USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 73
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In the year 1898 was recorded the marriage of Mr. Ruhr to Miss Cora F. Shiek, who was born and reared in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Ruhr have no children. In their re- ligious faith they are consistent members of the German Evangelical church, to whose good works they contribute liberally of their time and means.
In politics Mr. Ruhr is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Dem- ocratic party stands sponsor and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with a number of repre- sentative organizations of a local character. He is always courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally accord him the highest esteem. He has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity and his sterling integ- rity and high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.
FRED STOCKER. Conspicuous among the ac- tive, enterprising and progressive citizens of Highland, Madison county, is Fred Stocker, who is widely known throughout central and southern Illinois as the inventor and manu- facturer of the Stocker Gravel Washer, and as the founder of the first cement products fac- tory in this part of the state. A son of John J. Stocker, he was born November 1, 1861, in Highland, Illinois, of Swiss lineage.
Born and bred in Switzerland, John J. Stocker immigrated with three of his brothers to America when young, and located first in Highland, Illinois, where he found employ- ment on a farm. At the outbreak of the Civil war he gladly offered his services to his adopted country, and, having enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he fought bravely until the close of the con- flict, enduring with patience and fortitude all the horrors and vicissitudes of war. Returning home, he resumed his former occupation and was engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. He married Mrs. Elizabeth Iberg, and to them four children were born, all of whom are living, as follows: August, Robert, Fred and Joseph J. By her first marriage Mrs. John J. Stocker had three daughters, as fol- lows: Eliza, widow of Marcellus Willbank ; Mary, widow of Rudolph Zobrist; and Mrs. Anna Bucher, also a widow.
Leaving the public schools of Highland when a lad of thirteen years, Fred Stocker began life as a wage-earner, and has since paddled his own canoe. He worked as a farm hand until nineteen years of age, when he and his brother Robert began farming for themselves in Mis- souri. A year later both brothers returned to Highland on account of the serious illness of their mother, and here continued in agri- cultural pursuits together for awhile. Taking unto himself a wife in 1886, Fred Stocker re- mained on the farm until 1899, when he moved to the city of Highland and embarked in bus- iness for himself, being employed in well drill-
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ing until 1904. Subsequently, after spending a time in traveling, Mr. Stocker established himself in the gravel business at Highland, and also erected a cement factory, as mentioned above. Through industry, ability and inven- tive talent he has here built up one of the lead- ing industries of the city, and is carrying on a substantial business in that line and has also other interests of a financial nature. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and an active member of the Highland Sharpshooters' Club ; of the Harmonie Club ; and of the Turnverein.
On December 9. 1886, Mr. Stocker was united in marriage with Ido Zobrist, a daughter of Henry Zobrist, of Highland, and to them seven children have been born, namely : Nellie, Harry, Helen, Florence, Clarence, Bernice and Jennie. Religiously he and his family are mem- bers of the German Evangelical church of Highland.
CHRIST J. HUG. Among the many profes- sions, formerly mere trades, and sometimes un- skilled trades at that, is that of the contractor and builder. No one is a more important factor in our modern industrial efficiency than he. Building has become a science and now- adays wise men prefer to give into the hands of an expert the task of constructing their homes and warehouses. In Mr. C. J. Hug Highland has a representative of this impor- tant department of modern industry and one with a thorough training in the theory and practice of the business.
Mr. Hug was born on a farm in Bond county, Illinois, on December 15, 1877. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth Baumann Hug. He was the third of a family of eight children. In the public schools and at High- land he received an adequate education for a foundation for his work. When he left school at eighteen he entered a hardware store as clerk and at the same time acted as agent for an insurance company at Highland and was promoted to assistant superintendent at Can- ton, Illinois, for the Prudential Insurance Company.
Mr. Hug left Canton and went to St. Louis, where he was employed as motorman of the street car system for a year and then spent about the same period of time on a farm in Ok- lahoma. During the time he was taking cor- respondence work with the International Cor- respondence School of Scranton, learning the contracting and building trade. From Okla- homa he returned to Highland and has since made his home here and established himself as one of the leading contractors of the town.
