USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 39
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Mrs. Hastings' paternal grandfather, James Brown, was one of the oldest, most respected residents of Maryland. Born in New Hamp- shire, where he received his educational train-
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ing, when a young man he started west on horseback with the intention of making his fortune. When he had arrived at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, he met a Mr. Brookhart, of Boonsboro, to whom the young man con- fided his aspirations. Mr. Brookhart, attracted by the personality of the youth, persuaded him to make Maryland the scene of his en- deavors, and in consequence Mr. Brown taught school in Boonsboro, Maryland, for twenty-five years and resided in Clearspring for over fifty years. Many men who have become prominent in the history of Maryland owe their early education to Mr. Brown's excellent methods of instruction. Among his pupils were the Hon. George French and ex- Senator William T. Hamilton. Mr. Brown's talents were not simply in the pedagogical line, but he was also a successful surveyor, neat and accurate in his work, and for a number of terms he was the able incumbent of the office of county surveyor in Maryland. He had very decided political views, without be- ing at all bigotted, and tendered his allegiance to the Republican party. His wife was a Miss Mowry before her marriage, and by this union became the parents of three sons, -- Charles E., William D. and Z. Taylor. Mr. Brown was possessed of brilliancy of mind and virtues of character, and was regarded as a pattern worthy of emulation.
Mrs. Brown, with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, reside on the homestead of two hundred acres, situated in section 2, Alhambra township. Mr. Hastings success- fully superintends the management of the farm, his well-tilled fields showing his indus- try and his careful planning, for he leaves nothing to arrange itself in a haphazard fash- ion. His political sympathies are with the Democrats. Mrs. Hastings is a very enter- taining and charming woman, devoted to her husband, her children and her mother. Mrs. Brown belongs to the Christian church, and was formerly a member of the church at Silver Creek. She is one of those generous hearted, whole-souled women whose life com- mands the respect of the members of the com- munity in which she has so long resided.
ERNST DOERPER. Although Ernst Doerper, who has lived in Madison county for twenty years, has made his presence felt, he has shown that his advent has been of benefit to the county and state. His career has been a varied one and he has traveled extensively, but his whole life has been without reproach. His industry and perseverance, combined with
his natural abilities, have given him a position of independence.
He was born in Germany, August 19, 1864, a son of William and Minnie Doerper, both natives of Germany. Mrs. William Doerper died in 1874, and the father is still living in Germany. When Ernst was ten years old his mother died and he left home and entered his uncle's family. He received the best of care, and he went to the public schools until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed to a baker. He served his full time, but when he was nearly eighteen he left Germany and came to the United States. In the spring of 1882 he landed in New York. He sought em- ployment in the bakery trade, but could not obtain any, so he got a job as a fisherman and continued in this life for two years. In 1884 he came to St. Louis, Missouri, and worked as a steam fitter on passenger coaches for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He remained with the railroad company for two years and in 1886 he returned to New York and went back to his fisherman's life. He did not, however, remain long in this occupation, but looked about him for some other work. He had a natural talent for machinery and mechanical work of all kinds and he worked for a short time as a machinist at Meriden, Connecticut. After he came to America his expenses had been small and his wages had been pretty good, so that he was able to save some money. In May, 1887, he returned to his native country for a short visit. On his return to America he made up his mind that he would like to live in St. Louis and gain some permanent employ- ment. He got a position as clerk in a feed store and held this position for five years. He then received an offer to become the manager of the Anheuser Busch Brewing Association's east side branch in St. Louis. This was a great advancement for him and he accepted the honor. That he filled the position to the emi- nent satisfaction of both sides is evidenced by the fact that he stayed with them for nineteen years in this same capacity. On January I, 1905, he purchased one hundred and seventy- three acres of land in Edwardsville township, two and a half miles from the city, and there he lives, managing his own farm and engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He owns other property besides his farm and he finds enough to do in looking after his holdings.
In June, 1891, while he was working in the feed store, he married Meta Eng, who was born and educated in St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Doerper have two children, Edna, born March,
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1897, and Esther, born January 29, 1902. They were both born in St. Louis and went to school there. They have now entered the public school of Edwardsville.
Mr. Doerper is a member of Triple Lodge, No. 835, of Venice, Illinois, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of the Granite City Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. the Belleville Knights Templars and also of Molah Temple. Mr. Doerper is a Republican and he is very much interested in national af- fairs and has already evinced an interest in Madison county and a desire for its growth and betterment in every way. Ile served as city treasurer of Madison county for seven years. A man who has made such a success of life as has Mr. Doerper cannot fail to be a power in the community in which he now finds himself.
