USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 16
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His interest in Alton's history is partly due to the fact that this is his birthplace. He was born here January 17, 1855, a son of Benedict and Margaret (Von Stein) Elble. His father, who was born in Baden, Germany, in 1831, and died in Alton in 1872, was as a youth in- terested in the revolutionary movements of '48, and as a consequence exiled himself from the land of his birth in that year and settled at Alton. He was a man of much influence among his fellow countrymen, many of whom settled about here through his advice and leadership. For a number of years he was agent of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, and one of his valued possessions was a passport as an American citizen, signed by Lincoln and Sumner. He was prominent in the Masonic order, and was also known for another talent almost native to the fatherland, skill as a musician. For many years in Alton he was a merchant, being a member of the firm of Fishbach & Elble, who conducted a general store on East Second street. He was also active in Democratic politics, and served
as city treasurer and city assessor. His wife, who was born in St. Louis, died in 1867, and they were the parents of six children: John ; Amelia, wife of George Berner; Mary, wife of William Richardson; Joseph; Julia, wife of William Hopps ; and Louise, wife of Wayne Freeman.
During his youth Mr. John Elbe attended the schools of this city and was a student in Shurtleff College. From that he first turned his attention to farming for a year, was then employed two years by the Drummond To- bacco Company when its plant was in Alton. For a time he conducted a store and was in the baking business five years, after which he engaged in the retail liquor business at Sec- ond and Piasa. In 1896 Mr. Elble became local manager for the Anheuser-Busch Com- pany, this being now his principal business connection. The local office of Anheuser- Busch, at Alby and Front streets, now occu - pies the site which originally was covered by the first station of the St. Louis & Terre Haute Railroad in Alton.
Mr. Elble was elected alderman from the fifth ward in 1882 and 1884, and on removing his residence to the second ward, was elected alderman from that ward in 1886, being the first German to represent that division of the city. He also served as assistant supervisor of the township several terms. For many years he has been an active Democrat, and a delegate to county, district and state conven- tions. He has been supervisor of Alton town- ship five times prior to the present one, making ten years as supervisor and four years as as- sistant supervisor. He was a candidate for sheriff in 1906 and was defeated by only a small vote. When the militia company of Al- ton was disbanded one of the last acts was to attend President Garfield's funeral, in which procession Mr. Elble carried a snare drum, bo -- ing a member of the militia and also of Goss .. ran's famous cornet band at the time. He lias been a member of the Board of Review for Madison county five times, three times by elec- tion and twice by appointment. Mr. Elble af- filiates with Germania Lodge, No. 2. I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Elks club at Alton, the Germania Benevolent Society and the Alton Turner Society. He is fond of out- door sports, belonging to numerous hunting and fishing clubs.
On January 29, 1880, Mr. Elble married Miss Anna M. Arens, daughter of Theodore and Henrietta (Loeffler ) Arens, who were na- tives of Germany, and her father was for- merly engaged in the baking business in Al-
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ton. Mr. and Mrs. Elble have had five chil- dren: Louise, deceased; Mamie; Benjamin ; Henrietta ; and Fred, deceased.
HENRY CALVIN PRIEST, who died at Alton, October 31, 1900, was one of the most success- ful and enterprising men identified with the business development of Alton during the last century. He came to Alton in 1854, young in years and experience. At that time Alton was an important center of the lumber industry. Each season millions of feet of lumber were rafted down the river, and several firms at Alton originated or controlled a large part of the business. Henry C. Sweetser, an uncle of Mr. Priest, had settled in Alton in 1838 and had for a number of years been engaged in the lumber trade. Mr. Priest entered his em- ploy and later became his partner, thus estab- lishing the firm of Sweetser & Priest. In 1885 Mr. Priest bought the entire business, and carried on a large trade in lumber and build- ing materials.
Mr. Priest was born in Massachusetts, No- vember 25, 1830, a son of Josiah W. and Eliza (Sweetser) Priest. The father was also a native of Massachusetts, was a clothier, but for the greater part of his life followed the oc- cupation of farming. Eliza Sweetser belonged to one of the oldest New England families. Seth Sweetser, the first American settler of the name, came from England to Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1637. Henry C. Priest was one of seven children, the other being Josiah R., Nathan E., Willard E., Placentia E., Will- iam A. and one that died in infancy.
