USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 53
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WILLIAM H. MORGAN, who since 1904 has been county surveyor of Madison county, is a skilful and broad-experienced member of his profession, and his services have been used not only in important engineering enterprises of this county but also in other states. His professional practice at Edwardsville began in 1900. As an expert on drainage work and
also in his official capacity he has been closely associated with the solution of the technical problems involved in the Cahokia drainage ditch, one of the largest engineering works ever undertaken in southern Illinois. His professional skill has also been called into requisition in similar enterprises in Missouri, Arkansas and elsewhere.
Mr. Morgan was born at Washington, Iowa, October 19, 1876, a son of L. T. and Eliza- beth (Harvey) Morgan. Educated in the public schools and four years at the Univer- sity of Nebraska, he came to Illinois in 1895 as a government surveyor, and located at Ed- wardsville in 1900. He was elected county surveyor in 1904 and is now serving his sec- ond term in that office. In politics Mr. Mor- gan is Republican, and is a member of Ed- wardsville Lodge, No. 99, A. F. & A. M., and the Consistory, thirty-second degree, and of the Knights of Pythias.
He was married in 1905 to Miss Nellie E. Tindall, daughter of Charles E. and Eliza (Purcell) Tindall. Her mother died in 1898. Her father was born in this county November 26, 1840. Several members of her family have made distinguished names and have been prominent in the various localities where they have lived.
WILLIAM H. DUFFEY, proprietor of a gen- eral merchandise store at Bethalto, is one of the successful merchants in a county noted for its commercial prosperity. The business man of today is a creator, a builder, an econo- mist. The only way to make money is to ren- der a service to humanity-to supply some- thing that people want -- and he who confers the greatest service at the least expense is the man who should be crowned with honor and clothed with riches. Mr. Duffey is busily en- gaged in performing this service and in receiv- ing the returns therefor.
The glorious Fourth of July, 1874, is mem- orable as having been the date of Mr. Duffey's first appearance into the world. He was born in Iowa and is a son of Owen and Frances E. (Belk) Duffey, the father a native of Ireland, who came to America in his youth; after at- tending the public schools he learned the stone mason's trade, which he followed for some years, then developed into a contractor, which business he followed until February, 1908, when his death occurred on the 17th day of the month, at Bethaito. Mrs. Owen Duffey hailed from Maryland, where her birth oc- curred at Baltimore, in 1838. She still main- tains her home at Bethalto, happy in the pros-
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perity of her six children, all of whom are still living within easy access. Arabella G. is the wife of H. F. Zimmerman, of Bunker Hill, Illinois ; C. E. is a resident of Granite City, 11- linois ; Mollis MI. is married to Wheeler Mor- gan, of Bethalto, Illinois ; Lillie M. is the wife of F. L. Oetken; William H. is the merchant whose name initiates this review; and Russell M. is secretary to the president of commis- sioners of the Mississippi river-a government office.
The excellent public schools of Bethalto furnished William H. Duffey his early instruc- tion, and from the public school he became a student at Bushnell College, Bushnell, Illinois. On leaving college, well equipped for competi- tion in the commercial world he expected to enter, he accepted a position as clerk in a store and during the ensuing five years he lost no opportunity to gain knowledge of the work- ings of a mercantile establishment and busi- ness principles in general. Five years after completing his college career he bought a gen- eral store at Bethalto, where he proceeded to put in practice the results of his experience and observations while working as an employe. That he succeeded in ."making good" 15 evinced by his present prosperous condition.
On the 14th day of October, 1903, Mr. Duffey married Miss Lulu E. Buckley, daugh- ter of. J. W. Buckley, of Edwardsville, Illi- nois. Mrs. Duffey is a refined, cultured lady, who was educated in the public schools of Wanda, Illinois, and on the completion of her own educational training she proceeded to im- part knowledge to others as a teacher in the Bethalto schools. Mr. and Mrs. Duffey have no children living. They are both interested in religious efforts, Mrs. Duffey holding mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Wanda, while her husband is one of the elders of the Presbyterian church. In a fraternal way Mr. Duffey is a member of the Bethalto lodge, No. 735, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he is a past grand in that order and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. Mrs. Duffey is prominent in the Re- bekahs, of which she and her husband are both members ; she is a past grand and she has represented her lodge in Grand Lodge.
