USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 60
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Mr. and Mrs. Hoelscher began life with youthful energy and hope, and for several years lived on a rented farm on the site of Granite City. In 1864 they purchased forty acres in Nameoki township, this land being
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practically without improvements, and only a two-room cottage for their, first home. On this foundation, however, they spent many faithful years in the production of a prosperity which has given their family a substantial place in the county's citizenship. They replaced the first horne with a comfortable two-story resi- dence, built barns and other structures, planted shade trees and fruit trees, and the Hoelscher farm has long since been considered among the valuable and attractive farm homes of this vi- cinity.
Eleven sons and daughters were born of their marriage, but six of them died when children, leaving Charlotta, Minnie, George, Frank and Herman. In the public schools of East Granite they obtained their education, and have since taken independent place in the world of effort and duty. Charlotta became the wife of Jacob Lutcelzschwab, a farmer of St. Clair county, and they are the parents of eleven children : Mary, Minnie, John, Herman, Lot- tie, Katie, Lena, Jacob, Frank, Edna and Caro- lina. The eldest of these, Mary, married Jacob Weihl, and their one child, Elsie, is the only great-grandchild of the family. Minnie Hoelscher was married, on September 26, 1888, to Fred Kaseberg, a former blacksmith of Venice. He was born in Venice in 1865, son of Fred and Caroline ( Will) Kaseberg, and after an industrious and respected career he passed away June 30, 1911, being laid to rest in St. John's cemetery of Nameoki, both himself and wife having been members of the church there. Mrs. Kaseberg continues her residence at Venice, where she is comforted by the presence of her two industrious sons, George and August. George, the older, was graduated from the Venice public schools in 1906, and is now yard master over the entire system of the terminal of the Merchants Bridge. He was confirmed in 1909 by the Rev. G. Plassmann, of the German Evangel- ical church of Namcoki. August Kaseberg is twelve years old and a student in the fifth grade of the Venice schools. Frank Hoelscher, who is a carpenter of Nameoki, married Edna Walker, and they have five children-Earl, Herman, Charlotta, Mabel and George. The other two sons, George and Herman, are un- married and are living on their father's farm, engaged in its management and the support and care of their aged father.
The Hoelscher family are all members of the German Evangelical church of Nameoki, and the father assisted in its building and has since been one of its liberal supporters. He hauled
the organ out from St. Louis. The politics of the family has been Republican, and the son Herman was elected a justice of the peace in 1909. For the past ten years George and Her- man have been employed in superintending the St. John's German, the Catholic and the Methodist cemeteries of this vicinity.
HONORABLE CONRAD A. AMBROSIUS. It is a significant fact that the majority of men who have made successes in the business world and many of the professional men who have come to the front were the sons of farmers. At present our country's best educators are advo- cating military training for boys as a means of increasing their efficiency in the business world. Experience shows that in the past the men who have made successes have for the most part originated on the farm. They there learn many lessons that could not be learned else- where. They learn the habit of early rising ; they are accustomed to simplicity of food and customs ; they are given work to do and are made to understand the consequences of neg- lect ; thus they carly come to feel responsibil- ity. These are a few of the advantages that come to a boy from his early life on a farm. In addition to these, the chances are that he will be possessed of a healthy body, due to his open air life.
Conrad A. Ambrosius was born in Germany, January 18, 1839. His father was Adam Am- brosius and his mother's maiden name was Brandenstein. They were both born in Ger- many, where they were educated and married. In 1842 they started in a sailing vessel for America. After a long, stormy trip of eight weeks, they arrived at New Orleans, Louisi- ana. They proceeded up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where Adam worked as a day laborer. They stayed in St. Louis for eight years and in January, 1849, moved to Collins- ville, Illinois, where they engaged in farming. They lived here until the time of their death, Mr. Ambrosius passing away in 1866 and his wife in 1869. They had four children : Nico-' las. deceased ; Elizabeth, the third child, is the wife of Fred Kencle; Martha, the youngest, is the wife of Henry Esterline and Conrad A., the subject of this sketch.
