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CYRUS P. TREAT. Fertile Massac county, Illinois, has been the Mecca of many business men from states to the east. Among their number is Cyrus P. Treat, president of the City National Bank of Metropolis, who is also treasurer and manager of the Central Fence and Machine Company. Nearly a score of years have passed since he numbered himself among its citizenship, and concentrated his efforts on the enterprises which have carried his name to such high place among its people. Mr. Treat was born on a farm in Summit county, Ohio, November 24, 1842. He comes of New England stock, his father, Richard B. Treat, having come out from Litchfield, Connecticut, and established himself on a Summit county farm in the Buckeye state. The senior Mr. Treat, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut, about 1805, and married Miss Amorette Hutchins, who died at about the same age as her husband. She was a sister of Hon. John Hutchins, who represented an Ohio district in the lower house of Congress. Richard B. Treat was the father of eight children, of which number those surviving are: Harriet, who became the wife of Lemuel P. Wolcott and resides in Tallmadge, Ohio; R. B. of San Francisco, California; Orange S., of Tallmadge, Ohio; Amorette, who is the wife of Rev. J. S. Upton, of Oberlin, Ohio; Cyrus P., of Metropolis, Illinois; and Flora, wife of Charles H. Sackett, of Tallmadge, Ohio.

Cyrus P. Treat started life with only the knowledge that could be imparted by the country schools of that time and place. Just before coming of age he left the old home and struck out for himself. He first found work around Warren, Ohio, and there met and fell in love with the young lady who later became his wife. Having acquired confidence in his own efforts and abilities, the big city became his next ambition. He went to Cleveland, Ohio, studied bookkeeping and general office work and for eighteen years was associated with firms of high standing in that community, among them the Roberts Manufacturing Company. He worked his way into the esteem of his employers and was regarded as one of their confidential and most trustworthy men. From Cleveland Mr. Treat went to Fostoria, Ohio, where he recognized a good business opening. For four years he was engaged

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there in the manufacture of barrel hoops. Then he came to Illinois, locating in the community which has since been his home.

In Metropolis his business abilities speedily secured for him the confidence of the citizens and it was not long before they asked his services in a public way. He served eight years as president of the Board of Education, and remembering the drawbacks that had encompassed his youth through the paucity of the country school curriculum, he took especial pleasure in developing the Metropolis schools and in co-operating with the efforts of all who had that end in view. He was mayor of the city from 1908 to 1910, during which time the city sewer system was installed, an event that marked an epoch in the history of the city. All departments of the civic scheme of affairs were systematized and brought to a high standard under Mr. Treat's administration.

Mr. Treat was married, July 11, 1866, to Miss Emma Purington, a daughter of Rev. N. B. Purington, a Presbyterian minister, of Warren, Ohio. Mrs. Treat's death occurred at Metropolis, July 23, 1911. Helen, wife of S. C. Miller, is the only child of their household. A little granddaughter, Emma Louise, graces the home of Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Mr. Treat is a man of commanding presence, in appearance and in actuality a leader among men. Austerity is not, however, one of his characteristics, but he is courteous and affable in all his relations with those about him. He has been a deep student of symbolic, capitular, cryptic and chivalric Masonry, and has been honored by his fraters far beyond the usual lot of man. He is past master of Metropolis Lodge No. 91; past high priest of Metropolitan Chapter No. 101; past commander of Gethsemane Commandery No. 41, at Metropolis; and has been a member of the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery of Illinois. His religious faith is Presbyterian.