CAPTAIN HENRY LEYHE. Conspicuous among the brainy and enterprising men who have contributed the most largely towards the industrial development of Alton is Captain Henry Leyhe, who, in 1861, a full half a cen- tury ago, organized the Eagle Packet Com- pany, which under his judicious management has built many of the finest boats used in river traffic. Although now seventy-three years old, he is hale and hearty, possessing the men- tal vigor and physical manhood of a man many years younger, and can show a record for long, energetically, and usefully continued industry and success such as few men in city, county or state can equal. A native of Ger- many, he was born in September, 1838, in Hessen-Darmstadt, which was the birthplace of his father, Henri Leyhe, and where his paternal grandparents were life-long resi- dents.
Spending his early life in his native vil- lage, Henry Leyhe served an apprenticeship at the millwright's trade, and there subsequently built and operated a mill. In 1847, accom- panied by his family, he came to the United States, making the voyage in a sailing vessel and landing at New Orleans in August, hav- ing been on the water two months. Making his way to Saint Louis, where many of his countrymen were living, he established him- self as a builder and contractor, and after the great fire of 1849 carried on an extensive busi- ness. Moving from there to Warsaw, Illi- nois, in 1860, he was there successfully engaged in the manufacture of lumber for many years, when, having acquired a hand- some competency, he purchased a home on the outskirts of the town, and there resided
until his death, at the venerable age of ninety- six years. He married Katherine Kraushaar, who was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Gerniany. She died at the age of eighty-one years.
Captain Henry Leyhe was educated in the public schools of Saint Louis and Warsaw, and as a youth began assisting his father in the mill, being with him in various capacities until twenty years of age, when he began his active career as a boatman, accepting a position as engineer on a river steamer. In 1861 Captain Leyhe organized the Eagle Packet Company, of Alton, of which he has since been general manager and the leading spirit in promoting its success. In 1874 the company was incor- porated, with John R. Williams, of Warsaw, Illinois, as president. The company has fur- nished many of the boats which have been used on the river within the past fifty years, the first one having been the "Young Eagle," built in 1861, and used between Warsaw, Alex- ander and Keokuk. In 1862 the company built the "Eagle," and in 1864 constructed the "Grey Eagle," which plied between Quincy and Keokuk. In 1869 the "Bald Eagle," run- ning between Saint Louis and Alton, was built, and in 1873 the "Spread Eagle" was made to take the place of the "Grey Eagle," which was transferred to the Illinois river and plied between Peoria and La Salle. Other boats of note which have been built and oper- ated by the Eagle Packet Company are the "Grey Eagle," (second) for Illinois river traf- fic ; the "War Eagle," for the Saint Louis and Cape Girardeau trade; and the well-known excursion steamer "Alton," which took a dis- tinguished party, including Professor L. B. Hill, of Chicago, to the Chautauqua in the month of June, 1911. In August, 1911, the "Spread Eagle," (third) was completed, and plies the river between Alton and Saint Louis.
Captain Leyhe married, in 1864, Rosa Smith. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leyhe, namely: Anna, wife of Sid- ney B. Baker; Ida; Frank, who died in the eighteenth year of his age; and Harry, who married Estelle Hull. Captain Leyhe's home, which is a substantial stone structure, is one of the most beautiful and attractive in the city, and it is ever open to his large circle of friends and acquaintances, being a typical abode of peace. prosperity and hospitality.
MALLORY L. BURROUGHIS, of the well-known law firm of Warnock, Williamson & Bur- roughs, was born at Tompkinsville, Maryland, March 26, 1884, being the youngest of seven sons. His father, William McK. Burroughs,
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was a prosperous farmer and tobacco planter of Charles county. He married Sarah Hay- den, and both are still living on the Maryland homestead. For several generations the fam- ily have been prominent in Maryland, and sev- eral of its related members are conspicious in Madison county.
Mallory L. Burroughs received his early ed- ucation from private tutors, and in 1900 en- tered St. John's College, at Annapolis, where he graduated in 1904 with the degree of A. B. Coming west, he taught school for a time in Collinsville, and then took up his law studies in the University of Michigan, graduating in 1908. He was admitted to the Illinois bar at Ottawa in February, 1908, and joined his brother in the firm of Warnock, Williamson & Burroughs in September, 1909.
