USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 52
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Born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Stahl began life on the 14th day of December, 1845. In that same county his grandfather, Daniel, and his father, Samuel, made their first entry into the world. Samuel Stahl lived in his native county until the year 1853, when he left the state, came to Madison county, Illi- nois, and took up his residence in Moro town- ship. There he spent the residue of his days, engaged in the occupation of farming. Before he left Pennsylvania he had married Miss Eliz- abeth Boucher, a young lady of French des- cent, and to this union eight children were born, seven of whom are living today,-J. H., D. L., C. S., Louisa (wife of John Hilton), Nancy M. (married to Lewis Moore), Ar- minta M. (widow of Thomas Robinson) and S. D. (special pension examiner for the gov- ernment at Oklahoma City).
The first seven years of the life of Cyrus Stahl were passed in his native state, and at that time he accompanied his parents to Moro township, where he received his preliminary educational training in the public schools. He then took up further study at Shurtleff Col- lege, Alton, Illinois, and subsequently took
a course at Eureka College, Woodford county, Illinois. He was then prepared to enter the profession which he had chosen and forthwith commenced to teach. He was not one of those instructors who believe that education consists in cramming facts into the brains of the schol- ars, but rather he aimed so to train the minds that they might be in a receptive state to acquire such facts as were of value to them. He was old-fashioned in his thoroughness and decidedly up-to-date in his modern methods of imparting knowledge. He taught some of his time at Moro and for twenty-three years in various parts of Madison county. In the year 1893 Mr. Stahl settled down on his eighty acre farm in Moro township, section 30. There he is to be found today, busy in the cultivation of his land and the furtherance of such efforts for the betterment of the community as are presented to his notice.
On the Ist day of September, 1875, Mr. Stahl formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Mary Hamilton, daughter of Lewis T. Hamil- ton, an honored resident of Madison county. Mrs. Cyrus Stahl is a highly cultured lady, was educated in the public schools, then was a graduate of Monticello Seminary at God- frey, Illinois, and subsequently became a teacher of prominence. Her only daughter, Emily A., is a graduate from the same school in which her mother had successfully gradu- ated some years before, and is now teaching at Madison, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl, united in their intellectual life, are also in sympathy with the same religious persuasion, both holding membership with the Christian church at Ridgely, Illinois, where Mr. Stahl is one of its deacons.
While tendering allegiance to the Democratic party, Mr. Stahl has never taken much active part in the public life of the community, other than to do his share in aiding in its uplift wherever possible. It is his desire to live a retired life and his fellow citizens consider him one of the most honest, upright and intelli- gent residents of Moro township, where he and his wife enjoy the respect and esteem of all who come within the circle of their ac- quaintance.
JOHN S. LEEF. Among the active and pro- gressive citizens who have given Madison county its name in the state as one of Illinois' most flourishing and best governed counties is John S. Leef, now chief supervisor of the county's forty-two able supervisors and one of the best commissioners that Madison county has ever had.
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John S. Leef may perhaps owe some of his sterling attributes to the stock from which he springs, for Germany, the native land of his parents, has before now contributed many broad-minded and industrious men to the up- building of our nation. Jacob Leef, the father of John S., was born in the Fatherland in 1815 and immigrated to this country at the age of nineteen. His wife was born in the old country in 1820 and also came to this country at an
early age. Their son John was born in Leef township in 1860, twenty-six years after the date of his father's arrival in this country. The parents were steady, industrious people, and for seven years after their advent in this country were employed by Colonel Mudge. It was while there, in fact, that Regina Rich- ert and Jacob Leef were married. They con- tinued to work for Colonel Mudge until their earnings amounted to enough to purchase a forty acre farm in Leef township. The farm was mostly prairie, but they were both young and hopeful and with light hearts went to live in the little cabin that was the only house on the land. Their spirit won, for in time they were able to add to their original purchase un- til they had not forty but four hundred acres. Their home was blessed with the birth of nine children, four daughters and five sons, namely :
purchasing twenty acres at Saline, where they make their residence. They completed a fine modern home in .Saline, where they moved in the fall of 1911, and which they intend to make their permanent home. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Leef have been born four chil- dren,-John J., Mary E., Frances I. and Ella M. They were all educated at the Purcell school, and Ella also attended the Saline pub- lic schools. On February 18, 1906, death claimed Mary E. and she was laid to rest, mourned by a large circle of friends to whom she will ever be a dear memory. John J. chose as his wife Miss Rosa Kimling, and makes his home in Saline, where he follows his trade as painter. He and his wife are the parents of one son, Harold Leef. Frances L. was united in marriage to Henry Korsmeyer, a promising farmer of Leef township, and is now the mother of a son, Orvall Korsmeyer. Ella, on September 27, 1911, became Mrs. Au- gust Weder, the marriage being solemnized by the Rev. Theodore Uhrda, pastor of the German church at Saline.
