USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 113
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Martin J. Schott was born in Germany, on the 19th of November, 1830. He was the son of Gerhard Schott, who was also a native of Germany. He attended college in his native land and obtained a fair amount of learning. At the age of fourteen he put away his school
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books and became a wage earner. This was in 1844, and two years later he was appren- ticed to a cooper and brewer, and in a few years was master of this trade. In 1849, in the fall of the year, he went to Bavaria to follow his trade. For a year he worked away quietly and then the conscription fell on him, and he was ordered to report for service in the army. Fortunately for him, when he obeyed the call a sufficient number of men had been secured. Exempt for a time at least, he con- cluded to leave the country, and so made his way into France, where he remained until - 1856.
The previous year Martin Schott's father had immigrated to America, and hither the son determined to come. Saying farewell to the Old World, he sailed for the new coun- try in 1856. He made his way to Highland, and with his father and his brother, Christian, became connected with Bernay's Brewery, then located in a brick building opposite the soda factory of Joseph Wick. The business prospered, and as the town grew larger, the business kept pace with it until in 1866 the factory was moved into new quarters that had been erected for it. It was about this time that Mr. Schott, who ten years before had been a German immigrant not greatly blessed with this world's goods, became sole owner of the plant. He conducted the busi- ness alone until his sons grew to manhood and were able to help him. Being a practical brewer, he was able to manufacture a high class product, for the men who worked for him understood that he knew his business, and would stand no trifling or adulterating of the product. His honesty in business, therefore, brought him a large patronage of the best class of buyers and the business in- creased daily. He organized the Highland Brewing Company, associating with him his sons. As the business increased it was found necessary to build additions to the original plant from time to time, until now the brewery is conceded to be one of the best equipped in the country. On the 29th of October, 1899, Mr. Schott celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his becoming a master brewer. He retired from business several years before his death, leaving the brewery in the capable hands of his sons, and the business lost nothing by this change of head, for the father had trained his sons in the very methods that had made him successful, and they are all men of fine busi- ness ability and of strong characters.
Mr. Schott had no desire for political of-
fice, and would never consent to hold any office save that of school director, which he held for a number of years. He was actively identified with a number of societies, among them being the Highland turnverein, the Maen- nerchor Harmonica, and the Philharmonic Orchestra. He was an honorary member of the Helvetia Sharpshooters, having been one of the charter members of the society. Of the fraternal organizations he was affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Masons.
On the 19th of November, 1857, Mr. Schott was married to Miss Bertha Eggen, whose family had settled in this section in pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Schott had nine children, the eldest of whom, Otto, died in 1895. The others are Emily, Mrs. Samuel Leutweiler, Mrs. Cornelia Suppiger, Alice, Albert, Eu- gene, Mrs. Hans Kalb and Martin.
G. A. NIEMANN. In the commercial en- terprise which has achieved the largest re- sults in Venice and vicinity during the last thirty years, one of the most successful and influential actors has been Mr. G. A. Nie- mann, who is now largely retired from active business but is regarded as one of the fore- most citizens of Venice.
Mr. Niemann has had a long and prosper- ous career. He learned the details and prin- ciples of merchandising while a boy in his Fatherland. He came to America with only his ability and energy and practically without working capital. From a position as clerk he became one of the leading merchants of his home city and one of the controlling factors in other enterprises. He was born in Prus- sian Germany, March 18, 1852, a son of Au- gust and Minnie (Eikmyer) Niemann. After the common school and private school train- ing which he received as a boy he was ap- prenticed, after the German custom, to a mer- cantile firm, with which he spent four years.
