History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
In his fraternal relations Mr. Jones is an Elk, while politically
he is a republican. I'or six years he served as township super-
visor and for a similar period was a member of the board of edu-
cation, proving capable and loyal in both olfices. His record as
a business man and citizen is creditable and proves what may be
accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do. While a
telegraph messenger Mr. Jones delivered telegrams to Eather
Dixon, founder of the city. It is a far reach from service as telegraph
messenger to the proprietorship of one of the leading mercantile
establishments but determined purpose, unfaltering energy
and straightforward methods have brought Mr. Jones to the position
which he occupies and his record proves that prosperity and
an honored name may be won simultaneously.
J. A. FORREST.
J. A. Forrest is president of the Dixon Cereal & Feed Company
and thus active in the development and management of
one of the most important productive industries of the city. He
is a young man, but has already attained a creditable and enviable
place in commercial circles. A native of Chicago, he was born in
1879, and is a sou of John and Elizabeth (Sutherland) Forrest,
both of whom were natives of Scotland. In early life they
crossed the Atlantic to the new world, becoming residents of Chi-
cago in 1869. The father was there actively engaged in the oatmeal
business for a number of years, but is now living retired
and makes his home in Dixon.
In his youthful days J. A. Forrest devoted his time largely to'
the mastery of those branches of learning which constitute the
curricuhun of the public schools of Chicago. He was a yoxmg
man of aboTit twenty-three years when in 1902 he came to Dixon
and organized the Dixon Cereal Company for the manufacture of
corn products, including corn meal and brewers' grits, the output
being sold largely in South America. From the be.ginning
the imdei'taking prospered owing to the capable management
and progressive business methods of the founder and, extending
his efforts into other fields, he also organized the Forrest-Utley
Company, which operated eight years as a wholesale feed busi-
ness. In 1913 the two companies went out of business and the
Dixon Cereal & Feed Company was organized and purchased the
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