USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 7
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of Alton, and whose operations have extended into the Black Hills of the Dakotas, St. Louis, Missouri, and other points is Edward Munroe Bowman, a native of Alton, who was born August 26, 1852, and is a son of Horatio Blinn and Selina (Ryder ) Bowman.
The progenitor of the Bowman family in America, Nathaniel Bowman, was born in England and immigrated to the new world in 1630, settling first at Watertown, later at Cambridge and eventually at Lexington, all in Massachusetts, and his death occurred at the last-named place January 26, 1682. Ilis wife was named Anne, but no particulars of her can be found in the early history of Wa- tertown. A son of Nathaniel, Francis Bow- man, was born in 1630, was married Septem- ber 26, 1661, to Martha Sherman, and died in 1687. His son, Joseph, was born in 1674. married Phebe Barnard, and died in 1762, and his son, Thaddeus, the great-great-grandfather of Edward Munroe Bowman, was born in 1712, married in 1736 to Sarah Loring, and died in 1806. Major Joseph Bowman, the great-grandfather, was born in 1740, married in 1764 to Katherine Munroe, and died in 1818, and one of their sons, Isaac, was born in 1773, married in 1806 to Mary Smith, and died in 1850, and was the grandfather of Ed- ward Munroe Bowman. Major Joseph Bow- man was living at New Braintree, Massa- chusetts at the outbreak of the Revolution and was an Ensign of a company of fifty men from that small town who marched to Boston on the report of the attack upon the Company at Lexington on the 19th of April. 1775. He served during the war, rising to the rank of Major. His wife, Katherine Munroe, was one of the Munroe family of Lexington. They took a very prominent part in the battle of Lexington, two being killed and two wounded.
Horatio Blinn Bowman was born at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1809, and there received his education in the public schools. In 1837 he came to Alton and there the remainder of his life was spent in mercan- tile pursuits, his death occurring September 20, 1889, in the faith of the Episcopal church. He was a stalwart Republican in his political views, but never cared for public office, pre- ferring to give all his time and attention to his business, and his political activities were lim- ited to conscientious voting and the interest a good citizen takes in matters pertaining to his community's welfare. Mr. Bowman was mar- ried May 23, 1848, by the Rev. S. G. McMas- ter, to Miss Selina Ryder, who was born at
Chatham, Massachusetts, August 13, 1821, came to Alton in 1835, and died here July 1, 1901. Her parents were Captain Simeon Ry- der, a retired sea captain and merchant, born in Chatham, Massachusetts, in 1795, came to Al- ton in 1834, and died here August 28, 1877, and Esther ( Nickerson) Ryder, also a native of Chatham, Massachusetts, who was born in 1796, and died at that place in 1828. Nothing is to be found of the Ryder family in the early histories of Chatham, but of the Nickersons it is said that grandmother Nickerson repre- sented the eighth generation from William Nickerson, who came to the American col- onies in 1637, buying Monomoit, or Monomoy ( what is now Chatham ) from the Indians. She was a daughter of Myrick and Esther ( Nickerson ) Nickerson. Horatio B. and Se- lina ( Ryder) Bowman had two children : Ho- ratio J., who was born in 1850, and married Miss Virginia Job ; and Edward Munroe. For more extended mention of Virginia Job see Job sketch in this work.
Edward Munroe Bowman was graduated at the Washington University, St. Louis, Mis- souri, with the degree of A. B., and the St. Louis Law School, after which he engaged in the practice of law for some years. Deciding to enter the mercantile field, he established himself in the Black Hills of what was then the territory of Dakota, but later changed his location to the city of St. Louis, and that city and Alton have been the scenes of his activities to the present time. Mr. Bowman is a Repub- lican in his political views, and while residing in Decatur county, Kansas, served for a time as county attorney, and held a like position in Butte county, South Dakota. In 1883 he served as a member of the lower house of the Legislature of the territory of Dakota. In his religious affiliations Mr. Bowman is connected with the Unitarian church, and fraternally he associates with the Modern Woodmen of America.
