USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 45
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In 1901 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Duggan to Miss Oda Walsh, of Cairo, Illinois, the daughter of Richard and Ellen Walsh, of Cairo. The union of Dr. and Mrs. Duggan has been blessed by the birth of two children, -Gertrude, born in 1902, and Gregory, born three years later.
HERMAN KLAUS. If Madison county should seriously try to explain the real reason for her prosperity she would find that before the careful management of her business inter- ests and the integrity of her citizenship un- doubtedly lies the character of the men who farm her fertile fields and keeps their herds on her meadow lands. Prominent among the men whose inate talent and sturdy industry in the great basic industry have wrought the foundations of the county's welfare is Her-
man Klaus, the proprietor of a large farm which makes a specialty of stock.
Hlerman Klaus was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, April 7, 1859, the son of jonn and Mary ( Schubkegel) Klaus, native born Ger- mans. John Klaus was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, October 24, 1823, and his wife was born in Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, on Au- gust 9, seven years later. She came to this country in 1855 and was united to her hus- band in the same year. John Klaus was one of the most interesting men that ever lived in the county, and the story of his adventures read like the tale of a master inventor of fic- tion. At the age of sixteen he determined to learn the cabinet-maker's trade and at once set to work on the three years he needed to become a master workman. At nineteen he went with his brother Adam to Russia. Those were days to try men's mettle, for with cholera rife and touching with the plague young and old alike, there were often not enough cof- fins to bury the dead, though plain wooden boxes were all that were needed. So great was the demand, that the brothers remem- bered working five days and nights continu- ously, without more than a few moments rest, at the rough coffins of the ever increasing list of the disease's victims. Thousands per- ished who had to be hastily buried by friends and with only the courtesy of a winding sheet. So great the distress became at last that the nervous stress and responsibility put upon the brothers overwhelmed them, and with a de- sire to change their depressed condition the brothers left Russia and went to Austria, where they remained for six months. At the end of the half year they immigrated to the United States, experiencing a perilous voyage of sixteen weeks-over a hundred days to make the journey now so casily accomplished in five-during which time the storms were so severe that the vessel was several times cleared of its sails by high winds. With a capital of five dollars, the brothers sought and obtained work in New York city, where for two and a half years they worked at their trade. In 1849, when the call of the west rang loud and clear, the brothers set sail for California on a six months' voyage around Cape Horn. De- spite many perilous storms they reached their destination and did some successful mining at the famous Weaner creek mines, but neither was able to save much from the profits because of the extravagant price set on pro- visions. Potatoes sold for a dollar a pound, and flour for a hundred dollars a hundred-
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weight, for it was necessary to import the flour from Chili. After a year's sojourn in California, the brothers returned to "the States" with fifteen dollars apiece, returning via New Orleans and St. Louis. They then purchased a farm at Belleville, Illinois, and there made their home for nine years. At the end of that time the two who had seen so much of the world together dissolved partner- ship and John, purchasing one hundred and five acres of land near Belleville with his share of the profit, lived there for twenty years. He then removed to Bond county and purchased one hundred and thirty acres near Pierron. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schubkegel, the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Rick) Schubkegel. To Mr. and Mrs. Klaus were born seven children, of whom Herman, the immediate subject of this re- view, was the eldest. Two died in infancy, and the others were Otto, John, Elizabeth and Mary Klaus. After remaining a short time in Bond county, the father moved with his family to Leef township, Madison county, where he purchased a four hundred and forty acre farm and established what proved to be a successful farming and stock raising venture. It was there that his wife, an unusual woman of charm, industry and wise management, passed to her eternal rest, mourned by a de- voted family and a large circle of loyal friends to whom she had ever been a tender com- forter and kind adviser. Her husband has since made his home with the family of his son Otto, who try to make him happy and comfortable by anticipating his every wish. He is now enjoying the fruits of a noble life, and is enabled to witness the useful and hon- ored manhood and womanhood to which he has raised his children.