The Highland Planing Mill and Lumber Company is under the able management of Mr. Hug, who is also president of the com- pany. His business has been successful to an unusual degree and his pre-eminence in the building trade is merited by his excellent work and good management. The company of which he is president and manager is incorpo- rated under the laws of Illinois.
The family of Mr. Hug consists of his wife, Claudine Gineuneufelder Hug, and two chil- dren, Leslie, aged ten, and Gladys, eight. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hug took place in 1899.
Mr. Hug is a member of the German Evan- gelical church, while Mrs. Hug's faith is that of the Roman Catholic body. Mr. Hug is an Ancient Free and Accepted Mason and a mem- ber of the Chapter No. 169, Royal Arch Ma- sons, of Highland. His political views are those of the Republican party.
ANDREW C. PATTERSON. The great educa- tors of the country are now urging military training as a means of increasing the efficiency of industrial workers of all kinds. Whether we agree with these leaders or not it is a fact that the men who have carried on the in- dustries of the country during the last fifty years were to a large extent those who have seen active service in the Civil war. The soldier learns to carry out the instructions of superiors ; this is the thought conveyed by the word co-operation; it is less harsh to say that a man must co-operate with his superiors than that he must obey his superiors, but the meaning is the same whichever way we put it. In the case of Germany, although the advantage to her industries through the train- ing of her young men in the army is not the aim of her military activities, the result is no less beneficial. What Andrew C. Patterson might have been if he had not had any mili- tary training it is hard to say, but the fact is that he would probably agree with us in saying that the lessons he learned during his years of service have been more valuable in his actual life than any experience he gained either before or since.
Andrew C. Patterson was born. May 22, 1845, in Fort Russell township. He is the son of James and Agnes (Currie) Patterson, both of whom were of Scotch descent. They had two children, both boys. Their second born, James, died when he was sixteen years old.
Andrew, the only surviving child of these parents, was brought up on his father's farm.
andrew & Patterson
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He entered the public schools as soon as he rooms in the night; families have come and was old enough, remaining there until he was past eighteen years of age. Ever since the war broke out he had longed to enlist, but he was too young. When he was eighteen, however, he joined Company K, in the Tenth Illinois Infantry, which was an old company that had come home for recruiting. The com- pany was placed under the command of Gen- eral Sherman and Mr. Patterson was in that famous march from Atlanta to the sea. Af- ter the march to the sea the regiment went to Washington and was on grand parade there. After being stationed there for two weeks they were sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were discharged. Mr. Patterson will never forget the parting words of the old General, W. T. Sherman-"Boys, go home and make as good citizens as you have sol- diers." On the 4th of July, 1865, Mr. Pat- terson left the army and came back home. He helped with the work on the farm and later, when his parents became feeble, he took up the active farm management. He now owns three hundred and seventy acres of land, besides having several outside in- terests.
On the 14th of June, 1866, he was married to Jeanette Harvey, the daughter of Hugh and Janet (Ritchie) Harvey, the former of whom was lost in the gold rush in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have had seven children, as follows: Agnes C., wife of Samuel Sloan ; Jennie R., who died on the 14th of January, 1882; James H., who married Sallie Huey, of Alabama; Janet E., who died on May 13, 1907, was the wife of William N. Sloan; Sarah M., wife of Charles M. Sloan; Clara M., wife of William I. Wilson; and Julia E., who died April 28, 1909.
Mr. Patterson is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 461, at Edwardsville. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Lib- erty Prairie, having adhered to the old faith of his Scottish ancestors. He has been an elder of the church for many years and takes an active part in church work. In politics he is a Republican, always ready to serve his party, and he was school director for fifteen years. He has held the offices of supervisor and of road overseer. It is a pleasure to visit Mr. and Mrs. Patterson on their farm in Fort Russell township, where they live con- tented with each other and their lives so full of joys and sorrows. They have lived so long in the country that they have seen many changes; cities have sprung up like mush-
gone. He can feel that he has obeyed the parting command of his General-He has made as good a citizen as he did a soldier.
