and good business tact as any; beginning upon a very small capital, they have, in a few years, established a business of which they may well be proud. M. G. SIMONS, ice-dealer, Bloomington; was born in Wyoming Co., Penn., Nov. 25, 1829, where he spent his early life and obtained a schooling; he removed to DeKalb Co., Ill., with his parents in 1844, where he lived until 1863, when he came to Bloomington, Ill., and engaged in the ice business, continuing it one year; he then engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Co., and after two years returned to the ice business, and is now prepared to supply the citizens with the best of ice at reasonable rates. He is honorable and upright in his dealings, and a much-respected citizen. He married Miss Ellen M. Brown, of De Kalb Co., Ill., March 2, 1856; they have a family of seven. J. V. SCOTT, contractor and builder, Bloomington, is a native of Pennsylvania; in 1845, he came West and located in Greene Co., Ind.; there he began learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner, serving a regular apprenticeship of three years; he remained there working at his trade until 1865, when he again moved West, locating the last time in Bloomington, where he has since resided; he has been actively engaged in his business since learning his trade; for thirty-three years has been a contractor; since his residence in Bloomington, he has, by close attention to business, won the respect and confidence of the prominent class of citizens; the consequence has been, a large number of the finer class of prominent buildings have been contracted to him for erection; among the many of this class of buildings, may be mentioned Funk's, Pollock's, Colwell's and Probasco's; by a steady attention to his business and a respect for the rights of other people, he has established a large business. WILLIAM HAWLEY SMITH, County Superintendent of Schools, Bloomington; was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Oct. 7, 1845; he was brought to Christian Co., Ill., by parents in 1855, and was raised upon a farm, and received his early education at the district schools; he removed to Normal in 1865, and entered the State Normal University, graduating in 1870, and the following year was Principal of the Granville Public School (Putnam Co.); from 1871 to 1873, was Principal of Tonica Graded School, after which he abandoned teaching on account of his health, and went out on the road as commercial traveler, continuing at this until January, 1875, when he resumed teaching, taking charge of the Farmer City Graded School, continuing until the following November, when he was elected to the office of County School Superintendent. Mr. Smith is a man of fine mental powers, social and genial, through which qualities he has won the popularity that placed him in his present position. He married Miss Ellen H. Galusha, of Morris, Ill., July 19, 1870; they have two children-Arthur G. and Leslic. DR. HERMAN SCHROEDER, proprietor Grand Opera House, Bloomington; was born in the town of Althaldensleben, near the city of Magdeburg, in Prussia, in 1821. His father was one of the great Napoleon's old soldiers, who gave the signal of retreat from Moscow on the side of the Emperor. On his deportation to Siberia he escaped from Russian slavery, and found, after a long wandering, a home and wife in Althaldensleben. Here the doctor was born in a year of great famine, and taken in a basket to the Kloyster Fields, by his laboring mother; he had the best schools the town and Kloyster could afford, and, being of Catholic parents, was selected to become a priest. As his parents were poor-aristocratic people, and even the Bishop, took hold of this remarkable scholar, and furnished him with the means to study, but after the death of his mother, he abandoned the idea of becoming a priest, and commenced the study of natural philosophy and medicine. At the height of his studies, his main protector, Herr Nathusius, died, and he commenced the study and work of an architect; here he succeeded so well that soon he became the contractor of Government buildings, and made money, with a great prospect before him. He then married, in 1846, the youngest daughter of the late Baronet Prince von Buchau, who was the General Adjutant of the great Gen. Blucher, at Waterloo, and last commander of Cassel. But, with his thorough study of history and love for Republican principles, our doctor became an agitator in press and public speeches, and, in the great historical year 1848, we find him upon the barricades an·l among the revolutionary speakers, and, as a contra revolution took place, our doctor was prosecuted, and would have been shot, if he had not escaped at night with his young wife to free America, disguised, in one of the old, rotten, wooden ships. In New York, he soon found out that he could not succeed, so he wandered as an emigrant to Cleveland, Ohio; here he found kind friends, and took up again the old study of medicine, and, after two years, became a physician of note; after practicing medicine in Mansfield and Mt. Gilead, Ohio, for a while, he traveled by wagon to the West, and landed in the then little town of Bloomington, Ill. He settled, in 1852, near the Illinois Central depot, then a prairie, and constructed a shanty out of the first old log house ever built in Bloomington, and practiced medicine. Our doctor had a sharp eye to business, and bought of Mr. Wm. Dimmet nine town-lots, and erected, in the course of two years, thereon, thirteen houses, from lumber he made himself from twenty acres of timber-land, which he bought. Rents were high then, and soon the doctor accumulated money to buy from the Illinois Central Railroad 120 acres of land, now the south side of El Paso, and 80 acres, now the city of Gilman; he named it Schroederville; he laid it out in lots, but sold it, in 1856, for a good price then, and commenced grape culture, and probably the first vineyards in the West. His