Mr. Duffey's political sympathies are with the Republican party, and because of his deep interest in educational matters, together with his recognized executive abilities, he was elected to the office of school trustee, which position he filled with credit to himself and with distinct advantage to the community.
Mr. Duffey is affable in manners and success- ful in business, and while his friends and neighbors would attribute his prosperity to his good judgment and his industry, he himself believes that the exact habits of temperance which he has strictly observed all his life, have been important factors in his success.
ALEXANDER ANTENEN. To have come from Swiss stock is to have one of the best herit- ages in the world, for the little republic among he mountains has ever bred men of courage and industry, whose hardy independence has made them ideal citizens for the new country beyond the Atlantic. Alexander Antenen, now among the prominent and hardy farmers and stock-raisers of Madison county, was born in the Republic of Switzerland, December 5, 1861, the son of Benedict and Marie ( Webber ) Antenen. Two years later his parents brought him to the United States, where they settled in Highland, Illinois. There for ten years the elder Antenen farmed on rented ground, by in- (lustry and saving gradually accumulating a competency. His health, however, began to fail and he was called from the scene of life's endeavors in 1874, leaving behind him a be- reaved widow and family consisting of John, Jacob, Eliza. Sophia and Alexander Antenen. The widowed mother took pains to educate her children and sent them to the district school. Her children remained at home, assisting with the work of the home farm, until in time they became the heads of households of their own.
Alexander was occupied on the home farm until his marriage, in 1891, to Miss Mary Det- ermann. She was born in Douglas, Bond county, in 1868, a daughter of Henry and Katherine ( Hackmann ) Determann, native born Germans who had immigrated to the United States at an early date. Besides Mary, they were the parents of August, Henry and Edward, all of whom attended the Hickory Grove school.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Antenen began their wedded life on a farm which they rented in Alhambra township. Together they worked early and late, for Mrs. Antenen proved an industrious helpmeet and they were rewarded for their industry, for after renting for some years in Marine and Leef townships they were able to purchase one hundred and seven acres of land in Leef township. It was a comparatively unimproved piece of land with only an old house and barn on its premises. With hope and energy they set about to im- prove and beautify their home. Fine shade trees were planted, and orchards were set out
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that will some day yield a choice variety of fruits. They erected a fine two-story dwelling and have 'since put up several well built farm buildings. The place is now one of the best improved and most substantial in the township. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Antenen have been born six children, ---- Pauline, Ella, Ida and Fremont. Lizzie and Clarence are now deceased. The children were sent to the Pur- cell school.
Mr. and Mrs. Antenen are members of the German Evangelical church at Alhambra and they have ever been keenly interested in the good works of that faith and liberal contribu- tors to the fund which built its present hand- some structure, which is in all ways a monu- ment to the good taste of the congregation. Besides their schooling received at the Purcell school, the children of Mr. Antenen have at- tended the German school at Alhambra, and have been confirmed in the German Evangel- ical faith. They are competent to speak both German and English.
Politically Mr. Antenen is a stalwart Re- publican, finding that the men and measures of that party conform more nearly to his ideas of what trends most to the benefit of the com- munity.
On September 12, 1911, was solemnized the marriage of their eldest daughter, Miss Paul- ine, to William Warning, the son of William and Louise Warning. The wedding was a happy gathering, both young people enjoying the best wishes of many friends. Rev. Mr. Dinkmeyer, pastor of the German Evangelical church, performed the ceremony.
It is a pleasure to have written this slight record of the Antenen family, their success having followed so logically upon their own kindly personalities and their sterling industry and progressive management.
HON. AMOS EDWARD BENBOW. Conspicuous among the foremost citizens of Madison county is Hon. Amos Edward Benbow, of Al- ton, a man of keen intelligence and scholarly attainments, who has ever been a leader in promoting the material interests of the city and county, and has served the people ably and wisely in various public positions of trust and responsibility. A son of Richard M. Ben- bow, he was born in Wood River township, Madison county, Illinois, February 20, 1850, and is of distinguished ancestry, being a collat- eral descendant of Admiral John Benbow, who, many years ago, was a distinguished officer in the English Navy.
