USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 10
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He was born in Collinsville township, Madi- son county, Illinois, May 20, 1858. His father, John Kriger, and his mother, formerly Mary Sika, were both born in Bohemia, Austria, he in 1829 and she in 1827. They were married in their native land and had a little farm there, but did not make much headway, so they de- cided to come to the United States. In 1855 they landed in America and came direct to Collinsville township. They had a little money, the proceeds of the sale of their Aus- trian farm, and with that they purchased a lit- tle farm near Collinsville, on which they lived the rest of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Kriger had two sons, John and Joseph. Joseph is un- married (19II) and lives on the old Kriger farm where he was born and where his par- ents both died.
John was born and brought up on the same Vol. II-4
farm and he attended the Pleasant Ridge dis- trict school. After he left school he came to Edwardsville township and worked on the farm where he now lives. He owns seventy- six acres of land, on which he does general farming.
He was married January 20, 1885, to Anna Shashek, who was born in Edwardsville town- ship November 7, 1865. She was the daugh- ter of Michael Shashek and his wife, Anna (Bruha) Shashek. They owned a farm near the one owned by Mr. Kriger. Mrs. Kriger was educated in the Elm Grove school. Mr. and Mrs. Kriger have four daughters, Mary, the eldest, married Joe Kubieck. Christenia is the wife of Joe Scherbal. Jennie is mar- ried to Lewis Kriger, and Nora, the youngest, is unmarried and lives at home with her par- ents.
Mr. Kriger is a member of the St. Mary's Catholic church at Edwardsville, Illinois. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America fraternal order, in which he carries two thousand dollars insurance. In politics he is a Republican. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kriger are pleasant, unassuming people, without any "frills," and they are held in high esteem by the people who have known them both all of their lives. They consider Mr. Kriger an hon- est, upright man, and they must be right in their estimate of him, formed during all of these years. As is natural, he thinks Madison county is about right and would do anything in his power to promote its welfare.
C. A. CALDWELL. The Caldwell family in Alton is descended from John Caldwell (I), who was born in England in 1624, was in Bos- ton in 1643, and was a resident of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1654, and died in 1692. Ipswich is the ancestral seat of the Caldwells. This first American ancestor married Sarah Dillingham, who was born at Ipswich in 1634. (II) John, son of the above, died in 1721-2, and married Sarah Foster. He was styled "yeoman." (III) John Caldwell was born August 19, 1692, and was slain by Indians off the coast of Maine in 1724. His wife was Elizabeth Lull. (IV) John, born in 1717 and died 1761, married, first, Abigail Hovey, and, second, Ruth (Andrews) Wells. (V) Cap- tain Ebenezer, son of John and Abigail, was born in 1745, and died December 16, 1821. He was in service at the first alarm after the battle of Lexington. His first wife was Lucy Rindge, and his second, Mercy Dodge.
(VI) Captain Sylvanus, a son of the second wife, was born in 1787 and died August 26,
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1864. For half a century he was a notable business man in the Kennebec valley of Maine and was a friend of James G. Blaine. IIe married Hannah Staniford, and had twelve children. The daughter, Eunice, married Samuel Wade of Alton. Mary S., another child of Captain Sylvanus, was the wife of Dr. E. Marsh, Sr.
(VII) Charles Augustus Caldwell, son of Captain Sylvanus, was born at Ipswich, Massa- chusetts, January 7, 1823, and died at Alton, October 11, 1890. For several years he clerked in his brother's store at Augusta, Maine, and in 1850 came to Alton and entered the office of the Alton Marine & Fire Insurance Com- pany. Out of this company grew the old Al- ton Bank, of which he became cashier in 1852, and in 1865 he became cashier of the Alton Na- tional Bank. In 1885 he succeeded to the presidency of this institution and was active in the management of its affairs until the end of his life. It is true that the bank is largely a memorial to his sound financial judgment and sterling honesty. In 1873 he was elected mayor of Alton, the honor having been thrust upon him who had no desire for political honors, though he performed the public duties with the same judgment and honesty that lie used in business.
