USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 54
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such advantages as the region afforded at that time. They had all the German reverence for education and sent the children to school as much as possible. They were, moreover, de- voted members of the Evangelical church and did not neglect the religious training of their boys and girls. While at Marine in the mer- cantile business Mr. Buhrman sustained an in- jury which deprived him of the use of one hand. On returning from a hunting expedi- tion he put his hand on the barrel of a gun, in getting out of the buggy. The gun went off and Mr. Buhrman's hand was shot through. Nevertheless he spent the rest of his life in active work on the farm. He lived until 1888, and his wife passed away in 1898, and they were buried in Marine, mourned by a loving family and a wide circle of friends. Both were representatives of that class which makes the sinews of our civilization loyal and industrious citizens and home-makers.
At the age of eighteen John Buhrman felt he should learn some trade and accordingly mastered the blacksmith's art. He worked at Marine, St. Louis and in Troy. In 1884 he settled in Kaufman and in the fall of the fol- lowing year married Miss Julia Accola, of Marine township, and thus took the first step toward establishing a home. Mrs. J. H. Buhr- man is the daughter of George and Anna ( Hurleman) Accola, both born in Switzerland. Their daughter Julia was born in Helvetia township, where her father was a fariner and a carpenter. There were five children in the Accola household besides Julia : David, John, Crist, George and one other daughter, Amelia, now Mrs. Brensing, of Mullenville, Kansas.
Three daughters and one son have been born to J. H. and Julia Buhrman : Linda, Clara, Olivia and Eugene. Their parents have edu- cated these girls at the state normal school in Normal after they finished the course in the district schools, and they are now pursuing the calling for which they have been trained. Linda began her work in the profession at Loos school in Jarvis township and spent three years in that school, making a signal success of her work. Since then she has taught a year at Sibert school and two at Wider Range. Clara taught two years at Hamel and also at Stahl- ings school.
Since 1884 Mr. Buhrman has been in the hardware business at Kaufman and by his saga- cious management, combined with his genial manner and lofty business principles, he lias built up a successful establishment. His store is one of the best equipped in the county, his
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goods are of the best stock and he carries a large line. He has other interests in other sec- tions of the country; he owns two hundred acres of fine farming land in Kiowa county, Kansas. His residence in Kaufman is one of the attractive homes of the county, suggestive of repose and comfort.
In his politics Mr. Buhrman is a consistent and loyal Republican. He has been called upon by the community to represent their interests, in the capacity of justice of peace, where he served eight years, and as school director for six years. He is now acting supervisor for the second term. Added to his ability in com- mercial lines and to his public-spirited interest in the general welfare, Mr. Buhrman has a largeness of heart and a kindness of manner which bring him the best possession of this world-the friendship of his kind. Mı. Buhr- man is a member of the German Evangelical church of Marine, while his wife is a commu- nicant of the Roman Catholic body.
EDWARD M. HERRIN, veterinary surgeon, is one of the most successful members of this profession in the state, and has been practicing in Madison county for fifteen years. He rep- resents an old family of the county and was born at St. Jacobs, March 3, 1864.
His parents were George W. and Elizabeth (Pearce) Herrin. The father, who was a farmer of St. Jacobs township, died when Ed- ward M. was twelve years old. His mother is still living, at the age of eighty. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the fol- lowing survive: Frank, Belle, Edward M., Effie, Nellie, Paul and Charles, and the three living in this county are Edward M., Frank, at Alton, and Effie, at St. Jacobs.
Dr. Herrin received his education in the St. Jacobs school, in an academy at Greenville and at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, af- ter which he pursued his professional studies in the Chicago Veterinary College, where he was graduated in 1896. . For twelve years he was located at St. Jacobs, and has had his of- fice at Edwardsville since 1907. His skill is employed for the benefit of all domestic ani- mals, and his business is a large one. Dr. Her- rin also owns a farm of two hundred acres near Greenville in Bond county, Illinois.
He is a Republican in politics, and is a mem- ber of the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen orders. He was married in 1889 to Miss Bertha Kyle, daughter of William F. Kyle, of Madison county. They have one child, Earl E.
HON. JOHN H. YAGER, whose death on Jan- uary 6, 19II, removed one of the eminent law- yers of the county and state, was a member of the bar of Madison county for over half a century and for the greater part of that time was an active and honored resident of Alton.
