Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 8

Author: Norton, Wilbur T., 1844- , ed; Flagg, Norman Gershom, 1867-, ed; Hoerner, John Simon, 1846- , ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 8

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WILLIAM PRIMAS. If there is one life more than another where there is room for the exer- cise of a man's intelligence it is the life of a farmer. It used to be thought that it did not take much brains to farm, but men have come to the conclusion that if a farmer is to get out of the soil all that it is capable of producing, that he must use his head as well as his muscles. This can readily be proved by taking two farmers who own the same amount of land, with the same climatic and other conditions. The one will produce nearly twice as much as the other and yet they both put the same amount of labor on the land. The difference is that the one brings his mind to bear on the subject and the other expects his muscles to accomplish everything. William: Primas is one of the farmers who uses both head and muscles, the result being a productive farm.

William Primas was born in Edwardsville township, Madison county, Illinois, March 21, 1871. He is the son of William Primas, a native of Austria, where he was born in 1836. He was educated in the schools of Austria, and there learned the trade of a cooper. When he was seventeen years old he came to the United States to try his fortunes in the new world. He landed here in 1853, going first to St. Louis, where he followed his trade for some time. Later he came to Edwardsville, locating on a farm near what is now Glen Car- bon, where he spent the rest of his life. He died June 13, 1903. Just after he came to Edwardsville Mr. Primas married Mary Sha- shack, who was also a native of Austria. She came to this country with her parents when she was twelve years of age; she attended the schools here and then was employed in St. Louis. Six children were born to the union, Joseph, Antonia, Julia, Rudolph, Joseph M., William. Julia married Walter Stamen and Antonia is now the wife of Edward Smith.

When William, Jr., was a boy he attended the Glen Carbon public schools, remaining there until he was seventeen years of age. At that time he assumed the active care of the farm, doing the greater part of the work him- self.

On May 30, 1904, he celebrated his mar- riage to Miss Tracy Bouril, daughter of Jo-

seph Bouril. Mr. Bouril was born in Austria and after his immigration to this country he located in St. Louis, where Tracy was born and educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Primas have three children, William (the third of the name), Joseph and Lawrence.

Mr. Primas is a member of Primas Lodge, No. 889, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Glen Carbon. He was brought up in the Catholic religion; his political sympa- thies are with the Republicans, but he does not take any active part in politics. He leaves that to others, but finds that the care of his ninety acres of land, his fraternal lodges and his family occupy all the time he has at his disposal. He has become greatly respected in the county and state, being popular with the farmers in his neighborhood and with the mer- chants of Glen Carbon, in fact he is liked by all who know him.

JOSEPH M. PRIMAS is one of the successful merchants of Glen Carbon, Illinois. There are very few men who are brought up on a farm who do not make a success of their lives, whether they continue in the farm work or turn their attention to something else. On the farm they learn to work, and a man who has learned that lesson is bound to come out on top. When there is added to this habit the business abilities that are possessed by Mr. Primas the result cannot fail to be satisfactory. Mr. Primas has not confined his attentions to his own advancement, but has devoted him- self to the uplifting of the county and of his own township. He has become a power in the community.

He was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, March 13, 1861, the son of William and Mary (Shashack) Primas. William Primas was born in Austria in 1836. He received his edu- cation there, but was not able to go to school very long. He learned the cooper's trade. but was able to earn very little in his native land. He decided to cross the ocean and come to America. When he was only seventeen years of age he left his home and crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel. He was over two months making the passage and after a weary, stormy time he landed in New Orleans. He took a boat and came up the river to St. Louis and thence across the border to Madison county, Illinois. He had learned his trade thoroughly and although he was so young he was able to get good wages and worked for a while at Edwardsville, Illinois. In 1862, nine years after he first came to America, he bought a farm near Glen Carbon and moved

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

on to it. Later he went into business in the village of Glen Carbon. Mr. and Mrs. Primas had five children, three boys and two girls, all of whom are living (1911). The eldest is Joseph M., the second, Antonia, wife of Ed- ward Smith. William is the third, named after his father. Julia, the wife of Walter Staman, is the fourth and Rudolph is the youngest. William Primas died at Glen Car- bon June 13, 1903, at the age of sixty-seven.

