History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

446 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
School Association at Dixon, May, 1908. He presided during the
session at Dixon and the following year at Peoria.
When age conferred upon Mr. Rosecrans the right of franchise
he joined the ranks of the republican party, to which he gave
stalwart support for many years. He is now ideutitied with the
progressive movement, feeling that it is a forward step in politics
toward securing a cleaner government that shall be more the ex-
pression of the will of the people and not of the opinions of a few.
His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, called him to the
office of mayor and gave evidence of their satisfaction with his
manner of conducting the office through his first term by reelecting
him. He is indeed well known in Ashton and his j)art of the
county, where he has now li^'ed for about thirty-six years.
STELZER APPALOXIA DURKES.
Stelzer Appalonia Durkcs. cashier of the Franklin rirov'
Bank, which position he has filled continuonsly since 1901, was
born January 9, 1873, in Franklin Grove, his parents being Conrad
and Mary Elizaheth (Jones) Durkes. The father was a pioneer
mei'chant of that town and also the organizer of the Franklin
Grove Bank. He was lx)rn in ( iermany, liut came with his parents
to America when al^out thirteen years of age and for many years
was lu'omincntly and activel^' identified with the commercial and
financial interests of the community in which he made his home.
His wife was a native of Canada but came to the United States at
an early age.
In the public schools of Franklin Grove Stelzer A. Durkes
pursued his education imtil graduated with the class of 1889. He
afterwai'd took a commercial course in the Bryant & Stratton
School in Chicago. Subsequently he was employed by his brother
in the grocery business at Erie, Illinois, for several years, thus
receiving his initial business training and learning something of
the responsiltilities and obligations which feature so largely in
business affairs. He has been connected with banking interests
since 1898, in which year he entered the Franklin Grove Bank as
assistant cashier, succeeding to the cashiership in 1901. He is
now thoroughly familiar with all forms of banking and is most
careful in safegaiarding the interests of the patrons of the insti-