Henry Truitt, III   

Born in 1887, Henry was the only child of Rollin and Effie Truitt. He went to local grade and high schools in Chillicothe and later attended Bradley Polytechnic Institute (later named Bradley University in 1946.) From there he transferred to the University of Illinois where he received a Bachelor of Science degree.

Upon graduating, he married Helen Jordan. They had five children—Henry IV, Jordan, Barbara, Janet, and Robert. He began working as a Peoria County Advisor for a time and went on to become a County Agent for the Peoria County Farm Bureau. In 1920, Henry was working as a teller at the family’s Truitt-Matthews Bank. In 1922 he became Vice President of the bank.

Nathaniel Cutright (husband of Henry’s half-aunt) had founded and built the Chillicothe Canning Factory in 1883 along the banks of the Illinois River, located in what became known as Cutright Park. For about a year Henry managed the canning factory for Nathaniel, and then in 1921, Henry decided, (presumably with the help of his father,) to purchase the canning factory and move it to Princeville to be near where the crops were being grown. 

In 1934, during the Great Depression (1929-1939), the canning factory was in deep debt and failing. Distraught, Henry thought the only way to save the company and take care of his family was to end his life and provide his family with the $100,000 from his life insurance policy. He ingested potassium cyanide, and death came instantly. His sacrifice worked and his family benefited from the full payout of the life insurance. The Princeville Canning Factory survived the Depression and is still in business today, employing many people from all around the area. Henry Truitt, III was buried in the Chillicothe Cemetery.

Henry Truitt, IV

Henry was born in his mother’s bedroom in Chillicothe in 1913. He was the first of five children of Henry Truitt, III and Helen Jordan Truitt. Henry lived in Chillicothe all his life.

Henry was educated in the Chillicothe Township grade and high schools graduating in 1932.  From high school, he went on to attend the University of Illinois pursuing a degree in business.

During his sophomore year in 1934, with the untimely death of his father, young Henry’s education was cut short as he was called home to Chillicothe to help his mother run the Princeville Cannery.

In 1935 Henry was made CEO and part owner of the canning factory. He was President, Treasurer, and listed his job as a canner. Throughout the years and during the Depression era, the Princeville Cannery gave many people jobs from Princeville, Chillicothe, and surrounding areas.

Henry ran the Cannery with his mother until the age of 27. He then enlisted in the Navy in 1944 spending time at the Great Lakes Naval Base and on the Pacific during and after WW II. He was honorably discharged as a Seaman 1st class in 1946.

In 1947, Henry married Jane Ingles in Indiana. They went on a honeymoon to Louisiana so that he could manage the St. Francisville factory during the yam harvest. He then returned to his home and his brother Jordan took over the factory in Louisiana. Now back in Chillicothe, he ran the Canning Factory alongside his mother.

From 1947–1951, Henry and Jane lived in a small cottage on the Illinois River between Rome and Chillicothe. The couple had three sons; Henry (Handy) Truitt, V, Lawrence, and Andrew.

In 1970, the Princeville Canning Factory merged with the Joan of Arc Company, with Henry on the board of directors from 1935–1964. After retiring, Henry remained on the board of directors of the Joan of Arc Canning Co. The factory, is still running and continues to employ many people from the surrounding areas.   

Henry, IV died at the age of 75 of acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease in 1989. He is buried in the Chillicothe Cemetery.