USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 36
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"All who were associated with him in busi- ness or financial matters recognized his abso- lute integrity, as well as his fairness and lib- erality in judging the other side than his own of the question under consideration. The army of men employed in his many manufacturing interests looked on him not as a moneyed an- tagonist, but as a fair-minded judge of their interests as well as of his own; and their wives and children knew him as a benefactor and steadfast friend.
"But no person knew the sum of his chari- ties, the whole count of his good deeds. To churches of all denominations he was an open- handed giver. Any congregation that wished to establish itself in Granite City had but to ask, and not only was a site given, but a con- tribution sent to the building fund. The Nied- ringhaus Memorial was a monument to a dead son, a practical help to the living in remem- brance of the dead; a hospital with its equip- ment and maintenance, another of his offer- ings to those whom he considered as his charges. A full list will never be written, for, except by accident, not even to those nearest to him did he acknowledge the full count.
' "His duty to his neighbor was his practical religion, as his duty to God was his ethical religion; both sweet to him because they were duties. His was the sympathy of real wis- dom, the gentleness of true force, the full value of a life well lived from day to day."
GEORGE W. NIEDRINGHAUS. A splendid type of successful business man is George W. Niedringhaus, who may well be termed one of the captains of industry in that he is capably controlling extensive and varied interests, his efforts in each direction culminating in success. St. Louis is proud to number him among her native sons. His birth occurred there May 20, 1864, his parents being William F. and Mary (Bittner) Niedringhaus.
It has been justly said that it is more difficult for the son of a successful man to make for himself a name and place in the world than he who starts out unknown and unheralded. The reason for this is obvious. In the first place, the son of a successful man lacks the stimulus of necessity and in the second place, he must not only stand comparison with his capable and prosperous forebear, but overcome the oftimes silent but always prevalent feeling of oppression that a certain class of workingmen feel towards those whom fortune seems to have favored. While George W. Niedring- haus had the benefit of his father's experience and established success, he demonstrated his own power and capability in the business world by his control of important interests to which have been attached the many complexities that always arise in connection with the manage- ment of extensive business concerns in this age where competition is rife and where only forceful character and a trained business in- tellect can achieve solid success.
His preparation for life's practical and re- sponsible duties was made in the public schools, in the Smith Academy, St. Louis, and in Wil- liston Seminary of Massachusetts. He left the last-named institution in his nineteenth year and returned home to join his father, William F. Niedringhaus, in his manufacturing estab- lishment. He was not at once given a position of executive control, but began work in the mechanical department and familiarized him- self with the processes of manufacture. His thorough mastery of the business in every de- tail has constituted the basis of his steady ad- vancement in manufacturing circles. In 1889 he was made the general superintendent of the old St. Louis Stamping Company, at that time located in St. Louis; and on the founding of Granite City, in 1896, by his father, William F. Niedringhaus, and uncle, F. G. Niedring- haus, where the works were removed, he was placed directly in charge of the enlarged plant there and also in active control of the Nied- ringhaus real estate interests. At the present
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time he is vice-president and a director in the National Enameling & Stamping Company, which company absorbed the old St. Louis Stamping Company, and is directly in charge of the steel mills and furnaces of that com- pany located in Granite City-employing at the present time thirty-five hundred hands. He was one of the founders of the American Steel Foundry and the Commonwealth Steel Company, both located in Granite City,-at the present time employing four thousand hands, -and which have been operated successfully since their organization some eight years ago. He is also president of the Granite City Gas, Light & Fuel Company and president of the Granite City National Bank since its organi- zation in 1903.
On the 12th of November, 1889, Mr. Nied- ringhaus was married to Miss Fanita Hay- ward, and they have five sons: Hayward, Marion, and Francis, attending Smith's Acad- emy; and Erwin and George, Jr., who are twins. The summer residence of the family is situated at Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan, while their St. Louis home is a handsome man- sion at 3745 Lindell boulevard.