He came to America with his parents when he was only two years old. When he was ten years old the family moved to Collinsville and he even at that carly age began to work on the farm. . Ilis parents did not realize the benefits to be obtained from an education and there- fore he received very little schooling. He stayed home until he was twenty-four years of
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age, at which time he began to farm for him- self. He discovered that there was coal be- neath his land and in 1875 he sank a shaft, immediately starting to mine. He found the mine was rich in coal and worked it until 1887,. at which time he sold out to the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis, Missouri. He moved from the farm to the city in 1875, where he has lived ever since. In 1889 he en- gaged in the merchandise business under the name of Ambrosius & Sons. In 1907 he sold out to J. A. Yates, since which time he has spent his time in looking after his real estate.
In 1862 he married Maria Schmidt, a native of Germany, and then it was that he started to farm for himself. They had a family of nine children, five boys and four girls, as follows: Anna, wife of Max Lochman, of St. Louis, Missouri; John, Willie, Gus, George, Theo- dore, Clara, Louise and Beth. All of his chil- dren are married except Clara and he has two great-grandchildren.
The family attend the German Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat and has been active in public affairs. He has served as city alderman for fourteen years. He has been trustee of the church for twenty-five years. He is a trustee of the parochial school and was a member of the state legislature for the thirty-eighth general assembly from 1893 to 1895. He succeeded in getting five bills through. He is a stockholder and one of the directors in the First National Bank of Col- linsville, Illinois. In addition to all of this he owns several business houses. He may well feel contented when he knows that he has made all of this himself. It is true that it was by chance that the coal was found in his land, but the rest of his success was not due to chance, but to his own abilities and his tre- mendous energy.
MRS. BERTHA HERMAN. The "Goddess of Success" does not favor man more often than woman, but the difference lies in the opposite individual environment. Man's sphere is by custom, heredity and natural aptitude the world of business, of accomplishing big things, -that which arouses the plaudits of the na- tion ; woman's sphere is her home, her domes- tic duties, her children, but who can say that even in that apparently humble environment she does not mould the world's clay more truly than does man. There is all of truth in that homely old adage: "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rocks the world." But when a woman not only fills her destined sphere but also makes more than a success of
business life, then indeed should she receive praise for her remarkable and unusual achievements.
In just such few words a brief resume of the life of Bertha Herman could be given, and one would have a concise idea of what this one woman has accomplished. With no fuss or feathers, no blast of trumpets, no plaudits of enthusiastic multitudes, Mrs. Herman, as she modestly asserts, saw her duty before her and did it. A simple rule which all might try to good advantage. But Mrs. Herman came of good old German stock, who, more than Americans, follow that motto. The natal day of our subject was September 20, 1867, and she is the daughter of Gustave and Mary F. (Jehle) Kaufman, early settlers in Alhambra township, Madison county, Illinois. Gustave Kaufman was born in Prussia, April 20, 1833, a son of John A. and Sophia (Hessler) Kauf- man, natives of that country. The father was born in 1787, and the mother in April, 1792, and were married in their native land, immi- grating to America in 1844, and finally locat- ing in Marine, Illinois, where they began their life in this country on a farm of eighty acres, only twenty of which were broken, the house being but an humble log cabin. This sort of a life was a change indeed for Mr. J. A. Kauf- man, as he had been a man of soldierly activi- ties in the Fatherland, having been an officer in the Napoleonic wars. He was shot through his leg during a war with Austria, and was ob- liged to resign his commission, but having a love for the sword and the scabbard he later entered the home guards and was appointed their colonel. Mr. Kaufman's death occurred the next year after his arrival in America, in 1845, his good wife surviving him for many years, her demise taking place in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. John Kaufman were the parents of three children, namely: Gustave; Rega, who married George Wideccus, of Summerfield, Illinois, and became the mother of three chil- dren ; and Mrs. Andrew Schmidt.
