USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 5
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Miss Lula Gillespie was the maiden name of the wife of Professor Lentz, their marriage taking place in Creal Springs on the 2nd of April, 1903. Mrs. Lentz was one of a large family of Mrs. Mary (Johnson Gillespie, the family being one of the pioneer group of Southern Illi- nois. She was educated at Creal Springs and was one of her husband's teachers before their marriage. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lentz number three: Agnes, born in 1905; Lula Blanch, born in 1908, and Gil- bert, Jr., born in 1910.
Professor Lentz's active relation to the religious life of the commun- ity is manifest in his work in the First Baptist church of Marion. He is also superintendent of the Sabbath-school and is president of the Y. M. C. A. of Marion. Believing also that the brotherhood of man is to be found not only in the churches but also in the fraternal orders, he is a loyal Mason. He is a Master Mason and a member of the Chapter. being junior warden of the Blue Lodge and Royal Vrch Chapter.
Professor Lentz has chosen one of the most poorly paid and nnap- preciated professions that exist, but he surely finds a reward for all the struggles he has had to pass through, and for the disadvantages which he must endure in the love and respect not only of those who have come di- rectly under his influence, but of those who meet him in a non profes- sional way. In selecting a man to fill such a position as he holds, where he comes in close contact with young people at their most impression-
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able age, the responsibility is great, therefore the people of Marion are to be congratulated in having secured a man of such sterling character and fine principles as Professor Lentz.
CHARLES WILLIAM HOFSOMMER. That the farm and dairy business is not retarded by the possession of a liberal education on the part of the man who makes that industry his lifework is conclusively shown by the record of the Hofsommers, father and son, for a number of years ac- tive in farm and dairy circles of Clinton county. Rather, it is a dis- tinet and decided advantage, as will be shown by a brief summary of their careers.
Charles William Hofsommer was born at Breese, Illinois, December 29, 1878. He is the son of William Jacob Hofsommer, born at Frogtown, Clinton county, Illinois. January 12, 1857. William Jacob Hofsommer spent his early days on his father's farm, and attended the public schools of the community in which he was reared. Following his completion of the common school course he attended McKendree College at Lebanon for an extended period and later was graduated from Christian Brothers College at St. Louis, Missouri. On the completion of his college studies he embarked in a general merchandise business at Breese, with which he was connected actively for sixteen years. He was attracted, however, by farm life, and about three years previous to the time when he gave up his store in Breese he bought a fine farm near the outskirts of the town, and when he retired from the mercantile business he immediately engaged in the farm and dairying business. In the three years that he has conducted the enterprise the business has grown apace, and they now handle in the neighborhood of seventy gallons of milk daily, and produce a large quantity of butter as well. This part of the business is conducted al- most entirely by his son, Charles, as his time and attention is largely oc- cupied by the care of another fine farm of which he is the owner and manager.
In 1878 Mr. Hofsommer was married to Miss Fredericka Helwig, of Breese. Five children were born to them, three of whom are now liv- ing. They are, Charles, Olga. now Mrs. Gus Glancey, and Lily, the wife of Henry Schroeder. The family are members of St. John's German Evangelical church, and are earnest and active in their affiliation with that organization. Mr. Hofsommer is a Republican in his politieal eon- victions and adherence, and is prominent in local political circles. He has held various offices connected with the administration of city affairs, always with credit to himself and the city.
Charles William Hofsommer, like his father, spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the public schools. He was a graduate of the high school at Carlyle, following which he took a complete and thorough business course at Jones Commercial College in St. Louis, Missouri. Re- turning home to Breese. he went into the l'arm and dairy business with his father. whose operations were assuming such proportions that more help was necessary, and he has since that time been in charge of one of the farms owned by his father, conducting the affairs of the place with a wisdom and acumen that is producing results of no uncertain nature. As a coming dairyman, Mr. Holsommer's future is assured, and it is pre- dicted freely that he will make an enduring reputation for himself among leading men of his line of endeavor. Mr. Hofsommer is Republican in his political views, and active in the interests of the party. He is a stockholder in the Clinton County Racing Association. and a member of the Concordia Singing Society. He and his family are members of the German Evangelical church.
