USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 47
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Robert W. Binney began the study of medi- cine with his brothers John and Charles, his professional training being very thorough. In 1807 he became a graduate from the medical department of Washington University of St. Louis, and locating at Granite City the same year, he here met with pleasing success. Later he became a post-graduate of Harvard Uni- versity Medical College and the New York Polyclinic. Being a progressive man and de- termining to be fully equipped for future suc- cess, he prepared himself for more thorough work by attending the following clinics: the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota; the Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, and the Jefferson Hospital of Philadelphia. He also was one of the charter members of the Clinical Congress of Surgeons of North America, organized in Chicago in 1910, with its first meeting held in that city.
In 1899 Dr. Binney was appointed to the office of city physician of Granite City, filling that office in a satisfactory manner, during which time he had under his charge five hun- (red small-pox patients, which were success- fully handled by him. At the same time he also served as county physician and in 1908 was relected city physician of Granite City. He also has acted as attending surgeon to St. Elizabeth's Hospital and physician and sur- geon for the Merchants' Bridge Terminal Railroad Association, and the Alton, Granite City & St. Louis Traction Company, and al- though a strenuous worker in his profession he has served in a faithful and satisfactory manner as a member of the school board of Granite City. Fraternally he is a member of Granite City Lodge, A. F. & A. M., belonging to the Knights Templar Commandery and also being affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.
On October 5, 1899. Dr. Binney laid the foundation of his own home and fortune, the lady of his choice being Miss Cecilia Craw- shaw, a talented and popular young lady of Granite City. She is the daughter of George and Anna ( Burkhard) Crawshaw, the former
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a native of Iowa, the latter of Missouri. Their children were Jonathan, George, (deceased), and Cecilia. They were educated at Crystal City, Missouri, where their parents resided. Mrs. Binney received a careful and thorough training, becoming a student in the Conserva- tory of. Music under Professor Smith of Lon- don, England. She was also a student of dra- matic art under the popular and well-known instructress, 'Miss Bessie Morse, now of the Morse School of Expression in St. Louis. After graduating with honors at Crystal City, Missouri, her parents removed to Granite City, Illinois, where Miss Crawshaw was readily received as an accomplished and en- tertaining reader, her talent being frequently called upon for public entertainments in that city. Here, upon an occasion when she read, she first met the brilliant young doctor who was just beginning to carve out a future for himself. Their mutual admiration, so pleasant- ly begun at the entertainment, ended in wed- ding bells and orange blossoms and the happy young couple began their wedded life in the city of their adoption. Mrs. Binney has ever taken the greatest interest in her husband's career, rendering him able assistance and she is proud of the success and distinctive honors to which he has attained. Having been pros- perous in his work Dr. Binney in 1899 erected on the corner of Nineteenth and D streets a fine brick building, known as the Binney Building.
On March 14, 1905, on Mrs. Binney's birth- day, Dr. and Mrs. Binney adopted a six- months old babe. When Mrs. Binney reached her twenty-fifth birthday she entertained at her pleasant home one hundred and fifty women friends in honor of the event and also in honor of the adoption of their little daughter, Jewel Nadine, the house being beautifully decorated in American Beauty Roses and spring flowers. Under their careful training Jewel has de- veloped into a bright, vivacious little miss, and while being instructed in school, has also re- ceived the benefit of violin and piano lessons and although only seven years of age has accompanied Dr. and Mrs. Binney to every state in the Union east of the Mississippi. Dr. and Mrs. Binney are known as royal entertain- ers. Mrs. Binney being an active member of the Women's Coterie and other social organi- zations.
The Doctor's principles of life have won for the name of Binney an honored place in the ranks of Granite City's foremost citizens. He possesses the rare and important qualities of Vol. II-16
the successful citizen and by his sympathy and tender ministrations has won for himself the confidence of his patients, which does so much towards aiding a speedy recovery ; he fills suc- cessfully a position in which nobility of char- acter and a thorough scientific knowledge of his profession are equally important; and stands a self-made man, who, although in early life, has attained to a pleasing and admirable success and whose activities and achievements place him among the bright galaxy of honora- ble and representative citizens whom the state of Illinois is proud to claim.
EMIL L. GROSS, one of the members of the Big Store Company of Alhambra, Madison county, Illinois, needs no introduction to the citizens of this town. The average life of a general store is of brief duration, because so many men, utterly lacking in business in- stincts or training, have thought they could conduct a store after they had failed in every- thing else. This is not the record of the man- agers of the Big Store Company. They are all young men-wide-awake and hustling- possessing not only correct commercial princi- ples, but they are experienced and trained. There is no detail of the store's workings that Mr. Gross feels is too small to require atten- tion, as he realizes that it is simply the proper adjustment of the little things of life that make or break a business.
Born in Alhambra township, on the 22nd day of December, 1874, Emil L. Gross is a son of August and Elizabeth Gross, both na- tives of Germany, who came to America sepa- rately, met at Alhambra and were there mar- ried. They had a family of seven children, one of whom died in infancy, and the names of the living are, --- August, Joseph, Agnes, Herman, Frank and Emil. Father Gross was a wagon-maker by occupation, a skilled work- man who was able to make a good living for his family. The children received their edu- cation in the public school of Alhambra and all did credit to the pains that was taken with their training ; the youngest son, Frank, in the county final examination of 1906 received the highest grade certificate, a fact which was very gratifying to himself, his friends and his in- structors.
After completing his educational training, Mr. Emil Gross determined to follow a mer- cantile career. In the year 1902 he entered the employ of the Big Store Company and after three years he purchased an interest in the concern, which was then consolidated into the present corporation. All the managers of
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this company are young men who were born in Madison county ; they one and all possess not only business ability, but their characters are such as have won the confidence of the citizens of Alhambra. Mr. Gross is a man of sterling principles and integrity of purpose and deed.
In 1904 Mr. Gross married Miss Grace Hes- ter Keown, born in 1878, a daughter of Will- iam C. and Adaline Keown, natives of Illi- nois. Mr. and Mrs. Gross made an enjoyable wedding trip to the St. Louis Centennial Ex- position, then returned to Alhambra and took up their residence in their own home. Since that time they have been blessed with the birth of two daughters, Merle and Joyce, aged respectively three years and seven months. Mrs. Gross was trained in the Methodist Epis- copal faith, and Mr. Gross is a believer in the doctrines of the German Evangelical church. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, at all times interested in any movement for the pro- motion of the welfare of his native town and county.
CHARLES F. TUXHORN is president of the Tuxhorn Brothers Hardware Company, one of the oldest and most prosperous commercial houses of Edwardsville. The business was established here in 1852 by Charles H. Tux- horn, the father, and during the past sixty years the patronage and confidence of the pub- lic have never lessened. The stock of hard- ware, implements, furniture, vehicles, tin- ware, harness and seeds, is probably the most complete of any retail establishment of this kind in the county.
Charles H. Tuxhorn, the founder of the business, was born in Germany, and is now living at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He married Miss Emma Mueller, also a na- tive of Germany, and she is now eighty years of age.
Charles F. Tuxhorn was born at Edwards- ville in 1857, and after an education in the city schools entered his father's store and learned the tinner's trade. In 1876 he became a partner in the business, and in 1884 the business began under the name of Tuxhorn Brothers, Charles F. and Albert G. composing the firm. In 1890 the business was incorpo- rated as the Tuxhorn Brothers Hardware Company, all the stock being owned in the family.
Albert G. Tuxhorn, who was secretary and treasurer of the company, was regarded as one of the ablest business men and most pub- lic-spirited citizens of Edwardsville. His
cleath on February 4, 1911, was felt as a public calamity, leaving vacant a place in the com- munity which can not be soon filled.