He was born November 12, 1833, in Eisen- 'ach, Germany, the birthplace of Martin Lu- ther. He came to New Orleans in 1837 with his parents, and shortly afterward removed to St. Louis. His early education was carefully looked after by his mother, but his life was de- voted to study and his subsequent high attain- ments were the result of his own energy. He became a learned lawyer and polished scholar.
In 1854 he studied law in Edwardsville, Illi- nois, in the offices of Hon. A. W. Metcalf and Judge Gillespie. In 1857 he went to Chicago and entered the office of Judge Theophilus L. Dickey, subsequently assistant attorney-gen- eral of the United States, and he was admitted to the practice of law from the office of Judge Dickey by the Supreme Court Judges Caton and Skinner. Alton was at this time a center of political interest, and Mr. Yager went there and was active in the political campaign of 1858, rendered memorable by the joint debate of Lincoln and Douglas. He became an active supporter of Lincoln.
In April, 1861, President Lincoln appointed him surveyor of customs for the port of Al- ton, which position he held for four years, dur- ing the war. In 1866 he went to the legislature and served several terms in both branches. He was one of the most active members. He in- troduced the bill to establish the Illinois State Reform School, and after a long struggle with numerous conferences the bill was enacted. He was chairman of the conference committee of both branches. The eight hour law was a Chicago measure, but by the advocacy of Mr. Yager from the southern part of the state the eight hour law was adopted and has never been changed. He was the author of the valued in- surance policy law, which has been copied and is in force in many states of the Union.
In May, 1869, he was elected counselor for the Illinois Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Alton, of which the lieutenant-governor of the state, Francis A. Hoffman, of Chicago, was president. This company was established in 1839 and was the oldest in the state.
In 1871 President Grant, without solicita- tion from Mr. Yager or any of his friends, ap- pointed him collector of internal revenue for the Twelfth Congressional District of Illinois.
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Being otherwise engaged, he declined the ap- pointment, and for the same reason also de- clined to serve as presidential elector, to which he was chosen in 1872, and upon his resigna- tion General John I. Rinaker was chosen. In 1873 he was appointed by President Grant a commissioner to the Vienna Exposition.
Mr. Yager's name was mentioned for nu- merous political offices at various times-for speaker of the State Senate, simultaneous with the election of Governor Oglesby, and as lieu- tenant-governor of the State at the Peoria convention. He took an active part in the presidential campaign for Blaine and Logan. General Logan was his staunch friend, and a frequent visitor to his home in Alton.
Mr. Yager was a man of fine legal attain- ments. He twice codified the ordinances of the City of Alton. At the time of his death he was Dean of the Madison County Bar.
He was married at Sedalia, Missouri, in 1860, to Miss Ida E. Hess. She was born in St. Louis, and is still living in Alton, at the old homestead on Langdon street. Their chil- dren were: Ida E., wife of E. W. Sparks, of Montclair, New Jersey; Estelle, who married S. L. Beach, of West Point, Mississippi ; Louis E., of Oak Park, Illinois; and Levi D., Ed- ward and Charles M., of Alton.
Charles M. Yager was born in Alton, Sep- tember 5, 1872. After graduating from the high school with the class of '92, he entered newspaper work and got the experience, pre- paratory for his later successful career, as city editor of the Alton Telegraph. He was con- nected with this paper and other publications, and also traveled extensively. After making several trips to Cuba in the interest of the flour industry of the United States, he became editor of the Modern Miller of St. Louis. This pub- lication, devoted to the milling interests of the United States, is a leading trade journal, and has branch offices in all the large cities of the country and correspondents in Europe.
While in daily attendance on his business in St. Louis, Mr. Yager has always maintained his residence in Alton and has taken an active part in public affairs here. He has served eight years in the city council, and was chair- man of the finance committee most of the time. He is president of the Alton High School Alumni Association. His politics are Repub- lican.
He married, in 1898, Miss Kathryn M. Pates. She is a native of St. Louis, and her parents, Thomas and Eliza (Lewis) Pates, were born, the former in England, and the
latter in Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Yager have four children: William E., Kathryn, Charles M. Jr., and Richard Sidney.
