USA > Illinois > Brown County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 70
USA > Illinois > Cass County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 70
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Biographical review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois: Containing biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens > Part 70
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Mr. Thomas lost his first wife in March, 1855, by whom he liad seven children, Dru- silla Shield, deceased; John M., deceased; James, deceased; Sarah C., a maiden lady at home with lier parents; William A., a mer- chant in Cooperstown; Peter A., farmer close by; Parmelia Ann Gibson, living on the homestead; Eliza Jane Garnett, in Arkansas. Mr. Thomas was married again, to Mrs. Nancy Brown, nee Clayton. She died, aged seventy-eight years, in 1884, after having been his faithful wife for twenty-four years. He is a Master Mason and organized the Ver- sailles Lodge, of which he is the last living member. He believes in moral reform in politics.
MANUEL LEIB, deceased, was one of the most highly respected fariners of Schuyler county, and it is fitting that luis name should be preserved to the coming generations as an honored citizen of the
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
great commonwealth of Illinois. He was born in York eounty, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1808, a son of Abraham Leib, a native of the same county; the paternal grandfather spent his entire life in York county, and there Abraham Leih was reared to agricultural pursuits; he, too, remained in York eounty until the day of his death. He married Matilda Ziegler of the same eounty, and she died on the homestead. Emanuel Leib grew to maturity, surrounded by rural seenes and occupations; he remained in the place where he was born until 1865, when he em- igrated to Illinois and settled in Rushville township, Schuyler county; he purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his life. He was an intelligent, suceessful farmer, and developed one of the most desirable tracts of land in Schuyler county.
He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Kimmel, a native of York eounty, Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of Philip and Eliz- abetlı (King) Kimmel. Three children were born to them: Henry E, who married Addic Wells, is a resident of Chicago; Aliee Leota, a stenograplier. is also in Chiieago; and John Robert resides with his mother.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Leib remained on the farm for three years, inan- aging it with marked sneeess; in 1890, low- ever, she rented the land, and is now making her home in Rushville.
W. ORWIG, of the firm of Orwig Brothers, successful house painters of Beardstown, is one of the prominent men of the city. The firm employs from two to ten men and are noted for the exeellence of their work. They inake a speciality of fine graining. The firm includes J. W. and a
brother, George. They have been doing business under the present firm name for the past twenty-two years: formerly the firm was known as William D. Orwig & Sons. Mr. Orwig started the business as early as 1857. He was engaged in business with them as journeymen workmen for two years, eoming to Beardstown in 1867. Here he died in 1875, aged sixty-three. He was born in Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania Dutchi parents. He grew up in his native State, following in his trade of distiller, and was yet a young inan when he came to Illinois, settling in Morgan county. Here he was married to Jane Whipp born in Yorkshire, England. She emigrated to this eountry with her parents, settling in Morgan county in the '30s. Mrs. Orwig remained with her parents until her marriage, and she mnade her husband a mnost faithful wife until his death.
For some time after his marriage Mr. Orwig engaged in the mereantile business in Morgan county, but later went to Rushville, Schuyler county, where he was engaged in the same business for a time. In 1857 he entered the painter's trade, having learned his trade in Sandusky, Ohio. He was a good citizen and his loss was felt by all who knew him. He was a Republican in polities from the formation of the party. He was a sound friend and acquaintance of Mr. Lin- coln's, having formed his acquaintance while he, Mr. Orwig, was a clerk in the treasury department at Springfield. His wife is still living with her son, George L., at Beardstown and, although she is in her seventy-first year she is very active for her ycars and is a devoted Methodist and a good Christian woman. Her husband was of the same religious faith.
Our subject is the eldest of two sous and three daughters, namely: Lizzie, wife of John Shaw, retired farmer of Beardstown; Mary,
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wife of Charles Fulks, wholesale grocer of Peoria, Illinois; Rosa I., wife of Milton Mc- Clure of Beardstown; J. W., born in Rush- ville, Illinois, November 12, 1845, and George.
Our subject was reared and educated in this city and was married here to Ann Sum- mers of Rochester, New York, born in 1869. She came to Beardstown when young with her parents. They are still living in this place and are past middle life. They are well known and highly respected people.
: Mr. and Mrs. Orwig are parents of one child: Charles Willianı. The are prominent young married people and are greatly liked by their large circle of friends.
