Mr. Velie was born April 21, 1830, near Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, his boyhood, until he arrived at the age of fifteen years, being spent upon his father's farm in that county. During this period he attended the public schools of that locality. In 1845 he went to New York City, where he made his home with his grandfather, Stephen Herrick, who was engaged in the commission business. While with his grandfather, Mr. Velie obtained valuable business training and experience which was of great advantage to him in later life. After remaining for some time in the home of his grandfather, Mr. Velie went to Poughkeepsie in the same state, and in 1847 came west, locating in St. Louis, Missouri. Here he was employed in the wholesale grocery house of Edward J. Gay & Company. Mr. Gay, the head of the firm, made his home in Louisiana, and was after-wards elected to congress from his district in that state. At this time Mr. Velie lived with him at his Louisiana home and man-aged his large plantation for a period of two years during his employer's term in congress. He again returned to St. Louis where he remained until 1854 when he came to Rock Island. For five years after removing to this city he had charge of the C. C. Webber & Company's foundry, at the expiration of which time he went to Princeton, Illinois, where he was for two years engaged in the mercantile business.
On May 10, 1860, Mr. Velie married Miss Emma C. Deere, daughter of John Deere, the founder of Moline's great plow works, and of this marriage five children were born, they being Charles Deere Velie, one of the present managers of Deere & Company's branch house at Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stephen Henry, Jr., manager of that firm's branch house at Kansas City, Missouri, and also of the Velie Harness Company of the same city; Willard Lamb, president of the Velie Carriage Company, of Moline; John Deere Velie, who died August 14, 1870, and Grace Deere Velie, the wife of Stuart Harper of Rock Island.
On May 10, 1860, Mr. Velie married Miss Emma C. Deere, daughter of John Deere, the founder of Moline's great plow works, and of this marriage five children were born, they being Charles Deere Velie, one of the present managers of Deere & Company's branch house at Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stephen Henry, Jr., manager of that firm's branch house at Kansas City, Missouri, and also of the Velie Harness Company of the same city; Willard Lamb, president of the Velie Carriage Company, of Moline; John Deere Velie, who died August 14, 1870, and Grace Deere Velie, the wife of Stuart Harper of Rock Island.
Mr. Velie was born April 21, 1830, near Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, his boyhood, until he arrived at the age of fifteen years, being spent upon his father's farm in that county. During this period he attended the public schools of that locality. In 1845 he went to New York City, where he made his home with his grandfather, Stephen Herrick, who was engaged in the commission business. While with his grandfather, Mr. Velie obtained valuable business training and experience which was of great advantage to him in later life. After remaining for some time in the home of his grandfather, Mr. Velie went to Poughkeepsie in the same state, and in 1847 came west, locating in St. Louis, Missouri. Here he was employed in the wholesale grocery house of Edward J. Gay & Company. Mr. Gay, the head of the firm, made his home in Louisiana, and was after-wards elected to congress from his district in that state. At this time Mr. Velie lived with him at his Louisiana home and man-aged his large plantation for a period of two years during his employer's term in congress. He again returned to St. Louis where he remained until 1854 when he came to Rock Island. For five years after removing to this city he had charge of the C. C. Webber & Company's foundry, at the expiration of which time he went to Princeton, Illinois, where he was for two years engaged in the mercantile business.
On May 10, 1860, Mr. Velie married Miss Emma C. Deere, daughter of John Deere, the founder of Moline's great plow works, and of this marriage five children were born, they being Charles Deere Velie, one of the present managers of Deere & Company's branch house at Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stephen Henry, Jr., manager of that firm's branch house at Kansas City, Missouri, and also of the Velie Harness Company of the same city; Willard Lamb, president of the Velie Carriage Company, of Moline; John Deere Velie, who died August 14, 1870, and Grace Deere Velie, the wife of Stuart Harper of Rock Island.
On May 10, 1860, Mr. Velie married Miss Emma C. Deere, daughter of John Deere, the founder of Moline's great plow works, and of this marriage five children were born, they being Charles Deere Velie, one of the present managers of Deere & Company's branch house at Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stephen Henry, Jr., manager of that firm's branch house at Kansas City, Missouri, and also of the Velie Harness Company of the same city; Willard Lamb, president of the Velie Carriage Company, of Moline; John Deere Velie, who died August 14, 1870, and Grace Deere Velie, the wife of Stuart Harper of Rock Island.
Bio by: Andrew Vining
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