Herman Klaus, like his brothers and sis- ters, received his education in the public schools, and lived with his parents in St. Clair, Bond and Madison counties. On October 19, 1884, he laid the foundations of an independ- ent household by his marriage to Miss Carrie Ruedy, the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Marguth) Ruedy, and a native of Madison county, having been born here in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Ruedy were the parents of sixteen children, three of whom died in infancy. The others were Charles, Mary, Kate, twins named Emil and Emma, Eva, Louisa, Maggie, Bertha, Carrie, Anna, Robert and Louis Ruedy. Mr. Ruedy through his industry and good manage- - ment became quite an extensive land owner.
He and his wife, both members of the Ger- man church at Alhambra, were highly re- spected citizens and very popular with their neighbors. Their children were all educated at the Ruedy school, and have since grown up and married, settling in various locations in honorable and useful positions of life. Mr. and Mrs. Ruedy have, for a number of years, made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Jacob Leef, in Alhambra.
After the marriage of Herman and Carrie Klaus they settled on a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Leef township, the same that they have ever since maintained as their residence. At the time of their purchase a small house and a straw shed which served as a barn con- stituted the sole improvements on the place. With characteristic German industry the young couple at once set about making their new home comfortable, so that today, with its substantial buildings, fine shade trees, and flourishing orchard, their home presents a perfect picture of a country residence where plenty and peace are at home. Mr. Klaus' success has been due to a fine talent for busi- ness management and a progressive interest in new methods. It is interesting to note that Mr. Klaus was the first man in Leef township to own a touring car. His family and friends have taken much pleasure in his purchase.
To Mr. and Mrs. Klaus have been born eight children, whose names are as follows: Viola Gertrude, Leo Clarence, Alonzo Edgar, Albert Herman, Calvin Charles, Stella Car- rie, Edna Florence and Clinton Ruedy. All of the children have been sent to the Fairview school. Viola is now the wife of B. S. Mol- let, a progressive and popular young farmer. They have two children, Carroline W. and Luella E., and they live on a farm adjoining the home estate, which also belongs to Mr. Klaus. Mr. Klaus also owns a third interest in five hundred and thirty-four acres situated near Hope, Arkansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Klaus are members of the German Evangelical church of Grant Fork, and take an active interest in all of its good works. Politically Mr. Klaus favors the Democratic party, having been raised among stalwarts of the party, but on the whole he prefers to be bound by no party, and often votes independently .. For fourteen years he has served the community by acting as school director and he has also given appreciated service as highway commissioner for eight years.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
WILLIAM J. FERGUSON, who died at his home in Alton in 1898, was for nearly forty years a resident and active business man of this city. Though of pure Scotch ancestry, he was born in county Down, Ireland, and his parents, Henry and Margaret (Bell) Fergu- son, were also lifelong residents of that coun- ty. William J. and a sister who settled in New York were the only members of the family who ever came to America.
Reared in his father's home by the sea in county Down, he first came to this country during his youth, and for three years lived in Cleveland, Ohio. He then returned to Ire- land and in 1856, in the town of Curran, county of Derry, was united in marriage to Miss Jane Hill, who was his faithful compan- ion over forty years and is still living in Al- ton. She was likewise of Scotch ancestry, and was born in the village of Maghera, in county Derry, a daughter of Robert and Martha (McMillan) Hill.
In 1858 Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson came to America and after a year's residence in New York located in Alton in 1859. For many years he was a well known contractor, builder and architect, and continued in active busi- ness until his death in 1898. During the '60s the firm was Ferguson, Croft & Company, on Belle street, but later he was in business by himself.
There were three children: Martha J., who married George A. Stratton; Margaret Bell, wife of John D. Wilson ; and Harry H.
HARRY H. FERGUSON, vice president and general manager of the Illinois Terminal Rail- way, is a son of the late William J. Ferguson, and was born in Alton. Up to the age of fif- teen he attended the public schools, but then began his active business experience, which throughout has been identified with railroad work.
He began as clerk in the Alton office of the Chicago & Alton in 1882, two years later was transferred to the St. Louis office of the same company, and at the age of eighteen took the position of agent for the Bluff Line railroad at Alton. For a time he was also acting man- ager of this road. In 1894 he organized the Illinois Terminal Company, and has since been vice president and general manager, with gen- eral offices in Alton.
Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Elks' Club of Alton, and is actively identified with the business and civic life of Alton. His resi- dence on Fifteenth street is one of the finest homes in the city. He married, in 1891, Miss
Mary Baker, a daughter of the late Ilon. Henry S. Baker.
HENRY TRARES, president of the First Na- tional Bank and the Palace Store Company, has been closely identified with the commercial history of Edwardsville since he was fourteen years of age. Beginning his career as a clerk, he has assumed larger responsibilities with in- creasing years until he now occupies a fore- most position among the business men of his city and county.
He was born in Portage county, Ohio, April 20, 1855. The family originated in Germany. His grandfather, Matthias Trares, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1790 and was conscripted to serve in the army of Napoleon. In 1839 he immigrated to America and was a farmer in Portage county, Ohio, until his death, in 1882. Among his children was John S. Trares, for thirty years one of the prominent merchants of Edwardsville.
Henry Trares is a son of John and Mary (Knapp) Trares. The father was a native of Germany and spent his active career as a farmer in Portage county, Ohio.
Mr. Trares received his early education in the country schools of Ohio, and in 1869, at the age of fourteen, came west and entered the business house of his uncle in Edwardsville. During his ten years' service he laid the foun- dation for his successful career in independent enterprise. In 1882 he formed a partnership with E. A. Keller, as Trares & Keller, a firm that continued in business for ten years. In 1892 he took over the business of Mr. A. Ger- ber and organized the Palace Store Company, which was incorporated the same year. Mr. Trares is president and the Trares family own the controlling interest. The Palace store is the largest mercantile establishment at Ed- wardsville, and occupies a large brick and steel structure, one hundred and twenty by one hundred feet, with an equipment and stock equal to that of any similar store in southern Illinois.
In 1896 Mr. Trares assisted in the organi- zation of the First National Bank of Ed- wardsville, and became one of the six original directors. He succeeded Mr. C. N. Travous as vice president, and later succeeded Judge Burroughs as president of the institution. The bank of which he is the head is one of the most substantial financial institutions of Madi- son county. He has been an official in the Home Building and Loan Association for the past ten years, and is interested in many other enterprises of this vicinity.
Harry Trany
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
He was married in 1879 to Miss Frances Heddergott, a daughter of Jacob Heddergott of Edwardsville. They have eight children : Henry J., one of the managers of the Palace store ; Clem R .; Wilbur A .; Roman J .; Julius A .; Florian E .; Frances J., and Daisy M. Mr. Trares is a member of the Commercial Club of Edwardsville, of the Knights of Columbus, and of the St. Boniface Catholic church.
WILLIAM H. LANTERMAN is recognized as one of the most notable and trustworthy citi- zens of Madison county, where he has passed his entire life. He is known to be a farmer of ability and experience; a business man of commercial instincts ; a politician of force and eloquence ; and a Christian gentleman of honor and uprightness.
Judge Lanterman's birth occurred in Fort Russell township, Madison county, Illinois, January 24, 1858. He is a son of William and Eliza (Luman) Lanterman, for many years prominent residents of Fort Russell township. Mr. William A. Lanterman was a farmer and he had a high standing in the community; he was the first collector in Fort Russell town- ship, and held that position for many terms.
The eighth in order of birth, William H. Lanterman was reared on the old farm, re- ceiving his elementary educational training in the district school and in the grade school at Bethalto. When he was eighteen years of age he went to St. Louis, where he successfully mastered a business course at a commercial school in that great city, and on its conclusion he accepted a position as traveling salesman. Five months of this nomadic life sufficed to content him, and he went back to the farm and took charge of the collector's books for his father and also assisted in the cultivation of the soil. In the year 1891 he left the pa- rental roof and moved onto his present place. He is now the proprietor of one hundred and twenty-one acres of land in sections 16 and 3I, of Fort Russell township. In addition to his farming activities, Judge Lanterman is en- gaged in the hardware, implement and live stock business at Moro with his brothers, E. A. and J. B. Lanterman. He also is regarded as one of the ablest auctioneers in this section of the country.
