USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 22
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When but a boy Judge Hillskotter came to Madison county and made his home with a prominent family at Bethalto, where he worked his way through the public schools of that place. Ilis thrift and economy enabled him, upon the completion of his public school course, to enter McKendree College at Leba- non. Graduating from the law department of this well-known institution, he entered the law office of Judge Dale and Hon. W. P. Brad- shaw at Edwardsville. This being one of the leading law firms of the state, young Hill- skotter was able by the aid of his many talents and sterling character to rise very rapidly in his chosen profession. He spent a year travel- ing through the west and after the death of Judge Dale he formed a law partnership with W. P. Bradshaw. Judge Hillskotter was twice elected city attorney of Edwardsville,
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which position he filled so acceptably that his friends prevailed upon him to accept the nomi- nation for county judge of Madison county. Receiving the nomination for this office in 1902, he was elected by the handsome major- ity of twelve hundred. He was re-elected in 1906 with a majority three times as great- thirty-six hundred.
Judge Hillskotter's genial disposition and affable manner and his perfect command of both the German and English languages, make him one of the ablest campaigners in the state. During his two terms as county judge of Madi- son county his court has resembled more a circuit court, judging from the great volume of business transacted, and it is a remarkable fact that Judge Hillskotter has never been re- versed on an instruction or a ruling. He is frequently called upon to preside in the city court of Alton and other cities. He has, upon several occasions, been called by Judge Rina- ker, of Chicago, to preside over the county court of Cook county. It was his distinction to be elected president of the County and Pro- bate Judge Association of Illinois.
Judge Hillskotter is a prominent Mason, be- ing a member of the lodge, chapter and com- mandery, and he also affiliates with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
FREDERICK LEUSCHER was born in Germany in 1833 and with his brother Theodore came to America as a young man to win mis fortune by making it, as the German verse has it, "Das Glück beim Schopf' zu fassen." The sort of success which builds up the country was what he aimed for and attained. He mar- ried in America a young woman who was her- self a native of Bond county, Illinois, but whose parents, Louis and Margaret Hoover Weiken- ant, were of German birth and had come to the county in its early days, settling near Marine. Anna Weikenant, afterwards Mrs. Leuscher, was born in 1855 and was one of a family of seven. One child died in infancy and the others were, Mary, John, Theodore, Louisa, Louis and Anna, the latter of whom was mar- ried to Frederick Leuscher at the age of nineteen, on April 7, 1874.
The married life of Frederick and Anna Leuscher began at Alhambra, where Mr. Leuscher had settled on coming to America and was conducting a general merchandise store. He had been thus engaged for seven years before his marriage and continued for fifteen years after the event. He had one of the largest establishments in the county and
his trade was extensive and flourishing. He was associated in this venture with Mr. Henry Leutwiller, to whom he later sold out his inter- est in the business which their sagacity and diligence had made so profitable. While in Alhambra, Mr. Leuscher was for ten years postmaster and served for three years as school director. After fifteen years in business, Mr. Leuscher decided to go on a farm and in 1889 sold out, as has been stated.
The place Mr. Leuscher purchased was a tract of eighty acres in the extreme northeast corner of Alhambra township. It had one apple tree on it by way of a start in the direc- tion of an orchard and the other improvements were on somewhat the same scale. It was a good field for endeavor ; one where almost any change would be an improvement. The own- ers, however, were equal to the task and in due time the one apple tree was lost sight of in a fine collection of others of its species as well as peach and pear trees. Other parts of the place were correspondingly transformed and ninety-five acres were added to the original eighty.
Nine children were born to Anna and Fred- erick Leuscher : Adolph; Minnie married Wil- liam Huesman, a coal miner at Mount Olive and has four children, Almeda, Irma, Walter and Leland; Fritz is a farmer in Leef town- ship; his wife was formerly Bertha Dauder- mann, and she has borne him one son, John; Mary, (deceased) ; David married Sophia Kursmeyer, who bore four children; Alvena, Clara, Irvin, Mabel, but Clara and Irvin are de- ceased as is also the mother. The other two children live with their grandmother. Mary Leuscher is now Mrs. Charles Rauch. Her residence is at Troy where Mr. Rauch works in a brick yard. She has two children, Arthur and Fredia. Laura Leuscher lives on a farm adjoining her mother's place. She is the wife of Joseph Lappie. Ida Leuscher remains at home; she has given special attention to the study of music and is a pianist of no mean ability ; Willie Luescher is also at home.
