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Henry Fahnestock	L. D. Ford
Jas. Farnum, Sr.	O. H. Freeman, Jr.
Lawrence Feuchter	Godfrey Fritz
Robert Finley	more to come...

HENRY H. FAHNESTOCK, of the firm of Oakford & Fahnestock, who carry on a wholesale grocery business in Peoria, was born in this county June 14, 1838. He is a son of Jacob and Maria (Harmon) Fahnestock, natives of Pennsylvania, whence they came to the Prairie State in 1834. In the Keystone State Jacob Fahnestock had been in the mercantile business but after coming to Peoria County he followed farming.
     The subject of this brief sketch began to learn the trade of a cooper at the age of sixteen years, and when twenty one years old took charge of a small hotel and a cooper shop in Kingston. He carried on these enterprises three years, after which he entered the employ of the Kingston Mines Coal Company, keeping books and doing other general work for them two years. He next embarked in a hay speculation in McLean County which "swept the platter clean." His next venture was to embark in the hotel business with a brother-in-law, J. W. Bobbins, but he abandoned the hotel a year later to become book-keeper for A. & J. Schardzki.
     After remaining in their employ a year and a half he began traveling for Gibson & Woodbury, some eighteen months later taking up a similar line of work for S. H. Thompson & Co., continuing so employed until 1871. He then entered the establishment of Henry & Oakford, as a partner, the firm becoming Henry, Oakford & Fahnestock. On New Year's Day, 1881, he bought out the interest of the senior member of the firm, and the business since that time has been continued under the style of Oakford & Fahnestock.
     An important step in the life of our subject transpired in 1859, when he was united in marriage with Miss Frances E. Hill of this city. The wisdom of his choice has been abundantly demonstrated by the happiness of the home. The union has been blessed by the birth of two children—Lillie L. and Howard R., both of whom are still at home cheering their parents by their presence.
     Mr. Fahnestock is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, his name being enrolled in Eddy Lodge. No. 357, Kingston Mines. Mr. Fahnestock is regarded as a man of honor, good business qualities and kindliness in social relations, and as a representative citizen of Peoria we present his portrait on another page. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Peoria, Illinois (1890), page 371, submitted by Janine Crandell)

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FARNUM, JAS. F. Sr., buggy dealer, res. Brimfield, son of Asa and Arrathusa (Lovejoy) Farnum, natives of Amherst, N. H. Immigrated to Bennington county, Vermont, where they raised a family of six children, five of which are now living. The subject of this sketch was born in Bennington county, Vermont, February 6, 1811, where he received a common school education. When he was sixteen years old went to Windsor county, Vermont, where he worked on a farm for five years for Mr. Ezekiel Davis. Afterwards married his daughter Laura, who was born in the same county September 9, 1809. The fruit of this marriage was four children, of which three are now living, viz: James, Jr., George and Giles. In the year 1854 came to Peoria county and located on section 22, Brimfield township, where he remained two years. Then traded his farm for block 4 in town. In 1857 commenced the mercantile business in company with B. K. Harrington, and continued until 1860, when he bought the interest of Mr. Harrington and continued until the close of the war, when he sold out and has since been in his present business. Members of the M. E. Church. His father was in the war of 1812, was at Bennington, Vermont, and Plattsburgh, N. Y. (The History of Peoria County, Illinois, 1880, page 717, submitted by Janine Crandell)