Hle married, May 28, 1857, Miss Ann Marsh, daughter of Dr. E. Marsh, Sr., and Ann Cox. They were the parents of ten children -Hannah S., born in 1858, married Richard Henry Flagg ; Emma Harriet, born 1859 ; Au- gustus Prescott, born 1861 ; Charles Albert, see below ; Ebenezer M., born 1866, married Lil- ian M. Blair; Elmira C., born 1868, died in 1890; Mary S., born 1871, died in 1897 ; Sylva- nus F., born 1873, died in infancy; Martyn Roger, born 1875; Bailey, born 1877, died in infancy.
Charles Albert Caldwell was born in 1863, and now holds the position in the Alton Na- tional Bank which his father held at the or- ganization of that institution in 1865. He is also president of the Charles Phinney Com- pany, wholesale grocers, treasurer of the Al- ton, Granite & St. Louis Traction Company, and of the Alton Water Company. In 1891 he married Miss Elizabeth Hyde Forbes, who died August 27, 1902. Their children were : Albert, deceased; Elizabeth R., born 1894; Charles Alexander, born 1895, died April 20, 1900. Mr. Caldwell and family are members of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM UELSMANN. An essentially pro- gressive and enterprising agriculturist in
Madison county, Illinois, is William Cels- mann, who is the owner of a finely improved estate of one hundred and sixteen acres, the same being located in Hamel township. Mr. Uelsmann has achieved unusual success as a farmer and stockman and as a citizen he is everywhere accorded the unalloyed confidence and esteem of his fellow men, who honor him for his exemplary life and his fair and straight- forward business career.
William Uelsmann was born in Madison county, Illinois, the date of his nativity being the 16th of March, 1870. He traces his ances- try back to stanch German extraction, both his parents, William and Caroline (Kastien) L'elsmann, having been born and reared in the great Empire of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. William Uelsmann immigrated to the United States in early youth and after reaching years of maturity they met at St. Louis, Missouri, where was solemnized their marriage and where for a period of two years they con- ducted a bakery. They removed to Omph- ghent township, Madison county, Illinois, where he located a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land and where he was engaged in farming for a period of thirty years. He now resides with his son William ; the mother died in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam Uelsmann became the parents of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. Con- cerning the others the following brief data are here inserted,-Emma is the wife of Fred Wolf, and they are the parents of three chil- dren, Theodore, Charlie and Albert; Henry is a resident of North Dakota; Edward is a resident of Omphghent township; Matilda married Louis Dustmann and they have four children-Hilbert, Albert, Esther and Lester, the latter two being twins ; Caroline is the wife of William Bunte and they are the parents of two children, Wyola and Oscar; Charlie and William.
To the public and parochial schools of Omphghent township, Madison county, Will- iam Uelsmann is indebted for his preliminary educational training. After leaving school he was associated with his father in the work and management of the old homestead farm, until he had reached his twenty-first year. After that he worked out as a farm hand on different estates until 1900, in which year was solemn- ized his marriage. After that important event he initiated his independent career as a farmer on his present fine estate of one hundred and sixteen acres, the same being located one half mile distant from the village of Hamel, in
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Hamel township. In addition to general farm- ing he gives a great deal of attention to the raising of high-grade stock. His substantial buildings in the midst of well cultivated fields are the best indication of his splendid ability as a practical and industrious farmer. In politics he is a stanch Republican and in reli- gious matters he and his wife are devout mem- bers of the German Lutheran church, in the various departments of whose work they are most active and zealous factors. They are popular and prominent in connection with the best social activities of Hamel township and their spacious and attractive home is the scene of many happy and merry gatherings.
In the year 1900 Mr. Uelsmann was united in marriage to Miss Helena Dustmann, who was born in 1874 and who is a daughter of Henry and Helena (Eden) Dustmann, both natives of Germany. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dustmann, two died in infancy, Minnie died at the age of nineteen years and Anna passed away in her thirty- second year. Herman Dustmann was acci- dentally killed by a fast train on the Wabash railroad while walking home on the track in the evening. He was survived by a widow, whose maiden name was Mary Halbe, and four children, namely, -- Henry, Anna, Her- man and Valentine. Fred Dustmann married Katie Halbe, now deceased, and who is sur- vived by five daughters, Louise, Mary, Katie, Emma and Malinda. Henry Dustmann mar- ried Emma Kruckberge and they have three sons, Henry, Edmond and Christian. William Dustmann wedded Christina Hess, who bore him ten children, as follows,-Henry, Edward, Mary, Emma, Katie, William, Theodore, Tillie, Ewalt and Elmer. John Dustmann was twice married, his first union having been to Mary Halbe, who died and is survived by four chil- dren,-Ella, Olinda, Edna and Mary; for his second wife he married Anna Buhrmann and they have three children, Erwin; Johanna and John. Anna Dustman became the wife of Fowler and at the time of her demise she was the mother of six children, --- Helena, Louis, Henry, Charlie, Louise and George. Louis Dustmann married Tillie Uelsmann, a sister of the subject of this review, and they reside in Omphghent township. Mr. and Mrs. William Uelsmann are the fond parents of one son, Arthur, whose birth occurred on the 16th of November, 1901, and who is now an inter- ested student in the Lutheran school of Hamel township.
