USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 29
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Two years afterward, in 1867, he married Miss Magdalina Mutcher, the daughter of Mrs. M. Mutcher, a widow, and the young couple commenced their wedded life on a farm in Leef township which he had purchased. Two children were the issue of this union, both dying in infancy, and the young mother herself passed on at the age of nineteen.
In 1870 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Gross. She was born in New York, in 1850, of German lineage, Nicholas and Anna (Pautler ) Gross, being her parents. For twelve years Mr. and Mrs. Kraft lived on the farm, when he sold the farm and moved to Grant Fork. They became the parents of ten chil-
dren, four sons and six daughters. Maggie married Dr. John Rosenberger, and they make their home in California, and are the parents of two children, Heloise and Jack Da Costa. Emma K. married Adolph Mossiman, a plumber by trade, and resides in Highland. Pearl K. became a successful trained nurse and makes her home in California with her sis- ter. Anna married a John Zimmerman, a carpenter and lives in Saint Louis. They have two children, Lorine and Opal. Mabel is a stenographer in St. Louis. Hazel is the only daughter to remain at home, and she assists in the home making, and is one of the popular and pretty girls of Grant Fork. Nicholas married Miss Marie Edwards of Bloomington, Illinois, and has his residence in Saint Louis, where he is the proprietor of the Hotel Gran- ville. Johnnie was united in marriage to Miss Madaline Monteverde, and they live in Mem- phis, Tennessee, where he owns and runs the Kraftie Bakery. Alvin and Arthur are the proprietors of the Y. M. C. A. restaurant in East Saint Louis. By this record it will be seen that Mr. Kraft's children are proving themselves possessed of the same high quali- ties as their father, and capable of following in his footsteps and filling position of trust and industry in this great and busy world.
In 1891 Mr. Kraft purchased the grounds which he has since improved, adding to Na- ture's generous endowments the beauty of care- ful planting and good taste in improvements, on which he has spared no expense. The busy private life of Mr. Kraft has in no way in- terfered with his service to the community in which he has made his home, and he has brought to public office the same scrupulous devotion to duty that he has manifested in his private affairs, and he has held the following offices with honor to himself and to the office. He was assessor for five years, constable for eight years, tax collector for one year, post- master for four years, and justice of the peace for eight years making in all twenty-six years of active interest in the welfare of the com- munity.
Looking back over life, Mr. and Mrs. Kraft may well take a pardonable degree of pride at the events that have made the name of Kraft synonymous with all that is best in public and private life.
WILLIAM M. SAUVAGE. Talented and ca- pable, William M. Sauvage, of Alton, Illi- nois, occupies a place of prominence and in- fluence in the theatrical business of the country, and as a believer in clean, wholesome plays
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for people of either sex, men, women and chil- dren, is contributing his full share towards elevating the stage and rendering it one of the leading forces in the uplifting of humanity. A son of Anton Sauvage, he was born in Alton, Illinois, and here brought up and educated. He is of French lineage, his ancestors on both sides of the house having been French Hugue- nots, who were obliged to flee from their coun- try after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, being rolled out of Paris, so it is said in beer hogsheads in order to save their lives. They had much property in the heart of the city, of which the French Government has since had the benefit. It has been advertised in this country for claimance by the heirs, but as all papers of importance had long been lost no claim could be legally instituted by descendants of either family.
Anton Sauvage was born, June 17, 1836, in Bavaria, being the second son of Conrad and Anna Maria (Mais) Sauvage, who immigrated from Bavaria to America in 1851, when their oldest son, Lorenz Sauvage, was about seven- teen years old, the age when it was necessary he should enter the German Army if he re- mained in the Fatherland. The family located first in Ohio where Conrad Sauvage's death occurred sometime in the sixties, while his wife, the grandmother of Mr. Sauvage, sur- vived him, dying in 1882, at Fort Wayne, Indi- ana. Anton Sauvage was educated in Bavaria, and as a boy of fifteen years accompanied his parents to America. He subsequently located in Alton, Illinois, and soon became active in public affairs, during the Civil war being em- ployed at the State Penitentiary, in which a large number of Confederate soldiers were at times confined. He married Eliza Schwaab, who was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, November 15, 1843, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria Theresa (Wyss) Schwaab, both of whom were born in Berne, Switzerland, and died in America, Mr. Schwaab's death occur- ring in Wood River township, Madison county, Illinois, and Mrs. Schwaab's, at Alton. Mrs. Anton Sauvage is still living, her home being at Alton, and she is the mother of four chil- dren, namely : Kate, wife of George M. Berg, of Alton; William M., the special subject of this sketch; George, engaged in business at Alton; and Emma, residing with her mother.
