1892 Joseph W. Theena Butcher Shop		1907 Metamora Herald Ad

Joseph A. Theena, Butcher

 January 17, 1840 – January 24, 1907

          Joseph was born in Prussia, Germany and at the age of six years came to the new world with his parents Mathias and Anna Margaretta Poffenholtz Theena. For two years the family made their home in Chicago, IL and in 1848 moved to Peoria, IL.

In 1863 he married Emma Young in Peoria, who lived but a few years. On the 19^th of April, 1869 he married Miss Catherine Kallista. Twelve children were born to them, two died in infancy, five sons and five daughters grew to adulthood.

            During his boyhood and youth, Joseph attended school in Peoria and at the age of eleven commenced learning the butcher’s trade with John C. Calhoun. In 1869, after four years of  learning the trade, he opened a meat market in Metamora with David Safford. He successfully engaged in the butcher business, with the exception of two years in the 1870’s. Besides his business property he owned about two hundred acres of land in and near the city, which he operated in connection with the butchering business. He also dealt in livestock.

From the Metamora Herald dated January 25, 1907 

Joseph Theena is dead. A sigh of regret came from every resident of Metamora when this melancholy news was passed around Thursday morning. Even though the coming of the grim reaper was expected for months, the passing of this great and noble life has thrown a pall over the community and Metamora mourns as one man.

 From the Metamora Herald dated February 1, 1907  Vol. 54 – No. 21

             Prior to the removal of the body to St. Mary’s Church for the final services a large concourse of friends gathered at the house to view the remains for the last time. There were no services at the house, but Mayor J. C. Irving, who was an almost lifetime friend of the deceased and who perhaps knew him better than any living man outside of the immediate family, spoke a few eloquent words of tribute, which touched a responsive chord in the hearts of all present as being the whole truth.