USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 6
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The entire lives of Mr. and Mrs. Suhre have exemplified the highest principles of honor and integrity, which qualities they have succeeded in instilling into the lives and actions of their
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children. They are genial in their associa- tions, generous in judgment of their fellow men and their innate kindliness of spirit has won for them a high place in the esteem of the community in which they have so long resided.
LOUIS DEIBERT. In considering the life of a man the first thing we inquire is what he has done in the past, and we are very apt to judge the man by his past experiences. We want to know the mistakes that have been made and the experience gained from those mistakes. We want to know the efforts that have been put forward for betterment. We can guess the number of times Opportunity knocked at . the door and we were out or busily engaged with neglect. In short we would know of a man if his past has been successful or not. In the case of Louis Deibert, the question can be answered in the affirmative; he has been an unquestioned success in the past.
He was born at Marine, Madison county, Illinois, July 25, 1864, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Kolb) Deibert, both reared and married in Germany. They came to America in 1859, arriving at Marine December the six- teenth. Mr. Deibert was a tailor by trade, which occupation he followed in Marine until the time of his death, October II, 1907. He had nine children, of whom eight are living, as follows :- Jacob, Daniel, Valentine, Caro- line, Katie, Louise (wife of John G. Weber), John and Louis.
Louis attended the public schools of Marine until he was seventeen years old, and during this time he learned the tailoring trade with his father in his spare time. After he left school he worked at his trade, but did not find that it was the line of work he wanted to fol- low for the rest of his life. In 1892 he and his brother John together started a general store for the Madison Coal Company. After managing the store for one year they bought out the stock of goods and continued the busi- ness under the name of the Glen Carbon Mer- cantile Company, an incorporated company. They carry a large line of general merchandise stock and do a flourishing business.
On September 18, 1894, he married Katie Dietz, of Marine, Illinois, where she was born June 7, 1867. She was educated in the public schools of Marine and passed all of her life there previous to her marriage. One son has been born to the union, Leon J., whose birth- day was October 12, 1895.
Mr. Deibert is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Glen Carbon and of the Modern Woodmen of America of Glen
Carbon lodge, in which he carries insurance. In addition to his mercantile interest, he is a stockholder and director in the Diehm Fausler Wholesale Grocery Company of East St. Louis. In his political views Mr. Deibert is a Democrat ; he was appointed postmaster of Glen Carbon by President Cleveland, serving from 1893 to 1897 and rendering most effi- cient help to his party. Mr. Deibert is a mem- ber of the Evangelical church at Marine. Such has been his past record. To-day he is a live, business man who has achieved success through his own efforts. He is absolutely hon- est in all his dealings and for that reason, as well as the courteous treatment his customers receive at his hands, he has built up a pros- perous business in Glen Carbon. He does not feel that any trouble is too much to oblige a customer, or indeed any one with whom he comes in contact.
A. C. BARR, D. D. S. A well-known and highly esteemed resident of Alton, A. C. Barr is one of the leading representatives of the dental profession, an important branch of surgery, of which almost every member of the human family at some period of life requires an application. A son of James Abner Barr, he was born and reared in Jerseyville, Jersey county, Illinois. He comes of excellent Scotch-Irish stock, his great-grandfather, Pat- rick Barr, who immigrated to the United States in early life and spent his last days in North Carolina, having been born and bred in the north of Ireland, where his ancestors settled on leaving Scotland.
John Barr, the Doctor's paternal grand- father, was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, near Salisbury. When ready to set- tle permanently, he removed to Tennessee, and having bought land not far from Nashville im- proved a farm which he operated with slave labor until his death. He married Ann Hen- ley, a native of Rowan county, North Caro- lina, and they became the parents of two chil- dren, John Cowan and James Abner.