Educated in the public schools of Alton, William M. Sauvage was trained to habits of industry and thrift from his earliest youth, and when a mere boy began working for wages,
for a time being employed as a clerk in the commission house of E. H. Hollister. He af- terwards clerked in Seeley's book store, and later was similarly employed in the office of the United States Express Company. In 1890 Mr. Sauvage began his theatrical career as treasurer of the Temple Theatre Company. The following year he became the lessee and manager of the Temple Theatre, and is so now (19II), and since that time has been active and conspicuous in theatrical circles, in his operations meeting with good success. Mr. Sauvage has been very active as a promotor, particularly along lines of amusements. Among his achievements along this line may be mentioned the Chatauqua bathing pool, where children are taught to swim. Hundreds have here learned to swim and hundreds of children, through the instrumentality of this pool, have avoided death in the treacherous currents of the Father of Waters. He is manager of three theatres, the Temple, Air- dome and Lyric. All being conducted on a high plane. He also promoted the family ex- cursion to up river points, introducing to the public the steamers "Corwin H. Spencer," "Alton," "J. S.," and the "Sidney," all having become popular out of Alton steamers through his excellent medium of advertising. He is a director of the Western Theatre Managers' Association, which controls the theatrical busi- ness of the country ; he is likewise director and treasurer of the Illinois Bill Posters' Associa- tion; and a member of the Missouri Athletic Club of Saint Louis. Fraternally he belongs to Alton Lodge, B. P. O. E.
Mr. Sauvage married Edith Clare New- comb, who was born in Shipman, Illinois, a daughter of Homer and Malvina E. (Amos) Newcomb, and granddaughter of Alanson Newcomb, a life-long resident of New York state. Her father was born in the Empire state, where he learned the machinist's trade. Coming to Illinois, he resided at Shipman several years, where for awhile he was em- ployed in the Government service, but is now a resident of Alton. His wife was born in West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Sauvage have two children, Virginia and Russell.
THE GERSHOM FLAGG FAMILY. When the tide of migration from the New England states to Illinois set in, about 1816, among the first to cast his fortunes in the then far West was Gershom Flagg, a pioneer in the Liberty Prairie settlement of Madison county, where, in 1818, he established the Flagg homestead,
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which is still ( 1912) owned and occupied by the Flagg family.
Until about two hundred years ago the fam- ily name was Flegg, and the ancestry of Ger- shom Flagg has been traced back in a direct line by his son Willard C. Flagg to (1) Will- iam Flegg, who died in county Norfolk. Eng- land, in 1426, and from whom the lineage in direct descent runs as follows: (2) Thomas, died, 1471; (3) William of Swafield, living in the reign of Henry VIII; (4) Richard of Shipham, will probated May 28. 1587; (5) John of Whinbergh, will dated September 3, 1613; (6) Bartholomew of Whinbergh, whose second son (7) Thomas Flegg, baptised at
Elizabeth Cutting and was the father of eleven children.
Gershom Flagg was born November 26, 1792, at Orwell, Vermont; he had a scanty country schooling, but having a talent for mathematics studied surveying under a Bur- lington surveyor and made considerable use of this knowledge after coming west. In the war of 1812 he was a drummer boy and partici- pated in the battle of Plattsburg, New York, being in Captain Hunt's company. On the 23rd of September, 1816, at the age of twenty- three. Gershom Flagg bade adieu to the scenes and friends of his childhood, to his brothers, sisters and parents and started west, intending
FLAGG HOMESTEAD, Near Moro, IN.
Settled 1818 by Gershom Flagg, whose log cabin stood in the left fore- ground of the above picture. This house was built 1864-5 by Willard C. Flagg; owned and occupied by his son, Norman G. Flagg.
