USA > Illinois > A history of southern Illinois; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 55
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He now began to practice, having charge of the branch office of Harker and Harker and Lightfoot in Herrin. On the 5th of October, 1909, he came to DuQuoin, resigning his position with the above firm and entering the field for himself. His knowledge, having been won with so great dif- fienlty, stayed by him better than if it had come to him casier, and the thoroughness with which he prepares his cases and the clearness and sim- plicity with which he puts them before the jury have won him a reputa- tion as one of the coming lawyers. He entered actively into polities be-
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fore he was admitted to the bar, and with his natural eloquence and his sincere belief in the power of right as against that of might, he won the confidence of all who heard him. In 1908 he made the race for state sen- ator, but he was not yet well enough known, so was defeated for the nomination. The political party of his choice is the Republican. Mr. Dowell is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and is a Modern Wood- man. In his religious affiliations he is a member of the Missionary Bap- tist church of DuQuoin. In this church he is clerk, and is a licensed preacher.
On the 16th of December, 1899, George W. Dowell was married to Miss Anna Midyett, a daughter of John H. Midyett. The latter was an archi- tect and carpenter, who had come to Franklin county, Illinois, from Ken- tucky. Mr. Midyett died on the 4th of March, 1899. Mrs. Midyett was Rebecca S. Malory, a sister of Hon. O. R. Malory, of Benton, Illinois. Mrs. Dowell was one of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Dowell have three children, Noble Yates, Clara V. and Reola Harker.
ADOLPH MATHIAS LEONHARD. Prominent among the younger men of Trenton, Illinois, is Adolph M. Leonhard, the cashier of the Farmers Bank. Inheriting from his father the spirit of progressiveness and of broad-minded citizenship, he has united his efforts with those of his father in practically every direction, for the betterment of local con- ditions. His business ability and reputation for reliability won for him the responsible position which he now holds, although he had had no previous experience along such lines. His deep interest in civic affairs, as well as the confidence which his fellow citizens place in him, is shown by the positions which he has held in the city council and on the board of education.
At Trenton, Illinois, on the 27th of November, 1872, Adolph Mathias Leonhard was born. Ile is the son of Frank Leonhard, who was born on the 4th of January, 1843, at Highland, Illinois. The early life of the latter was spent partly on the farm and partly in town, and eonse- quently his education was rather spasmodic. He realized this defeet as he grew older and determined to remedy it himself. To that end he read and studied earnestly and is now a well informed and cultivated man. While he was a boy his father, Mathias Leonhard, moved to Trenton and bought a farm not far from the town. The lad grew up here, but when he reached manhood and thought of starting out for himself he turned to the mercantile business. He was so successful in this field that he has kept to it ever since and is now one of the most prominent merchants of Trenton. Active not only in the business world but in the public affairs of his city, he has willingly accepted various public offices. He has served both as councilman and as member of the school board and is an active member of the Business Men's League. In polities he is a Republican, and fraternally he affiliates with the Masonic order. On the 25th of June, 1868, he married Elizabeth Emig, of Trenton, Illinois. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom are living: Adolph M .; Louis N .; Edwin; Kathryn, who is the wife of Senator Griggs of Texas; Elmer Arnold and Ina.
The early days of Adolph Leonhard were spent like those of his father on a farm, but also like his father he had no inclination for this sort of life and when he was not in school he was to be found behind the counter of his father's store. He received his education in the public schools and then went to the State University at Champlaign, where he remained one year. He then returned to Trenton and took a position in his father's store, which he held until he was twenty-six. This train- ing in business methods which he received under the critical eye of his
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father was invaluable to him when he went into business for himself as the partner of A. C. Brefeld. The firm was Leonhard and Brefeld. hardware merchants, and for five years knew nothing but prosperity. In June, 1905, the Farmer's Bank of Trenton was organized and Mr. Leonhard was offered the position of cashier of the new enterprise. This is the position which he has held ever since, being in addition a heavy stockholder.
On the 7th of June. 1900, his marriage to Emma Locey, of Car- lyle, Illinois, took place. They are the parents of one daughter. Dorotha Locey Leonhard. In polities Mr. Leonhard is a Republican, while in religious matters he is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is en- thusiastie over the beneficial effects of the fraternal orders and is a member of the Masons and of the Knights of Pythias.