Born on the home farm near Nashville, Ten- nessee, August 7. 1820, Tames Abner Barr re- mained a resident of his native state until 1845, when he migrated to Jersey county, Illi- nois, being accompanied by his only brother, John Cowan Barr, the overland journey being made on horseback. There were neither rail- ways nor canals in those primitive days, and wild game of all kinds was plentiful, furnish- ing many a fine repast for the pioneer settlers. The brothers each bought two hundred acres of wild land and began the improvement of a
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farm. Jersey Landing was then the most im- portant place anywhere near and the point to which the farmers for many miles inland teamed all their grain. Subsequently Alton superseded Jersey Landing as a trading point, and farmers marketed their produce at Alton. The brothers erected a log cabin and for sev- eral years kept bachelor's hall therein. In the course of time James Abner Barr placed all of his land under cultivation, erected substantial buildings, and is still living on his farm, a venerable man of ninety-one years, his house being now but two blocks from the railway station. He married Maria Phelps, who was born in New Hampshire, and to them five chil- dren were born, namely Winona, Augusta, Lucy, A. C. and Hugh.
Receiving a practical education in the pub- lic schools of his native county, A. C. Barr early decided to fit himself for a dentist, and subsequently entered the College of Dentistry at Kansas City, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892. The ensuing fall Dr. Barr located at Alton, Illinois, . where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, having through his skill built up a fine patronage. The Doctor belongs to a number of organiza- tions connected with his profession, including the Alton, the Madison District and the Illi- nois State Dental Societies. He is also a mem- ber of Alton Lodge, No. 746, B. P. O. E., and of the M. W. A.
Dr. Barr married, in 1898, Angela McHugh, who was born at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and they have three children, namely: Delphine, Vivian and William.
WILLIAM HAMMOND CROSS SMITH, M. D., proprietor of the "Beverly Farm" Home and School for Nervous and Backward Children, has for a period of thirty years been engaged in the care of the feeble minded and in this work has evinced the utmost good judgment and ability. He founded the institution at God- frey, which has grown from a country farm house, where only a few children could be ac- commodated, to an establishment that can care for sixty children. The staff of assistants numbers twenty-seven. At the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, the "Beverly Farm" received a gold medal and World's Fair Committee of award pre- sented a gold medal to Dr. Smith as represen- tative of the American Association for the Study of the Feeble Minded, an association which has been productive of untold benefit to the country. Since Dr. Smith first began
to specialize in mental and nervous derange- ments, the treatment of such cases has under- gone a complete transformation. Whereas, a person with a diseased mind was formerly treated as a criminal or was incarcerated in an asylum, he is today treated with as muchi con- sideration as any patient, regardless of position, social, financial or otherwise. The efforts of physicians of high-standing have been the means of effecting this much-to-be- desired change.
On the 6th of February, 1860, Dr. Smith first opened his eyes to the light of day, at Bev- erly, Massachusetts, in which state his ances- tors were for years prominent citizens. The American founder of the family of Smiths to which the Doctor belongs was James, who came from Woolwich, England, carly in the seventeenth century. He settled in Woolwich, Maine; married in Beverly, Massachusetts, and died in 1660. His son Hezekiah also lived in Beverly, Massachusetts, and in 1632 built the house which is today known as the oldest building in Beverly. It was in this residence that Lucy Larcom (regarded as the patron saint of Monticello Seminary) had her studio. Ilezekiah Smith was the father of Jonathan, father of Francis, a soldier who fought in the Revolutionary war and in the battle of Lex- ington. He was corporal under Captain Hutchinson and his death occurred at Beverly, Massachusetts. The son of Francis and grand- father of Dr. Smith was Asa, father of John G.
