USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 80
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Like many of his countrymen, Mr. Schmidt, who in his native land could only work hard all of his life with little prospect of ever be- coming independent, decided to try his for- tunes in America, and at the age of eighteen took a steamer for New York. He finally ar- rived in Highland with but twenty-five cents in his pocket, but he had a large stock of en- ergy and ambition, and being a strong and willing worker he had no trouble in securing employment among the farmers. He worked at various places in the county, and for three years was employed by Louis Latzer, and all the while continued to carefully save his earn- ings. When he was twenty-eight years of age he established a home of his own by his mar- riage with Miss Margaret Koelz, who was born in St. Jacobs township, in 1870, daugh- ter of John and Fredericka (Weber) Koelz, natives of Germany, who immigrated to the United States at an early day, Mr. Koelz fol- lowing the vocation of farming. He and his wife had Rudolph, Bertha, Mary, Emma, Jacob, John and Margaret, but all are de- ceased except the last two. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt began life on a rented farm in St. Jacobs township, on which they resided for eight years, and with characteristic zeal and energy worked hard to establish themselves in a home. Their industry and hard labor were rewarded by the accumula- tion of a fine property of eighty-one acres, and here they have made an excellent home. Their residence is situated on a slight eminence, which gives them an excellent view of the surrounding country, and it is equipped with all modern conveniences and comforts. Mr. Schmidt in addition to his farming operations was engaged in the dairy business for a num- ber of years, and at present is a heavy ship- per to the Helvetia Creamery, at Highland. In political matters he is a Republican, and his fraternal connection is with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and Mrs. Schmidt hold membership in the German Evangelical church, of which the Rev. Myer is pastor. Mr.
and Mrs. Schmidt have had the following children : Ella, Louisa, Willie, Jennie, Edgar, Arthur and Leto. Bright, energetic children, they have all been given good educational ad- vantages and have been trained to fill any position in life to which they may be called. Ella married Emil Schmidt, a farmer of Ma- rine township, and has one child, Elva; Louisa married Henry Zimmerman, a resident of Highland, and has a little daughter: and the remainder of the children live at home with their parents.
PLEASANT WARD. Noteworthy among the valued and prosperous citizens of Madison county is Pleasant Ward, of Granite City, whose integrity and excellent good sense in all matters of business have caused him to be highly respected throughout his community. A native of Kentucky, his birth occurred in Carroll county in 1853.
Completing his early studies in the public schools, Pleasant Ward, who was very skilful in the use of tools, began learning the trade of a wood turner at Carrollton, Kentucky. In 1869 he migrated from his Kentucky home to Illinois, and after working as a wood turner at Metropolis, Massac county, for a time went to Mound City, Pulaski county, where he was similarly employed a few years. In 1875, with Louis Nenninger, of Mound City, Mr. Ward went to Saint Louis, Missouri, and there in connection with his trade manufac- tured spokes for buggy and wagon wheels. Locating in Madison county, Illinois, in 1891. Mr. Ward purchased the Wilkinson Hotel, at Madison, and conducted it successfully a number of years. In 1900 he took up his res- idence in Granite City, where, at the corner of Nineteenth and State streets, he has an attractive home, and in addition has acquired title to other city property of value.
Fraternally Mr. Ward is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; and of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he sup- ports the principles of the Republican party at the polls, but he has never been an aspirant for public office.
PROFESSOR ROBERT L. LOWRY. Perhaps no one has played a more important part in the history of education in Madison county than Professor Robert L. Lowry, principal of the schools of Upper Alton. His stewardship is a material, spiritual and intellectual blessing to any school and it is generally recognized by the city that it is a rare good fortune to have one of his high ideals in a place of authority.
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Professor Lowry was born March 10, 1855, at Alhambra, Madison county, Illinois, the son of William J. and Sarah Lowry, both of whom are now deceased. The parents were natives of North Carolina and came to Madison county among its earliest settlers, contributing in no small measure to its growth and development, and experiencing the peculiar joys and hard- ships of the early pioneer. They settled first at Shawneetown and later moved to Alhambra, where the father served as the first post- master of that place and where he passed on to the "Undiscovered Country."