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In 1902 Mr. Hofsommer married Miss Tillie Flader, of Browse, Illi- nois. They are the parents of two children, William and Alvina. The family occupies one of the handsome residences ererted by William .1. ITofsommer on the farm located nearest to Breese, the other one of which is the home of the elder Hofsommer.
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THOMAS B. GOODMAN, M. D. The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the foremost citizens of Cobden and has by his enterprise and progressive ideas contributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in the business enterprises of which he is the head and is well deserving of mention in the biographical memoirs of Union county. Dr. Goodman would be a man of note did he limit his energies to his profession. His practice is large and he spe- vializes in surgery, and hundreds of families have for many years looked up to him as a kindly friend and doctor, his practice covering a radius of seven miles around Cobden. Nevertheless, he devotes munch time to agriculture, owning a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres, about one hundred of which are devoted to farming. This farm contains large deposits of kaolin, or China clay, used in manufacturing porcelain, which he mines extensively and disposes of sixty-eight carloads per year. He has been most successful financially and owns no less than twenty-two properties in Cobden.
Dr. Goodman is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred at Anna, Illinois, March 22. 1859. He is the son of Moses Goodman, a na- tive of North Carolina, who migrated to Southern Ilinois in 1854. being one of the first settlers of Union county. He was born in 1817 and mar- ried Amanda C. Peeler, a native of U'nion county. Moses Goodman en- gaged in merchandising in Anna during his lifetime and lived to ad- vanced age, his demise occurring in 1854. Hle reared a family of seven children, two of whom were the offspring of an early marriage contracted in North Carolina, namely: John and Dr. Mumford M. Goodman. The five children by the second marriage with Miss Peeler were as follows: Daniel Webster: William, deceased: Dr. Thomas B .; Nellie. deceased, was the wife of Dr. W. IT. Damond, and Charles H. The doctor's mother, an honored lady, survives and makes her home at Anna.
Dr. Goodman received his early education in the schools of Anna and took advantage of their higher department. He began the study of medicine in 1880, when twenty-one years of age, entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, where he pursued a three years' course. He had spent a previous year taking a preparatory course at Valparaiso, Indiana. In the spring of 1881 he received his well earned degree and immediately began his practice at Anna, where he remained for a year, in which brief time his unusual talents were apparent. He then located in Cobden, where he has ever since remained and where le enjoys an enviable reputation, the fame of his abilities being known far beyond the boundaries of the county. As before mentioned, he specializes in surgery, and he has made every effort to keep abreast of the latest dis- coveries in this wonderful seiener.
Dr. Goodman is a man of genial and interesting personality and his gifts are of remarkably versatile order. A partienlarly pleasant phase is his interest in antiques and Indian relies and some of his disaverio have been of considerable value to antiquarians. He has a truly wonder 'ul collection, which includes an ancient flax spinning wheel and knekke. guns of a bygone age, Mound Builders' relies and Indian imple ments of
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many kinds. He is never so fluent as when explaining these, his knowl- edge of old customs being unusual.
It has been said that the Doetor is an extensive miner of kaolin, his farm being situated in the heart of the kaolin distriet, near Kaolin Sta- tion, on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. He ships his produet to the eastern factories, engaging in the mamifacture of terra cotta and fine elay work. The elay in his deposits extends to a depth of one hundred feet and is apparently inexhaustible, as it begins but a few feet below the surface. He has mined this for the past thirteen years. Kaolin is mined by means of pits sunk from the surface. A few years ago he sold one single de- posit for ten thousand dollars, and this industry is a source of great financial benefit. IIe takes pleasure in his agricultural operations, which his tenant farmer conduets on one hundred acres. IIis beautiful resi- denee is situated in Cobden and he has eloquently demonstrated his con- fidence in the future of the place by making himself the possessor of twenty-two lots within its pleasant boundaries. He also rents five houses.
Dr. Goodman is fond of automobiling and makes use of a motor in making his professional visits in the surrounding country. He has also made many pleasure trips, for he is an out-of-door man and enjoys living "close to nature's heart." Ile also delights in hunting and is happiest when in the woods, engaged in hunting and fishing, in which sports he indulges whenever his manifold duties give him leisure.