On the 10th of January, 1881, Judge Lan- terman married Miss Jennie A. Russell, an orphan, whose birth occurred in Macoupin county. They began their wedded life under the roof of William A. Lanterman, remaining there until they moved to the farm they now occupy. They have two daughters, Malinda
E. and Bessie C., both educated in the public schools and both living at home with their parents. Miss Bessie's record for scholarship has throughout been excellent. When she graduated from the public school of Edwards- ville she stood fifth in her class ; she has com- pleted a normal school course and has also successfully mastered a correspondence school course in the Interstate Correspondence School, Chicago, Illinois. She is possessed of musical abilities of a high order, and is an accom- plished performer. Miss Malinda has charge of the primary department in the Presbyterian Sunday school at Moro, and is secretary of the home department of the Madison county Sun- day schools.
In a religious way Judge Lanterman is a member of the Presbyterian church, holding the position of elder; in politics he has ever been a stanch Republican, active for the sup- port of his party, who in turn have been fully cognizant of his efforts and have shown their appreciation of his force of character and his unquestioned abilities by electing him to va- rious offices. He has twice been assessor of the township; for a period of twenty years has served as school treasurer, and has also served as school director for several years, during which time the citizens have felt satis- fied that the educational interests of Russell township were in good hands ; for two decades he has been the able incumbent of the office of justice of the peace and during these years he has continued to be regarded as a fair but at the same time a lenient judge. For twelve years he has been a notary public. It would not be possible to find a man possessed of more versatile talents. As a general thing, the man who attempts to engage in many different pur- suits fails to make any decided success in any of them, but that is not the case with Judge Lanterman; he attempts nothing that he does not successfully accomplish, and the publish- ers of this book feel grateful for the opportu- nity of thus briefly recording a few of his successes in the township.
AUGUST FREDERICK KOCH. Every resident of Alhambra township is familiar with the Big Store Company, and each member of the firm has won his way into the regard of the num- erous patrons of the store. August F. Koch and his brother Charles are both members of this thriving concern, and they have taken an important part in bringing about its present prosperous condition. It is more difficult to systematize a general store's workings than those of any other business, and the lack of
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system is the reason that so many general stores fail to make a success. Mr. August Koch has done his best to promote organiza- tion in the business, so that there may be no leaks, or in order that it may be possible to locate them if they do occur. No business long remains greater than its owners, and the fact that the Big Store Company continues to grow is indicitative of the fact that the men who are at its head are thoroughly capable.
The birth of Mr. Koch occurred on the 25th day of June, 1875, in Saline township, Madison county, Illinois. He is a son of Frederick and Magdaline (Winter) Koch, the father a native of Switzerland and the mother of German birth. They immigrated from their respective homes when they were young, both located in Illinois, where they became acquainted with each other, and were married at Highland, that state. They became the parents of eight children-five sons and three daughters-Fred W., Herman, Charles, Ed- ward, Leah, Louise (deceased), Ida and Au- gust Frederick. Father Koch followed the occupation of farming, prospered and was en- abled to give his children the advantages of a good education in the Highland public school.
Brought up on his father's farm, August F. Koch early learned those habits of industry which have stood him in such good stead in his later years, but he was not adapted for a farmer, as his abilities were of a commercial nature. When he was twenty years old, there- fore, in order to equip himself for his chosen calling he went to St. Louis and in the years 1895 and 1896 he took a business course in the Jones Commercial College. On leaving college he was first employed by the Union Dairy Company of St. Louis, remaining with this concern for three years; he later worked for Adolph A. Suppiger in his St. Louis grocery store, and while thus employed he was seized with typhoid fever, which necessi- tated his going home. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered he became a clerk in the Highland Store Company and during the ensuing four years he remained with them. In 1905 he purchased an interest in the Big Store Company of Alhambra, assumed a share of the active management of the store and took up his residence in the town, where he has remained until the present time. The store is today one of the finest country stores for miles around, and its business is contin- uing to increase under its present proprietors.
In 1905 Mr. Koch married Miss Anna Lau-
dolt, daughter of Frederick and Marguerite ( Hitz) Laudolt of Leef township, where Mrs. Koch's birth occurred. After the mar- riage the young couple commenced their wedded life in Alhambra township, where they have a comfortable home, brightened by the presence of their little four-year old son, Milton August.