Professor Lowry spent the roseate days of youth in Alhambra and received his prelimi- nary education in its public schools. Having a wholesome desire to drink deeply at the "Pierian Spring," he subsequently took a com- mercial course and later matriculated in the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois. In 1876 he inaugurated his career as a teacher and from that time to the present has been continuously associated with the schools of Madison county, either as teacher or superin- tendent. In vacation times he has profitably passed the time adding to his educational equipment. In 1879 he completed his normal course, becoming a full-fledged pedagogue. He has held various principalships and always with credit to himself and profit to the people, his fields being Alhambra, New Douglas, Sa- line, Troy and Upper Alton. In 1902 he was elected to the county superintendency and he continued in that incumbency until 1906. He was principal of the Lowell school at Alton from 1906 until 1911, but in the fall of the latter year he again resumed charge of the Upper Alton schools, his previous marked suc- cess causing the people to desire his return. He is a man of high and enlightened ideals and makes every effort to keep in touch with the latest developments and discoveries in the educational field. He holds first grade county and state certificates. He is affiliated with all those organizations calculated to unify and ad- vance the profession, namely: The Madison County, the Illinois State and National Edu- cational Associations. He finds no small pleasure in his lodge relations, which extend to the ancient and august Masonic order, the Woodmen and the Court of Honor.
Professor Lowry was married in 1883, Miss Carrie Good, daughter of Thomas Good, a pioneer resident of Madison county, becoming his wife. Thomas Good was the son of David- son Good, one of the first county officials. Professor and Mrs. Lowry have an interesting
family of four children and have given to all of them an excellent education. Thomas G., born in 1886, is a graduate of Illinois Uni- versity and now holds the position of civil engineer with the Peoria & Pekin Railway Company, being stationed at Peoria. Edith, born in 1884, and Nancy, born in 1888, are teachers. Robert L., born in 1890, is a stu- dent at the State University and previously spent two years at Shurtleff College. The two daughters are graduates of that excellent edu- cational institution-Shurtleff College.
Professor Lowry has always stood for what is best in education. He is conservative and at the same time progressive. He does not favor "fads and frills," but just the "plain goods." He believes in making haste slowly, but at the same time surely.
LEVI DAVIS, who has been an active mem- ber of the Madison county bar for forty-five years, represents a family that has contributed service and character for the advancement and welfare of the county and nation.
His father, Levi Davis, Sr., was one of the ablest lawyers and most distinguished citizens of this county. He was born in Cecil county, Maryland, July 20, 1808, and died at Alton. He graduated at Jefferson College in Pennsyl- vania, was admitted to the bar at Baltimore in 1830, and the next year came to Illinois, lo- cating at Vandalia, then the state capital. He soon attained distinction in his profession and in public life. In 1836 he was appointed au- ditor of public accounts of the state, and was elected to the office in 1837 and 1838. For several years after leaving office he practiced law at Springfield, and in this way became as- sociated with the men who made Illinois and national history. In 1846 he removed to Al- ton and resided here the remainder of his life. For several years he was attorney for the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and also attorney and a director of the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. He was a Whig in politics and then a Republican after the organization of that party in 1856. He had a brief military experience as a volunteer in the Black Hawk war of 1832. He married, at Vandalia in 1832, Miss Lucy Ann Stapp. She was born in Kentucky and died in 1860, the mother of eight children.
Three of the sons were officers in the Ninety-seventh Illinois Infantry. James W., the oldest, was commissioned first lieutenant of Company G September 8, 1862, was pro- moted captain January 23, 1863, and resigned July 26, 1863. Levi, Jr., enlisted in the same
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company August 7, 1862, was promoted sec- ond lieutenant in January, 1863, first lieuten- ant July 26, 1863, and was mustered out July 29, 1865. Charles Davis was appointed as- sistant surgeon of this regiment September 23, 1862, was promoted surgeon April 1, 1864, and was mustered out July 29, 1865. This record for one family is probably unique in Il- linois' military history. James W. Davis was for many years in business in St. Louis. Charles Davis is the oldest practicing physician in Alton.
Levi Davis, Jr., was born November 2, 1842, during his father's residence in Springfield. Educated in the public schools of Alton, he then entered St. Louis University and studied there two years. He returned to Alton a short time before going to the war in the same regiment with his older brothers. During his three years' service his regiment participated in the siege of Vicksburg and in many battles and skirmishes through the Mississippi valley.