On April 20, 1872, he landed at Castle Garden, New York, being then twenty years of age. For the first six months he was em- ployed in a Philadelphia store, then came west to St. Louis, where he was a clerk two years. Mr. Nieman has been a resident of Venice since 1875. For two years he worked as a clerk. In 1880 the grocery firm of Kohl & Niemann was established and for ten years was one of the largest and best houses of the kind in this corner of Madison county. Both partners sold out in 1891, and Mr. Nieman then became actively identified with the or- ganizing of the Venice Electric Light & Power Company, and obtained franchises for
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the service in Venice, Madison and Brooklyn and later in Granite City. This has since been one of the largest public service corpo- rations in this vicinity. Mr. Niemann dis- posed of his interests in the company in 1902. In that year the firm of Kohl & Nieman es- tablished a building material business, from which Mr. Niemann withdrew in 1909. He was one of the organizers in 1901 of the Granite City National Bank and is still a di- rector in this prosperous institution. In 1909 he helped organize the Granite City Trust & Savings Bank, and has since been its vice president. Throughout his residence at Ven- ice he has been one of the public-spirited citi- zens and has co-operated for the general ad- vancement of the welfare of the city. He was elected in 19II a member of the board of education of Venice.
Mr. Niemann is prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 835, A. F. & A. M., at Venice, Granite City Chapter, R. A. M., Tancred Command- ery, No. 50, K. T., at Belleville, and is a mem- ber of the Oriental Consistory and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at St. Louis. He and his wife and daughter are members of New Hope Chapter, No. 432, Eastern Star, at Venice.
Mr. Niemann married in 1880 Miss Mar- garet Kohl, a daughter of Andrew Kohl and sister of Mr. Fred Kohl, of Venice. They have three children. The sons, Fred W. and Edward G., are merchants of Seattle, Wash- ington. Lillian A., the daughter, lives at home.
HENRY CONNOLE. A public-spirited and influential citizen of Madison, Illinois, Henry Connole is widely and favorably known throughout the Tri-Cities as one of tlie lead- ing insurance and real estate men of his com- munity. He was born July 26, 1871, in Greene county, Illinois, the son of an active and highly successful lawyer. His father, Anthony Connole, was for eight years deputy county clerk of Greene county, and for four years was circuit clerk, his residence in the meantime having been at Carrollton. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Mark- ham, was a native of Greene county.
Obtaining his early education in the schools of Carrollton, and the Western Illinois Nor- mal School at Bushnell Henry Connole began his active career as a teacher, and taught in both rural and village schools. Coming to Madison, Illinois, in 1901, he was in the em-
ploy of the American Car and Foundry Com- pany until 1907, when he embarked in his present business of insurance agent and real estate dealer. In 1908 he was elected police magistrate, and assumed the duties of that office in May of that year. He was re-elected to the same office without opposition in 1912 and is now filling that position. During the Spanish-American war, Mr. Connole enlisted, May I, 1898, in the Twenty-second U. S. Regular Infantry as a war volunteer, and served faithfully for seven months.
Mr. Connole married, June 14, 1909, Miss Mary Rickart, of Whitehall, Greene county, Illinois. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party, although he is rather in- dependent in his views, and for two years he was a member of the city council. Frater- nally Mr. Connole is a member of Venice Lodge, No. 719, I. O. O. F .; a member of Granite City Aerie, No. 1126 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a member of the Royal League of America.
FRED WILLIAM AUFDERHEIDE. One of the prominent and highly esteemed families of Madison county is that of Aufderheide, a worthy representative of which may be found in the person of Fred William Aufderheide, who is now engaged in agricultural opera- tions in Nameoki township. Mr. Aufder- heide is one of the successful farmers of his community, and his success is but the just reward for a life of steadfast, earnest en- deavor. He was born in Nana township, Madison county, in 1866, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Henseik) Aufderheide, na- tives of Germany who immigrated to Amer- ica as young people and were married in St. Louis. Shortly thereafter they settled on a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres near the Bend in Madison county, and there their children were born, namely : Mary, Anna, Lena and Fred William, who survive, and John, Herman and Charlie, who died in in- fancy.
