USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 26
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The Neuhaus family are believers in the German Lutheran faith, holding membership in that denomination. The men of the family always vote with the Republican party. Father Neuhaus was one of the loyal representatives who made the trip to Canton to visit President William McKinley on Illinois day and he re- ceived a hearty handshake from that illustrious gentleman. Mr. Neuhaus is nearly eighty years of age, hale and hearty still, and happy in the companionship of his son, Herman.
C. W. F. LANGE. Having, as an agricultu- rist, accomplished a satisfactory work, C. W. F. Lange has acquired an abundance of means, and is now living retired from active pursuits at Edwardsville, enjoying the leisure earned by many years of unremitting toil. Like many another of Madison county's prosperous citizens, he was born on the other side of the broad Atlantic, his birth having occurred May 3, 1841, in Germany.
His father, Frederick J. Lange, was born in Germany, March 4, 1804, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits. Immigrating with his family to the United States in 1843, he was engaged in the grocery business at St. Louis, Missouri, for fifteen years, after which he lived for a while in Madison county, Illinois, where at one time he owned several farms. He spent his last days, in the city of St. Louis, dying in October, 1884, at the age of eighty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Christine Blake, was born in Germany and died in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 23, 1894, aged seventy-eight years, her birth having occurred in 1816. Of the children born of their union, three are living, two daughters, both widows, Mrs. E. F. W. Meier, living in St. Louis, and Mrs. George Link, of Springfield, Illinois; and C. W. F. Lange, of Edwardsville, Illinois.
Educated in St. Louis, C. W. F. Lange was graduated from the high school and from Jones' 'Commercial School, where he re- ceived his diploma February 15, 1858. The ensuing four years he was employed as book- keeper for two of the largest wholesale dry goods houses in St. Louis, after which he occu- pied a similar position with the St. George Milling Company, of that city. His health failing, Mr. Lange decided to make a complete change of residence and occupation and came, in 1863, to Madison county, Illinois. Buying
first a small farm, he added other tracts from time to time, becoming owner of about three hundred and fifty acres, and for many years was one of the principal wheat growers of his neighborhood. He was also especially suc- cessful as a horse and mule breeder and raiser, disposing of his horses and mules at exceed- ingly high prices. Mr. Lange is now living re- tired, having moved to North Buchanan street, Edwardsville, in 1906, when he divided his farms among his children, although he re- tained in his own name the old homestead of one hundred and sixteen acres. In October, 1900, he platted and laid out the village of Maryville in Collinsville township, giving it its name in honor of his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Krome. The growth of the town has been truly remarkable, for at the time it was laid out there was nothing but farm land and it is now a good sized town. Due to the efforts of the subject, the suburban elec- tric line was induced to enter Maryville, and this has added greatly to its good fortunes.
On September 27, 1863, Mr. Lange was united in marriage with Maria D. Krome, who was born at Louisville, Kentucky, January 22, 1844, and there grew to womanhood. Her father, William Krome, was born March 3, 1813, in Hanover, Germany, and in 1840, im- migrated to the United States, locating at Louisville, Kentucky, later, in 1851, removing to Madison county. He died at Pleasant Ridge in December, 1876. His wife, whose maiden name was C. Anna Wessler, was born May 4, 1826, and died in October, 1885, at Pleasant Ridge, Illinois. Of the thirteen children that brightened the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lange, nine are now living, namely : Alvina and Alfred, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania; Theodor W., Johanna, Martha and Frederick, Jr., of Maryville, this county Tabea, of St. Louis; Carl A., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and Christina A., living at Staunton, Illinois. There are eighteen grand- children. Mrs. Lange died at her home in Ed- wardsville, Illinois, January 18, 1910.
Mr. Lange is identified with an important financial institutions, being director of the Bank of Edwardsville. Politically he is a straightforward Democrat, and for twelve years served as supervisor of Madison county. He was elected to the city council in 1911, and is secretary at the present time of the local board of improvements and chairman of the or- ยท dinance committee. For nine years Mr. Lange was chairman of the Poor Farm Committee. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran
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church and helpful in its good works. Public- spirited and progressive, he takes pleasure in aiding all enterprises calculated to benefit the public, being among the foremost in the estab- lishment of public improvements and meas- ures of reformation.