EWIS ZIMMER is now retired from act- ive labor as a farmer and is living at the corner. of Jefferson and Twelfth streets in Beardstown. He was born in Frankfort- on-the-Main in Hesse-Darmstadt, July 28, 1819. He canie of Hesse-Darmstadt parents, his father, John Zimmer being a German fariner in a small way and died when ninety- two years of age. He was an active old man to the last, and wlien seventy-five thoughit nothing of walking twelve miles. He was a tried and loyal soldier and served his country for six years as one. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Snyder, died at the age of eighty, at the same place as her husband. She came of a long lived-family. They were both members of the State Church of Hesse- Darmstadt.
Lewis is the youngest, but one of nine children born to his parents. Several of the family are still living and married, but Lewis is the only one who came to the United States. He grew up on the farm in his native country 88
and after he became of age he enlisted as a soldier in the regular Germany army, serv- ing six years; when he received liis lionorable discharge he came to the United States, leav- ing in August, 1846. He sailed from France on a three-mast sailing vessel, landing in New York city after thirty-one days' passage. He came tlience to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, locat- ing fourteen miles west of that city and be- gan life in the new country as a day laborer. After about tliree years he came to Cass county, Illinois, through the influence of a German friend who lived there. Here he has lived ever since. He has a nice farm of 200 acres, a good portion of which is well improved and the soil is as fine as any in the county. The farm lies against Bluff Springs, in the valley of the same name. He came to the county a poor man, renting his farm, but in 1859 he purchased sixty-eight acres and on this began to farm on his own account, He added to this original farm until he liad ac- cumulated a fine property and fortune, and this without assistance from anybody but his faithful wife.
He was married in Beardstown to Mrs. Catharine Price, nee Keil. She was born in Hesse- Darmstadt and after growing up was married to Conrad Price, a gentleman of the same province. After marriage Mr. Price with his parents and young wife came, in 1845, from Bremen to Baltimore and thence to Beardstown, Illinois, and liere a few years later he died very suddenly from paralysis, leaving his widow withi quite a family, two sons who are now grown up and prosperous, Henry and John. The parents of Mrs. Price died in Beardstown when old people, their names were Conrad and Catherine (Shelman) Price. They were both natives of Hesse- Darmstadt and were all Lutherans.
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
Mr. and Mrs. Zimmer are the parents of two children: Lewis, Jr. (see biography), and Margaret, wife of Theo. Krohe, an impleinent dealer in the city.
Mr. Zimmer moved into the city in 1888 and is now enjoying the fruits of his early labors. He is a Democrat in politics and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
OBERT LITTLE was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, August 8, 1808. He was the son of William and Jane (Cro- zier) Little, who were both born in Ireland, where he died, at the age of sixty years, but she, surviving, came to Pittsburg, where she died, at the age of sixty-five years. William L. came to this country in 1831, in a sailing vessel, Captain Haines, command- ing. They were nearly six weeks on the trip and first landed at Quebec, Canada, and re- mained there that summer. He worked in Queen Victoria's works for about three months at dry masonry, and he was injured there by a large stone falling upon him which laid him up for about two months. He seems to have had a good deal of sickness and mis- fortune, and it was not until that fall that he was able to go to Eastern Canada, where he worked for two years. The next spring he came to Pennsylvania, and went into a boot and shoe store with his uncle. He left Canada against the wishes of the English company by whom he was employed, who offered to make liim an officer and deed him a large tract of land. He remained in Pennsylvania twelve to fifteen years, engaged for the miost part in superintending the construction of railroads.
He was married the day before he left Ire- land, and his wife caine with him. He, his
wife and eight children left Pittsburg for Illinois via St. Louis and Fredericktown, and from there came to Rushville. In 1844 he rented a farm for three years, and then bought a farmn of partly improved land in Littleton township. The next spring he moved to this farm, into a little log house about ready to tumble down. The next year he built a substantial log house, and then built a frame addition and otherwise improved the entire house. He has now over 600 acres of fine land and two houses, and several lots in Littleton. About eleven years ago he re- tired from farm work, and rented liis land to his boys. His wife was named Eliza Cun- ningham, was born in 1814, on the estate of Lord Mt. Joy, in Tyrone county, Ireland, Easter Monday. She was the daughter of Henry Cunningham, who came to Quebec, and the father, who was pensioner of the Brit- ish army, died at the age of sixty, and his wife at the age of sixty-five.
