USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 81
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JOHN LEDER. Among the many progres- sive and prosperous farmers and stockmen of
Madison county, none is more prominent or ranks higher in the esteem of his fellow men than does John Leder. His fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, with the splendid dwelling and other buildings he has erected thereon, are very speaking evidence of the thrift and perseverance of this man who began life with his hands and brain his only assets.
John Leder was born in 1853, in Madison county, Illinois. He is the son of Jacob and Mary (Gerkemeyer) Leder, the former of Swiss origin and the latter of German birth. When but a lad Jacob Leder immigrated to America with his parents, in the year 1837. For nine years the father was employed by the Herman Milling Company and he later engaged in farming. The household consisted of the father and mother, Jacob, Jr., John and Louise, who later became Mrs. Lorenz Marxed. Mr. Leder lived to see his little family reach years of manhood and woman- hood and fill useful positions in life. They were most careful in the upbringing of their children, training them carefully in the home and giving them every possible educational advantage consistent with their means. After attending the Highland school John became a student in Oakfield College, and later Wesley's College, of Warrenton, Missouri. On the completion of his college training John Leder went on a trip through the west. He visited Texas, where he became interested in the sheep-raising business. Later he visited Oklahoma and other western states. He was able to gratify his love of hunting in those days, which he had never been able to do in Missouri, where the deer and the bear were never seen. In his western travels he asserts that he has seen as high as one hundred deer in one day. Having made a careful study of the ranching methods of the west, in 1879 John Leder returned to Illinois and laid the foundations of his future prosperity and hap- piness by uniting in marriage with Miss Katie Bargetze, an estimable young lady of Nash- ville, Tennessee. She is the daughter of Christian and Anna (Nickola) Bargetze. of German nativity. They first settled in Tennessee, but shortly afterward removed to Highland, Illinois, where their daughter was born and reared, and where they passed their lives. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Leder thev began life on a farm two miles west of Highland. and with characteristic German industry and progressiveness bent every energy to the improving of their home
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and to the upbuilding of the farm in every department. Mrs. Leder proved herself a helpmeet indeed, possessing all the qualities of a home maker in the best sense of the word. Their labors were rewarded with a measure of success which enabled them to in- crease their land holdings, and later to erect a fine two story brick house, thoroughly modern in every respect, immense barns and out-buildings of every required variety, and today they are the owners of a tract of two hundred and forty acres of the finest land in the state of Illinois for farming purposes.
Their home has been brightened by the advent of six bright children ; one son and five daughters. They are Louisa, Emma, Jennie, Edna, Flora and Lester. They have all been given every advantage possible in the way of schooling, and Edna is a school teacher. Louise married Samuel Hug, a farmer of St. Jacobs. The remaining children are still in the shelter of the family home. The older girls have been especially trained in domestic science, and they are the equal, if not the superior, of any demonstrators of the culinary art in Madison county.
In addition to the general farming which Mr. Leder carries on, he is active in the dairy business, being for years a heavy shipper to the Helvetia Condensery at Highland. He has bred a fine herd of Holstein cattle for his dairy trade, which is one of the greatest sources of revenue of the farm.
Mr. Leder and his family are members of the German Evangelical church, in all depart- ments of which they are active and enthusias- tic. Politically Mr. Leder is a Democrat, but he takes pride in voting for the individual who will do most for the people, rather than the party to which he adheres.
JACOB LEDER. The farmers of Madison county are as a class prosperous and con- tented, living independently upon their fertile farms which their energy has developed to the present high state of cultivation, and no- where in the state can there be found men who are better orsed in tilling the soil or in judging livesto : One of those who has been more than ordinarily successful is Jacob Leder, of St. Jacobs township, who was born here in 1865, a son of Jacob and Mary (Gerke- meyer ) Leder.
