USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
Mr. Johnson married, in 1879, Mrs. Amanda (Gustin) Hovey, who was born in New York city, a daughter of John and Jane M. Gustin and who married for her first husband James B. Hovey. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one daughter, Nellie B. Hovey. Mrs. Johnson and her daughter are members of the Pres- byterian church.
GEORGE A. CRAIG, D. D. S. A well-known resident of Granite City and a representative of the dental profession, George A. Craig, D. D. S., is identified with one of the most important branches of surgery, important be- cause of its required application at some period of life by almost every member of the human family. A son of Daniel J. and Sarah E. (Kirkham) Craig, he was born August 2, 1877, in Springfield, Illinois. His father, who was for forty years in the employ of the Wa- bash Railroad Company, being in the bridge building department a large part of the time, and is now living retired from active business in Granite City.
Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the Springfield grammar and high schools, George A. Craig subse- quently worked for the Wabash Railway Com- pany for nine years. In 1898 he began to pre- pare himself for a professional career, and was graduated from the Indiana Dental Col- lege, at Indianapolis, Indiana, with the class of 1904. Locating immediately in Christian county, Illinois, Dr. Craig was there engaged in his profession for three years, having an of- fice at Morrisonville. The ensuing four years he was similarly employed at Madison. Madi- son county, but has since resided at Granite City, where he has won an extensive and lu-
828
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
crative patronage considering the compara- tively brief time that has elapsed since he opened his office at the corner of Nineteenth street and Broadway.
Dr. Craig married, in 1903, Eve T. Camp- bell, who was born in Morrisonville, Illinois, a daughter of J. W. Campbell. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 681, A. F. & A. M. ; and of Gethsemane Lodge, No. 587, K. of P. He also belongs to the Greek Letter fraternity of his alma mater, Zi Zi Phi.
J. G. D.VIBER. A pioneer farmer and stock- man of Alhambra township, J. G. Daiber is a fine representative citizen who has surmounted the drawbacks and hardships of the early days and, though modern and progressive in agri- cultural methods and equipments, he has re- tained the old-time love for the great out-of- doors world and is still as skillful with his gun and rod as when he often depended upon them for the family table. He is a native of Germany, born May 12, 1847, and is a son of Joseph and Josephine (Kissler) Daiber, who immigrated to America when the boy was but five years of age. The family first settled in St. Louis, subsequently locating at Highland and St. Jacob, this county. The children were educated at Marine and Highland. J. G. re- maining at home and assisting in the support of the family until he was prepared to estab- lish a household of his own; besides himself, the children were Joseph and Josephine.
Mr. Daiber's wife whom he married Octo- ber 10, 1869, was formerly Miss Mary A. Wetzel, who was born in St. Clair county February 15, 1847 (also her husband's year of birth), and is the daughter of John and Ger- trude (Tripple) Wetzel, both of whom were natives of Germany. The former at the age of twelve years, and the latter when fifteen, emigrated from their native land and, with more mature sons and daughters of Germany, sought better opportunities and prospects and realities in the western world. The Wetzel family located on a farm one mile northwest of the present site of Alhambra, the land upon which it now stands being at that time all prairie and scarcely disturbed by the husband- men. The parents and children, in the suc- ceeding years, experienced the many hardships of the pioneer times, were the stronger for their struggles and the more grateful when prosperity finally dawned and reached high noon.
For one year after his marriage J. G. Daiber
remained with his father, after which the young couple moved on a farm of eighty acres two miles south of Alhambra. This tract he purchased, erected a small residence, and made the property the nucleus of a fine homestead and valuable landed estate. He is now the owner of three hundred acres of thoroughly tilled land, with ample provision for crops and livestock, and a country home which is alto- gether a high credit to his skill and good man- agement, as well as a delight to the eye. He has also a fine orchard of six hundred apple trees, and is one of the most successful raisers and best judges of fruit in the county. In this happy culmination of his labors and foresight, Mr. Daiber accords his good and faithful wife a full share of honor, as is but her just desert. Mr. Daiber himself has had special marks of confidence from his fellows, who have honored him with public office; he has served as both supervisor and road commissioner, and such trusts have been performed with the same conscientiousness and ability as have been ap- plied to his private affairs. In politics he is a Democrat, and, like his good wife, is a stanch member of the St. Elizabeth Catholic church at Marine.