Mr. Little's wife died in 1890, at home where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Little had ten children, seven of whom are yet living.
EORGE E. RICHARDSON of Elkhorn township was born in St. Louis, Mis souri, in 1846. He was the son of Rob- ert H. and Sophia (Armbrewster) Richard- son. He came with his parents to Illinois when a boy, and before he was of age weut on the river and learned to be an engineer and followed that business until 1864, when he died. His father's family were farmers and mechanics.
George remained at home until he was nineteen years old, having remained at school until fourteen. He entered an office in St. Louis as shipping clerk, and afterward came
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
to this county and settled in Mt. Pleasant, and worked for an uncle one year on a farm. He then took to running a portable sawmill. Since then he has farmed and continued his business in the sawmill. He has been As- sessor and Collector, and is now a Democrat, although he first voted the Republican ticket.
He was married April 22, 1875, to Miss Martha J. Gerrish, who was born in this county April 9, 1854. She is the daughter of Sewall and Elizabeth (Grove) Gerrish. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have five children, namely: Otis E., Josie L., Sewall H., George Everett and Nina L. Mr. Richardson and family are prominent people in the township and they are steady church-going people.
ENRY Y. NEWBOLD, now deceased, was born in Lippe-Detmold, Prussia, Germany, September 22, 1828. He came of a respectable family and his mother died in her native province when he was eight years old. His father, Henry, who was a sinall German farmer, came with his four children, in 1850, to New York city, and from thence to Stephenson county, Illinois, where they all settled for a time, and where a part remained. The father continued there with one of his sons until his death. He and his wife were Lutherans all their lives.
Henry Y. came to Beardstown in 1854, and two years later was married, and after a few years purchased a good farm, five miles east of Beardstown, where he lived and died. He was a practical farmer, improved his land nicely, put up a fine residence and good out- buildings. At the time of his death he owned 152 acres of good, improved land in the bot- toms. He was a much respected citizen and a working member of the Lutheran Church.
His wife, who still survives him, and is managing the farm with remarkable success, is a very capable woman. Her maiden name was Mary Mohlman, and she was born in Westphalia, Prussia, September 25, 1838. She was twelve years of age when her parents came to the United States and to Beardstown. There the father, Henry Molilman, died, be- ing nearly sixty years old. He was a good inechanic and operated a large planing-mill, and also did business as a merchant. He was a well-known and worthy citizen, a Repub- · lican, and an active member of the Lutheran Church. His wife is yet living, and bears her eighty years as well as can be expected. Sbe has always been a consistent Lntheran.
Mrs. Newbold lived with her parents until her marriage. She is the inother of six intelligent children, all living: Henry A., a farmer of Christian county, Illinois, married to Phoebe Livergood; Ellen, wife of Herman Drawer, a farmer of Christian county ; Charles, also a farmer, married Amelia Tribs- water; Willian runs his father's old farm; Emma is the wife of Parker Hammer and Lily M., a charming young lady, is at home with her mother. The children are all well educated, and are highly respected through, out this county.
MASA HILL was born two and a half miles from Friendship, Allegany county, New York, July 1, 1830. His grandfather Hill, a pioneer of Allegany county, and a farmer by occupation, died in 1832. His father, Nathaniel Hill, was born in Delaware county, New York; removed from there to Allegany county, bought a tract of timber land, and from the wilderness de- veloped a farm. He spent his life there, and
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
died in 1838. The maiden name of the wife of Nathaniel Hill and the mothicr of Amasa was Rhoda Tiffney. She was born in Dela- ware county, New York, daughter of Horace Tiffney. She came to Illinois, and died at the home of her son, Amnasa, in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Hill reared four children: Chancey, Horace, Mary and Amasa. Chancey now lives at Fredericktown, Knox county, Ohio. Horace and Mary are deceased.