Frederick Leuscher was called to the other life February 5, 1905. He had won the re- wards of industry and the better guerdons of respect, confidence and affection from his kins- man, his friends and his acquaintances. He was a member of the German Evangelical church, of which body his wife is also a com- municant. His death took from this scene a loving and loyal husband and father and an obliging neighbor. He leaves a record which is justly a pride to his family and one to which
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they are adding a worthy tale of duties faith- fully done and success honorably achieved.
In her widowhood Mrs. Leuscher is com- forted by her son Adoiph, whose rectitude and reliability make him an able manager of her estate and relieve her of wearing responsibili- ties. She is a woman whose sympathetic dis- position and friendliness of heart and manner have brought her a host of friends.
SAMUEL ROBERT MCCLURE. Inheriting in a marked degree the habits of industry, honesty and thrift characteristic of his Scotch ances- tors, Samuel Robert McClure has met with eminent success in his business operations and is now one of the leading contractors and build- ers of Alton, he and his brother John having succeeded to the business established by their father, the late Thomas McClure. He is a native-born citizen, his birth having occurred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1855.
His paternal grandfather, Thomas McClure, Sr. who was of pure Scotch ancestry, lived at Drumaglee, Cloughmills, county An- trim, Ireland, and there spent his life, dying about middle age. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Greg, survived him many years, and made one visit to America, although she returned to Ireland and died in county Antrim. She was the mother of five children. as follows : Samuel ; William; Jane; John ; and Thomas, Jr. who was born two months after the death of his father. The two older chil- dren Samuel and William, remained in county Antrim during their entire lives. Jane came to America, married James Adams, and settled on a farm in Palmersville, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. John also immigrated to this coun- try, and settled permanently in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Thomas McClure, Jr., the posthumous son of Thomas McClure, Sr., was born at Drum- aglee, Cloughmills, county Antrim, Ireland. Immigrating to the United States when twenty years old, he followed the carpenter's trade in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until 1857, when he located in Alton, Illinois, where he con- tinued at his trade for a short time. He sub- sequently became a contractor and builder, and built up an extensive and lucrative business, in which he was profitably engaged until his death, in 1885, his sons, Samuel R. and John T., being associated with him during the years of 1883. 1884 and until his death. He married, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Margaret McKee, who was born in county Down, Ireland, a daughter of John and Marie (Servois) Mc- Kee, her father being of Scotch stock, while
her mother was of French ancestry. In 1836 Mr. McKee came with his family to America, and for awhile lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania. Subsequently removing to Ohio, he bought land near Marietta, and on the farm which he improved spent many years, although after the death of his wife he made his home with his children, living in either Ohio or Illi- nois, and dying at a venerable age. Mrs. Mar- garet (McKee ) McClure survived her husband, passing away in 1897. Both she and her hus- band were members of the Presbyterian Church, and generous contributors towards its support. They reared a family of six children, namely: Mary Jane, Samuel Robert, Agnes Elizabeth, John Thomas, Evelyn and Ida Blanche.
Brought up in Alton, Samuel Robert Mc- Clure was educated in the public schools, and as a young man learned the carpenter's trade under the wise instructions of his father. He was subsequently employed in a lumber yard for four years, after which he resumed work with his father, continuing in his employ until 1883. In that year he and his brother, John Thomas, as above mentioned, were admitted to partnership with their father, and at his death'succeeded to its ownership. The broth- ers have since continued the business, which has increased from year to year and is in a most prosperous condition. Enterprising and progressive, Mr. McClure is recognized as one of the more prominent contractors of the city, and is now serving as president of the Alton Builders' Supply Company, and is a member of the Builders' Exchange. Fraternally he belongs to Robin Hood Camp, No. 135, M. W. A., and religiously, true to the faith in which he was reared, he is a faithful member of the Presbyterian church.
