DIXON ILLINOIS Class Photo circa 1906

CLASS PHOTO (?) DIXON ILLINOIS circa 1906

UPDATE - This photo has been sent home to the Lee County Historical and Genealogy Library in Dixon, Illinois.  FURTHER NOTE - a descendant of one of the young men contacted me to report that I had at least two of them misidentified, as her grandfather's image was shown with another man's bio. I have since corrected that error, but I am left with the knowledge that the names on the back do not necessarily appear in the same order as the men in the photo, which is concerning. Please contact me if you are a descendant, or just happen to know, if the images are still mislabeled. I'd like my data here to reflect the correct individual.

This photograph of a group of young men was located at the famous "127 Yard Sale" near Salvisa KY this weekend. It appears to be a high school class photo, or perhaps a club photo. The mat is stamped Dixon, Illinois and was taken around 1905 - 1907.

Grover Wilhelm

GROVER WILHELM (14 May 1887-1958) Son of Charles Wesley Wilhelm (b.1862) and Sarah Elizabeth Hanna (b.1864). 1910 census shows that father Charles worked in a shoe factory. Grover is the eldest child; younger siblings are George and Gertrude. There was also a younger brother John who lived one year (1891-1892). In 1905, Grover's brother George died. After graduating high school, Grover worked as a barber in a local shop. Married Meta Voight. On the 1920 Census, he is still a barber, living with wife Meta, children Gertrude and Robert, and widowed mother Sarah. Grover died at age 70 in Dixon, following an auto accident. He was a Mason and a member of the Master Barbers Association.

Enos Keithley

ENOCH KEATHLEY (most likely W. Enos Keithley b. 24 July 1884 - 4 March 1970) Son of Andrew T. Keithley and Emma Litchfield Bacon.  Married Esma Leora Seavey. WWI Draft Registration gives his occupation as "gardener at Keithley Gardens." He (or his son of the same name) worked as a camp counselor for the Boy Scouts of the Dixon area. The 1930 and 1940 census records of Dixon both give Enos' occupation as Florist. His 1943 WWII Registration gives his employer as "Dept. Public Welfare." Esma died in 1957. Enos died in 1970. Both are buried in the Palmyra Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois.

LESTER CAMEL (most likely Lester Campbell b. July 1886) in 1900, lived next-door to Grover Wilhelm. His mother Luella (maiden name unknown) was married to 2nd husband William Arthur Lowe. The name of Lester's biological father was not found. Also in the household was Lester's step-brother Ira Lowe. After high school, Lester worked as a stenographer for the Railroad company. In 1917, the local newspaper reported his promotion at the Utility Company. There is also a newspaper item dated 1904 which says Lester Campbell is starting courses at Rock River Military Academy at Steinmann College in the town.

(click for larger image)

(click for larger image)

Robert Knight

ROBERT KNIGHT (4 Sept 1889 - ) Born in Chicago, Illinois. Son of Charles H. Knight (b.1859) and Harriet E. Meacham (b.1862). This family appears on the 1900 Census, living in Dixon. Hattie is shown as widowed (Husband Charles died in 1899.) She has no listed occupation, and lives with her young sons Hale, Robert, Royal and William. In 1901 at the age of 11, Robert was shot in the left eye by an older boy fooling around with a BB gun. Fortunately, it was not a serious injury. In 1910, Robert is working as a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocer. In June of 1917, Robert registers for WWI draft. He is living in Chicago, single, and works as a "work dispatcher" at Commonwealth Edison.

Frank Hogan

FRANK OWEN HOGAN, (10 Jan 1890 - __) son of John Hogan and Kate (maiden name unknown). After high school, worked as a cutter in a shoe factory. Served in WWI in France. He returned to the U.S. mid-war for treatment of gas poisoning in one lung. He then returned to Europe. At war's end, he returned to Dixon Illinois as a war hero. I cannot ascertain if he married, had children, or the date of his death.

Clarence Bates

CLARENCE BENJAMIN BATES (5 Dec 1886 - 26 Apr 1971) Son of Benjamin Harmon Bates and Sybilla I. Baightel (b.1863). In 1910 he worked as a clerk in a grocery store. He has two younger sisters; Eva and Lucy, and one elder; Ada. In 1907 he began work as a clerk at the Moyer & Earle Grocery. In May 1911 he married Hazel Bose. About a month after his wedding, he nearly died by gas poisoning due to a leak in his home. In 1920 he was working at the Pratt-Reed Grocery store. In the 1930 Census he is listed as the manager of the National Tea store. Hazel died in 1967 after which he relocated to Arizona to live with son Gerald. Clarence died in Arizona but is buried in Dixon, in the Oakwood Cemetery, next to Hazel.

George Slothower

GEORGE HENRY SLOTHOWER (8 June, 1887 - 24 April 1942) Lived his entire life in the town of Dixon. Son of Israel Slothower (b. 1843) and Jeanie Stover (b.1844) who was widowed while George was about 12. 1900 Census shows his two older sisters Aretta and Carrie were teachers in the local school system. Aretta (Retta) later became principal at the school. 1910 census says he is a clerk in a clothing store. 1928 Dixon City directory lists him as a factory worker at the Borden Company. 1930 Census states he is married to Bertha and has two children; George E. and Barbara J., and he is a shipping foreman at the Milk Factory. 1940 Census shows that he and son George work at the Milk Factory. Barbara is going by the name Jane B. and she works in the billing department at the Public Utilities. Obit from Dixon Evening Telegraph, 24 April, 1942.

Arthur Morris

ARTHUR CLAYTON MORRIS (23 May 1889 -  ) Son of Winfield Scott Morris and Alice K. Lehman. He has an older sister Dessa (b.1886) and younger sister Lucille (b.1906) On his WWII Draft Registration, he reports his wife is named Mary, and he works for the Morris-Barrick Cattle Company.