He is a member of the Illinois State Banker's Association, taking an interested part in their meetings. For eight years the citizens.of Trenton displayed their trust in him by eleeting him to the office of city treasurer, while at present he represents them as alderman from the first ward, through the medium of the Business Men's League he is one of the most active workers for the growth of the city of Trenton, his official position in the League being that of secretary-treasurer. He is also secretary of the board of education and is treasurer of the local Federation of Musicians, being an able musician himself, playing both the piano and the cornet.
Mr. Leonhard is one of Trenton's most enterprising and ambitious business men. He feels that he must not only succeed himself but that he must bring as much good and prosperity to the town as he is able. Ile is a clean cut, energetic man, just the type whom men instinctively like and trust and when he has some reform at heart, he is sure of a large number who will support him to the last diteh. Since he is elear sighted enough to distinguish between the real and the sham, or between what may be of only an evaneseent value and what is lasting, his in- fluence for good is very great.
WALTER B. PLUMMER. Conspicuous among the wide-awake and prosperons business men of Opdyke is Walter B. Plummer, who has built up a substantial trade as a dealer in lumber and builders' sup- plies. He was born in June, 1861. in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, a son of Judge William Plummer, and grandson of Benjamin Plummer. Ir .. a pioneer settler of Kentucky. His great-grandfather. Benjamin Plum- mer, Sr., and his great. great-grandfather, James Plummer, were like- wise early settlers of that state.
James Plummer spent all of his earlier life in Maryland, his native state. In 1794 he migrated to Kentucky, where he had at least one son living, going down the Ohio river on a flat boat and landing at Lewis- town. now Maysville, and subsequently devoted his time to hunting. He left a fine estate in Maryland and a number of slaves, intending when he left home to go back there and settle up his affairs. On necount of the many dangers then attending a trip between the two states, he kept putting off the journey, and finally abandoned his Maryland property. continuing his residence in Kentucky until his death, in 1818.
Benjamin Plummer, Sr., was born in Maryland, and for awhile after his marriage lived in Virginia. Daring and venturesome, he accom- panied the world-famed Daniel Boone on his first trip to Kentucky, and took an active part in the stirring scenes enacted during the settlement of the "Dark and Bloody Ground."
Benjamin Plummer, Jr., born in Virginia, JJanuary 10, 1793. was but a child when he accompanied his parents to Kentucky. A typical VOL .. HI-24
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backwoodsman, he began hunting when too young to shoot excepting over a log, and became an expert marksman, his skill with the gun at the age of sixty years far surpassing that of most young men. During the War of 1812 he responded to the last call for troops, enlisting in the company commanded by Captain Matthews, and was accidentally wounded while matching at the month of Mad river, near the present site of Dayton. Ile married on August 15, 1816, and settled at Plum- mers Mills, where he spent his remaining years, passing away January 5, 1866, at the age of seventy-three years. Nine children were born of their union, including: Mrs. W. B. Evans; Mrs. W. G. Montgomery, whose husband was a minister, died in Ohio in 1858; Mrs. T. J. Cram died September 1. 1865, in Missouri; James moved to Missouri in 1854; Jolin settled in Texas; William; became the father of Walter B .; Dr. Henry, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was a prominent physician; and Franklin, who located in Missouri. Benjamin Plummer, Jr., was a miller by trade, an honest, upright citizen, and a devout member of the Meth- odist church. During the Civil war his sympathies were naturally with the South, and two of his sons served in the Confederate army. His death was the result of brutal treatment received from the "Home Guards."
William Plummer was born in Fleming eounty, Kentucky, in 1833, and was there educated. In 1857 he began the study of law with John A. Gavan, in Flemingsburg, and two years later was admitted to the Kentucky bar. In the spring of 1859 he was elected poliee judge of Flemingsburg, and in 1866 was elected county judge on the Democratic ticket, and served in that position until his death, in 1870. He was en- gaged in agrieultural pursuits for a few years after his marriage, retir- ing from farming after his election to the judgeship. He was a man of sterling integrity and upright eharaeter, and a valued member of the Presbyterian church. William Plummer married. October 13, 1859, Mary E. Jones, a daughter of James Jones, who came from Maryland to Kentucky with James Plummer in 1794, and who lived to the re- markable age of ninety-four years. Three children blessed their union, as follows: Walter Benjamin, the special subject of this brief biograph- ieal review; Anna Mary, who died at the age of twenty years; and Julia Fleming, now a resident of Flemingsburg, Kentucky.