HENRY MEINECKE. The demand for whole- some food supplies is constantly increasing, while recent national and state pure food laws have resulted in the placing upon the market of a class of goods of a vastly better quality than has ever before been given to the public. For these and other equally cogent reasons the business of catering to this demand and giving out only first class goods is proving one of the most profitable and satisfactory in the vari- ous lines of commercial endeavor, and Madi- son county has its full quota of responsible grocers. Among those who rank among the leaders in their class is Henry Meinecke, whose well appointed establishment at Venice is the reflection of all that is latest and best in staple, fancy and green groceries, tastefully displayed with due regard to sanitation. Com- bined with his excellent stock is a fair method of dealing, as well as good service, and conse- quently his volume of business shows a healthy as well as rapid increase.
Mr. Meinecke was born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, April 29, 1864, and is a son of William and Wilhelmina (Tiedmann) Meinecke, na- tives of Germany, who immigrated to the United States at an early day, Mr. Meinecke's business being that of proprietor of a flour and feed store in St. Louis. Henry Meinecke re- mained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he began to support him- self, securing employment in grocery establish- ments, where he gained much experience that was to prove of inestimable value in the years that followed. He was married September 24, 1891, to Miss Nellie Wyeh, an estimable young lady of Venice, who was born and reared in this city, a daughter of William and Mary Wyeh and sister of Harry and Joseph Wyeh. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Meinecke began their wedded life in Venice, he establish- ing himself in a grocery business at Second and Grandville avenue, Venice, and after two years of hard and persevering labor he was able to purchase the Smith & Smith grocery stand on Main and Ferry streets, where the old ferry landed its thousands of passengers. Many of these, being pleased with the court- eous, obliging proprietor of the grocery, be- came regular patrons of the place, and in this way Mr. Meinecke built up a large and lucra- tive business, the stand becoming as well known as any in the city. In the fall of 19II
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he established a fine branch store at the corner whose death occurred at her home in Highland of Douglas and Meredosia streets, North Ven- in 1896. Of the eight children that blessed their union but two are living, as follows : Bruno, residing on the old home farm in Ma- rine township, and Ferdinand.
ice, and it is his intention to consolidate the two stores at the latter location, where in- creased territory will no doubt enlarge his busi- ness to a great extent. A genial, whole-souled man, Mr. Meinecke is popular with his cus- tomers and business associates, and he has friends all over the city. He is a friend of edu- cation, and during the four years that he served as a member of the school board he took care of the interests of the people and a number of needed reforms were made in the school sys- tem. Politically he gives his support to the principles of the Republican party, but he is not bigoted in his views and tries to elect the men whom he deems best fitted for the office. His success in the business world has been entirely due to his own perseverance, energy and industry, backed by the help of his faith- ful and capable wife, who, like her husband. is a consistent member of the German Evan- gelical church at Nameoki. Mr. Meinecke is vice president of the Tri-City State Bank of Madison, and has various other business inter- ests.
Mr. Meinecke has one son, William, born September 10, 1893, who on account of frail health was taken from the public schools and his education continued at home. During the last four years he has been an invalid, suffer- ing from rheumatism, but he is a cheerful youth and bears his trials with patience. Hon- orable in his business dealings, public spirited in discharging his duties as a citizen and sin- cere in his friendships, Mr. Meinecke is rated among the representative Madison county citi- zens, and his many friends are taking a grati- fied interest in his business success and pub- lic prominence.
FERDINAND KRENZER. A highly intelligent and prosperous business man of Highland, Ferdinand Krenzer is identified with one of the foremost enterprises of this section of Madison county, being associated with Fred Stocker in the manufacture of cement products and in general contracting. He was born in Marine township, Madison county, Illinois, July 5. 1876, of German ancestry.