ROBERT HYNDMAN ROBERTSON. In every nook and corner of the wide world the traveler will find the Scotchman, everywhere patient, determined, steadfast, reliable, prosperous. The Scotchman, like his land, is many-sided, and if the black and barren hills force him to be a hard bargainer, the violet clouds that hover over his lochs and the heather blooms which perfume the air make him also a poet, and give him a fanatical devotion to the "land o' cakes." A small country, a poor country, a little nation, yet the doings of the Scotch fill a large page in history and one of which they need not be ashamed when placed in comparison with those of any other people. Never conquered, though often beaten, they finally gave kings to England, field-marshals to France and Prussia, and Russia, cardinals to Rome, the second greatest man to the Refor- mation and to America a body of citizens whose priceless value cannot be reckoned and who have made an imprint upon our history that any of our citizens are proud to claim Scotch or Scotch-Irish blood. Of this class is Robert Hyndman Robertson, chief engineer of the Illinois Glass Company. His birth oc- curred May 21, 1849, at Delrye, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of James and Jeanetta Hyndman Robertson, the latter a daughter of Samuel Hyndman, who came to America in 1851, a few years after her husband. At that time the father was an engineer in New Or- leans and in a short time the family, consist- ing of the father and mother and four chil- dren, came to Alton. The head of the house secured employment in a foundry which at that time was owned by Stincklemann, Emer- son & Johnson.
The immediate subject of this review re- ceived his education in the schools of Alton. As a very young fellow Mr. Robertson as- sisted with the family support by the money earned from carrying the Alton Telegraph for Messrs. Parks and Crosby, and continued thus engaged until 1862. About that time he had the misfortune to contract small pox. In 1863 he began working in the Madison coal mines near Bethalto and continued in this oc- cupation until 1866. He then farmed in Madı- son county for five years, or until 1871, and following that date returned to Alton, where he entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, his connection with the same lasting for three years, or until 1874. His identifica-
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tion with the Illinois Glass Company dates from June 9, 1874, at which time he accepted the office of chief engineer. At that time the glass works was a small concern on Belle street. He has virtually grown up with the company, his skill and ability keeping pace with its flourishing growth and his position being now one of the most important. For the past year he has been resting from the more active work on account of a nervous dis- order.
Mr. Robertson is a considerable property owner, having several fine residence proper- ties, one being situated in Yenger Park and another in Upper Alton. He is a Republican in his political faith and is keenly interested in all public matters, giving his support to all measures likely to result in general benefit. In the year 1884 he served on the Alton police force. He is a valued member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and his lodges are the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Court of Honor.
Mr. Robertson was married April 12, 1869, the lady to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Mary Tierney, of Al- ton, daughter of Patrick Tierney. Their six children are as follows: Jennie, now Mrs. Benecke, born in 1871; Maggie, now Mrs. Kohler, born in April, 1874; Harry, an Alton grocer, born June 23, 1880; James, born April 21, 1877; Ella Evers, born March 23, 1883; and Mamie, now Mrs. McManus, born Janu- ary I, 1886. Another son, Samuel, born Janu- ary 13, 1870, was killed at the age of nineteen years, and another son, Samuel, born Novem- ber 17, 1889, died December 16, 1908. Mr. Robertson rejoices in the possession of no less than twenty-one grandchildren. Those of the Benecke family are Nellie, Robert, Annie, Edna, Leona, Margaret, Ella, Ernest, Harry and Paul. The Kohler sons and daughters are Josie, Mary, William, Samuel and Raymund. The children of James R. Robertson are Will- iam, Mary and James. The Evers children are Ella and Mary, and the McManus chil- dren, Ellsworth and Melvin Roy. There is one great-grandchild, Ruth Howard. The subject has won general confidence and regard in the community in which he has so long re- sided and where his usefulness and high type of citizenship are fully appreciated. His mother died but a short time ago-July 8. 1908, the father having preceded her by many years, his demise occurring in 1875.
NICHOLAS MOLLET. Some of the sturdy in- dependence that made his Swiss ancestors the
first republicans of modern Europe has made Nicholas Mollet, their descendant in an an- other country, a successful and rising citizen. Nicholas Mollet, of Saline, the owner of a blacksmith shop and the follower of a trade that requires strong arm and true eye, was born in Switzerland, beneath the shadow of the Alps, October 14, 1842. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Mollet, who immigrated to this country when Nicholas was a boy of ten and settled in Highland, Illinois. In May, 1861, Mrs. Mollet passed away, leaving her husband and seven children : Benjamin, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Nicholas, John and Samuel, both of the latter deceased. The father enlisted in the Union army and for two years was a brave soldier in the Federal serv- ice, being honorably discharged at the end of that time on account of failing health. The last six years of his life were spent with his son Nicholas and wife, who lovingly and kindly ministered to his needs. The Mollet children obtained their educations at the Poca- hontas public schools. Nicholas remained at home until his twentieth year, when he set about to prepare himself for a useful life by learning the blacksmith's trade.