GEORGE F. WIEMERS. Among the essenti- ally prominent and influential citizens of Ft. Russell township, Madison county, Illinois, George F. Wiemers holds prestige as an agri- culturist whose success in life has been on a parity with his well directed endeavors. He is the owner of four hundred acres of splendidly improved land. He is a native son of this township and is a scion of a fine old German family. His father, whose name was John Wiemers, was born in the great Empire of Germany whence he immigrated to the United States in the year 1844. At the time of his arrival in America John Wiemers was pos- sessed of seventeen dollars and after disem- barking at New Orleans he worked on a boat for a short period. In the year of his arrival
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in this country he made his way up the Mississippi river to the city of St. Louis, Mis- souri, where he was engaged in the work of his trade -- that of cabinet maker, for about five years. In 1849 he joined a party of ad- venturers and made the exciting trip to Cal- ifornia, in the Isthmus of Panama. While a resident of the Golden state of the Union he began to make washing machines for washing the gold ore and he remained in the west for a number of years, at the expiration of which he started out on the long journey home, ar- riving in New York. Thence he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where was solemnized his marriage to Miss Anna Oltmann and whence he came to Madison county, Illinois, about 1859. Here he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming, continuing to devote the greater part of his attention to that line of en- terprise until 1885, when he retired from active participation in business affairs and removed to Alton, Illinois, there passing the residue of his life. He was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1890, his cherished and devoted wife, who preceded him into the great beyond, having passed away in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Wiemers were the parents of five children, but George F., the immediate subject of this review, is the only survivor.
George F. Wiemers was born on the 4th of May, 1860, and he was reared to maturity on the old homestead farm, in the work and man- agement of which he early began to assist his father. He attended the district schools until he had attained to the age of nineteen years, at which time he became a farmer on his own responsibility. His original farm consisted of one hundred and eighteen acres and he has since added to that estate so that he is now the owner of a tract of four hundred acres of most arable land, the same being eligibly lo- cated some eight miles distant from Edwards- ville. Mr. Wiemers is successfully engaged in general farming and in the raising of high- grade stock. His beautiful home and sub- stantial buildings in the midst of well cultivated fields, together with the air of thrift and pros- perity which pervades the place, speaks well for the owner.
On the 8th of November, 1888, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Wiemers to Miss Anna Sander, who was born and reared in Madison county and who is a daughter of Frederick Sander, long a representative and influential citizen of Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Wiemers have three sons, concerning whom the following brief data are here incor- Vol. II-8
porated, ---- Oscar W., whose birth occurred on the 3d of April, 1890, is now a student in the State Normal School at Charleston, Illinois; Walter G. was born on the 30th of April, 1895, and he is now attending school at home, as is also J. Paul, who was born on the 20th of October, 1897. Mr. Wiemers contributes in generous measure to all philanthropical and religious work carried forward in his home community. He is possessed of a kindly, gen- ial disposition, is ever ready to lend a helping hand to each and everyone less fortunately sit- uated in life than himself and in every possible connection has so conducted himself as to command the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.
GERHARD TAPHORN, M. D., a successful physician of Alton since 1891, was born at Carlyle, Illinois, September 22, 1864. After his education in the district schools he began the study of medicine at home, entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which he gradu- ated in 1890, and after a brief practice at Carlyle completed his professional studies abroad at Vienna and Berlin.
Dr. Taphorn has held the official positions in the various local and state medical associa- tions, was at one time a member of the pen- sion examining board, and has been one of the leading members of his profession in the county. Taphorn Hall, the three-story building on the southeast corner of Second and Easton streets, and which he had built some years ago, occupies a site once covered by the Baptist church of Alton.
Dr. Taphorn's parents were John G. and Elizabeth (Werner) Taphorn. The father, a native of Oldenburg, Germany, came to Amer- ica in 1848, and was a substantial farmer and stock raiser in Clinton county. He was an active citizen, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic church. The mother was born in Saxony, and died in Clinton county, Illinois, March 10, 1878. Their chil- dren were: Peter, Gerhard, Catherine, Anna, Harry H., John G. and Benjamin N.