John Groves Smith's birth occurred the year of the beginning of the war of 1812, at Bev- erly, Massachusetts, where he passed his en- tire life. He manufactured boots and shoes for the fishermen of Gloucester and Marble- head. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Smith endeavored to enlist, but on account of his age was never called upon to leave his family, excepting as a member of the home guards. When a young man he was united in marriage to Hannah Choate Cross, born Octo- ber 18, 1816, the scion of a family which traces its genealogy through a number of centuries. The Cross family came from Scotland orig- inally, were a race of sea-faring men, and one of Mrs. Smith's ancestors settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, in 1750. Daniel Choate Cross, father of Mrs. Smith, and son of Jonathan Edward Cross, was a farmer and old ship captain who had sailed all over the world and had had many adventurous experiences. Dur- ing the war of 1812 his vessel was captured by fillibusters and that same year the worthy captain was honored by being granted an
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audience with the Pope. Mr. and Mrs. John G. Smith reared a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living today (19II). Dr. Smith, the youngest of this notable family, re- ceived his elementary training in the Beverly public school, graduating from the high school of his native town in 1877, the year that his father was summoned to his last rest. The Doctor started to work, and all his higher in- struction and his professional training was paid for by his own earnings. In 1885 he com- pleted a course in the National College of Commerce at Philadlphia and four years later he was graduated from the Long Island Medi- cal College. While studying medicine and dis- eases of all kinds, he was, even during his col- lege life, deeply interested in mental ailments, and on obtaining his degree he forthwitlı en- tered the Lincoln ( Illinois) State Institute for feeble-minded children. Previous to coming to Illinois he was business agent for five years at the Pennsylvania State Institute for the feeble-minded and upon coming to Lincoln he became the assistant superintendent of the institution which is now known as the "Lin- coln State School and Colony." On the Ist of May, 1897, he came to Godfrey and on Sep- tember Ist opened the "Beverly Farm" Home and School for Nervous and Backward Chil- dren and during the fourteen years of its ex- istence this school has come to be recognized as a blessing to the afflicted ones. During 1908 and 1909 he was president of the board of trustees controlling the Illinois State School and Colony, appointed by Gov. Deneen, and at the same time he was president of the Illinois Conference of Charity and Corrections. For nine consecutive years Dr. Smith has been ap- pointed a delegate from Illinois to the Na- tional Conference of Charities and Corrections by the Governor. In 1908 he was president of the National Association for the study of the feeble-minded, held at Boston. He is today president of the Madison County Medical As- sociation. "Beverly Farm" Home consists of four commodious buildings, situated on a one hundred and eighty acre tract of land. It is a notable distinction that no man now liv- ing in the United States has been as long en- gaged in the care of the feeble-minded as has Dr. Smith.
On the 23d day of September, 1891, Dr. Smith was married to Elizabeth E. Blake, of Clinton, Illinois, daughter of J. S. D. and Su- san Blake. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have three children,-Groves Blake, Theodore Hammond and Leland Cross. The eldest son, Groves
Blake, aims to follow in his father's profession and is at present a student in the medical de- partment of the Illinois University. Theodore is a high school student at Alton and Leland Cross is in the grammar school.
CHARLES WILLYS TERRY. A native born resident of Madison county is Charles Willys Terry, of Edwardsville, who is a leader in the banking, legal and social circles of the county. He was born in Edwardsville, his parents be- ing Jacob W. and Martha Price (O'Hara) Terry. The senior Mr. Terry was a native of Kentucky, October 21, 1826, being his birth- day. He was directly descended from one of the early Cavalier families from England that settled in America in the early part of the sev- teenth century. After graduating from Shurt- leff College he was principal of the Edwards- ville Academy, a then widely known seat of learning ; he later read law, intending to adopt the legal profession, but what seemed a more favorable opportunity offering he embarked in the mercantile business, the firm of Boyd & Terry erecting the first building on the Court Square, the building being one of the Model Department Store Company's stores, in which the present Mr. Terry is a large stock-holder. Later he became interested in real estate and during the succeeding forty years amassed a fortune in this way. He was splendidly en- dowed both physically and mentally, faultless in his personal habits, punctilious in his high standards of honesty, abhorring petty things, dignified yet considerate toward all. He was an excellent judge of law and was an authority on educational matters. For four years he was superintendent of schools of Madison county, and later was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Illinois State Normal University.
The lady whom he married in 1864 is a de- scendant of English ancestors, her grandfather being a professor at Oxford, and her father was a large manufacturer of Philadelphia, where she was born in 1843. She was edu- cated at Monticello Seminary, and is a woman of much culture and refinement.