On October 17. 1893. Mr. Bowman was married by the Rev. H. M. Chittenden to Miss Bethia Mason Drummond, daughter of John N. and Mary (Randle ) Drummond, and two children have been born to this union: John Drummond, born December 8, 1895 ; and Ed- ward Munroe, Jr., November 20, 1899, both at Alton. For Bethia Mason Drummond see sketch of John N. Drummond in this volume
A representative of a family that has been in in this country for nearly three hundred years. Mr. Bowman takes pardonable pride in the fact that he comes of good old Yankee stock. Gen-
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erations of patriots, honorable business men and those learned in the professions have bred in him a sense of integrity and honorable deal- ing and a love of country that has evidenced itself in his association with various public- spirited movements. His business career has been a long one and is without stain or blem- ish, and he may look back over the years that have passed with the contented knowledge that his life has been a useful one and that he has done his full duty as he has found it.
COLONEL ANDREW FULLER RODGERS, of Up- per Alton, is the last survivor of the Mexican war still a resident of Alton and vicinity. Now in his eighty-fourth year, his career comprises a range of experience probably without paral- lel in Madison county. As a soldier he took an eventful part in two wars, he was a California "forty-niner," and at home in more peaceful pursuits he has not been without distinction as a successful business man and public-spir- ited citizen.
Born in Howard county, Missouri, October 13, 1827. Colonel Rodgers was the son of a pioneer Baptist minister, Rev. Ebenezer Rod- gers. The latter was born in England, crossed the Atlantic and located at Louisville in 1818, and in 1819 accompanied Cyrus Edwards to a new home in Howard county. Besides his work as a missionary of his church he con- ducted a school on his farm, and some pupils rode ten miles to get the benefit of this pioneer institution. In 1834 he moved to a farm of forty acres since included in the limits of Up- per Alton, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was one of the founders of Shurtleff College, also one of its early trustees, and his home was one of the centers of Christian in- fluence and ideals in Upper Alton. In 1823 he married Permelia Jackson, of a family that settled in Howard county in 1818. She be- came the mother of nine children, namely : Sarah Ann Badley; John; William ; Ebenezer, who was assistant surgeon of the Eightieth Illinois Infantry; Andrew F .; Edward; Ry- nold; Henry P .; and Susan Lemon.
A. F. Rodgers was one of the early students of Shurtleff College. In 1844 he became a clerk to a St. Louis hardware firm, but had returned to Upper Alton before the beginning of the war with Mexico. He became a mem- ber of Colonel Bissell's Second Illinois Infan- try, in Company E, under Captain Lott, and was with that regiment in its campaign through northern Mexico, the principal en- gagement being that at Buena Vista. Soon after his return to Illinois he joined the mi-
gration of 1849 to California. A year in the mines was followed by service as deputy sher- iff of Sacramento county, and he was a mem- ber of the noted Sutter Rifle Company. On the return voyage from a visit to the "States" in 1852, his vessel was wrecked, with the loss of two hundred and fifty passengers, and with a few other survivors he was cast on Marguer- etta island. A whaling vessel finally rescued them and carried them to San Francisco. He resumed the duties of deputy sheriff and lived in Sacramento county until 1853, then went to the mines and in the following year upon the death of his father he came to Illinois, this being in July, 1854.
He continued at home, tending the farm and sawmill, until the great Civil war. In 1862 he entered the service as captain of Company B, Eightieth Illinois Infantry, and when the troops were mustered in on August 25th, he was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment. His service was arduous and eventful. At Perryville, Kentucky, he was carried wounded from the field. In April, 1863, having re- covered, he commanded his regiment on a raid against Bragg's army, and at Rome, Georgia. his force was captured. He and his fellow officers were kept prisoners first at Danville, and later in the notorious Libby prison, where he spent twelve months. He was afterwards transferred to Macon, and finally to Charleston. Here he and other offi- cers were placed in a cell directly in line of the enemy's fire, and in this perilous position remained for six weeks, until their grateful release by exchange. While in the southern prisons Mr. Rodgers was commissioned col- onel, a title that he had fully earned by his service in the field and exposure in prison. On his return to the north, at the request of Gov- ernor Yates and General Rosecrans, he re- cruited eight hundred men for the One Hun- dred and Forty-Fourth Illinois Regiment. Colonel Rodgers resigned from the army No- vember 25. 1864. During the remaining years of his active business career he was engaged principally in farming in Wood River town- ship.