FREDERICK C. JOESTING, M. D., began prac- tice in Alton in 1901 and has become one of the successful physicians and surgeons of the city. A native of Alton, he was born November 16, 1878, and received his early education in the public schools. His professional educa- tion was acquired in Washington University, St. Louis, where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1901. His practice is extensive, and he has the reputation of be- ing both a successful physician and a public- spirited citizen.
Dr. Joesting represents one of the most prominent German-American families of Al- ton. His grandfather, also named Frederick C., was born in Hanover in 1807 and spent his entire career as a schoolmaster. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Maria Habkemeier, had a family of eight children, among whom were several who identified themselves with the city of Alton. One of them is Gustav A. Joesting, Dr. Joesting's father. He immigrated to America when six- teen years old, and has since been actively en- gaged in the commercial affairs of Alton. For a number of years he was cashier of the Alton Savings Bank, and is now cashier of the Citi- zens National Bank of Alton. He began his career as a clerk in the old First National Bank, and has been connected with the finan- cial institutions of the city for about forty years. He, married Miss Fannie E. Volz.
On October 20, 1908, Dr. Joesting married Miss E. Violette Chittenden. She is a daugh- ter of Curtis L. Chittenden, a highly respected citizen of St. Louis and of an old and influ- ential family. They have one child, Martha Lee.
JOHN SNYDER, owner of Snyder Block and a successful merchant, is a native of Alton and a member of one of its old German families. His parents were Michael and Mary (Ruckergauer) Snyder, both natives of Germany. Michael Snyder was born in Wuertemberg in 1826, came to the United States and settled at Alton in 1848, followed farming most of his life, and passed away Au- gust 7, 1909, at the advanced age of eighty- three. His wife came to Alton from Germany in 1848 with a brother and sister, and their marriage occurred in Alton. They were the parents of six children: William, John, Mi- chael (deceased), Joseph, Henry and Michael. The mother died July 4, 1902.
Mr. John Snyder attended the St. Mary's parochial school, and began his business career
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as clerk for W. V. Crossman, an auctioneer. His experience of seven years in this business gave him a broad knowledge of business, and after the first nine months, when he was still a boy in his 'teens, he took the block and be- gan crying sales. In 1883, leaving Mr. Cross- man, he was for three years in the auction business with John Dow, then in the same business a year and a half by himself. For two and a half years he managed the clothing, shoe and furnishing business of William Hilde- brand. In 1887, with his brother William, he established the store at the corner of Third and Piasa which is still conducted under his name. In 1888 they bought the building on this corner. In 1890 John Snyder bought his brother's interest. The building was burned in 1901, but the same year was replaced by the present Snyder Block, part of which is occu- pied by his store and the rest by offices. Mr. Snyder owns two farms in Jersey county, has invested in Texas lands, and has been one of the successful business men of Alton.
He married, May 11, 1886, Miss Clara Burg, who was born in Alton a daughter of Lawrence and Mary Burg. They have one daughter, Anna Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been members of St. Mary's Catholic church since childhood, and he is one of the trustees. He has been president of the Madi- son County Federation of Catholic Societies for three terms, is a member of the Catholic Western Union Branch No. 9. of Alton, mem- ber of St. Joseph's Society, and vice president of Pius Society of St. Mary's, while his wife is a member of the Catholic Knights and La- dies of America, the Altar Society and the Martha Society.
COLONEL GEORGE TURNBULL MOORE DAVIS, who was a resident of Alton from 1832 until about 1850, was a prominent member of the bar and served two terms as mayor of the city, but in a more conspicuous manner was identi- fied with the military and public life of the state and nation, so that his name deserves recognition among the famous Altonians of the last century. His family is still represented in Alton by his grandson, George T. Davis.
