Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-29


commissioner of the Illinois and
Michigan canal. though he wished the
appointment of another man. He had
been deeply interested in the deep
waterway movement, and worked
earnestly for the Hennepin canal, He
was recently made a delegate to the
waterways convention at Memphis by
Governor Deneen, but could not serve
because of his illness.
He was. interested in water trans
portation considerably. and in antici-
patton of the completion of the Pana-
ma canal, had planned fleet of barges
to transport the products of his Mo
line factories down the Mississippi and
by way of the canal to the South
American countries.
Married i'm 1862.
Mr.. Deeres marriage took place
Sept. 16. 1862, his wife having been
Miss Mary l.. Dickinson of Chicago
Mrs. Deere and one daughter, Mrs
William Butterworth of Moline. sur
viye him. Mrs. Anna C. Wiman. n
daughter whose death occurred in
May, this year, was born Aug. 20, 1864
Grief over her death is said to have
been one of the factors in the failure
of Mr.. peere's health.
The Surviving Family.
There are two children of John
Deere left, Mrs. Emma Velie of Mo-
line, and Mrs. Jennette D. Chapman
of Chicago.
With the death of c. H. Deere, that
famous name will be borne by only
one living man. a cousin of c. H.
Deere, Rev. George H. Deere of River
side. Cal. He is older than c. n,
Deere and is in failing health, having
become totally blind but recently.
With his death the name of Deere Will
disappear
Those surviving him are his wife
and daughter, Mrs. William Butter
worth and two sisters. Mrs. Emma {
Velie of Moline and Mrs. Jennette d.
Chapman of Chicago He also leaves
William Butterworth. Colonel w. D.
Wiman. his sons-in-law, and two grand
sons, Dwight and Charles Deere WI
man, and several cousins, among whom
are George and Albert Vipton and w.
T. Ball of Moline.
Possessed of Millions.
c. H. Deere's wealth is estimated at
between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000.
His holdings are too extensive to be
listed. ~When John Deere died he left
an estate which was in itself a large
fortune for his heirs. His wealth, how
ever. was not over S2,000,00O, and re
immensely of the Deere fortune now
is an evidence of c. II. Deere's keen
business ability, his shrewdness and
foresight. Even with a beginning of
several million dollars, eonly man OF
great ability could so multiply that
fortune
Mr.. Deere owned more property III
Moline than any other single man.
His holdings there included the present
postoffice block, the Deere block on
Third avenue and Seventeenth street
The Union store building, the new De
saulniers & Co. block, and many 9th
ers, besides a number of residence prop
critics. His home, Overlook" is one
state He owned large farms in Illinois
and other states, and i'll several east
eIn cities he owned extensive business
blocks.
| Mr.. Deere owned a large block O
stock in the Rock Island and in othel
trunk lines. He was the organizer ant
president of the Mississippi Vale!
Traction company, retaining his inter
est until that line was taken over BY
the Tri-City Railway & Light company
He also was heavy stakeholder in thu
Tri-City Railway company until the or
ganization of the merger. He was iden
Titled with but one corporation which
did not meet with SUGGESTIVE Deere
iClark Motor Car company of East Nc
line, which is now insolvent. Had hi
Ihealth remained good, this compan.
too would probably have been able t,
turn the tables and prove a success.
Bcnefacfor of City.
Mr.. Deeres vast industries We're no
the only contribution he made to tn
advancement of Moline, nor were hi
building improvements. He had mad
a number of gifts to the city. Roc
Island, too, is indebted to him. for h
gave the city his interest in the Lon:
View park tract in 1897 when tn
deed was executed by John Weye,
haeuser for the owners, Frederic
Weyerhaeuser, the late Captain T. !
Robinson, the heirs of the late MOI
ris Rosenfield and c. H. Deere.
Mr. Deere was modest man. an
not given to social life, though hi
home, Overlook" has been the seen
of many brilliant social functions. H
was a lover Of horses, and even whe
automobiles became society's means c
conveyance, he retained a number G
fine horses, and found greater enjo,
ment in them than in the mechanic
carriages.
Fortify and increase the life givin
properties of the blood and your Wit;
force will be increased and your sy
tenn protected from disease. That
what HOLSTERS Rocky Mountain TIE