ADOLPHI LUDWIG. No greater and sincerer compliment can be paid to a community than for its native sons to elect to remain perma- nently within its borders, and Leef township. is fortunate in the possession of an unusually large number of these, prominent among them being Adolph Ludwig, son of one of the prominent families and a prosperous farmer and stockman. His eyes first opened to the light of day in 1863, his parents being John and Eva (Aebly) Ludwig, natives of Switzer- land. The father immigrated to this country when a boy of fifteen, with his widowed mother, to claim his share of the opportunity presented by the newer land, and as he was ambitious, energetic and industrious he proved successful in this ambition. They came to Madison county and young John's first work was husking corn at twenty-five cents a day. After remaining here for about eight years he returned to his native land and chose his life's partner from the young women of the place in which he had been born, the chosen one being Miss Eva Aebly. They started soon afterward for America and located in Highland, where they set about to found a substantial home, the young wife proving an ideal helpmeet. They first rented a farm in the vicinity of Sa- line and worked at its improvement and culti- vation for several years. Their industry was rewarded by prosperity and they purchased a farm of eighty acres of raw land, four miles northeast of Saline. They built thereupon a small farm house. Mr. Ludwig developed into a fine manager and a very successful and pros- perous one. Although their work was of a strenuous character, leaving time for little else in the way of selfish interests, they were never too busy to attend religious services, and went first to the Highland German church and later, when a church was organized in Saline, be- coming honored members of it. Few citizens of the section advanced in a material sense more steadily, eventually becoming owners of no less than a thousand acres of the fair and fertile bosom of Madison county. The follow- ing children were born to them: Christian, Mary; John; Barbara; Joseph; Emil; Anna ; Daniel and David, twins, deceased; and Adolph, immediate subject. These young peo- ple attended the Ruedy district school and through their excellent early training devel- oped into fine citizens. They married and lo- cated in the neighborhood for the most part
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and are ranked among the best and most prom- inent people of Leef township.
Adolph remained beneath the home roof, assisting his father in the home duties, until the time of his marriage, in 1893. The lady of his choice was Margaret Ambuehl, born in Saline township in 1872, and a daughter of Benedict and Margaret (Auer) Ambuehl, the former born in the United States and the lat- ter in Switzerland, and their marriage occur- ring in Highland. Benedict Ambuehl was a farmer and maintained his residence in Saline township. He and his wife were industrious people, ambitious to improve their condition in life and they became owners of over three hundred acres of land. They were members of Grant Fork German church and were inter- ested in all that was good in the community. Their family consisted of the following chil- dren : Benedict, deceased; Emma; Albert ; August; Lena; Edwin and Ella, twins; and Margaret, wife of the subject of the sketch. These sons and daughters received their edu- cation in the Fairview and Kaufman schools. They were able and willing assistants of their parents in the farm work until their marriages and establishment of homes of their own, lo- cating in the surrounding country and reflect- ing honor upon their parents by their own right living. Three still remain at home with the mother, namely: August, Edwin and Ella. The father bade farewell to this life in 1910, his loss being keenly felt by the community.
After their union, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Lud- wig began life upon a farm which they rented from the senior Mr. Ludwig, and later in life, when Father Ludwig's health failed and he realized that the end was approaching, he di- vided his land among his children, so that ev- erything pertaining to his estate might be set- tled in a satisfactory manner before his death. The death of this good man occurred in 1900. The farm upon which the subject and his wife now live was a part of the parental estate, and consists of one hundred and thirty acres. They have added to this from time to time and now own four hundred and seventeen acres. They have built an addition to the charming country house in which they make their home, which stands a monument to their good taste. Mak- ing his home with Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig is a nephew of the latter, Elmer Ambuehl, aged seventeen, son of Benedict Ambuehl, deceased. This young man is very fortunate in finding a happy home, when deprived by death of both his parents.
Mr. Ludwig takes pride in the high class
cattle which he raises, making a specialty of Holstein. His agricultural endeavors are emi- nently successful and he may well be accounted among the most progressive farmers of Leef township. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodman's Lodge of Grant Fork. He and his wife are honored members of the German Evangelical church of Grant Fork, the former being president of its board of trustees. His wife is an active member of the Ladies' Aid Society of the same church. Both are promi- nent in the many-sided life of the place, enjoy- ing the confidence and esteem of their neigh- bors ; maintaining a hospitable home; and ever extending to those in need of assistance a help- ing hand. In short, they are well worthy of permanent place in this compilation.