Mr. Daiber's remarkable energy has been largely maintained through his out-door activ- ities, and has always been classed as one of the most successful hunters of the state. In the earlier years of his residence in Madison county he supplied not only the family table with an abundance of game, but sold quantities in the St. Louis market. In the season he has often killed wagon loads of prairie chickens, and many a deer has fallen a victim to his unerring rifle. While he was struggling for a foothold in the new country, the proceeds of the chase formed an important item in his income. It has often been said of Mr. Daiber, also, that he can shoot rabbits when there are none, and the fish must be wise indeed which escapes his hook.
When the Daiber family first came to this county from Germany its landing place was New Orleans. A residence of twelve days there convinced the father and mother that a home further north was preferable to that locality, and the journey was continued to St. Louis and Highland, Missouri. Eventually the family homestead was fixed upon a farm, and the son, J. G., became a thorough-going agri- culturist. The father was seized with the gold fever in 1854, and decided to leave for Cali- fornia. His neighbors all came to bid him
J.F. Omuma -
829
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
good-by, but at the last moment he was per- suaded to remain, much to the relief of his family and probably to the permanent ad- vantage of his future and those who were de- pendent upon him.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Daiber bore fruit in the birth of eight bright, ener- getic children, who developed into useful, sub- stantial and moral members of the community. They were all educated in the Wider Range district school and the Marine High School. John Daiber married Miss Barbara Dartsupp, of St. Jacobs, is a farmer residing near the old family homestead, and himself the father of Agnes, Linda, Adolph, Francis, Alice, An- drew, Alma and Amanda. Joseph married Dina Goedell, operates a farm three miles from Marine, and has Clara, Victor, Gustave and Ella. Rosa became the wife of Charles Hotz, a Marine carpenter, and has borne him four children -- Alvin, Telka, Gertrude and Karl. By her marriage to Frank Strausburger, a printer of Peoria, Illinois, the second dauglı- ter, Clara, has become the mother of a son, Orville. Harry and Leo, the younger sons of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Daiber, remain on the family homestead, assisting in its operation and doing all in their power to bring happiness to the lives of their parents. Amanda, the youngest daughter, is now Mrs. Philip Talleur, her late husband having been a farmer on the Edwardsville road four miles southwest of Al- hambra. He died, after a lingering illness, on November 14, 1908, leaving to the bereaved widow the care of two sons, Herbert and Ir- vin. Mrs. Talleur was received with increased affection at the old home of her girlhood, and both the grandchildren and their mother are sources of deep comfort for Mr. and Mrs. Daiber.
A noteworthy addition to the family record was made in May, 1909, when Frank Daiber, another grandson (son of John Daiber), was united in marriage to Miss Emma Funk. He resides on his father's farm, one mile south of Alhambra, and has one child, Aaron.
J. FRED AMMANN is one of the most promi- nent florists in Illinois. His business was be- gun on a small scale in Edwardsville in 1892, his first greenhouse having only three thou- sand square feet. The extensive greenhouses which are now one of the features of Ed- wardsville's business resources have an area of forty thousand feet, and make one of the best plants in the state.
Mr. Ammann is vice president of the Na- tional Society of Florists and is director in the Floral Association of the United States, so that he is one of the best known men in the business. His exhibits in this state and else- where have taken many first prizes.
He was born in St. Louis May 15, 1868, was educated in that city and Alhambra up to his fourteenth year, and during the three years following that he lived in St. Louis with his family he learned the business of a florist. In 1889 he located at Alhambra and originated the business which he later moved to Edwards- ville. He maintains two shops, one at Alton and one in St. Louis, through which he retails most of his daily stock to many hundreds of customers. His establishment has a reputa- tion for many miles about Edwardsville. Mr. Ammann was the first president of the Illinois Florists Association, which was organized in 1905, and is now its secretary. He is also a member and director of the Florists experi- ment station at Urbana, Illinois.
