USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 77
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HARRY A. CANEDY. Progressive business man, esteemed citizen and husband, and pop- ular lodge man are all terms which accurately describe Harry A. Canedy, local manager for the firm of Valier and Spies of Saint Louis, Missouri. Mr. Canedy is a native of Ohio, having been born in that state near Zanesville. January 3, 1864, the son of Arthur G. and Isabella (Gleen) Canedy. At the age of three years he was taken by his parents to Nashville, Tennessee, where they remained seven years before again moving their destination being Columbus, Bartholomew county, Indiana. It was while in that place that his mother was called to her eternal reward, and two years later the family took up their residence in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Harry A. Canedy remained in Saint Louis until he was fourteen years old, at which time he came to the section of Illinois around Mad- ison county, and has remained here through all the intervening years. He came to Troy first about 1889, and worked as a laborer in the lumber business, with such patent fitness for a more responsible position that in 1892 he took charge of the milling business of Valier and Spies, a Saint Louis firm, with whom he has been continuously since that time with the exception of four years spent in the capacity of clerk for the Vandalia Railroad Company in the maintenance of way department.
Mr. Canedy was united in marriage March 14, 1901, to Miss Nellie Wriston, daughter of William and Martha Wriston. She was born December 28, 1867, in Jarvis township.
Both Mr. and Mrs Canedy are members of the Presbyterian church of Troy. Fraternally Mr. Canedy is a prominent and active member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, Troy lodge, No. 588, in which he has been a past master; the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, Nelson Lodge, No. 25, of which he is a past grand; the Order of the Eastern Star, of which he is past worthy pat-
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ron, and his wife is a worthy matron of the same ; and both he and Mrs. Canedy are men- bers of the Rebekahs and the White Shrine of Jerusalem. In the sphere of politics Mr. Canedy is identified with the Republican party, and he once served as township clerk on that ticket.
J. H. THEUER. Occupying a place of note among the successful business men of Ed- wardsville, J. H. Theuer is widely known as one of the leading general contractors and builders of this part of Madison county, his handiwork being in evidence in many differ- ent communities. He is a worthy representa- tive of the native born sons of Edwardsville, his birth having here occurred November 25, 1859.
His father, George W. Theuer, was born in Germany in 1800. In 1858 he immigrated to America, locating in Edwardsville, Illinois, where he followed his trade of a shoe-maker until his death, three years later, in 1861. He married Margaret E. Phonater, who was born in Germany in 1824, and died at her home in Illinois, in 1903.
Leaving school at the age of thirteen years, J. H. Theuer made his living for two years by stemming tobacco. Going then to Shipman, Illinois, he worked at the blacksmith's trade for nine months, and was subsequently en- gaged in carpentering for a number of sea- sons, being employed by different carpenters. In 1889 Mr. Theuer began contracting and building on his own account, for two years being associated with Oren Brown, under the firm name of Theuer & Brown. Since that time Mr. Theuer has carried on business alone and has met with well-merited success, having filled various large and important contracts in Edwardsville and the surrounding villages and towns. He has in the meantime won an excellent reputation for artistic and durable workmanship and his services are ever in demand when skilled labor is necessary.
Mr. Theuer has been twice married. He married first, April 16, 1884, Mary F. Hoel- sher, of Edwardsville. She passed to the life beyond in 1904, leaving four children, namely : Charles E., Alfred H., Walter W. and Harold E. Mr. Theuer married for his second wife, October 24, 1906, Katie MI. Delbrugge, of Pin Oak township.
In politics Mr. Theuer is actively identified with the Democratic party and has served two terms as alderman in the Edwardsville council, having made the race three times. In 191I he was nominated as candidate for mayor of
the city, his opponent being Henry P. Hotz, the campaign on both sides having been one of the most active and vigorous in the history of the county. Fraternally he belongs to Ed- wardsville Lodge, No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
HON. JOSIAS G. BARDILL. Every commu- nity and county has among its citizens men of prominence and power who have always lived among and considered themselves as "the plain people," and yet through their na- tive ability and self-attainments have risen to distinction and in business and public life are among those chosen to lead and direct. An example of this type, a man of high character and successful career, is Mr. Bardill, presi- dent of the Highland Store Company and vice president of the State and Trust Bank of Highland, and who for a number of years has been one of the foremost Republicans of Madison county.