Gustave Kaufman, the father of our subject, came to the United States with his parents when he was eleven years old, the trip com- prising seven weeks on water. The family settling on unimproved land, the lad early as- certained the rigors of the pioneer life, but his early training was not lost, as it served its pur- pose later in life when he himself engaged in farming. The success of his agricultural pur- suits is shown by the fact that at his death he was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in that section of Illinois, the town of
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Kaufman, where he resided, having been named after him. He early in life established a home of his own by his union with Mary Jehle, the accomplished daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Neudecker ) Jehle, and who was born in St. Louis, January 1, 1840. Mrs. Kaufman received her early education in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, of St. Louis, her parents being of the Catholic faith. After her marriage, however, she became a member of the German Evangelical church with her hus- band and children. They became the parents of the following sons and daughters: Albert, who married Mary Daudemann, by whom he had five children, the family residing in Alban township ; William, who was joined in wedlock with Emma Daudemann, and became the father of four children, the mother being now deceased ; Augusta ; George; and Bertha, who married Robert Herman, and of whom a short review follows. Mr. Gustave Kaufman was a staunch Republican in politics, having served as a school director of Marine, Illinois, and as the first commissioner of Alhambra township. His death occurred January 22, 1910, his wife passing away March 25, 1905, and in the death of this worthy couple Alhambra township and Madison county lost prominent, enterprising and highly esteemed citizens.
In the fall of 1886 Bertha Kaufman was united in marriage with Robert Herman, born in Highland, Illinois, March 20, 1865, a son of Henry and Susan (Leder) Herman, natives of Switzerland. Mr. Herman received the usual common school education, which was supple- mented by a business course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College of St. Louis. He initiated his business career by entering his father's mill at Highland and later on at Tren- ton, and having learned the milling process thoroughly, in 1885 he commenced an elevator of his own at Kaufman. He carried on this business successfully, but in 1887 decided to branch out a little, and he consequently opened a general merchandise store, maintaining this store and doing a profitable and up-to-date business untl his death, on May 7, 1898. He was a staunch advocate of the policies and principles of the Republican party and his ef- forts in their ranks were rewarded by his be- ing chosen as post-master of Kaufman, in which capacity he served for a number of years. He was also collector of Alhambra township for two years, 1886-88. The death of Robert Herman came suddenly and tragic- ally, the result of a boiler explosion in his ele- vator May 7, 1898.
Mrs. Bertha Herman displayed her brave spirit and enterprising business ability when, at the death of her husband, she decided to pursue the business which he had so success- fully launched, and since that time she has been the manager, superintendent, overseer and business head of this large mercantile es- tablishment, and she has, as well, continued in the post-office, having been chosen the suc- cessor of her husband in that office. She also has charge of a coal, cement, feed and grain business, and these diversified activities would certainly tax the brain and strength of a less brilliant woman, but she meets each question or dilemma as it comes and does not rush ahead to meet trouble, and in this way is al- ways cheerful, smiling and happy,-assuredly a pleasant and entertaining body to meet. Mrs. Herman and her husband were the par- ents of three children, one of whom died in infancy.
Gustave Adolph, the son of Mrs. Bertha Herman, received his early schooling in the common schools of his district, later attending the Marine High School and then the Colum- bia Commercial College of St. Louis, from which institution he graduated. Since this time Gustave Herman has been the able assist- ant of his mother in her general merchandise business at Kaufman. "His path has been cast in pleasant places," for he has been able to travel quite extensively over the United States, having taken several trips throughout the west and east. His mother has also traveled considerably.
Mrs. Herman's daughter, Emma, is a skilled musician, having graduated from the Strass- berger Conservatory of Music in St. Louis, and she is now engaged in teaching music in Kaufman and vicinity, having an interesting class of forty-five pupils at this writing, 1911.
Mrs. Herman and her children are devout members of the German Evangelical church, and they are all respected and esteemed by all who know them. This brief biography of four generations of Kaufmans is certainly in- teresting, and they all have reason to be proud of their family and the individual members thereof.
WILLIAM L. KAEMPER. Of all the qualifi- cations which are important in order to make up success there is none more essential than the ability to stick to a thing, surmounting all obstacles, disregarding all unpleasantness, optimistic in all, but everlastingly holding on. Such has been the attitude of Mr. Kaemper,
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cashier of the First National Bank of Collins- ville.
