A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Part 41

Author: Smith, George Washington, 1855-1945
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 754

USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Peter J. Valter assisted his father to clear the home farm until he was twenty years of age, and then, having secured a good public school education in Ohio, became a teacher and continued as such for four years. At the time of his father's death he returned home and took charge of the farm, being appointed administrator of the estate, and subsequently laid out Valter's Addition te Ridgeway, a tract of nine acres. He acquired the Bartley Station farm and a part of the old homestead, and subsequently sold the addition, on which the public school now stands. In 1890 Mr. Valter embarked in the lumber and building material business at Ridgeway, but after five years of suc- eessful operation sold his interests and rented his farms. He had been one of the original stockholders when the Gallatin County State Bank was organized in 1895, and since that time he has served as its vice- president and also acted for a time as assistant eashier. In 1898 the Ridgeway Dry Goods Company was organized, and Mr. Valter was its president for three years, devoting a part of his time to the store, but

1357

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

eventually sold his interest and began to invest in land. Hle added to the Bartley farm and secured twenty acres inside of the corporation limits, which has subsequently become the Citizens Addition to Ridge- way. This farm is operated by tenants, as is also his 280-acre tract situated east of Ridgeway, and both are in an excellent state of enl- tivation. This land, which cost Mr. Valter from twenty-two to seventy dollars per acre, is now all worth in excess of one hundred dollars an acre. MIr. Valter is possessed of the happy faculty of recognizing an opportunity and being able to grasp it, and his large operations have made him known in the business, realty and financial fields. No man stands higher in the esteem of his business associates and fellow towns- men, and any enterprise with which his name is connected has the en- tire confidence of the people.

On June 20, 1906, Mr. Valter was married to Miss Celia Zirkelbach, who was born in Indiana and reared in Illinois, and they have had two children : Arnold, who is four years old ; and Dolores, who is two. The family is connected with St. Joseph's Catholic church. Mr. Val- ter is a Demoerat in his political views, and has served very acceptably as village clerk and as a member of the board of trustees.

J. CYRIL, BEGG. Thus far in his life the career of J. Cyril Begg has been one of abounding interest, filled with experiences which do not make up a part of the existence of the average man. He has traveled widely. in a capacity calenlated to permit him to see a side of life with which few of us are familiar, and after fifteen years of roving has set- tled down in Mount Vernon as vice-president and general manager of the Collins Prodnee Company, organized and incorporated on March 1, 1907, as a direct result of his efforts. It is one of the largest concerns of its kind in the country, and under the able management of its vice- president and manager is making steady and persistent strides in eon- servative advancement.

J. Cyril Begg was born October 7. 1875, in Canada. He is the son of Vietor Begg, also a native of Canada and still residing at Moose Creek, Ontario, where his father, James Begg, the grandfather of J. Cyril Begg, settled when he immigrated from Dundee, Scotland, as a young man. Vietor Begg married Martha Blair, the daughter of Joseph Blair, a native of Drogheda. Ireland, who immigrated to Canada when a young man, and they were the parents of eight children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Wilbert, a farmer near the old homestead in Canada: J. Cyril, of Mount Vernon ; Walter, in New York City; Melvin, on the old homestead; Laura, married and living in Canada ; Nellie, who is at home. Cevilla and Mary are deceased.

J. Cyril Begg was reared on the farm home at Moose Creek. Ontario. Ilis schooling was, for the most part, given him in the Cornwall high school. After leaving school he clerked in a country store in a small town in Ontario, and in 1892 he left there and went to Cleveland, Ohio. where he was in the employ of his uncle in a store for the space of a year. In 1893 he went to Chicago, attracted by the great World's Fair then being carried on in that city, and he followed various occupations there for several months. In the latter part of that year he went to New York, where he was variously employed for some time, after which he took a position on a stock farm at Oradell, New Jersey. From there he went to Spark Hill, New York, where he was employed in a similar capacity, and on his next move he went to Liverpool. England, with a load of trotting horses for his employer, who was engaged in the horse business, handling, training and trotting horses, with headquarters in New York City. A few years later he was sent to Vienna, Austria. in Vol III-18