On April 26, 1893, Dr. Taphorn married at Carlyle, Miss Mary Schaefer, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Heil) Schaefer, old set- tlers of Clinton county. The Doctor and his wife have three children : Josephine M., Madeline M. and Clare Louise.
HARRY M. SCHWEPPE, for many years a merchant and well known citizen of Alton, was born in this city and represents one of the pio- neer namnes in its business history. John Will- iam Schweppe was his father, and he became
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a resident of Alton in 1837. He was born in the province . of Hanover, Germany, was reared and educated there, and then came to America. After a brief residence in Pitts- burg, he located in Alton at the date named and soon entered into the mercantile business.
The clothing and furnishings business with which for so many years the Schweppe name has been identified was established in 1837 by John W. Schweppe, was later conducted under the name of J. W. & H. Schweppe, and about 1870 took the style of 11. M. Schweppe. The history of Alton's business contains only a very few instances in which one name has been so long connected with the same line of enterprise.
John W. Schweppe remained a resident of Alton until his death, at the age of seventy- three. He married Miss Martha Paynter, who was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was of English ancestry. She died at the age of twenty-five, leaving two sons, Harry M. and William E. The father of John W. Schweppe was Friedrich William Schweppe, a native of Hanover and a large land owner. He spent most of his life in Germany, but during his later years joined a son who had located in Pittsburg, and lived there until his death.
Mr. H. M. Schweppe was reared and edu- cated in Alton, and at an early age entered his father's store. As mentioned above, he suc- ceeded to the business about 1870. For some years he conducted two clothing stores in Al- ton, but the main store has been for half a century or more located on the south side of Third street. He sold out the business in 1910, but it is still conducted under his name, which has become familiar to three generations of patrons in this city.
Mr. Schweppe's fine home is on the high bluff overlooking the river at the foot of Pros- pect street, a locality about which center the most important Indian traditions of Alton. Mrs. Schweppe is a native of Maine, and her maiden name was Miss Angie Rand. They have two children : Annette, wife of Edward Rodgers; and Nelson H. Mr. Schweppe is secretary of the Elks Club, and for many years has been an active worker for Alton's busi- ness and civic growth.
WILLHELMINA SCHLECHTE. The founda- tions of present day prosperity were laid when a previous generation came from the lands be- yond the seas and set their hearts and hands to the transformation of the barren prairies into ploughed fields and drained pasture lands. Among the brave and honest forbears of the present thriving generation the name of
Schlechte is written high. Louis and Louise (Foarncam) Schlechte, the founders of the family in this country, were natives of Ger- many who immigrated to this country in 1855. Their family consisted of seven sons and one daughter,-Fred, William, Henry, Charlie, Louie, Herman, August (now deceased) and Willhelmina. The children received their edu- cation at the Gaelenbeck German Lutheran school.
Henry Schlechte was born April 22, 1848, in the Fatherland, and spent his early life as- sisting his father in the duties of the home farm until his marriage, December 14, 1873, to Miss Minnie Kessman. She was born Oc- tober 20, 1858, the eldest child of Charlie and Christinia (Colcus) Kessman, natives of Ger- many. Her sisters and brothers were Henry, August, Fred, Emma and Katie Kessman. It is interesting to note that the Kessman chil- dren attended the same school as the Schlechte children. After their marriage Henry and Willhelmina Schlechte remained with his par- ents for two years and then purchased a farm of their own at Silver Creek, where they made their home for several years. They then sold the Silver Creek property and settled perma- nently on a farm two miles south of Carpenter in Hamel township. They were industrious, progressive people and from year to year they improved their fine farm, building new build- ings and making their home comfortable until their homestead of two hundred and twenty acres became known throughout the county. It consists of two hundred and twenty acres of most arable land. In the year 1901 Mr. Schlechte was stricken with typhoid and lung fever, and, though a robust man, only sur- vived nine days. He was laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery of Hamel, mourned as a loving husband, a kind and obliging neighbor, and an upright citizen. His widow, thus be- reft and with no children, would have been lonely had it not been for the presence of her good brother Henry and his family who moved on to her farm, which her brother has since superintended. Henry Kessman and his wife, who was Lena Bakermier, daughter of Will- iam and Anna (Vamer) Bakermier, are the parents of ten children. Mrs. Kessman's mother died in the Fatherland, and she immi- grated to this country with her father. The Kessman children are bright and interesting and they attend the Carpenter public school. There are seven girls and two boys, one little girl having died in infancy, and their names
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are : Minnie, William, Alvina, Emma, Tillie, 'Ernestina, Rosa, Clara and Edward.