Joseph M. was born in the old Tom Manion house in Edwardsville and when he was a baby of twelve months old, his parents moved to the farm near Glen Carbon. When he was old enough he attended the district school and worked on the farm in the summer time. This life he continued until he was fourteen years old, when he left school and devoted his whole time to farm work. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-eight years old. He then started in the mercantile busi- ness and has carried it on successfully ever since.

On January 29. 1890, Joseph Primas mar- ried Emma Bosomworth, born in Edwards- ville township. She was the daughter of Will- iam Bosomworth, who was born in England May 21, 1840. In 1852 he came to the United States with his parents and the family located in Springfield, Ohio. Later they moved to Illinois, where he worked on his father's farm until his marriage, which occurred in St. Louis, Missouri. October 28, 1863. IIe married Mary J. Fairbridge, who was born in Newcastle, England, and to this union were born five children, four of whom lived to be men and women. Emma, the wife of Joseph Primas, is the eldest. Her brother. Robert R., married Louise Zimmermann and they now live in the state of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Primas have one daughter, who has a great deal of musical talent. Her name is Ora and she was born October 4, 1892. She attended the school at Glen Carbon and after her graduation she was sent to the Beethoven Conservatory of Music at St. Louis, Missouri. She was graduated from this school (June. IQII), and judging from the record she made while there she has a remarkable musical career before her. She is not content with playing notes, but she has learned to express the noblest feelings of the heart and soul by means of music.

Mr. Primas is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. holding membership in the Primas Lodge, No. 889, and the En- campment, No. 199. He is a past noble

grand and a past chief patriarch ; he is mem- ber of the Grand Lodge and a mem- ber of Carbon lodge, No. 340. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and is a past chancel- lor in the same. He is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, lodge No. 2745, in which he has insurance. Mr. Primas is a Re- publican in politics and he has served as school commissioner. By reason of circumstances which he could not control, Mr. Primas did not have a great deal of schooling, but he has picked up a great deal through his intercourse with others and through books, and he realizes the advantages that are to be derived through an education. He is giving his daughter the best that he can and he is greatly interested in the schools of Glen Carbon and in the educa- tion of the children in that neighborhood. He is a public spirited man who is anxious to do all that is possible to promote the well being of the county in which he was born and has spent all of his life so far.

DIETRICHI CASSENS. On the 19th of Febru- ary, 1901, was summoned to the life eternal the soul of a man, whose sterling integrity and most exemplary christian character have left an indelible impress upon the hearts of his fellow men. At the time when he was called from the scene of his mortal endeavors he was in his forty-seventh year and it may be said concerning him that "his strength was as the number of his days." The prestige which he gained as a fair and honorable man was the result of his own well directed en- dleavors and his success was on a parity with his ability and well applied energy. For a number of years Mr. Cassens, whose name forms the caption for this review. was engaged in farming operations on his fine estate of eighty acres in Hamel township.

A native of the great empire of Germany, Dietrich Cassens was born on the 5th of No- vember, 1854, and he is a son of Gerd and Helena Cassens, both of whom passed their entire lives in the place of their birth. Mr. and Mrs. Gerd Cassens became the parents of three children. namely,-Dietrich, Gerd, Jr., and Henry. Dietrich Cassens was reared to adult age in Germany, where was solemnized his marriage, in 1874, and where were born three of his children. In 1882, after receiving a letter from his brother-in-law. Tonjes Eilers, lauding the splendid opportunities for the in- migrant in the United States, Mr. Cassens de- termined to set sail for the new world of promise. Hasty preparations were made for the journey, farewells said to friends and kin-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

dred and in the fall of 1882 the Cassens family set sail for America. Landing in the harbor of New York city, they proceeded directly to Madison county, Illinois, where Mr. Cassen's brother-in-law had previously located a farm. For some years after his arrival in this county Mr. Cassens farmed on a rented estate but so successful was he in his operations that but few years elapsed before he was enabled to purchase a farm of one hundred and sixty acres for himself. Subsequently he also be- came the owner of a tract of twenty-eight acres of timber land, a portion of which he cleared. He achieved a splendid success as a farmer and stock-raiser, and in due time accu- mulated quite a fortune. His farm, which is now conducted by his widow and son, is lo- cated in Hamel township and it is recognized as one of the finest and best equipped estates in Madison county.

