Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 19

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 19

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little girl is attending school at the Suhre school and also studying music under Miss Lou Walling, of Alhambra. Another daugh- ter, Adele C., was born on May II, 1907, but she lived only sixteen months and was taken from this earthly life before she had fairly be- gun it, dying on the eleventh of September, 1908.

Mr. and Mrs. Gaertner are members of the beautiful German Evangelical church of Al- hambra, whose fine edifice is a monument to the liberality of its generous communicants, among whom the Gaertners are prominent. Mr. Gaertner has been school director for eight years, and has inspired confidence in his ability to secure the best possible advantages for the institution which has his sincerest in- terest, and is probably the most important of our democracy,-that of the public school. Politically he finds his views best embodied in the platform of the Republican party, of which he is a loyal member. In all relations of life, domestic, business and social, he enjoys the friendship and esteem of his acquaintances, which are his by virtue of his sterling charac- ter and his genial temperament-qualities which both he and Mrs. Gaertner possess in a like degree.

JOSEPH P. STREUBER, judge of the probate court of Madison county, was the first to be elected to that office in its new independent jurisdiction. The Illinois state law requires a county to have seventy thousand population in order that the probate business be assigned under an office by itself. By this automatic rule the office was first filled by election in I910. Mr. Streuber was nominated as the Republican candidate in September of that year, was elected by a large majority, and as- sumed the duties of the office December 5, 1910, for the term of four years.

Judge Streuber was born in Bond county, Illinois, August 10, 1871. His father, Ru- dolph Streuber, was born in Germany in 1838, was educated in his native land and in 1866 immigrated to America, coming from New York to Louisville, Kentucky, where he en- gaged in the milling business. In 1868 he moved to Old Ripley, Illinois, and in 1879 he moved to Greenville, Illinois, and remained there until his death, in 1897. He married Katherine Schwendermann, who was born in Bond county, Illinois, and still resides at Greenville.

Joseph P. Streuber received his education in the common schools and the Greenville high school. In his fifteenth year he left school

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and for two or three years worked in the mill- ing business at Greenville. In the office of Northcott & Fitz, prominent lawyers of Green- ville, he read law, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1894. He began practice at Highland in this county, which has since been the city of his residence. For two terms he served as city attorney there. He was also a member of the county Republican central committee, the other members of which were Henry Brueggeman of Alton, Captain Neu- stedt of Collinsville, Fred Kohl of Venice, and W. R. Crossman of Edwardsville. Mr. Streu- ber managed the campaign while he was a member of the committee. He has been suc- cessful in both law and business, and is a di- rector of the State & Trust Bank at Highland. Fraternally he affiliates with the Elks, the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias. In June. 1896, he married Miss Katherine Wherli, a daughter of Katherine Wherli, of Highland. They are the parents of one son, William J.

CHARLES L. GOULDING. Numbered among the more prominent and successful business men of Alton, Illinois, is Charles L. Gould- ing, who as president of the E. H. Goulding's Sons' Company is actively identified with the advancement of the real estate and mercantile interests of Madison county, being connected with the leading jewelry establishment of this section of the state. He is president of the Commercial Company of Alton, a corporation owning a very fine five-story office building on West Third street, and is also owner of several of the best mercantile buildings in .Al- ton. A native-born citizen, his birth occurred in Alton, May 13, 1875-

His father, the late Edward H. Goulding. was born at West Millbury, Worcester county, Massachusetts, where his father located on coming from England to America with his family, and where he spent his last years of life. As a boy he attended school quite reg- ularly, but at the age of fourteen years he left home and was ever after self-supporting. Be- coming an expert telegraph operator, he lo- cated at Kansas City, Missouri, when it was a frontier town, and there opened the first telegraph office. He subsequently superin- tended the construction of a telegraph line ex- tending from St. Louis, Missouri, to Cairo. Illinois, and continued in the telegraph busi- ness a few years longer. Taking up his resi- dence then at Alton, Illinois, he became asso- ciated in the jewelry store of David E. Brown, with whom he learned the details of the jew-

elry business. In 1852 he embarked in busi- ness on his own account, opening a store on Belle street, and aften ten years' occupancy of the Belle street store, moved to Third street, and continued in this location until his death, in 1895, when his sons, Edward P., and Charles L., took charge of the establishment. The business was later incorporated as E. H. Goulding's Sons' Company, and when, in Sep- tember, 1909, Edward P. Goulding died, the entire charge of the business devolved upon the remaining member of the firm, Charles L. Goulding. The store is one of the largest and best equipped in Illinois, and is the longest- established of its kind in the state, having been conducted by father and sons for nearly sixty vears.