1358

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

charge of eighteen head of trotting horses valued at $38,000. He lived in Vienna for sixteen months and on his return trip to America made a tour of Germany, Ireland and Scotland, arriving in Philadelphia in 1898, with the intention of enlisting in the United States army. His application was refused, however, and he accordingly went to Belle- mead, New Jersey, where he was again employed in the horse business. Some little time after that he gave up his connection with that line of work and opened a restaurant in Guttenberg, New Jersey, continning with that business until 1901, when he removed to New York and again had charge of two stables, which sheltered the most famous trotting and paeing horses known to the world at that time, which was at the opening of the New York speedway. Later he became engaged with the West Washington Poultry Market, remaining with that firm for one year, after which he went into business for himself as a live poultry dealer in New York City. He was soon crowded out of that business by a combination of interests, and he went on the road as a buyer of poul- try for the firm of Charles Collins Company of New York City. His territory was wide in its seope, covering a stretch from New York to Arkansas. In Southern Illinois he was deeply impressed by the every- where visible opportunities for opening a business similar to that in which he was then engaged, and returning to New York City he sue- ceeded in interesting sufficient capital to float the enterprise for which his keen mind had already laid plans, and on March 1, 1907, the Collins Produce Company was incorporated with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars. The concern is officered thus : President, E. V. Dwyer ; vice-president and general manager, J. Cyril Begg; secretary and treas- urer, A. G. Dwyer. The firm has grown apace since its inception, and now has six branch houses in Southern Illinois and Indiana, they being located severally at Mount Vernon, Cypress, Centralia, Vincennes, Flora and Olney. The volume of business done by this young concern is phenomenal, in 1911 aggregating over $551,000. The main office is in New York City, and the firm ships live poultry to points extending from Portland, Maine, to Tampa, Florida.

In addition to his business interests Mr. Begg has come to be rec- ognized as a man of many splendid qualities. His citizenship is of an unusually high order, and he is particularly active in any work or move- ment intended for the betterment of the general welfare. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church of Mount Vernon, and active in all de- partments of its work, serving as one of the board of deacons of that church. He is also and has been for three years past the president of · the One Hundred Men's Bible Class, which he was instrumental in or- ganizing. IIe is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Mount Vernon lodge. No. 31. A. F. & A. M .; H. W. Hubbard Chapter, No. 160, Royal Arch Masons; Patton Commandery, No. 69, Knights Templar; and is the worthy patron of Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 233, Order of Eastern Star, as well as being a member of Marion lodge, No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On October 24. 1900, Mr. Begg was married in New York City to Miss Anna Diekson, a native of Manchester, England.

Mr. Begg is an author of well known ability, and among other popu- lar productions he has written :

"THE MISSOURI HEN SONG"

We read about the "Nutmeg State" and the State of the Red-men's home,

The "Granite State." the "Creole State" and the State where the gophers roam,

1359

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

They tell about the "Golden State" and the State of William Penn. But give me old Missouri, with her Ilen-Hen-Ilen.

Chorus :

Indiana has her Hoosiers, Illinois her mines, Kentucky has her blue-grass, and Maine, her lonely pines, Arizona has her sand-hills, Ohio, famous men,

But give me old Missouri, with her Hen-llen-Hen.

They call Missouri the great mule State, and "Kick that yeller houn." And preach about the many things that's hid beneath the ground. They boast about her famous Ozarks, but-Crawl into my den. And I'll sing to you the praises of the Hen-Hen-Hen.

Chorus :

Montana has her mountain land, Virginia, "Pan Handle Pete," North Carolina has her turpentine, Wisconsin's hard to beat. Nevada is the "Sage Hen State" but-Let us say Amen- For the "Show Me State, " Missouri, with her Ilen-IIen-Ilen."

CHARLES DREW TUFTS, or as he is familiarly called. Drew Tufts, is an interesting son of an interesting father. The father is now dead, but the son is in the prime of life, and each day sees new triumphs added to his career. Samuel P. Tufts, the father, was born in Fitchburg, Massa- chusetts, on the 28th of January, 1827. When he was a child of seven his parents went to Missouri to live, and there his childhood days were passed. When he was twelve years old they moved to Collinsville, Illi- nois, and here he received the greater part of his education. His ele- mentary education was obtained in the near-by city of St. Louis, where he attended both private and public schools. He afterward attended the high school in Collinsville, where he completed his education. ITis father, believing that every man should have a trade or a profession. sent the lad to Racine, Wisconsin, to learn the carpenter trade, but before he was ready to make use of the knowledge thus acquired the Mexican war broke out. He lost no time in enlisting, and was enrolled in Com- pany F. Fifteenth United States Infantry. This regiment was enlisted For five years or until the close of the war. They first spent a month drilling and geting into shape for the real work later on, at Camp Wash- ington, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and then marched southward to the Gulf of Mexico and embarked on board a ship that landed in Vera Cruz. They then proceeded to Pueblo and joined the command of General Winfield Scott. From this time until General Scott entered Mexico City the regiment was with him in all of the engagements, among these being Cerro Gordo, where a narrow pass was the scene of action : Churubusco. where the American army mimbered. eight thousand. and the Mexicans. twenty to twenty-five thousand ; Chapultepec, in which a strong castle. well fortified and garrisoned, was the center of the fighting, which was perhaps the fiereest of the war. To the regiment of which Mr. Tufts was a member was given the honor of holding this castle of Chapultepec. The city of Mexico was entered on the 14th of September. 1847, and the war was ended. Mr. Tufts was mustered out of service at Covington, Kentucky, and immediately returned to his home in Collinsville, Illi- nois. He remained here for a short time, but the scenes of excitement through which he had passed made the quiet life of the little town svem unbearable. He was essentially a man of action, and if there were a