In his political opinions Mr. Cassens was long aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and while he did not participate actively in public affairs he was always ready to give his zealous sup- port to all matters projected for the good of the general welfare. In religious matters he was a devout member of the Lutheran Evan- gelical church, in whose faith he reared his children. He was called to the great beyond on the 19th of February, 1901, and his loss was a matter for universal grief throughout Madison county. His kindness of heart and generous impulses won him many friends, in whose memory his noble personality will ever be revered.

In the year 1874, in Germany, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Cassens to Miss Helena Eilers, the ceremony having been performed by the Rev. Kittel, pastor of the Lutheran church at Hollen, Germany. Mrs. Cassens was born in 1851, a daughter of Tonjes and Anna (Fiken) Eilers. Mr. Eilers was twice mar- ried, his first union having been prolific of four children-Oltman, Friedrich, Meta and Tonjes, and his second union of seven children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being : Dietrich, Johann, Henry, Anna and Helena. Prior to their immi- gration to America, in 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Cassens became the parents of three children, -Helena, Anna and George. Five more chil- dren came to gladden their hearts after their arrival in the United States, namely,-Hein- rich, who died in infancy ; Theodore, Dietrich, Friedrich and Emma. Helena Cassens became the wife of August Kessman, of Madison

county, Illinois, and they have five children, Eleanora, Carl, Dietrich, Ruth and Frederick ; Anna wedded George Baumgartner and they are the parents of three children, Rolla, Ira and Alice; George married Miss Louisa Wil- kening and they have two sons, Arnold and Albert ; Theodore married Miss Emma Wolf, and they reside on the old parental homestead with Mrs. Cassens; Dietrich married Miss Lydia Emrich and they are the parents of one son, Eldor ; and Frederick and Emma also re- main at home with their widowed mother. In the summer of 1910 Mrs. Cassens accom- panied by her son, Frederick, a minister, made a visit to her old home in Germany, where they passed three months and where Mrs. Cassens renewed old acquaintances. She is a fine, matronly woman, a kind neighbor and a noble and true friend.

LOUIS SOMA. The exalted American who thinks his country immeasurably above Italy and would thank Victor Emanuel to keep his subjects at home instead of letting them flock to our shores may be surprised to find that the Italians have no such lofty views of us. Mr. Soma, however, is one of those Italians who is here to make his home in America ; he is not an Italian who wastes his breath by grumbling at the land which has given him a means of livelihood, even though it has not the blue skies and vineyards of his native land. His adopted country has done more for him than has his native soil, which did nothing but serve as his birthplace. He is not disloyal to Italy, while he is at the same time most loyal to America. He loves the country and he loves the good things that he has been able to pro- cure here. His present high position in Glen Carbon is sufficient indication of the esteem in which he is held by the inhabitants of that village.

He was born in Milan, Italy, April 19, 1875. He was the son of Vincent Soma and his wife, Catherine Marlo. They were married in Mi- lan and Mr. Soma came to the United States in 1878. He came alone so that he might get a footing before his family came over. The following year he felt that he could with safety send for his family and they arrived here in 1879, and went at once to Stillwater, Minne- sota, where Mr. Soma had found work. They lived at Stillwater for some years. Mr. Soma died in Italy, and his widow is living in Italy.

Louis came to the States with his mother when he was a child of four years of age. He has only a dim recollection of his native land, but feels that America is his home. He was

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educated in the public schools of Stillwater, and at the age of fourteen he left school and learned the cooper's trade. He soon became an adept and worked in Stillwater until he was twenty-two years old. Then he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where there is a great demand for good coopers. He worked there until 1902. He was not long in the village be- fore he was elected marshal and for six years he has served continuously. That he has given absolute satisfaction is shown by the fact that he was reelected each time without opposition. Mr. Soma is a Democrat and takes a very active interest in politics. He is very influ- ential and his influence is all in the right direc- tion. So far he has not married. He takes a great interest in the fraternal orders to which he belongs, the Red Men, the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is well known in each of these organizations and is universally liked. He is at present serving as deputy sheriff of Madi- son county, Illinois, under H. Simon Henry. Mr. Soma is an upright man, in these days of corruption and bribery. He is highly respected by the citizens of Glen Carbon and is a man that the city would find hard to spare from its midst.