His father, Joseph Krenzer, was born in Madison county, Illinois, on a farm lying north of Highland, where his parents located on com- ing to this country from Germany. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and continued his career as a farmer until 1895, when he gave up active business and became a resident of Highland. He married Emma Eubersax,
At the age of seventeen years, having com- pleted the course of study in the public schools of Marine township, Ferdinand Krenzer turned his attention to agriculture, and worked with his father on the farm for a year. De- sirous then of further advancing his education. he spent a year at a commercial college in Saint Louis, after which he was employed as a clerk in a shoe factory in that city for two years. Returning, he followed farming until 1905, when he came to Highland and began work in the concrete industry. Three years later, in 1908, Mr. Krenzer became associated with Mr. Stocker, with whom he has since been in part- nership, the Stocker Gravel & Art Stone Com- pany being one of the best known and most thriving of any in the community.
Mr. Krenzer married, February 15, 1900, Emma Plocher, a daughter of Frank Plocher, of Saline township, and they are the parents of three children, namely: Orville, John and Olive. Politically Mr. Krenzer is a straight- forward Republican. Socially he belongs to the Highland Sharpshooters, of which he is an active member, and to the Turnverein Club. Religiously he was reared in the Protestant faith.
WILLIAM S. RAMSEY. The great-grand- father of William Ramsey was a native of Scotland, whose baptismal name, bestowed in the Presbyterian church, was also William. He emigrated from the country of the heath- ery hills to North Carolina, where he married and brought up a family. His son John also married there, and in the year 1818, when Illi- nois added her star to the flag, moved to the new state. Norris, the father of William, was at that time fifteen years of age. John pur- chased a farm of forty acres in Clinton county and here he lived until his death. The family was a comparatively small one for that time. there being but six boys and two girls.
The four older boys very soon decided to shift for themselves, leaving only the two younger boys and the girls to be supported from the farm. Norris arrived in Galena, Illi- nois, without a penny and barefooted. He ob- tained work in the lead mines and after half a year made enough to come home and purchase two yoke of oxen. Over the wild prairie and bad roads he hauled a load of provisions to the mines at Galena and thus made his first profit-
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able venture. When he returned, he traded his cattle and the money he had for a quarter sec- tion of land in Helvetia township, southeast of Highland. This was the beginning of his ac- cumulating farm property in this vicinity. For about thirty years Norris Ramsey lived in Hel- vetia, and then he removed to the neighbor- hood of Sebastopol. Altogether he acquired about twelve hundred acres of land.
Norris Ramsey married Lea Gracey and be- came the father of twelve children. Two of the family are still living, Rachael, the widow of James Lessley, and William, of this review. Norris Ramsey died in 1865.
At the time of his father's death William Ramsey was twenty-two years old, as he was born February 24, 1843, in Helvetia township. By his father's will he came into possession of five hundred acres of land, and he took charge of the home place and farmed his inheritance until 1907. At that date ill health influenced him to give up his work on the farm and to come to Highland. Here he has since made his home and has identified himself with the life of the town. He has been a school director for twelve years and for four years councilman from the first ward. He was brought up a Presbyterian of the old school, but has gone over to the somewhat broader denomination of practically the same creed, the Congregation- alists, being a member of the First Congrega- tional church of Highland.
Seven children have been born to William Ramsey, but only two have been spared be- yond the days of infancy. The daughter is Mrs. Jacob Etzorn, and William M. Ramsey lives in Springfield, Illinois.
Mr. Ramsey cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas and he is still a consistent advocate of the policies of the Democratic party. He is in every way a worthy representative of the name so long and so honorably known in Mad- ison county.