Mr. Burroughs is a member of Delta Sigma Rho, an honorary literary fraternity, a mem- ber of the Episcopal church and a member of the County Bar Association.
WILLIAM NETZHAMMER, JR. A well-known and successful business man of Alton, Wil- liam Netzhammer, Jr., is one of the more prominent and popular German residents of this city, and is president of the German Bene- volent Society. A son of the late William' Netzhammer, Sr., he was born at Saint Louis, Missouri, in September, 1878.
William Netzhammer, Sr., was born in Baden, Germany, where his parents spent their entire lives, he being the only member of the family to leave the Fatherland. His father operated a brewery, and after he had com- pleted his early education he began learning the brewer's trade, working for his father un- til eighteen years old. Entering then the Ger- man Army, he served as a soldier from 1868 until 1871, participating in the Franco- Prussian war, which ended in victory for the Prussians. Leaving home in 1873, he immi- grated to the United States, and for awhile worked at his trade in Louisville, Kentucky, from there going to Saint Louis, Missouri, where he resided until 1882. Coming in that year to Alton, Illinois, he formed a partner- ship with Charles Shibi, and purchased the Bluff City Brewery. A year later he bought his partner's interest in the plant, and having become its sole proprietor operated it success- fully until his death, in December, 1908. He married Catherine Eck, who was born in Ger- many, the life-long home of her parents, and came to America as a young lady, and here married. Seven children were born into their
household, as follows : William, Minnie, Harry, Emil Henry, Rose, Ernest J. and Freda.
Laying a good foundation for his future education in the Alton schools William Netz- hammer, Jr., entered the Jones' Commercial College, in Saint Louis, and was there grad- uated in 1895. Entering then the employ of his father, he worked first in the office, and later in the brewery. Going to Chicago in 1899, Mr. Netzhammer took a course of study in the art of brewing at the Wahl & Henius Institute of Fermentology, being there gradu- ated with the class of 1900. On returning home he resumed work in the brewery, and since the death of his father has had entire control of the business, which he is managing in a thoroughly capable and efficient manner.
Politically Mr. Netzhammer is affiliated with the Democratic party, and has served in the City Council. He is a member of Alton Lodge, No. 746, B. P. O. E., and belongs to the Alton Turnverein and to the Concordia Turnverein.
FRED GUELTIG, of the firm of Gueltig & Hotz at Edwardsville, has been in the retail meat business at Edwardsville for the past fifteen years. His industry has brought him a substantial position among business men, and he is a good representative of the German- American citizenship of Madison county.
He was born in Germany, September 15, 1865, received his education there, and came to America in 1881. From New York he went to New Albany, Indiana, where he was em- ployed in a meat market three years, then at Louisville, Kentucky, two years, and was with a packing firm at St. Louis several years. In 1895 he came to Edwardsville. The firm of Gueltig & Hotz was formed in July, 1911, and it conducts one of the best patronized markets in the city. Mr. Gueltig also owns a farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres in this county, and has a comfortable residence in Edwardsville. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1886 he married Miss Ann Leonhardt. She is a native of Kentucky. They have one child, Annie Pauline.
MATHIAS LONG. Three miles west of Grant Fork, Alhambra township, is the well-kept, well-stocked and representative farm of Mathias Long, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of such fertile land as has made southern Illinois famous, tilled by such skilful hands as have advanced the state into the front
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rank of agricultural commonwealths. The proprietor of this typical country homestead is a native of Madison county, born in 1867, and is a son of Michael and Isabel (Donley) Long, natives respectively of the state of Pennsylvania and Ireland. He is the second eldest of their seven offspring, his brothers and sisters being Jane, Mary Ann, John, Theressa, Albert and Adolph, and all the children were educated in the Giger school.
Mathias Long took one of the most import- ant steps in his life, in 1894, when he married Miss Emma Hunsdeorfer, and commenced to lay the foundation of a home of his own. They were wedded in Highland, where his wife was born in 1872, a daughter of Antone and Rosa (Ubersax) Hunsdeorfer ; her father was a native of Belleville, Illinois, and her mother of the canton of Berne, Switzerland. They were also wedded in Highland, where the husband was a progressive farmer, and into their households and hearts came the lives of three sons and two daughters-Frank, Antone, Joseph, Rosa (who died in infancy), and Emma (Mrs. Mathias Long). The Huns- deorfer children were educated at Highland, where Joseph and Antone are now success- fully engaged in the baking business, while Frank is a well-to-do farmer of the county.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Long rented a farm near Edwardsville, Madi- son county, but after a time moved to Marine township. There they also rented a farm which they occupied for eleven years. At the end of this period of hard work, self-denial and persistent industry they were enabled to pur- chase a fine homestead of one hundred and twenty acres three miles west of Grant Fork, which is still occupied by a prosperous and happy household. The addition to the family circle which completes its unity is that of a son, Roy Long, born September 12, 1898, and now a fine energetic lad of twelve who is about to enter the eighth grade of the Wider Range public school.
