Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 13

Author: Norton, Wilbur T., 1844- , ed; Flagg, Norman Gershom, 1867-, ed; Hoerner, John Simon, 1846- , ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In politics Mr. Metcalf identified himself with the old Whig party and later with the Republican. He made schoolhouse speeches for Taylor in 1848, supported General Scott in 1852, Fillmore in 1856, and the Republican candidates beginning with Lincoln. In 1860 he was appointed state's attorney for the cir- cuit of St. Clair, Madison and Bond counties, was elected to the state senate in 1864, and in 1872 was a delegate to the Philadelphia con- vention which nominated Grant and Wilson.

He was one of the incorporators of the Madison County Railroad, and has been identi- fied with many enterprises that have made the history of this locality. For several years he served as trustee of McKendree College.

Mr. Metcalf married, in June, 1858, Miss Sarah A. Deneen, a daughter of Rev. W. L. Deneen, of Lebanon, a prominent educator and minister of the Methodist church. The same branch of the Deneen family also in- cludes the present governor of the state of Illi- nois. The history of the Metcalf family in America goes back to the middle of the seven- teenth century, when they settled in Virginia, and ancestors of Mr. Metcalf participated in the wars of the Revolution and of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf were the parents of the fol-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

lowing children : Allan D., deceased ; Charles R., in the U. S. Army; Mrs. Edith Tuxhorn, of Edwardsville, and Ralph H., of St. Louis.

THE LUEKER FAMILY is a large one but its many members have one and all endeared themselves to the community by the upright character, the absolute honesty and the kindly regard for the interests of others, which has made them desirable neighbors and loyal citi- zens. The Lueker family are of German de- scent, all their ancestors up to the last half century having been natives of the Fatherland, and it is to that fact that many of their ster- ling qualities may be attributed, for Germany has ever contributed to the upbuilding of this country men and women of fine minds, indus- trious habits and broad public spirit.

F. W. Lueker, the prominent farmer and stockman who now makes his home and man- ages the old Lueker place, was born in Ger- many, October 16, 1839, the son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Roescher) Lueker, who later im- migrated to this country in 1858. He was one of a family of six children, namely: Mary; Sophia ; Louisa; F. W., the immediate subject of this review; and two who passed away in infancy. When F. W. was seventeen, in the year 1856, he made the journey to America alone coming to his uncle Louie Lueker's farm in Madison county, Illinois. He worked for his uncle for a period of two years, at the end of which time his parents became persuaded that they too should like to live in the new country. The uncle, who was a brother to the father of F. W., purchased for Henry eighty acres of farm land in Hamel township, paying for the same twelve dollars an acre. When the parents came they began at once to im- prove the property and fence it off, later pur- chasing eighty more acres of farm land and twenty acres of timber land, all of which the family owns to this day. Two hundred dol- lars per acre, however, will not buy back the land once purchased at under twenty. Mary and Sophia Lueker married Fred and Charlie Leuker, two brothers, and their sister Louisa became the wife of Charlie Brimer.

F. W. Lueker chose for his wife Miss Hen- rietta Brogkmier, who was born in Germany, on March 4, 1844, a daughter of William and Mary (Trieger) Brogkmier both natives of Germany who immigrated to this country. The Brogkmier family consisted of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters, namely: William, Mary, Theodore and Henrietta, the latter of whom became Mrs. F. W. Lueker.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lueker settled down on his father's place, where they have ever since resided. Twelve children have been born to this union, nine of whom are liv- ing in 1911. Mary married Henry Deickhaus and they have become the parents of children as follows: Gustave, Alueine, Clara, Laura, Emma, Olgar, Walter, Erwin and Florence. Sophie was united in marriage to Christian Sassenberg, now deceased and her children are Arthur and Amanda, Nora having passed away at the age of eleven. Henry married Miss Mary Hellman and three children, Erwin, Ada and Nora, have been born to them. Lena re- mains at home, a good and faithful daughter assisting in the work of the home. Fred Lue- ker chose as his wife Miss Louise Blase. Miss Emma Lueker is now Mrs. Gus Warman and · her eight year old daughter is named Viola. Willie, John and Clara, the remainder of the Lueker family are still part of the parental household, living on the old Lueker homestead that has been the scene of so many happy gatherings, and the scene, too, of sad events, for Father and Mother Lueker, as they were always called, have since been laid to rest.

