Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Truby, Henry T ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 2:06 pm Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County HENRY T. TRUBY, the well-known grain and lumber dealer, is a son of the late Marshall Truby. His ancestors came to America as early as 1733, one of them, Christopher Truby, being an officer and patriot in the Revolutionary war. His father, Marshall, was born in Armstrong County, Pa., and was reared in the east, where for some time he was captain on Ohio and Allegheny River boats. With a fleet of packets, in 1852, he journeyed down the Ohio, up the Mississippi and the Illinois, thence to the canal, where he engaged in the forwarding business between Lasalle and Chicago, at the same time buying and improving a farm. In a few years he sold his boats and bought a tract of raw land adjoining the present city limits of Joliet, a portion of which is now included in Bush park. For some time he devoted his attention closely to the improvement of his property. During the war he resumed work on the canal, running a line of freight boats. He also made trips from Chicago to Nashville, Tenn., bearing government supplies to the front and delivering his cargoes each time in safety, although, owing to the proximity of the Confederates, it was necessary to be guarded by gunboats. When the war was ended he began in the grain business, having an elevator on the canal at South Bluff street. Adjoining the site of his elevator, he started a lumber yard, which he conducted successfully. In 1870 he removed to Birds Bridge, this county, to engage in the grain business, and he built an elevator there, making shipments of grain both by canal and railroad. He continued in business in that village from 1870 to 1897, and during that entire time served as postmaster, also for some time held school offices and was a justice of the peace. In politics he was a Republican, but never exhibited a partisan spirit, believing that a true citizen rose above party in loyal devotion to country. The First Presbyterian Church of Joliet numbered him among its members. The success which he gained entitled him to respect. Without any means to aid him in securing a start, and with no influence to help him along except his own good name and upright conduct, with these and by untiring industry and intelligent management, he steadily rose until he occupied a position of marked consideration in business circles in Will County. If the title of self-made can with justice be given any man, it certainly belonged to him, for, against adverse circumstances, and in the face of obstacles, he had the energy and determination to attain a high degree of success. There was no detail of the grain business with which he was unfamiliar. Nor did that business represent the limit of his energies. He was also interested in the lumber business as a member of the firm of Truby & Co., and he maintained a supervision of his farm at Birds Bridge, seven miles west of Joliet. In addition, he was senior partner in the firm of M. Truby & Son, owners of elevators both at Joliet and Elwood. After seventy-seven useful and active years, he passed into eternity, July 26, 1897, followed to the grave by the respect of those with whom he had long been associated. The marriage of Marshall Truby united him with Maria McCracken, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is still living at the old home at Birds Bridge, in Troy Township. The family to which she belongs came to America from the north of Ireland, but is of Scotch origin. In her family there are three daughters and a son living. The latter, who was next to the oldest of the children, was born in Joliet, September 12, 1852. He was educated in the schools of Joliet, Jennings Seminary of Aurora, and the Metropolitan Commercial College of Chicago. He then became a bookkeeper in his father's office. In 1875 the firm of M. Truby & Son embarked in the grain business. Five years later they bought the two Elwood elevators, taking J. C. Beattie as a partner, and in 1888 purchased the Jesse elevator in Joliet, the first-named having a capacity of forty thousand bushels, and the latter ten thousand. In 1891 Truby & Co. started a lumber business across from the elevator in Joliet, having two acres for yards and sheds, and building up a large trade in lumber and building material. Since the father's death the son, Henry T. Truby, has conducted the business with J. C. Beattie, selling both at wholesale and retail. Besides this business, he is interested, as a director, in the Will County Abstract Company. Fraternally Mr. Truby is a member of the blue lodge of Masons and in politics he votes with the Republican party. He was united in marriage, in Channahon, with Miss Charlotte Beardsley Fryer, daughter of Hon. J.N. Fryer, an old settler of Channahon Township, where she was born. One son living, Charles L., blesses their union. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/truby1180gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb