Mr. Wathen is a Kentuckian and came to Tazewell county in 1835, where he remained until 1857, then removing to El Paso where he has since resided. In 1852 he entered 160 acres west of the Illinois Central railroad, and in 1854 platted part of it into town lots. On March 31, 1857, he and Mr. Gibson formally conveyed the streets, alleys and parks to the new town, which then embraced the territory now known as the Original Town, containing eighty acres on either side of the Central. Mr. Wathen was elected mayor in 1869 and 1870.
 

GEO. L. GIBSON.

Mr. Gibson is a Pennsylvanian. He came with his father's family to Tazewell county in 1831. At the age of 25 he engaged in flat-boating and trading on the Lower Mississippi. In 1849 when the gold fever broke out he made the overland trip to California, returning to Illinois two years later to engage in the lumber business in Henry. About this time he entered 160 acres of land, comprising that part of El Paso which lies east of the Illinois Central railroad. In 1854 he laid this out in town lots and three years afterward moved to the new city. Mr. Gibson was the city’s second mayor.
 
 

C. SCHAFER.

Mr. Schafer is a native of Germany. At 13 years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of shoemaker. Five years later be came to Wheeling, W. Va. and in 1853 to Peoria. He settled in Kappa one year later and ran a shoe shop until 1859, when he removed to this city and followed his trade until '62 when he opened a grocery store. He built the first business house in block 42, being the second store building erected in the city. He remained in general merchandising until about three years ago when he retired.

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