My Genealogy Hound

HENRY HORN is prominently connected with the business interests of Du Quoin, where he is engaged in banking, merchandising and coal dealing. He was born in a little village near Cologne, Germany, August 2, 1831. His father was a very poor man, and Henry received but limited educational privileges, attending the village school only until twelve years of age, when he was forced to start out in life for himself. From that early age he has been dependent on his own resources, and the success of his life, for which he deserves great credit, is the reward of his own labors. He was first employed in a restaurant as a waiter. In 1855 he came to America without means, and worked for a time in the east. He then emigrated westward, locating in the northern part of Illinois, and there remained until the financial panic of 1857, when he lost what little money he had saved. It was then that he came to Du Quoin, where, with less than $100, he established a little business.

From that day Mr. Horn has prospered, and has rapidly won a most handsome competence. He embarked in general merchandising, and when he had become well established in that line, he became interested in coal mines. In 1877 he established the Du Quoin Bank, in company with P. N. Pope, who withdrew from the same some years ago, leaving Mr. Horn sole proprietor. In 1878, in company with Mr. Pope and Judge Wall, he built the St. Nicholas Hotel, but afterward sold his interest in that property to the two partners. He is now the proprietor of Horn’s Coalery Company, one of the most extensive mines of this place, which has a capacity of one thousand tons per day. He is also largely interested in stock farms, and in 1884 he went to England to purchase fine stock for the same. He has also made two trips to his native country.

In 1861 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Horn and Miss Mary Feanans, of Ashley, Ill., and to them were born seven children, who are yet living. They have also lost six children. Frank was educated in the college at St. Louis, and is now cashier in the Du Quoin Bank; Mary, who was educated in Belleville, Ill., now has charge of the large mercantile establishment; Thomas, who was educated at the State University of Champaign, is the Superintendent of Horn’s Coalery Company; Minnie, who was educated at a convent in St. Louis, is now Assistant Cashier of the bank; Katie is the wife of N. G. Park, a prominent druggist and the son of Judge Park, of Du Quoin; Lottie has completed her education and is at home with her parents; while Henry, the youngest, is still in school.

It will be seen that Mr. Horn has given his children excellent educational advantages, fitting them for the practical duties of life, and then they have received the training of actual business life by their labors in the various fields mentioned. Mr. Horn and his family are members of the Catholic Church, and when the new house of worship was built, he donated the sum of $10,000 to its erection. He is very generous and liberal toward those enterprises which are calculated to prove of public benefit, and is therefore a valued citizen of the community. Previous to his trip to England in 1884 he was a Democrat, but while abroad he saw the effects of free trade upon the country, and changing his views in consequence, has since been a most stalwart Republican. His success in life seems almost incredible when we know that he came to this country empty-handed, yet nevertheless he has become the wealthiest citizen of Perry County. He is still as active in business as when he was striving to get a start in life, his time being never idly spent. His example is well worthy of emulation, and should serve to encourage others who in youth are not endowed by fortune.