Dr. Goodman was first married in 1886, Harriet Buck, of Union county, daughter of Adam Buek, beeoming his wife. Her untimely de- mise occurred in 1889. In 1891 he was united to Mrs. Minnie (Ross) Scott, of Cobden, daughter of Dr. B. F. and Elizabeth (Muzzy) Ross. Mrs. Goodman is a lady of culture and charm. She was educated in Val- paraiso, Indiana, and is a painter of great merit. She was previously mar- ried to a Mr. Scott. and the three children of this marriage are Florence, Bertha and Georgia. She and Dr. Goodman are the parents of three chil- dren, namely : Thomas M., Charles II. and Eloise D.
Dr. Goodman is a member of the Union County, Illinois State, Ameri- can and Illinois Surgeons' Associations. He and his wife attend the Pres- byterian church and are active in Cobden's best social and philanthropieal activities. His energy is unflagging and he has proved a success as phy- sician, miner, farmer and antiquarian.
HENRY ERNST SCHMIDT. Left an orphan at the early age of sixteen years, when death robbed him of both mother and father in the brief space of two short weeks, Henry Ernst Sehmidt has been in the fullest sense the architect of his own fortune. Alone and unaided he has been able to secure a comprehensive education, and for several years past he has been filling acceptably the position of superintendent of the Breese public schools. That he was called to fill that responsible position in the town where he was born and spent his early youth is a fitting testimony to the intrinsic worth of the man, and of his qualifications for the work in which he is engaged.
Henry Ernst Schmidt was born in Breese, Illinois, on January 19, 1861. llis father. Frederick Schmidt, was born February 17, 1827. in Mecklenburg, Germany. He was the son of a farmer, and when he eame to America in 1859 he located at Breese, Illinois, and secured work as a day laborer. When he landed in New York he was immediately married to Catherina Yungblut. a native of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. the marriage occurring on September 25. 1859. Settling at Breese, Illinois, they took up their life among the earliest settlers of Clinton county. Five children were born of their union: Henry; Annie, now Mrs. Charles Muehlenbein : William ; Lizzie, now Mrs. Armin Kerbes; and Fred. Wil
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liam and Lizzie were twins. In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt were torn from their young family by death, passing away within a few weeks, leav- ing their five children in an orphaned state, Henry being the eldest. No relatives were near to care for the children, and kind neighbors helped them in various ways until they were old enough to make their own way in the world.
Henry Ernst Schmidt found a home in the family of Charles Dorris, a neighboring farmer, and he worked with him for four years, diligently saving his slender earnings until he would have sufficient to see him through a course of schooling. He had been able to receive but very lim- ited advantages in the public schools prior to the time of his parents' de- mise and he was determined to seenre an education that would help him materially in his future life and work. When he was twenty-one he drew out his savings of four years and attended the Southern linois Normal for two years. Following that course of study he accepted a position as teacher of the Breese school, which at that time had but one room, with an attendance of sixty to eighty pupils. After eight consecutive years of service in that capacity he took a position with the Breese Mill & Grain Company as clerk, remaining with that firm until the mills burned down several years later. Subsequently he was with the Hoffman & Helwig Company as a clerk in their store until 1908, at which time he was ap- pointed principal of the Breese publie schools. The school system had expanded with the passing of the years, coincident with the growth of the town, and at the time Mr. Schmidt resumed the principalship of the sehools after an interval of more than fifteen years the pupils were housed in a fine briek structure of four rooms, with an average attendance of two hundred scholars. The curriculum of the system includes nine grades, and graduates of the school are able to secure second grade teachers' cer- tificates. Mr. Schmidt's efforts since he has had charge of the schools have been largely rewarded in renewed and increased efficiency of the system, and he is a strenuous worker for the advancement of the standing of the institution of which he is the head. Modern methods are his, and the results of his labors are everywhere apparent in the school.