In early manhood Mr. Niedringhaus was a member of the old Cadets. His political al- legiance has always been given to the Repub- lican party, while in his social relations he is connected with the St. Louis, Racquet, Coun- try and Florissant Valley Club. Mr. Niedring- haus is a Methodist ; a trustee of the Niedring- haus Memorial Church, Granite City, Illinois, and his entire life has been in conformity with his professions. His career, has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transactions according to the strictest princi- ples of honor and industry. His devotion to the public good is not questioned and arises from a sincere interest in the welfare of his fellowmen. What the world needs is such men-men capable of managing extensive, gi- gantic commercial and industrial concerns and of conducting business on terms that are fair alike to employer and employe-men of gen- uine worth, of unquestioned integrity and honor-and then the question of the oppres- sion of the capitalists and the resistance and violence of the laborers will be forever at rest.
WILLIAM H. SHAFFER, for many years ac- tively identified with the agricultural interests of the county, and who has resided in Edwards- ville since 1899, was born on a farm two miles south of the county seat, December 26, 1841.
The family have been well known citizens of Madison county since pioneer times. His grandparents were Daniel and Eva Shaffer, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father was the late Joseph Shaffer, who was born in Penn- sylvania in 1806, at the age of twelve was taken to Ohio and later began his career on a farm in this county. His first place was a small farm of forty acres, but his thrift and industry increased it to three hundred and twenty acres, and for many years he was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser and also owned and operated a sawmill. He was twice married, and his first wife was Lucy L. Randle, granddaughter of Richard Randle, whose name belongs among the first settlers of Edwards- ville and who was a circuit rider and class leader of pioneer Methodists of the county. Of the eleven children of this marriage, six are living: William H .; George D .; Joseph D .; Lucy Ann, the wife of William Kerr; Mary E., wife of John D. Wallace; Jane, de- ceased; Sarah C., wife of W. J. Robinson ; Malvina F., deceased, married B. C. Clawson ; Richard R., deceased; and two children that died in infancy. His second wife was Polly Moore, who had three children-Mary, de- ceased, and Charles E. and Sophia B.
William H. Shaffer was educated in the country schools, attended an academy, and was a student at Shurtleff College two years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Eightieth Illinois Infantry, and served as a soldier to June 2, 1865, having participated in several of the noted battles of the west and being with the regiment in all its service. He re- turned from the war to take up farming, and after more than thirty years of active work retired in 1899.
He served as adjutant of his Grand Army post fourteen years. His first wife was Miss Belle B. Thompson, of Jersey county. She died in 1886, the mother of three children : Joseph H., in California ; Cleo F., and Isabelle B., who married J. H. Stephenson, of Omaha. In 1887 he married Mary E. Hadley.
ERNST H. HOSTO. The Hosto family has been settled in Madison county since the de- velopment of the country was in its early stages, and its individual members have been among the most energetic and prosperous in improving the land and bringing its resources to the highest point of productiveness. As citi- zens they have been substantial, public-spirited factors in their community, have supported church and school, and have stood for the best principles of American citizenship. In Alham-
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bra and Leef township their names are synonymous with material prosperity and pro- gressive enterprise.
Ernst H. Hosto, who represents the second generation in this county, is a successful farmer of Leef township, and was born in this township December 22, 1867. His par- ents were Ernst W. and Anna (Determann) Hosto, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they immigrated to America and were married in Alhambra township. They began life as renters. Frugal, industrious people, they soon acquired the means to buy eighty acres, and they kept on adding to their property until they owned four hundred and forty acres of fertile land in this county, and also bought a quarter section in Arkansas, which was given to one of the sons. The father's success was due to remarkable business ability and the genius of hard work. He came to America at the age of eighteen, the expenses of his journey having been borne by friends on this side and immediately on arriving he set to work to pay back this loan. His first under- taking was to master the English language. He and his wife experienced many of the dif- ficulties of the pioneer life, and during their earliest years they paid seventy-five cents a pound for coffee and sold their eggs for three cents a dozen. Their children were as fol- lows: William, Henry, Charles, Elizabeth, Mary, Sophia, Minnie and Ernst. The par- ents took pains to educate them by sending them to the Gehrig district school and the Ger- man school of Alhambra and instilled in them the principles of honor and industry.
The son, Ernst H., remained at home until 1888, when he married Miss Caroline Claus- ing. She was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, November 4, 1866. a daughter of Frederick and Katherine (Kamphoefener) Clausing, natives of Germany. The Clausing children were Henry, William, Edward, George, Alvena and Carolina. After the death of Mr. Clausing his widow married Herman Fowler, and their children were Amy, Ida and Herman.