Mr. Aufderheide's parents gave their children excellent educational advantages in both the English and German languages, and they were reared to sturdy man and woman- hood on the old home place. Fred William Aufderheide was married in 1891 to Miss Fredericka Rohlfing, of St. Louis, who was born in 1866, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Finke) Rohlfing, natives of Germany. Mrs. Aufderheide has one brother, William, and five sisters, Carrie, Amelia, Louise, Anna and Emma. After their marriage Mr. and
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Mrs. Aufderheide resided in St. Louis for a number of years, he being employed by the Majestic Range Company, stove manufactur- ers, until 1903, at which time they moved to one of Mr. Aufderheide's father's farms at the Bend. General farming and stock rais- ing have claimed his attention to the present time, and he has been uniformly successful in his operations. He is a friend to all move- ments that have for their object the betterment of his county or community, and he is partic- ularly interested in matters of an educational nature, giving his children exceptional ad- vantages in this line. They have attended the Bend schools and the public schools of Granite, and have been instructed in both English and German. They are: Hugo, Arthur, Estella, Willie and Clara, and all are bright, energetic, healthy children. Mr. and Mrs. Aufderheide are members of the German Lutheran church of Granite, and take an active interest in all its work. Politically Mr. Aufderheide takes an independent stand, reserving the right to vote for the man whom he deems best fitted for the office, a practice which if carried out would place politics on a more honorable standing.
During the years that he has been engaged in farming here Mr. Aufderheide has gained a reputation for honesty and integrity, and is known as an efficient and public-spirited citi- zen whose worth has been tried and not found wanting. He is a true friend and kind neigh- bor, and has a host of warm personal friends whose best wishes will accompany him in whatever venture he enters.
WILLIAM F. MAY. Madison county, Illi- nois, figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state, justly claiming a high order of citizen- ship and a spirit of enterprise which is cer- tain to conserve consecutive development and marked advancement in the material upbuild- ing of this section. The county has been and is singularly favored in the class of men who have contributed to its development along commercial and agricultural lines, and in the latter connection the subject of this review demands recognition, as he has been actively engaged in farming operations during prac- tically his entire life thus far. He has long been known as a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist and one whose business methods demonstrate the power of activity and hon- esty in the business world.
A native of Marine, but later moving to Pin Oak township, where he is residing at
the present time, William F. May was born on the 26th of April, 1857, and he is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Wittmer ) May, both of whom were born in the old Empire of Germany, whence they immigrated to the United States as young people. Their re- spective parents settled in Madison county, Illinois, where was solemnized their mar- riage. They made the voyage across the At- lantic in a sailing vessel, the paternal family landing in the harbor of New Orleans and the maternal in the harbor of New York, and they came thence to this county. William May was interested in agricutural pursuits during the greater part of his active career and at the time of his retirement, in 1907, he re- moved to Marine, Illinois, where he resided until his demise, in 1910, the same having oc- curred on the 31st of December. Mrs. May survives her honored husband and she is now living on the old May homestead in Pin Oak township. Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. William May, nine are living at the present time and of the number the subject of this review was the first in order of birth.
William F. May was a student in the neigh- boring district schools in Pin Oak township until he had reached the age of fourteen years. He was reared to the discipline of sturdy farm life and, being the eldest child, early assumed the responsibilities of the home farm. He continued to reside at home until he had reached his twenty-sixth year and after his marriage, in 1883, he established the family home upon his present fine estate, which is located two and one-half miles distant from Marine. His farm is now comprised of one hundred and ninety acres of some of the finest land in Pin Oak township and his sub- stantial buildings and well cultivated fields lend a decidedly prosperous and thrifty air to the entire place. making it one of the beau- tiful farms of this section of the state. In politics Mr. May endorses the cause of the Republican party. He is not an office seeker but gives freely of his aid and influence in sup- port of all measures tending to advance the general welfare of the community and of the county and state at large. He is possessed of an unusually affable disposition and is everywhere accorded the confidence and es- teem of his fellow citizens on account of his sterling worth and unquestioned honesty. The attractive May home is recognized as a center of generous hospitality and is a rendezvous for many pleasant social gatherings.