F. W. Lueker and his family are among the honored members of the German Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Lueker is found in the Republican ranks.

CAPTAIN DAVID RHODES SPARKS, who died at Alton, November 10, 1907, in the course of his long and eventful career had attained distinction in diverse fields of action. He was a soldier, a statesman, an orator and a busi- ness man-distinguished in each calling. A natural leader, the public instinctively turned to him in any crisis or in any public endeavor that demanded wisdom and clear vision for its success, and during his long residence in Alton his talents and experiences were ever at the command of the public, with no selfish ends in view. To the end of a long life he maintained an undulled interest in public af- fairs, in his business, or in any movement that affected the lives of his fellow men.

David R. Sparks was born in New Albany, Indiana, October 15, 1823. He was one of a family of eight children. The family was of pioneer stock and of Virginia lineage. His parents were in moderate circumstances and the children had their own way to make in the world. Of three of them who gained dis- tinction in public life, the eldest became judge of the federal court of Washington territory, by appointment of President Lincoln; the

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youngest, Hon. W. A. J. Sparks, served six years in Congress from Illinois, while David R. was a member of the thirty-sixth general assembly, elected in 1888, and was elected to the fortieth assembly in 1896 as state senator.

Captain Sparks' parents moved to Illinois in 1836 and settled in the vicinity of Staunton. He grew to manhood on a farm, receiving such education as was afforded by the common schools of the period. In 1847 he enlisted as a volunteer in the Mexican war and marched with his regiment across the plains, encoun- tering great hardships. The destination was Albuquerque, then in Mexican territory, where he served until the close of the war, returning home the following year. In 1850, in com- pany with friends from Staunton, he crossed , the plains to California, the expedition being five months en route. During the following year he met with moderate success in the mines, and returned home by sea, via Panama, Havana and New Orleans. In 1860, for the third time, he crossed the plains, and became a gold-seeker in the Rocky mountains. His was the first steam quartz mill set up in Colo- rado, at Central City, but after a brief expe- rience in the mining regions he returned to Illinois.

The closing and most important event in his career of hazard and adventure was his second enlistment in his country's service, this time as a soldier in the war for the Union. He went to the front in 1861 as captain of Company L, Third Illinois Cavalry. His ard- uous service was principally in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi, includ- ing the battles of Pca Ridge, Haines Bluff, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, and many minor engage- ments. He was once severely wounded. One incident of his daring service, officially re- corded is that "on the 4th of June, 1862, Captain Sparks and sixty-six men were sur- rounded by three hundred of the enemy's cav- alry, but cut their way out with the loss of eight men." Though offered promotion, the Captain returned from the war with the same rank he held when he went out. He had re- fused to be separated from the friends and neighbors of his company. At the beginning of the war he had become financially respon- sible for the furnishing of one hundred horses to his regiment, thus offering both life and property for the use of his country.

On returning home from the army he re- sumed civil pursuits, his milling business hav-

ing been left in the charge of a partner. Ilis first independent business enterprise had been the erection of a sawmill, which turned out the first ties for the west end of the old Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. Subsequently he sold his sawmill and erected a flour mill in Staunton in 1854. This mill had a capacity of twenty-five barrels of flour per day, which was then considered a large output. In 1864, in company with Mr. W. Best, he built a larger mill at Litchfield. In 1868 he removed to Alton, and, in connection with his former partner and the late 1 .. J. Clawson, purchased the National Mills, the firm name being Claw- son, Sparks & Company. The firm subse- quently became D. R. Sparks & Company, and was incorporated in 1887 as the Sparks Mill- ing Company, under which name it is still do- ing business, the mill being one of the largest in the state and surpassed by none in com- pleteness of modern equipment. From twen- ty-five barrels a day to nearly twenty-five hundred barrels a day represented the growth of his business during his active career. Cap- tain Sparks was one of the founders of the Millers' Mutual Insurance Company, and its president during thirty years of constantly in- creasing success. He was also for some years president of the Illinois Millers' Association, and in 1892 made a tour of Europe in company with other members of the Association.