Thomas Benbow, Mr. Benbow's paternal Vol. II-18
grandfather, was a life-long resident of Eng- land. He was a man of means, owning an es- tate at Stafford Bridge in Riffle Worchester, where he kept the Stafford Bridge Inn. He owned one hundred acres of land, on which he grew fruit and carried on general farming, and in addition managed a livery stable and operated a brewery, his energy, enterprise and ambition being, apparently, unlimited. To him and his wife three sons were born and reared, as follows: Richard M .; Thomas, a practic- ing physician and surgeon, who served in the British Navy, and whose descendants are now residents of Australia; and William, who be- came a civil engineer and railroad builder, and spent his entire life in his native land.
Richard M. Benbow, when young, was given every opportunity for acquiring an education, being sent to school regularly during his boy- hood days. His father intended to fit him for the Episcopal ministry, and with that end in view started him on his journey to a prepara- tory school. Instead of making his appear- ance at the school, however, he embarked for America at Liverpool, on the sailing vessel "Richard Cobden," which for several weeks was becalmed in mid-ocean in the West In- dies, and all on board were from necessity put on short rations. Landing, eventually, at New Orleans, he made his way to Saint Louis, where for a year he was book-keeper in a hotel. Going then up the Mississippi and Il- linois rivers to Fort Clark, he there landed, and going a short distance inland secured a tract of Government land, on which he erected a log cabin, with a huge fireplace, and began the improvement of a homestead. The settlers were few and far between at that time, and the country roundabout was in its pristine wilderness, deer and other wild animals being plentiful. He succeeded well in his operations, but having unfortunately signed a security bond he was forced to sell his land to meet the indebtedness. His mother subsequently sent him one thousand eight hundred dollars from England, and he purchased with it one hundred and sixty acres of timbered land near the mouth of Wood River in Wood River township, Madison county. At that time wood was in great demand in Saint Louis for fuel, and while clearing his land he made a business of shipping wood to that city, transporting it on the "Gibraltar," a boat which he built for the purpose. After the death of his father he went back to England to settle the parental es- tate, and having completed the work satisfac- torily, returned to Illinois. After improving
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a large part of his land, he moved to Upper Alton, where he lived retired until his death, at the age of sixty-five years. He served as mayor of Upper Alton for three terms, and served as a justice of the peace for many years.
The maiden name of the wife of Richard M. Benbow was Tryphena Hulbert, who was born in Wabash county, Indiana. Her father, William Hulbert, was born in Indiana, of Scotch-Irish and German ancestry, and there lived for a few years after his marriage. He subsequently became a pioneer settler of Madi- son county, Illinois, and for a time kept a hotel at Milton, residing there until his death. Mrs. Richard M. Benbow died at the age of fifty- five years, leaving two children, namely: Jo- sephine, wife of Dr. Frank Worden, of Al- ton, and Amos Edward.
Having completed the course of study in the public schools of his native district, Amos Ed- ward Benbow attended Shurtleff College three years, after which he taught school six years, his first experience as a teacher having been obtained at Hull. Since that time Mr. Benbow has been extensively and successfully en- gaged in the real estate business. In 1908 he platted Benbow City, which was incorporated April 30 of that year, and of which he was chosen its first mayor, now serving his second term therein.
Active and influential in political circles, Mr. Benbow has filled various official positions with credit to himself and to the honor of his constituents. During President Cleveland's first administration he was deputy United States marshal for the southern district of Il- linois, which included sixty-nine counties. He has served two terms as mayor of Upper Al- ton; he has been deputy sheriff; for twelve years he acted as constable ; has served as a justice of peace; and for three years he was assessor and for two years a collector. He also represented Madison county in the Forty- fourth Illinois General Assembly.
Fraternally Mr. Benbow is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M .; of Upper Alton Lodge, No. 466, I. O. O. F. and of Wiley Encampment ; and of Fleur de Lis Lodge, No. 68, K. of P.