LAWRENCE F. FEUCHTER. The firm of Edward Hine & Company has been for many years recognized as one of the most progressive and up-to-date printing establishments in Peoria. Active in its management, and one of the directors of its commercial policy, is Lawrence F. Feuchter, who has been secretary and treasurer of the concern since its incorporation in October, 1906. The energetic and efficient qualities of mind, the broad culture and the degree of education which the printing business requires are all dominating factors in the character of Lawrence F. Feuchter, and they raised him form a humble place in the trade to his present position. Mr. Feuchter is a native Peorian, having been born in that city, September 4, 1854. His parents were Lawrence and Katherine Feuchter, natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1852 and settled immediately in Peoria. The father was a carpenter by trade and was prominent in that line of activity during his career in this city up to the time of his death in March, 1909, at the age of eighty years. He was buried in Springdale cemetery, which is also the resting place of his wife who died in 1885.
     The primary and public schools of Peoria afforded Lawrence Feuchter his first education which was completed by an eighteen months’ course at a German school. He then entered upon a position in a printing establishment, a line of business with which he has been identified during his entire active career. He first entered the printing office of N. C. Nason, remaining there for five years and becoming thoroughly acquainted with the details of the trade. He became an expert pressman and his familiarity with the German language and his broad intelligence were valuable assets to him in his work. In 1874 he started as a pressman with the old Transcript Printing Company but gave up this position after one year to enter the office of H. S. Hill, where he remained in charge of the press room and the various details connected with that office, for nine years. In 1884 Mr. Edward Hine bought out the printing establishment of Mr. Nason and in partnership with Lawrence Feuchter founded the business which bears his name today. It grew with increasing rapidity each year and now is one of the largest general printing concerns in this city. The plant is constantly being added to and at present has a force of twenty-eight employes, all of whom are experts in their line.
     Mr. Feuchter has never identified himself with any one political party, keeping his interest in public affairs beyond the limits of mere partisanship. He votes for the man whom he considers best fitted for the position but takes beyond this very little active part in politics. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Emma Kallerstrass, whom he married in Peoria in 1878 and who died four years later, leaving one son, Fred A., who is now associated with his father in business. In 1883, Mr. Feucht6er married Miss Anna Oswald, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Oswald, the former for many years a prominent maltster of Peoria. Mr. Feuchter has four daughters by his second marriage: Annie, the wire of George Bernhardt, a farmer of Tazewell county; Louise, who is a graduate of the Greeley school of this city; Bertha, who is a graduate of the Peoria high school; and Florence who is now a student in that institution.
     Mr. Feuchter has been a practical printer all of his life and his success in rising from a humble beginning to the position of secretary and treasurer of one of the largest firms of its kind in Peoria is the direct result of extraordinary ability and of power of continued and concentrated labor. (Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, pages 516-517, submitted by Peggy Nemmers)[For more info, please visit this website]

ROBERT M. FINLEY, who occupies an important place in the farming community of Logan Township, where he has a well-improved farm, is a breeder of fine horses, Percheron, French and Cleveland Bay, of Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is an early settler of this section of the county, and has aided in its development.
     Mr. Finley was born November 25, 1817, in Adams County, Ohio. He came of good Revolutionary stock and his parents were Robert and Phoebe (Glasgow) Finley, natives respectively of Augusta and Rockbridge Counties, Va. The Finleys were of Irish extraction. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolution. He was a Virginia planter and slaveholder. Disposing of his plantation there, he removed to Ohio, set free his negroes in an early day of its settlement and became the proprietor of landed property, and there passed the remainder of his life. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Robert Glasgow, the descendant of an Irish family who went from Virginia to Ohio, and was a pioneer of that State, he was a member of the Associated Reform Church, and was a Whig in politics. He was twice married.
     The father of our subject served in the War of 1812. He came from Ohio to this county in the fall of 1846, and settled on section 9, Logan Township, and became one of its leading pioneers. He accumulated a valuable property and had several hundred acres of land. He died in Monmouth during the war and his widow closed her life in Fulton County, this State. He was a Whig in politics and was for many years one of the leading members of the Associate Reform Church, of which he was an Elder, but he finally severed his connection with that church and joined the United Presbyterian Church. He was a son of Robert and Martha (Steele) Finley, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and were the parents of the following children: Samuel, William, Robert, Jane, Martha, Sarah, Margaret, Mary, and Rosa. Three of their sons and four of their daughters married and reared families.
     Robert Finley, our subject's father, was twice married. His children by his first wife, the mother of our subject, were as follows: Robert M.; Erastus, who died in Iowa; Rosanna, Mrs. Smiley, who died in Iowa; Martha A., Mrs. Patton; John A., who served as Lieutenant in the late war and is now deceased; Leander, a resident of Kansas; Nancy M., now Mrs. Warwick; Phoebe, now Mrs. Pinkerton. The mother of these children died in 1832. Mr. Finley married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Warwick, nee Barr, widow of Alexander Warwick. Three children were born of that marriage: Samuel, a resident of Iowa; Sarah E., wife of A. Miller; and William, who was killed by guerrillas during the war.
     He of whom we write was reared on a farm and was given the advantages of a common school education. His father had a large farm and required his assistance in its management, but at the age of twenty-eight he began life for himself, and in the spring of 1847 came to Logan Township, and settles where he now resides on one hundred acres of land. He formerly owned land in Iowa. His farm here is in a good condition, is provided with an excellent class of buildings and is well adapted to stock-raising, to which he devotes much attention, as before mentioned.
     Mr. Finley has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Elizabeth Hogue, and she was born in Butler County, Ohio, a daughter of John Hogue. Of the nine children, born of that marriage, one died in infancy and two, Mary A., and Robert, died in childhood. The following six are still living: John H., a resident of Iowa; Demarres, wife of Albert Pinkerton; Horace H.; Jane, wife of Joseph Karnaghan; Elmer, a resident of Iowa; and William. Mrs. Finley was a very estimable woman of a truly religious nature, and in her the United Presbyterian Church found one of its most earnest members.
     The second marriage of our subject, which took place November 8, 1868, was to Mrs. Eliza J. Logan, a native of Decatur County, Ind., and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Patton) McCracken, who were natives respectively of Kentucky and Adams County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Finley have had three children: Thomas A., Edith and Clarence, all of whom are deceased, dying in childhood.
     Our subject is a conscientious, straightforward man, who satisfactorily performs the duties that fall on him as the head of a household, as a neighbor and as a law-abiding citizen. He is an upright member of the United Presbyterian Church to which his good wife also belongs and both are faithful workers in the fold. In politics his views coincide with those promulgated by the Republican party. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Peoria, Illinois (1890), pages 401-402, submitted by Janine Crandell)