The subject of our sketch attended the primitive schools of Allegany county, which were held in log schoolhouses, with greased paper for windows and the seats inade of slabs with wooden pins for legs. When he was nine years old his mother sold the farın, his father having died the previous year, and emigrated to Ohio, the western journey being made in a two-liorse wagon. They settled in Knox county. There were no railroads in Ohio thien, and the people lived off the prod- ucts of their farms and wild game. The mother bought fifty acres of land, cight iniles from Mount Vernon, and there Amasa Hill was reared to manhood. At the age of four- teen he began to make his own way in the world, starting out from home with all his possessions tied up in a handkerchief. He went to Fredericktown, and there served a three years' apprenticeship to the trade of wagon and carriage maker. After learning his trade he did journeyman work there one year. In 1846 he came to Illinois, landing in Cass county, September 20. He found employ- ment in a carriage shop at Beardstown, wherc he worked four years. He then started in business in company with Richard Miller, and together they conducted a carriage shop four years. At the end of that time he and his brother, Horace, bought a farm and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. They farmed together till the latter's death, April 13,
1877. Since then Mr. Hill has operated it alone.
He was married, in 1850, to Mary A. Streeter, who was born in Pennsylvania, August 11, 1832, daughter of Andrew J. and Diana Streeter. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had three children: Chancey, Amanda and Will- iam. Chancey married Lucy Schaeffer, and Amanda is the wife of J. Theirget, and has one child, Nettic. Mrs. Hill died Decem- ber 3, 1885. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, of which her children are also members.
NGLEBERT CRAMER, farmer on section 33, township 18, range 11, was born in Beardstown, November 7, 1856. He was reared and educated in his native city. He is the son of Jacob H. Cramer, a native of Hanover, Germany, who came to America when a young, single man. He set sail from Bremen, on a sailing vessel, and after a long and stormy passage he landed in this country, and coming up the Missis- sippi river he located at Beardstown, Illinois. This was in the spring of 1848. He was a cabinetmaker, and had no difficulty in ob- taining work, as he was a skilled workman. He later engaged as mechanic, and house- builder, and carpenter. He was thus engaged the remainder of his life, dying at his home in Beardstown, in 1874, when he was fifty- four years of age, having been born in 1820. He was a Republican in politics, and a mem- ber of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good substantial citizen. He was married in Beardstown, to Charlotte Frankle, born in Prussia, Germany, coming to this country with a sister. They settled in St. Louis, where they remained for a time .
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SCHUYLER AND BROWN COUNTIES.
577
She was a true wife and good mother, and a worthy woman, dying in 1888, being about sixty years of age. She was a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. She was the mother of ten children, seven yet living, three of them being married.
Englebert grew to manhood in this county. He has a fine farm of 160 acres, which lies in the Illinois valley, and is well improved. He has good buildings on it, and also very good stock. He is a practical fariner, and a good manager.
He was married to Paulina M. Hackınan, born in this county, in 1858, where she was reared and educated. She is a very intelli- gent woman and good housekeeper. She has proved herself a kind and devoted wife and mother. She is the daughter of John H. and Louisa (Jockisch) Hackınan. Mr. Hackman was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to the United States when thirteen years old with his parents, John E. and Mary E. (Stu- ben) Hackman. The family located in Cass county, in the early '40s. They bought a farm on which the father died soon afterward, and the mother some years later. Jolın Hack- man was reared to manhood on a farm in this county, and was married here. After marriage he purchased land in township 17, range 11 (which is the home of our subject) and here Mr. Hackman and wife worked and built up a fine home and large farm of 320 acres in one body, and here they both died, the former April 18, 1874, aged fifty. He was a prominent man, a Republican in poli- tics, and was one of the builders and lead- ing members of the Zion Methodist Episco- pal Church. His wife died July 26, 1877. She was born in this county, in 1837. (For full biography of her family see history of William Jockisch). She was a kind and good neighbor, a worthy wife and mother, and a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was the mother of four children, yet liv- ing.
Mrs. Cramer is the cldest; Frank J. R., a farmer in this county, married Rosa Wag- oner; Lydia C., wife of Henry Sitter, now a farmer in Petersburg, Illinois; Julius H. is single and lives with his brother, Frank.
Mr. and Mrs. Cramer have four children: Louisa B., Jacob H., Julius W. and Engle- bert C: Mr. Cramer is a stanch Republican, and takes a very prominent part in politics, having held all of the precinct offices. He and his wife are leading people in the county.