After being reared on his father's farm and spending two years in Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Priest came west in 1852 and during one year taught school in Jersey county. A long and active business career brought him mate- rial prosperity, and he used his success for the promotion of many good works in his home city. He was a kindly, generous man, and his means were often used to promote the success of institutions and undertakings of public spirited nature. He was a Republican in politics, a member of the Methodist church, and was affiliated with the lodge and chapter Masonry.
Mr. Priest married, at St. Louis, February 21, 1884, Miss Lucia I. Brown, of Newbury, Vermont, a daughter of Elisha Brown, who came to Brighton, Illinois, in 1870, and subse- quently settled in Alton.
JOHN E. DUSTMANN. German ancestry and solidarity of character combine with American progressiveness to make John E. Dustmann one of the county's successful farm- Vol. II-6
ers and stock-growers. He was born in Prai- rietown, Illinois, July 31, 1861, a son of Henry and Helena ( Aden) Dustmann. The family of Henry Dustmann consisted of Herman, Fred, Henry, William, Louie, Anna, Minnie, Mary, Helena and John Dustmann. The father and mother were industrious, economi- cal people, and they were able from time to time to add to their holdings of farm land un- til their farm now consists of four hundred acres as fertile land as can be found in the county.
John E. Dustmann, like his brothers and sisters, attended the German Lutheran school and the district school of the locality. Until he was twenty-nine years of age he remained at home, assisting his father with the manage- ment of the home farm. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Halbe, the daughter of Henry and Anna (Schroer) Halbe. She was born on March 25, 1868. To the union of John E. and Mary Dustmann were born six children, namely: Ella, Olinda, Edna, Maria, Erwin, and Tillie, the latter of whom passed away in infancy, the mother dying three weeks later, on April 14, 1904.
The present Mrs. Dustmann, prior to her marriage, was Miss Anna Bohmann. She was born in 1870 to David and Paulina Boh- mann, both natives of the Fatherland. She was the eldest of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. John, William, Henry, Liz- zie, Mary and Lena Bohmann were her broth- ers and sisters. To John E. and Anna Dust- mann have since been born three children, Emma, Johanna and John. Mr. and Mrs. Dustmann are members of the German Luth- eran church, and loyal supporters of all its many good works.
In the field of politics Mr. Dustmann is found under the standard of the "Grand Old Party." He bears a high reputation as a kindly neighbor, a good friend and an upright citizen.
EDWARD C. SPRINGER is one of the leading lawyers of Madison county, and has been a member of the bar at Edwardsville for thirty- five years. During this period he has been connected with many of the most important trial cases before the courts, and his success is the result of solid ability and painstaking care for the interests of his clients. He is now the senior member of the firm of Springer & Buckley, Mr. Leland H. Buckley being his partner.
Mr. Springer is a native of Edwardsville, born May 7, 1854. His father, F. J. Springer, was born in Germany in 1812, came to Amer-
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ica in 1833, and for many years followed the trade of a blacksmith in Edwardsville. His shop stood on Main street up to 1863, and dur- ing the California excitement of '49 he equipped many wagons that went over the western trails. He married Sophia C. Thur- nau, who was born in Germany and came to this country in 1845. She died in 1907, at the age of eighty-five. There were six children in the family: Henry J., Fred J., Edward C., Ottilie E., William F. and Otto J.
Mr. E. C. Springer was educated in the Ed- wardsville schools, studied law at home and in the law department of the Michigan Univer- sity, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1876. For seven years he was a partner of the late Judge John G. Irwin. Hle and his brother William F., practiced together until 1901, and then the present firm was organized.
In politics Mr. Springer is a Democrat and for many years has taken a helpful interest in the civic life of his city and county. The only public offices held by him were in connection with the public schools of Edwardsville, serv- ing three years as president of the Board of Trustees of Edwardsville township, and three years as president of the Board of Education of the city of Edwardsville. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Springer married, September 27, 1893, Miss Sarah J. Robinson, daughter of Rufus and Mary Robinson, and has one son, Freder- ick Easton Springer, who was born January 22, 1896.
WILLIAM P. ARRINGTON, of Alton, is a son of the late Louis Arrington, who was promi- nently identified with the glass industry at Al- ton for many years.