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On the 21st of February, 1883, was re- corded the marriage of Mr. May to Miss Flora Schien, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, on the 6th of December, 1860, and who is a daughter of Andrew and Emma (Zerrenner) Schien, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in New York. Mrs. May was educated in the common schools of Alhambra township, where her parents were long identified with farming oper- ations. Mr. and Mrs. May are the parents of four children, concerning whom the follow- ing brief record is here offered, -- Tillie E., is the wife of Charles Helmigh, of Pin Oak; Oscar A. is married to Miss Adelia Deibert, of Marine, and resides in the city of St. Louis, Missouri ; Emma L. and Hugo W. L. are both single and they reside at the parental home. All the children were graduated in the public schools of Marine, Illinois. In their religious faith the May family are devout members of the German Evangelical church, in the dif- ferent departments of whose work they are most active factors.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM . R. WRIGHT. Among the truehearted, loyal and patriotic citizens whom Alton has in more recent years been called upon to mourn was Captain William R. Wright, who fought for his country in two wars, and subsequently served city and county in various public positions of importance, his official record, without blemish or flaw, being one of honor. A son of William Wright, he was born April 5, 1826, in Gallatin, Tennes- see, coming from stanch ancestry, his grand- father Wright having served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
A native of North Carolina, William Wright became an early settler of Gallatin, Tennes- see, where he was engaged in farming until 1828. Then, inspired by the restless Amer- ican spirit, he started westward with his fam- ily, and after spending a winter at St. Louis, settled permanently, in the spring of 1829, in Madison county, Illinois. Locating at Upper Alton, he subsequently purchased town lots that are still held by his descendants. Hav- ing previously learned the cabinet maker's trade, he followed it successfully many years, residing in Upper Alton until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth San- derson, was born in Virginia, and when a small girl moved with her parents to Gallatin, Tennessee. She survived her first husband, and married for her second husband David Miller. Of her union with Mr. Wright were reared six children, Daniel, Jesse, William R.,
Mary, Susan and Ann. By her marriage with Mr. Miller she had four children, Emily, El- len, George and Kate.
But two years old when he accompanied his parents to Illinois, William R. Wright be- gan when young to assist his step-father at the cooper's trade, becoming quite proficient in the work. At the breaking out of the Mexican war, he enlisted and went to the front with his command, and was an active participant in many engagements of note, in- cluding the battle of Buena Vista. Receiving his honorable discharge when peace was re- stored, Mr. Wright resumed work as a coop- er, and continued busily employed until once again the tocsin of war resounded throughout the land. Enlisting then in Company B, Eigh- tieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he was mustered in as first lieutenant of his com- pany, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Wright was at the front in the engagements at Perryville and Milton, in Tennessee, and took part in Colonel S. D. Straight's raid through Tennessee, Mis- sissippi and Alabama. In May, 1863, the Cap- tain was taken prisoner, and for twenty-two months was confined in Libby Prison, where he suffered untold hardships and privations. Honorably discharged from the service at the close of the war, he returned to Alton and for awhile followed the cooper's trade.
Becoming prominent in public affairs, Cap- tain Wright subsequently filled various offi- cial positions, serving as constable assessor, census enumerator and as county coroner. On March 14, 1911, having far outlived the allotted three score and ten years of life, he passed to the life beyond, leaving a widow and three children to mourn his loss.
In 1848 Captain Wright was united in mar- riage with Helen M. English, who was born, September 16, 1829, near Syracuse, New York, a daughter of Andrew M. English. Her grandfather, Andrew English, was born in Palmer, Massachusetts, and as a young man taught school in Connecticut. He served as a soldier from the beginning to the close of the Revolutionary war, furnishing his own horse and saddle, and during the latter years of his life received a pension. After the war he moved to Onondaga county, New York, where he engaged in farming until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Moore, was born in New York state, while her father, who was a native of Ireland, mar- ried, after coming to America, a young lady from Holland. Rachel (Moore) English sur-
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vived her husband and spent her last days in Upper Alton, Illinois. Andrew M. English was born on the home farm in Onondaga county, New York, and as a young man mi- grated to Geauga county, Ohio, where he re- sided until 1841. Coming then to Madison county, Illinois, with his family, he bought land near Gillespie, and was there engaged in its management until after the death of his wife, when he made his home with his chil- dren, dying at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Riker, was born in Onondaga county, New York, and died in Madison county, Illinois, in 1843.