On October 17, 1867, was solemnized the marriage of Nicholas Mollet to Miss Caroline May. She had been born in Bavaria, Ger- many, December 26, 1844, the daughter of Valentine and Catherine (Scherr) May, who immigrated to the United States in 1846,- when Caroline was a child of two. Their family consisted of William, Louis, Fred, Val- entine, John, Catherine Phillipina, Elizabeth, Louisa, Lissetta and Caroline May. All of the May children obtained their educations at the Marine school. Their father was a farmer who by his industry and progressive methods became the owner of a fine property. The parents were members of the German church of Marine. The father was taken away in 1878 and the mother passed to her eternal re- ward two years later.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mollet made their home in Saline, where Mr. Mollet had a blacksmith shop. It is interesting to note that they began their residence in Saline when the place contained three residences and a store building. Mr. Mollet erected his shop and the future of the young couple was begun. Mrs. Mollet was an ideal helpmeet ; she was the daughter of pioneers and could remember the days when St. Louis was the nearest market, and her sturdy character that had risen in the
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carlier surroundings accepted all hardships easily and made them count for nothing.
The blacksmith shop proved a profitable undertaking, and for forty-two years the ring- ing of the anvil was common music for the neighborhood of Saline. Early and late Mr. Mollet worked through all those years until, in 1911, he decided to retire, and rented the shop to younger arms.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mollet was born a family of ten children, namely: Will- iam, Samuel, Nicholas, Emil, Edward, Leo, Lissetta, Catherine, Louisa and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. Mollet, alive to the advantages of a good education, sent their children to the Sa- line elementary schools and to the Highland high school. The three oldest sons were also students at the Bryant and Stratton Business College at St. Louis, thus fitting themselves for active business careers. William married Miss Julia Kamm, of Highland, and they made their home in St. Louis, where he was engaged in the furniture business. His wife died in 1909, survived by one daughter, Lil- lian, then fifteen years old, who is at present with her father in St. Louis. Samuel was united in marriage to Miss Clare Bauer, of St. Louis, and they now reside in Massillon, Ohio, where he is connected with the Sign and Poster Company. They are the parents of two children, Samuel and Clara. Nicholas chose as his wife Miss Onita, a sister of Mrs. Sam- uel Mollet, and they also reside in Massillon, Ohio, where he is occupied as bookkeeper in the Sign and Poster Company, of which Samuel is manager. Their only child is named Wilbur. Emil and Edward were taken away in infancy. Leo married Miss Bonnie Bosier and is now general agent for the Missouri State Life Insurance Company. He and his wife make their home in Muskogee, Okla- homa, and they are the parents of one son Leo. Lissetta and Catherine both died at the age of three years. Louise became the wife of Rob- ert Duncan, and lives in St. Louis, where her husband is bookkeeper for the Hamilton Ice and Fuel Company. She is the mother of one daughter, Agnes Duncan, Ella is now the wife of Robert Tontz, a promising young farmer of Saline township, and she is the mother of one daughter,
and school director, and has been a member of the town board. He and his wife are ac- tive members of the German Evangelical church of Saline, in which Mr. Mollet held the position of trustee for several years. Mrs. Mollet is an active member of the Missionary Society of the same church.
WILLIAM M. SWEETSER. Coming on both sides of the family from a stalwart New Eng- land race, William M. Sweetser has inherited to no small extent the substantial traits of character that marked his ancestors, and by means of industry, thrift and good manage- ment has achieved success in his business career, at the present time being at the head of the Sweetser Lumber Company, one of the leading organizations of the kind in Al- ton. A native of Massachusetts, he was born at Wendell, Franklin county, which was like- wise the birthplace of his father, Nathan Irv- ing Sweetser, and of his grandfather, Nathan Sweetser. Mr. Sweetser's great-grandfather, Captain Henry Sweetser, was born March 25, 1739. He married, in 1763, Lucy John- son, who was born October 21, 1739, and im- mediately settled on a farm in Wendell, Mass- achusetts. Her father, David Johnson, son of Josiah Johnson, the immigrant ancestor, married Mary Peters, who was of Puritan stock, and located in Leominster, Massachu- setts, where he carried on farming until his death. Nathan Sweetser, born on the home- stead in Wendell, Massachusetts, March 2, 1768, inherited the parental acres, and spent his entire life on the farm where his birth occurred. He married Lydia Johnson, a na- tive of Acton, Massachusetts.
