USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 20
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On February 11, 1892, Mr. Jeremiah was married in DuQuoin to Miss Elizabeth Davis, a daughter of Pat J. Davis, a mine manager and a native of Illinois. Mrs. Jeremiah was born in Perry county, and is the mother of six children : Otis, Guernzie, Lyle, Loren, Cleo and Garnie, but the latter died at the age of six years.
FRED POTTHAST. Among this section's prosperous and substantial citizens is Fred Potthast, whose fine farm of one hundred and fifty-two aeres, purchased in 1902, is located tive miles southwest of Greenville. He is helpfully interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the com- munity and is of well-proved publie spirit and progressiveness. Mr. Potthast was born in Madison county, December 5. 1871, and is of Ger- man descent, his father, Henry Potthast, having been born in the Father- land. He came to America at the age of twenty-one years and located in Madison county, where he engaged in farming. He married soon after coming to America, the young woman to become his bride being Agnes Rommerskirchen, a native of Prussia. To their union were born the following six children: Joe. Frank. Fred, Herman, Theodore and Mary. Mr. Potthast, the elder, continued to reside in Madison county until his death, which deprived the community of one of its most estimable citizens. The mother is still living in Greenville. Bond county. After the death of her first husband she married Antoine Wolf. The subject's father was a Democrat in his political conviction and in the matter of religion was a communieant of the Catholic church.
The early life of Fred Potthast, immediate subject of this review, was spent in Madison county, in whose public schools he was a student until the age of fifteen years. He then came to Bond county and located near Pierron, and in a school near that place continned his studies. The fam- ily then removed to a homestead southeast of Greenville, and here Fred reached manhood. In 1889 he was united in marriage to Miss La na Sharer, daughter of Fred and Iulia Scharer, who has proved an ideal helpmeet and been of great assistance to him in securing his present pros- perity. They share their home with two children. Agnes and Fred- eriek.
Vol. III-9
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For a number of years Mr. Potthast lived with his wife and family south of Greenville, but in 1902 they purchased their present farm, a property possessing many advantages, and which under careful and in- telligent management has been greatly increased in value. Mr. Potthast is the friend of the best education procurable, (as he is of all good meas- ures) and for some time served with faithfulness and efficiency as a mem- ber of the school board. He has given hand and heart to the men and measures of the Democratic party since his carliest voting days and his re- ligious conviction is that of the Catholic church, in which he and his family are zealous communicants.
HENRY WILLIAM SIIRYOCK was born in Olney, Illinois, on March 25, 1861, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wood) Shryock, of that city. The father was a farmer, stock-breeder and merchant, and one of the most respected citizens of the county in which he lived and operated. He was a man of energy and fine business capacity, and was successful in all his undertakings by reason of his industry, integrity, ability and strict attention to every duty in all the relations of life.
The son of William and Elizabeth Shryock began his education in the public schools, and was graduated in a classical course from the Olney high school. Later he matriculated at the Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, and in 1893 the university conferred upon him the de- grec of Bachelor of Philosophy. He served as principal of the Olney high school for eleven years, and at the end of that period was called to the chair of Literature and Rhetoric in the Southern Illinois Normal Uni- versity, soon thereafter being clected vice-president and registrar of the institution. To his duties in the university he gives the most careful at- tention, and employs his full power in their performance. But in spite of the fact that those duties are numerous and exacting, his enthusiasm enables him to find time and strength for a vast amount of work outside on the lecture platform.
During the last seventeen years he has lectured on educational topics in sixty-seven counties in Illinois and twenty-three in Indiana ; and has done similar work at many places in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. He has also delivered addresses at the University of West Virginia and the following State Normal Schools: St. Cloud, Minnesota : Winona, Minnesota ; Platteville, Wisconsin ; Whitewater, Wisconsin ; and other institutions of learning, and has disenssed sociology and literature before many Chautauqua audiences and various clubs, both for men and women. In this line of work the demands for his services are many more than he can comply with, for he is a most impressive and popular speaker.