Mr. Bardill was born in the village of Grant Fork, May 7, 1866, and has been a resi- dent of this county all his life. After attend- ing village school and taking a commercial course in St. Louis, he began life as a clerk. He possessed the energy and judgment for business achievement and the integrity neces- sary for lasting prosperity, and eventually be- came president of the Highland Store Com- pany, one of the largest establishments of the kind in Southern Illinois. In 1903 he took an active part in the organization of the State & Trust Bank of Highland, in which he served as director and is now vice president.
Along with success in business Mr. Bardill has served his community well as a citizen. He was alderman, treasurer and mayor of his home city, and for a number of years has been one of the influential Republicans of the county, serving four years as secretary of the county executive committee. In politics he has had the reputation of possessing definite convictions and expressed principles of policy and action. He was the popular candidate in his end of the county at the primaries in 1906 for state senator of the forty-seventh district, and also in 1908 and 1910 he was elected a representative to the state legislature. Mr. Bardill is known as one of the "big men" of Highland and the county, and his achieve- ments have fully justified this esteem.
He is a member of the German Evangeli- cal church and of the Highland Masonic lodge. He has a fine family, all of whom are_ esteemed members of the social community of Highland. His wife's maiden name was
Bardill
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Miss Elizabeth Harnisch, and they have four children: Mildred, the wife of R. K. Tib- betts; Ruth, Orville and Hubert, all students in the Highland schools.
ERNEST VAUGHN. Conspicuous among . the more able, energetic and popular citizens of Madison, Illinois, is Ernest Vaughn, who is filling the responsible position of superintend- ent of the Helmbacher Forge and Rolling Mills Company in a manner worthy of the highest praise and commendation. A Ken- tuckian by birth, he was born in the city of Covington, November 26, 1866, coming from a family of prominence.
Thomas B. Vaughn, his father, was for a number of years associated with the develop- ment of Covington's iron industries. Moving from there to Youngstown, Ohio, he became prominently connected with some of the larg- est iron works of that vicinity, and was there a resident until his death, in February, 1904. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Tay- lor, survived him, and is now living in Youngstown, Ohio.
Gleaning his first knowledge of books in the public schools of Covington, Kentucky, Ernest Vaughn continued his studies in Youngstown, Ohio, and after receiving his diploma at the high school completed a full course in the Youngstown Business College. In 1873 he entered the employ of John S. Willis, a noted iron man of Youngstown, with whom both Mr. Vaughn and his father were subsequently associated for a time. Coming westward in 1901, he entered the employ of the firm with which he is now associated, securing a position in their plant at Saint Louis, Missouri. Prov- ing himself eminently capable and useful in any department of the work, Mr. Vaughn was transferred in 1905 to the company's plant in Madison, Illinois, and as superintendent of the immense mills has control of eight hun- dred employes. This firm is one of the larg- est of its kind in regard to its volume of business of any in the state.
Mr. Vaughn married, in October, 1891, Augusta Engle, who was born in Illinois, but was brought up and educated in Toledo, Ohio. A prominent and active member of the Ma- sonic Order, Mr. Vaughn belongs to Ashler Lodge, No. 91, A. F. & A. M., of Detroit, Michigan; to Saint Louis Consistory, No. I ; to Moolah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; and is now a thirty-second degree Mason. In 1910 he was delegate at large to the Order of Moose which met in Baltimore, Maryland, and was
also a delegate to the same order in August, IgII.
THOMAS MILLETT. Among the citizens of Troy, Illinois, who bear most excellent repu- tations for bringing to the government service the same faithful interest and progressiveness with which they had formerly managed their personal affairs is Thomas Millett, the present postmaster of Troy, now serving his second term, his reappointment showing that rectitude and ability to render a carefully systematized service have been appreciated by the commun- ity. Thomas Millett was born in Belleville, Illinois, on the 16th of September, 1875, son of Thomas and Hannah (Hooley) Millett. Thomas Millett, the elder, was a coal miner and is now superintendent of the Long Broth- ers' coal company's mines at Collinsville.