FRED A. EISELE, who in December, 1910, as- sumed the office of county treasurer, to which he had been elected by a large majority the previous fall, has for a number of years been active in county politics and is one of the most popular citizens of the county.
In Granite City, which has been his home for the last seventeen years he served as alder- man from 1904 to 1909 and during 1904 was mayor pro tem. In 1906 he was appointed deputy county treasurer under H. M. Sanders, and satisfactorily filled the office until his re- cent election gave him the chief responsibility for this important position.
Mr. Eisele was born in the city of Phila- delphia, March 25, 1875. ilis education was received in the city schools, but at the age of fifteen he began the serious business of life, and by industry, honesty and the exercise of his genial personality he has won a commend- able success. In Granite City he began work in the shipping department of the stamping works, and later for twelve years was a clerk in the steel works.
He married, in 1904. Miss Grace T. Sanders, a daughter of Mr. H. M. Sanders, former county treasurer. They have one daughter, Margarite. Mr. Eisele is a Republican and during his residence in the county has pro- moted its success in many campaigns.
ROYAL J. WHITNEY. Any history of Madi- son county would be incomplete without men- tion of that sterling citizen, prominent railroad man and Civil war veteran Royal J. Whitney, of Alton, a man held in highest regard by the community in which he resides. Mr. Whit- ney was born at Oak Point, St. Lawrence county, New York, April 23, 1837. His father, Samuel Whitney, was born at Johnstown, Canada, and his grandfather, John Whitney, was born in Connecticut, of English parentage. The latter moved to Canada and settled at Johnstown. He was a tanner, courier and shoemaker by trade. He lived in His Majesty's domain for many years, but tradi- tion has it that he eventually returned to Connecticut. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Baldwin.
Samuel Whitney, the father of the subject, was reared and educated in Canada and later removed across the St. Lawrence river to a
farm near Oak Point in New York state. He engaged in general farming and there resided until summoned to the Great Beyond, at the age of seventy-four years. The maiden name of his wife was Eliza White, born in New York city. Her parents took her to Canada at the age of four years and she lived to advanced age, being eighty-three at the time of her de- mise. The children reared by these admirable people were six in number, namely Maria, Martha, Royal J., Samuel, Eliza J. and Vin- cent B.
Royal J. Whitney was reared and educated in St. Lawrence county, New York, and at the age of nineteen years commenced teaching in the public schools of St. Lawrence and Jef- ferson counties, thus covering a period of five years. His career as a teacher was terminated by the breaking of the Civil war and his en- listment in the fall of 1861 in Company D, Ninety-second Regiment of New York Volun- teer Infantry. He was commissioned first lieutenant and was one of the officers sent to New York city in 1862 to enforce the draft. He was with his regiment on its various marches, campaigns and battles, and among the more important of the latter were the seige of Yorktown, Virginia and battles of Fair Oaks, Virginia; Newberne, North Carolina; Cold Harbor, Virginia ; Malvern Hill ; and other en- gagements around Petersburg and Richmond. He was honorably discharged after more than three years of military service, in the month of February. 1865, and returned home to Phil- adelphia, Jefferson county, New York, and became Station Agent of the Rome. Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad, remaining until 1866. His next step took him far afield, for he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and in that city opened a dry goods business, which he conducted but a few months, then selling out and removing to Bunker Hill, Illinois. There he held the position of station agent of the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. In 1871 he went to East St. Louis and took charge of the coal traffic on the Cairo Short Line Railroad. He went thence to Litchfield, Illinois, and bought an interest in the car shops at that place, becoming secretary, treasurer and man- ager of the shops. His residence in that place continued from 1887 until 1891 and meantime he organized the First National Bank of Litch- field and became its president. He was also president for twenty-three years of the Work- ing Men's Bank of East St. Louis, Illinois. In 1891 he sold his Litchfield interests and bought the Western Steel and Spring Works
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at Harvey, Illinois, which was later destroyed by fire. Since that time he has been virtually retired devoting the greater part of his energies to his private affairs. Mr. Whitney laid the foundation of a happy household and congen- ial life companionship when, in March, 1864, he was united in marriage to Amelia A. Rod- gers, born in Philadelphia, Jefferson county, New York, the daughter of Samuel and Rachel Rodgers. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have reared two sons,-Clark L. and James Elmer. Both sons have been well educated in the Alton high school, Shurtleff College and Washington University at St. Louis. Clark L. is unmarried and is associated with his father in business. James Elmer is engaged in the wholesale lum- ber business with headquarters in New York city. He married Nora Dell Hathaway, of Al- ton and they have two daughters,-Eunice H. and Amelia Ann,
WILLIAM T. FRANCY, JR. A man firmly grounded in the affection and esteem of the county for his sterling qualities in private life and his unvarying rectitude in public office is William T. Francy, Jr. He now follows the plow in Olive township and is one of the list of honest and respected men of this section who are members of the oldest profession known to man. He was born in the township where he now makes his home, on January 5, 1871, and he was the son of William and Jane (Thomas) Francy, still remembered in the county for their kindly relations with all with whom they came in contact.