Both the Kessman and Schlechte families are identified with the German Lutheran church, in whose good works they are both active and liberal. In the field of politics Mr. Schlechte was found in the party of Jeffer- son, Jackson and Cleveland.
CHARLES F. STELZEL. The business com- munity of Madison county has had no leader more enterprising and more resourceful than Mr. Charles F. Stelzel, the well known banker and business man of Granite City and Alton. And few citizens whose careers have been spent in this county during the last half cen- tury have utilized their opportunities with equal success for their own progress to pros- perity. Through his own success he has pro- moted and sustained thre integrity of the whole structure of business interests in the county.
Thirty years ago Mr. Stelzel had charge of a small retail business in Alton. He applied to his career the qualities that are needed for advancement, and he has ever since been a man of rising importance in the larger commercial and industrial undertakings of this vicinity. Mr. Stelzel is a native of the city of Alton, where he was born January 25, 1862, a son of Charles F. and Verena (Kuhn) Stelzel. His father for a number of years was in the butcher business, but has been retired since 1871. The other children in the family were Albert and Lilly, now deceased, and Julia and Rose E.
In the public schools of North Alton Charles F. Stelzel obtained his early education, and then began learning the butcher business un- der the direction of his father. He later at- tended the business college in Jacksonville, and on his return to Alton took charge of a grain and coal business. In March, 1883, at the age of twenty-one, he became teller and general bookkeeper in the Alton Savings Bank, a position he held for seventeen years, and then served as cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Alton from the date of its organiza- tion for five years. During this time he had acquired important interests at Alton and vi- cinity and was recognized as one of the lead- ing business men of the county. In January, 1903, he came to Granite City and organized the Granite City National Bank, in which he took the place of cashier for two years and was also its vice president for a term of six years. He left the executive place of cashier in order to take charge of the large real estate interests of Niedringhaus in this locality, and
during the next six years he sold over a mil- lion dollars' worth of real estate in Granite City. Then in December, 1910, he organized the Granite City Trust & Savings Bank, one of the strong financial institutions of the county, and he has since been its president. Though a resident of Granite City, where his principal interests are centered, he is also en- gaged in the real estate business at Alton. During his residence in that city he platted and sold within and adjoining the city limits over two hundred acres of land, and he is still owner of three hundred acres in Alton town- ship. He also owns and operates one of the large quarries at Alton.
In 1884 Mr. Stelzel was married to Miss Minnie Watts, a member of one of Alton's families. She was born in that city in 1864, a daughter of William and Rachel (Soloman) Watts, whose other children were Jennie, Liz- zie, Ellen, John and Addie. Miss Addie, now deceased, gave her life to the missionary cause in Mexico under the auspices of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Stelzel have had a most happy wedded life and have worked to- gether to make the generous success which is now theirs. Three children were born to them, Charles W., June L. and Gladys, the lat- ter of whom died in infancy.
Their son Charles W. Stelzel has attained a prominence in the world of music that again justifies Madison county's pride in the talents and achievements of its children of music and literature. He was reared and educated in Alton, was a graduate of Shurtleff and of the School of Music of Oberlin College, then con- tinued his studies in Chicago, and for three years has been abroad, studying under the di- rection of two of the world's masters of music, Leschetizky of Vienna, and Luviene of Berlin. He is now engaged in public concert in Europe.
The daughter, June L., is now a student of Monticello Seminary, and was president of her class during 1911.
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