A brief history of Peoria - University Library

CHAIRMAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
PEORIA. 59
No. 1
William H. Hinrichsen, of Jacksonville, was born in Morgan
count}-. 111., May 27, 1.S5(I. Educated in the common schools of the
county and at the State University of Champaign. As a boy and a
young- man he clerked in the country store, worked on the farm and
in railroad offices. Later he went into the newspaper business at
Jacksonville as proprietor and editor of the Jacksonville Courier.
Later he purchased the (Juincy Herald. He was elected Justice of
the Peace in 1871, again in 1872, appointed deputy sheriff in 1874,
elected sheriff in 1880, elected clerk of the House of Representa-
tives of the Illinois General Assembly in 1891, elected Secretary of
State in 1892. Served continuously on his county committee most
of the time as secretary or chairman for fifteen years. Was elected
a member of the State Central Committee in 1888, and is the pres-
ent chairman of that committee. Was married in 1873 and has a
family of three children. Mr. Hinrichsen is now the Democratic
candidate for Congress in the Sixteenth Congressional District.
COMMITTEEMAN AT LARGE
No. 2.
Theodore Nelson, Secretary of the State Central Committee,
was born February 17. 1851, at Sparta, Tenn. Moved to Decatur in
June. 1857. Attended common schools in Decatur, and closed his
school days at Eureka, Illinois. In 1876 entered the service of
Hayworth & Sons, one of the largest manufacturing concerns in
Central Illinois: was with them fourteen years, the last ten of
which was their cashier and confidential man: left the firm the first
day of June, 1890, to accept the position of Secretary of the Democratic
State Executive Committee, with headquarters at Chicago.
Elected member of the Democratic State Central Committee in the
spring of 1888; was elected as a member of the Executive Committee;
has been elected Secretary to the State an 1 Executive Committee
each succeeding two years: present term will expire January,
1897. As Secretary of the State Committee had charge of head-
quarters at Leland Hotel, Springfield, through the Palmer sena-
torial fight. Was appointed member of the sub committee of five
to CO operate with the members of the legislative stearing commit-
tee; object of formation of said committee-election of John M. Palmer
to the United States Senate. Was Treasurer of the city of Decatur
in 1878, '80, '81 and '82. In December, 1892, was appointed
Chief Deputy Recorder of Cook County by Samuel B. Chase, Recorder;
term expires December 5, 1896. Resident of the Thirtysecond
ward, Chicago.
SIXTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
No. .i.
Arthur C. Bentley, of Pittsfield, III., the member of the Demo-
cratic State Committee from the Sixteenth District, is 36 years old,
and was born and reared in Pike County. Was admitted to the bar
in 1882 and located at Baylis. In 1890 he established the Baylis
Guide, a local newspaper, which he published until 1895. In Decem-