Edward H. Goulding was married four times, his son Edward P. having been born of his first marriage. His third marriage was to Hannah Lyons, who was born in Connecti- cut. Her father, Luther Lyons, a native of Connecticut, was of early English ancestry. Coming with his family to Illinois in pioneer days, he purchased land at Bethalto, Madison county, and was there engaged in general farming during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Hannah Goulding passed to the life be- vond in 1880, leaving two sons, namely : Charles 1 ... the special subject of this brief sketch, and Frank.

Acquiring his elementary education in the public schools of Alton, Charles L. Goulding subsequently attended a Saint Louis Business College, after which he was book-keeper for a mercantile house until the death of his father, when he became identified with the substan- tial business in which he has since been so prosperously engaged. It was through the ef- forts and promoting of Mr. Goulding that two old buildings occupied as saloons and boarding houses on West Third street, known as the Empire House, were bought in the year of 1906, dismantled and on this site the Commer- cial Building. the finest office building in Al- ton, was erected.

Mr. Goulding married, in 1900. Blanche Walter, who was born in Alton, Illinois, a daughter of George and Martha Walter. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Goulding, namely: Robert, Alice and Louise. Fraternally Mr. Goulding is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

JOSEPH S. THRAILKILL, M. D., in his pro- fessional services has been prompted by a laudable ambition for advancement as well as

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by deep sympathy and humanitarian principles that urge him to put forth his best efforts in the alleviation of pain and suffering. He has gained recognition from the profession as one of its able representatives and the trust re- posed in him by the public is indicated by the liberal patronage awarded him. He has been engaged in the active practice of his profes- sion at Bethalto, Illinois, for fully a score of years, and here he is popular both on account of his skill as a physician and surgeon and by reason of his loyal and public-spirited citizen- ship.

Dr. Joseph S. Thrailkill was born in La- clede county, Missouri, on the 30th of July, 1860, and he is a son of William L. and Mi- nerva J. (Miser) Thrailkill, both of whom are now deceased. The mother of the Doc- tor was summoned to the life eternal when he was a child of but three years of age. When he had reached his tenth year his father re- married and the young Joseph S. remained under the parental roof until he had attained to his legal majority. William L. Thrailkill was engaged in farming during the greater part of his active business career and he was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1889. After completing the curriculum of the pub- lic schools of his native county of Laclede, Dr. Thrailkill attended school at Lebanon, Missouri, and in 1880 he was matriculated as a student in the University of Missouri, at Col- lumbia, continuing as a student in that excel- lent institution for a period of one year. In 1881 he decided to make the practice of medi- cine his life work and accordingly began to study for that profession in the fall of 1881, at which time he entered the American Medical College, at St. Louis, Missouri, being gradu- ated therein as a member of the class of 1883, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Immediately after graduation Dr. Thrail- kill located at Carpenter, Illinois, where he ini- tiated the active practice of his profession and where he continued to reside for the ensuing eight years, at the expiration of which, in 1891, he came to Bethalto. Here he has suc- ceeded in building up a large and lucrative patronage and here he is accorded recognition as one of the best physicians and surgeons in Madison county. In connection with the work of his profession he is a valued and apprecia- tive member of the Illinois State Eclectic Med- ical Society and in a fraternal way he is affili- ated with Bethalto Lodge, No. 735, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. Besides his med- ical practice he is financially interested in the Vol. II-7

Farmers Bank of Bethalto, being one of the stockholders in that substantial monetary in- stitution.