THEODOR SELB. Since the second genera- tion in the settlement of Madison county an important share in the development, progress and civic character of the county has been con- tributed by representatives of the German na- tion. Many strong and honored citizens of this nationality have been identified with local affairs, and among them one whose name is
associated with the best qualities of civic and business integrity and success is Mr. Theo- dor Selb, now retired, who was a merchant at Venice for thirty years and has given his services in many public-spirited ways to the welfare of his community and county.
Theodor Selb was born in Germany in 1836, a son of Xavier and Katherine Selb. His brothers and sisters were Herman, Charles, Anton, Edward, Amelia and Emily. His boy- hood was spent in his native land, where he re- ceived a good education, but at the beginning of his independent carcer, when he was twenty years old, he determined to seek the oppor- tunities of the republic of which he had heard many encouraging reports. In 1855 he arrived in St. Louis, in company with his cousin Maxie Selb. Strong and ambitious, he began working on farms at eight dollars a month. Three years later he was employed as carriage driver for a wealthy St. Louis family, with whom he remained several years longer. In the mean- time he had mastered the English language and was prepared for a larger field of work.
On the 10th of May, 1861, he engaged to work for Mr. Robinson, of the general mer- chandise firm of Abbott & Robinson at Ven- ice, this being the beginning of a residence at Venice which has continued now for half a century. His intention to pursue commercial life was deferred for a time, however. All plans and regular occupations were being in- terrupted just then because of the recent out- break of the Civil war. Instead of taking his place behind a counter, on the very next day, May IIth, Mr. Selb enlisted in Company K of the Fifth Missouri Volunteers, under Cap- tain Dannichill. Though he was with the army but a few months, his service was in some of the most important campaigns of the war, resulting in the permanent possession of the southwest to the Union. He was with the forces under the intrepid General Lyon, and fought at Lexington, Booneville and in the crucial battle of Wilson's Creek, and finally did duty on the gunboats on the Mississippi river. He received his honorable discharge in 1861, and then yielded to the persuasion of his employer, Mr. Robinson, and also of the young lady who soon afterward became his wife, and settled at Venice and continued with Mr. Robinson until 1864, in which year he en- gaged in the mercantile business on his own account.
In 1862 Mr. Selb married Miss Sophia Schultz, who was his best assistant through- out his business career and his devoted com-
Meoder Sell,
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panion and mother of his family for thirty- seven years, until taken away by death in 1899. She was born in Germany in 1838, daughter of Frederick and Sophia Schultz, who came to America during her childhood. Mrs. Selb had one brother, Frank, and they were both educated in the St. Louis schools. Mr. and Mrs. Selb were industrious workers and good managers, and material success re- warded their efforts and enabled them to give their children a comfortable home and all the advantages of youth. They were the parents of seven children: Robert, Amelia, Theodore, Augusta, Mary, Adele and John, four of whom died in infancy. The others were edu- cated in the schools at Venice and are now sit- uated as follows: Amelia is the wife of Fred- erick Kohl, vice president of the State Bank of Granite City and one of the ablest citizens and business men of that city. They have had seven children, namely: Sophia, Augusta (deceased), Freda, Amelia, Edna, Hilda and Frederick. Sophia Kohl became the wife of Roy Barney, cashier of the Granite City Sav- ings & Trust Company, and they have three children, Royal, Marian and Edna, these last being great-grandchildren of Theodore Selb.
Augusta Selb is the wife of Dr. Julien Scott, of Venice, and it is in their home that Mr. Selb has spent the years since his wife's death. Dr. Scott was born near O'Fallon, Illi- nois, in 1862, being a son of John and Sarah Scott, whose other three children were Dr. Ralph, also of Venice, Blanche and Benjamin. Dr. Scott for twelve years filled the office of mayor of Venice and is one of the leading citi- zens and a successful man in his profession. Dr. and Mrs. Scott are the parents of three children: Esther, aged sixteen and a student in the high school; and Theodore and Leo- nore, twins, now in the seventh grade of school.
John Selb, the only son of Theodor Selb, is a real estate man at Venice, and is now serving as school treasurer. He is unmarried.
The children and grandchildren revere the memory of their mother and grandmother, who was always devoted to their welfare throughout her life. She now rests in the German Lutheran cemetery at . Nameoki, where for many years she was one of the working members of the church.
