HERBERT RAILSBACK DENNIS
Herbert Railsback Dennis was born in Forrest, Livingston County. Ill., January 15, 1870, and came to Tazewell County with his parents in 1875. The .early part of his life was spent on a farm in Tazewell County near Mackinaw. He attended the Boston school in Little Mackinaw township until he was sixteen years of age, after which he entered Eureka College and finished his education at the State Normal University, Normal, Ill. in 1896. For twelve years he was a successful teacher in the public schools of Tazewell and adjoining counties, being superintendent of the Morton schools for a period of five years, and was foremost in promoting the Township High School idea in Morton Township. Mr. Dennis was active in the organization of the First National Bank of East Peoria, and was elected Vice President and Cashier after its inception. He has since had entire management of the affairs of the bank and is its largest stockholder, as well as being one of the five directors of the bank. His paternal grandparents were John Clinton and Rachel Anne (Conover) Dennis, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The maternal grandfather was D. G. A. Railsback, a native of Kentucky, who married Miss Eleanor Waller, born in Illinois. The parents of our subject were John Conover Dennis and Susan A. (Railsback) Dennis, the former having been born in Morgan County, Ill., in 1830, and the latter in Tazewell County, October 30, 1839. Mr. Dennis is a follower of the Christian Church, and in politics a Republican.
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Tazewell County - page 997