After their marriage Mr. Hosto and wife began on a rented farm in Leef township, and continued as renters for about ten years. His father then gave him forty acres three miles east of Alhambra, and by the purchase of eighty acres he has acquired a fine homestead. The original farm had been under plow but had no other improvements, and his present estate is the reward of the industry and good management of himself and wife. They
erected a comfortable and attractive two-story farm residence, with commodious farm build- ings, planted fruit and shade trees, and today theirs is considered one of the best country homes in the township.
Their home has been blessed with nine chil- dren, three of whom, Oliver, Leonard and Earl, died young, and the others are: Benja- min, Arnold, Leo, Alvin, Irene and Ira, all of whom have attended the Rockwell school. The daughter Irene is a music student of Miss Ruby Rockwell, of Leef township.
Mr. Hosto was elected and served for three years as a school director, and has always been a willing worker for the best interests of this community. He and his wife are members of the Alhambra German Evangelical church and among the liberal supporters of that prosperous congregation. His political affiliations have been with the Republican party. The family enjoy a pleasant home life, are good neighbors, and command and de- serve the esteem and confidence of the entire community.
FRANK P. HEARNE. A prominent business man of Alton, Illinois, Frank P. Hearne holds a high position among the more valued and highly esteemed citizens of his community, his influence for good being recognized and appre- ciated. A native of Missouri, he was born near Saint Joseph, coming from English ances- try. He is a descendant in the seventh genera- tion from the immigrant ancestor, his lineage being thus traced: William, Thomas, Ebene- zer, Clement, Cannon, Franklin P. and Frank P.
William Hearne, born near London, Eng- land, in 1627, became active in military cir- cles, and subsequently commanded a company in Cromwell's army. After the Restoration, he fled from England to America and settled in Maryland, where his death occurred in 1691. His son, Thomas Hearne, was the father of Ebenezer Hearne, who was born in May, 1717, and died in 1785. Clement Hearne married, in 1787, Keziah Cannon, a daughter of Joseph Cannon, of Little Creek, a hundred in Kent county, Delaware. In 1798 he moved with his family to Kentucky, becoming a pio- neer of Bourbon county, where both he and his wife died.
Cannon Hearne was born September 30, 1798, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he was brought up and educated. He learned the trade of a millwright, but never followed it to any extent, becoming instead a dealer in cat- tle, mules and hogs, buying in Kentucky and
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selling in the Southern markets, continuing thus employed until his death, in 1839. He married Sally Owen, who was born in Ken- tucky in 1803, and spent her entire life in her native state.
Franklin P. Hearne was born and bred in Bourbon county, Kentucky. Going by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Saint Louis in 1848, he resided there three years, in 1851 removing to Brunswick, Missouri, where for a time he was engaged in the lumber busi- ness. He subsequently lived in northwestern Missouri until 1865, when he took up his resi- dence in Hannibal, Missouri. From 1880 until 1892 he resided at Little Rock, Arkansas, where he continued business as a lumberman. From there he removed to Saint Louis, where, three years later, in 1895, his death occurred. His first wife, the mother of Frank P. Hearne, was Mary Ellen Given. She was born in Virginia, a daughter of Thomas Given, who migrated from that state to Missouri in pioneer days, took up land, and was subse- quently one of the most extensive agricultur- ists of the state, operating his land with slave labor. She died in 1864.
Spending his youthful days in Hannibal, Missouri, Frank P. Hearne was educated in the public schools of that place. At the age of seventeen, lured by a daring and venturesome spirit, he joined a company bound for Cali- fornia, and with his companions journeyed across the plains and over the mountains with a mule train, reaching his point of destination at the end of three months. Locating in Co- lusa county, California, Mr. Hearne was there variously employed for two years, when he re- turned home, the journey eastward by railway being much quicker than the overland trip westward. Joining his father, he engaged in the lumber business in Arkansas, remaining in that state until 1894, when he removed to Saint Louis, Missouri. From there Mr. Hearne came to Alton, which has since been his place of residence, although his business headquarters are still in Saint Louis. He makes a specialty of buying standing lumber, and contracting with different railroad com- panies for ties and other lumber, and is carry- ing on a substantial and extensive business in that branch of industry.
