USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 30
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year. Charles A. Eaton is a graduate of Mc- Kendree College and entered the law depart- ment of Illinois Wesleyan University in 1911. Mary M. is at present ( 1911) a student in the James Millikin University of Decatur, Illinois. Edward F. Eaton has fitted himself for the life of a farmer by taking a course in the Agri- cultural department of the Illinois University. Pomeroy, the youngest child, died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Eaton reside on their fine farm of two hundred and seventy acres, five and a half miles from Edwardsville, a part of the old Eaton estate. The house is attractive and the outbuildings are commodious and up- to-date. In his political affiliations Mr. Eaton renders allegiance to the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Methodist church, while Mrs. Eaton be- longs to the Episcopal church. The worthy couple have always been absolutely united in regard to the training of their children; cach was desirous of giving to the boys and girls the advantages of a thorough general educa- tion (all have attended the Edwardsville high school, five graduating therefrom with high honors), followed by such special training as would best aid in fitting them for the special work in which they intended to engage. With- out exception, the children have done credit to their parents' efforts ; they all go out from the old roof tree into the busy avenues of life with such principles instilled in their minds as en- able them to become true and admirable citi- zens.
HARRY E. DECK. So many generations of the Deck family have claimed the warm per- sonal affection and high regard of the vicinity around New Douglas that no record of the men who have given Madison county its pres- ent high standing among the counties of the state of Illinois could well be called complete without a brief sketch of the present repre- sentative of the family and some mention of the forebears whose untarnished name he now upholds.
Harry E. Deck was born in New Douglas township on the 15th of December, 1883. He is the son of Thomas J. and Nannie B. (Tay- lor) Deck and the grandson of Thomas and Mary Jane (Smith) Deck. Thomas Sr. was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Felix Deck, a native of Virginia who migrated to Missouri. Some time after the birth of his son Felix Deck moved to Bond county, coming ultimately from that place to Madison county. It was in Madison county then, that Thomas Sr., the grandfather of the
immediate subject of this review, spent his boy- hood days, at a time when to many people Illi- nois was still the far west. His son, Thomas Jr., was born of the union of Thomas Sr. to Miss Martha E. Smith, and the place of his birth was New Douglas, in which place the son grew to years of maturity and in turn celebrated the founding of his own household by his marriage with Miss Mary Jane Smith. In 1897 he came to the town of New Douglas and there estab- lished himself in a livery business, with a feed and sales stable, managing the same until his death in March, 1905. His widow now makes her home in New Douglas.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Deck were born three children : Gladys J., a graduate of the New Douglas high school and a school teacher in Bond county ; Fern, still a student in the public schools; and Harry, the eldest, like his sister, a graduate of the New Douglas high school.
After his graduation from the local high school, Ilarry E. Deck completed his educa- tion by taking a course in the business college at Litchfield, graduating in bookkeeping and short hand. His first position was with the Wabash Railroad Company in Litchfield, where he stayed six months as stenographer and head clerk. After resigning that position he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and though a mere lad of twenty was able to hold a posi- tion with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Traction Company, in which he had charge of a gang of sixty-five men. He remained with that corporation from August, 1904, until Jan- uary, 1905. when he started to Cotter, Ar- kansas, to take charge of some men on the Iron Mountain Railroad, but changed his plans unexpectedly and, returning to New Douglas, joined his father in the livery business. His father's death occurred shortly afterward, and soon after that sad event Mr. Deck disposed of the livery business and went into farming for a period of two years. Disposing of his farming interests, he again essayed the livery business in New Douglas, in which occupation he is now engaged.
On the 8th of August, 1905. Mr. Deck was united at the altar to Miss Mary E. Wall, daughter of Robert Wall (now deceased) and his wife, Candace (Gaither) Wall, resident of Olive township. Mrs. Deck is a member of the Christian church while her husband has been raised in the Methodist faith.
Mr. Deck carries insurance with the Pru- dential and the Modern American, and is
M. J. Niedring haus
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
bound in the fraternal ties of the Masonic Order, Madison Lodge No. 560, and Staunton Chapter No. 227, R. A. M .. In the field of politics he finds himself in accordance with the measures promulgated by the Democratic party, and upon the nomination of that party he was elected to the office of supervisor of New Douglas township, and he is also deputy sheriff of the same township.