Before the war Captain Sparks was a Doug- las Democrat. From that to Republicanism was but a short step, and after the war he affiliated with the party of Lincoln. He was a natural orator and a convincing speaker, and no political gathering in Alton was com- plete without his presence. Though his early educational advantages were limited, he had been a reader and student all his life, and his memory was phenomenal. He was an inde- pendent thinker and formed his own opinions, without regard to the popular current of be- lief. It was but natural that he should have been an admirer of Elijah P. Lovejoy and an advocate of the same principles. He served as a member of the Lovejoy Monument As- sociation and delivered one of the leading addresses at the dedication of the memorial column. It is a singular coincidence that the Captain's mill property occupies the site of the warehouse where the Lovejoy tragedy was enacted, and that he now lies at rest within the very shadow of the martyr's monument. Captain Sparks' denominational connection

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was with the Unitarian church, of whose board of trustees he was the president.

Captain Sparks was married at Staunton in 1849, to Anna Davenport Chapman. She was born at the same place, in 1830, of North Carolina parentage. After nearly half a cen- tury as wife and mother and counselor of husband and family, she passed away in 1896. The children were as follows. Mary, wife of Hon. F. R. Milnor, of Litchfield; W. D., deceased ; H. B. and C. F., of Alton ; and W. L. and E. W., both resident in New York.

REV. JAMES OSBORN. A man of earnest con- victions, strong character, and deep consecra- tion, Rev. James Osborn, for twenty-three years and more pastor of the Baptist church at Troy, Madison county, and now a resident of Alton, is well known in this vicinity as a sincere and valued worker in all religious and charitable undertakings, and is held in high esteem as a man and a citizen. A native of England, he was born November 23, 1838, in Olney, Buckinghamshire.

His father, William Osborn, born near Bed- ford, Bedfordshire, England, learned the baker's trade, which he pursued in Olney, Buckinghamshire, until . 1839. Immigrating then to the United States, he settled in Wabash county, Illinois, and after carrying on gen- eral farming in that locality for awhile, re- moved to Lawrence county, where he spent his last days. He was a very religious man, being a local preacher in the Baptist church, and was a strong abolitionist. He married Sarah Marshall, who spent her entire life in England. Five children blessed their union, namely: Marshall, George, Sarah, James and Josiah. Marshall served in the Union army during the Civil war, and lost his life in the battle at Iuka, Mississippi.

Brought up in his native land, James Os- born learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed until 1866, when he came to Amer- ica, the poor man's paradise. Locating in Bridgeport, Illinois, he was there engaged in the shoe business until 1875, when he began preaching in a Baptist church at Flora, Illi- nois. Two years later he was ordained as pastor of that church, and continued to fill its pulpit for four years longer, at the same time being actively engaged in home mission- ary work. Mr. Osborn then entered Shurt- leff College as a student, and was graduated from its theological department with the de- gree of B. D. in 1887. Accepting then the pastorate of the Baptist church at Troy, Mad-

ison county, Mr. Osborn continued there for twenty-three years and three months, when, in 1906, he was forced to retire from the min- istry on account of ill health.

Mr. Osborn has been twice married. He married first, in Greenwich, England, Martha Hall, who passed to the life beyond in 1889. He married for his second wife Sarah Hill. By his first marriage six children were born, namely: George, James, Ella, Clyde, Bertha and Maude, all of whom are teachers. By his second union Mr. Osborn has one son, Carey S. Osborn, who began to preach at the age of fifteen years.

WILLIAM HUSKINSON, who died at the ripe age of seventy-nine years, in 1906, had been a resident of Alton for more than half a cen- tury. As a construction engineer he performed an important work in the building of the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad, was identified with the management of the road for many years, and was a man whose record deserves perpet- uation in the history of this vicinity.

Born in England, March 26, 1827, by the sudden death of his father he was thrown on his own resources when a mere lad. Sent to live with his uncle, James Huskinson, a noted civil engineer, he was placed in school, and when the family moved to Paris he attended an English-French school, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of the French language.

At the age of sixteen he was placed in charge of two hundred men as timekeeper on a railroad being built between Havre de Grace and Beach Maison, and afterwards acted in the same capacity on a road being constructed from Rouen to Paris. His ingenuity sug- gested and devised a plan to replace an over- turned and badly wrecked engine, and his original methods were properly appreciated by his superiors. The French government later sent him as an interpreter to Algiers to act between the French and English engineers. After his return to France he was connected with an English firm of engineers who were constructing another railroad in France, and when this was finished he determined to come to America.