Whinbergh in 1615, sailed for America in 1637 and settled in Watertown, "in the province of Massachusetts Bav ;" (8) Lieutenant Gershom Flegg, born 1641 and slain by Indians in 1690; (9) John Flegg, 1673-1732; (10) Eleazer Flagg, 1703-1749; (II) Gershom Flagg of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1730-1758; (12) Dr. Ebenezer Flagg of Richmond, Vermont, 1756-1828, whose third son, in the thirteenth generation from William Flegg, was Gershom Flagg, the subject of this sketch. Dr. Ebene- zer Flagg was a Vermont farmer as well as a physician and was a veteran of the Revolution- ary war, having served as sergeant in the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment. He married
apparently to locate in Ohio. He reached Springfield, Ohio, November 8, 1816, having traveled eight hundred and ninety-eight miles in forty-six days, prospected in Ohio one year, and was in Cincinnati in August, 1817, when he wrote home as follows: "I shall leave in a few days to go directly to St. Louis, in the ter- ritory of Missouri. The greater part of Indi- ana is owned by the Indians, and I intend to go on the military bounty lands." So he left Cin- cinnati October 19, 1817, "on a small flatboat with a roof on it," floated to the mouth of the Ohio, and walked one hundred and seventy- four miles across country to St. Louis, arriv- ing November 18, 1817. He had traveled in all one thousand seven hundred and ninety-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
four miles since leaving home. He found St. Louis to be a town of about three thousand in- habitants, and while spending the following winter there, helped to paint the first steam- boat that ever landed in the town.
In the spring of 1818 Gershom Flagg came to Madison county, Illinois, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 3, in town- ship 5-8, now known as Fort Russell township. He rented part of his farm and farmed the re- mainder himself, and about 1822 set out a large apple orchard on the east side of the "Springfield road." He was postmaster of Paddock's Grove postoffice for many years, was justice of the peace, and in 1846 ran on a "People's ticket" for the legislature, but was not elected. The J. Q. Adams and Jackson campaigns deeply interested Mr. Flagg, and he kept well posted on public questions. He was strongly opposed to the state bank policy of 182I and fought the attempt, in 1822 and 1824, to introduce slavery into this state. In his later years Gershom Flagg was a Whig, and when failing eyesight forbade his perusal of the newspapers the political discussions of the day were read to him. He made two visits to his boyhood home in Vermont, in 1838 and in 1855. A man of rugged strength of character, his convictions, once formed, were expressed in no uncertain terms. He died March 2, 1857, and was buried in the Flagg lot in the Paddock cemetery, three miles east of Moro, Illinois. On his tombstone is the simple epi- taph, "An honest man is the noblest work of God." Gershom Flagg was married Septem- ber 27, 1827, to Mrs. Jane (Paddock) Rich- mond, eldest daughter of Gaius Paddock, a soldier of the Revolution, and a granddaughter of Josiah Wood, another Revolutionary vet- eran ; she was born in Woodstock, Vermont, Tune 7, 1787, and died December II, 1863. To this union there was born one child.
Willard Cutting Flagg, born September 16, 1829, on the Flagg homestead in Liberty Prai- rie, and died there March 30, 1878. He was reared on his father's farm, attended the dis- trict school near Ridgley, and studied for sev- eral winters in St. Louis in Professor Edward Wyman's school, and was graduated from Yale college in 1854 with high honors. He took charge of his father's farm and made a specialty of horticulture. In 1856 and 1858 Mr. Flagg took a deep interest in the forma- tion and growth of the Republican party, wrote much campaign literature and was a member, in 1860, of the Republican State and County Comittees. During the Civil war he
was enrolling officer for Madison county, by appointment of Governor Yates, and by ap- pointment of President Lincoln in 1862 he was made internal revenue collector of the Twelfth Illinois district, which position he held until 1869, when he was elected to the State Senate for a four year term. He was one of the founders of the Illinois Industrial University, now known as the University of Illinois, and was one of its trustees until his death; he also spent much time and study in organizing the State Farmers' Association in the early '70s, and made numerous addresses throughout the state in denunciation of the railroad monopo- lies. In his legislative service Mr. Flagg voted against the "Lake Front" bill and the "Grab law" of 1869, and in the session of 1872 he took special interest in the revision of the Illi- nois school laws.
Mr. Flagg was married in St. Louis, Febru- ary 13, 1856, to Sarah Smith, daughter of James and Betsey (Brown) Smith, of Proc- torsville, Vermont, in which state Mr. Smith, and likewise his father, James Smith, Sr., served his district in the legislature. Mrs. Flagg's grandfathers and great-grandfathers, both maternal and paternal, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Sarah Smith was born near Proctorsville, Vermont, January 22, 1828; after the death of her parents in 1841 and 1842 she lived with an aunt in Vermont, teach- ing school there, and later came to St. Louis, where she made her home with her aunt, Mrs. Jane (Smith) Cavender, until her marriage. After Mr. Flagg's death, in 1878, she con- ducted the business of the farm, and resided there until her death, February 16, 1905. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Flagg were: Bessie, born May 4, 1857, died June 28, 1859 ; Jennie, born February 13, 1860, died September 18, 1860; Isabel, born June 17, 1861 ; Mary W., born February 17, 1863; Willard Gershom, born March 28, 1864, died December 18, 1864; Norman Gershom, born August 4, 1867.