Mr. Schmidt is a liberal Republican in his political views and has held office in Breese in many and varied capacities. He was township collector for four consecutive terms, and township clerk for one term. as well as city treasurer of Breese. On each occasion he has been elected in the face of strong opposition, the town being almost solidly Democrat, but his record and standing has been such that he has been able to break down the strength of opposing political forces in every fight he has waged in the municipal elections. His service in every public office he has held has been of a high order, and always he has held the interests of his town in first place. Mr. Schmidt is a member of St. John's Evangelical church, is secretary of the church, and is active in all departments of its work. He is elerk of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge in Breese and is the secretary of the Concordia Singing Society of Breese. In ad- dition to Mr. Schmidt's position as superintendent of schools, he is the agent for a number of fire insurance companies, and carries on n thriv- ing business in that line in connection with his other duties.
On April 29, 1886, Mr. Schmidt was united in marriage with Miss Emma Gerdes, daughter of Gottleih Gerdes, of Breese, her parents being both deceased. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, eight of whom are living. Edward, the eldest, is superintendent of the Water. Light & Power Company of Breese, while Fred, Herbert, Harold. Hilda, Alfred, Alevia and Emily are all students in the schools of Breese.
Vol. III-3
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PAUL D. HERRIN is the popular and efficient ineumbent of the office of cashier of the City National Bank of Herrin, and he is a scion of that family of pioneers and stanch countrymen so numerous in Williamson county, Illinois, and in whose honor the city of Herrin is named. A na- tive of Cartersville, Illinois, he was born April 30, 1875, a son of John D. Herrin and a grandson of Oliver Herrin, whose father, David Herrin, was the recognized founder of the family in this county.
David Herrin and Isaac Herring, brothers-in-law, came into Illinois and settled at Herrin's Prairie about 1818, acquired a body of land from the vast wilderness then unsettled and belonging to the public domain, and they passed their lives raising stock and bringing into subjection their respective farms. These two respected pioneers came hither from Hop- kinsville, Kentucky, where was solemnized the marriage of David Herrin to Sarah Ilerring, February 25, 1814. The family of David and Sarah Herrin consisted of six children, as follows: Jaekson : Oliver, grandfather of the subject of this sketeh ; Martha, who first married James Aikman and whose second husband is James Goodall, is a resident of Marion, Illinois ; Betsy became the wife of Ephraim Snyder and passed away in Jackson county, Illinois ; Lydia became Mrs. Newton Bradley and passed away in Williamson county ; and Delila P., married George Harrison, father of David R. Harrison, who led an active and successful life in the vicinity of Ilerrin, where he died. David Herrin was summoned to the life eternal September 1, 1870, at the age of seventy-seven years, and his cherished and devoted wife died July 31, 1856, at the age of sixty-three years.
Oliver Herrin grew to maturity under the invigorating discipline of pioneer life and in due course of time he married Julia Spiller, a daugh- ter of an old Tennessee family that migrated to Illinois in the early days. The children of this union were: John, the father of Paul D. Herrin, of this notice; Louisa, who married Curtis Brown and is now deceased; Henry, who migrated to the state of Washington, where he became a prominent citizen of the city of Seattle; and Charles, who lost his life in a railroad accident at Creal Springs. After the demise of Oliver Her- rin his widow became the wife of a Mr. Bradley and reared a second fam- ily, comprising : Lavinia ; Annie; William H., who passed away at Her- rin ; Emma married William Rummage and they reside at Marion, Illi- nois; and George M. died in 1907. Mrs. Bradley survived her husband and subsequently married William Caplinger.
John D. Herrin was born in Williamson county, Illinois, was spar- ingly schooled, owing to the times, and during the brief years he lived he was a country merchant. ITe married Miss Josie Brown, a daughter of Captain John Brown, mention of whom is made at length elsewhere in this work. John Herrin died in 1876, the father of Ruth, who is now Mrs. D. H1. Harris, of Creal Springs ; and Paul D., whose name forms the caption for this article. For a few years following the death of her hus- band Mrs. Herrin resided with Ruth and Paul on Herrin's Prairie. In the early '80s she moved to C'real Springs, where she opened up an hotel for tourists and health-seekers, thereby giving that place its first im- petus toward a town. Several years later she disposed of her hotel and engaged in the general merchandise business at Creal Springs, where she is now living in retirement. She is a woman of most noble personality, possessed of shrewd judgment and splendid business ability.