Mr. Hearne married, in 1889, Elizabeth El- len Hill, who was born in the northeastern part of Missouri, near Keokuk, a daughter of G. W. and Susan (Sinclair) Hill. Three chil-
dren have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hearne, namely: William, who was graduated from the Alton High School with the class of 1911 ; James ; and Susan.
Fraternally Mr. Hearne is a member of Piasa Lodge, No. 27, A. F. & A. M. ; of Whit- field Chapter, No. . 4, R. A. M., of Camden, Arkansas; of Belvidere Commandery, K. T .; and a member of Medinah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and of Oriental Consistory, of Chi- cago. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hearne are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Hearne belongs to the Alton Young Men's Christian Association, of which he has been president during the past five years.
WILLIAM S. HORTON. One of the repre- sentative citizens of the village of Livingston in Olive township is William S. Horton, the police magistrate and notary public. He has been identified with this thriving little com- munity some years, and a carpenter and builder by trade he has erected some of the houses which comprise this village. Mr. Hor- ton was born in Calhoun county, Illinois, Sep- tember 13, 1873, his parents being William J. Horton and Minerva L. Horton. His mother is still living and now resides in Alton, Illi- nois. His father was born in New York state and came to Calhoun county when a boy, and in the year 1865 he went to California where he became a gold miner. He returned to Cal- houn county in 1867 where he and Minerva L. Swift were married and four children were born to them as follows : The oldest, Mrs. Minnie Russell of Edwardsville; William S. Horton of Livingston; Charles E. Horton ; and the baby. Mrs. Josephine McKiney, of East Alton, Illinois. Charles met his death in the coal mine at Livingston, Illinois in 1906.
William S. Horton was reared in Calhoun county, where he obtained a common school education. He began his career by working on a farm in the summer and in the mines in the winter. He later learned the carpenter trade and has been engaged in that occupation for a number of years. He is interested in real estate in Madison county, and is a pros- perous and active citizen. He is a competent and popular official. He was elected on an independent ticket and his term will expire in the year 1913. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is past prophet of the Improved Order of Red Men. Politically he supports the Socialist party. Mr. Horton married, in 1905, Miss Alice Derwin,
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of Lincoln county, Missouri. They have two children, Reginald, aged nine, and Beulah, aged six.
JOHN M. RINKEL is one of the successful farmers in Madison county, where he has maintained his residence for a period of thirty- seven years-his entire life, and that he has attained a high standing in the community is the result of his own efforts. There is a deep satisfaction in the thought that everything a man possesses is the result of his own work and planning, and such satisfaction Mr. Rin- kel is justified in feeling.
On the first day of April, 1874, John M. Rinkel was born on a farm near Carpenter, Illinois. His parents are Edward T. and Eve- line (Smith) Rinkel, the father a native of St. Louis, Missouri, while the mother haled from Germany. After their marriage they located on a farm in Madison county, where they reared their family of eight children and are now living a retired life at Edwardsville, Illi- nois, enjoying the prosperity of their children and devoted to the German Evangelical church, in whose faith both father and mother believe. The Rinkel children, whose names appear below, were all educated in the district school at Carpenter, --- Katie, married to Thomas Koch, resident of Canada and the mother of two children, Maud and George; Mary R., widow of John Miller, and mother of two children, Frank and Elizabeth, in Pin Oak township; T. E. and his wife, Luly (Dietz), residing in Haviland, Kansas, with their six children, --- Edward, Herbert, Charles, Oscar, Elmer and Lucy; Josephine, Mrs. C. Hosto, has two children, Elinor and Wilbur ; George, with his wife, Minnie (Feldmeyer) and their two sons, George and Clarence, resi- dents of Pin Oak township; Frank, married to Lottie Take, living at Pin Oak township; Walter, married to Augusta Wited, living at Carpenter; and John M., the subject of this biography.