Thomas Millett, the immediate subject of this review, was reared in the vicinity of St. Clair, where he attended the local public schools. From there he came to Madison county at the age of sixteen years to enter the employ of mine owners as a coal mine exam- iner. He worked at that occupation for ten years, and when he came to Troy in 1893 it was in the capacity of mine examiner. He was appointed postmaster of Troy under the Roosevelt administration and was reappointed to serve his second term January II, 1909.
In 1900 Mr. Millett laid the foundations of his present happy household by his union in that year to Miss Lulu Vetter. Mr. and Mrs. Millett have two children, Mildred, born Au- gust 15, 1901, and William, born on the 17th of March, 1912. Mr. Millett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fratern- ally he is affiliated with Troy Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Knights of Pythias lodge No. 165, of which he is a past chancellor, and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is assistant clerk in the same.
Mr. Millett's attractive residence at the cor- ner of Main street and Prentiss avenue is his own property.
WILLIAM MEINERS. It is a real satisfaction to the citizens of Troy to know that the strangers within her gates are likely to go away with an impression of progressiveness and cordiality with which to remember the city, as well as the Central Hotel, and William Meiners, its proprietor. He is so genuinely concerned for the comfort of his guests, so frank and open in his dealings, and manages his hostelry with such up-to-date enterprise
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that it furnishes an ideal vantage point from which to catch the very spirit of Troy as a whole.
William Meiners was born on the very site where his splendid hotel now stands, on April 16, 1856, the son of William and Minne (Hampe) Meiners. Both parents were na- tives of the Fatherland, and both are now de- ceased. When he was a boy William Meiners until the age of twelve attended the public schools of Troy, following that with two years at the Lutheran parochial school, and finishing at the Jones Commercial School.
William Meiners had for the first business interest of his life the harness trade, which he learned and at which he was employed for seven years, being located first at St. Louis and then at Highland. He then returned to Troy and became interested with his father in the running of the White Horse Hotel. After his father's death he purchased the hotel for himself and, changing its name to the Cen- tral, continued as its proprietor from the year 1893.
In 1892 Mr. Meiners married Miss Elisa Pfaff. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 14, 1864, and was educated in the pub- lic schools of that city. Both of her parents were born in France, later essaying their for- tunes in the new world. The children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Meiners are as follows: Edward P., born February 11, 1893, and a graduate of the Walther College of St. Louis, is now associated with the Mallinckrodt Chemical Company's works; Arthur E., born July 23, 1894, has graduated from the Mc- Cray-Dewey Academy of Troy, Illinois ; Wal- ter W., born April 11, 1897, and Raymond E., born October 4, 1903, are, like their mother, members of the Presbyterian church, while the two older boys belong to the Lutheran church. Mr. Meiners is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Court of Honor, to which latter organization his wife also belongs. Politically, he is found in the ranks of the Democratic party, always ready to serve its policies and men at the polls.
Mr. Meiners owns both his hotel and the stable connected with it, and in the conduct of both is an exemplar of the finest straightfor- ward business principles.
JOHN F. DEIMLING. There are some in this world whom one instinctively trusts, and strangers and old friends alike concede that John F. Deimling, native born of Troy, Illi- nois, is one of these. He has lived in that place all his life, and is firmly ensconsced in
the affection and esteem of all whose fortune it has been to meet and know him, for not only is he one of those who are ever ready to put a strong shoulder to whatever under- taking is being put forward for the general welfare, but his large-hearted, whole-souled personality, always genial, always the same, has made, as it were, the circle of his ac- quaintances identical with that of his friends.
As was before stated, John F. Deimling was born in Troy, the date of his nativity be- ing January 4, 1875. He is the son of John E. and Babette (Lantz) Deimling, the former a native of Frankenthal in the German Em- pire, and the latter a native of Paris, France. He was the third born in a family of five chil- dren, only two of whom survive to this date, IQII.