But death and life run along in parallel tracks; for in 1909, within a period of four months, both of Mr. Long's parents passed to the great peaceful Beyond, the mother being the first to be called. They were kind Chris- tian people, beloved by their kindred and asso- ciates and honored by all who came within the influence of their lives.
Both of the sisters of Mr. Long married farmers-Theressa, Michael Sheyer, of Marine township, by whom she has had two children,
Edna and Wilbur; Mary Ann wedded Nicho- las Wildhaber, of the same township, and has become the mother of four boys-Nicholas, Albert, Johnnie and Elmer; and Jane mar- ried August Bircher, a farmer of Perron town- ship, and has borne him Oscar and Mary.
John Long married Amy Reynolds and is the father of Mamie, Chester and Melvin ; Al- bert married Maggie Prather and Adolph, by his union with Rosa Bausler, is also the father of a son, Adolph.
Of the Hunsdeorfer family, Frank married Christiana Merman, is a farmer of Leef town- ship and the father of five children-Albert, Theressa, Tony, Leo and Raymond. Antone, who married Mary Holzgan, is a baker of Highland, and has a family of four children- Rosa, Millie, Clydles and Arthur.
GEORGE W. CUTTER. Held in high esteem as a man of sterling integrity and worth, George W. Cutter, now living retired at Al- ton, was for over forty years in the employ of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company, as an engineer having had control of some of the finest trains sent out over that road. A native of Massachusetts, he was born February II, 1832, in Hatfield, Hampshire county, a son of Thomas Cutter. His paternal grandfather, James Cutter, was born and reared in Conway, Massachusetts, coming from English ances- try. He was for many years engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in his native town, but late in life moved to Hatfield, Massachusetts, where he spent his closing years. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Clark, six children were born, namely: Angeline, Thomas, Mary, Harriet, James and Sarah.
A native of Conway, Franklin county, Massachusetts, Thomas Cutter was brought up on a farm, and during his active career was engaged in mixed husbandry in Hatfield, Massachusetts, owning a good farm. He lived to the age of seventy-seven years, an honored and respected citizen. He married Vienna Mann, who was born at Richmond, New Hampshire, and was a double cousin of Presi- dent Garfield's mother. She died at the age of sixty-eight years, having reared six chil- dren, as follows : Emeline, George W., Alonzo, Calista, Ellen and Florence, and of these George W. and Florence are the ones now liv- ing. Mary Lyon, the noted educator, was a cousin of Thomas Cutter.
Growing up on the home farm, George W. Cutter was educated in the district school, in the meantime acquiring a good knowledge of
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Metafor
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
agriculture while helping his father in the labors incidental to agricultural pursuits. At the age of eighteen years, his father having given him his time, he went to New Hamp- shire in search of congenial employment, and found a job at firing on the Cheshire Railroad, which extended from Bellows Falls, Vermont, to Fitchburg, Massachuetts, a distance of sixty- five miles. At that time there were many short, independent railways in the country, and very few trunk lines. Mr. Cutter fired on that line for about a year, and then resigned to accept a position as engineer on the railroad extending from Bellows Falls to Windsor, it being known as the Sullivan line. Two years later he came westward, and for a year was engineer on the Great Western Railroad, his run being from Niagara Falls to Detroit. He was subsequently an engineer on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway until 1857, his home in the meanwhile being at Adrian, Michigan. Coming in that year to Al- ton, Illinois, Mr. Cutter secured a position as engineer on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, with which he was subsequently connected for forty years, being a most able and faithful employe and eminently trustworthy in any ca- pacity in which the company placed him. Dur- ing the time that he was so employed, he made very fortunate investments, and is now living retired from active pursuits, enjoying a well deserved reward.
Mr. Cutter married, in 1854, Mary Kings- bury, who was born August 24, 1834, in Keene, New Hampshire, which was the birthplace of her father, Cyrus Kingsbury. Her grand- parents, Nathaniel and Rebecca (Bigelow) Kingsbury, were both lifelong residents of Keene. Cyrus Kingsbury was engaged in gen- eral farming in Keene during his active life. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Ol- cott, also spent her entire life in Keene.
