This impressive frame house at 209 East Grove appeared in the 1896 edition of Illustrated Bloomington. It was the home of Paul and Catherine Beich and William and Mary Gerken. Paul Beich was at that time a business man in the wholesale business of confections and cigars and had only recently purchased a small candy making concern on Front Street, just down the way from his father in law's business. William Gerken was his father in law and a baker and cracker factory owner. After the marriage of Paul and Catherine, the two couples made their home together in what had been the home of William and Frances Hanna, an attorney in Bloomington. Catherine was the only living child of the Gerkens.
William Gerken was acknowledged as a prominent business man in Bloomington ever since his arrival in 1877 with his wife and two young children. He was active with Turnverein and was among the first twelve members who built the Turnverein building in 1883. The Turnverein was important to the German community for the preservation of German culture and physical fitness. Gymnastics were extremely important to the Turnverein, and the Bloomington organization took part in competitions throughout Illinois. The Turnverein also hosted dinners, dances and theatrical and musical performances.
Prior to living at 209 East Grove, the Gerkens lived at 118 East Front (1880 census) where they also housed three bakers, who assumedly worked for William Gerken in his bakery and cracker factory. The Gerkens also had two servants in the house. William Gerken had many investments, including a flour mill in Bloomington and an 1800 acre farm in Louisiana. The purchase of the flour mill resulted in a lawsuit against his partner and George H. Cox, the seller, who were accused of deceptive practices in the sale of the mill in 1889.
Catherine and Paul Beich were married at her parents' home on Front Street September 4, 1888. Paul Beich had been working with O.H. Peckham, a "candy house" and residing in St. Louis and was attended by groomsmen from St. Louis. The bride wore a gown of white moire silk with a heavily corded train and was ornamented with diamonds. She wore a nosegay of flowers and her attendants were in dressed in silk in colors of blue, cream and pink with various trimmings -- including ostrich feathers and lace points. The men were dressed in conventional black.
After their marriage the young couple must have lived in St. Louis until 1893. Paul Beich was a traveling salesman for one St. Louis candy company for many years and then formed his own candy company in 1891 -- the Beich Buffe Company. In 1893 he purchased a candy business in Bloomington, the J. W. Gray Company. This became the nucleus of the Beich candy empire in Bloomington. Although he owned his own candy concern, he was instrumental in bringing the Lancaster Caramel Factory to Bloomington in 1895. In 1905 Beich bought out the Bloomington (Lancaster of 1895) Caramel Factory near the Union Station and moved his operations to that location. In later years he had a candy factory in Chicago as well.