In the civic affairs of his community Colonel Rodgers has always taken deep interest. A Democrat in politics and in his earlier years devoted to Stephen A. Douglas, he has fre- auently been a delegate to the district and state conventions, and in 1870 was elected a mem- ber of the legislature. He is the oldest Knight Templar Mason in Alton. He was made a Mason in 1852, in Upper Alton.
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On May 30, 1860, Colonel Rodgers married Jane F. Delaplain. Her father ( Benjamin ) was a member of one of the oldest of Madi- son county's families. The children of Colonel Rodgers and wife are: John B., Catherine, William, Sarah B., and Henry F.
ORRIN G. NORRIS has been connected with the Chicago & Alton Railroad at Alton for nearly forty years and has been the local ticket agent for twenty-seven years of that time. He came to Alton as telegraph operator, and his long and faithful service has been bene- ficial alike to the company and the community.
He was born in Canfield, Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1854, a son of lra and Elizabeth (Grover) Norris. His parents, who were na- tives of Connecticut, had six children-Jean- ette, Mary, Eliza, Emma, Orrin G. and Wil- bur, the last dying in infancy. One ancestor of this family of Norris was engaged at the battle of Lexington in the Revolutionary war and was one of the few Americans to lose their lives in that engagement.
Ira Norris was educated for the ministry and spent many years of his life in the service of the Methodist church. While living in Ohio he also represented his district in the Ohio senate. In 1855 he accepted a call to Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois, and was minister there seven years. He also established and edited for twelve years the Lacon Intelligencer, a Democratic paper and served two terms as county treasurer and as a justice of the peace. His business relations brought him an acquaintance with Abraham Lincoln, and though a Democrat he was one of the loyal friends and supporters of the great Illinois president. Ira Norris was born May 6. 1808, and died at Lacon May 30, 1891. His wife was born September 13, 1813, and died in June, 1893.
Orrin G. Norris was reared in Lacon, at- tended the public schools there, and from school went to work for a railroad, so that his entire career has been devoted to one busi- ness though in various capacities. He married in 1879 Miss Margaret Roberts, of Quincy. Her death occurred March 22, 1897. On Oc- tober 5. 1898, Mr. Norris was married to Miss Grace Johnson. She was born in Alton, a daughter of W. H. H. and Hannah Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Norris have one daughter, Cath- erine De Franca. Mr. Norris is a member of Robin Hood Camp. No. 135. M. W. A .. and he and his wife are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church, of which he has been a member of the vestry for eighteen years.
HERMAN E. F. SCHRE. The great Empire of Germany has contributed its fair quota to the progress and improvement of Madison county, Illinois, and prominent among that nation's representatives in Alhambra town- ship descendants of the family of Suhre hold distinctive prestige for loyal and public-spir- ited citizenship. Herman E. F. Suhre, whose name forms the caption for this review, is most successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits and in stock-raising on a fine farm of his father's in Hamel township.
Herman E. F. Suhre was born in Madison county, Illinois, the date of his nativity being the 20th of September, 1882. He is a son of W. K. and Fredericka ( Bloemker ) Suhre, both of whom were born and reared in Ger- many, whence they accompanied their respec- tive parents to America as children. After reaching years of maturity W. K. Suhre di- rected his attention and energies to the great basic industry of agriculture and with the passage of years he has become unusually successful along that line of enterprise, being now the owner of a number of splendid farms in Madison county. On other pages of this work appears a sketch dedicated to the career of W. K. Suhre, so that further data in regard to the family are not deemed essential at this juncture.
The second in order of birth in a family of four children, Herman E. F. Suhre passed his boyhood and youth on the old parental home- stead, his early educational training consisting of such advantages as were afforded in the German parochial schools of the locality and period. After his marriage, in 1906, he as- sumed the active responsibilities of life as a farmer on one of his father's extensive es- tates. His fine crops and well fed stock are splendid indications of his ability as à practi- cal farmer and show his application of those principles of industry and thrift that mark the successful farmer. In politics, while he never participates actively in public affairs, he is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor. His religious faith is in harmony with the ten- ets of the German Evangelical church, of which he and his wife are both consistent members.