Mr. and Mrs. Cutter are the parents of two children, namely: Roscoe and Calista. Ros- coe, a dry goods merchant in Saint Louis, mar- ried Emma Carter, and they have reared two children, Jessie and Herbert. Jessie, wife of Walter Lyon, has one son, James Roscoe Lyon. Calista Cutter married Israel Irwin, of Springfield, and they have one son, Joseph Ir- win. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Cutter are valued members of the Baptist church. Fra- ternally Mr. Cutter is a member of Piasa Lodge, No. 27, A. F. & A. M .; of Alton Chap- ter, R. A. M .; of Belvidere Commandery, K. T .; of Mulah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. ; and
is an honorary member of Oriental Consistory, of Chicago.
REV. JOSEPH DANIEL METZLER, pastor of St. Boniface Catholic church at Edwardsville, is one of the most scholarly and able repre- sentatives of his church in Madison county. He has been associated with the church at Ed- wardsville fifteen years, the date of his ap- pointment being July 15, 1896, and the prog- ress and welfare of the institution and its people have been well cared for. St. Boniface parish consists of two hundred families, with a parochial school of one hundred and forty students and four teachers. The church edi- fice was erected in 1869, at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars, and still furnishes a com- fortable home for the worshippers within its walls.
Father Metzler was born in Germany, Sep- tember 7, 1854, a son of Anton and Clara (Schroeder) Metzler. Beginning his educa- tion in the common schools of his birthplace, he continued his studies at Berlin and other noted German schools, graduated from the university at Wurzburg, Bavaria, and was also a student in an institution in Louvain, Bel- gium.
When still a youth he immigrated to Amer- ica, locating at Cincinnati. He was prepared for his vocation in St. Mary's of the West Seminary, Ohio, and later at St. Francis Sem- inary, in Wisconsin. On May 19, 1878, he was ordained by Bishop Baltes of the Alton Cathedral. His first pastorate was at Brigh- ton, where he remained from November, 1878, to July, 1896. Soon afterward he was ap- pointed to St. Boniface.
THOMAS J. LONG. One of those thriving and well-managed concerns which add in ma- terial fashion to the general prosperity and commercial prestige of the city is that of Long & Flynn, dealers in groceries, of which firm Mr. Thomas J. Long is a member. In the legitimate channels of trade he has won the success which always crowns well directed labor, sound judgment and untiring persever- ance, and at the same time he has concerned himself with the affairs of the community in an admirably public-spirited manner. Mr. Long is a native son of Edwardsville and is very loyal to the community, which is dear to him with all the happiest and most important associations of life. The date of his nativity was October 18, 1861, and his parents were George and Johanna Long.
Thomas J. Long was educated in the public schools of Edwardsville and also attended the
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parochial schools of the city. Family fortunes being at low ebb, he found it necessary to leave school at the age of twelve years and to assume his share of the family responsibilities. He first engaged as a delivery boy in a gro- cery at ten dollars a month, engaging with Gustave Schwartz, a prominent Ed- wardsville grocer with whom he remained for two years. This modest position was no doubt instrumental in determining his subse- quent career, for ever since that time he has been identified with the grocery business. Af- ter leaving the employ of Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Long became an assistant to Thomas C. Clarke, another grocer, at a salary of thirteen dollars a month, and his experiences with that excellent gentleman were of the most helpful and satisfactory sort. From Mr. Clarke he learned the business in all its details and his thorough training formed the foundation of his own success. His patron and employer was a thorough business man and one with whom that term was not incompatible with the strictest integrity. Mr. Long remained in this association for five years and then. although scarcely twenty years of age, decided to form a partnership with Charles Hack in the gro- cery business. The two purchased Mr. Clarke's business and continued in business together for five years, at the end of which time Mr. Long sold out to his partner. In 1887 he formed his present business association with J. E. Flynn, under the firm name of Long & Flynn. Their business has experienced a steady growth and is one of the best in its line in Madison county. They are located in their own building on Main street, and are housed in a large and commodious store building, two stories high and with a basement. The firm of Long & Flynn has existed for twenty-five years and prosperity has been their share in the quarter century of their existence, the same being the logical result of their splendid meth- ods, the obliging spirit ever manifested and the excellence of their goods. They deal in potatoes on a particularly large scale, selling to large buyers and shippers.
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