Mr. Leef has always been known as one of the strong men in local Republican politics and the confidence and esteem which he has in- spired in all who know him has more than once made of him the holder of public office, Joseph H. ; William, now deceased; Jacob A .; . where each new term only succeded in rais- Sylvester; Susan E .; Mary; Anna C .; Fran- ces L .; and John S. Mr. Leef, the father of the family, was a member of the German Lutheran church, while his wife remained a member of the Catholic faith. ing him in the eyes of the community. His wise administration and absolute honesty in every charge intrusted to him has done much not only for himself but for the good name of the party he espouses. For a number of years John S. Leef, like his brothers and sisters, attended what used to be known as the old Tontz school house but which is now serving as a residence. After his school days were over he remained at home and assisted his father in the work of the home farm until he laid the foundations of a home of his own by his marriage, September 28, 1880, to Miss Sophya Geyer. She was born July 5, 1859, in the state of Missouri, the daughter of John and Mary (Rodewald) Geyer, both natives of Germany. Besides Sophya, the Geyer fam- ily consisted of Amelia, Mary, Josephine and John P. Geyer. After their marriage the he was able to advance the welfare of the schools after his election as school director. For six terms he held the office of clerk of Leef township, and for four years he was jus- tice of the peace. In 1902 he was elected su- pervisor from Leef township for Madison county, and has filled that place with eminent satisfaction to all ever since. In 19II, at a meeting of the forty-two supervisors, Mr. Leef was selected as chairman, for they knew that his were able hands to steer the interests of the county into a prosperous and safe har- bor. In 1874, when Madison county decided to inaugurate the township system, Leef town- young couple began life on the old Leef home- stead, Father Leef making his home with them, for Mother Leef had entered into rest and he was left alone. After five years they moved to Kansas and remained there for five years, Mr. Leef engaging extensively in the raising of stock. Upon their return to Madi- son county they settled in Leef township, later ship was formed and named in honor of Jacob Leef, the father of John S., selecting him be- cause of the fact that he had always stood out boldly for any measure that spelled the ad- vancement of the public interests. Jacob Leef passed to his eternal reward in 1894, follow- ing his wife, whose demise occurred in 1875. They have not been forgotten in the county
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that was the scene of their activity for better conditions and here they left many loyal and devoted friends.
Fraternally John S. Leef had the honor to be one of the charter members of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge at Saline. Mlr. Leef was one of the five members of the board that incorporated the Diamond Mineral Springs Creamery, a creamery that on the au- thority of experts is said to furnish a large part of the highest grade butter in the state. He is a member of the Grand Fork Mutual Telephone Company, which is one of the growing and successful enterprises in the community, and he holds the office of secre- tary in the same. Mr. Leaf is also agent for the Highland Fire Insurance Company and the East St. Louis Cyclone Insurance Company. In all it is safe to say that Mr. Leef is one of the most active men in the county, as inter- ested in public affairs as in private enterprise. -a fine example of the highest type of Ameri- can citizenship.
WILLIAM PIERCE CRANE is actively and bus- ily employed as a plumber, his patronage in Granite City being large and remunerative. Coming from substantial New England an- cestry, he was born in Alton, Illinois, Novem- ber 26, 1877, a son of Henry J. Crane. His grandfather, Calvin Crane, was a native of either Connecticut or Massachusetts. Learn- ing the carpenter's trade when young, he sub- sequently became a noted contractor and builder, making a specialty of building bridges. He lived in Massachusetts the greater part of his life, spending his last years at Great Bar- rington, Berkshire county. He married Lu- cretia Wolfe, who was born in Connecticut, and died at Great Barrington, Massachusetts. They reared three children, namely : Henry J .; Charlotte, who married M. I. Lee ; and Caro- line, who became the wife of Albert Winchell.