JOSEPH C. FAULSTICHI was elected to the office of mayor of the greater city of Alton in April, 1911. One among four independent candidates for the office, he received practi- cally half of all the votes cast. A Democrat in national politics, he is strictly independent in local and municipal affairs. He entered politics about ten years ago, when he was the Democratic candidate for coroner and later for recorder of deeds. In 1907 he was elected supervisor of Alton township and held the of- fice until 1911.

Mayor Faulstich was born in Alton, Decem- ber 13, 1870. His father, Henry F., who died in 1880, was born in St. Louis, was left an orphan, and for a number of years foi- lowed contracting in Alton. He married Miss Maggie Pilgrim, who is still living. After her first husband's death she married the late Cas- per Unterbrink, of Alton.

J. C. Faulstich learned the trade of cigar maker and followed the business some time. In 1907 the firm of Lampert & Faulstich was formed, and conducts a large bottling business on East Second street. Mr. Faulstich is a member of the German Evangelical church.

He married, November 22, 1895, Miss Lou- isa Luft, who was born in Alton, in January, 1871, daughter of George A. Luft, a black-

smith by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Faulstich have two children living: Elmer and May.

JAMES E. DUNNEGAN, judge of the Alton city court, has a long and honorable record as a lawyer and in public service. Born at Al- ton, June 10, 1852, he received his early edu- cation in the public and parochial schools of the city, and later attended Blackburn Uni- versity and Shurtleff College. At St. Louis he studied law under John R. Lee and En- rique Parmer, and was admitted to the bar in that city in 1873.

In August, 1875, he engaged in a general law practice at Alton and gathered a large clientage. As a pronounced Democrat, he en- tered politics early in his career, and in 1876 was first elected to the office of city attorney. He was beaten in 1883 and was elected his first term as city judge in 1885, serving in that capacity until March, 1893, and he was again elected in 1905. The Alton city court is one of the most important judicial positions of Madison county, and Judge Dunnegan has ably dispensed its justice for many years. He is a successful lawyer and one of the most popular men in the politics of the county.

In 1898 Judge Dunnegan married Miss Alice O'Conner, of St. Louis, a daughter of John and Margaret Farar O'Conner. The family are members of the Cathedral at Alton.

Lawrence Dunnegan, father of Judge Dun- negan, was born in Ireland, as was also his mother. In 1851 he married Miss Margaret Hoey of Alton, where they both spent their married life. The family have been identified with Alton for sixty years, and the name has always been associated with useful effort and honorable citizenship.

WILLIAM CONRAD, the wealthy and pro- gressive farmer and stockman of Alhambra township, is the owner of a square mile of some of the finest agricultural properties in Madison county. This is but one of the evi- dences of his success in these times of com- petition which try the sturdiest minds and physical energies; for, although Mr. Conrad has advanced from poverty to affluence solely as a result of his own exertions and merits, through all his labors and trials he has adhered to the highest standard of morality, and has never forgotten to be the loyal and loving son, brother, husband and father. When a mere boy he bravely assumed the burdens of a man and has steadily fought his way to advance- ment and victory in the best sense of the word.

One who knows and admires the subject of whom he speaks has this to say of Mr. Con-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

rad : "When we look at what was accomplished by the little twelve-year old German boy, who was left an orphan with the care of his father's family resting upon his young shoulders, we feel like taking off our hat to him. Early tak- ing to heart the lessons of life; caring for mother, sister and brother, and when the Death Angel invaded the home for a second time and the dear mother was laid to rest with the father, he bravely set his face toward the new country, determined to cast his lot amid its brighter promises. Taking to the untried new world this younger brother and sister; going to a strange land whose language even was unknown to him, he learned its tongue and its ways ; he worked incessantly and intelli- gently and won the confidence of his em- ployers; saved his wages and sternly econo- mized; formed a home for himself and those depending upon him, and climbed, step by step, up a rugged way to the sunny heights where he is now taking his well-earned com- forts and delights-honored by friends and relatives and approved by his own conscience."