For the benefit of his classes and the reading publie in general he has published a translation of Moliere's "A Doctor in Spite of Him- self," a very difficult task, but one in which Professor Shryock has won a notable triumph. The wit and humor of Moliere is so subtle and elu- sive that it is exceedingly difficult to carry over into a foreign language, without loss of flavor, but in his hands its spirit has been caught and preserved in sparkling English. He has also published an annotated edition of Tennyson's "Princess," which has been very favorably re- ceived and is highly commended by the most competent crities of the country, being of great value to the ordinary reader. He is at present engaged in the preparation of a set of readers for one of the leading book publishing houses.
The Professor has never lost his deep interest in the cause of publie education. The very nature of his work and place of its performance would keep him in touch with it, but back of that is his own carnest de- sire for the enduring welfare of the country, and his positive approval of
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public instruetion is one of the most powerful agencies in promoting it. He has been the president of the Southern Illinois Teachers' Association and is at this time (1911) president of the State Teachers' Association. He is also a leading member of the State Educational Association and takes an active part in all its proceedings. Mr. Shryock has traveled not only in all parts of the United States, but has twice visited the leading countries of Europe,
On July 14, 1886, Professor Shryock was married to Miss Jessie Bur- nett, of Olney. They have one child, Burnett Henry. All the members of the family are warmly welcomed in social eireles everywhere, and con- sidered valuable additions to the most brilliant functions. Wherever they are known they enjoy in full measure the highest esteem, regard and admiration of all classes of the people, yet get no more in this respect than they richly and justly deserve,
ALLEN THOMAS SPIVEY, the active and efficient postmaster of Shawnee- town, Illinois, has not had an easy row to hoe in life. Ile, however, is endowed with that gift from Pandora's box, Hope, and with this and his indomitable courage he has been able to win suceess in spite of all ob- stacles. He occupies a position of considerable influence in this part of the state through his editorship of the Shawneetown News-Gleaner, and in the columns of his paper his voice is continually heard on the side of good government and progress. Through this paper he has accomplished much for the public good, and the citizens of this section realize that if the Shawneetown News-Gleaner can be persuaded to espouse a cause it is a long step towards its success. As a politician Mr. Spivey has always taken a prominent part in the work of his party, and is everywhere recog- nized as one of the leaders of the Republican party in Southern Illinois. As a business man he is also progressive and up-to-date, as will be seen in a further aceount of his career.
Allen Thomas Spivey is the son of Thomas Jefferson Spivey, who was born in Gates county, North Carolina, February 18, 1830. His father was the founder of the family in this country, having been brought to America at the age of two years. This rather young pioneer was Thomas Sawyer Spivey, and was born in England, February 25, 1799. When quite a young man he married Teresa Eason, his wife being still younger, her age being fourteen. She was of Scoteh deseent. He received a fairly good education for those times and came to Illinois in 1832, his profes- sion being that of a school teacher. He settled in Shawneetown and taught school for a number of years. He was greatly respected in the com- munity, both for his learning and for his good common sense. He was cleeted justice of the peace, and in 1856 was elected to the higher posi- tion of eounty judge. He served in this capacity for four years. In 1860 he moved out to a farm near Shawneetown, and there he died in 1862. His wife survived him for many years, and for a long time before her death was a living example to all around her of the beauty of Christian patience and fortitude, for she was blind for many years. She died in 1888, having reared the large family of ten children. Sallie. Murray, Lydia and Thomas JJefferson were all born in North Carolina. Annie. Henry, Mollie, Caroline and Louise were all born in Shawneetown. Of these many children all have passed into the Great Beyond save two. Caroline is unmarried and lives in Shawneetown and Louise is a widow and lives in New Albany, Indiana. ยท Thomas Jefferson Spivey enme to Shawneetown with his parents in 1832. He grew up here and received his education in the public schools. When the gold fever swept over the country in 1849, he was seized with the ambition to go to the west and try his fortune at picking up the nng-
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gets. He went to California, but returned two years later, having suf- fered disappointment in his search, like so many others. On his return he bought a farm seven miles west of Shawneetown, and settled down to the quiet life of the farmer. He was married March 12, 1857, to Sallie Annie Smyth, born January 27, 1841, a daughter of Samuel Marshall Smyth, who was a native of Londonderry county, Ireland, and has set- tled in Gallitin county in youth. Success came to Thomas Jefferson Spivey. His farm prospered and he won many friends through his pub- lic activities. He was a Democrat, and although he never sought office, yet he served conscientiously in several minor offices of the community. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian church, and for twenty-five years he was an elder in the Ringgold Presbyterian church, while his wife was a leader in many of the church activities. Ten chil- dren were born to this couple: Quintin E., Minnie, Marguerite, Addie, Annie, William Walter, Samuel Simon, Gertrude, Allen Thomas and Marshall.