Born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, June 11, 1833, Henry J. Crane was educated in the schools of Great Barrington. Beginning his active career when quite young, he was first employed as a clerk in a general store in Lee, Massachusetts, and later at Great Bar- rington, Massachusetts. Lured westward in 1855. he came to Alton, Illinois, and after clerking here for a time in a dry goods estab- lishment he became book-keeper in the office of the Courier, later accepting a similar po- sition in an insurance office at Middletown. In 1864 he was appointed deputy internal revenue collector, and served in that capacity about twenty years. Going then to Kansas, he was
employed in the real estate business for eigh- teen months, when he returned to Alton, Illi- nois, and from that time until his death, Feb- ruary 5. 1901, was bookkeeper in the Alton National Bank.
The maiden name of the wife of llenry J. Crane was Caroline E. Pierce. She was born in Chester, Vermont, and was there bred and educated. Her father, Dr. William Pierce, a native of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, fitted himself for a physician and when ready to begin the practice of medicine located at Chester, Vermont, from there going a few years later to Woodstock, Vermont. In 1855, accompanied by his family, he came to Alton, Illinois, where he continued his practice until his death, during the Civil war having been one of the physicians appointed to examine those desirous of enlisting as soldiers in the army. Dr. Pierce married Emily Sawyer, who was born in South Reading, Vermont, a daughter of Benjamin and Sally ( York) Saw- yer, of whom a brief account may be found on another page of this work, in connection with the sketch of Benjamin S. Sawyer. Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Crane reared three chil- dren, namely : William Pierce, Byron W. and Charlotte L.
After completing his studies in the com- mon schools of Alton, Willian Pierce Crane served an apprenticeship of five years at the plumber's trade, which he has since followed successfully, being one of the most skilful and popular plumbers in the city.
Mr. Crane married, in 1906, Caroline Cun- ningham, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, a daughter of Scott and Jennie ( McCoy) Cun- ningham, and their pleasant home is a center of social activity.
WILLIAM 1. LYNCH, general superintendent of the llot Mills Steel works department of the rolling mill of the National Enameling and Stamping Company of Granite City, Illinois, is one of the successful business men in this city. Mr. Lynch's great success is made up of an aggregation of little ones which finally formed a whole. Before he filled the position of honor and trust which he now occupies lie first filled many smaller positions of trust ; and before he had the superintendence of a number of men he had charge of himself. In addition to his business prominence he has a high standing in the political world and also in various fraternal organizations.
The life of William J. Lynch began on the 3rd day of August, 1869, in the city of Pitts- burg. Pennsylvania, of which state both his
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parents were then residents. These parents, William D. and Mary (Thomas) Lynch, were both natives of Wales, and the father grew to manhood in the country to which he owed his birth, becoming a skilled engineer. In 1867 he came to this country and later passed several years employed in the rolling mills in Ten- nessee, when subsequently he went to Bridge- port, Ohio, where he held a position in the rolling mills of that city until a few years ago, when he retired from active duties. He maintains his residence at Bridgeport, Ohio, the city where he is well known and re- spected, where he spent so many years of his wedded life, and where his wife, the beloved partner of his youth and middle age, departed this life in the year 1891.
The early boyhood and school days of Will- iam J. Lynch were passed at Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and in his thirteenth year he left school and accompanied his parents to Bridge- port, Ohio. There commenced his initial con- nection with rolling mills; at that early age he began to learn the trade of a roller and was employed in that capacity by the Aetna Stand- ard Iron and Steel Works and later by the United States Steel Corporation, with whom he remained for many years. He next went to Cambridge, Ohio, where he stayed two years; then spent four years at New Phila- delphia, Ohio, and in March, 1910, he came to Granite City, still working as a roller. His abilities were there accorded the recognition which they deserved, and he was promoted to the position of superintendent of the Hot Mills steel works department of the National Enameling and Stamping Company, the office of which he is the able incumbent today.