After being engaged for a time in contract- ing and grading at Newburg on the Hudson, he started for the west. Passing Cincinnati and Memphis, he continued on to New Or- leans, where his knowledge of French soon brought him into acquaintance with many of the rich planters and business men about that city. He soon became engaged in contracting

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for a railroad between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Later, in Vicksburg, Mr. Hus- kinson undertook the strenuous task of build- ing a railroad from the city through the same swamps that so troubled General Grant dur- ing the Civil war. At Frankfort and Lexing- ton, Kentucky, he also spent some time engaged in constructive enterprises.

The undertaking of Godfrey and Gilman in building a railroad between Alton and Springfield came to Mr. Huskinson's atten- tion. He moved to Alton in 1851 and found here a permanent residence. At the time all work on the railroad was suspended because of lack of material and also for want of en- gineering skill. From the winter of 1851 to 1852 Mr. Huskinson was engaged in con- structing culverts and fills, also in laying the foundation for the road along what is now Piasa street in Alton. Many of the most dif- ficult portions of the present C. & A. Railroad were originally constructed under the direction of this young English engineer. Several of the stone bridges were built and much of the track laying was done by him. On July 4, 1852, to celebrate the finishing of the railroad, Messrs. Godfrey and Gilman tendered the public a free excursion over it, the train con- sisting of ten flat-cars, well canopied over with bushes, and streaming with banners and emblems of joy.

The building of the railroad was due to the faithful and persistent energy of Mr. Husk- inson, whose efforts were so appreciated by the officers and people at large that many val- uable presents were offered him, but his mod- est and retiring nature sought only a just recompense for his labors and refused all else. The Chicago & Alton Railroad is indebted to Mr. Huskinson for the invention of the split switch and frog and the suggestion of its col- ored light system, besides many other inven- tions given gratis. He remained with this road many years, being director of the Mis- souri branch representing the Mitchell inter- est. He was highly esteemed by President Blackstone and Mr. McMullen and a lifelong friend of R. P. Tansey, president of the St. Louis Transfer Company, and of Sir William Van Horne, builder and president of the Can- adian Pacific Railroad.

Mr. Huskinson owned valuable tracts in Macoupin county, and was a partner of Henry Cooper of Nilwood in the sawmills known as the Huskinson Mills. He was associated with Robert Crawford and John Coppinger in saw-

mills around Godfrey, and was also a partner with Henry Watson and William Armstrong in the Alton Macadam and Stone Ballast Company, which had large quarries and crush- ers situated on the Mississippi river near Al- ton. With David Ryan he contracted and built the government road in Springfield, Mis- souri, leading to the cemetery.

During the Civil war Mr. Huskinson was commissioned by Governor Yates as captain, but his company was never called to the field. Ile refused to seek public office, preferring his laborious life, and followed his career of use- fulness to the end, when he passed to an hon- ored rest. He was a senior warden in St. Paul's Episcopal church, and was a Knight Templar Mason and affiliated with the differ- ent branches of Masonry at Alton.

On October 20, 1852, Mr. Huskinson mar- ried Miss Jane Braznell, daughter of Daniel Braznell, an old settler at Alton. Mrs. Hus- kinson passed away ten years before her hus- band. Their children were twelve in number, of whom seven are living.

DANIEL BRAZNELL was born at Dudley, Staffordshire, England, January 6, 1813, being a direct descendant of the ancient family of Neville on his maternal side. Hle was a man of fine physique, being fully six feet tall and was of robust appearance. His manner was most engaging and none feared to approach him.

He married petite Nancy Johnson, of Sedgely, Staffordshire, England, whose people were the famous iron workers of that place, by name of Wales. With her he immigrated to America, following the immigrants trail to Cincinnati in 1833. From there he came di- rect to Alton, Illinois, and remained here in- definitely ; following his trade as a contractor and builder in various parts of Illinois. On the old State House of Springfield, Illinois, he was one of the contractors, and also the pioneer college of Illinois, Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, was his work. Most of the buildings standing intact to-day on Second and Third streets are the labor of his hands and the product of his brick plant-the first of its kind in the city.