After his honorable discharge he began reading law at Alton, and in 1867 was admitted to the bar. For eight years he was in partner- ship with his father, then for twelve years the firm was Wise (Charles P.) & Davis, and since then Mr. Davis has practiced alone. He has been connected with many of the notable cases contested in this part of the state, and as a lawyer has maintained the prominent po- sition acquired many years ago by his father. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought distinction in public affairs.
In 1868 Mr. Davis married Miss Mary E. Wise, daughter of Peter and Ann (Sneer- inger) Wise. The children born to them are: Levi W., Edgar M., Charles W., Arthur J., Eugene H. and Clotilda M.
HENRY WATSON, who died at Alton, April 2, 1909, had been a resident of the city for fifty years, during which time he had a large share in the business activities. A mason by trade, he had charge of the building of the stone work on the bridges of the Chicago & Alton Railroad between Bloomington and Shirley .- He was proprietor of one of the large quarries of Alton, and did a large con- tracting business for railroads. The railroad shops for the Big Four at Mattoon and the shops at Moberly, Missouri, were constructed by him; he furnished the stone for the Mer- chants Bridge at St. Louis; had the contract for the stone work on the St. Louis Union Depot; erected the Alton water works plant ; and successfully carried out many other con- tracts in Alton and elsewhere. At one time he
was one of the owners of the Alton water works, and was president of the Alton Lime and Cement Company.
Mr. Watson was born in county Durham, England, March 17, 1836. His parents, John and Jane (Dowson) Watson, were natives of the same locality, his father being a farmer. The father died in March, 1858, and the mother in 1860. They had seven children.
Henry Watson was educated in England, learned his trade there, and came to the United States in April, 1859. Having relatives in Alton, he came directly to this city and began work at his trade on the day following his ar- rival. He was successful in business and earned distinction for his enterprise and pub- lic spirit. In politics he was always a strong Republican, though never active in practical politics. He affiliated with the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine at St. Louis, and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Watson was first married in December, 1858, to Miss Fanny Dowson, a native of England. She died in 1863, the mother of two children, Emily F. and George F. The pres- ent Mrs. Watson was Miss Janet Johnston, daughter of James and Mary Johnston, of Ayrshire, Scotland. They reared four daugh- ters, Emily F., Mary T., Elizabeth J. 'and Grace K.
JOHN ZIMMERMAN. Madison county owes a heavy debt to Switzerland because so many of the sons of that beautiful country have settled in the county and there developed farms. The Swiss is essentially a homemaker, being industrious and thrifty, never contented until he owns his own residence. Many of them came to Madison county during the early days and, securing land, laid broad foundations for the present agricultural su- premacy. Probably no citizen of the county has done more toward building up his com- munity than John Zimmerman, a highly re- spected retired citizen of Highland, who for many years was engaged in farming and stock breeding. He was born in 1849, in Switzer- land, a son of John and Susan Zimmerman, and was twenty years of age when he im- migrated to this country with a party of friends.
Mr. Zimmerman first located in New York, but shortly thereafter moved to Highland, Il- linois, and soon obtained employment among the farmers, who found in him a capable and willing workman. When twenty-seven years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Wendly,
.
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also a native of Switzerland, daughter of Jacob and Anna Wendly, she being six years of age when the family came to the United States. Mr. Wendly enlisted in the Federal army during the Civil war, and during the five years that he served as a wearer of the blue he participated in numerous hard-fought engagements with the Fifth Missouri. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman spent one year in Highland, and then moved to a rented property on which they resided for thirteen years. At the end of that time Mr. Zimmerman by industry and economy had accumulated enough money to invest in a ninety-three-acre farm, situated one-half mile west of Highland, and on that land he resided for twenty years, but eventually sold it and moved to within a quarter of a mile of Highland, where he has three acres of land and a beautiful country residence. In politics he is a Republican, and he and Mrs. Zim- merman are faithful members of the German Evangelical church. They are well and fav- orably known all over this section, and have many warm, personal friends who hold them in the deepest respect and affection. Possess- ing those qualities of mind and heart which typify the best of citizenship, they belong to that class of citizens whom Madison county is proud to claim as its own.
Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have had the following children: Elise, Bertha, Ida, Fritz and Edwin. Elise married John Widicus, a farmer near Troy, Illinois, and has one child, Alberta ; Bertha married Frank Dummerth, of St. Louis, and has one son, Adrian; Fritz married Irena Maloney and resides at Chi- cago, having one child, Dorothea; and Edwin remains at home with his parents.
WILLIAM ELIOT SMITH. No history of Madison county would be complete without reference to the life and service of Alton's captain of industry, William Eliot .Smith, who accomplished more for the city's upbuild- ing and development than any other of the many citizens who have contributed to its prosperity. He it was who raised Alton from the depths of business and financial depres- sion that prevailed here forty years ago and demonstrated to the world its advantages and capabilities as an industrial center. The Illinois Glass Works the largest plant in the world manufacturing hollow glass ware, stands as a monument to his enterprise, fore- sight and business ability, and also to his at- tainments as a financier and man of affairs. His record places him in the front rank of
American manufacturers. Such men are rare, and it is but just that all should strive to honor their memories, especially those who are the beneficiaries of their successful en- cleavor.
William Eliot Smith was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 31, 1844. He was the eldest son of William H. and Ellen Smith, both natives of New Hampshire. He was the only child of four to reach manhood. Ile was educated at Washington University, graduating from that institution in the class of 1864. Previous to this time the family had moved to Alton, purchasing from Hon. Robert Smith, a large tract of land in the northeastern part of the city, in the develop- ment and cultivation of which Mr. Smith spent the next ten years. He did much in this decade to develop scientific horticulture -- raising for the market all kinds of grapes and orchard fruits of the choicest and most desirable varieties.
But horticulture did not provide sufficient outlet for his innate energy and enterprise. He made it a success, but was ambitious for a wider field of action. He abandoned fruit growing and turned his attention with phe- nomenal foresight to an industry that seemed to him to possess great possibilities of ex- pansion. Prior to that time a small glass fac- tory had existed in Alton, on upper Belle street, where glass-blowing had been carried on to a limited extent some years before. But it needed capital and the mind of a master to develop its possibilities. Mr. Smith possessed both.
In September, 1873, he engaged, with the late Edward Levis, in building up this in- dustry. The small building on Belle street was moved on rollers down Second street to a more convenient location, on the railroads, in the castern part of the city. There other buildings were erected, more workmen were engaged, new facilities and equipment added, and the Illinois Glass Works were started on the career that culminated, before Mr. Smith's death, in a plant covering fifty acres. employing thirty-five hundred hands and turning out a yearly product running into the millions in value.
This success is the more remarkable from the fact that Mr. Smith had, at the outset, neither the business nor industrial training nor the technical knowledge, a supposedly necessary factor for success in such enter- prises, but his comprehensive mind and na- tive genius supplied the lack of previous
Un Client Juin
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
training. He was first proprietor of the in- dustry and then president of the corporation throughout his life. He visited Europe on various occasions to study the methods of manufacture in the old world, and no inven- tion, or improvement, or appliance, that would facilitate the industry, escaped his critical attention and adoption.
In later years, after the great plant he had created became almost automatic in perfec- tion of operation, with each department un- der a competent head and acting under the inspiration of his pervasive personality, -- when this time arrived he spent years in travel for observation and pleasure. All the countries of the world, with their varied peo- ple and customs, became known to him through his journeyings. Accompanied by his family he made a notable trip around the world, a tour occupying two years. A suc- ceeding visit abroad to Europe and the Med- iterranean countries adjacent was terminated by the death of Mr. Smith, on May 20, 1909, in Florence, Italy, whence his body was brought home for burial:
Mr. Smith was married, September 24, 1873, to Miss Alice Emily Cole, of Upper Alton, who survives him, together with two daughters Mrs. Ellen Hatch, of Springfield and Miss Eunice Smith of Alton.
Mr. Smith's ecclesiastical connection was with the Unitarians and while especially de- voted to those interests he was broad-minded and liberal to other denominations, and to all institutions connected with the moral wel- fare of the city.
Looking backward through the years, we recall the condition of Alton nearly forty years ago. There was little civic pride and only few believed the city had any future as an industrial or commercial center. But with the advent of William Eliot Smith into the industrial arena, a new era dawned that brightened into a wonderful transformation.