With other business activities and the gen- eral affairs of his home locality he has been closely identified. He is president of the Ed- wardsville Commercial Club, was a member of the board of engineers and building commit- tee of the new Edwardsville high school, and is a director of the Edwardsville Investment Company, which constructed the Wildey The- atre. A Republican in politics, he served four years in the city council. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. His fine home on St. Louis avenue was built in 1904. Mr. Ammann was married, October 28, 1890, to Miss Bertha Gehrig, whose father, Jacob Geh- rig, was an old and respected citizen of Madi- son county. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ammann: Alma, in her father's office; Edna ; and Angeline, who is in the high school. As a citizen Mr. Ammann has been known for his enterprise in business and for his liberal co-operation in all public under- takings.
CHARLES A. UZZELL. One of the leading men of Granite City, Charles A. Uzzell is carrying on an extensive business as a phar- macist, and occupies a place of prominence not only in mercantile circles, but in fraternal or- ganizations, being especially active in Ma- sonry. A native of Madison county, Illinois, he was born October 22, 1875, at Bethalto, being the second son now living of G. C. and
830
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Mary ( Bilgen) Uzzell, of whom a further ac- count may be found on another page of this volume.
Obtaining a practical education in the pub- lic schools of Bethalto, Charles A. Uzzell there began life for himself as clerk in a drug store, and continued thus employed until thoroughly familiar with the details of the business. Coming to Granite City in 1902, he, in com- pany with R. O. Ward, opened a drug store, which they conducted successfully for a year. Mr. Uzzell then purchased his partner's inter- est in the establishment, and has since built up a thriving trade, his well stocked and finely equipped store in the heart of the business portion of the city attracting a fine line of patronage.
Mr. Uzzell married, in 1900, Mary E. Moore, a daughter of Lewis Moore, of Saint Louis, Missouri, and they have one daughter, Grace F. Uzzell. Fraternally Mr. Uzzell stands high in the Masonic Order, belonging to the local lodge, the Chapter, Council and Commandery, being a Knight Templar, and is a member of the Lodge of Perfection, in which he has taken the eighteenth degree of masonry. He is likewise a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
JOIIN VOIGT is the third in a family of nine children born to George and Elizabeth Grem- ler Voigt, both natives of Germany. George Voigt was born in 1827 and came to America when a young man. He and Miss Gremler were married at St. Joseph's church in St. Louis and came to Madison county almost im- mediately afterward. They located first on the Mississippi river and later on what is now called Mitchell. Their intelligent and thrifty methods of agriculture brought them pros- perity and their home grew to be a place of beauty and of comfort, being developed from the uncultivated country. Only one other member of the family, George Voigt, is now living. The deceased members are Mary, Elizabeth, Henry, Katherine, Joseph, Agnes and Dora.
John Voigt was born in Chouteau township, near old Madison, in 1861, and he has spent his life in the township. In addition to the district schools he attended St. Nicholas' school in St. Louis. Until his marriage to Miss Josephine Gleitz in 1896, he remained at home assisting his father. Miss Gleitz was born in St. Louis in the year of the centennial
of American Independence. Her parents were German immigrants who had a family of fif- teen children, of whom Josephine was the youngest. Six died in infancy, but the others, Joseph, Anna, Anthony, Benjamin, Cecelia, Theresa, Mary, Adaline and Josephine grew to maturity. All were carefully educated in the Catholic schools of St. Louis.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Voigt and his wife resided in St. Louis, where he was engaged in concrete work. They later moved to Mr. Voigt's home farm and kept house for him, as all his family had died some time be- fore. In 1904 George Voigt died, after a brief illness of one week, and was laid to rest be- side his wife. Both had filled their years with (leeds of usefulness and of kindness and held high places in the regard of the best people of the county.
After the father's death George and John Voigt held the farm for five years in partner- ship but at the end of that time John bought his brother's share and has since devoted him- self to farming the entire place, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. George Voigt now resides in St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. John Voigt have one son, christened George in honor of his grandfather. He was born in 1899 and is now a student in the Mitchell school and also in the Ursuline Academy of Alton, where he is receiving instruction in music from Sister Dolores. His parents are taking every care to give him the best of training and he is a boy who is worthy of all effort expended upon him.