He was born at Waterloo, Monroe county, Illinois, October 7, 1875. He was the son of Henry and Catherine (Tokscha) Kaemper, natives of Germany. He was brought up in Waterloo, entering the public schools there as soon as he was old enough. He was gradu- ated in 1890, and, not being able to enter high school because of the necessity which existed for him to earn money at once, he immediately started to work. In 1892 he entered the em -- ploy of the Commercial Bank at Waterloo in the capacity of clerk. He showed his ability and his faithfulness from the very beginning of his service. In 1894 he had the opportu- nity to obtain the position of assistant cashier in the State Bank of Waterloo, a position re- quiring more ability, exercising greater re- sponsibilty and with more compensation. He naturally made the change, remaining with the State Bank until 1905, in the month of De- cember. The next month, January 1, 1906, he came to Collinsville as cashier of the First National Bank, the position he is now holding.
On June 21, 1905, Mr. Kaemper married Miss Elsa Quast, of Waterloo. She was edu- cated in the public school and then entered the Kunkel Conservatory of Music in St. Louis. From there she went to the Beethoven Con- servatory of Music, from which she gradu- ated. She is now a most accomplished musi- cian, not a mere player of notes, but one who has a genuine love for music as a means of expressing the sentiments with which she is inspired. No one can listen to her interpreta- tions of the masters without feeling that she makes music because she must; because there is that in her which demands expression and music is to her the natural vehicle. Mr. and Mrs. Kaemper have no children, but live a united life in their home at 314 Vandalia street.
In politics Mr. Kaemper is a Republican, but with no desire for political honors for himself. He is today a man of culture and re- finement, a man who has read with thoughtful care on subjects of all kinds. He has made a success of his life, beginning as a poor boy with no outside help. His stick-to-itiveness is largely responsible for his present prominence. There is no man in the town who has more friends or who is more widely esteemed than Mr. Kaemper.
ALBERT KAUFMAN. Perhaps there is no family in Madison county the head of which has taken a more active interest in the up-
building of its public interests than the family of Kaufman, and inasmuch as Albert Kauf- man is the eldest son of Gustave Kaufman, it is perhaps proper that their lives should be re- corded together. For a period of over sixty years the life of Gustave Kaufman was closely interwoven with the interests of Madison county. Energetic, public-spirited and pro- gressive ; beginning life empty-handed; com- ing to this country from Germany at the age of eleven years; possessed of an indomitable will-power and a determination which knew not defeat, he forged ahead in the great arena of life, overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and meeting with success that placed him among the ranks of Madison county's successful citizens.
Gustave Kaufman was born in Prussia, Germany, April 20, 1833, the son of John A. and Sophia (Hessler) Kaufman, who immi- grated to America in 1844. Locating in Ma- rine the following year, John Kaufman moved to the farm which is now the Kaufman estate, purchasing one hundred acres of land at that time. Gustave was eleven years of age at the time of the immigration to America, and his first residence was in St. Louis, where the family resided for a short time. In the new home in Illinois there was much work to do, for only twenty acres of the farm had been improved. The Kaufmans did not speak the English language, and Gustave realized that the first and most important step was to be- come master of the same. Eager to learn the language of the country of his adoption, he presented himself at the little country school house and his reception there was not at all reassuring, but was the occasion of much mirth among the country boys and girls, who were greatly amused at the little stranger's struggles with the new tongue.
Nothing daunted, however, he persevered in his studies, going finally to Staunton, where he was edu- cated by one of his own countrymen, and was also confirmed in the church of the Father- land, the German Evangelical. In later years, when prosperity came to his doors, he encour- aged the building of the church of his faith at Marine, liberally contributing to the same and retaining his membership until his death, Janu- ary 22, 1910. In 1859 Gustave Kaufman wedded Mary Jehle, of St. Louis, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Neudecker) Jehle, natives of Germany. She was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart of St. Louis and proved herself a most worthy helpmeet to Mr. Kaufman, working industriously and possess-
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ing the qualities of a good home maker. She was of an admirably easy and amiable disposi- tion, just the wife for the energetic and im- petuous young German. They became the parents of six children, their first-born being a son, to whom they gave the name of Albert, and the others being William, Amanda, Ber- tha, Augusta and George. The Kaufman chil- dren obtained their education at the West Dis- trict school, where their father before them had attended.
