George Michael Flick, retired, was born near Centerville, St. Clair county, Illinois, May, 5, 1845, and has claimed Streator as his home for more than a quarter of a century. Michael and Mary Ann (Miller) Flick. the parents, were born in Germany and came to the United States and settled in St. Clair county, this state, where the father engaged in market gardening for a year. They then moved upon a farm in this county, where they resided until death eleven years later. Both parents died during the year 1857, leaving four sons: Frank P., Charles E., John and George Michael. Three of the brothers were soldiers in the civil war.
Mr. Flick, our subject, attended the common school and remained on the farm until the death of his parents, when he was twelve years old. He also attended Oakfield University at Oakfield two years, receiving a good education. His next step was to secure a clerkship in the store of Vosburge & Snow at Earlville, this county. He remained with this firm until the cloud which had so long enveloped our land broke forth in the storm of rebellion, when he took up arms to help avert the calamity which threatened the nation. He enlisted in the Fifty-third Illinois Regiment, Company D, under Captain James E. Hudson and Colonel Seth C. Earl. Among the more important engagements in which he took part were those fought in 1863 at Jackson, Mississippi. They were ordered from Camp Douglas at Chicago to St. Louis, from there to Paducah, Kentucky, and thence to Savannah, Tennessee. They assisted in the siege of Vicksburg. the fight at Atlanta, and were with Sherman when he made his memorable march to the sea. They then returned through the Carolinas to Washington and took part in the grand review, and were sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were mustered out, in 1865. He has suffered all the privations which is the lot of our brave soldier boys, and had many startling experiences and narrow escapes which furnish the topic for many an interesting story. After returning home Mr. Flick engaged in the butchering business with his brother John for some sixteen months. After that he was interested in various employments until 1872, when he came to Streator and opened a meat market, which he conducted until 1894, building up a good trade which has netted him a competency. He then disposed of his shop and purchased a small farm of twenty acres near the city, devoting it to the culture of small fruits of various kinds. He gives almost all his time and attention to this fruit farm, and is known as one of the most successful grape-producers in the county.
On the thirteenth of November, 1869, Mr. Flick was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Knoedler, who was born October 7, 1851, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Masner) Knoedler. Mrs. Flick's parents were born in Wittenberg, Germany, emigrated to America and were residents of Illinois at the time of the father's death. The mother is still living and makes her home with her children. These children are Charles F.; Caroline, wife of A. Hartman, of Chicago; Mrs. A. Weiss; Mrs. Sophia Deist, of Chicago; Lucy, wife of Colonel Breitting, of Chicago; and Mrs. Flick. To Mr. and Mrs. Flick have been born three children, who were reared to lives of usefulness and are now among our most popular and esteemed residents. Cora B., born June 27, 1870; William C, August 31, 1872; and Meta P., April 16, 1877. Cora B. taught in graded schools previous to her death, in her twenty-second year; William C. is a teller in the Union National Bank; and Meta P. is one of the most efficient teachers in the high school of the city. Mr. Flick is a strong Republican and a prominent member of Streator Post, No. 68, G. A. R.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 88-89.
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