WILLIAM H. NIEDRINGHAUS. On other pages of this work will be found a descriptive sketch of the Granite City Enameling & Stamp- ing Works, the great industry which proved the nucleus for what is now Madison county's largest exclusive manufacturing city.
Besides the many other benefits and results which the establishment of this plant caused, it brought into the active citizenship of Madi- son county one of the best known groups of manufacturers of St. Louis, the Niedringhaus family, who were the founders and builders of the original industry and who in 1895 located their main factories in this county. -
The chief representative of the family now a resident of Madison county and personally identified with the direction of the industry at Granite City is Mr. William H. Niedring- haus, superintendent of the plant. He was born at St. Louis, December 16, 1857, a son of Frederick W. and Hannah M. (Klein- schmidt) Niedringhaus. The father was one of several brothers who emigrated from their native Germany to the United States and set- tled at St. Louis and vicinity. The father was a carpenter by trade, and his brothers, F. G. and William F., were tinners. The St. Louis box factory employed the father for several years, when, being joined by these two brothers, a shop of their own was opened. This was the beginning in a modest way of the present giant industry. Their business was conducted as the St. Louis Stamping Company, for the manufacture of tinware, their plant being at Second and Cass streets for a number of years. The business outgrew its city loca- tion, and in 1895 the site of Granite City was chosen for the erection of an immense plant. which should comprise all the manufacturing departments, including the steel works. The Royal Granite steel-ware made, at this plant is familiar by use or name to more households in this country than any other ware of the kind, and the wares have a large sale also in European countries. The plant at Granite City is the largest of the kind in the world, and twelve hundred persons find employment there. It is the largest industry of Granite
City and has given prosperity and permanence to that city. The father of the local super- intendent and one of the founders of the in- dustry is still living and attending to business, being now eighty years of age. His wife died in February, 1910, at the age of eighty-two.
William H. Niedringhaus was reared at St. Louis, and when he was sixteen years old left school to enter the shops of his father and uncles to learn the business. He has had prac- tical experience in all departments of the manufacture, and to his detailed knowledge and executive ability much of the success of the industry is due. He spent five years in learning the tinner's trade, after which he was given charge of a department for five years, was then advanced to assistant superintendent, and in 1896 was made superintendent of the Granite City plant. He has been closely iden- tified with the general business enterprise of this city, and is a director in the Granite, City National Bank and the Granite City Building Association.
He was married in 1879 to Miss Anna D. Becker, daughter of Phillip Becker. They are the parents of four children : Milton F., Elmer H., Edna A. and Mae Ida.
PHILLIP H. NEWHAUS. One of the fore- most agriculturists of Fosterburg township, Phillip H. Newhaus is numbered among the sturdy and successful farmers of Madison county who thoroughly understand the voca- tion which they follow and are enabled to carry it on with pleasure and profit. He was born October 18, 1840, in Switzerland, where his father, Oelrich Newhaus, was born, lived and died.
Oelrich Newhaus became the father of a large family of children of whom three sons and five daughters died in their native land. His widow subsequently married John Kuntz. With five sons and three daughters by her first marriage she immigrated to America, ar- riving on October 15, 1847, and for two years lived on a farm near Toledo, Ohio. From there she came to Illinois, and with her second husband and four sons lived first on a farm in Middletown, but subsequently settled on land on Wood River, Madison county, where Mr. Kuntz died. The ensuing five years she and her children were engaged in farming near the Union schoolhouse. She then bought a one hundred and fifteen-acre farm a part of which is now owned by her son Phillip, in Fosterburg township, and was here a resi- dent until her death, October 6, 1865. Of her family of eight sons and eight daughters, three
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children are now living as follows : Phillip H., the special subject of this sketch; Augustus, of Fosterburg; and Willis, living in Colorado. Three of her sons, Phillip H., Henry and Au- gustus, served in the Civil war.