In 1893 Mr. Lynch married Miss Lulu B. Williams at Martin's Ferry, Ohio. She is the daughter of John J. Williams, an old and re- spected citizen of that place. One daughter, Julia Gladys, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lynch.
The interest of Mr. Lynch centers in his business, but he has also ever evinced the deepest concern in all matters of public nature -- local and state politics in his eye assuming proportions of tremendous moment. His alle- giance has always been rendered to the Repub- lican party and he has held several responsible and important positions in connection with po- litical work. In 1904 he was elected council- man from the Third ward of Granite City; he was appointed a member of the finance committee of Granite City and served as chairman of said committee for one year. In
the primary election of 1906 he became the committeeman of No. 2 precinct of Nameoki township and later was elected chairman of the county central committee, a position which he occupied until 1910.
Mr. Lynch is a prominent "lodge" man, be- ing affiliated with several fraternal orders. He is a Mason of high standing, being a mem- ber of the Granite City Lodge, No. 877, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons ; of the Gran- ite City Chapter, No. 221, Royal Arch Ma- sons; of the St. Aldemar Commandery in St. Louis, Missouri, Knights Templar ; and he is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, belonging to Moolah Temple. He holds membership with the Loyal Order of Moose and was selected as a delegate to represent the Granite City Lodge. He is a member of Granite City Lodge, No. 1063, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; has served as exalted ruler for two terms and was chosen as a delegate to the na- tional convention of Elks which met in At- lantic City, New Jersey, in July, 19II. It would be almost impossible to enumerate all the different organizations with which Mr. Lynch is connected in some manner, but this biography should not close without some reference to the Granite City Daily Record, one of the leading Republican journals of this locality, since Mr. Lynch was one of its principal organizers and is today its president. Thus in these widely varying activities he profitably spends his time.
JESSE M. THREADGILL, M. D. There is no profession or line of business that calls for greater self-sacrifice or more devoted atten- tion than the medical profession and the suc- cessful physician is he who through love for his fellow men gives his time and attention to the relief of human suffering. Dr. Jesse M. Threadgill is one of the ablest representa- tives of this noble calling in Madison county where he has been located since 1898, and al- though by birth a Southerner he is loyal to the interests of Madison county with the loyalty of a native son.
Mr. Threadgill was born at Newton, Dale county, Alabama, January 28, 1873. and is the son of F. A. and Martha J. (Barnett) Thread- gill. He was reared at Columbus, Georgia, and from the Mercer University of his native state was graduated in 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Having come to a de- cision as to his life work he matriculated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of St. Louis, Missouri, and was graduated from
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that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1898. In the spring of that year he came to New Douglas, Madison county, and ever since that time has practiced here, his signal ability and conscientiousness bringing success and the universal confidence of the community. He is a valued member of the Madison county, Illi- nois State and American Medical societies and is a constant student of his profession.
Dr. Threadgill laid the foundations of a happy household and congenial life compan- ionship by his marriage on August 20, 1897, to Miss Nina Reeves, of New Douglas, Illinois. She is a daughter of John and Rebecca (Lowry) Reeves; was born and reared in New Douglas and received her general educa- tion in the public school, being graduated from its higher department. She is talented music- ally and her training in that line was thorough. Dr. and Mrs. Threadgill share their pleasant home with three children: Mercer and Ken- neth, twins, born July 19, 1898; and Roberta, born October 4, 1900. They hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Threadgill enjoys membership in the Modern Woodmen of America and other fraternal or- ganizations. In his political convictions he is a Democrat and in all public matters he is helpfully interested. He is the champion of advancement in all fields and particularly in the educational and he has served as school director of New Douglas.
AUGUSTUS B. ROCKWELL. Among the many farmers of Madison county whose interest in every phase of the county's development-in- dustrial, educational and social-make the whole community proud of their achieve- ments, is Augustus B. Rockwell, the son of George and Katherine Peterson Rockwell. The father was born in Missouri, the mother, in Illinois, and their family consisted of three sons and two daughters, of whom Augustus is the oldest. Of the others, Esther is now Mrs. Marshall Mauck, of Poseyville, Indiana. Joseph D. is now living in Leef township with his wife, Mrs. Nellie Beadle Rockwell, for- merly of O'Fallon, Illinois. Larkin, who mar- ried Ella Ruff, of Lebanon, Illinois, is in the real-estate business in Kansas City, and Eva lives in the same city, the wife of Ashley Brown, a manufacturer.
