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MAJ. CHARLES QUALMAN. To no other class of men is Illinois more indebted for its marvelous growth and the high standing it has attained among its sister States since the war, than to the brave citizen-soldiers of our great Republic, who fought so nobly for its preservation, and at the close of the strife quietly departed from the scenes of their victory and took up again their old callings, or entered new fields, and in every walk of life vigorously aided in pushing forward the commercial, manufacturing, agricultural and general financial interests of the State, and are today in many cases among its most enterprising and important citizens. As a fine representative of these it gives us pleasure to place on the pages of this volume a life record of Maj. Charles Qualman, who did noble service in the cause of his adopted country during the late civil strife, and won a distinguished military record, of which the community where he made his home so many years and with whose every interest he is so closely identified is justly proud. He is one of the leading boot and shoe dealers of Peoria, is prominent in the business and social circles of the city and county, and is a conspicuous figure in its public life.
     Our subject was born in Hamburg, Germany, July 20, 1837, a son of Charles and Dora (Wagner) Qualman. His father was a Captain in the German army, in which he served all his life. There were three children in the family: Louis, a Lieutenant in the Regular United States Army; Dora, widow of Frederick Nagle, of Hamburg, Germany, and our subject.
     Charles Qualman was brought up to mercantile pursuits in his native Germany, and at an early age had to learn the duties of a clerk. In his seventeenth year he went to Paris, France, where he was engaged in the dry-goods business two and one-half years as a clerk in Dipo dry-goods store. From there he went to London, where he was in the same business a little over two years. Desirous to see more of the country and ambitious to make a name and a place for himself in the world, and rightly considering that the United States of America was the country where best his ambition would be gratified, he sailed to this country March 2, 1861. After his arrival here he traveled for awhile and with great interest watched the progress of the war, which had sprung up soon after he came here. The soldierly instincts that he had inherited from his father soon impelled him to take a part in the strife and July 6, 1861, he enrolled his name as a member of Company K, Third Indiana Cavalry, and from that time took an active and quite a prominent part in all the battles in which his regiment fought. The principal engagements in which he participated were the following: Shiloh, Perrysville (Ky.), Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, was with Burnside at Knoxville (Tenn.), returned to Chattanooga, and with Sherman went on the famous march to Atlanta and the sea.
     Maj. Qualman was mustered out of service September 19. 1864. His valor and ability had won him promotion from the ranks through the various grades from private to major. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant February 25, 1862; First lieutenant on the 6th of the following April, and was made Captain the following September, and gained the rank of Major, September 2, 1864. He commanded his regiment for some months, and his fine soldierly qualities and capacity as a leader gained him commendation on every side. The following deserved tribute from a letter of Gen. S. D. Atkins, recommending him for promotion shows in what estimation he was held. "I have seen him under fire and know him to be brave, competent, intelligent and clashing. He is highly worthy of a colonel's commission and has earned it by three years' hard service in the field." At Jonesboro, Gen. Kilpatrick told Sherman "That is a man who will do as directed, and successfully." Sherman then ordered him to go to the rebel line and destroy the railroads. Maj. Qualman took a picked company of one hundred men and accomplished his orders. He drove back the picket lines and destroyed the track, so that upon the approach of the train in the morning it had to he abandoned. This was pronounced one of the most daring, as it was one of the most successful feats of that memorable campaign; was so spoken of at the time by the press, and it so considered now. For his bravery at Shelbyville, Tenn., the Major's command gave him a sword, belt and sash. At the reunion of the Third Indiana he was honored by his comrades by the presentation of a medal.
     After being mustered out of the service, Maj. Qualman was married, January 16, 1865, to Elizabeth Greene, of Indianapolis, Ind. He brought his bride directly to Peoria, having selected this city as a desirable place in which to establish a home on account of the fine facilities offered to men of business enterprise. He opened a boot and shoe store, which he has continued to manage with financial success ever since, his annual sales amounting to $40,000. He has a neat, well-appointed store, well furnished, and carries a large stock of the best assortment of boots and shoes.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Qualman have been born two sons: Charles C., in business with his father, and Phillip, Assistant Cashier in the Northern Pacific Railroad in Tacoma, Wash.
     Maj. Qualman is one of the leading members of the G. A. R , belonging to Bryner Post No. 67, of which he is Post Commander, also Trustee of the Post. He was a delegate to the National Convention at San Francisco, and is now Aid-de Camp to the State Commander. He is a member of the Masonic order, which he joined in 1865. He has borne an honorable part in the public life of the city, serving two years on the Board of Supervisors and four years as a member of the School Board. He is a true blue Republican, and his popularity is shown when we mention that he is the only one of his party elected on the Board of Supervisors of eighteen members. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Peoria, Illinois (1890), pages 422-424, submitted by Janine Crandell)

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