John F. Deimling was educated in the pub- lic schools of Troy, following which he spent one winter in the city of Saint Louis, there laying the foundation of his successful busi- ness management by taking a course in the Commercial College of that city and graduat- ing in the same. Upon his return to Troy, he immediately became interested in the butcher business, with his father, and after the death of the latter he associated himself with his brother Ed in 1897, and together they have built up a profitable and flourishing trade, en- deavoring to make the name of Deimling synonymous with whatever is best on the mar- ket, and enjoying a deserved prosperity in their enterprise. They are dealers in live stock, and the firm of Deimling Brothers ship two carloads on the average per week.
On October 17, 1906, Mr. Deimling was married to Miss Kate Landgraf, the charming daughter of Joseph Landgraf of O'Fallon, Illinois, and their union has since been blessed by one son, John J., born October 17, 1910.
Mr. Deimling takes much pleasure in his fraternal relations and is affiliated with that historic order, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Troy lodge No. 588, and has served in an official capacity in the Modern Wood- men of America, in which order he carries in- surance. Politically he advocates the men and policies of the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Cleveland, and he has been elected on the ticket of that party to the following offices : twice as township clerk and collector and twice as alderman from the third ward, in both of which positions he has brought his up-to-date business faculties to the earnest service of his constituency.
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ALBERT H. SCHOTT. The business and civic energies of a community are usually concen- trated in a few men who are the leaders of enterprise, who plan the campaigns of prog- ress, and who supply the executive direction necessary to the success of civic and business co-operation. One of the foremost examples of this type at Highland is Mr. A. H. Schott, who is a young business man of great energy and ability and is identified with the control of several large concerns that are vital factors in the present-day prosperity of the city.
Representing an old and well known family of this locality, he was born here September 15, 1870, a son of M. J. and Bertha (Eggen) Schott. His father died March 16, 1903, but his mother is still living in Highland. The second son of the family, he was reared in Highland, passed through the grade and high schools, then attended commercial college in East St. Louis, and began his career in the brewing business. For the past ten years he has had an influential part in the business activities of Highland. When the John Wildi Evaporated Milk Company was organized in 1908, it marked one of the notable events in the progress of this as a productive center, and in 1910 Mr. Schott became one of the principal stockholders and in February, 19II, the directors chose him president of the com- pany. Previous to taking the executive man- agement of this company he had been vice president of the State & Trust Bank of High- land, in which he is still a stockholder. Since 1901 he has served as president of the High- land Fair Association, and has given success and vitality to that organization.
Mr. Schott is a member of the German Evangelical church, is connected with several social organizations, and is affiliated with Highland Lodge, No. 583, A. F. & A. M., and Highland Chapter, R. A. M. He is a Demo- crat in politics, but has never taken much ac- tive part.
He was married in 1897 to Miss Ella Roth, of Highland. She was a graduate of the Highland high school and is a daughter of the late George Roth. They are the parents of two children: Waldo, aged eleven, and Dorothea, aged two.
PROFESSOR GEORGE H. OSBORN. Twenty- five years of teaching, -- that is the glorious record of Professor George H. Osborn, the present principal of the Mckinley school. And it is a glorious record, for the teaching profession when rightly regarded is second to no other profession. It is a task of human
building ; the task of laying the foundation of character, ideals and industrial efficiency ; the task of making citizens who shall be so equipped with facts and standards that the whole community shall grow and progress. The profession is a noble one, and Professor Osborn has brought to his work in the Mc- Kinley school a wide experience, a firm and thorough education and a native talent for teaching, so that it is no wonder that his work in Alton has been a success and has been ap- preciated both by the students who have come under his tutelage and by the citizenship of the community at large.
George H. Osborn was born in Greenwich, England, on the twelfth of June, 1864. He was the son of Rev. James Osborn, of the Baptist ministry, and Martha (Hall) Osborn. The family came to America when George H. was a child of three years, and settled at Bridgeport, Illinois. From 1867 until 1871 they remained in that place, where the father followed the shoe-maker's trade, which was his at the time, and then removed to Clay City, Illinois. After two years the family again changed their residence, and went to live in Flora, Illinois, where they made their home from 1873 to 1885 and gained many loyal friends. It was at the age of forty that Rev. James Osborn felt the call to preach, and until the last few years he has preached con- tinuously since 1878. For twenty-six years he was the pastor of the Baptist congregation at Troy, Illinois. He went there from Upper Alton, but returned to Troy for three years, and has since come to Upper Alton, where he now makes his home. Rev. James Osborn was born in England, in November, 1837. His wife was called from this life in 1889, at the age of forty-four. He was the father of nine children, and of the family six survive, --- James, Clyde, George, Ellen, Maude and Bertha.