As a citizen Mr. Theodor Selb has com- manded the same esteem and confidence which he inspired as a business man, and he has accordingly been honored with many responsi- bilities. For twelve years he has served as a
director of the public schools, and has been an alderman of Venice ever since the incorpora- tion of the city. He took an important part in the organization of the city government, and has also held the office of mayor. He was for twelve years a supervisor of Venice township. While retired from active business, he retains an interest in affairs as a director in the Gran- ite City National Bank, and also in the Sav- ings & Trust Bank of the same city. For nearly half a century he has been an honored member of Nameoki Lodge, No. 87, of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was formerly a member of the Knights of Honor and of other fraternal societies. His political activities have always been in the interest of the Republican party, and he has the distinc- tion of having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
This brief review of the life of one of Madi- son county's older citizens has presented only the more important points in a career that has been successful in its material activities, hon- orable in all its public and private relations, and of distinct value as a resource of good citizenship and individual character.
ROBERT W. LIVINGSTON. One of the best known citizens of New Douglas and the sur- rounding country is Robert W. Livingston. . His interests lie in several fields and he is prominent in the many-sided life of the com- munity. He is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of choice land, upon which he conducts operations in stock raising and gen- eral farming; he is a local Republican leader ; and as post-master he comes into contact with practically the entire public. Mr. Livingston was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, March 23, 1862, the son of John and Jane (Brown) Livingston, and is the third in a family of eleven children. When the subject was two years of age, he came with his parents to Olive township, Madison county. He was reared upon the farm and received his education in the district schools, and as an assistant in the many departments of farm life, he early be- came proficient in the great basic industry. At the age of twenty years he established himself independently by going to farming on his own account and he continued engaged thus for the coming four years. He purchased his present home in the year 1888. He spends the greater part of his time on the Clover farm and en- gages in farming and stock-raising. He was appointed post-master of New Douglas in 1908 and holds this office at the present time, his services having proved of the most faithful and
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efficient order. He has from his earliest vot- ing days given hand and heart to the Repub- lican party, and at the present time is serving as a member of the Republican central com- mittee from New Douglas township. For four years he was a member of the county executive committee and he served as supervisor of New Douglas township from 1895 to 1899.
Mr. Livingston was happily married in 1886 to Lillie B. Olive, daughter of James and Mary (Lane) Olive, who was born in Olive town- ship in 1864. Their union has been blessed by the birth of four children, as follows: Pearl, a graduate of the Charleston ( Ill.) Normal School and a former teacher, is now the wife of H. H. Mead, of Alhambra; Eugenie is a graduate of Strasburg Conservatory of Music, of St. Louis, Missouri; Willie O. remains upon the farm in whose operation he takes an active part ; and Marion is the youngest mem- ber, aged fifteen years. The subject is a prom- inent Mason and belongs to Madison Lodge, No. 560, A. F. & A. M. and to Staunton Chap- ter, R. A. M. He is interested in the success of good government and is essentially public spirited.
J. H. BUURMAN, the prominent and pros- perous hardware merchant of Kaufman, was born in Alhambra in 1862. Both of his parents, Michael and Margaret Buhrman, were born in Germany. The former came to America when a young man and shared the excitement of the gold craze which swept the country after the discovery of the stores of precious metal in California. He crossed the plains with a cara- van in that thrilling time and passed through the perilous and harrowing experiences incident to that difficult journey. He did not succeed in finding gold, so he returned to Germany, married his sweetheart and came back with her to find the surer wealth of the fertile prairies.
The young couple settled in St. Louis, where Mr. Buhrman remained two years. He then removed to Marine and purchased a store, and two years later took up the occupation of farm- ing. With the able assistance of his wife suc- cess crowned Michael Buhrman's efforts and when he died he was possessed of two hundred acres of land, which by unremitting industry they had brought under cultivation and im- proved. Six sons and two daughters were born into the home of Michael and Margaret Buhrman: One son died in infancy; the others are Louis, Henry (deceased). Caroline, Michael, Margeuretta, William, and J. H., of this review. The parents gave their children
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