Louis Arrington, who died at Alton, was born in Farquhar county, Virginia. September 4. 1837. In 1850 the family moved to Ohio and a year later to Wheeling, where he began work in a bottle factory as "carrying-in-boy." In 1852 he was apprenticed to the bottle-blow- er's trade, serving four years. The trade was then unorganized and the business depressed, so that he was unable to find employment. In 1856, therefore, he went to work for the Cres- cent Rail Mill and continued in that work un- til the war.
In 1861 he enlisted in the Second West Vir- ginia Regiment and was a soldier of the Union for three years, until the remnant of the regi- ment was mustered out in June, 1864. He then returned to his old trade in a glass fac- tory, following his occupation in different states. In 1866 he joined the old union of glass workers, and thenceforth was an active
and efficient promoter of the principles of or- ganization. In April, 1877, he took an active part in organizing Branch No. 31, at Alton, and represented the branch on the executive committee of the Improved Druggists Ware Glass Blowers League. In 1880 he was elected manager of the western division of this League and held the office for a number of terms. He helped in the guidance of the organization when its principles were not yet securely es- tablished, and exercised a balance of judgment and integrity of motive that was invaluable in his relations to business and the community.
Louis Arrington was married at Jerseyville, November 22, 1871, to Miss Mary Hugh. Their three children who reached adult years were: Mary, born November 14, 1876, wife of E. J. Doepke, of Alton; Elizabeth, born August 26, 1881, wife of Frederick Burke, of Hillsboro, Illinois; and William P. The mother of these children died June 27, 1893. Louis Arrington married, February 20, 1895, Mary Raymon, daughter of Andrew and Mary ( Sutter ) Raymon.
William P. Arrington was born at Alton August 14, 1883. After graduating from the Alton high school in 1901, he began railroad work. For six months he was yard clerk, was billing clerk three years and a half, in 1905 was promoted to cashier of the local office of the C. P. & St. L. Railroad, and December 16, 1910, was appointed to his present position as freight agent of the company at Alton.
He married Miss Ethel Fanning, who was born in St. Louis, a daughter of J. A. and Jennie (Gilmore) Fanning. They have one child, William Russell, born Julv 4, 1906. They are both members of the Cathedral par- ish at Alton.
CAPTAIN EDWIN DILLER YOUNG. Promi- nent among the esteemed and valued citizens of Madison county is Captain Edwin Diller Young, who was for many years intimately associated with the development and advance- ment of the Mississippi river traffic as master of a river steamer, but is now living retired from active pursuits in his pleasant home at Upper Alton. He was born, November 28. 1846. at Hanna Furnace, Pennsylvania, com- ing from thrifty German ancestry, his Grand- father Young having immigrated from Ger- many to Pennsylvania, where he subsequently lived and labored until his death.
William Young, the Captain's father, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1816 and was reared and educated in the Keystone state, where he began life for himself as a merchant. In 1848 he came with his family to Illinois,
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settling in Galena. There were then no rail- roads west of Chicago, the Mississippi river being the great highway of commerce, with Galena, on the Fevre river, a port of entry. He found employment as clerk on a river boat. and later became captain of a steamer plying between Galena and Saint Paul, and stopping at intermediate points on the Mississippi. Go- ing to Chicago in 1861, William Young was there engaged in the commission business for two years. Relinquishing that industry, he went to Saint Louis, and there served as col- lector for the Northern Line Packet Company until his death, July 6, 1874.
The maiden name of the wife of Captain William Young was Elizabeth Jane Adams. She was born in Hartslog, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Judge Joseph Adams and grand- daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Hoy) Adams. Her great-grandfather, Captain James Adams, who married Isabella Weldon, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 30, 1734, and died in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1824. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving as captain of the Fifth Battalion in 1777 and 1778. Hon. Joseph Adams, who was born and bred in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, re- moved from Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, to Illinois, in 1849 and after living for awhile at Milan, Rock Island county, took up his resi- dence in Galena, where he became prominent in public life, serving as school commissioner ; and having been county superintendent of schools of Jo Daviess county when the first high school in Galena, Illinois, was established. Late in life he returned to Milan, and lived with his daughters, Mrs. Joseph Huyett and Mrs. Re- becca Mclaughlin. Mrs. William Young died July 6, 1874, two hours after her husband's death. Eight children were born of their marriage, one of whom, Mary C., died at the age of five years, while all of the others are still living, as follows: . Edwin D., of Upper Alton, Illinois ; William A., of Minneapolis, Minnesota; John J., of St. Louis, Missouri ; Samuel A., of Detroit, Michigan; Anna R., (Mrs. Heether) of Marshalltown, Iowa; Henry B., of Birmingham, Alabama, and Jen- nie M., Mrs. Charles J. McCombs, of Marshall- town, Iowa.
