History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 73
as president of the board of trustees of the town has done much
toward advancement. His policies are modern and progressive
and he brings as vigorous an interest to his public duties as he
exhibits in the pursuit of his private business affairs. He enjoys
in full measiu'e the confidence of the general public, which is evident
from the position of trust to which he has been elected, and
well merits that confidence on account of the considerate treatment
which he gives to all matters coming before him in his public
capacity.
ISAAC BRYAN COUNTRYMAN.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a
more enviable position in commercial and financial circles in Lee
coimty than Isaac Bryan Countryman, whose business has ever
balanced up with the principles of truth and honor. The extent
and importance of his interests have made hun a strong center in
the community in which he moves. He figured for many years as
the active head of Dixon's leading mercantile establishment and
at the present writing stands at the head of one of its strongest
financial institutions, the Union State Bank, of which he has been
president since its organization. He was born in Herkimer county,
New York, a son of John I. and Nancy (Failing) Countryman, who
were farming people of the Empire state and were of German
descent, representing one of the old Dutch families of the JMohawk
valley. The son, Isaac B. Countryman, acquired his early educa-
tion in the public schools and afterward attended the Fairfield
Seminary. In early manhood he sought the opportunities of the
middle west, making his way to Rochelle, Illinois, where he
engaged in clerking for two years. He came to Dixon in 1868 and
engaged in clerking in a general store, his experience in that connection
giving him training that proved very valuable when he
started in business on his ow^n account. In 1871 he became a partner
in the firm of W. G. Stevens & Company and eventually purchased
the entire business. He was thus closely identified with
mercantile interests of Dixon from 1868 until 1910, or for a period
of forty-two years. After he became sole proprietor the store was
conducted imder the name of I. B. Countr3Tnan, and in 1896 was
incorporated, at which time he admitted his nephew, E. J. Countryman
to a partnership. At that time Isaac B. Coimtryman retired