The Leder family was founded in America by the grandfather of Mr. Leder, who came here from Switzerland in 1837. His son, Jacob, grew to manhood here and was married to Mary Gerkemeyer, who was Vol. II-27
born in Germany and had come to the United States in young womanhood. For a number of years Jacob Leder was employed by the Herman Milling Company, of Highland. He and his wife had four children, the first-born dying in infancy while the others are John, Louisa and Jacob. Jacob Leder, of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of Highland, and remained at home, assisting his father and sharing his responsi- bilities, until 1884. In that year he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Dresch, who was born in Saline township, Madison county, in 1864, daughter of Peter and Fredericka (Merkle) Dresch, natives of Germany, who immigrated to America at an early day and settled near Highland. Mr. Dresch's occupation was that of a farmer, and he and his wife had a family of ten children, three daughters of whom died in infancy, while the other children were William, Fritz, Martin, Robert, John, Peter and Mary, all of whom were given good edu- cational advantages in the public schools of Saline township.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leder settled on the old Leder homestead place in St. Jacobs township, and there ministered to the wants of Mr. Leder's aged parents during the declining years of their lives. The father died February 12, 1892, and on the same day twelve years later his widow followed him to the grave. Worthy Christian people, they were widely known throughout this township, and left many warm, personal friends to mourn their loss. Mr. Leder has carried on agricultural pursuits to the present time, and his long years of industrious labor have been rewarded by the accumulation of a handsome property. In addition he was for a long period engaged in threshing, and for seven- teen years averaged 25,000 bushels of grain a year. In Oregon he threshed 9,000 bushels for one farmer, a Mr. Casper. He also has been engaged in the dairy business for some years, is the owner of a fine herd of twenty- five cattle, and is a heavy shipper to the Helvetia Condensery. He is a good business man, an energetic farmer and a public-spirited citizen who has many friends in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Leder have had ten children : Ella, Minnie, Bertha, Aline, Stella, Mildred, John, Edward and Waldo, and one who died in infancy. The children have been given good educational training, attending the Oak Grove school. Bertha married George Michael and Minnie married Edward Yann, a baker of St. Louis, in which city they reside.
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Mr. and Mrs. Leder are members of the Ger- man Evangelical church, of which their par- ents were pioneers. They have been con- firmed in the church and have taken pains to also have their children confirmed. They are interested in all movements of a religious na- ture, and Mrs. Leder is an active member of the Frauen Verein, the women's society of the church. Politically Mr. Leder is a Democrat.
ADOLPH GLOCK. In no section of Illinois can be found more ideal rural homes, more scientifically cultivated farms or more valu- able stock than in Madison county, and these make necessary progressive and enterprising agriculturists. Helvetia township shares in this desirable prominence, and in mentioning Adolph Glock the above contention is proved. Mr. Glock is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of this section and owns two hun- dred and twenty-five acres of finely improved land. He was born in 1858, at Highland, Illi- nois, and is a son of Adolph and Anna (Iberg) Glock.
Adolph Glock, the father, was born in Switzerland and received collegiate advantage- there and became an architect. In the politi- cal troubles of 1848 he became somewhat in- volved and as a measure of prudence resolved to quietly leave his native land, where his party was in the minority, and immigrate to America. He had been a man of large busi- ness interests and, with his force of more than two hundred workingmen in his employ. had erected many of the large public build- ings, factories and residences. He located at Highland, Illinois, after coming to America, and soon was recognized as a man far above the ordinary, and this resulted in his being elected to many offices of more or less respon- sibility. He served as constable, assessor, no- tary public and justice of the peace and was consulted in all matters of public concern.
After a short time in Highland Mr. Glock married Miss Anna Iberg, who was born at Highland and is a daughter of John and Eliz- abeth Iberg, who immigrated from Switzer- land in 1831 and settled at Highland when there was but one house in the place. John Iberg assisted in the construction of the High- land flouring mill. After the passage of a number of years Mr. Glock yielded to the wish of his family and removed to his farm of eighty acres, situated one mile south of Highland. There were six sons and three daughters born to Adolph and Anna Glock, namely: Adolph, Gustave, Margaret, Ru-
dolph, Anna, Louis, Edward, Bertha and Robert.
Adolph Glock, named for his honored fa- ther, remained at home and after the comple- tion of his school attendance gave his father assistance until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he married and then began farming for himself on one of his father's farms, which was situated three miles south of lligh- land. On this farm Mr. Glock lived four years and then returned to the homestead one mile south of Highland, taking charge of the farm and making life easy for his father and mother. In the fall of 1892 the father met with an accident which resulted in his death. He was a man of sterling character and left many to mourn his loss outside his own home circle. The mother of Adolph Glock survives, making her home with a daughter, Mrs. Ber- tha Stocker, who lives at Greenville, Illinois. In 1908 Mr. Glock purchased the homestead and has not yet ceased making improvements. These do not alone mean the setting out of new orchards, fencing and draining, fertiliz- ing the soil and replacing where time or storm demolishes necessary structures, but includes the erection of modern buildings both for occupancy and for the carrying on of his large dairy activities. In 1908 Mr. Glock de- termined to erect a model dairy barn, and in order to build as complete a one as possible and according to the latest designs as to con- venience, durability and utility, he visited the agricultural sections of Wisconsin and other states and examined the barns on the large dairy farms. Since returning he has erected what is undoubtedly the finest barn of this kind in this part of Illinois. Its dimensions are one hundred feet in length, thirty-eight fect in width, forty-three feet from founda- tion to the gable. There are stalls in the base- ment for forty-two cows, eight horses, large calf pens, and accommodations for one hun- dred and fifty tons of hay, together with rooms for straw, fodder, corn and grain. The building is substantial in every way. In- stead of the usual foundation posts it is supported by arch rods of iron; is covered with a hip roof and there is a cement floor. Nothing in the way of convenience or sanitation has been omitted. The lighting is done by the acetylene system, and there is an abundance of flowing water. This fine struc- ture cost more than $3,200, and is a credit to Mr. Glock's enterprise and to the section in which he lives. He required superior accom-
dolph & Nach
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modations for the housing of as valuable cat- tle as he owns, his large herd of Holstein cows being worth $175 each and yielding on an average five and one-half gallons of milk per day.
