HENRY L. KOCH
Henry L. Koch, one of Pekin’s successful business men, was born in Germany, November 29, 1845, his education being acquired in the public schools. When he was about three years old his parents emigrated to the United States and located at Sheboygan, Wis. After a residence there of eight years, Mr. Koch removed in 1857 to Peoria, remaining there two years and then, in the spring of 1859, came to Pekin and here entered the drug business. In this he continued for ten months. During the progress of the Civil War he took up arms in defense of the Union, volunteering in the 139th Illinois Infantry for one hundred days, being mustered in June 1, 1864, but continued in the service until honorably discharged in the fall of 1865. Returning to Pekin Mr. Koch engaged in the trade of carriage-trimming and upholstering, in which he continued alone until 1880, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Albertson, and they added wall paper, paint and furniture to their business. They have been most successful in their efforts and today have the most completely stocked establishment of its kind in this section of the State.
Mr. Koch is affiliated with the German Methodist Episcopal Church, is a Republican in his politics, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the German Workingmen’s Society. On March 14, 1871, he was married at Bloomington, Ill., to Miss Katherine Eckhardt, who was born June 9, 1849. They have six surviving children: Rhulph W., Lewis H., Wesley A., Celia E., Clara and George B. The parents of Mr. Koch were John and Mary E. (Schoenfeld) Koch, both natives of Germany, where the former was born February 2, 1817, and the latter in June. 1816. His paternal grandfather was Henry Koch, also a native of Germany.
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Tazewell County - page 1034