In religious convictions Mr. and Mrs. Voigt are Catholics and devout communicants of St. Elizabeth's Catholic church at Mitchell. Mr. Voigt is a member of the Woodmen's lodge, Camp 3565, of Mitchell, and of the West- ern Catholic Union, Camp 20, of Venice. Illinois. In general he endorses the princi- ples of the Democratic party but he is liberal in his views and believes that the best man should have the guiding of public busi- ness, regardless of his party. He has himself been selected to fill different offices in the county and has acquitted himself with honor in all. He was eight years deputy sheriff and for twenty-five years constable. He also fills the office of highway commissioner and has been tax collector for several years.
The Voigt estate originally comprised one hundred and thirty-five acres but is now of but one hundred and twelve acres in extent, the remaining amount having been sold to the
831
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Interurban Railway. Its owners are as well known for their hospitality and neighborliness as for their business sagacity and excellent husbandry. Mr. Voigt is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of the county, but he is preeminently a genial and public-spirited in- dividual.
ERNEST BLOEMKER. The most valuable American citizen is he who has the good sense to regulate his ambitions according to his abilities; consequently the German-American is among the best of American citizens, and Ernest Bloemker, the prosperous farmer and man of public affairs whose record has been largely made in Alhambra township, is thor- oughly representative of that enviable citizen- ship. Born in Westphalia, Germany, in the year 1855, he is a son of Ernest and Katharine (Welp) Bloemker. At the age of nineteen he emigrated from Germany with his parents, his brother Rudolph and his sisters, Fredericka and Sophia, of whom he was the eldest; four of the children had already died in infancy while the family lived in Germany. All the children except Ernest who were brought to the United States, obtained a good education at the Alhambra schools.
Ernest Bloemker was well educated in the Fatherland before becoming a resident of Madison county in 1874, and at once secured employment with neighboring farmers in Hamel township, after having stopped for a short time in St. Louis. He was both indus- trious and saving, and in 1882, finding himself in position to marry and found a home of his own, wedded Miss Mary Moeller. His bride was but nineteen years of age, a daughter of William and Minnie (Finke) Moeller, also natives of Germany who emigrated from that country at an early day and, with their five children, located in Hamel township; of the Moeller family, Louisa died at the age of eighteen, and William, when twenty-one; Sophia, Minnie and Mary (Mrs. Bloemker) are still living. They were all well educated in the local schools, mastering both German and English. Mary, who is the youngest, re- mained at home with her parents until her marriage in 1882, as stated.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bloemker rented a farm in Hamel township, upon which they resided for seven years, looking forward to the purchase of a place of their own. In all his economy, industry and wise management, his good wife took her full share and there- fore shared his pride when the family moved
to Alhambra township and rented a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, about three quarters of a mile south of Kaufman. There they continued their hard work and good man- agement, and at the end of ten years pur- chased the homestead which they had already thoroughly improved in anticipation of such a happy conclusion to their labors. Mr. Bloemker also bought other tracts from time to time, un- til he is at the present time the owner of two hundred and seventy acres of as fine land as can be found in Madison county. Eighty acres of his estate lies at Ellison station, half an acre being used for railroad purposes. The homestead proper has been beautified with shade and fruit trees, the latter adding much not only to the attractiveness but the value of the place.
The respect and confidence evinced by the people of the township toward Ernest Bloem- ker have not a few outward marks. Among others are the bestowal of public trusts upon him, such as his election to the office of school director, in which he is now (August, 1911) serving his second term of three years each. He is also honored as a good father and hus- band; not only a bountiful provider, but one who considers with equal care, the educational and moral welfare of his family. Mr. and Mrs. Bloemker are the parents of fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy, and the following survive: William, Lena, Ernest, Mary, Minnie, Oscar, Katharina, Hugo, Lydia, Theodore and Clarence.
William, the eldest of the above named, married Miss Sophia Homan, widow of Wil- liam Homan, who had, by her first husband, Charles, Clara, Walter and Ella. By the pres- ent marriage three children have been born- Milton and Mildred, twins (the latter de- ceased), and Alfred. William Bloemker is a farmer of Alhambra township.
Lena, the eldest daughter, married George Hoge, also an agriculturist of that township.
GEORGE E. WHITTEN. A prominent real estate and insurance agent, George E. Whit- ten, of Granite City, head of the firm of Whitten & Champion, holds an assured posi- tion among the prosperous business men of the city, and has contributed his full share to- wards the upbuilding of this section of Madi- son county. A son of Dr. Thomas J. Whitten, he was born July 2, 1870, at Irving, Montgom- ery county, Illinois.