In Edwardsville, Illinois, on the 2d of No- vember, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Thrailkill to Miss Victoria I. Judd, who was born at Butler, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Charles H. Judd. Mrs. Thrailkill was graduated in the high school of Edwards- ville, Illinois, and she is a woman of most gracious personality, being deeply and sin- cerely beloved by all with whom she has come in contact. Dr. and Mrs. Thrailkill have five children, namely,-Ethel, who has made a spe- cialty of music and who is now engaged in teaching music; Marie, who is attending the high school at Bethalto; and Genevieve, Jose- phine and Ruth, all of whom are pupils in the graded school.

In their religious faith Dr. and Mrs. Thrail- kill are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a member of the board of trustees. He has ever been deep- ly interested in educational affairs in this dis- trict and has been a member of the school board for the past seven years. In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and while he has neither time nor ambition for political preferment of any description he is ever on the qui vive to do all in his power to advance the best interests of the community in which he has so long re- sided and in which he is accorded the unquali- fied confidence and esteem of his wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

MANUEL H. BOALS, a retired manufacturer · and business man, has been a resident of Al- ton for over half a century. The M. H. Boals mill and lumber yards on Second street has been for many years one of the city's im- portant industries and is one of the landmarks of the manufacturing district. In the last half century few citizens have identified themselves more closely with the life of the community, and in the record of many movements and en- terprises undertaken for specific ends or for general public welfare the name of Mr. Boals appears as contributor of material aid or ef- fort. One of the older business men, he is a representative of that fine class of earlier citi- zens who are often referred to as men who "did things" for Alton.

He was born in Venango county, Pennsyl- vania, April 3, 1833. His parents, Larue F. and Sarah (Hinny) Boals, were natives of the same state, and the town of Boalsburg in Cen-

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tre county was named in honor of the family. Larue F. Boals was a farmer in Venango county until his death January 30, 1879. He was born in 1787, and his ancestors came from Germany to Pennsylvania. He was a Demo- crat in politics and a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church. The thirteen chil- dren in the parents' family were named as fol- lows: David, Margaret, John, Jonas, George L., Franklin, Manuel H., Gordon S., William J., Sarah A., Eliza J., Matilda, and Nathaniel S. The last-named died in Andersonville prison during the Civil war.

On his father's farm in Pennsylvania Mr. Boals passed his youthful years, securing an education in the meantime in the country schools, and at the age of nineteen began learn- ing the trade of carpenter. When proficient in this trade he came west and in 1854 located at Alton. Accompanying him to this city was William W. Martin, and they soon formed the partnership of Martin & Boals, carpenters and builders, which was continued for seven years. In 1864 they established the planing mill, sash and door factory at the corner of Second and Ridge streets, and the business soon required the services of twenty work- men. In 1877 Mr. Boals became sole pro- prietor, and the plant was moved to the site of the old car factory on Second street. The business has been a large and prosperous one for many years, and is now under the active management of his sons, William J. and Harry G.

Mr. Boals was actively identified with the old Alton Woolen Mills during the last years of that institution. The stone factory build- ing, still standing on Belle street, has for many years been a landmark of the city. F. K. and G. B. Nichols established the mill in 1861, and for many years it manufactured a varied line of woolen goods. It was later given the name of Piasa Woolen Mills, and for a time during the 'gos Mr. Boals was president of the com- pany. His business activities have also ex- tended to other enterprises. His long career. always characterized by the highest integrity and the judicious and vigorous management which entitles one to large responsibilities, has been amply rewarded and he is enjoying a pleasant retirement at his comfortable home on Sixth street.

In politics he began voting with the Re- publican party in its first presidential com- paign, when Fremont was the nominee. He is a Knight Templar Mason, and for many years

has been one of the active members of the Congregational church of Alton.

Mr. Boals was married, March 5, 1857, to Miss Margaret Logan. She died in January, 1864, leaving one son, John L. On April 10, 1867, he married Juliet J. Vaughn, who died May 9. 1908, and six children were born to this marriage : Minnie M., William J., Martha L., Frank S., Larue R. and Harry G.