The subject of this sketch, Charles Willys Terry, is the only surviving child. He was born October 14, 1868, and in his studies made one of the most unusual records. He com- pleted his studies in the Edwardsville schools when he was twelve years old. Studying mod- ern languages under a tutor at home, he be- came a proficient German scholar and later finished his literary education at the Missouri State University in 1887, graduating from that
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institution not only in classical work but in the engineering course as well.
Returning to Madison county with the in- tent to study law, he found that circumstances would compel a postponement of that ambition for a couple of years. In the interim he taught two country schools. He did not by any means relinquish his plans, but studied law at night while teaching in the day time, and later continued his studies in the law office of Dale & Bradshaw. He passed his bar examination before the Appellate Court at Mt. Vernon, in which the late Justice Jesse J. Phillips was then presiding, and made such a splendid showing that a few years later, when Justice Phillips was elevated to the highest position in the Su- preme Court of Illinois, he sent to Edwards- ville for Mr. Terry to become his private sec- retary. In 1893 Mr. Terry became a partner of the late Judge M. G. Dale and W. P. Brad- shaw, under the firm name of Dale, Bradshaw & Terry, and in 1895 he associated himself with Judge William H. Krome, the firm being Krome & Terry until 1898. In 1899 Mr. Terry formed a partnership with Thomas William- son, the firm being Terry & Williamson, which continued until 1904, when the present part- nership of Terry & Gueltig was formed, Charles E. Gueltig, corporation counsel of the city of Edwardsville, being the junior member.
While the law has always been Mr. Terry's profession since youth and followed by him with marked success, he being attorney and confidential adviser for many of the largest interests, private and corporate, in the county, his activities have by no means been restricted to legal practice. He was a director of the Bank of Edwardsville for a number of years and in 1908 he organized the Citizens State & Trust Bank of Edwardsville, and became its president, a position he still holds. He is one of the largest stockholders in the Model De- partment Store Company, an extensive mer- cantile concern occupying the greater portion of the block at the corner of Main and Purcell streets in Edwardsville, besides being finan- cially interested in a number of other enter- prises. He owns many business and residence properties, and along the latter line it may be mentioned that his activities have been pro- ductive of unusual good to his home city be- cause his hobby for a "City Beautiful" impels him to select the wildest and most unpromis- ing tracts and convert them into beautiful resi- dence sections as far removed as possible from their erstwhile appearance. He has ever been a firm believer in his home city and county
and practically all of his fortune is invested here.
Mr. Terry's personal character is without a blemish ; he has always stood for the best in civic life. The shortest and most accurate sum- marization of the fundamental esoteric prin- ciples of his character is his freedom from all hypocrisy and his absolute truthfulness and fearlessness toward all under all circum- stances.
As a citizen he has contributed greatly to the growth and development of Edwardsville, being ever ready with his time and money to aid any worthy cause. He has been prominent in matters educational, in social affairs, in business advancement and municipal manage- ment. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the Edwardsville Commer- cial Club. He was one of the most active in the organization of the Edwardsville Water Company, to whose good judgment and energy and that of a few others the present splendid plant is. indebted. He was instrumental in se- curing the Carnegie Library for Edwardsville and is one of its Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Illinois University, and was an at- torney for the Board and a member of the building committee which erected its new group of buildings. This was unique in that it was said at the time to have been the only structure of a public nature in the state which, with corresponding extent, was finished within the appropriation and the time limit set in ad- vance.
In politics he has always been one of the foremost figures in the Democracy of southern Illinois. He could never be prevailed upon to run for office until 1910, when he consented to stand for state senator from the Forty- seventh Illinois district. He made a splendid race and cut the overwhelming Republican majority down to a very small figure. Mr. Terry is one of the most eloquent public speak- ers of his neighborhood. and his forensic abilities are claimed by his fellow citizens alike at open air gatherings or before the banquet board. He is regarded as one of the most cos- mopolitan residents of Edwardsville, at home equally in drawing room or on the public ros- trum, before the courts or in the business sessions. one whose culture and refinement stamp him among men as a true gentleman, just as his endeavors proclaim him the earnest citizen.
