History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

240 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
His success is directly attributable to bis industry, enterprise
and capable management and he holds the esteem and respect of
an extensive circle of friends.
GEORGE F. PRESCOTT.
George P. Prescott, who since 1909 has been secretary and
treasurer of the Leake Brothers Company, Inc., of Dixon, his
native city, was born in 1875, his parents being Hollis and
Nancy Adams (Williams) Prescott, the latter a daughter of
George Williams, who brought his family to Lee county during
the pioneer epoch in the history of this part of the state. Hollis
Prescott arrived in Lee county when a young man of about nine-
teen years, following his brothers, who had previously come here
from Salem, Massachusetts. He was a representative of one of
the old New England families and, attracted by the opportunities
of the growing west, he made his way to Dixon, where for a long
period he was engaged in business as a mason and contractor. In
this connection he was prominently identified with building opera-
tions for a number of years and substantial structures of the
city still stand as monuments to his enterprise and skill. In 1877
he went to Cherokee, Iowa, where he remained for eleven years
and then returned to Dixon in 1888. Here he still makes Ms
home but is living retired, spending the evening of his life in the
enjoyment of a well earned rest.
George P. Prescott supplemented a public-school course by a
year's study in the Northwestern University, where he prepared
for work along pharmaceutical lines. He then came to Dixon and
was connected with the drug house of J. W. Watts for several
years, during which time he thoi'oughly acquainted himself with
all the practical phases of the business. In 1909 he was made
secretary and treasurer of the Leake Brothers Company, Inc.
This business was established in 1898 by Frank E. and Chai'lcs R.
Leake, the former now deceased. He was identified with the
business until 1910, when he sold out to his brother Charles and
went to California, where his death occurred in 1912. His widow
is still a resident of that state. Charles R. Leake has since sold
a part of his interest in the business to George P. Prescott and B.
S. Sehildberg and the former is now secretary and treasurer of
the company. His experience in the drug biisiness has well fitted