FRED W. KORDING. The backbone of a country's prosperity and citizenship is its farmers, and this has been admitted by states- men for centuries. If industry, integrity and progressiveness are present on the farm no need to worry about the fate of a nation. Madison county, too, owes its present status largely to the fine men who make up the tillers of her farms, and among these is Fred W. Kording, the well-known farmer and stock- man. He was born in Hamel township, March 30, 1872. a son of Ernest and Amelia ( Witte) Kording. His parents were both natives of the Fatherland and brought with them from the old country that stability of character for which America has ever been grateful to the nation who bred it. The parents of Fred W. immigrated to this country at an early day with their parents. They were industrious, eco- nomical people and in time they were re- warded with a pleasing prosperity, becoming the possessors of one hundred and thirteen acres of excellent farm land.

Fred W. was the youngest of a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely,-Ernest, Caroline, Mary and Fred. The Kording children received their education at the Hamel German Lutheran school. Er- nest died when only a child, at the age of four years. Caroline has since become Mrs. Fred Vogalsang, who makes her home in the state of Oklahoma. Mary was united in mar- riage to George Cassens, who passed away, leaving his widow with four children,-Emma, William, Clara and Ernest Cassens. She has since married Theodore Eilers and is the mother of their three children,-Edwin, Mary and Edna Eilers. Ernest Kording, the father of Fred W., passed to his eternal reward in 1876, at the age of fifty-five years, and his wife has since become Mrs. Gottlieb Redecker. Mr. Redecker, like his wife, is a native of Germany, having been born in the Fatherland in 1846, a son of Fred and Fredericka (Thur- ner) Redecker. He was a good husband and a respected citizen, and a kind father to the Kording children. In 1910 "Mother Re-

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decker," as she was affectionately called, was laid away to rest in Worden cemetery, hon- oured, beloved and mourned by those she left behind her. She and her family had always been members of the German Lutheran faith.

Fred W. Kording remained at home and assisted with the work on the home farm. When he was twenty-one he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Schlecte, who died seven years after. In 1902 was solemnized the marriage of Fred W. Kording to Miss . Helena Bohmann, of Prairietown. She was born in 1879 to David and Paulina (Zobel) Bohmann, natives of Germany. Helena Boh- mann was one of a large family of brothers and sisters, as follows: Anna, Lizzie, John, Mary, Helena, William and Henry.

In their political convictions F. W. Kord- ing and his family favor the men and meas- ures of the "Grand Old Party," and Mr. Kord- ing was elected to the office of highway com- missioner on the Republican ticket, an office which he fills with much credit to himself and benefit to the county.

The Kording home, standing amid their well kept fields, is situated one and a half miles south of Hamel. The condition of the farm justifies Mr. Kording's reputation as a farmer and stockman. Having no children of their own, the Kordings have adopted as their own son a bright little boy named William, aged eight years.

JESSE L. SIMPSON, of the Madison county bar, a member of the firm of Hiles & Simpson at Edwardsville, was born at Troy, this coun- ty, January 13, 1884. His early education was received at Troy and after completing the work of the common schools, in 1899, he at- tended the Collinsville high school during 1900-I, and the following fall entered railroad service as telegraph operator and relief agent. Four years later he resigned to prepare him- self for the profession of law. In 1906 he en- tered the Bloomington Law School, a depart- ment of the Illinois Wesleyan University, and during the three years there also studied and completed his high school course. His ad- mission to the bar was granted in October, 1909. In the same month a partnership was formed between Mr. Perry H. Hiles, and on November 8, 1909, the firm opened their office and began practice in Edwardsville.

The Simpson family have been identified with Madison county for many years. His grandfather, John A. Simpson, was born in Hamilton county, Tennessee, October 10, 1819, and died in St. Jacob township, this

county, November 19, 1861. He married Mary E. Searcy, who was born in St. Jacob township, September 8, 1827, and died Au- gust 26, 1875, in St. Clair county, Illinois, her parents having been among the earliest set- tlers of that part of Madison county.

George P. Simpson, a son of John A. and father of the Edwardsville attorney was born on a farm near St. Jacob, December 9, 1853. Educated in the country schools of Marine township and reared on his father's farm, he took up the business of farming for himself when about twenty years of age and followed it with success until 1888. For the follow- ing eight years he represented a nursery com- pany of Troy, after which he became agent at Collinsville for the Prudential Insurance Com- pany. After ten years in the insurance busi- ness he retired and has since made his home with his daughter at Troy. An active citizen of his community, he was three years director of the Quivive school in St. Jacob township and served as assessor of Jarvis township sev- eral years.

