History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 247
Whitney '^hapter, No. 129, R. A. M. ; Dixon Commandeiy, K. T.
and Tebala Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Kocivford, Illinois. He is
aifiliated also with Ashton Lodge, No. 977, L O, O. F., and has
been its secretary since its organization January 21, 1910.
In all relations of life in which he has been found, Mr. Yen-
erich has proven capable and progressive and although he is still
a young man, is numbered among the substantial and representative
citizens of his community.
W. E. TREIN.
The true measure of success is determined by what one has accomplished
and judged by this standard W. E. Trein is a successful
man, for he started out in life without any special advantages
and is today the leading jeweler of Dixon. His success from the
beginning of his connection with his present business has been uniform
and rapid and yet an analysis of his life work shows that he
has utilized only such qualities as others may cultivate—deter-
mination, energy and perseverance. He was born in Dixon in
1873 and is a son of Jacob and Mary Trein, who came to this city
and cast in their lot with its early residents. The father, wlio was
a blacksmith by trade, had one of the early shops of the town and
was later with the Van & Means carriage shop as foreman for a
long period. He was thus a well known representative of indus-
trial life in the community and his efforts gave an impetus to
business activity. He has now passed away but his widow still
survives and yet makes her home in Dixon.
When W. E. Trein started out on his own account he had
received such education as the public schools of the city afforded.
He felt it incumbent upon him, however, to earn his own living
and he sought and obtained employment in the jewelry store of
Dodge & Kling. Later he entered the employ of G. O. Windell and
while thus connected gained a comprehensive knowledge of the
business in principle and detail. The careful husbanding of his
resources brought him at length sufficient capital to enable him to
carry on the lousiness alone and in 1901 he opened a jewelry store
in Ashton, Illinois, which he conducted for five years, selling out
there in 1906. He then returned to Dixon and purchased a half
interest in the store of his former employer. G. 0. Windell. Sub-
sequently he bought out E. L. Kling and is today proprietor of
;