WILLIAM A. COLLINS. One of the promi- nent younger business men of Highland is Mr. W. A. Collins, of the Hagnauer and Honoebel Hardware Company. He was born in High- land, July 8, 1880, and his parents were Wil- liam J. and Susan Knoebel Collins. Both his father and grandfather Collins were engaged in railroad work and both lost their lives at that business. The grandfather, also named William, came from Orange county, New York, when a young man and settled in East St. Louis. Here he worked at hauling freight and it was while at this work that he met his death. His son, William J., the father of Wil-
liam A., grew up in East St. Louis and fol- lowed railroad work as his father had done. He began at the bottom and worked up to the position of foreman of a construction train. When his son William A. was fifteen months of age the father was killed by falling between the cars.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Collins returned to her parents' home in Highland and there brought up her son, William A. In 1896 he graduated from the high school in the first graduating class of the Highland high school. He had secured his elementary education in the schools of Helvetia township. He supple- mented his high school course by one in a busi- ness college in St. Louis, after which he re- turned to Highland and entered into the firm with whom he is still engaged and where he is a stockholder in the company.
In 1903 Miss Clara Lauener, daughter of John Lauener, of Highland, became Mrs. W. A. Collins. The marriage occurred on August 25 and the couple have become the parents of three children, Verna, Layton and Curtis. Mr. Collins is a member of the Sharpshooters' Club and of the Turners' Harmonie Club. The Col- lins family are influential members of the Ger- man Protestant church of Highland.
In politics Mr. Collins is a Republican and has been several years in public office. He was for four years town clerk and for two years township collector. He is a man of sound busi- ness judgment and principles, which inspire the confidence of the community. Though only a young man, he has won a solid place in the regard of the community both as a business man and as an individual.
LOUIS O. KUHNEN is a descendant of a Swiss family, one branch of which came to America in 1836. Christian Kuhnen, founder of the American line of that name, settled first near Massillon, Ohio, and there followed the trade of a carpenter. After a number of years in Ohio he came to Highland, by the way of St. Louis. Here in Highland he continued to pur- sue the trade of cabinet making and also to do carpenter work for several more years. Later he moved to a farm and, as he prospered in that, he set up a hardware store. In the mean- time he had married Anna Ruedy, who was, like himself, a native of Switzerland. Seven children were born to them, and when Charles F., the father of Louis, grew up he went into business with his father. In the course of time Charles and a partner, George Roth, took charge of the business. Charles was married in 1868 to Katherine Streif, and the four sons
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of their marriage are all living. They are: Fremont C., A. G., Charles F., junior, and Louis O., who was born in Highland, Febru- ary 15, 1872.
Until he was fourteen years of age Louis O. Kuhnen attended the public schools of High- land. He then went to St. Louis to continue his education in the Toensfeldt's Educational Institute, remaining here two years. When he returned from the city Mr. Kuhnen went on the farm with his father, who had sold his business to his sons and Fred Siegrist in 1888. Louis stayed on the farm five years and then came to Highland, where his father had formed a stock company of which he was one of the members. Since that time he has re- sided in Highland.
In 1894, on May 17, was solemnized the marriage of Louis Kuhnen and Ida Litz. Mrs. Kuhnen is the daughter of Anton and Eliza- beth Litz, both residents of Highland and of Swiss descent. Their union has been blessed with a son and daughter, Lylah O. and Har- old H.
Mr. Kuhnen is a man of wide and varied in- terests. Fraternally he belongs to the Turners, the Sharpshooters and the Harmonie societies, besides being of the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Royal Arch and a member of the East St. Louis Valley Con- sistory, A. A. S. R., the Thirty-second degree.
The Democratic party claims Mr. Kuhnen's allegiance` in matters political, and he is well known in its councils. He has served as city treasurer and as alderman from the Third ward. He is at present a member of the board of education. In all his enterprises Mr. Kuh- nen acquits himself as befits the son and grand- son of men who contributed so substantially to the industrial development of the county and does a generous share in the task of passing on to the coming generation a heritage enriched by the best contributions of this age in the way not only of increased material riches, but in high standards of life and conduct.
JOHN GEISMANN. Mr. Geismann's career is one of those inspiring records of the success of faithful and intelligent service which are true contributions to the literature of "pluck." His parents were German in nationality. His father, John Geismann, came to America when about thirty years old, landing at New Orleans. From there he came to Highland and went into business, running a brewery and also working at the cooper's trade. To him and his wife, Zitha ( Bellm) Geismann, were born eight chil- dren, all of whom are living: Eliza is the
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