HON. LEVI AUGUSTUS ABBOTT, D. D. A man of scholarly attainments, earnest convictions and strong character, Hon. Levi Augustus Ab- bott, D. D., is widely and favorably known in Madison county, having for seventeen and a half years filled the pulpit of the First Bap- tist church of Alton, at the present time being a member of the Shurtleff College faculty. The descendant of a prominent New England fam- ily, he was born April 19, 1824, in Beverly, Massachusetts, of English ancestry, his line of descent from George Abbott, the immigrant, being as follows: George (I), George (2), George (3), Uriah, Dudley (1), Dudley (2), and Levi Augustus.
George Abbott (I), a native of England, came to America in early colonial times, and was one of the early settlers of Rowley, Essex county, Massachusetts. George Abbott (2), George Abbott (3) and Uriah Abbott spent their entire lives in New England, Uriah serv- ing as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. A history of the Abbott family has been compiled by Major Lemuel Alijah Abbott, of the United States army. Dudley Abbott (I), a native of Pelham, New Hampshire, settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, when young, and in addition to following his trade of a cordwainer was sex- ton and undertaker of the First Congrega- tional church of that place, and was there a resident until his death. He married Annie Poland, who was born in Hamilton, Massachu- setts, of early English ancestry.
Dudley Abbott (2), was born and bred in Beverly, Massachusetts, and as a young man was employed in the merchant marine service. He finally succeeded his father as sexton of the First Congregational church, and held the position until his early death, in 1826, at the age of thirty years. The maiden name of his
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wife was Pamelia Obear. She was born in Georgetown, D. C., a daughter of Benjamin Obear, Jr., a native of Wenham, Massachu- setts. Her grandfather, Benjamin Obear, Sr., was born in Wenham, Massachusetts, of early English ancestry, and at the age of twenty-two years, during the Revolutionary struggle, con- manded a privateer. He lost his life at sea. Benjamin Obear, Jr., acquired a superior edu- cation for his times, and for several years taught in the Beverly High School, later be- coming a teacher of navigation. He spent his last days in Beverly. Benjamin Obear's wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Gillham, was born in Virginia, near Winchester, and came from a family of prominence, one of her an- cestors having married the daughter of one of the governors of Virginia. Mrs. Pamelia (Obear) Abbott died at the age of forty-three years, leaving two children, namely: James Dudley Abbott and Levi Augustus Abbott.
But an infant when his father died, Levi Augustus Abbott was taken by his maternal grandparents, and until fifteen years old at- tended school regularly. Anxious to engage in seafaring pursuits, he went first on a fishing voyage and later engaged in the West India trade. During the twelve years that he fol- lowed the sea he passed through all the grades of seamanship, from cabin boy to master of his vessel. In the meantime, when on shore, he had attended the Worcester Academy, and after leaving the sea he taught school three years, after which he represented Beverly in the Massachusetts Legislature two terms. Mr. Abbott was subsequently ordained to the Bap- tist ministry at Milford, Massachusetts, in 1855, and afterwards preached in Milford, Weymouth, and Middleboro, Massachusetts. He represented Weymouth in the State Legis- lature two sessions, and represented Middle- boro in the same august body one term. While in the Massachusetts Legislature Mr. Abbott reported the bill making women eligible to membership on the school boards and advo- cated the measure. This, it is believed, was the first law enacted allowing women to hold public office.
In 1868, on account of failing health, Mr. Abbott removed to Minnesota, where he held pastorates in different places. Coming from there to Alton, Illinois, in 1879, he served as pastor of the First Baptist church during the ensuing seventeen and a half years. Going then to Upper Alton, he accepted the position of secretary and treasurer of Shurtleff Col- lege, with the faculty of which he is now asso-
ciated, being professor of theology, a teacher of College Bible classes and a lecturer on the- ology.
Mr. Abbott married, in 1854, Mary A. Pres- ton, who was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, a daughter of Captain Joseph K. and Mary (Marshall) Preston, natives of Beverly, where Captain Preston was for several years a cap- tain in the State Militia and a deacon in the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have three children living, namely: Augustus L., Grace and Mary.
