J. STEELE CATHERWOOD

 

James Steele Catherwood, a well known broker and real estate dealer of Hoopeston [IL], was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 12, 1845, a son of James and Lydia (Tussey) Catherwood.  The father was a native of Ireland and the mother of the state of Delaware.  During his boyhood days the former came to the United States and here learned the trade of a weaver.  Later he and his wife’s brother operated a cotton factory.  In his early married days he removed from the east to Belmont county, Ohio, where he engaged in merchandising while later he turned his attention to farming.  His death occurred in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1854, when the subject of this review was only nine years old and in 1857 his widow removed to Shelby county and afterward to Christian county, Illinois, where she died at the very advanced age of ninety-four years.  She was the mother of ten children, of whom J. S. was the youngest son, but he had a younger sister.

Mr. Catherwood of this review acquired his education in the schools of Ohio and of Christian county, Illinois.  His early opportunities in that direction, however, were limited and his knowledge has largely been obtained since he reached his majority.  In April, 1864, Mr. Catherwood enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry, with which he served for six months, spending most of that time in Missouri in guarding commissaries.  After his return he worked upon a farm for two years and in the winter of 1866 he again attended school.  He then went to Decatur, Illinois, and continued his studies in the vicinity of that city.  Subsequently, he became a student in the Concordsville Academy at Concordsville, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year.  He next entered the general store of his brother in Old Stonington, Christian county, Illinois, where he received his first business training, but as there were indications of failing health he went to Saline county, Kansas, which was then considered the “far west.”  This was in 1869 and for five years he remained upon the plains herding cattle.  He owned a ranch and herd of his own and for two years he was located in Saline county, for one year in McPherson county and for two years he was in Ellsworth county, meeting with a fair degree of success until the country became involved in the financial panic of 1873-4.

Mr. Catherwood then returned to Indianapolis, Indiana, and entered the employ of his brother as a traveling salesman.  He covered the territories of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and for three years was upon the road.  On the expiration of that period he began merchandising on his own account at Fairfield, a little country crossroad town, being associated with L. L. Bennett under the firm name of L. L. Bennett & Company.  They carried groceries, drugs, boots and shoes and dry goods.

It was in that year, on the 27^th of December, 1877, that Mr. Catherwood was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hartwell who later became distinguished as an authoress of marked ability.  She is represented on another page of this work.  The marriage took place at the home of his brother, A. T. Catherwood, west of Hoopeston.  For a time our subject and his bride lived in some rooms above his store, spending about two years there.  Mr. Catherwood then sold out to this partner and went to Indianapolis, where he engaged in the grocery business until October, 1882.  He then again sold out and came to Hoopeston.  Her he entered the employ of his brother, A. T. Catherwood, as a bookkeeper, a relation that was maintained until April, 1885, when James Steele Catherwood was appointed postmaster at Hoopeston by Grover Cleveland, succeeding Dale Wallace, who is now his partner.  Mr. Catherwood occupied that position until July, 1889, when he was succeeded by Charles W. Warner.  While acting as postmaster he formed a partnership with Charles A. Allen in the loan, insurance and collecting business and together they continued operations until May, 1890, covering a period of four years.  When this partnership was dissolved Mr. Catherwood entered into partnership relations with Dale Wallace and they have since been thus connected.  The firm does a general insurance loan and land brokerage business.  They have disposed of a number of additions to Hoopeston and have done the leading real estate business of the town for the past twelve years.  To-day their real estate in this city is valuable.  In February, 1888, the North Vermilion Loan & Savings Association was formed and Mr. Catherwood was chosen its secretary, in which position he has served continuously since, covering a period of fifteen consecutive years.  He and his wife owned a farm of four hundred acres in Iroquois county and one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grant township, Vermilion county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Catherwood were born two children, a son, who died in infancy, and Hazel, who is now an art student in Chicago.  Mrs. Catherwood died December 26, 1902, and was laid to rest in Floral Hill cemetery.  For twenty-one years James Steele Catherwood has been a resident of Hoopeston and gradually he has advanced to a prominent position in business circles.

The Past and Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1903, pages 214-221

Indiana counties mentioned in this biography:

Indiana cities mentioned in this biography: Indianapolis, Indiana

Other locations mentioned:  Belmont Co., OH; Hoopeston, Vermilion Co., IL; Ireland; Delaware; Guernsey co., OH; Shelby Co. [?]; Christian Co., IL; Decatur, IL; Concordsville, PA; Old Stonington, Christian county, IL; Saline county, KS; McPherson Co., KS; Ellsworth, KS; Fairfield [this could be a defunct town that was located in Franklin Co., IN, but not sure about this]; Grant twp., Vermilion Co., IL

 

Transcribed by Denise Wells