Edward D. Young acquired his early educa- tion in the Galena schools, and as a lad of sixteen years secured a position on a steamer running from St. Louis to Saint Paul, and continued as a clerk on that and other boats for several years. He was afterwards captain of different steamers plying the Mississippi,
including the "Dora," the "First Bald Eagle," and the "Belle of Calhoun," during his life on the river being a successful and popular offi- cer. Having acquired a fair share of this world's goods, the Captain is now living re- tired, his home being at Upper Alton.
On December 28, 1871, Captain Young was united in marriage with Mary A. Dickson, who was born in Alton, Illinois, a daughter of Mark and Maria Dickson, of whom a brief sketch is given on another page of this volume, in connection with that of George Dickson. The Captain and Mrs. Young have two chil- dren, Mary A. (Mrs. Fulton Seeley) and William Mark.
IRA E. AUSTIN. One of the vital things about a man's existence is his love for the country and country life. Back to the land is the advice that the heart and soul offer man when unrest torments him in his business life. The man who can heed this cry is very fortu- nate. Ira E. Austin is one of the men who has tried the business life, but he has come back to the farm. It used to be thought that brains were not necessary to manage a farm, but that age has passed. One man can grow thirty bushels of corn per acre and another on the same kind of land can only get twenty. The cause for this difference is in the farmer's head rather than in his field. Mr. Austin is a man who has used his head as well as his muscles in all of his work.
He was born in Chouteau township, January 8, 1863. His father, G. R. Austin, was born January 26, 1814. He received his education in New Orleans, where he took a medical course. He graduated, obtaining the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He practiced in New Orleans for some years and then came to Marysville in Madison county, where he prac- ticed, working up a large practice. He was very much of a lodge man, being high up in Masonry and a great worker in the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Mary Segar, who was born on the first of April, 1833. To this union were born seven children, as follows: John Wesley, born Sep- tember 12, 1849 ; Sarah E., born May 15, 1851 ; Martha M., born January 8, 1854; William B., born July 23, 1855; Henry C .. born March 16, 1857; Edward E., born October 27, 1859; and Ira E., born January 8, 1863. Dr. Austin died the day after Christmas in 1863. On the 8th of January, 1866, his widow married Will- iam Porter, one child being born to this union, Charles H. Porter, born October 28, 1866.
When Ira was not a year old his father died and he was brought up by his mother.
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When he was old enough he attended the pub- lic schools in Chouteau township; he finished the required work in these schools and then was sent to Carlinville, where he remained one year. After this he learned telegraphy in the station at Mitchell, Illinois. He proved an apt pupil and soon took charge of a station along the Big Four, and successively had charge of several stations along the line in Ilinois. After a few years of railroading he returned to the old home farm on which his father had lived while he was practicing medicine. He has lived here ever since, and has become one of the successful farmers of the district.
On February 3, 1887, he was married to Anna McEvely, a daughter of Antony and Mary (Giddy) McEvely. He was a native of Ireland and she came from New York state. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Austin, Ethel, born December 21, 1888. She was educated in the country schools of Chou- teau township and later attended the Ursuline Academy at Alton. She was married on Oc- tober 28, 1908, to Joseph L. Maile, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Maile have one child, Alice Jeanette, born on the 12th of November, 1909.
Mr. Austin was brought up in the tenets of the Catholic church and has held to his ' allegiance. In politics he is a Democrat, but he does not take any very active part. He is well thought of by the farmers in the neigh- borhood and by the members of the commu- nity in general. They have known him prac- tically all of his life and have reason to know his real worth.