Born June 5. 1819, in Wendell, Massachu- setts, Nathan Erving Sweetser grew to man- hood on the home farm, and during his com- paratively brief life of forty-five years was engaged in agricultural pursuits, his death occurring on his farm, November 14. 1864. He married Sarah Armstrong, a daughter of Martin Armstrong, of Wendell, Massachu- setts, and whose death occurred November 20, 1864. Five children were born of their union, as follows: Lucien, Charles, William M .. Clara and Dwight E. After the death of their parents. these children were cared for by relatives, being brought up either by grand- parents, uncles or aunts.
Politically Mr. Mollet is a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party. He has him- self been elected on the ticket of his party to William M. Sweetser came to Alton, Illi- nois, in 1876. He worked for a few years at farming and teaching school, and then as tra- veling salesman selling agricultural imple- offices where his sterling honesty and far- sighted views of what constitutes the greatest good to the greatest number have been greatly appreciated. He has served as school trustee ments. In 1893 he took a position with his
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cousin, H. C. Priest, a lumber dealer. In 1900 Mr. Priest died; and Mr. Sweetser and Sam- uel Wade embarked in business under the firm name of Sweetser & Wade. In 1903 their plant was unfortunately burned, entailing much loss. In 1904 Mr. Sweetser with char- acteristic energy and foresight, organized the Sweetser Lumber Company, of which he was elected president, and has continued the busi- ness, having built up an extensive trade in dressed lumber of all kinds and in mill work.
HERMAN H. HELMKAMP, ex-supervisor and justice of the peace for forty years, is also connected with the agricultural prosperity of Moro township, Madison county. It is not often that there are united in one man the qualities which make a successful farmer, an enterprising business man and a jurist, but Judge Helmkamp is the unusual exception. During the years that he has been a resident of Madison county, the Republican party has found in him one of its most stalwart sup- porters, and a brief review of his life will serve to recall to the minds of his friends and acquaintances his business and public career of faithfulness, ability and honor.
A native of the kingdom of Hanover, in Germany, Judge Helmkamp began life June 16, 1834. He is a son of H. H. Helmkamp and Lena (Barkherber) Helmkamp, both na- tives of the same German fatherland, where they spent many years of their lives. There they were educated and married and became the parents of five children. In the spring of the year 1843 Mr. Helmkamp determined to try his fortunes in the United States and, with his wife and children, he embarked on a ves- sel bound for New Orleans. On his arrival in that cosmopolitan city he immediately took passage on a river boat bound for St. Louis and there took up his residence. He began work as a laborer and prospered, but the household was saddened by the death of the wife and mother, whose demise occurred in January, 1844. To the father was left the task of raising his children, and he bravely devoted himself to them, remaining in St. Louis until he was summoned to his last rest in the year 1871.
Judge Helmkamp has little recollection of his German home, as he was only nine years old when he accompanied his parents to the New World. Arriving in St. Louis, he was sent to the parochial school, where he received his educational training and also religious in- struction. He was confirmed in the German
Evangelical church (the faith of his parents), then left school and commenced his independ- ent career. He learned the trade of locksmith- ing and brass moulding under the tutelage of his older brother, G. F., continuing in that in- dustry until he was twenty years of age. He then secured a position on the St. Louis police force and for the ensuing seven years he was one of the guardians of the law in that city. His service was marked by the same spirit of uprightness which has characterized him in all his relations of life, and in recognition of his efficiency and his sterling qualities of character he was elected to the office of con- stable in the Seventh and Eighth wards in St. Louis. At the termination of his services he invested his savings in a livery business in St. Louis and for three years he was the proprietor of a prosperous establishment. In 1873, desirous of becoming permanently lo- cated and feeling the attractions of the coun- try life, he sold his livery business and bought an eighty acre farm in Madison county, Illi- nois-his home today.
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