success was great, particularly in the propagation of grape vines and plants; he soon became the leading man in his new business, and has sold by this time, over twenty millions of JJ young vines all over America, even to France and Germany; his ambition and profits were great, and, in 1866, he built the opera house, with two stores, opposite the Court House Square, in this city; in 1869, he helped build Minerva Block, the finest building in the city. Other valuable blocks and city property he added year by year, besides nearly 10,000 acres of Western lands. He invested in the Bloomington Coal Mine, and owned nearly one-fifth of the stock; was twice President of the mine, but sold out at a great loss, to devote his time to his nursery business. In 1878, he erected his Steam Sausage and Meat Pressing Factory, on South Main street, a business of great promise. His vineyards are laid out in Schroeder's Addition. The doctor has two daughters-America and Minerva. and one son, Franklin. As a jovial, literary and business man, he will not soon be forgotten in Bloomington. A. C. SWEETSER, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington; was born in Oxford Co., Me., Feb. 23, 1839; he removed to Leeds, Wis., where he lived some four years, and thence to Bloomington; during his early life, he learned the trade of a miller, which he followed until 1861. He then enlisted in Co. K, 8th I. V. I. (three months), and served until the expiration of the term ; then re-enlisted with the 39th I. V. I.; he was in many severe battles and skirmishes; before Petersburg, on June 2, 1864, he was severely wounded in both legs, from the effect of which he was compelled to have the left leg amputated; previous to receiving these wounds, he had served some three years, and escaped without a scratch, though having many narrow escapes. After the war, he returned to Bloomington, and, in 1867, was elected Town and City Collector, serving some five years, and in 1873, he was appointed a Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. Mr. Sweetser is a man of good business ability, social and genial, and a much-respected citizen. JAMES STONE, Captain of Police, Bloomington; was born in Jefferson Co., Tenn., Jan. 21, 1845; he was brought to this county by his parents while quite young, and received a good common-school education. During the late war, he enlisted with the 33d I. V. I., and served two and a half years, and was in many of the severe engagements, escaping without a scratch After the war, he followed school-teaching for about seven years. In 1873, he was appointed upon the police force, where he bears the reputation of always discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, through which he has won the friendship and respect of the citizens of Bloomington; he was appointed to the position of Captain of the Police, by Mayor Bunn in 1877, which position he has since held, having been re-appointed in 1878, by Mayor Reed. He married Miss Cynthia Foster, of this place, March 30, 1869; they have a family of four-Jennie E., Stella, Pearl and an infant. H. H. SWAIM, Deputy Sheriff, Bloomington; was born in Marion Co., Ind., Dec. 16, 184o, and raised, chiefly, in St. Joe, Mo., where he received his schooling. During the late war, he enlisted with the First Engineer Corps, of Missouri, entered the army July 13, 1861, and participated in many severe engagements, among which were Lexington, Shiloh, and the principal engagements while with Sherman, through Georgia; he escaped without injury. After the war. he located in Bloomington, where he has since been engaged in various business capacities. Many important positions of trust have been confided to him here, among which we may mention that of Street Commissioner, to which he was elected in 1866, and re-elected in 1867, and to his present position as Deputy Sheriff March 21, 1872. He married Miss Paulina Stewart: they have one child-Leota P. JOHN SPINNING, butcher, Bloomington; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1843, where he passed his early life; he came to Bloomington in 1873, and followed carpentering, also contracting and building for a time; then engaged in the butcher's business; his market is located at 304 North Main; keeps the best quality of meats, both salt and fresh, and is a practical and well-posted butcher. He married Miss Nancy Simpson, Sept. 28, 1869; they have two children-William S. and Roy. J. R. SCOTT, grocer, of the firm of Scott & Miller, Bloomington; was born in Greene Co.. Ind., May 29, 1852; his parents were John V. and Phœbe M. (Plumb) Scott; he received a good education, and began in mercantile life with A. Eversole, Esq., continuing with him for a number of years, and thoroughly learning the business; he opened business for himself in 1875, in company with Thomas Evans; this partnership lasted one year, when he became associated with his present partner: they are located at the corner of Main and Mulberry streets; here they keep a neat and well-stocked establishment; they are careful and reliable business men; they are still young, but with a prospect of success before them. Mr. Scott married Miss Katie M. Roberts, formerly of Carlisle, Penn., Dec. 20, 1876. WILLIAM STAUTZ, butcher, Bloomington; son of Jacob and Bibianna (Uhri) Stautz, who were early settlers of Bloomington; the father died Sept. 24, 1878; he had lived a prominent and much respected citizen. The subject of this sketch was born in Bloomington, Nov. 24, 1859; he now manages the affairs of the butcher shop located at 501 W. Market street, one of the neatest and best arranged shops of the city, and has the reputation of keeping for sale the best quality of all kinds of meats, both salt and fresh. F. R. SPRAGUE. grocer, firm of Sprague & Johnson, Bloomington; was born in Union Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1851, and brought to this county by his parents in 1857, locating in Lexington, where he was raised and