Dr. Thomas J. Whitten was born and reared in Kentucky, his birth occurring in 1844. A
832
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
man of strong mental caliber, he naturally chose a professional career, and having fitted himself for a physician has since been actively engaged in the practice of medicine, and in Nokomis, Illinois, where he has lived for many years, he has established an extensive and lu- crative patronage. He married Sophia Har- key, who was born in 1843, in South Carolina.
Having acquired a good education in the public schools of Nokomis, George E. Whitten began life for himself as a clerk in the No- komis post office, serving in that capacity for seven years, under Robert Gally and Charles F. Best. Going then to Hillsboro, Illinois, he was made deputy county treasurer of Mont- gomery county, and, under Henry N. Randle, filled the position for a year. In 1901 Mr. Whitten took up his residence at Granite City and embarked in the real estate and insurance business, being associated with H. H. Wil- loughby, under the firm name of Willoughby & Whitten, until 1910. Mr. Willoughby then moved to Stanton, Illinois, his successor in business being William Champion, a practical real estate and insurance man, and the firm name was changed to Whitten & Champion, its present style of writing. This enterprising firm is doing a large and constantly increasing business, representing various prominent in- surance companies, and carrying on many im- portant real estate dealings, being well and favorably known throughout this vicinity."
Especially prominent in fraternal orders, Mr. Whitten is a member of Granite City Lodge, No. 877, A. F. & A. M .; of Granite City Chapter, No. 56, R. A. M .; of the Orien- tal Consistory at Saint Louis; of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks; of the Knights of Pythias ; and of the Modern Wood- men of America. He resides at 2243 C street, Granite City, where he has an attractive and most hospitable home, which is ever open to his many friends and acquaintances. He was married in Nokomis, Illinois, to Miss Nellie I. Randle, a native of Jersey county, and now deceased.
A. J. KAHLE. On November 20, 1862, there was born to Mr. and Mrs. Christian Kahle a son whom they called August. Christian Kahle had emigrated from Hanover, Ger- many, to America in 1857, landing at New Orleans. From there he worked his way to Chicago, acting as deck hand on a steamboat for his passage. After having remained in Chicago for two months, a brother offered him employment on his farm in Nameoki
township, Illinois. For some time he worked with the brother, who had preceded him to this country by several years. Christian Kahle, however, was so good a worker he was soon offered a position on the farm of his fellow countryman, August Brandes, whose life and work are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. He remained with Mr. Brandes until the flood of 1858 laid waste Nameoki town- ship, at which time he went to Black Jack, St. Louis county, Missouri. Here he met Miss Henrietta Reifa, also a native of Hanover, Germany, and a daughter of Henry R. Reifa. They were married in 1859. Miss Reifa's brother was at that time manager of the loco- motive works of Germany.
In the spring of 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Chris- tian Kahle returned to Madison county and settled in Venice township, leasing a farm from William K. Cool for twelve dollars an acre, payable in gold. The lease ran for two years and never was there a deferred payment. With them to their new home they brought their children August and Herminia. Ambi- tious to provide well for their children, they purchased, in 1867, the John Decker place at Stallings. As "the winds and the waves are always on the side of the able skipper," so the floods and tlie droughts work little harm to the master farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Kahle were so successful that in 1866 they purchased from the Hawkes brothers one hundred acres of land in Venice township. Onto the new home- stead they moved in the spring of the follow- ing year, putting forth every effort to make it an attractive and valuable home for their fast growing family.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kahle: August J., Louis H., Herminia, now Mrs. Henry Theis, and a sister who died in infancy. When of school age these children attended the Venice district school, at that time known as the "Union District Braden School." Mr. and Mrs. Kahle bequeathed to these children the greatest human heritage, the heritage of earnest industry. Although their parents were now well provided with worldly goods, these were no pampered chil- dren satiated with luxury. When the boys were sturdy youths their father was farming five hundred acres of land and for nine months out of every year these lads were up and on the road to market before sunrise. St. Louis was their nearest market spot and it was in- cumbent on these boys to see that all the farm produce reached the ferry in its first fresh-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.