1360

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

dearth of activity in the world around him he set to work and manu- faetured it, as we shall see later.

Ile now decided to go west and seek his fortune in the gold fields of California, so with an ox-team and a party of six set out on a long and dangerous journey in 1850. The first part of the way, across the great plains, was accomplished without great difficulty, but when the arid lands were reached their troubles began. They lost all of their stock and suf- fered tortures through lack of food and water, and finally, when they reached their goal, their friends would not have known them, so thin and emaciated, sun-burnt and ragged did they appear. Samuel Tufts at once bought an outfit and started mining. He kept industriously at it for two years, and achieved a fair success. The longing for home at last came over him. and like so many others who had found at least a little of the gold which they sought he decided to return home. He came back by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and reached Illinois in 1853. The following winter he was perfectly content to spend in Belleville, quietly pursuing his trade as a carpenter. In 1854 he came to Centralia and engaged in the carpenter trade until the outbreak of the Civil war. When this occurred he hastened to enlist in the First Illinois Cavalry, Com- pany H. Ile assisted in raising this company and was eleeted first lieu- tenant. It was under the command of Colonel Oglesby, who was after- wards governor of Illinois. Lieutenant Tufts took part in the battles of New Madrid and of Island Number Ten. He had the unique duty of carrying the first flag of truce known to the Union. He was mustered out of the service at St. Louis, Missouri, in July, 1862, and was ap- pointed deputy collector of internal revenues. He held this office for two years, and shortly after his term had expired, in 1864, he was appointed as delegate to the National Republican Convention in Baltimore that had the honor of nominating Abraham Lincoln for his second presidential term.

In 1866 Mr. Tufts was appointed mail agent between Cairo and Cen- tralia, and until 1869 he performed the duties of this office. The year he- fore, 1868, he had been very active in establishing the first Democratie paper in the city, the Democrat. He served as secretary and manager of this publication and in 1871, so interested had he become in its sueeess, that he acquired complete control of it. For twelve years, or until his son was old enough to take charge, he managed the affairs of the paper, in addition to all the other activities in which he was concerned. In 1870 he was given the contraet for building a railroad through Christian county, Illinois. This task had been abandoned by two contractors be- fore him, for the road bed had to be eut through solid rock in some places. At about this time he was also granted the contraet for building the Cairo . Short Line between Pinckneyville and DuQuoin. He held numerous politieal offices, both under appointment and by eleetion. He was post- master of the house of representatives in 1883-4 and was postmaster of Centralia during Cleveland's administrations. He served one term as alderman and three terms as city clerk.

Mr. Tufts was a prominent Odd Fellow and was elected to represent his lodge at the Grand Encampment of the state. He was also president of the National and the State Association of Veterans of the Mexican war. He was married on the 4th of October, 1857, to Zerelda Goodwin, who was born and reared in Clark county, Indiana. She was a well- edneated woman, having done her advaneed work in Bloomfield Semi- nary. Bloomfield, Kentucky. Her father, John Goodwin, was a native Kentnekian, having been born in Nicholsville. When he moved to Indi- ana he went into the farming industry on a large scale and was very successful. He had been a soldier in the War of 1812, and had taken

1361

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

part in the battle of Tippecanoe. He died in Clark county, Indiana, in 1859. Samnel Tufts passed through some of the most exciting years in the history of our country and was a participant in some of the events that were to mould the future life of the nation. His death on the 4th of October, 1903, was a severe loss not only to his family, but to the whole community.

