REARICK, WALTER S. - The subject of this personal record is a member of a family whose name has been prominently associated with events in Cass County, Ill., from a somewhat early period, and Walter S. Rearick himself has been one of the principal business men of the town of Ashland for a number of years, besides serving in several responsible civic positions. He is now president of the State Bank in Ashland organized under the management of Skiles, Rearick & Co., with a capital of $50,000 surplus, $25,000.
Walter S. Rearick is a native of Beardstown, Ill., where he was born July 19, 1856, a son of Francis H. and Helen M. (Shaw) Rearick, the father born in Germany in the year 1829, and the mother in Boston, Mass., her death occurring in 1905. The paternal grandparents located in southern Pennsylvania about the year 1835, journeying thence in 1860 to Beardstown, where they spent the remainder of their lives. On the maternal side the grandparents were Joseph and Sarah (Bird) Shaw, the former of Massachusetts, and the latter of Maine. They came to Beardstown from Morgan County, Ill., about the year 1860. All the grandparents of Mr. Rearick are buried in the same lot in the Beardstown cemetery. Francis H. Rearick was in the stove and tinware business in company with his brother, J. W. Rearick. He was married to Helen M. Shaw in Beardstown. In 1858 Francis H. Rearick was elected sheriff of Cass County, serving one term. A few years later he was elected to the office of county judge and held the office two terms. In 1874 he disposed of his business interests here and moved to Galesburg. He and his wife had the following children, namely: Harry, of Galesburg, Ill.; Walter S.; Fannie (Mrs. W. B. Barnes), of Albuquerque, N.M.; Mrs. Louis Becker, of Knoxville, Ill.; Allen, of New York City, attorney for the C. & O. Railroad.
When a youth, Walter S. Rearick received his education in the common schools of Beardstown. In 1874 he entered the Cass County Bank at Beardstown, as bookkeeper, and in 1878 he was elected cashier, in which capacity he served until September, 1881. Then he resigned, and with Petefish Skiles & Co., bankers, of Virginia, organized the Banking House of Riley, Rearick Co., of Ashland, he becoming cashier of said bank. When the bank was incorporated he was elected president, H. B. Baxter being elected vice-president, J. Wyatt, cashier, and E. R. Clemons, assistant cashier.
On April 13, 1882, Walter S. Rearick was united in marriage with Rachel Housekeeper, born in Beardstown, Ill., a daughter of Cheney and Emma (De Haven) Housekeeper, natives of Philadelphia. Mrs. Rearick's father was an attorney, who located in Beardstown in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Rearick have had the following children, namely: Clarice, a teacher at the Chicago Training School; Helen, at home; Annette (Mrs. Harry J. Lohman), of Ashland, Ill.; and Addie, who died in 1893, at the age of five years.
In politics Mr. Rearick is a Democrat, and has served one year as city clerk of Beardstown, and as treasurer of township 17, range 8, since 1885. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church in which he officiated as steward and trustee, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school since 1887. He is affiliated with the A.F. & A.M., belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 929; De Witt Chapter, No. 19, Petersburg, Ill.; and Hospitalier Commandery, of Jacksonville.