FORD, L. D., farmer, Sec. 21, P. O. Brimfield, was born in Licking county, O., on the 5th day of May, 1835. When twelve years of age with his parents moved to Adams county, Ills., and the following year to this county, settling near French Grove. In 1850 his parents removed to Knox county, where they now reside. In 1866 the subject of this sketch married Miss H. F. Burt. She was born in Rockingham, Vt., September 3, 1844. Settled near Fairbury, Livingston county, and in August, 1874, came to their present place of residence. Owns 157 acres of land valued at $75 per acre. The fruit of this marriage is four children — one son and three daughters. Members of the M. E. Church, of which he is trustee. Politics, Republican. (The History of Peoria County, Illinois, 1880, page 717, submitted by Janine Crandell)

FREEMAN, O. H. Jr., farmer, Sec. 32, P. O. Elmwood. Son of C. H. Freeman, Sr., and Permilia Davis, natives of Massachusetts. In 1836 his father came to Peoria, where he was employed as land agent. In 1839 moved his family, consisting of his wife and five children, to Brimfield, where Mr. Freeman opened the second store of the village, but afterwards settled on a farm west of the village, since known as Walnut Grove farm, where he died, October, 1859. Mr. Freeman, Jr., was born in Brimfield, January 2, 1842. Received a liberal education in the common schools and two years at Hedding Seminary, Abingdon, Ills. In August, 1861, enlisted in the 47th Illinois Infantry, Company C, Captain J. D. McClure; was discharged from ill health June, 1862. Married Miss Emma C., daughter of John L. Marion, an early settler of Southport, this county. She was born in Southport, September 1, 1843. In the Spring of 1877 purchased his farm consisting of 120 acres, valued at $80 per acre. For the past three years Mr. Freeman has devoted much time and attention to the improvement in his stock of horses, having purchased his brood mares of Dillon, a noted importer of horses. His colts took first premiums at the county fair. Is a member of the G. A. R. of Elmwood. Republican in politics. (The History of Peoria County, Illinois, 1880, page 717, submitted by Janine Crandell)

GODFREY FRITZ is a fine representative of the early settlers of Princeville Township, who are still identified with its interests. He has been engaged in farming here for many years, and has acquired a handsome property and among many well improved productive farms none are more valuable than his, which comprises the north half of section 1.

Our subject is of German birth and antecedents. His father Gotleib Frederick Fritz, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, was a skillful turner in wood and owned a shop in which he carried on his calling and was besides the proprietor of some land which he cultivated. He was a man of considerable importance in his community, and for the last fifteen years of his life was a Constable. In his religious views he was a Lutheran, and was a consistent member of his church. He died at the age of fifty-five years in 1834. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Magdalene Gogel and was also a native of Wurtemburg. Her death at the age of sixty-seven years, occurred in 1856. There were eight children born of her marriage, of whom the following is recorded: Margaret, Mrs. Kneer, died at Kewanee, Ill., in January, l890; Gotleib died in 1834 near Philadelphia, Pa.; Frederick died in Germany in 1857; Fredericka, Mrs. Saltzer, died in Kewanee in April, 1890: Jacob, resides in Germany; Johannes, died in Germany in 1858; Christian who is in St. Louis, and Godfrey.