About seven years old when he came to America, Phillip H. Newhaus was educated in the public schools of Ohio and Illinois, and as a youth learned the cooper's trade. On August 16, 1861, in response to Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand troops, he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Ninth Missouri Regiment, commanded by Colonel John C. Kelton. After camping for two weeks in Saint Louis, he was sent with his com- rades to Boonville, thence to camp at Otter- ville. Being then ordered to Springfield, he spent two weeks in that city, and then after spending a short time at Sedalia, Missouri, returned with his command to Springfield, where he served under General Curtis. Mr. Newhaus met the enemy at the battle of Pea Ridge, and afterwards participated in the en- gagements at Sulphur Rock, Cape Girardeau, and at Shiloh, where he was under command of General Buell. He fought in the battle of Corinth and at Iuka, from there going to Franklin Tennessee, thence to Munfordville, Kentucky, where the Confederate soldiers, under General Bragg, captured four Union regiments, General Buell being loath to fight his brother-in-law, General Bragg. At the bat- tle of Perryville, Kentucky, Mr. Newhaus assisted in driving the Rebels to Crab Orchard. thence on to Bowling Green and Nashville. He subsequently took part in the battles at Murfreesboro, Stone River, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, at Buz- zards Roost, in Ringgold, Georgia, where he carried the flag for the Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment, carrying it for a month while he was ranking as corporal of his company. Af- ter the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he took part in the siege of Atlanta, and after the capitulation of that city one hundred of his regiment were discharged and ordered home. He served his country faithfully from August 16, 1861, until September 17, 1864, his last service having been as a picket while in the army, bunking the greater part of the time with W. H. Paul of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume. Since his return to Madison county, Mr. Newhaus has been successfully employed in tilling the soil, having assumed possession of the farm once owned by his mother.
Mr. Newhaus married, April 13, 1867, Mary Ann Isch, a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Schwab) Isch, natives of Switzerland, and they are the parents of seven children, namely : John Augustus ; Malinda, who married John U. Uzzell, superintendent of schools in Madison county ; Anna R .; Emma D., who married Phillip Schier ; Selma May, who married John G. Mussell; May Edna, a teacher in the pub- lic schools; and Esther Florence, engaged in teaching near Collinsville, Illinois.
Although identified with the Republican party, Mr. Newhaus is independent in local politics, voting for the best men and measures regardless of party lines. He has served as school director, and for fifteen consecutive years was highway commissioner of Foster- burg township. He is a member of Fosterburg Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was the first commander, a position that he has filled eiglit years in all.
REV. JOHANN HEINRICH DINKMEIER. One of the citizens of Madison county whose work as a religious instructor has contributed not less to the welfare of the community than those who manage large business affairs is Rev. Dinkmeier, who has recently concluded a long period of service as pastor of the Ger- man Evangelical Salem's church of Alhambra. He has spent a long and full life in his voca- tion, and his retirement from active service has been well earned. For twelve years he was the spiritual leader of his people at Al- hambra, and probably no church in the county has had a more prosperous career during this time than the one of which he was pastor.
Johann Heinrich Dinkmeier was born at Holte, a province of Hanover, Germany, No- vember 8, 1849, a son of Gerhard and Eliza- beth ( Bergbreder) Dinkmeier. His father was a cabinet-maker, and his wife, having died in 1866, he immigrated to America in 1867. taking with him three children, Frederick, Anna, and Johann. His daughter Katarina had preceded him to America and married Frederick Kruel. All of them located at St. Charles, Missouri, where the father and his son-in-law engaged in their trade.
The father bestowed much care on the edu- cation of his children, and Johann attended the St. Charles schools until he was twenty, and then entered the German Evangelical Teach- ers' Seminary at Cincinnati. After his first year the college was moved to Evansville, In- diana, and thence to Elmhurst, Illinois, and has since been known as Elmhurst College. He remained a student through these removals
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and was graduated in the class of 1872. For the next ten years he taught in the parochial school of the St. John's Evangelical church at St. Charles, Missouri.
He then began preparation for the ministry of his church, Entering as a student of the- ology Eden College, then located at Marthas- ville, Missouri, now near Wellston, that state, he was ordained in 1883 at St. John's church in St. Charles. His first field of labor was at Bible Grove, in Clay county, Illinois, where he remained two years, and then for thirteen years was the pastor of the church at Carlinville, in Macoupin county. After a year's pastorate at Belleville, he entered upon his duties at Alhambra in 1899. His retirement from this pastorate after twelve years leaves the church in the highest prosperity. On leaving he plans to make his home at St. Charles, where he and his sister Katarina will spend the closing years of their lives in the comforts of each other's companionship.