Left an orphan at an early age, Walter B. Plummer was brought up by his aunt, Mrs. Amanda D. Norwood, of Peoria, Illinois, and was edueated in the Peoria schools. Seleeting farming as his first oeeupation, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until twenty-eight years of age, when he moved to the city, where he learned the builder's trade. which he followed continuously in Peoria for eight years. Migrating then, in 1899, to Mississippi, Mr. Plummer purchased land, and was there a tiller of the soil until 1906. when he traded his Mississippi prop- erty for a farm in Jefferson county, Illinois, near Opdyke. On this farm of two hundred and forty acres Mr. Plummer resided until Janu- ary, 1911, in the meantime making improvements of value, including the erection of a modernly equipped house, at a cost of $2,500.00. Tak- ing up his residenee in Opdyke in January, 1911, he has sinee been pros- perously engaged in business as a dealer in lumber and builder's sup- plies, and is also president of the Opdyke Bank, a flourishing financial institution. Fraternally he is a member of Jefferson Lodge, No. 168, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of Opdyke; and of II. W. Hubbard Chapter, No. 160, Royal Arch Masons, of Mount Vernon. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist church.
Mr. Plummer married first, in March. 1888, Alice Ramsden. daughter of James Ramsden, who immigrated from England to the United States,
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settling in Peoria, Illinois. She died, leaving one son, Harold W., born February 11, 1894. Mr. Plummer again married, January 2, 1896. Mrs. M. L. Howarth, a daughter of Jeremiah Harker, of Peoria, Illinois.
ANDREW WATSON. The realty interests of any progressive, wide- awake community are very valuable, and those engaged in the develop- ment and upbuilding of various sections are not only advancing their own affairs, but are proving publie benefactors. One of the leading business men of Murphysboro who has for some years interested him- self in the real estate, insurance and loan business is Andrew Watson, who during his residenee here, a period of nearly forty years, has built up a reputation for business integrity and moral probity that has had a beneficial influence upon the community at large. Mr. Watson was born in Lennoxshire, Scotland, July 8, 1857, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Watson, the former of whom was engaged in coal mining.
Andrew Watson was something over fourteen years of age when he eame to the United States, and in 1872 he settled in Murphysboro, Illi- nois, where for the next ten years he worked in the coal mines. Possess- ing the thrifty Seotch spirit. he was saving with his earnings, and after leaving the mines was for four years engaged in farming, at the end of which time, under the firm name of Watson Brothers, he and his brother Areh engaged in the grocery business, which they continued for eleven years. Mr. Watson's next venture was in the life insurance field, in which he was uniformly successful and continued therein for nine years. In 1908 he established a real estate, insurance and loan busi- ness, and in this line has beeome known as an industrious and enterpris- ing addition to Murphysboro's progressive commercial element. Ile is now a direetor in the Southern Ilinois Building & Loan Association.
Mr. Watson has taken not a little interest in publie matters in Mur- physboro, serving as alderman for one term and as township assessor for a year. He is a member of the English Lutheran church, financial secretary thereof, a member of the church council and teacher of the men's Bible class in the Sunday-school. He was a president of the County Sunday School Association for two years. and of the adult department. for a like period, and has been superintendent of the county missionary department of the Sunday-school for one year and still holds that posi- tion. His fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows, in which he is a past noble grand.
Mr. Watson was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Everts, a native of Ohio, and she died in 1899. Ite is thoroughly convinced of the truth of the teachings of the Bible, and earnestly and efficiently has set forth the faith of that Book. He has the courage of his convietions, and not only does he declare them in vigorous language that does not l'ail to im- press, but lives up to his beliefs and earries them out in every-day life. He is an excellent business man and possessed of much civie pride. and any movements having for their objeet the betterment of Murphysboro in any way will find in him an earnest supporter and liberal contributor.
WILLIAM ORWAN HALL. One of the youngest and most promising business men of Cypress, Illinois, whose carcer presages a brilliant future, is Mr. William Orwan Hall, who, although still in his carly twenties, holds the responsible position of cashier in the Bank of Cypress. Mr. HIall is a native of Wichita City. Kansas, where he was born August 3, 1887, the son of William Franklin and Tiny Hall. His father was a Kentnekian by birth, but became a resident for a time of Kansas, ro- turning again to his native state, however, in 1891. Ten years later he sought a new location and removed his residence to Williamson county,
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Illinois, where he located on a farm, and he died on August 24, 1911. He is survived by his wife and eight children, one child, Zella Cleveland, having preceded him to the land beyond. The living children are Verdin Lilian, Lola Mont, William Orwan (the subject of this sketch) , Frederick Darrell, William Harland, Dorris Morton, Dewey and Glee.