Allen Thomas Spivey was born on the Spivey farm, seven miles west of Shawneetown, on the 5th of April, 1875. He was educated in the coun- try schools until he was of high school age, when he was placed in the Shawneetown high school. He attended school during the winters and during vacations he worked on the farm, so life did not have much play time for this youngster. In 1894 he finished school, but he did not feel that he was as well equipped for the world which, from his youthful ex- perience, he knew was not one of ease, so he entered a commercial col- lege in Evansville. He remained there during the winter of 1894-1895 and until 1896 he worked at various occupations, gathering a broad, general knowledge of different phases of business. In December of 1896 he commenced work as an apprentice in a printing office, having decided that journalism was the profession which had the strongest attraction for him. He did not believe that he could ever become a successful jour- nalist unless he possessed some practical knowledge, and furthermore he had no powerful friends to get him a position as "cub" reporter. After his apprenticeship he followed the trade, working in various offices, but it was not long before his chance came to get into the real work of jour- nalism. In 1897 he formed a partnership with A. C. Clippinger, and they published the Norris City, Illinois, Record. This venture not prov- ing to be as successful as he had hoped, he sold out his interest and re- turned to Shawneetown in 1898. Here he again took up his trade, and worked at it until the winter of 1899, when he went to Henderson, Ken- tucky, continuing to work as a printer. No opening seemed to be in sight and, as nearly discouraged as it is possible for Mr. Spivey to become, he gave up his trade and in the spring of 1900 went to St. Louis and entered the employ of a wholesale sash and door company. The call of the print- er's ink was too strong for him, however, and whem a chance came to go baek to his old trade he accepted it gladly. In this capacity he re- turned to Shawneetown in the fall of 1900. He only remained in news- paper work for a few months, however, becoming a bookkeeper in a hard- ware store in the spring of 1901. He also served as the assessor of the Shawnce township during the spring of 1901, and in April of that year he was elected city treasurer of Shawneetown for a term of two years.
Hle had always been economical, and had denied himself many com- forts in the hope that some day he might be able to buy a paper of his own. Now his dream was realized, for with his small savings he invested in a Washington hand press and some type, bought a little printing office, and November 8, 1901, the first issue of the Shawneetown Gleaner was on the streets. This was the turning point of his career. He was no longer to knock about from pillar to post, for the paper was a success from the
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start. So prosperous was it, in fact, that on the 2nd of March, 1902, al- most exactly five months since the first issue, Mr. Spivey was able to an- nounce his purchase of the Shawnee News, a Republican newspaper. The Gleaner had been the third newspaper in Shawneetown, and while the size of the place scarcely warranted the publication of three papers it could easily support two. Mr. Spivey, therefore, consolidated the papers of which he was the owner, under the title. The Shawncetown News-Gleaner. The paper continued to grow and prospects looked brighter every day. The debts were all about paid off on the plant when suddenly disaster came in the shape of a fire that destroyed the whole thing on the morning of the 4th of June, 1904. The insurance was small and the loss was heavy, but success had onee come to Mr. Spivey and now nothing could discourage him. Taking the insurance money as a neleus he began all over again; bought another plant and continued to publish the paper without missing an issue. His confidence was fully justified, for now the paper is one of the most influential in Southern Illinois. He is now president of The Southern Illinois Editorial Association, an organiza- tion composed of almost every editor in Southern Illinois. He has the confidence and respect of all of them and was the only person ever elected to the office without opposition.