During his pastorate at Alhambra, his con- gregation remodeled the church at a cost of five thousand dollars, installed a pipe organ costing eleven hundred dollars, and improved the building with furnace, new pews and metal ceiling, so that the edifice now stands as one of the best in the county and a monu- ment to the liberality of the membership.
While a teacher and worker for religious truth, Rev. Dinkmeier did not fail to utilize the other avenues of helpfulness and identified himself with the civic work of his community. Thus he was repeatedly elected and served for twelve years as school treasurer of his district. In politics he maintained a stanch adherence to the Republican party. At St. Charles, Missouri, he was the founder of the Teachers' Society of the parochial school, à society which did a fine, helpful work. In the synod of his church he was for four years a director of the Eden Publishing House, and for eight years a member of the finance com- mittee of the synod. At the last general con- ference, in 1909, he was elected a member of the committee for assisting superannuated ministers and widows and orphans. For thir- teen years he was president of the German Orphan Home at Hoyleton, Illinois.
He was married, July 24, 1874, to Miss Augusta Luessenhop. She was born at Addi- son, Illinois, in 1853, daughter of August and Wilhelmina (Wimmer) Luessenhop, natives of Hanover who immigrated to America about 1849. Her father was a successful and cul- tured teacher both in literary branches and in
music, and served as church organist in the different localities where he resided. Mrs. Dinkmeier had a brother. Adolph, and a sis- ter, Herminie, who is the wife of Rev. Hat- tendorf, pastor of Emmanuel's Evangelical church of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Dinkmeier began their wedded life at St. Charles. She was not only a capable home maker, but proved herself invaluable in aiding him in his work, thus doubling the in- fluence of his labors. She was the mother of seven children: Bertha, who died at the age of one year; Emma, Ottilie, Clara, Laura, Theodora, and Henry. All the children that grew up were well educated, and attended the schools of Carlinville and Alhambra. Emma is the wife of Rev. Alfred Meyer, pastor of St. John's German church of Chicago, and their four children are, Louise Hellmuth, Gertrude and Paul. Otillie, who attended the Carlinville high school, fitted herself for teach- ing, and was assistant teacher to her father in the Alhambra parochial school and was also church organist and leader of the choir. Clara is a successful teacher at Collinsville, where she began in 1910. The daughter Laura was likewise a teacher, being in the Alhambra and Big Rock schools, and was about to take up work at Godfrey when failing health com- pelled her to resign. She had been a student. at Normal, Illinois, and Valparaiso, Indiana. Her helpful Christian life ended October 2, 1910, mourned by a large circle of those who had known and been benefited by her influence. Theodora, who studied at Valparaiso and at Normal, taught in the West School (District No. 307) in 1911 and is now one of the faculty of the Granite City schools. The son Henry is a graduate in the class of 1911 from Elmhurst College, being one of the two students who re- ceived highest honors in a class of hard-work- ing young men, and he finished the five-year course in four years. In preparation for the ministry he follows the leading of his father and entered the German Evangelical Eden College of Wellston, Missouri.
In the profitable, honorable careers of his children, Rev. Dinkmeier feels his own ser- vices for humanity are continued, and that his activities do not cease with his own retire- ment. In the school and church his work has been well done. His many services have no measure in the material coinage of the world, but have entered into the life and character of living persons. As these influences are des- tined to continue, it is fitting to give this per- manent form to the salient facts of his career,
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and it is by the request of friends and parish- ioners that he has furnished the notes for this sketch.
DOMINANT NINTH CHORAL SOCIETY. The Dominant Ninth Choral Society, Alton's most important musical organization, is now in the twentieth years of its existence. Through this chorus many of the greatest oratorios and other masterpieces have been interpreted in concerts which each year are the crowning fea- tures of the city's musical season. But the larger function of the society lies in the con- centration of musical effort which precedes the annual programs. The Dominant Ninth rep- resents the artistic ideals of the city, and its work means a constant encouragement and up- lift for the best music in this city.