Matthew Davis, the grandfather of Colonel George T. M., was born in New York city in 1745. served in the American army during the Revolution, and died in 1780 as a result of a wound received in service. His wife was Phebe Wells, of a Quaker family.
George Davis, son of the above, was born in New Jersey. August 28, 1779, adopted the profession of medicine and attained promi-
nence in professional and public life. He was appointed surgeon in the U. S. navy, in 1803 became consul general at Tripoli, and died in 1818, his life being cut short by a strenuous devotion to his work. He married, in 1806, Ann Tucker Pennock. Their four children were: Theodosia Burr, born in 1807, died in 1883; Ann Caroline Pennock, born in 1808, (lied in 1809; George T. M. ; and William Pen- nock Davis, born in 1811, and died at Alton.
George T. M. Davis was born on the island of Malta, May 24, 1810. Soon afterward, the family returned to New York, where he was reared and educated. When fourteen vears old he was sent to the then new town of Syra- cuse, to become clerk in a store kept by his uncle's sons. During this employment as "counter-jumper" he married, in April, 1828, Susan Minerva, a daughter of Judge James Webb. Shortly afterward he began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in July, 1832. Judge Webb had in the meantime emi- grated west and settled on Scarritt's prairie in Madison county, and Mr. Davis followed on as soon as his lawyer's license was obtained, arriving at Alton on September 15, 1832.
The series of autobiographical sketches pre- pared by Colonel Davis during his life was afterwards published, and it is from this "Au- tobiography" that the principal facts of this sketch are collected. The comment and narra- tive of certain incidents in the history of Al- ton of that period deserve quotation. At the time of his arrival in 1832, Alton "wore the rude aspect of a primitive settlement of a few adventurers on the frontier boundaries of civil- ization. Its scattered habitations were all con- structed of logs with but two exceptions ; one being a small frame building erected by Win- throp S. Gilman, for the sale of merchandise and the storage of goods; and the second a still smaller frame in which Ebenezer Marsh had opened a drug store, being the first either at Alton or in the county of Madison. There was a third frame dwelling, being constructed by James S. Lane, the son-in-law of ex-Gover- nor Ninian Edwards. Alton was then without even a postoffice, the nearest one be- ing at Upper Alton, a mile and a half dis- tant.
He was one of the first resident lawyers of Alton, and for a time he and Dr. Benjamin Hart shared a log-cabin office. He was a friend of Lovejoy and on several occasions was his legal adviser. In April, 1841, he be- came editor of the Alton Telegraph, and was connected with that paper until the close of
Smith 6. P.
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1847. From 1844 to 1846 he served two terms as mayor. In the early '4os he had taken a prominent part in the crusade against Mor- monism in Illinois, and had acquired reputa- tion and influence both at home and through- out the state.
In politics he was a Whig, and his campaign for mayor brought him into opposition to the dominant party of the state and his rival, Colonel J. B. Hundley, was one of the strong- est Democrats in this part of the state. Of a certain curious interest to modern times is the fact that the campaign was waged largely on the issue of temperance, which "occupied as large, if not a larger, share of public attention and controversy before the people than it does at present." Colonel Davis was elected as a strong and uncompromising temperance man, and the only pledges that he had made were that he would enforce the ordinances without fear or favor. At that time the troublesome question was that involved in closing the sa- loons on Sunday. "I had never in my own mind doubted that all that stood in the way of the law's enforcement was the will and dispo- sition to do so, and not any defect in the ordi- nances." Accordingly he began with strict enforcement of the law against the most promi- nent violators, secured a verdict from a jury of influential citizens, and at the close of the trial announced his determination to continue a fair and impartial enforcement of law throughout his term of office. "The effect of these proceedings proved to be most salutary throughout, and I cannot recall another in- stance of the kind occurring during my term of office."
His active efforts and influence in arousing the citizens of this part of the state to support the Mexican war resulted in the appointment of Colonel Davis as aide-de-camp to Briga- dier General Shields. His services in the war were largely of a confidential and diplomatic character, and a large portion of the autobiog- raphy is devoted to this portion of his career. He was also correspondent for the Alton Tele- graph during this period and his articles were widely copied.