H. DRUSE, passenger and freight agent at Beardstown for the Chi- cago; Burlington & Quincy Rail- road since 1886, was born in Henry county, Illinois and was reared, educated and has al- ways lived in this State. His father lived on a farm when he was born and reared in that calling; later lie learned the trade of a carrriage painter, but after pursuing the trade for a short time he found it was not congenial and so did not continue it. He then entered into the employ of the railroad. Since then he has been successful and has saved part of his income, with which he has purchased various pieces of real estate: in this is the valuable farm in Clay county of 160 acres. It was uncultivated when he pur- chased it, but he has improved it until it is one of the best farms in the county. He has put a good farm house and farm building on it and has planted a large number of fine trees.
Mr. Druse comes of Eastern people, his parents being from Kentucky. His father, Stephen Druse, was a farmer in Illinois and finally ended his days with his son in Leland,
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS,
Illinois. His wife, whose maiden name was Driggs, is still living and makes her home with Mr. Druse. She is now an old lady and liolds to the doctrines of the Presbyterian Chinrch. She has only five living children, all of whom, excepting Mr. Druse, are resi- dents of Nebraska.
Mr. Druse came to Beardstown in 1882 and has not lost at single day since from the pur- suit of his duty. He has exclusive charge of the passenger and freight depots and has always proved himself worthy of the trust imposed in him. There are from twelve to twenty-five men under him all the time. He is a popular young man in his city and has the confidence of his employers. He has a thorough knowledge of his business and is a man of good habits. When he first came to the city he was clerk and night agent for the Quincy Railroad until 1886. He was also connected with the main line, with head- quarters at Leland for some time. When he was first employed he was the youngest man in the employ of the road.
He was married in Beardstown, to Miss Bertlia Boehme of Williamsville, Illinois. She was yet young when her parents came to Beardstown and here she was rearcd and edu- cated. Her father, Julius Boelime, was a na- ive of Germany who settled in Illinois and was engaged as a inechanic until his death. His wife followed her husband some years afterward and was about the same age when she died. Her maiden name was Anna Pliil- lipi and she also was a native of Germany. She came to this country with her husband and they became pioneers of Beardstown. Here they spent the remainder of their days. They were people quite well known to the people of this city and connty and can be properly associated with the history of this płace.
Mr. and Mrs. Druse have a close social re- lation with the better class of Beardstown so- ciety, and are prosperous, progressive young people who will make life a success. They ad- here to the moral principles of life, but hold to no church creed. Mr. Druse is a stanchi Democrat, but is no office seeker. He is an active worker for the principles of his party in a local way. He is a working member of the Masonic order, Cass Lodge, No. 23, and takes a live interest in public matters tending to benefit the city and county.
AMES L. GREER, who was for more than twenty years the popular landlord of one of the best hotels in Rushville, was born near Five Mile Town, county Ty- rone, Ireland, January 14, 1820, the son of Robert and Catherine (Lendrum) Greer. (See sketch of George Greer.) He was a lad of nine years when his parents left the beautiful Emerald Isle and crossed the sea to America. Wlien thirteen years of age he was sent to sea as a cabin boy on a cruising vessel, mak- ing the principal ports of both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. A portion of the time he was drillinaster, and after seven years he was discharged as an able-bodied seaman.
In 1841 he removed to Rushville and there engaged in the manufacture of brooms for a few years. During the war he was engaged in buying horses under contract from the Government. Previous to the war he had bought a farm in Littleton township, on which he resided until 1869, when he sold out and came to Rushville. He purchased the prop- perty which has been used as a hotel, and be- came the proprietor of a hotel which he man- aged with rarc ability; he had a large and en- thusiastic patronage, and a reputation that reached as far as his guests traveled.
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Mr. Greer was married in 1841, to Nancy Wilson, who was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, a daughter of Elijah M. and Jane (Hawley) Wilson. Six children have been boru to this union, who are still living: Em- ily, now Mrs. McCreery, Robert, George, Charles and Milton. Robert and Charles are engaged in the mercantile business at Kcar- ney, Nebraska; George is a carpenter, and Mil- ton is in the livery business at Rushville. Mr. Greer and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He assisted in organizing the first Methodist Episcopal class in Littleton, and aided very materially in the building of the church. For a number of years he was superintendent of the Sabbath- school, and has always been a devoted worker in the cause of the Master. He is a mnan of excellent traits, and has the respect of all wlio know him.
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