In 1906 by the Rev. Dinkmeyer was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Suhre to Miss Emma Schuette. Mrs. Suhre was born and reared in Madison county and she is a daugh- ter of August Schuette. Mr. and Mrs. Suhre are the fond parents of two little sons,-Ed-
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win and Elmer. Mr. and Mrs. Suhre are popular factors in connection with the social activities of their home community, where their comfortable home is recognized as a center of hospitality. They number their friends by the score and are good, kind and obliging neighbors.
HENRY OSCAR TONSOR. Holding high rank among the native-born citizens of Alton is Henry Oscar Tonsor, a man of good business ability, much intelligence, and great enterprise. He stands prominent in fraternal circles, be- ing a thirty-third degree Mason, and is a di- rector in the Alton Banking and Trust Com- pany and the Alton Savings Bank.
His father, the late John M. Tonsor, was born October 5, 1827, in Patter Burn, West- phalia, Prussia, where his parents spent their entire lives. Brought up and educated in his native land, he joined the Revolutionists in early manhood, and in 1848, in company with Carl Schurz and others, he fled the country, crossing the ocean to the United States. Land- ing in New Orleans, he remained in the South about two years, and then located at Alton, Illinois, where he was variously employed for some time. In 1864 he embarked in the whole- sale liquor trade, establishing the business now conducted by his son, Henry Oscar, and carried it on successfully until his death, No- vember 29, 1891, it being one of the oldest-es- tablished institutions in Madison county. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Maxeiner, was born in Nassau, Germany, a daughter of Philip Maxeiner, who came to America, accompanied by his family, and lo- cated at Brighton, Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Mary (Maxeiner) Tonsor died July 29, 1864, leaving three sons, Henry Oscar, John W. and Charles F. John M. Tonsor subsequently married for his sec- ond wife Mary Bosse, a native of Westphalia, Germany, and they became the parents of one child, Bertha, who married Herman Wutzler.
Having acquired his rudimentary education in the parochial schools, Henry Oscar Ton- sor continued his studies for three years in the preparatory department. When seventeen years old he began clerking in his father's store, learning the details of the business in its every department. and in 1883 succeeded to the ownership of the entire business, which he has since conducted with undisputed success.
Mr. Tonsor is active in public affairs, and has held various offices of trust, for six years serving as township supervisor. Fraternally
he is a member of Piasa Lodge, No. 27, A. F. & A. M .; of Alton Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M .; of Belvidere Commandery, No. 2, K. T .; of Oriental Consistory, of Chicago; of Molah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of St. Louis ; and, September 18, 1906, in Boston, Massachusetts, was crowned in the thirty-third degree. Mr. Tonsor is prominent in the order, and has held all of the offices in lodge, chapter, council and commandery. He has been treasurer of Al- ton Lodge, No. 746, B. P. O. E., since its in- ception.
Mr. Tonsor was united in marriage in 1878, with Louise Bahre, who was born in High- land, Madison county, Illinois, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Bahre, both of whom were born in Switzerland, of German ancestry. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ton- sor, namely: John W., Sophia, Oscar H., Florence, Pauline and Edith. Sophia married W. H. Hoehner, of Belleville, Illinois, and they have one son, William Tonsor Hoehner. Oscar H. married Carrie Young, and they 'have two children, Virginia and Jack Marvin.
JOHN E. HAYNER, who died at Alton March 19, 1903, was throughout a long and pros- perous business career one of the best friends and greatest benefactors of. the city of Alton. Coming here in early manhood, depending en- tirely on his own resources, without friends of influence, he rose by force of perseverance, integrity and inherent ability until he became a power in the commercial world and a financier whose talents were recognized and honored not only in the marts of St. Louis and Chi- cago, but throughout the west and even in the leading eastern cities. His career was re- markable, not only in the brilliant success he attained, but in the fact that it was won not by speculation but by rare business foresight and acumen, the ability to forecast the value of projected enterprises. He never failed in any of his business ventures, for the sufficient reason that, guided by integrity of purpose, he never engaged in any project that was not honorable and for which there was not a legitimate demand. His business career was a series of unbroken successes, because his judgment was unerring, his energy unfailing and his will indomitable.