George Osborn received his early education in the public schools of Flora, Illinois, and at- tended the high schools of that place. He then attended the Orchard City College throughout the year 1888. After teaching three years he then went to study at Haywood College, at Fairfield, Illinois, and completed a one year course at McKinley College. He has also at- tended the Illinois State Normal College at Normal, Illinois. Professor Osborn began his career as a teacher as a young man of twenty- three. The first school he taught was in Clay county, followed by schools in Madison, St. Clair and then Madison counties. He served
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as principal of the Summerfield school in St. Clair county, after which he went to accept the principalship of the Worden, Illinois, school. It was in 1898 that Professor Osborn first came to take charge of the Mckinley school, and he has remained here ever since, building up a thorough and efficient school system, in- troducing the best there is in modern educa- tional methods. He holds a first grade county certificate, and is a member of the county and state teachers' associations.
In November, 1890, Professor Osborn was united in marriage with Miss Angie McClan- ahan, the daughter of James and Margaret McClanahan, of Troy, Illinois, and this grac- ious and charming woman has made his home into one of the pleasantest social centers in Alton. To her and her husband have been born five children. Leland, born in Decem- ber, 1891, is a graduate of Shurtleff College ; Marjorie, born in October, 1896; Earl, born in July, 1899; Lucille, born in 1901; and Ralph, born in 1903. Professor Osborn and his family attend the Baptist church and are active participants in whatever good work the church launches. Fraternally Professor Os- born has connections with only one organiza- tion,-the Modern Woodmen of America.
ALBERT F. KAESER, B. S., M. D. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved and whose prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of natural talents and acquired ability in the field of his chosen labor. Dr. Kaeser occupies a position of dis- tinction as a representative of the medical pro- fession at Highland, Illinois, and the best evi- dence of his capability in the line of his chosen work is the large patronage which is accorded him.
Dr. Albert F. Kaeser was born on a farm in the close vicinity of Highland, Illinois, the date of his nativity being the eighth of De- cember, 1878. He is a son of Fritz and Catherine (Kaindl) Kaeser, the former of whom was born in Switzerland, and the latter of whom was a native of the state of Illinois. The father was a farmer by occupation and he and his wife became the parents of eight children, of whom the Doctor was the fifth in order of birth. In 1888 the family home was established at Highland, where Dr. Kae- ser received his elementary educational train- ing. For two years he attended the public schools at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and in 1894 was matriculated as a student in the Univer- sity of Illinois, at Urbana, in which excellent
institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1898, duly receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. Immediately thereafter he entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Chicago, Illinois, where he pursued a full course and in which he was graduated in 1901, with his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Kaeser located at Bloom- ington, Illinois, where he initiated the active practice of his profession and where he con- tinued to maintain his professional headquar- ters until 1904, in which year he came to Highland. He has a fine and lucrative pa- tronage in this place and is regarded as a physician of unusual skill and ability. In con- junction with his life work he is a valued member of the Madison County Medical So- ciety, the Illinois State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. In 1909, in order to further fortify himself for effi- cient medical practice, Dr. Kaeser pursued a course of post-graduate work in the widely renowned schools and hospitals of Berlin, Germany.
In politics Dr. Kaeser is an unswerving ad- vocate of the principles promulgated by the Republican party and his religious faith is in harmony with the teachings of the German Evangelical church. In fraternal channels he is connected with the time-honored Ma- sonic order, in which he is a member of High- land Lodge, No. 583, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons; and Highland Chapter, No. 169, Royal Arch Masons. In the Knights of Pythias he is affiliated with Helvetia Lodge, No. 699, and he is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. While in col- lege he affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsi- lon and the Kappa Kappa Alpha fraternities, retaining his interest as an alumnus in those organizations at the present time, in 1911.
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