Augustus Rockwell was born in 1860, two years after his parents came to their farm of two hundred and forty acres in Leef township. Like his brothers and sisters, he received the advantages of a good education. They began their schooling in the Rockwell school and
later Augustus, as well as Esther, Joseph and Larkin, completed the course in McKendree college in Lebanon, Illinois. The three younger children are graduates of that insti- tution, but Augustus interrupted his studies to engage in teaching after attending one year. He returned to his college work after teaching in Leef township, and in the two years he was at McKendree he was a class- mate of Charles S. Deneen, now governor of Illinois, and of L. Y. Sherman, who was lieu- tenant governor.
After leaving college Mr. Rockwell again took up the profession of teaching and was eminently successful in it. He spent fourteen years in different schools in Madison, St. Clare and Bond counties. After leaving school-work he began the business of farm- ing and stock raising, in which he is still en- gaged. His marriage took place on Decem- ber 26, 1889, when he was united to Miss Ef- fie Reece, of Eureka, Illinois.
Effie Reece Rockwell was born in Peoria, in 1863. Her father, J. S. Reece, was a ma- chinist who later took up farming. He was born in Pennsylvania and his wife, Hannah Major Recce, was a native of West Virginia. They had two children, Effie and Sherman, both of whom were educated at Valparaiso, Indiana, at the Eureka College in Illinois and at the State Normal School at Normal, Illi- nois. While a student Mrs. Rockwell not only took a literary course, but fitted herself to be a music teacher and for twenty years she has been one of the most successful instructors in this part of Madison county. Many of her pupils have won distinction in the art.
Mr. Rockwell's farm is a part of the old Rockwell homestead, a tract of one hundred and twenty acres, which he has improved and cultivated according to the most advanced modern methods. His house is a new struc- ture of fifteen rooms, which he has fitted up with every appliance for comfort, thus com- bining the advantages of a city and a country (welling. Acetylene lights, an adequate heat- ing-plant for warming the house by hot water and a modern bathroom, not to omit to men- tion the ample and well lighted basement, make Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell feel secure in keeping their children untouched by the lure of the city.
Another inheritance which is even more val- uable to the boys, Earl and Chauncy Rockwell, is the fact that neither their father nor grand- father ever drank intoxicating liquor nor used tobacco in any form. The boys are now ten
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and fifteen years of age, Chauncy being the older, and they promise to emulate their for- bears in this praiseworthy abstinence. Chauncy passed from the eighth grade at the age of fourteen and will complete his education in McKendree College, where his father and his sister Ruby have gone before him and where his younger brother and his other sister, Gus- sie, now twelve, will follow him as soon as they are old enough.
Miss Ruby Rockwell graduated from the eighth grade in 1906 and has since then been at college. Like her mother, she has unusual ability in music and has fitted herself to teach it. At present she has a class of thirty stu- dents.
In addition to farming, Mr. Rockwell has for the last quarter of a century handled the best farm machinery, in the capacity of agent. A successful farmer himself, he has promoted the use of the best tools for that art among his neighbors. He has been agent for various binders, the Walter A. Wood, the Plano and the Acme. In addition to handling farm ma- chinery Mr. Rockwell has also successfully represented the Columbia Phonograph Com- pany for the past five years, as well as the Victor and other machines, sometimes having several thousand dollars worth of stock on hand. Consequently, few of his neighbors are without music in their homes. He also han- dles the De Laval & Western separator.
Politically Mr. Rockwell is a Republican. The family are attendants of the Methodist church at New Douglas, of which Mrs. Rock- well is an influential member, and to which the family contribute generously. Mr. Rock- well has been called upon to serve the com- munity in the capacity of collector for two years, of assessor for eight years, and of school director for twelve years. He is still filling the last mentioned office, discharging its responsibilities as he has those of the other public positions, in a manner satisfactory to his constituents and to the entire community, of which he is rightly regarded as one of the most eminent and popular members, richly deserving the confidence and esteem with which he is universally regarded.
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