William Orwan Hall attended school in Wichita, Kansas, Sebree, Kentucky, and Johnston City, Illinois, and succeeded in attaining a good education before his early entrance into the commercial world. Previous to becoming cashier of the Bank of Cypress he worked as a bookkeeper and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He has achieved flat- tering snecess in whatever line of endeavor he has directed his talents, and has already attained a position rarely reached by men of his young age.
Mr. Hall carries a good policy in the Aetna Life Insurance Company and has laid the foundation for a successful financial career.
On December 31, 1910. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hall and Miss Nola May MeClintoek, daughter of Charles E. MeClintock, a wealthy merchant of Johnston City and owner of stock in the Bank Cypress, of which Mr. Hall is cashier.
Mr. Hall is affiliated with several of the leading fraternal organiza- tions and holds membership in the A. F. & A. M., the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Ile is a nian of genial personality, and enjoys the respect and confidence of the eom- munity of which he is a leading citizen.
LOUIS WIEGMANN is cashier of the German State Bank of Hoyleton, Illinois, with which community this influential family began its con- nection in 1875. It was founded by the late Dr. Karl Wiegmann, father of Louis, who brought his family from Hamm, Westphalia, a province of the German Empire, in 1867, and settled first near Sheboygan, Wis- consin. subsequently going to St. Paul, Minnesota, and eventually be- ginning his career among his countrymen in Washington County. Illi- nois. Like professional men of his nationality generally, Dr. Wiegmann was a university man, and his modest history was made in the domain of science. He died here in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years. Ilis first wife was Louise Schniedermann, and their two children were Rey- erend Karl and Louis. He married for his second wife Caroline Scheuten, of Crefeld, Germany, and she died at Hoyleton in 1894. The surviving issue of this union are: Gustav, a teacher in Chicago; and Mrs. Ilenry Weigel, residing in St. Louis.
The public schools of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Hoyleton educated Louis Wiegmann, and Elmhurst College, Illinois, prepared him for a professional career. He was organist and teacher in the parochial schools of the German Evangelical church at Davis, Illinois, and remained there From 1885 to 1893, when he took a like position with the church school at Waterloo, Illinois. remaining there until 1900. He continued his educational work at Iloyleton until 1906. At that time he resigned to aid the movement for opening a bank in lloyleton, this being con- summated in 1906, and the institution was chartered as the German State Bank, with a capital of $25.000. This bank now has deposits ag- gregating $150,000; J. E. Haun is president. L. Wiegmann cashier and W. E. Breuner, vice-president. The board of directors includes the of- ficials, with Il. F. and W. C. Rixmann and II. W. Schnitker of Hoyleton. and II. W. Rixmann of Irvington. Illinois.
Mr. Wiegmann was married in Davis, Illinois, March 16, 1886, to Miss Sophia Meier, a daughter of Henry and Barbara ( Weber) Meier of German and French nativity, respectively. They celebrated their
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sixtieth wedding anniversary before death parted them. Louis D. is the only child of his parents. He was born in 1887. was educated in the public schools and business college, and is now his father's assistant in the bank. He married Miss Minta Roper.
The Wiegman polities are those of the Democratic party, and in religious matters the family is connected with the German Evangelical church.
FRANK F. NOLEMAN. Among the prominent and prosperous law- yers of Centralia and Marion county, Frank F. Noleman takes enviable rank. Ile has been a practicing attorney of Centralia since 1889, which year marked the beginning of his legal career, and in the years that have elapsed since then he has made steady progress in the pathway of snecess.