WILLIAM HEIENS, an enterprising farmer and dairyman, who is located in Fosterburg township, is very successful in both branches of his occupation. He is possesed of the abil- ity to "hustle" one of the requisite character- istics of the man who would accomplish any- thing worth while, but combined with this forcefulness and push is found so much com- mon sense that he conducts his affairs in a practical manner.
On the 25th day of September, 1878, on a farm near Fosterburg in Madison county, William Heiens made his first appearance on the scene of life. He is a son of J. F. and Caroline (Grenemier) Heiens, natives of Ger- many, who immigrated to this country in their youth, and settled near Belleville, Illinois. They later moved to Fosterburg, where they passed the remainder of their days engaged in farming and in rearing their nine children, -Maggie (Mrs. Buerjus), Mary (Mrs. Oldenmettle, (deceased), John F. (died July,
1911), Hilka ( Mrs. Schweitzer ), Annie (Mrs. Johnson), Caroline ( Mrs. Dingerson), Kate L. ( Mrs. Herman), William, and Hiska (Mrs. Bierbaum). Father Heiens did not live to see his children grow to maturity, as his death occurred August 25, 1882, when he was begin- ning to prosper in his farming pursuits, and to his widow was left the task of bringing up the family. That she succeeded in her efforts to instill correct principles of living into their lives, the present positions of daugliters and son give evidence. After being a widow for twenty-eight years her death occurred the day after Christmas, 1910.
The only surviving son of this family is William Heiens. When he was but four years old his father died and he lived on the farm with his mother and sisters. After he grew to man's estate he felt a desire to experience other methods of farming; he left his home and went to Davenport, Iowa, where he gained employment with a farmer, but after four years he returned to the old place and has remained there ever since. He rents a farm of two hundred and three acres, which is owned by Benjamin Hermann. In addition to his general farming he has a small dairy herd of twelve cows, and he also has six horses and forty hogs.
In 1902 MIr. Heiens was married to Miss Hannah Mochle, daughter of Christopher Mochle, of Madison county. The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Heiens was brief, as in Feb- ruary, 1906, the wife died, leaving one child, Beulah, whose birth occurred March 8, 1903.
Mr. Heiens, though a first-class farmer, has not confined his attentions to his agricultural work. He is interested in politics, being a partisan of the principles laid down by the Republicans; he is a school director, render- ing efficient service towards the educational betterment in Fosterburg ; he is connected with fraternal orders, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, holding the office of treasurer in the Fosterburg camp of the Modern Woodmen. He is a man who is popular with his neigh- bors and who is liked and respected by all his numerous acquaintances.
DENT ELWOOD BURROUGHS, senior member of the drug firm of Burroughs & Whiteside at Edwardsville, represents a prominent family which has been identified with Madison county for over half a century, and whose members in the earlier generations were distinguished as soldiers, citizens and business men in the colony and state of Maryland. One of the direct ancestors of this branch of the Bur-
Deut E. Burroughs.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
roughs family was in the Revolutionary army at Trenton when the Hessian troops were sur- prised and captured. On the maternal side, Captain Dent was an officer of the Maryland militia during the war of 1812 and stoutly re- sisted the landing of the British at Benedict. He was subsequently captured by the British troops, and was offered a large amount of gold if he would give information of the position of the American troops, an offer which the pa- triot scorned. Captain Dent was a Maryland planter whose tobacco fields were noted over the state. The Civil war dissipated his fine estate, but he lived to see the Union preserved, dying in February, 1872.
The grandparents of Mr. D. E. Burroughs were John A. and Elizabeth (Dent) Bur- roughs, the former a prosperous farmer of Maryland. Their son, Hon. John C. Bur- roughs, for many years a prominent citizen of Fort Russell township, was the father of D. E. Burroughs. John C. Burroughs was born in Maryland, August 20, 1838. He acquired his early education at Charlotte Hall, Maryland, and later pursued a classical and scientific course. He interrupted his lay studies to make a tour of the west, which brought him through Madison county, where he was so pleased with the soil and climate and people that he deter- mined to make this his future home. Against the desires of his parents he located at Ed- wardsville on August 27, 1857, and while sup- porting himself by teaching he studied law with A. W. Metcalf. After a brief tour of the south he returned to the principalship of the Greenfield schools, and then began his career as a farmer on rented land. He was one of the early scientific farmers of Madison county, and soon became the owner of an estate of three hundred and twenty acres.
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