He was appointed postmaster of Shawneetown on the 21st of Jan- ary, 1907, and is now serving his second term. Now that the Demo- eratie party is beginning to show its strength, the Republican party should congratulate itself upon the fact that such a loyal worker as Mr. Spivey is to be found among its ranks.
Mr. and Mrs. Spivey are both members and active workers of the Presbyterian church in Shawneetown, and in the fraternal world Mr. Spivey is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, affiliating with Warren lodge, and of the Masonic order. Chapter No. 14, of Shawnee- town.
Mr. Spivey was married in MeLeansboro, Illinois, on the 25th of De- cember, 1901, to Mary O'Neal Wright, a daughter of T. B. Wright. The latter was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and her mother was Mary O'Neal, who was the daughter of John William O'Neal. Her father was the nephew of a man who was a political leader in Democratic circles in Southern Illinois for many years. This man was Judge Samuel Marshall, who was congressman for six terms, the first time in 1855-1857, and the last time in 1873-1875. Mrs. Spivey was edu- cated in the common schools of MeLeansboro and later attended college in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Spivey are the parents of two children : Mittase Wright Spivey was born on the 10th of September. 1902, and their son, Allen Thomas Spivey, Jr., was born on the Ist of October, 1911.
Mr. Spivey possesses those characteristies that make a man loved and honored by the community. Hle is straight-forward and conscien- tions in all of his business dealings. His prosperity has been built up not through snatching the bread from the months of someone else, but by his own honest, industrions efforts. He is known for his generosity and his charity to all who are in need, and he is a man to whom his family. his God and his home mean more than all of the wealth and fame in the world. He has added much to the material prosperity of the town, not only in the ercetion of his beautiful modern home, which is both com- modions and attractive, but also in the business block occupied by the postoffice and other offices, which he owns. He is also the owner of other property throughout the town. He feels that although he has had a stiff battle with life, yet in his ambition to succeed he has not torn down the
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work of others, for his philosophy is, "Work and application to this work, and you will find that the world has room for us all."
WILLIAM A. WILLIS. Possessing the foresight to recognize the future of Sesser as a commercial center and the courage to take advantage of the opportunity presented to him, William A. Willis came to this eity some- thing less than seven years ago with but little capital other than shrewd business ability, and through wise investments has won himself a place among the substantial men of his adopted locality. Aside from being an extensive land owner he has aeted in the capacity of postmaster of Ses- ser since becoming a citizen here, and in his administration of the gov- ernment's affairs has proven himself an able official of a rapidly-growing community. Mr. Willis was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, Febru- ary 19, 1854, and is a son of Josiah and Anna Eliza (Cockrum) Willis.
Tolliver Willis, the grandfather of William A., was born in Tennes- see, and came to Illinois with his family at an early day, the remainder of his life being spent here in agricultural pursuits. His son, Josiah Willis, was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, in 1824, and was a lad when brought to Jefferson county, Illinois. His mother dying when he was still a youth, he was bound ont to a blacksmith at Edwardsville, Illinois, to learn the trade, and when the Civil war broke out he enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth and Tenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as regimental blacksmith, remaining in the service two years and ten months. On his return from the army he purchased a small farm, and continued to operate this and eonduet a 'smithy until his death in 1907. Mr. Willis had been an adherent of Democratic princi- ples np to the time of the candidaey of Blaine and Logan, but at that time, owing to his intense admiration for General Logan, he became a Republican, and that party received his support during the remainder of his life. Josiah Willis married Anna Eliza Coekrum, daughter of Mat- thew F. Cockrum, a native of Kentucky, who became one of Franklin county's wealtiest and most highly esteemed citizens and left a large estate to his family at his death.