Born on July 2, 1868, Frank F. Noleman is the son of Robert D. and Anna M. ( White) Noleman. The former was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1816 and came to Illinois in 1843, settling in Jefferson county. Ile established the first sawmill in Jefferson county, prominently known as Noleman's Mill. He continued to operate this mill until in 1858. when he moved to Centralia and established a lumber yard. In 1861, promptly on the breaking out of the Civil war, he organized Company II, First Ilinois Cavalry, known as Noleman's Cavalry, and he served in the war one year as captain of his company. Returning to Centralia, he was appointed postmaster of that point and served acceptably until 1863, when he was appointed to the office of collector of internal revenues for the Eleventh District, which office he filled in a creditable manner for eleven years. He was afterwards a commissioner of the JJoliet peni- tentiary for four years. He was generally regarded in his community as being one of its best citizens, and his success as a man of publie posi- tion was admittedly good. He died in 1883, leaving a good name and a modest estate, and he was sincerely mourned by all who knew him. His wife was a native of the state of New York. She died in 1902, hav- ing survived her husband by a number of years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father of Robert Noleman and the grandfather of Frank F. Noleman was Richard Noleman, born in Maryland. Ile moved first to Pennsylvania and then to Ohio. In 1843 he brought his family to Hinois, soon after which he died. He was a. successful farmer, and a veteran of the Black Hawk war. The maternal grandfather of Frank F. Noleman was James White, born in county Kildare, Ireland, and coming with his wife to this country in about the year 1830. They settled in New York state, where he followed Farming and raised a large Family, and there he and his wife departed this life.
Frank F. Noleman had the advantage of only a moderate schooling in his boyhood and youth. When he had completed the course of study in the common schools of his town he entered MeKendree College at Lebanon, Ohio, taking a two year collegiate course. Following that course of study he entered the law office of Casey & Dwight, of Centralia. reading law with them until 1889, when he was admitted to the bar. He promptly opened an office in Centralia and there began the practice of his profession. From a necessarily small beginning Mr. Noleman has built up a practice wide in its scope and of a remunerative nature. He is the local representative of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company and for the Southern Railway, and is the representa- tive of a number of the local corporations. He has a considerable busi- ness of a professional nature in the adjoining counties and in the Fed- eral courts.
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Aside from his legal connections he is affiliated with a number of the more important financial organizations of Centralia, among which are the Old National Bank, of which he is a director; he is the secretary and a director of the Marion County Coal Company ; he is vice-president of the Centralia Envelope Company; and is a member of the directo- rates of the Ilome Building & Loan Association, the Centralia Water Supply Company, the Centralia Commercial Club and the Centralia Public Library. Mr. Noleman is a Republican in his political adherence, but has never held any publie office beyond that of city attorney in the early days of his profession, although he is alive to the best interests of the party at all times. He is a Mason, and a member of the Chapter and the Cyrene Commandery, No. 23, of Centralia.
In 1894 Mr. Noleman married Miss Daisie Schindler, a daughter of F. Schindler, a shoe merchant of Centralia. One child, Irene, was born of their union. In 1902 his wife died, and in 1909 Mr. Noleman mar- ried Miss Ella Jones. She is a daughter of James Jones, a native of Perry county, and a farmer. Mrs. Noleman is a member of the Presby- terian church. Mr. Noleman, while a contributor to the Methodist church, of which his mother was a member, has never become a member of any church.
WILLIAM SCHWARTZ. Prominent among the more prosperous German farmers of Southern Illinois, and especially Pulaski county, William Schwartz takes high rank as a representative and valuable citizen of his community. From a small beginning in 1890 he has increased his in- terests from time to time until he now has one of the finest farms in the state, fully equipped with the most modern appliances and with a dwelling and other buildings which would do credit to any man.
Born January 6, 1859, in St. Clair county, Illinois, Mr. Schwartz is a son of Peter Schwartz, a native of Germany who settled in that county many years before the war of the rebellion. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, on November 2, 1828, in which place he received the advantage of a good education, and was trained in the craft of the blacksmith. He served his country in the army during the war of 1848 and in 1853 he emigrated to America in company with a brother, Wil- liam, who became a resident of Arizona, near El Paso, Texas. Peter Schwartz was followed to the United States a few years later by a brother and sister, John and Margaret (Luedemann) Schwartz, who settled in St. Clair county. For a number of years following his ad- vent to America and the state of Illinois, Mr. Schwartz followed his trade as a blacksmith, but with the acquisition of a traet of land he was emboldened to branch out into farming, a move which proved to be most profitable on his part, as he proved that he was as capable in the role of a farmer as in that of a blacksmith. In 1856 Mr. Schwartz mar- ried Barbara Ruebel, who was born near Weisbaden, Germany. She died in 1868, leaving her husband and four children to mourn her loss. The children are: John, a farmer of St. Clair county; William, of this sketch; Christopher, also a farmer of St. Clair county ; and Fritz, who died in East St. Louis on December 20, 1911. Mr. Schwartz contracted a second marriage in later years, when Mary Gauss became his wife. She survives her husband, who passed away in 1899.
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