in the Wallace Block, 107 W. Third street, within the past six months. The stock is general. The heads of the firm are young men and both are hustler. The stock being new, everything is up-to date and no shelf worn goods are to be found.

(No Photo) - The Sterling Gas and Electric Light Company was founded in Sterling more than twenty years ago. The pres­ent Board of Directors is as follows: John Charter, Victor Schiffmacher, C. L. Sheldon, John G. Manahan and W. A. Sanborn. The officers are W. A. Sanborn, President. and Treasurer; John G. Manahan, Vice President, and Elmer Crawford, Secretary. The pres­ent system of electric lights in Sterling was put in by this company eight years ago. The office of the company is located at 108 West Third Street.

(No Photo) - The Sterling Marble and Granite Works, 306 Second avenue, is one of the older business institutions of the city. Its present proprietor, Fred. L. Johnson, is a Sterling boy. The works were founded by the present proprietor's father, L. P. Johnson. Fred. L. Johnson is a practical workman of superior abilities. Specimens of his workmanship are to be found in all parts of the surrounding country.

Pg. 33 Malty C. STEVENS, the obliging iceman, was born in the city of Sterling in the year 1874. Four years ago he embarked in the ice business, organizing the Crystal Ice Co. Mr. Stevens makes a special term on ice according to the quantity used. He furnishes a pure article, taken from the river above the sewage of the city. He is doing an excellent business.

Pg. 32 T.C. STEWART, secretary and manager of the Eureka Company, was born in Pennsylvania n the year of 1866. He came west in 1883 and located at Sterling. Mr. Sewart was first employed as salesman in the dry goods house of D.M. Crawford & Co. For four years he was traveling salesman and later was promoted to his present position.

(No Photo) - Bernard STOLTZ, 22 East street is one of the best known shops for the repairing of shoes and is also the oldest stand of a shop of this kind in the city. The present owner began business here in the spring of 1894. He does not have any time to work on new shoes, though he is a first class tradesman.

(No Photo) - Miss Kate SULLIVAN, 17 East Third street has been in the dressmaking business in this city for the past four years and has gained an enviable reputation for skill and taste. She employs seven sewing women and her business is growing so fast that additional assistance will soon be necessary.

Pg. 37 HERVEY S. STREET, (Biogarphy) one of the old time residents of this city, was born in 1839 in Berkshire county, Mass. As a boy he moved to Western New York, where he resided until 1860, when he located in Sterling and entered the farm machinery business, which he conducted successfully for seventeen or eighteen years.

In 1883, having retired from this business, he opened a coal office at the corner of Depot and Locust streets, which he is still conducting, enjoying a good trade and the confidence of the people.

In 1864 he was elected alderman of his ward, and in 1881, 1884 and 1885 was elected mayor of the city.

(No Photo) - The J. S. STRICKLER Co. has for several years been engaged in the manufacture of Perry's Concentrated Butter Color on Avenue H. The business is personal1y conducted by J.S. Strickler, Secretary and Treasluer of the concern.

(No Photo) - J.F. STROCK (Biography) purchased this business a little less than three years ago and has been exceptionally successful in it. He keeps a full stock of boots and shoes and in connection with the store, runs a shop for repairing foot wear. His store is at 116 East Third Street.

Pg. 33 Frank R. TAYLOR, the senior member of the firm of F.R. Taylor & Co., was born in New York State in the year 1844. Twenty-One years later he came west and located in Chicago. In the year 1884 he came to Sterling and for several years was engaged at his trade of tin and coppersmith. He worked for the old firm of Witmer & Emmett, who are now out of business, and later worked for Crawford Bros., in the same line of business. F.R. Taylor & Co. started in business five years ago and are agents for the Kelsey and Perfect Warm Air Generators. They do all kinds of galvanized iron and coppeer cornice, metal ceilings, skylights, slate, tin and corrugated steel roofing. The residences of J.H. Lawrence, C.C. Johnson and H.B. Anning, of this city, and the residence of W.B. Page and Chas. Hughes, of Dixon, have the Kelsey hot air furnace.

(No Photo) - Mrs. R.A. TRACY, 104 East Third street, is the oldest milliner in the city, having opened her store here ten years ago, and has been in business since that time. Silled and artistic trimmers only are employed and everything possible is done to please her patrons.

Pg. 32 JOHN D. TRACY, was born in Massachusets in the year 1834. He came west and located in Sterling in 1872. A year previous to his locating here he had purchased an interest in the Sterling Mfg. Co., which was incorporated in 1870. Mr. Tracy has been president and treasurer of the company since its inception.

Click here to see The Tracy Residence







(No Photo) TRACY & AUMENT, located at 404 Locust street does a general line of blacksmithing and wagon and buggy repairs. The partnership was formed in the spring of 1892, when a shop was opened at their present location. The members of the firm are both practical workmen in their line and they give their personal attention to all work placed in their hands. In addition to the repair work, special orders for new wagons or buggies are taken.

Pg. 36 JACOB TREASHER, the old and reliable coal dealer, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1824. He came west and settled in Sterling in 1870 and engaged in the business of blacksmithing and horshoeing, which he conducted until 1887 when he embarked in the coal business, opening an office near the C.B. & Q. depot (223 Locust St). Mr. Treasher deals in all kinds of hard and soft coal and he enjoys a fine trade in both cities. His yards ae convenient to both lines of railroad. He sells excellent grades of both hard and soft coal. A specialty is made also of both heavy and light draying. All orders for coal are delivered promptly.

Illinois - "Our Way"