Captain and Mrs. Wright reared four chil- dren, namely : Lucretia, who married Conrad Keck, died October 14, 1907, leaving one son. Warren P., while her daughter Estella Lula, lived but fourteen years; Harriet, wife of Scott Bell, has one son, Harvey Bell; Bertha, wife of Sidney Arthur Wrightman, has four children, Carroll E., Helen M., Estella and Charles; and Frank Wright, the youngest child.
PETER C. LEDUC. It is eminently fitting that in a work of this nature should be re- corded the biographies of those fine farmer- citizens on whom the strength and prosperity of the county is so securely founded. Among these is Peter C. LeDuc, a farmer and stock- man who has contributed in no small meas- ure to Madison county's high standing. He was born in Saline township in 1866 and is the son of John and Sophia (Henchen) Le- Duc, the former a native of France and the latter of Germany. These worthy people im- migrated to America in 1854 and were united in marriage in Edwardsville, Illinois, mak- ing their first home in Saline township. The father was a farmer by occupation. They reared a family of four children, namely : Louis, Frank, Margaret and Peter. The young people received their education in the Saline schools and were trained to become useful and honored citizens, in course of time marrying and engaging in useful occupations. Margaret married Jacob Immer, a farmer of Henry county, Missouri.
In 1888 Mr. LeDuc laid the foundations of an independent household by his union with Christiana Ambuehl, who was born in Leef township, in 1864, the daughter of John and Theresa (Kraft) Ambuehl, both natives of Germany. Mr. Ambuehl was for many years one of the most prosperous and successful farmers in Leef township, ranking among the
leading citizens. His children were Philip, Jacob, Henry, Mary, Rosa, Anna, Katie, Til- lie, and John, the latter of whom died at the age of thirty years. These young people ob- tained their education in Purcell school.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. LeDuc began life on a farm in Saline township bought by the former, and there they re- mained for nineteen years previous to re- moving to Leef township. Here they pur- chased an excellent property of one hundred and twenty acres, two miles west of Saline. This, although fertile and well situated, had very few improvements, but that was soon remedied by the application of the industry and laudable ambition of both the subject and his admirable wife. Mr. LeDuc erected a large and commodious barn, thirty-six by forty feet, and excellent outbuildings, and last a delightful home. His home surround- ings are kept in an excellent state of improve- ment and the property is one of the most at- tractive in Leef township, with its fruitful orchards and fertile fields. In addition to his farming work. Mr. LeDuc has for nineteen years operated a threshing outfit. In 1909 he threslied 55,000 bushels of grain and in 1911, 53,000, holding the record in the county.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. LeDuc has been blessed by the birth of the following children : Theresa, Lulu, Johnnie, Cora and Norine. They received their education in the Touts school, the same their father attended in boy- hood, though under another name. They have been carefully reared to meet life's duties and some of the children are married and settled in life. Theresa married George Kline, a farmer of New Douglas township, and is the mother of a son, Harold; Lulu married Herman Helgen, a farmer of Montgomery county, Illinois, and they have a son, Otto.
On September 22, 1908, the household had the misfortune to lose its mistress, Mrs. Le- Duc passing away, regretted by the many who knew and loved her. The remains of this loving wife and tender mother are interred in Lee township. The daughters, Cora and Nor- ine, now act as housekeepers for their father, sharing their father's responsibilities in truly admirable fashion.
Mr. LeDuc's business principles have al- ways been such as to merit and win the regard and confidence of his neighbors. In most satisfactory fashion he has filled the offices of school director and collector of Saline township. In politics he supports the policies and principles of the Democratic party. Fra-
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rainer.
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ternally he is a member of the Woodmen at Grant Fork, and of the Court of Honor at the same place. He and his family are inter- ested attendants of the German Evangelical church of Grant Fork, and all enjoy the es- teem of the community in which their interests are centered.
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