With the passing of the years Mr. Kauf- man, owing to his splendid business ability, met with a pleasing prosperity and, though much engrossed in the business of life, he al- ways found time to take an active part in every public work that meant a step's ad- vancement to the country. When the first railroad through this section-the Clover Leaf -was prospective, Mr. Kaufman became very much interested in the same. He donated a free right of way through his lands and also the land necessary for station purposes and encouraged the building in every possible manner. As a compliment to his generosity, the railroad after its completion and the or- ganization of the little town named it Kauf- man and gave Mr. Kaufman a pass, which, however, he never made use of, always pre- ferring to pay his own fare. He became in time by his successful management the owner of twelve hundred and sixty acres of land, which he left to be divided among his six chil- dren.
When the merry-hearted boys and girls were all at home the old homestead was often- times the scene of joyous merry-makings and sometimes it was also the scene of mourning. Death visited them on March 21, 1905, claim- ing the dear mother, who after life's battle was ended was tenderly laid to rest. She was a good, Christian mother and was mourned by a large circle of friends, her bereaved hus- band always feeling keenly his loss and mourning her absence. On January 22, 1910, his death followed and he was laid to his final rest by the side of his life companion. He was a useful man whose energies were ever applied along the line of progress.
The eldest son, Albert, had always remained at home, assisting his father in the manage- ment of the farm, until his marriage, which occurred in 1883, when he laid the foundation of his own home and happiness by wedding Miss Mary Daudermann. His wife, who was born in 1860, is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Ohren) Daudermann, natives of
Germany, whose children were Henry, Charles, Emma and Mary, the latter the wife of the subject of this sketch. After the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman they began their wedded life on one of his father's farms, two miles south of Alhambra, where they have always resided. Mrs. Kaufman has proved an industrious and loyal helpmeet and they have prospered in their work. The husband purchased one hundred and forty acres of land, becoming one of the most successful farmers of Alhambra township and now hav- ing under cultivation over two hundred acres. Some seasons he threshes three thousand bushels of wheat and one year he threshed two thousand seven hundred bushels from one hundred acres. Like his father, he is pro- gressive in every way. Mr. and Mrs. Kauf- man became the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy and the surviv- ing being Amanda, Mollie, Gustave (named after the head of the family), Alfred and Alice, the latter twins. The children obtained their education at the West district schools and at Alhambra, Gustave, Amanda and Mol- lie all fitting themselves for teaching. Gus- tave has had some pedagogical experience, having successfully taught the I. X. L. district school in Leef township. Amanda also taught the same school two years. She became the wife of Harry Landolt, a farmer and resident of Bond county, and they are the parents of two children, Mollie and Arnold. They also buried one child, Viola, at the age of six months. When Mollie Kaufman had arrived at the age of sixteen she had made such pro- gress in her studies as to become the proud possessor of her first teacher's certificate. Her first school was the Ruedy school in Leef township and her work gave such satisfaction that she was engaged for two years more. She also taught for one year at Pleasant Ridge and for one year at Stahling's school and has been engaged by the same school for 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kaufman are mem- bers of the German Evangelical church of Al- hambra, having been brought up as children in that faith. In his politics Mr. Kaufman is a stanch Republican and his business princi- ples have always been such as to win the con- fidence of the public. In evidence of the same is his election as school director for twenty- seven consecutive years. His motto for the schools under his supervision has always been "The best teachers for the boys and girls, re- gardless of cost." Being a public-spirited
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man in this way, his work for the schools has been most satisfactory, the people knowing that when Mr. Kaufman held the office it was in good hands. Like his father, he prides him- selt on keeping his word under all circum- stances and he is a true citizen in every sense of the word. Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman are among the representative people of the county and enjoy the confidence and esteem of the community. They can look back over the years ยท with pardonable pride, surrounded by their pleasant and dutiful children, Gustave, Mollie, Alfred and Alice, who give them added cause for pride in the family name.
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