William Francy, Sr., was a native son of Ireland, and he did not leave the Emerald Isle until he reached his majority. When he was twenty-one he and a sister immigrated to this country. William went at once to his uncle's farm near Livingston and was there employed by the month for two years. At the end of that time he went to work for Hugh Patter- son, and for two years thereafter he was so employed.
In 1870, on the 23rd of March, was solemn- ized the marriage of William Francy, Sr. to Miss Jane Thomas a native of Missouri, and they settled on a rented farm for a space of two years, later moving to another. After- wards they bought a farm and stayed in Madi- son county until 1911, in which year they re- moved to the state of Kansas. They became the parents of twelve children, the following of whom survive at the present writing : William. Tr .. the immediate subject of this re- view; John A .; Margaret; Albert; Elsworth ; Jones ; Anna ; and Herbert.
William, Jr., remained in the parental household until his twenty-fourth year, at which time he entered the employ of M. B. Pearce for a term of fifteen months. After that he returned to his home, and on February 17, 1897, was united in marriage to Miss Nora Olive, daughter of James and Mary (Lane- Shumate ) Olive. Her father was a native son of Kentucky, while the mother claimed Iowa as the state of her birth. James Olive was a man of great prominence in this section of the country. It is interesting to note that he died the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land, starting with absolutely nothing but strong arms and an innate talent for the occupation of agriculture. James Olive was of stout old English stock, being the son of Abel Olive, the son of James, who came from the mother country in early colonial times, the date being about 1740, and participated in that nation- making struggle, the American Revolution.
To Mr. and Mrs. William Francy, Jr., have been born two children, both of whom died in infancy, Anna May being born on the 20th of November, 1901, and passing away on De- cember 10, the same year, and the second child died on the 28th of January, 1903.
Mrs. Francy is a member of the Christian denomination, while her husband was raised in the Reformed Presbyterian faith.
In his political affiliations Mr. Francy stands in the ranks of the "Grand Old Party." He has held the office of justice of the peace, has been one of the highway commissioners and at the present time 1911, is the local tax collector.
Mr. Francy owns fifty acres of arable land in Olive township, which under his excellent management is being made to yield profitable crops, and there he and his wife maintain their hospitable home.
A. K. WHITELAW. Noteworthy among the enterprising and energetic business men of Wood River, Madison county, is A. K. White- law, assistant superintendent of the Standard Oil Refining Company, who is a persistent and consistent booster and a loyal and liberal supporter of all good movements for the wel- fare of the town and county, being especially interested in educational affairs. He was born in 1867, in Canada, a son of John and Agnes Whitelaw, who were born in Scotland, and died in Canada.
Brought up in Cobourg, Ontario, Mr. White- law received his education in the public schools, remaining at home until eighteen years old. Coming then to the States, he lo- cated first in Chicago, where he secured em-
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ployment in a drug store. During the ensuing seven years he traveled about a good deal, visiting different parts of the West, for two years being in Wyoming a part of the time working on a ranch. Entering then the em- ploy of the Standard Oil Company, Mr. White- law was stationed at Whiting, Indiana, from 1893 until 1907, when he was made assistant superintendent of the Standard Oil Refining Company at Wood River, Illinois, a position which he has since filled with credit to him- self and to the entire satisfaction of the com- pany.