The daughter Isabel attended the district school and later Mary Institute, St. Louis, where she was graduated with the valedictory honors in 1881. She was stenographer and later paymaster for the Illinois Glass Com- pany, Alton, Illinois, for fifteen years. She was married, November 25, 1902, to Ozias M. Hatch, of Springfield, Illinois. They have one child, Ozias Mather, Jr., born July 6, 1904.
Mary W. attended the same schools as her sister and was graduated from Mary Institute in 1884. Is a member of the Society of May- flower Descendants, and also of the Daughters
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
of the American Revolution, and by research in the war records of the New England states, she has found that nine of her ancestors, in direct lineage, participated in the war against George III. She was married, November 25, 1891, to Edward L. Gillhan, of Wanda, Illi- nois, and to this union were born: Willard Clark, January 12, 1894; Charles Elmer, March 8, 1898; and Norman Flagg, July 3, 1903.
Norman G. Flagg attended the Liberty Prai- rie district school and later Smith Academy and Washington University in St. Louis, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1888. He took charge of his mother's farm upon becoming of age and resides ( 1912) on the homestead settled by his grandfather, Gershom Flagg, in 1818. Has served his township two terms as tax collector, was five times elected supervisor, and in 1908 and 1910 was elected on the Republican ticket to the lower house of the Illinois legislature. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Modern Woodmen, also of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Flagg was mar- ried, June 24, 1896, in Warsaw, Illinois, to Josephine Emily Hehner, daughter of Rev. Philip and Katherine (Fehr ) Hehner, and to this union were born: Elizabeth Hehner, Au- gust 4, 1898, died December 9. 1898; Elinor Bertha, born October 30. 1899 ; Katherine Heh- ner, born October 18, 1902; Willard Gershom, born June 16, 1906, and James Smith, born June 24, 1910.
HENRY A. EATON. Among the families whose industry and progressive spirit have aided materially in the upbuilding of the pros- perity of Madison county, we are pleased to record that of Eaton, a large and noted family. each member performing his individual duties in such a way as to further the betterment of the community in which he is placed. Henry A. Eaton, the farmer and stockman, who has been in the vicinity of Edwardsville for a pe- riod of seventy years, is too well known in this section of the country to need any further introduction, but we are pleased to give the following condensed review of his life, and that of his worthy and esteemed father, the Hon. Henry K. Eaton.
The paternal grandfather of Henry K. Eaton-Henry Eaton-was a native of Wales, born there in 1750. At the age of twenty- three he left his native land, crossed the ocean. landed in the United States and settled in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (in 1773). He served in the Revolutionary war and dur-
ing his army life he contracted a disease, from the effects of which he died. His son Thomas migrated to Mississippi, there married Miss Sarah King, the amiable daughter of a family who trace their ancestry back as far as 1630 and preserve a complete record of the Ameri- can branch of the family, the first of whom set- tled at Salem, Massachusetts. Mrs. Thomas Eaton (mother of Henry K.) was a native of Adams county, Mississippi, where she was born on the 2nd of October, 1787. In 1772 her maternal grandfather, Richard Swayze, with his brother Samuel-both residents of New Jersey, were desirous of securing a large tract of land for their respective families. At the same time Amos Ogden, a captain in the British navy, who was in reduced circum- stances, held what was known as a "man- lamus" from the king of England, dated 1762, and directing that the government of Florida lay by and deed to said Captain twenty-five thousand acres of land. The Captain and the Swayze brothers met and made a deal whereby the brothers became possessed of twenty thou- sand acres of the tract at twenty cents per acre. No sooner were the final papers exe- cuted than the two brothers provided them- selves with the outfit necessary for a prolonged camping trip, commenced their long and peril- ous journey and finally arrived at the mouth of the Homochitto river, to investigate their latest acquisition-the tract of land bought from Captain Ogden. Their holdings com- prised what is now a part of Adams county, Mississippi, and after the men had made thor- ough survey of the vast tract they chartered a schooner and conveyed their families to their new home. Mary, the youngest daughter of Richard Swayze, was married to Caleb King. grandfather of H. K. Eaton, and the daugh- ter and her husband received a share of the above mentioned land. They made their home at what is now called Kingston, Mississippi (so named in honor of the King family), and many of their descendants may still be found in that vicinity.
