Jacob Bunn: Legacy of an Illinois Industrial Pioneer

It is not often that you get to read about some of the interesting men who had their 'ups and downs' in creating the industrial history of the mid-west of the USA. Andrew Call brings to life a great guy in this respect: Jake Bunn (1814-1897). You can meet Jake and his family again if you read Stealing Lincoln's Body where he is just as interesting. The writer helps us to learn and understand how business was done by such companies as: Illinois Watch, Sangamo Electric Co. and even the very obscure Bunn-O-Matic Corp. But more importantly we learn about the legacy of "honorable behavior towards creditors' during tough times that the Bunn banking family showed during the Panic of 1973. This is a fine biography that reminds us of the importance of 'ethics and integrity' in business from a young first-time writer.

Though I find my usual tastes rest solely within the fiction genre, I was surprised by the excitement with which I turned pages through this author's first effort. The book reads like a Who's Who Among American History's Past at times; traverse history during a turbulent, though defining, time as America itself develops from infant to industrial giant-with your guide Jacob Bunn. Resourceful, ambitious, and passionate, Jacob has his ups and downs (though overwhelmingly successful) as he risks business venture after business venture-always keeping his focus on integrity. From grocery stores, banks, and timepieces, to close personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, Jacob Bunn seems to have tried it all. You'll be surprised to find out what you didn't know as the author drops historical names that can be directly or indirectly associated with Mr. Bunn (maybe even more surprised by some of the ways Jacob continues to influence everyday life in the present day). Colorful and educated conjecture, but never far-reaching hyperbole, each period in time is described thoughtfully and accurately. A must read for any history buff, and a `gateway book' for all of those who aren't.