After John M. Rinkel had concluded his educational training in the public schools at Carpenter he assisted his father with the farm work until the year 1900. At that time he left his boyhood home and commenced life on his own responsibilities. During the ensuing four years he rented successively several different farms, each one of which he was able to con- duct in a successful manner, on a paying basis. He thus accumulated sufficient money to pur- chase a tract of land ninety-seven acres in ex- tent, situated five miles northeast of Edwards-
ville, and there he and his wife are living to- day.
On St. Valentine's day, 1900, Mr. Rinkel was married to Miss Anna K. Conrad, born November 23, 1878, a daughter of William and Caroline (Henze) Conrad, the former a native of St. Louis and the latter of German birth. Mr. and Mrs. William Conrad were the parents of nine children, one of whom died in infancy, and four sons and four daugh- ters remain,-William, Minnie, Emma, John, Henry, Louise, Edward and Anna. The chil- dren all received their education in the public schools. William married Lena Becker and they now live at Marine with their family of four children. Minnie C. is married to Fred Becker, of Marine township, and they are the parents of six children,-Emma, Lena, Min- nie and Freddie (twins), Leonard and Mabel. Emma C. is the wife of William Becker, of Hamel township, and four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Becker, three sons and one daughter. The three sons-William, Eugene and Paul -- are all dead, while Helen remains to be the comfort of her parents. John C., married to Emma Shien, lives in Al- hambra township, and their only son, John, is deceased. Henry and Edward C. remain at home with their parents. Louise C. married Louis Miller, of Alhambra township.
Mr. and Mrs. Rinkel are both devout mem- bers of the German Evangelical church, the husband a communicant since his twelfth year. Mr. Rinkel is aligned as a Republican in poli- tics, but he does not blindly vote with the party to which he claims allegiance; he is broad in his views and he feels that the man who will do the best for the people is the one most de- serving of support. Mr. and Mrs. Rinkel are among the representative people of Hamil township, where they enjoy the esteem of their neighbors, who are of the general opinion that the couple are good, generous, hospitable and kind.
HENRY C. SQUIRE. A retired resident of Edwardsville, is one of the men whose labors have been directed to the development of Madison county's agricultural resources and who have won substantial rewards in this vo- cation.
He was born on a farm near Nameoki, June 26, 1842, and represents one of the oldest families in the county and state. His grand- father, William Squire, was born in England in 1770 and located in Illinois about the time this part of the great Northwest Territory
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was given a territorial form of government. At Kaskaskia, the old territorial capital, his son Samuel Squire was born in 1806. Samuel Squire, whose death occurred December 29, 1883, was for many years an influential citi- zen of this county. He served fifty-five years as justice of the peace and for thirteen years was one of the county commissioners. His first wife was Janet Pierce, who became the mother of Mr. H. C. Squire. The Pierces lived in this part of Illinois before Madison county was organized, and she was born here in 1810. After her death he married Ada Ruggles.
After an education in the country schools Henry C. Squire engaged in farming, and gave to it such industry and business management as to insure success. Starting on a modest basis, he eventually acquired a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Choteau township, and this is today one of the most profitable es- tates in the county. He lived there until 1890, when he moved to Edwardsville and has since resided in his comfortable home on St. Louis street.
In politics a Republican, he has served his community as justice of the peace and as treas- urer of the school district. In citizenship as in business he has been progressive and inter- ested in the welfare of the county. Frater- nally he was formerly a member of the order of Odd Fellows.
On December 8, 1875, he married Miss Ethel K. Barnett, a daughter of K. T. O. Bar- nett, of one of the old Madison county fami- lies elsewhere mentioned in this work.
CHRISTIAN H. ZOLLER. The medical pro- fession of Madison county has always been noted for the ability and high standards of its members, and each city and town has had the benefit of the services of physicians of first rank. Among the leading representatives of the profession at Granite City is Dr. Christian H. Zoller, who is one of the younger members of the profession but also represents the high attainments of the modern profession. Dr. Zoller is a graduate of the College of Physi- cians & Surgeons of St. Louis with the class of 1903, and before beginning individual prac- tice served eighteen months on the staff of the Baptist Hospital. of that city. He was en- gaged in practice in St. Louis until 1907, when he located at Granite City, where he rapidly acquired prestige and a large patronage. Though a general practitioner, he makes a specialty of surgery, and has the reputation of being one of the most skilful surgeons of the
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