George P. Simpson married, July 16, 1873, Miss Rachel A. Greening. She was born at Alton, November 4, 1852, and died October 29, 1888. Her education was received in the schools of St. Clair county. Her parents were Padon and Elizabeth (Smith) Greening. Her mother belonged to one of the early families of Alton, where she was born about 1827, and her death occurred about 1855. Padon Green- ing was born about 1817 and in later life moved to Mississippi.

CALLOWAY N. STREEPER, present coroner and an active business man of Upper Alton, was born in Upper Alton. His father was the late Israel H. Streeper, who died March 23, 1906, having been identified with Upper Al- ton for almost half a century. He was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1830, and brought his family to Upper Alton in 1858. He was a contractor and builder, but in 1868 established an undertaking and also a hard- ware business. Israel H. Streeper married, at Philadelphia June 25, 1850, Anna E. Penn, who was born at Philadelphia, June II, 1838, , and died July 11, 1891. They had eleven chil- dren. Edwin B., Katie M. and Alforetta are deceased, and the others are: Richard F., Henry Clay, Israel H., Hattie C., Calloway N., Joseph E., Robert H. and Wilbur F.

Calloway N. Streeper attended Upper Al- ton schools and then began assisting in his father's business. In 1892 he became a part- ner. In 1906 the firm became Streeper &

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

Wheeler (John E.), in 1908 George E. Pen- nington bought Wheeler's interest, which was in turn bought, in 1909, by Robert H. Streeper. The firm is now Streeper Brothers, and in 1910 they added a livery business.

Mr. Streeper for four years served as dep- uty coroner, and in 1904 was elected county coroner and was re-elected in 1908. Both as an official and a business man he has had a suc- cessful record. Fraternally he is affiliated with Franklin Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M., Chap- ter No. 15, R. A. M., and with Lodge No. 466, I. O. O. F., Fleur de Lis Lodge, No. 68, K. of P., and Keen Cutter Camp, No. 1032, M. W. A.

Mr. Streeper married, January 23, 1894, Miss Matilda A. Koehne, a daughter of John H. and Caroline (Kerker) Koehne, citizens of Alton for many years. They have three chil- dren : Robert H., born August 16, 1895; John L., born March 18, 1897 : Israel H., born No- vember 3, 1899, all of them being in attend- ance at the Alton public schools.

THOMAS WILLIAMSON, of Edwardsville, was born May 19, 1867, in Staunton township, Macoupin county. His birthplace was a log house built from timber grown on the forty- acre farm where the home stood. His father was a native of Ireland, immigrating to Amer- ica and living in Philadelphia from 1850 to 1860, when he came west and settled on the little farm just mentioned, where he cleared the timber in order to have a place he could cultivate. The mother was a native of Phila- delphia.

At the age of fourteen months, being left without a mother's care, the son Thomas was placed in the family of his uncle and aunt, John and Mary Williamson, whom he ever afterwards recognized as his father and mother. At the age of six he began attending country school, and three years later, when the family moved to Madison county, he entered the Pleasant Hill school in Olive township. The home was two miles from school, but not- withstanding the most severe weather during his entire attendance at school his was the best record for regularity. In 1877 his father died and for the first time in the ten years of his life the boy was made acquainted with the fact that Thomas Williamson, Sr., was his father.

When but seventeen years old he took the teacher's examination at Edwardsville under Superintendent James Squire and obtained a certificate. After another winter's attendance at the Pleasant Hill school he was granted a

teacher's certificate in Macoupin county and the next year taught the Dorsey school in Gil- lespie. This enabled him the next summer to take a general course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. The winter of 1887-8 he taught the Bond school in Madison county, and in the summer months worked with the contractors building what is now the Illinois Central railroad from Mount Olive to Alhambra, following a scraper and work- ing in the cuts adjoining Silver Creek. He hauled the first load of piling for the construc- tion of the trestle work over Silver Creek. During the winters of 1888, 1889 and 1890 he taught the Hazel Dell school in the same town- ship and in the summer of 1889 worked in the St. Louis gas works as an ordinary laborer.

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Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 19

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