Mr. Koch and his brother Charles are both courteous, honest-hearted men, possessing gen- ial, agreeable manners-just the type of men of whom Alhambra has reason to feel proud. In his political affiliations Mr. August Koch is a Republican.
CHARLES F. FORD, superintendent of the Edwardsville public schools, has been promi- nent in Illinois educational work for the past ten years. He was born at Sharon, Wiscon- sin, May 17, 1874. Being the son of a min- ister whose residence was periodically changed, he received his early education in the schools of Oregon, Illinois, finished his academic course at Mt. Morris College in 1892, and then entered Knox College at Galesburg, where he was graduated as a bachelor of Arts in 1896. He has also taken courses in the University of Wisconsin.
His professional career began as assistant teacher in Clinton, Wisconsin, and in 1900 he became principal of the schools at Greenville, Illinois. In 1902 he came to Edwardsville as principal of the high school, continuing until 1906. For several years he was engaged in office work at St. Louis, and in 1909 returned to the Edwardsville high school. In 1911 came his appointment to the superintendency of the city schools.
Mr. Ford is the son of Rev. L. and Amy ( Baldwin) Ford. His father, who was born near Watertown, in Jefferson county, New York, in 1835, is now pastor of the English Lutheran church at Mt. Morris, Illinois. The mother passed away in 1902, in Wisconsin.
In 1907 Mr. Ford married Miss Anne Pogue, daughter of Dr. Joseph Pogue, one of the oldest and most distinguished physicians of Madison county. Fraternally Mr. Ford is a member of Edwardsville Lodge, No. 99. A. F. & A. M.
EDMOND BEALL. One of the native sons of Madison county who has marked the pass- ing years with large and worthy accomplish- ment and who is a prominent and influential factor in connection with public affairs and industrial activities in this favored section of the state, Hon. Edmond Beall, of Alton, is a scion of one of the honored pioneer families
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Ed Beall,
STATE SENATOR, 47TH DISTRICT, ALTON, ILLINOIS Member of Committees: On Education, Insur- ance, Manufactures, Public Utilities, Senatorial Apportionment, to visit State Charitable Institu- tions, Waterways. Chairman: Committee on Fish and Game, Mili- tary and Naval Affairs.
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of the county and has admirably upheld the high prestige of the name which he bears. He is a man above the average size, being fully six feet in height, weighing two hundred and forty-nine pounds, and measuring forty- eight and one half inches around the chest and forty-eight and one half inches in the waist. At his present age of a little over sixty- three years, he has never been confined to bed one day from sickness of any kind. He served as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war and has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic for the past twenty years. He has held the high office of com- mander of Alton Post, No. 441, and has always worn the Grand Army button and is the only member of the Senate of the state of Illinois who served in the army during the Civil war. He was thrice elected mayor of Alton and is now representing the Forty-seventh district in the State Senate. He retired from busi- ness on July 1, 1911, and turned the business over to his children and nephews. At the time of his retirement J. W. Beall (his nephew), became president of the firm. He expects to spend the remainder of his days living the easy life. He was the executive head of one of the large and important man- ufacturing industries of Alton and has long been recognized as one of the most loyal, pro- gressive and public spirited citizens of his native city and county, where he has exem- plified high civic ideals and given his influ- ence and co-operation in measures and enter- prises projected for the general good of the community.
Senator Beall was born at Alton, on the 27th of September, 1848, and is a son of James W. and Mary J. (Hodges) Beall, the former of whom was born in the city of Alton, Illinois, on October 28, 1816, and the latter of whom was born in Tennessee, on April 3, 1826. The Senator was named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Edmond Beall, who removed from Ohio and established his home in Alton about 1813, soon after this now thriv- ing and beautiful city was founded. He es- tablished the first furniture factory in this section of the state, and the same was located in a modest building on the site of the present plant of the Standard-Tilton Milling Com- pany, on Second street. Practically all of the furniture and cabinet work in this pioneer establishment was done by hand, and the pi- oneer manufacturer built up a prosperous en- terprise, as gauged by the standards of the locality and period. Here both he and his
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