History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 257
some time spent in the employ of others he began contracting and
building on his own account and in 1888 removed to Lee county,
from which point he has since directed his operations. Gradually
he has worked his way upward until he is today one of the most
prominent and successful contractors of this part of the state,
doing all kinds of building. He erected the Lee county courthouse
in 1901, the state normal school of DeKalb in 1892 and the Dixon
National Bank building in 1913. He has built courthouses at
various points in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and other states and
the imporlanee of the contracts awarded him is evidence of his
superior sldll and ability. Thoroughly acquainted with every
phase of practical building, he also understands as well, the great
scientific principles which underlie his work and in its execution
displays the taste which has ranked architecture among the fine
arts.
Mr. McAlpine is a republican in his political views and keeps
thoroughly well informed concerning the vital questions and is-
sues of the day. While the extent and importance of his busi-
ness affairs have brought him wide acquaintance, he is almost
equally well known through his Masonic connections. He belongs
to the lodge, chapter, commandery and to the Mystic Shrine and
is most loyal to the teachings of the craft, exemplifying in his
life many of its beneficent lorinciples and purposes. This, how-
ever, he regards as but a side issue, concentrating the major portion
of his time and attention upon building operations in which
he has displayed such efficiency that the consensus of public opin-
ion ranks him with the foremost contractors of northern Hli-
nois.
HENRY SCHNELL.
Among the men of Lee county who have by their own energy,
enterprise and rightly directed ambition established themselves in
positions of prominence in agricultiiral circles of the community
is numbered Henry Sehnell, who dui'ing the many years of his
residence here has worked his way upward from poverty to pros-
perity, his success being indicated in his ownership of one of the
finest farms in this locality. Mr. Sehnell was born in Germany,
April 16, 1866, and is a son of John A. and Margaret Sehnell,
also natives of that country, where both passed away.