Mr. Whitelaw is a stockholder and the vice president of the First State and Savings Bank of Wood River, and is a member of the Wood River School Board, of which he has been president during the past two years. Since he has occupied this important position a new school building costing forty thousand dollars has been erected, largely through his influence and efforts. It is constructed of brick and stone, and is furnished throughout with all the modern improvements, having its own heating plant, which consists of two Ideal boil- ers, and has an ample water supply. Nine teachers are employed as instructors in this school, including a teacher of art, of music, and the superintendent, and the school, which has an enrollment of one hundred and ninety pupils, ranks among the best in Madison county.
Mr. Whitelaw married, in September, 1893, Adeline Lightfoot, of South Dakota, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Arthur K., born February 6, 1897; Bruce, born January 2, 1904; and Dean, born May 16, 1905. Fraternally Mr. Whitelaw belongs to Whiting Lodge No. 613, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; to Hammond Chapter, No. 117, Royal Arch Masons, of Hammond, Indiana ; and to Hammond Com- mandery, No. 41, Knights Templar, of Ham- mond, Indiana. He is a member of the Union Mission church, which he was instrumental in having established at Wood River, and is one of its earnest workers.
JOHN SCHWARZ. There is no one nation which has contributed to the complex compo- sition of our American social fabric an ele- ment of more sterling worth or of greater value in fostering and supporting our national institutions than has Germany. The men sent across the Atlantic to America have proven on the whole men of splendid citizenship, ideal- ists, patriots, lovers of liberty,-men who have stood the supreme test and have been willing
to sacrifice personal interests to the general good. What higher praise may be given in speaking of John Schwarz than to record the fact that he is a German-American of the best type. This gentleman came to Madison county in his boyhood, arriving in Illinois in days when pioneer conditions were not entirely disap- peared, when the cry of the wild animal might be heard borne on the night breeze and where frequently the prairie land remained unbroken. The young boy, wondering and delighted with the new land, has developed into the man of substance and influence, whose sons and daughters have gone forth to be good citizens in various quarters. Mr. Schwarz met fine fortune in his chosen vocation-agriculture- and he is now living retired, an honored and respected resident of Saline. He has held public trusts from time to time in most ap- proved fashion, having been highway com- missioner for sixteen years and school direc- tor for some time and he organized the Grant Fork Mutual Telephone Company, of which he is president, not to mention numerous other helpful public enterprises with which he is identified.
John Schwarz was born in Baden, Germany, January 22, 1842, and is the son of Matthias and Theresa (Kanninger ) Schwarz. The family immigrated to this country in 1853, when John was a lad eleven years old. In marvelous contrast to the rapid ocean transit of today is the fact that the voyage was of fifty-six days' duration. They landed in New Orleans, went thence to St. Louis, and from there to Highland, Madison county. Their destination had been determined before they left their native land from the fact that the father's brother, John Schwarz, resided in Highland. At the uncle's home they rested for a week to recover from the rigors of the long voyage and journey then located at Ma- rine, where the father engaged at his trade, which was that of a tailor, and here he built the first two-story brick house erected in Ma- rine. There the home was made for about ten years. The father was industrious and thrifty and from his savings he was enabled to purchase a farm of one hundred and sixty acres six miles northeast of Marine. All the children, with the exception of the youngest daughter, Johanna, were born in Germany and their names were Peter, Theodore, Conrad, Katie, Emma, Margaret, Lena and John. These young people received their education in the public schools of Marine, and their strong young hands were well employed in
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assisting in the many tasks to be encountered upon the farm. Industry and good manage- ment resulted in prosperity, and the family never regretted the step which had brought them to the land of the stars and stripes. The father passed away upon the homestead, and the family separated, his widow going to Saline to reside, making her home with her daughter.