But above all he acquired the supreme at- tribute of character-the vital force that un- derlies all worthy accomplishment, that com- mands honor and affection, that is the basis of all enduring greatness, that lives on when the earthly tabernacle is dissolved. He achieved great things in the world, but these
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alone are transitory and evanescent ; his real success consisted in creating this vivifying es- sence we call character, that is satisfying and lasting. Men trusted him, believed in him, honored him. As an employe, in his early manhood, he was trustworthy and capable ; as a merchant his name was a synonym for in- tegrity ; as a manufacturer he held the confi- dence of the public ; as a banker and financier men relied upon his judgment-and he never fell short of the reliance placed upon him. "It is necessary that a man be true-not that he live."
His interest in and sympathy for young men was unbounded. Doubtless the memory of his own early struggles was ever present with him. Many now prominent men could be named who owe their station in life to the kindly advice, the helping hand and the ma- terial aid of John E. Hayner. His own suc- cess, instead of inspiring pride and arrogance, developed in him the desire to help others along the same road to high achievement, and he did this throughout his life. His material charity was abounding and perennial. He sought out and relieved the poor and needy. He comforted the sorrowing. His benevolence was unfailing. No good cause ever appealing to him found him unresponsive. The churches had in him a liberal and appreciative sup- porter. Ministers of the gospel found in him a generous, sympathetic friend, who appre- ciated the work to which their lives were dedi- cated. His personality was engaging. He had a pleasant smile and a genial greeting for all he met. Rich and poor received from him the same unfailing courtesy. He was always and everywhere the polished, unassuming gentle- man.
As a citizen he loved the old Bluff City, and was interested in every project for its advance- ment. His many great enterprises did much for its upbuilding and the maintenance of its financial prosperity. He had been a friend and helper of the public library from early man- hood. Even amid the later cares of exactions of his busy career he was interested in this means of advancing culture among the people. It came about normally, then, that when the time came that he could look back upon a life of satisfying achievement the desire should come to him to share his prosperity with others ; and in no way could this be better done than by providing for the literary advancement of his own and future generations. In ful- fillment of this desire he built and presented to the Library Association, for the use of the
citizens of Alton, the splendid Hayner Mem- orial Library, which is one of the ornaments of the city. (A sketch of the institution is given elsewhere in this work ).
Mr. Hayner was himself a constant reader of the best literature and his attainments were broadened by extended travels in this and foreign lands. He was thoroughly posted on political and economic topics, and while pronounced in his own views he was tolerant of others. During the war for the Union he was most liberal in his contributions in aid of the soldiers in the field and the sick and wounded in hospitals. He was the friend of every man who wore the blue. He was an ar- dent anti-slavery man, and was interested for man years in the project of building a monu- ment in memory of Elijah P. Lovejoy, and those who were connected with him in for- warding that undertaking can testify that his generous aid at its inception and the impulse he gave the Association were the mainsprings which resulted in the beautiful and stately me- morial to the first anti-slavery martyr which now adorns the city cemetery. And within its shadow he lies at rest.
John E. Hayner was born at Charlestown, New York. March 29. 1827. He was a son of Alexander J. and Lydia ( Grove) Hayner, natives of the same locality. His grandfather, John Hayner, immigrated from Germany and was a colonial soldier for seven years and seven months of the Revolution.
John E. Hayner spent most of his early years on a farm near Yates, New York, receiving the usual education afforded by the country schools. When eighteen years of age he en- tered a dry-goods store, where he remained as clerk for three years, and then, seeking for wider opportunities, turned his face westward. arriving in Alton in December, 1848. His first employment was that of clerk in the P. B. Whipple store. Subsequently he engaged in the hardware business with the late Arba Nelson, under the firm name of Nelson & Hayner. Later he operated a sawmill and box factory; became a bank director, a member of the firm of J. E. Hayner & Company, the western representatives of the Walter A. Wood Self-Binder Company, and was con- nected with various other firms and enter- prises in Alton, Chicago and elsewhere, but was best known to the people as president of the Alton Savings Bank and vice president of the Alton National Bank.
Mr. Hayner's first wife was Miss Laura E. Scott, of Craftsbury, Vermont. She was the
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mother of his only child, Mrs. W. A. Haskell. His second wife was Miss Jane C. Drury, of Highgate, Vermont. His last marriage was with Miss Mary Caroline Keith, of Sheldon, Vermont. Mrs. Hayner maintains the beau- tiful Hayner homestead on State street, one of the most attractive of Alton's old homes.
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