Paul D. Herrin grew up under a somewhat diversified environment, as it appears, and the atmosphere of his mother's hotel and store gave him some early and practical notions of business. He received a liberal educa- tion at C'real Springs and for a few years following his mother's retiro- ment from business he spent his summers on the farm of his grandfather. Captain Brown. When the coal field began rapid development in the vi-
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cinity of Herrin he seenred a clerkship with the Elles Store Company, with which concern he remained for a period of years, at the expiration of which he engaged in the lumber business at Herrin. Four years later he was encouraged to enter into that business on a larger scale and he then organized the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Company, one of the important Inmber concerns of Williamson county today. Following several years of active connection with the company he spent a year in travel on the Pa- cifie coast, covering it from Los Angeles to Seattle and thoroughly ar- quainting himself with the business methods and social life of that see- tion of the country.
Eventually returning to Ilinois, Mr. Herrin withdrew from the lum- ber business and, in company with others, promoted and chartered the City National Bank, JJune 10, 1907, which concern immediately opened offices in the corner of one of the business houses of Herrin. A movement was at once begun to erect a home for the institution and in February, 1908, the bank ocenpied its quarters in the new structure. The building is of buff, hydraulic pressed brick, one hundred by thirty-seven and a half feet in lateral dimensions and two stories high. It is rather massive in design and is one of the most attractive business houses in Herrin. The capital stock of the bank is fifty thousand dollars and it is officered as follows: John Alexander, president; R. A. Karr, vice-president : Pant D. Herrin, cashier ; and Walter Goodout, assistant cashier.
At Herrin, June 16, 1899, Mr. Herrin was united in marriage to Miss Ruby Stotlar, who is a daughter of William N. and Sarah ( Cox) Stotlar Mr. Stotlar was a prominent and influential farmer of this community during his active career and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Herrin have two children, Jean and Jo.
Mr. Herrin is a Master Mason, a member of the Elks and the Eagles, and he is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
WHMAAM CLARK CARSON. One of the leading Republican newspapers of Southern linois is The Greenville Advocate, which has long been rer- ognized as a director of party policies and a supporter of its acknowl- edged candidates, as well as a newspaper singularly free from sensational- ismn, its policy always having been to give to the reading publie the best to be found in journalism. Its rapid growth in favor among the people of this section of the state is due in large part to the efforts of its man- aging editor, William Clark Carson, who holds a prominent position among Illinois newspaper men, and a citizen whose sincerity in develop- ing the interests of his community has never been questioned.
William Clark Carson was born at Woodburn, Maconpin county, Illi- nois, August 7, 1874, and is a son of William T. and Albie E. (Colcord Carson. William T. Carson was a native of Franklin, Tennessee, where he was born February 8. 1832. When he was eighteen months old he was brought by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Blackburn Carson, to Ma- coupin county, Illinois, and there the family resided on a farm until 18445, in which year they removed to Woodburn. His father passed away in 1886 and his mother three years later. As a young man William T. Carson engaged in the mercantile business in Woodburn, and then spent four years in the same line in Greenville, but in 1-73 returned to Wood burn, where he followed commercial pursuits until 1892, when he retired from business activities and came to Greenville. He served as postmaster during five administrations at Woodburn, being an independent Demo. "rat in politics, and for twenty years acted in the capacity of justice of the peace. On May 18. 1856, he was married in the old Congregational church at Greenville, to Miss Abbie E. Coleord, who was born in Wilton. Maine, March 7, 1837, and came to Illinois in 1840 with her father. Sam
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uel Coleord, making the journey in a covered wagon. Samuel Colcord, who was one of this county's most highly esteemed citizens, died in No- vember, 1893. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carson, namely : Eula, Clarence II., Francis P., Ella, William Clark and Harriet S., of whom Francis P. and Ella are now deceased. At the time of the dissolu- tion of the old Congregational church Mr. and Mrs. Carson beeame eon- nected with the Presbyterian church, of which they are still members.
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