He is president of the Madison County Bar Association, member of the National Geo-
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graphical Society, Missouri Athletic Club, State Bar Association, vice-president of the Edwardsville Civic League, a member of the Madison County & State Bankers Association ; and a member of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows and Elks orders, and Beta Theta Pi College fraternity. He is not married and re- sides with his mother, their home being one of the handsomest in the city.
HENRY L. GROETEKA. One hundred years ago there was no such thing as a labor union. The workman stood a very poor chance of ever rising above his subservient position. He could not save, as his wages were not high enough. Now that is all changed. The work- man is in a position to make demands, and not as an individual but as a class. The demands of one man are apt to be unreasonable and based upon his own personal wishes in the matter. The demands of a body are more likely to be grounded on right and just reasons and therefore should be complied with. This condition has been brought about by slow de- grees and many people have had to suffer for the cause. Mr. Groeteka, manager of the Workmen's Cooperative Association of Glen Carbon, is a believer in organized labor. If all were like him the Unions would have no difficulty in gaining their union men and would prosper as never before. Mr. Groeteka has at- tained a high position in the community and has done much for his fellow men.
Henry L. Groeteka was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 17, 1869. His father, Wil- liam Groeteka, was born in Germany, where he received his education and learned the car- pentering trade. He there married Mary Koehler and together they came to America to make their fortunes. Soon after their arrival in America the Civil war broke out and Wil- liam enlisted in a Missouri regiment. He par- ticipated in many engagements. At the close of the war he located in St. Louis and worked at his trade. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Groeteka, three girls and four boys. . Henry L. is the eldest. Next comes Minnie, now the wife of Fred Schubert. Wil- liam is the third. Hannah, wife of William Schubert, is the fourth. Charles is the fifth and he is married and living in St. Louis. Fred is married to A. Stremma, of St. Louis, where they still live. The youngest, Louise, is the wife of Julius Croppy. The father of these children died in 1895 and his widow is still living in St. Louis, where she frequently sees her family. She is contented in the place where she passed most of her married life, Vol. II-3
where her children were all born and where her husband is buried.
Henry L. was brought up in St. Louis, where he was educated in the parochial schools. When he was fourteen years old he left school and started out to make a career for himself. His first position was with the Christy Fire Clay Company and later he was employed by the Wesley Fire Clay Company. In 1890 he began to work in the mines, con- tinuing as a miner until 1906. During these sixteen years he had shown the mettle that was in him and had won the confidence and esteem of his fellow workmen. In 1906 he was offered the position of manager of the Workmen's Cooperative Association. He is a stockholder in this company and has been its efficient manager ever since that time.
On April 15, 1896, he married Miss Grace Stone in Arkansas. She was born in Ken- tucky and went to Arkansas with her parents when she was a little girl. She received her education in the public schools of Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Groeteka have three sons : Ver- non, born May 3, 1900; Carl, born February 21, 1904, and Max, born September 19, 1907. The two older boys are in school in Glen Car- bon and little Max, aged four, is at home with his mother.
Mr. Groeteka is a member of Primas Lodge, No. 889, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1906 he was a representative of his lodge to the Grand Lodge. He is a charter member and a past grand. He is a member of Carbon lodge, No. 340, of the Knights of Pythias; he is past chancellor of this order. In politics he is a Socialist and he was his party's candidate for representative in the twenty-seventh congressional district in 1910. He had the votes of his party in that campaign and more, too, but at present the Socialist party is not strong enough to elect him. Mr. Groeteka has done well for himself and his family. He has worked faithfully for the workmen and he has done much for the wel- fare of his country in general and his county in particular. He has made himself almost in- dispensable in Glen Carbon.
EDWARD MUNROE BOWMAN. Prominent among the old and honored families of Madi- son county may be mentioned that of Bow- man, which has had representatives in the city of Alton for a period covering three-quarters of a century, its members gaining prominent places in business and the professions. A member of this family who has for many years been identified with the commercial interests
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