Charles Drew Tufts was born in Centralia, Illinois, on the 27th of January, 1864. He was educated in his home town, and was graduated from the high school in 1882. He immediately went into newspaper work, beginning to edit the Democrat in 1883. Since this time the paper has been recognized as a power in newspaperdom. The editorials are eagerly read, for Mr. Tufts has a elear insight into modern affairs and has no hesitation about expressing himself. His writing is keen, clever and goes straight to the heart of the matter. It is singularly free from the faults of modern newspaper writing, while it possesses all the virtues, of being clear, concise and vivid. Mr. Tufts is the author of a book which has been published by the MeClurg Publishing Company, of Chicago. This is in the form of a political novel, entitled Hiram Blair, and has met with a cordial welcome by the public.

Drew Tufts has been honored with several positions of public trust. Ile was president of the board of education for one term, and during the administration of Governor Altgeld, was private secretary to the lieutenant-governor. He was a member of the Democratie state con- mittee, and has been master in chaneery for Marion county. Needless to say, he is an active supporter of the Democratic party, and in the coming struggle he will be relied on as one of the strongest Democrats in the state. In his own profession he is a member of the Illinois Press Asso- eiation and has served as president of this body. Ile is deeply interested in the fraternal orders and is a member of several. fle is a Mason, be- longing to Centralia Lodge, No. 201. Ile is also a member of Centralia Chapter. No. 93, Royal Arch Masons, Centralia Council, No. 28, Royal and Select Masters, and of Cyrene Commandery, No. 23, Knights Tem- plar. He is a Knight of Pythias and also an Elk. He belongs to the Eastern Star in addition to all of the others. His activities in these various orders take no small share of his time. In the business world he is known as one of the organizers of the Centralia Water Supply Com- pany and as its president. This company furnishes the city with water and they own the largest artificial body of water in the state of Illinois. The people of the state will do well to keep their eye on Drew Tufts, for he has shown of what stuff he is made in his past activities in the field of politics, and now that the erisis in politieal affairs is approaching, it is quite evident that he will be called into action as one of the leaders.

ILLINOIS STATE TRUST COMPANY. Among the substantial and admirably managed institutions which contribute in an important degree to the financial stability and commercial prestige of Southern Illinois is the Illinois State Trust Company, of East St. Louis, which conducts a general banking and trust business and which bases its operations on a capital stock of three hundred thousand dollars, with a surplus fund of one hundred thousand dollars. This important corporation rep- resents a coalition of various banking interests. It was organized and incorporated in 1902, and its original exeentive corps was as here noted : President, J. C. Van Riper ; vice-presidents Paul W. Abt, Thomas L. Fekete and Dr. II. I. DeHaan; cashier, Paul W. Abt ; secretary and treasurer, R. L. Rinaman. The new institution was incorporated with a capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and in January. 1907, upon its consolidation with the First National Bank, the capital

1362

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

stock was inereased to three hundred thousand dollars, with the provi- sion also of a surplus of one hundred thousand dollars. In 1909 the Illinois State Trust Company also absorbed the City National Bank, and thus it still farther expanded its fiehl of operations and sphere of usefulness. In 1907 the company erected for its use a fine modern structure of six stories, known as the Cahokia building, and the first floor is devoted to the commercial banking departments; the second floor to the savings and trust departments; and the remaining four floors to general office purposes through rental. The banking house and real estate of the institution represent a valuation of $186,536.06, as in- dieated in the official statement of the corporation, and from the state- ment given at the close of business on the 21st of February, 1912, the following significant figures are taken: Loans and discounts, $1,706,- 561.77; bonds and stocks, $405,956.90; cash on hand and in banks, $481,147.20 ; undivided profits, $11,963.72; reserve for taxes, $11,314.81; deposits, $2,161,917.67. Besides conducting a commercial banking bus- iness of general order the Illinois State Trust Company maintains and gives special attention to its saving department, has a well equipped safety-deposit department, and is anthorized under its charter from the state to act as administrator, exeentor, guardian, assignee or receiver, and to receive and execute trusts of all kinds. It has as its stockholders the highest order of business and professional men,-citizens whose very association with the enterprise stands as a voucher for its leg- itimaey and value and assures unqualified popular approbation. The personel of the executive corps of the institution at the time of this writing is as follows: Robert E. Gillespie, president ; Paul W. Abt, vice-president and cashier; Louis B. Washburn and Thomas L. Fekete, vice-presidents ; Joel M. Bowlby, secretary; and Arthur W. Baltz, as- sistant cashier.

