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LEONARD REISCH, of the firm of Reisch & Thoma, dry goods merchants, 126 South Sixth street, east side of the square, is a native of Springfield, Sangamon county, Illinois, and is twenty_three years of age. He was educated in St. Louis, and after leaving school went to Bloomington, and was two years there connected with a furniture house. Soon after returning to Springfield, he formed a partnership with Henry Thoma, and in May, 1881, purchased the stock of dry goods of L. H. Coleman, and succeeded him as the proprietors of one of the oldest and most prosperous retail dry goods houses in Springfield. Their business occupies two stories of the building, twenty_one by one hundred feet, on the first floor, and forty_two by one hundred on the second floor. Their stock invoiced $65,000, and the sales for 1880 were $135,000. The business of the new firm gives flattering promise, and employs seven salesmen. This house has the reputation of carrying the finest goods in the market. They make a specialty of elegant dress goods, trimmings, and notions.

HENRY THOMA, the other partner of this firm, has been identified with the dry goods trade of Springfield ten years, and nine years with Mr. Coleman, in the store of which he is now joint proprietor. He is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and is twenty_six years of age, and commenced his mercantile career at fourteen, as delivery boy. During the years 1878 and 1879, he was Deputy in the County Treasurer's office, an experience of great value in a business way. In the spring of 1879, he married Miss Laura Westenberger, of Springfield.