Mr. Braznell was one of the defenders of the fatal Lovejoy press, and on the eventful night of Mr. Lovejoy's murder, was the only person cognizant of the secret trap door through which the famous press was dropped to its final resting place in the Mississippi

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River-safe from further devastation. This noted ware house was built by Mr. Braznell.

Mr. Braznell was a man of large and gen- erous impulses, giving most freely of his plentiful earnings. He and his good wife were primitive Christians, earnest in effort, deter- mined in well doing. They were prominent pillars of the Methodist church, and the first pipe organ was partly due to the untiring ef- forts of Nancy Braznell, his wife. Mr. Braz- nell possessed a fine voice, and heartily enjoyed singing some of the grand old hymns with Peter Cartwright, the itinerant circuit rider of that day, who was often a guest of the Braznell home. The striking traits in Mr. Braznell's character were kindness and benevolence, as was manifested by the many lamentations at his sudden death, February 13, 1877, while visiting in Springfield, Illinois.

Mr. Braznell's life was fruitful of four children: Mary Jane Braznell, who married William Huskinson, a civil engineer and rail- road builder ; Edward Braznell, who married Henrietta Castella Lund; William Braznell, who married Amanda Green, of Shipman, Il- linois; and Sarah Braznell, who married Phil. J. Sargent, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Braznell was survived by his widow five years.

Beloved by friend and well liked by foe, Mr. Braznell was soothed and sustained by that unfaltering trust that says, "He wrapped the drapery of his couch around him and sank gently down to pleasant dreams, for his con- science was clear."

Z. B. OWENS. Although the man without ancestors who succeeds in making his own way in the world has doubtless a great deal to con- tend with, he is without the obligations which are imposed on the descendants of a family which has always amounted to something. If a man is conscientious his ancestors are a safe-guard, although he may chafe at the ob- ligations at times. Mr. Owens has not only lived so as to satisfy his own family and the people in the community, but he has also lived up to the standards set forth by his father and his grandfather. He has made his life count for something. He has not only made a good living for himself and his family, but he has done honor to the name. He has been of as- sistance to individuals and has aided in the advancement of his state and county.

Z. B. Owens was born in Fort Russell township, February 1, 1868. His ancestors originally came from Wales, but have been in America for four generations. His paternal

great-grandfather was a Revolutionary hero under Francis Marion. His grandfather served under General Jackson in the war of 1812 and he participated in the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Owens' mother also had ances- tors who had done much for their country. Her grandfather was in the Revolutionary war and was killed at Yorktown. Her father was in the battle of New Orleans and he also served in the Black Hawk war, losing his life from the effects of a wound while he was in that service. He was a pioneer of Madison county, named William Jones, and was one of the first members of the legislature, which then met at Vandalia. In addition to his po- litical connection and his military services he was also a Baptist minister of note, thus he served his country, his God and his state to the best of his ability. Z. B. Owens' father was Josiah P., born on Mill Creek in Tennes- see. He came to Illinois with his parents and settled near Alton. He married Sarah L. Jones and they were farmers of note in the county. He was a stock raiser and succeeded in making money. He built a handsome home on the farm, where he lived a happy, con- tented life. Politically he was a Democrat, but he did not care for political honors for him- self. He was a member of the Baptist church, where he and his wife did excellent work, aid- ing in all the regular and special undertakings of the church and giving to the best of their ability. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Owens, as follows: Rosa (the wife of Murray Travue), Ridley P., Z. B. and two who died in childhood.

Z. B. Owens was brought up on the old homestead where he was born. He went through the country schools of his township and then went to work on the farm for his father, where he has been ever since.

On April 30, 1895, he married Minnie Klein, the daughter of Louis Klein, of Madi- son county. Two children were born to this union, Kenneth, aged eight, and little Wilma, aged two.

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Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 13

Author: Norton, Wilbur T., 1844- , ed; Flagg, Norman Gershom, 1867-, ed; Hoerner, John Simon, 1846- , ed Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Norton, Wilbur T., 1844- , ed; Flagg, Norman Gershom, 1867-, ed; Hoerner, John Simon, 1846- , ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 868