He foresaw the possibilities of success, he fearlessly invested his capital in the expan- sion and improvement of the city, he planned for the future with the foresight of the seer, and year by year the city progressed. His energy was tireless, his industry phenomenal, and his business acumen a marvel of insight. Under his fostering care his own industry waxed great and powerful and became fam- ous among productive enterprises.
And back of all this wonderful expansion
was the creative genius, the courageous en- thusiasm and the executive ability of one man. Every great enterprise is dependent for success on competent leadership, and but few in a generation are endowed with the intellectual greatness and the indomitable pur- pose essential to great results, and of these few William Eliot Smith stood in the fore- most rank.
Not only was he dominant in building up his own great institution, but he was proud of Alton and loved its people, and this senti- ment found expression in his efforts to beautify the city. To his generosity is due, for example, the spacious and beautiful public park adjoining his own grounds. Others have spoken of his noble manhood, his do- mestic virtues and his many lovable qual- ities but for the present article it remains a duty to emphasize the practical and mater- ial, as well as the recreative, aesthetic and educational value of the benefits he conferred on this city.
FREDERICK J. SCHMIDT. Prominent among the agriculturists of Madison county who have helped the county's interests while at- tending to their own, Frederick J. Schmidt ranks high. The first line of business that was carried on in the history of the world was that of farming, and from then to the present day men have found it profitable to till the soil and raise stock upon it. Madison county is no exception to this, and some of the most prosperous of its citizens are found in the farming communities. Mr. Schmidt. who belongs to this class, was born in Marion township, in 1849, and is a son of Andrew and Gertrude (Cardell) Schmidt, natives of Germany. Mr. Schmidt's parents immigrated to this country at an early day, and here An- drew Schmidt followed farming in Marion township during the remainder of his life. His children, all of whom were given good educational training, were as follows: Cath- erine, Louisa, George, Theodore, Amanda. Henry, Frederick J., Paulina, Hubert, Alfred and Tillie.
Frederick J. Schmidt remained on the home farm until he was twenty-five years of age, and secured his education in the public schools. He was married in 1872, to Miss Rosa Haenni, daughter of John Haenni, and six children were born to this union, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Edwin, Hugo, Olga, Emil and Irma. Mrs.
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Schmidt, who had been an invalid for fifteen years, died in 1892, and Mr. Schmidt was married again in 1895, to Miss Carrie Britt, who was born near Pocahontas, Illinois, in 1868, daughter of Zachariah and Carrie ( Bilyeu) Britt, the former a native of Switz- erland, who was brought to this country when he was four years old, and the latter a native of Bond county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Britt had these children: Anna, Mary, Minnie, William, Emma, Zachariah, George and Car- rie. Three sons, Roland, Earl and Harold, have been born to this union. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt settled down on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated two miles west of Highland, on which Mr. Schmidt erected fine, substantial buildings, and improved the property in many ways, making it one of the finest in his town- ship. He engaged in the dairy business, in which he continued for about twenty-one years, keeping a herd of about twenty-three cows and being a heavy shipper to the Helvetia Condensery. In 1909 Mr. Schmidt purchased seventy acres one mile west of Highland. where he put up a large modern residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, and made his land one of the most beautiful farms in this section. Mr. Schmidt has proved himself to be a man who has stead- fastly refused to take any other course than that which would advance the public. Always taking a part in public enterprises, he has ever been found an active participant in any movement calculated to be of benefit to his community, and by his active and useful life has set a shining example for the youth of the present generation. In political matters he is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the German Evangelical church. Mr. Schmidt has been interested in educa- tional matters, giving his children a fine train- ing along that line and serving as school director with much ability. His son, Edwin S., who is engaged in farming in Saline town- ship, married Lilly Metz. and they have had two children-Alma and Clarence, the former of whom died at the age of seven years ; Hugo, a farmer near Highland, married Louisa Metz, and has a daughter, Irene ; Irene married Arthur Frey, a farmer and dairyman near St. Jacobs, and has one child, Hazel ; and Emil. who is successfully. superintending operations on the home farm, married Ella Schmidt, and has one daughter. Elva.
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