Henry K. Eaton was born at Kingston. Adams county, Mississippi, the home of his maternal ancestors, and there was reared on his father's farm. He was not content, how- ever, to live the indolent life which satisfied his young friends-boys in his own sphere of life ; he was desirous of obtaining knowledge. and lost no opportunity of gratifying the wish to be highly educated. He read and studied, letting no day pass without increasing his fund of information. He did not, however, devote
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
his entire time to study, but when a young man he was employed as clerk in a store and later he, with his brother-in-law, William Pomeroy, successfully conducted a furniture store. In the fall of 1840 Mr. Eaton engaged in the manufacture of castor oil, with which industry he was connected for a couple of years. He then found his time fully taken up with the performance of the public duties which he was gradually assuming as a result of the insistent urgings of his friends. In 1839 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace; in 1842 was deputy sheriff of Madison county ; in 1843 was appointed county revenue comissioner and in 1845 he was appointed commissioner in charge of the state census; in 1846 he was elected to the high office of probate judge of Madison county, was re-elected in 1847, again in 1849; and in 1853 was elected county judge for a term of four years. He formerly be- longed to the Whig party and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. Mr. Eaton was regarded as one of the most distinguished politicians in his section of the country. His active public life and his strict principles of integrity in every phase of life made him admired and re- spected by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances.
When a young man Judge Eaton married Miss Elizabeth C. Pomeroy, and to this union eight children were born, three of whom died in infancy. The names of those who lived to maturity are as follows: Amanda C., the widow of Professor O. C. Dake; Mary J. (deceased), who married Major Thomas J. Newsham; William P., deceased; Margaret M., who was the wife of John H. Smith ; and Henry A., the immediate subject of this sketch.
Henry A. Eaton was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, December 20, 1841. His education was obtained in the excellent schools of his native town and at McKendree College of Lebanon, Illinois. He returned to his home to occupy the social and industrial position which he might reasonably expect to fill. He immediately commenced the active supervision of his farm. and in this work has successfully continued until the present time.
Mr. Eaton was twice married. On Febru- ary 12, 1865, he was united to Miss Margaret Love, who died April 6, 1869. Two children were born to this union, and both died in in- fancy. On the 28th day of October, 1874, Mr. Eaton was married to Miss Margaret E. Burke, a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, where her birth occurred November 9, 1850. She is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Francis) Burke. The father was born in county Waterford, Ireland, December 21, 1813, and died at the age of fifty-five. His wife was also of Irish birth, a native of county Wexford, where she was born on the 2nd of December, 1830, and died on St. Valentine's day, 19II. Mr. and Mrs. Burke immigrated from Ireland to America, the former in 1840 and the latter in 1844; they settled near St. Louis, where they remained until 1850, at which time the husband went to California and engaged in mining, and was butchered by the Indians on the eve of his return to his family. Mr. Thomas Burke was the son of James and Alice (Bazell) Burke. Mrs. Burke was the daughter of Thomas and Rosanna (Scott) Francis, the former of English birth and the latter of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Burke were the parents of four children,-Margaret E. (Mrs. Eaton) ; James, who died in infancy ; Thomas F., who resides on a farm near Gilles- pie, Illinois ; and Rosanna A., who has for sev- eral years been a teacher in the Gillespie school. To the union of Mr. Eaton and his second wife nine children were born-William B., Thomas H., George K., Margaret Eliza- beth, Rosanna C., Charles A., Mary M., Ed- ward F. and Pomeroy.
William B. Eaton received his education at the Edwardsville school and McKendree Col- lege, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1900. He later completed a com- mercial course at the Gem City Business Col- lege at Quincy, Illinois. In 1905 Mr. Eaton was married to Miss Edith Smith at Wallace, Idaho, and the first few years of the wedded life of the young couple were spent in Alaska. They are now settled at Brogan, Oregon, en- gaged in fruit farming. Thomas H. Eaton, the brother next in age to William B., was also educated at the Edwardsville schools and Mc- Kendree College, and is living with his brother in Oregon. George K. Eaton is now living in Hamel township with his wife,-Miss Nellie J. Hamilton prior to her marriage, June 20, 1906. George K, attended the St. Louis Uni- versity after completing his high school course in Edwardsville. Margaret Elizabeth, the first daughter of the family, attended the Edwards- ville schools and later the Woman's College at Jacksonville, Illinois, with the idea of fitting herself for pedagogical work. She has suc- cessfully taught two years in the district school, two years in the Edwardsville public school and one year in Arenzville, Cass county, Illinois. She entered the Illinois University in ·I9II. Rosanna C. died in 1887, in her fourth
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