William A. Willis received few advantages of an educational nature in his youth, and his energies as a lad were devoted to tilling the soil of his father's farm and working in the blacksmith shop. Inheriting me- chanical ability, he became a skilled blacksmith and something of a ma- chinist, and for two years worked at the latter trade in Benton. Subse- quently he removed to Tameroy, and for the next five years was en- gaged in selling machinery for Alva Blanchard, and later followed the same line as a traveling salesman. In 1893 he purchased a farm in Jef- ferson county, and was engaged in farming until December 16, 1905, when he moved to Sesser. Mr. Willis was the first postmaster of Sesser, then a village still in its infancy, and the first day's cancellation of stamps amounted to twenty-two cents. That the business of the office has increased may be seen by the fact that the daily cancellations at this time amount to from five to ten dollars per day. As the business has ad- vaneed Mr. Willis has improved the service, and the courteous and oblig- ing manner in which he discharges the duties of the office have made him popular with all who have met him in an official way, and the verdiet is universal that no better man for the office could be found. While he has never been an office seeker, Mr. Willis has been tendered office by the peo- ple of his community in each section of which he has lived, and while residing in Jefferson county was supervisor of his township for eight years. Subsequently he was the Republican candidate for county treas- urer, and the high esteem in which he was held by the voters of the county was shown when in that stronghold of Democracy he was defeated by only thirty-five votes. A popular member of the Odd Fellows, he
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has passed through all the chairs in that order. Mr. Willis has prospered in a financial way as a result of wise and far-seeing investment of his means, and he is now the owner of fourteen lots in Sesser, as well as four residences and a large business bloek, property in West Frankfort and an excellent farm in Jefferson county. His success has come as a result of his own efforts, and he is known as a man who while looking after his own interests has always been ready to support movements for the bene- fit of the city's interests.
In 1882 Mr. Willis was married to Miss Rachel Hawkins, of Perry county, Illinois, who died in 1888, and to this nnion one child was born : Velma, who is a trained nurse in St. Louis. Mr. Willis was married in 1903 to Mollie Hartley Kirkpatrick, and they have had three children : Lillian May and Russell V., who are in school ; and William II.
BERNARD JOHN MEIRINK, M. D. One of the prosperous and popular physicians of Germantown, Bernard John Meirink, M. D., is a close stu- dent of the science which he has chosen as a profession, and in its practice is meeting with well deserved success. A native of Illinois, he was born July 3, 1872, in Breese, Clinton county, of pioneer ancestry, his grand- father, Henry Meirink, Sr., having been an early settler of this section of the state.
The Doctor's father, Henry Meirink, Sr., was born in Germantown, Illinois, in 1842. Left an orphan when but three years of age, he was brought up in a family named Kniepman, receiving but meagre educa- tional advantages. As a boy he worked at farming and odd jobs, finally learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully until 1906. Having then by persistent labor, thrift and good management accumu- lated a competency, he retired from the active cares of business, and is now spending his days in pleasant leisure at Breese. He is a staneh Dem- oerat in polities and a faithful member of the Catholic church, to which his wife and family belong. He married, in 1869, Anna Schonefeld, of Breese, and to them two sons and five daughters have been born, Bernard John being the second child in order of birth. Ilis only brother, Henry Meirink, Jr., is a carpenter in Breese.
Brought up and educated, primarily, in Breese, Bernard J. Meirink attended the parochial schools until fourteen years old. He subsequently spent three years in the Francisean College at Teutopolis, Ilinois, and in 1890 was graduated with the degree of A. B. Beginning life then as a teacher, he taught for six years in the Becker school in Wade township, during which time he took up the study of medicine, for which he was eminently fitted. Continiing his studies at the Saint Louis Medical Col- lege, he was there graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1899, and the following ten months was engaged in the practice of medicine nt Dami- ansville. Coming from there to Germantown, Dr. Meirink has here built up a large and lucrative patronage and is meeting with flattering re- sults in his professional pursuits, and has also made for himself an en- viable position in both the business and social affairs of his adopted home.
The Doctor is a member and the president of the Clinton County Medical Society ; a member of the State Medical Society ; and of the American Medical Association. He is a Democrat in polities, active in public affairs, and is now serving his third term as mayor of Germantown. He is rendering the city noteworthy service, a fine system of water works having been installed under his administration.
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