WILLIAM H. SMITH, one of the promi- nent and successful merchants of St. Louis. Missouri, prior to the war, and a resi- cent of Alton from 1862 until his death, in 1894, was born at Peterboro, New Hampshire, December 26, 1808. He was the son of Hon. John Smith, for many years a prominent public man in New Hampshire and a member of the legislature for twelve years. In early manhood the son, William H., re- moved to St. Louis, and in May, 1833, en- gaged in the grocery business with his brother James and his brother-in-law, John Cavender, under the firm name of Smith Brothers & Company. The firm continued in business until the "big fire of 1849," when it dissolved, having achieved great success in spite of heavy losses by that disastrous conflagration. In 1851 a new partnership was formed by George Partridge and the Smith Brothers, un- dler the firm name of Partridge & Company. The Smiths withdrew from the firm in 1862, after securing a competence, and retired from active business life. William H. removed to Alton, where he purchased a large estate in the northeastern section of the city and inter- ested himself in fruit culture and the manage- ment of his extensive financial affairs. There he lived a part of each year until his death, at the age of eighty-six years. His widow sur- vived him until 1902.
Mr. Smithi was married, November 5, 1837, to Lydia Pettengill, of Salisbury, New Hampshire. She died in St. Louis, February 10, 1841, aged twenty-nine years. He married his second wife. Ellen Smith, of Peterboro, September 13, 1843. She was his cousin, the daughter of Hon. Samuel Smith, a leading manufacturer and a member of Congress from New Hampshire. Of their four children only one survived to adult years, viz : William Eliot Smith, the founder of the glass industry in Alton, whose notable career is spoken of else- where.
William H. Smith was a man of command-
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ing ability and sterling integrity, who left to his descendants a record not only of remark- able business success, but of unsullied man- hood and domestic devotion. His ecclesiasti- cal connection was with the Unitarian de- nomination, to the upbuilding of which he was a generous contributor. He was a friend and associate of the late Dr. Eliot of St. Louis, the loved and revered pastor of the Church of the Unity. He gave to his son the name of this distinguished divine. Mr. Smith's benevo- lence was broad and liberal, the objects of his interest being religion and education. His brother James was the founder of Smith Academy in St. Louis, which bears his name, and he was also a liberal donor to Washing- ton University, with which Smith Academy is affiliated. Another brother was the late Hon. Robert Smith, of Alton, who was born at Peterboro, New Hampshire, June 12, 1802. He spent his early life on his father's farm and was educated in the district schools and New Ipswich Academy. In 1820 he engaged in the manufacture of machinery with an uncle and later was interested in a cotton mill at Northfield. He remained in this business until 1832, when he removed to Illinois, locat- ing at Alton. Here he engaged in business, but soon entered political life and quickly at- tained to distinction. He served in both branches of the Illinois legislature and subse- quently in Congress from 1843 to 1849 and again from 1857 to 1859. During the Civil war he served his country as paymaster in the army with the rank of major. He was a man of strict integrity, of genial manners and was deservedly popular. His service in congress was guided by the Democratic principles and doctrines upon which he was elected. When the war came he was an unflinching and de- voted supporter of the Government and ren- dered valuable service. His death occurred in 1867.
Mr. Smith was married November 28, 1828, to Miss Sarah P. Bingham, of Lempster, New Hampshire, four years before his departure for the west. Their two children, Robert Bingham and Sarah Bingham, survived their parents.
The successful careers of these three broth- ers, sons of an honorable colonial family, are
JOHN H. KREUTER. A thriving and well- managed concern which adds in material
fashion to the general prosperity of Living- ston, Olive township, is the general store and meat market owned and conducted by John H. Kreuter. He is still a young man in years, but he has already given evidence of no small amount of executive ability and the business has experienced a sound and' wholesome growth. In addition to this interest he is also a property owner and possesses a small farm in Olive township and real estate in Staunton. Mr. Kreuter was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, on the 8th day of February, 1882. He is the son of Henry and Kate (Craemer) Kreuter, who were born in the vicinity of Edwardsville. The latter was a daughter of a German fam- ily, and the Kreuters, as their name indicates, are also of Teutonic origin. Henry Kreuter was a farmer by vocation, and he continued actively engaged in the great basic industry until about the year 1895, when he retired and removed to Edwardsville, Illinois, where he still resides. They were the parents of a fam- ily of six children, all of whom are living , (in I9II), namely : John H .; George A .; Mary, wife of H. Ritter; Rose, wife of Roy Lowe; Henry, who is unmarried; and Lizzie, who is at home.
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