John Schwarz received his education in the district schools and worked out from the age of twelve to nineteen. He then assisted his father upon the home place and remained be- neath the home roof until his marriage in 1866. On the 10th day of April, of that year, he laid the foundations of a happy married life by his union with Elizabeth Kinder, daughter of Charles and Theresa Kinder, farmer citizens. Mrs. Schwarz was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1842, and was brought by her parents to this country at the age of two years, location being made near Edwards- ville. The Kinder family consisted of Albert, Joseph, George, August (who was killed by a stroke of lightning at the age of seven years ) and Elizabeth (wife of the subject of this record). The Kinder children were schooled at Edwardsville.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Schwarz began their wedded life on a rented farm six miles north of Marine, where they lived for a year. In building up their fortunes and gathering a substance, Mrs. Schwarz proved an ideal helpmeet, for she possessed all the good qualities of the home-maker. In time the young couple found themselves in a posi- tion to purchase eighty acres of raw prairie land, two miles north of Saline. This had no improvements and no trees, and their nearest market was St. Louis. The subject first built a humble abode of two rooms and they ex- perienced many hardships and trials in the early days. Wild animals still abounded and conditions in many ways were still very primi- tive. Mr. Schwarz spent the first week in digging a well to obtain the necessary water supply. He had but one horse and had to borrow another to make a team when he be- gan his plowing. Both young people were in- domitable in their resolution to carve out a comfortable home for themselves and their children, and soon were able to add more land, first eighty acres, this increasing to one hun- dred and twenty and then to four hundred and fifty, all fine, productive land. The farm now is one of the most highly improved in the section and one of its chief glories is its trees
- shade and fruit-splendid groves and or- chards which stand today a favorable com- mentary on their progressiveness.
Into the home of these admirable people were born eleven children, five of whom died in in- fancy, and the surviving six being John, Charles, William, Emma, Johanna and Eliza- beth. These young people received their edu- cation in the Purcell school, this being com- pleted in the Catholic school at Saline. By the best example and training they were fitted for good citizenship. Concerning them the fol- lowing data are given: John Schwarz mar- ried Anna Bellen, who was born in Madison county, February 23, 1875, a daughter of Felix and Barbara (Rall) Bellen. They make their residence on the old home place of the Schwarz family, which he successfully super- intends. Mr. Schwarz is a prominent and en- terprising man and has played a praiseworthy part in local public affairs. For three years he was school director ; he acted as town clerk nine years and as school treasurer six years. He is also treasurer of the Grant Fork Mutual Telephone Company and director of the Min- eral Springs Creamery ; he is a stockholder in the Citizens' State Bank of Alhambra and is a trustee of the Catholic church of Saline. They are the parents of six children, Ella, Anna, Melvin, Edgar, Cecilia and Laura, fine looking and admirable children of whom Leef township may well be proud.
Charles Schwarz married Lena Gladbach, who was born February 1, 1874, and is a daughter of Christian and Minnie (Vinches- key) Gladbach. They are the parents of five children, namely: Minnie, Gertrude, Chris- tian, Vincent and Charlie. He is a farmer, and maintains his residence in Leef township. He is one of the directors of the Citizens State Bank of Alhambra.
William Schwarz was for six years pro- prietor of a furniture and tinware store in Highland, but recently sold out that concern and purchased one hundred and twenty acres near Hope City, Arkansas, where he now re- sides. He married Mary Widmer and their three children are Elmer, Hedwig and Wil- fried.
Emma Schwarz married Henry Gladbach, a farmer, and they reside in Chariton county, Missouri. Their children are John. Anton, Bertha, Cecilia and Magdaline. Tillie is de- ceased.
Johanna Schwarz became the wife of Wil- liam F. Knebel, a farmer and stockman of Saline township, their union being celebrated
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
April 14, 1896. Mr. Knebel, who is a promi- nent and highly respected gentleman, was born February 10, 1871, the son of Leopold and Carolina (Walter) Knebel. Like his father-in- law, his parents were also natives of Ba- den, they coming to Illinois among its pioneers. Leopold Knebel was for thirty years success- fully engaged in the grain business and he owned an elevator for that period, the same being located at Pierron. After amassing a comfortable fortune he and his wife sold out and went to California, in which glorious clime they are enjoying life to the utmost. The Knebel family consisted of Edward, Henry, William, Julia, Bertha and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Knebel are among the wealthy farmer- citizens of the county, their splendid estate of three hundrd and seventy acres being located two miles from Pierron. Mr. Knebel is a progressive agriculturist and a popular mem- ber of the community, and his fine principles have won for him the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. He is interested in all public improvement and for six years had been school director of Saline township. Be- neath the Knebel roof-tree are growing to young manhood and womanhood the following children : Walter, Carrie, Irene, Adella, Wy- mar, Elsie and Thekla,-as fine-looking, prom- ising boys and girls as are to be found in the county.
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