In December, 1847, he returned to Alton, and his resignation from the staff of the Tele- graph soon followed because he was unable to support the candidacy of General Taylor for the presidency. However, during the latter's term of office, Colonel Davis accepted a clerk- ship in the general land office at Washington, and his introduction to the official life of the capital terminated his residence at Alton. For
a year or so he was editor of the Louisville Courier, and about 1859 he became identified with the general railroad supply and commis- sion business at New York. Though he had a successful career in business, he regretted that he had not continued his career as a law- yer. His business and public duties had brought him into a sphere much higher than that of the ordinary business man. A man of strong character, he numbered among his per- sonal friends Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.
He died December 19, 1888, in New York city. His first wife died in November, 1850. In 1852 he married Mrs. Eunice Pomeroy Day, whose death occurred in March, 1885. The children of Colonel Davis, all by his first wife, were six daughters and four sons, all but the two oldest being born in Alton, namely- James Webb, Carey Heslett Hansford, Henri- etta W. W., Ann Theodosia, Susan Minerva, Emiline V., Emma Josephine, Ellen L., George T. M. and Hugh P.
Carey H. H. was born at Syracuse, Novem- ber 21, 1831, and lost his life during the Civil war. He was the father of three sons-George T., Charles C. and Frederick.
HENRY P. S. SMITH. It is probable that there is no one in Madison county who does not know Henry P. S. Smith, at least by repu- tation. Indeed it is because of the presence of such men as Mr. Smith that the county has become of such importance in Illinois. For the prosperity of a community it is necessary to have men of ability such as is possessed by Mr. Smith, but when this ability is accom- panied by the Christian characteristics that are found in Mr. Smith, there is a combination that cannot fail to give a high standing to the coun- ty. A man whose parents have done nothing to make themselves prominent has only his own ideals to live up to, but in the case of Mr. Smith he has not only to satisfy himself, but he feels it incumbent upon him to live up to the standards that his father had set before him. Mr. Smith's own ideals are placed too high for him ever to expect to attain to them, but his father would find no reason to censure him if he could see his actions. His whole life is an open book-a ledger perhaps-kept in the best book-keeping hand and always ready for inspection. His own and his family history are very interesting.
Born in Fort Russell township, October 26, 1861, and having spent the whole of his life here, it would be strange if Mr. Smith did not
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have a vital interest in the welfare of his coun- ty and state. His grandparents, Philip Smith and his wife Mary, formerly Mary Mueller, were born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Philip and the nineteenth century were ushered in at the same time, as he was born in 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had three children, one son and two daughters. Christian P. Smith, the son, was born in the same province as his father, March 7, 1833. For several years after their marriage and the birth of their children Mr. and Mrs. Smith struggled with poverty. They were ambitious for their children; they were desirous of giving them a better educa- tion than theirs had been; they were anxious that their children should not have to battle for their daily bread as they had themselves done. They had heard of the country beyond the seas and it had been painted to them in glowing colors .. They had heard that there a man who was desirous of climbing the hill of fame could find an opportunity to rise. In Oc- tober, 1847, they embarked at Bremen on the Robert Patten, a sailing vessel. They had a long, weary voyage of eight weeks. The cold was so intense at times that a less sanguine, hopeful party might well have been discour- aged. They, however, looked beyond the ice- bergs which they encountered; they looked be- yond the seasickness which overcame them; they looked beyond the storms which well nigh swamped them on several occasions; and they saw a future in which a man could rise and amount to something if he only had the right stuff in him. When they landed at New Or- leans the spring had already come and with it the realization of their hopes seemed to be dawning. They took a steamer and sailed up the river to St. Louis, passing on their way the vast plantations on which the slaves were working. They did not tarry in St. Louis, but made their way by wagon across the border into Madison county, Illinois, where they had relatives, who took in the little family until they could find a home for themselves. Philip Smith had very little money, but he expended that small sum in the purchase of eighty acres of land, twelve of which were cleared. Upon this was a cabin seventeen feet wide and twen- ty feet long. For four years this little cabin was their home, the haven to which the father returned at night after a hard day's work to be welcomed by his indefatigable wife and children. He prospered, as men with such mettle always do prosper, and at the end of four years was able to build a more substantial house. He bought more land and cultivated it
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