There is all of consistency in giving in this connection a brief record concerning the genesis and history of the institutions of which the Illi- nois State Trust Company figures as the lineal successor. In 1865 there was organized the East St. Louis Real Estate & Savings Bank, of whose capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars seventy-eight thou- sand were paid in. The president and cashier of this institution were Messrs. Toomer and Karst, respectively. This early banking house was succeeded by the East St. Louis Bank, of which Henry Ochike be- came president and Theodore Messman, cashier. In 1891 was organized (as successor to this bank) the First National Bank of East St. Louis, which continned to conduct under this title a large and prosperous business until the consolidation with the Illinois State Trust Company. in 1907, as already noted. The officers of the First National Bank at the time of this amalgamation of interests were as here noted : Paul W. Abt, president ; Dr. H. C. Fairbrother, vice-president; and Henry C. Griesediek, cashier. The bank had a capital of one hundred thousand dollars and a surplus of five thousand. The City National Bank, merged with the Illinois State Trust Company in 1909, was incorporated on the 29th of October, 1907, with a capital stock of two hundred thousand dol- lars, and at the time of its consolidation M. M. Stephens was president and Robert E. Gillespie, cashier, the latter being now president of the Illinois State Trust Company, as has already been noted.

PAUL W. ABT. Far and wide throughout our vast national domain are found palpable evidenees that no foreign land has contributed to our complex American social fabric a more valuable element than has the great empire of Germany. The German citizen in our republic has as similated thoroughly the essence of our laws and institutions and, while

CAHOKIA BUILDING

1363

HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

cherishing the best heritages of his fatherland, has brought to bear in- sistent and well directed energy, maturity of judgment and marked business perspicacity. The value of all this may well be appreciated, and that community is fortunate which has had German citizens to foster its development and progress. In the city of East St. Louis one of the most honored and influential citizens of German birth is he whose name in- itiates this paragraph. He has won through his own ability and efforts a large success in connection with the legitimate activities of business and has proved himself liberal and loyal in all that signifies model citizenship. He is at the present time treasurer of St. Clair county and vice-president and cashier of the Illinois State Trust Company, one of the most solid and important financial institutions of this favored section of the state. He has been for many years a prominent factor in the financial and business activities of his home city, has done much to further its material and civie advancement and holds impregnable van- tage ground in popular confidence and esteem, so that he is eminently entitled to recognition in this history of Southern Illinois.

Paul William Abt was born in the town of Esslingen, kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on the 25th of April. 1845, and is a son of Wil- liam and Caroline (Class) Abt, who passed their entire lives in that see- tion of the empire, the father having been a prosperous merchant in the ancient walled town or city of Esslingen, and having been honored for his sterling character. Both he and his wife were earnest members of the German Evangelical Association. The excellent schools of his na- tive city afforded Paul W. Abt his early educational advantages, which included the curriculum of the gymnasium or high school. In 1864, at the age of nineteen years, he set forth to seek his fortunes in the United States, as he was confident that this country afforded better advantages for the gaining of independence and prosperity through individual ef- fort. lle had received excellent training in his father's mercantile establishment and for a number of years after coming to America he gave his attention to clerical work, in connection with which he was employed in stores in Cineinnati, Chicago, Omaha and St. Louis. It will thus be seen that he traveled in various parts of the country, but he was at all times alert to avait himself of the opportunities presented and in his nature was naught of predilection for idleness. In 1873 Mr. Abt identi- fied himself with the wholesale liquor business in East St. Louis, Ilinois. where he has maintained his home during the long intervening years and where he has risen to seeure place as one of the representative citizens of this thriving community. He continued in the business mentioned for fourteen years, with ever increasing success, and then withdrew from the' same to assume, in 1887. the position of cashier in the East St. Louis Bank, in which he became a stockholder. In 1890 he effeeted the organi- zation of the First National Bank of East St. Louis, of which he became the first president. Under his careful and conservative administration as chief executive this institution forged rapidly to the front and became one of the solid and representative banking houses of this part of the state. In 1902 Mr. Abt became one of the organizers of the Illinois State Trust Company, and in January, 1907, was effeeted the consolidation of the same with the First National Bank, under the original title of the former. the City National Bank having been merged with the other two in the same year. Mr. Abt thus continued president of the First National Bank for fourteen consecutive years, at the expiration of which he as- sunmed his present dual office of vice-president and cashier of the Hinois State Trust Company, which has profited largely through his able services as an exeentive. He was also one of the organizers of the Provident Association, of which he served as president for six years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Part 41

Author: Smith, George Washington, 1855-1945 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 754

Author: Smith, George Washington, 1855-1945
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 754