schooled; he came to Bloomington in 1870, and in 1871 be engaged with Aldrich & Bros. (wholesale grocers) as book-keeper, where he remained until 1875, after which he was with A. Anthony (grocer) until 1877, when he embarked in the grocery business on his own account; he is located at No. 619 North Main street; here he keeps a fine grocery, in which is offered a well assorted stock of goods, and sold at bottom figures. PH. W LLIAM STAUTZ, butcher, in company with F. A. Homuth. Bloomington; is a native of Prussia, where he was born May 15, 1853; at the age of 14 he emigrated to this country, and came directly to Bloomington, where he has since remained, engaged in the butcher business, which has given him some eleven years' experience in the business. He married Miss Caroline Diedrick, of his native country, Sept. 23, 1877; they have one child-Marilda. JAMES B. STEVENSON, Bloomington; was born in Christian Co., Ky., and moved to Illinois and located in Bloomington in 1853; in 1867, in company with others, he helped to sink the McLean Co. Coal Shaft, which was first sunk to a depth of about three hundred feet; this vein they worked for a year or more, when they sunk it again to a second vein, which was about four hundred feet from the surface; this vein proved to be a better quality, but also very expensive to work. After a period of about three years of discouragement and unforeseen difficulties, the company again pro-pered, and found a third vein of coal at five hundred and forty feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The McLean County Coal Co. are now raising from three hundred to four hundred tons of coal per day, and their pay rolls vary from $16,000 to $19,000 per month, giving employment to about three hundred men, and reducing the price of coal to half its former cost, saving many thousand dollars to this community. CHARLES SHACKLEFORD, Bloomington; was born in Maysville, Ky., on the 4th day of October, 1840; his early youth was passed in acquiring the rudiments of book knowledge; he entered Bethany College, Virginia, and after years of close and patient study, graduated with much credit in 1860; he returned home and entered the law office of Hon. John A. Clarke, one of the prominent attorneys of Maysville. For four years he applied himself with diligence, and acquired a vast amount and wide range of legal knowledge. In 1864, he received the necessary authority to practice in Kentucky. Through fidelity to the interests of his clients, Mr. S. worked himself into a really lucrative practice; but, like a great many others, he thought, to achieve distinction, he must leave the scenes of youth and seek it among strangers. At that day Illinois was the El Dorado for which all ambitious and aspiring spirits were pushing. Mr. Shackleford broke away from home and friends and familiar associations, and cast his fortunes with the hospitable and open-hearted people of Illinois; he located in Bloomington, and very soon business of an important nature came pouring in upon him; rapidly he acquired an extensive practice in the State and Federal courts in Illinois and Missouri, and now he has at least sufficient business to keep him constantly engaged; although he has a miscellaneous practice of no small importance, his largest revenue is derived from his services connected with trust estates for Eastern capitali ts. This business he has managed with uniform success, as he has all the other details of his legal business. In 1875, the Democratic Central Committee of Ohio, engaged Mr. Shackleford for a series of speeches in the campaign of that year, in the interest of Gov. Allen. Mr. S. made an extended canvass, speaking in company with such orators as Pendleton, Voorhees and Judge Thurman. His speeches attracted wide attention, and were published extensively as campaign do uments. He advocated with con-picuous ability the increase of the currency in the interest of the West, and in all essential points he championed Western issues. W. W. STEVENSON, Superintendent McLean County Coal Company, Bloomington; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1840. When 11 years old, he came to McLean Co., Ill., and settled in Bloomington. When he was about 15 years old, he commenced to learn the trade of printing, in the Pantagraph office. He worked at his trade some eighteen months, thence to school, where he received a good education. In 1859, Mr. Stevenson commenced farming on a piece of Illinois Central Railroad land; here he remained until 1863. He then entered the butcher business. Since then, he has been engaged in grocery, boots and shoes and hardware business. In 1868, he was appointed Superintendent and Weigher of the McLean County Coal Company. The shaft is 540 feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The coal is of the very best quality. They are now raising from three hundred to five hundred tons of coal per day. They employ two hundred hands. elected Alderman from the Third Ward on the Independent ticket. N. C. SWEENY, Bloomington; was born in Muskingum Co. the son of Joseph Sweeny, of Maryland, a farmer, who moved to from thence to Illinois, about 1858; he died in McLean County, in 1871, at the age of 67 respected and honored. Mr. N. C. Sweeny came to Bloomington in 1860: he was at one time in the lumber business, and also, for a short time, in the grain business. He is a Republican in politics, and, in 1876, was elected Alderman of the First Ward, which office he now fills. Mr. Stevenson, in 1878. was ers, STEPHEN SMITH, dry goods, Bloomington: one of the best-known business men of Bloomington; was born near Clarksville, Tenn. When he was only 5 years old he moved to Illinois with his parents, and settled in Greene Co. His father was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1812. Mr. Smith was raised on the farm. When he was 18 years old, in 1847, he commenced clerking in a store. In 1850, he formed a partnership with his brother. In 1851, |