The latter, who forms the subject of this biographical review, was born in Reichenberg, Wurtemburg, Germany, April 17, 1824, his birthplace being near the Neckar River. He received excellent common school advantages in his native village, being in school from the age of six until fourteen years old. He was brought up in the religious faith of his fathers and was early confirmed in the church. In his youth he was apprenticed to a mason for three years learning the trade of his brother. He then did journey work in his native province and pursued his calling there until he was twenty-four years old. He was doing well at his trade, but was ambitious to see more of life, and to try his fortunes in America, the Mecca of so many of his countrymen, and on the 5th of May, 1848, he left Heilbrunne [Heilbronn on the Neckar river] for Rotterdam, where he embarked on a vessel bound for this country.

After a long and tedious voyage of fifty-three days Mr. Fritz landed in New York City, July 3, and from there made his way to Philadelphia, Pa. Thence he went to Chester County in the same State, and was employed on a farm for three months. At the expiration of that time he went to St. Louis, going by rail to Chambersburg, and from there by stage over the mountains to Pittsburg, and thence by boat, on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to his destination, taking eighteen days for the journey. In that city, he worked in a harness shop until the spring of 1849, when he resumed his trade as a mason, which he carried on until the following July. Cholera then being so prevalent in that city he came to this State and from Kingston in this county, went to Farmington, where he worked as a mason. He made his home in Trivoli Township, although he worked for a contractor in Farmington. Anxious to acquire a better knowledge of the English language, he went to school two winters in Trivoli Township, attending five months in all and by diligent study became quite proficient in the language. In the spring of 1853 he located in this township, renting a farm and giving his attention to agriculture. In 1854, he removed to Stark County and farmed on rented land there for one year. After that he bought forty acres in Akron Township, paying $10 an acre for the land; the latter was improved by a log house in which he dwelt.

Mr. Fritz lived some ten years on his Akron farm busily engaged in its cultivation, and at the expiration of that time sold it very advantageously. In 1858 he bought this section in partnership with G. Scheible, the latter making his home there.. In 1863 our subject bought him out and in 1864 moved on the place. He has developed a fine farm from the raw prairie, making valuable improvements until it has become one of the most desirable estates in this part of the county. In 1882 he bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his homestead for $8, 250, and now has three hundred and twenty acres of tillable land all under the best of cultivation and has five acres in timber, and besides this property he owns some lots in Princeville. His farm is well watered by Mud Run, and is hedged, most of which was done by himself. He built an addition to the house and has fitted it up into a commodious and conveniently arranged dwelling, and has substantial barns and other outbuildings on the place. A view of this pleasant homestead is presented on another page. Beautiful groves and an orchard adorn the place , and everything about is well ordered. He raises abundant harvests of corn and oats in his fertile fields, and gives much attention to raising and feeding cattle, shipping a car-load each year, and has a fine lot of hogs, and eighteen head of horses, using five teams to operate his farm.

April 7, 1852 was the date of our subject’s marriage to Miss Louisa Wieland, the ceremony being performed in Trivoli Township. She was a native of the same town as himself and came from Germany to America in 1849. She was in Chester County, Pa., for three years, and then came to his State. Her death occurred here September 21, 1884, and was a severe blow to her family and many friends. She was a good and true woman and left behind her the memory of a life well spent.

The marriage of our subject was fruitful of nine children, namely: Mary, wife of J. Wolfe, of Whiteside County, Ill.; Margaret S., who died November 9, 1864; Caroline F., who died August 14, 1874; Christian F., who died August 30, 1874; Charles H., a farmer; Joseph G. And William F. at home with their father; Louisa F., wife of J. Steinman, of Johnson County, Kan; and Godfrey W., who married Catherine Nies, a native of Germany.

During his long residence here Mr. Fritz’s honorable course in life has been such as to win him universal respect and he is a great favorite with all who have come under the genial influence of his guileless, manly character, his pleasant, helpful ways, and his unswerving adherence to the right. He has long mingled in the public life of the township, and his fellow citizens have found him to be a safe counselor and a good worker in the various offices he has held. He has been School Director for years and School Trustee for several terms, and has often been Supervisor of Roads. He is identified with the Princeville Grange and belongs to the Detective Thief and Mutual Benefit Association. In politics he is a Democrat, but is not radical in his views. Religiously he is a Lutheran and faithfully and liberally supports his church. He has been a petit juryman. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Peoria, Illinois (1890), pages 829-830, submitted by Susan Hare)