Mr. Conrad is a native of Oberhausen, king- dom of Bavaria, Germany, and is a son of John and Kathrina (Schmidt) Conrad. As stated his father died when he was twelve years of age, and as the family was left in straightened circumstances the support of his widowed mother, younger brother and sister, fell largely on his young shoulders. He brave- ly and cheerfully assumed the burden and so won the respect of his neighbors and associates that when he was called by his government for military service the mayor and other promi- nent officials of his home town interceded and succeeded in getting him relieved from such duties that he might continue to carry the re- sponsibilities of the home, which, after the death of his mother, increased many-fold. Finally convinced that the probabilities for the advancement of himself, his brother John and sister Kathrina, would be much greater in the United States than in the Fatherland, he bor- rowed money of his uncle, Henry Schmidt, who resided at Marine, Madison county, and brought the remaining members of the family to that section of the promised land. The brother and sister mentioned are now well-to- do residents of St. Louis.

William Conrad soon obtained work from neighboring farmers, and his industry, self- sacrifice and sound management of his limited means enabled him to reach a position where he could safely take upon himself the respon- sibilities of founding an independent house-

hold. The all-important step looking to this end was taken on the IIth of December, 1868, when he wedded Miss Paulina Follarth. His first wife bore him one child, Paulina, and she soon died, as well as the little daughter at the age of three. On April 4, 1872, he wedded for his second wife Miss Caroline Hensev.

Mrs. Caroline Conrad is a daughter of Fred and Fredericka (Kold) Hensey. The parents were both born in Germany, immigrated to the United States at an early day, located in St. Louis and were there married. The children born to them were William, Albert, Theressa, Fred, August and Caroline (Mrs. Conrad). When Caroline was two years of age the fam- ily moved to a farm in Marine township, the father abandoning his trade as a carpenter for agricultural pursuits. The children ob- tained their education, chiefly within the fol- lowing decade, at the Seibert district school. Mrs. Conrad has proven a loving and faithful life-partner in all of her husband's undertak- ings, and the credit of the family success and standing is mutual.

After Mr. Conrad's second marriage he rented a farm in Alhambra township, three miles from Kaufman, which he afterward purchased and thoroughly improved by the planting of shade and fruit trees and the erec- tion of a comfortable residence and convenient farm buildings and structures for the care of his live stock. To gladden their hearts and make the place homelike in the good old Ger- man way, children came to the parents and the household-one of whom, an infant, was taken from them; the living are Minnie, Wil- liam, Anna, Emma, John, Henry, Louise and Edward. They received their education in the Seibert district school, and the following facts are recorded of their mature years: Minnie married Fred Baker, who is engaged in farm- ing near Marine, and she has borne him six children, Emma, Lena, Fred and Minnie (twins), Lester and Mabel; William mar- ried Lena Baker, a sister of Fred, is a farmer of Marine township and the father of Edna, Stella and an infant daughter; Anna is now Mrs. John Rinkel, her husband being a progressive farmer of Hamel township ; Emma who married William Baker, a Hamel town- ship agriculturist, is the mother of Helen; John, also a farmer, married Emma Scheen, and his only child, John, died in infancy ; and Louise is married to Louis Miller, an agricul- turist of Alhambra township.

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad have good cause to be proud of their sturdy and useful sons and

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daughters and their bright grandchildren. This family is of itself an invaluable contribution to the county.

As to the fine Conrad estate it consists of eight hundred and forty acres of improved and valuable land in Alhambra and Marine town- · ships, and a handsome residence in Granite City. Mr. Conrad is also a stockholder in the Citizens' Bank of Alhambra. He has not reached his position of independence without many set-backs but has had faith in honest work and in himself. He still remembers with what a sinking heart he learned of the loss of the first four hundred dollars which he so laboriously saved from his hard-earned wages. He was persuaded to loan it and the enter- prise in which it was sunk went under with all his little capital. But, daunted only for a moment, he commenced to save again, and, learning a sound lesson from his first loss, in- vested his later earnings in land. He even made it a rule to incur indebtedness in the purchase of a desirable piece of land, but al- ways saw to it that he promptly met all his liabilities. In this way he added to his acreage and his standing as a substantial property owner year by year. Many of the activities and the heavier burdens of his agricultural and property interests have been assumed, of late years, by his energetic and able sons, Henry and Edward.

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Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 8

Author: Norton, Wilbur T., 1844- , ed; Flagg, Norman Gershom, 1867-, ed; Hoerner, John Simon, 1846- , ed Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Norton, Wilbur T., 1844- , ed; Flagg, Norman Gershom, 1867-, ed; Hoerner, John Simon, 1846- , ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 868