An Ohio native, John Wilcox (1858-1920) came to McLean County as a child. During adulthood he ran a sawmill and later a successful tile factory. Sons George and later Grant were also involved in the tile business. The “Tile Factory School” was so named because it was located near the tile factory.
The collection focuses on the tile factory business, the local school district and other miscellaneous. Newspaper articles, business correspondence and financial records, stock certificates, and more are included.