In 1885 MIrs. C. B. Rohland and Mrs. Crowe organized the Mendelssohn Society in Alton. Under its auspices recitals were undertaken that brought artists to the city and promoted musical taste. Then a few years later Mrs. Rohland formed a ladies' chorus which later amalgamated with the Verdi male chorus, also founded by Mrs. Rohland. This society re- tained the name of the Dominant Ninth, and has since devoted itself to giving oratorios, taking the lead as the principal organization of the kind, and through it Alton enjoyed the first hearings of great choral works. During its nineteen years of work to the close of the sea- son in 1911, the society performed many nota- ble compositions, including the following : The Elijah oratorio; Hymn of Praise; Gou- nod's Redemption, Gallia, De Profundis, and Messe Solenelle in G; Brahm's Rhapsody ; Goring Thomas' Swan and Skylark; Rossini's Stabat Mater ; Elgar's Madrigals and the finale of Gerontius ; Listz's 13th and 137th Psalms ; Hayden's Creation ; and Coleridge-Taylor's Hiawatha Trilogy, given in March, 191I.
Among the former presidents of the Domi- nant Ninth have been : Mrs. J. M. Ryrie, Mrs. E. M. Bowman, Mrs. J. Wead, Mrs. Carl Wuerker. The present officers of the society are: Mrs. G. A. Sauvage, president ; Mrs. C. A. Wuerker, honorary vice president ; Mrs. B. C. Richardson, first vice president ; Mrs. Ed- ward Ingham, second vice president; Miss Minnie M. Boals, third vice president ; Mrs. G. F. Crowe, secretary; L. A. Schlafly, treas- urer; and Mrs. C. B. Rohland, director. Through the public spirit of the art-loving people of Alton this society has been enabled to flourish.
SHADRACH RODNEY DOLBEE, one of Alton's early citizens, was for a number of years one
of the proprietors of the Telegraph. He was a skillful old-time printer, a successful publisher, and for over thirty years an influential resi- dent of this city.
He was associated with Judge Baillache in the Telegraph from May, 1838, to January, 1850. Before coming to Alton he lived in Columbus, Ohio, and was in the employ of Judge Baillache, who was Ohio state printer. After the latter moved to Alton, Mr. Dolbee remained to close up the business, and then ar- rived in Alton six months before the Lovejoy tragedy. After leaving the Telegraph he en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business, the firm being Kellenberger & Dolbec. How- ever, when the Telegraph had a job of compo- sition requiring special care, such as tax lists, Mr. Dolbee was frequently called in to set it
Mr. Dolbee died on January 17, 1869. Ile was one of the leading laymen of the Episco- pal church in the state, and was one of the most generous supporters of St. Paul's church, of which he was senior warden many years. In politics he was a Whig and Republican.
He was twice married, his first wife being Eliza Parsons. On September 8, 1850, he married Hannah Elizabeth Pettingell, who was the mother of their six children, namely : Blanche Owen, who died October 19, 1910, was the wife of H. C. Cole, of Chester, Illi- nois; Alfred Somers, who died in infancy; Cora, Mrs. Charles B. Rohland; Florence, chief librarian of the Hayner Memorial Li- brary of Alton since its founding ; William A., a business man of Alton ; and Harriet Cooper, assistant librarian.
Mrs. Dolbee, their mother, who died at Al- ton, March 26, 1899, represented one of the oldest families of New England. Richard Pet- tingell, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1620, and was a resident of Salem, Massachusetts, before 1641. Matthew, his son, was born in Massachusetts in 1648, and from him the descent passes through Matthew (2), Abraham, Richard, to Edward, of Revo- lutionary fame. The latter was a native of Maine, and owned a large estate now partly covered by the city of Bath, and a portion of which remained in the family until 1860, Mrs. Dolbee having been born there in 1820. The Pettingells bought this land in 1661, and a block house was built upon it for protection against the Indians. Edward Pettingell mar- ried Elizabeth Clark, who was a direct de- scendant of the noble Somers family of Eng- land.
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Somers Pettingell, a son of Edward, was born in 1756, and married a daughter of Wil- liam and Rachel Swanton, the former being a lieutenant in the American army during the Revolution.
Somers (2), a son of the above, was born at Bath, September 16, 1788, and died in 1846. He was the father of Hannah Elizabeth, who married Mr. Dolbee.
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