Mr. Glock married Miss Louisa Zobrist, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, in. 1865, and is a daughter of Henry and Elise Zobrist, natives of Switzerland. The mother of Mrs. Glock was born on the Atlantic Ocean while her parents were coming to America. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Glock, two of whom died in infancy, the sur- vivors being : Albert, Edwin, Nelson. Wilfred, Lucille, Lillian and Homer. In politics Mr. Glock is a Republican.
ADOLPH G. KOCH. An essentially prominent and influential citizen and business man of the younger generation at Highland, Illinois, Adolph G. Koch holds prestige as one who has gained success by merit. As President of the establishment conducted under the firm name of the Koch House Furnishing Company, he is helping to promote one of the largest furni- ture, undertaking and hardware concerns in Madison county and is considered one of the best embalmers and funeral directors in this section of the state. He is also interested fi- nancially in the State & Trust Bank, at High- land, in which he is one of the stockholders, and he is a member of the Madison county Fair Association. He is loyal and public spir- ited in his civic attitude and contributes in gen- erous measure to all matters affecting the good of the community.
Adolph G. Koch was born in Helvetia town- ship, Madison county, Illinois, on the 14th of February, 1873, and he is a son of Christian and Catherine (Kirsch) Koch, both of whom are descended from stanch German ancestry. Christian Koch devoted the greater part of his active career to farming operations and he is now retired and living in Highland. Mr. Koch, of this notice, was the seventh in order of birth in a family of thirteen children, of whom nine are living, in 1912. He passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm, in connection with the work of which he waxed strong physically. He attended the Highland Public schools until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, and at that time he became a student in the Southern Illinois Normal University, remaining there for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he turned his attention to teaching. He was identified with the pedagogic profession in St. Clair and Madison counties, teaching in the
Highland Public School three years, after which, in 1899, he decided to become a busi- ness man and in that year purchased an interest in a furniture, undertaking and hardware con- cern at Highland, the same being now known under the firm name of the Koch House Fur- nishing Company. With the passage of years this enterprise has increased greatly in the scope of its operations and it carries a large and complete line of goods. Mr. Koch is a stockholder in the State & Trust Bank, one of the solid and substantial monetary institutions of Madison county, and he is also interested financially in a number of other important business enterprises at Highland, where he is honored as a man of square and straightfor- ward business methods.
In politics Mr. Koch is an uncompromising advocate of the cause of the Republican party, and while he has no desire for political prefer- ment of any description he is ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all meas- ures and enterprises advanced for progress and improvement. He is a valued and appre- ciative member of the local Singers, Sharp- Shooters and the Turners, and he was a teach- er of gymnastics in the Highland Turners Soci- ety for several terms for which profession he prepared himself by taking a course at Milwau- kee, and it was there that he proved himself as one of the best lightweight wrestlers in the country. For eight years he was a member of the Highland Board of Education. In their re- ligious faith the Koch family are devout mem- bers of the German Evangelical church, to whose good works they are liberal contributors of their time and means. In fraternal circles Mr. Koch is affiliated with Highland Lodge, No. 583, Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons ; Helvetia Camp, No. 1730, Modern Woodmen of America ; Imperial Camp, No. 1957, Royal Neighbors of America; and Helvetia Lodge, No. 699, Knights of Pythias.
In the month of September, 1901, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Koch to Miss Louise Mahler, a native of Highland, Illinois, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Mahler. Mr. and Mrs. Koch are the parents of three children : Victor H., born on the 24th of May, 1903 ; Irma L., born on the 4th of De- cember, 1906, and Margaret A., born on the 25th of February, 1912.
EDWARD ZOBRIST. Farming and stock rais- ing engage the attention of many of the best citizens of Madison county, Illinois, and prob- ably no section of this great state can show better cultivated farms or better stock and
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cattle, and, to go farther, more intelligent or contented people. One of the substantial men and successful agriculturists of Helvetia township, whose well improved land lies in section 19, is Edward Zobrist, who was born in Madison county, on the 13th of February, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Ann Zobrist.
Jacob Zobrist and wife, nee Annie Baer, were born in Switzerland and came to America, he in 1847, and she sometime later, and settled among the pioneers of Madison county, where Jacob Zobrist developed a farm from the wilderness. Both he and wife lived long and useful lives and passed away re- spected by all who knew them. They had the following children: Edward, Minnie, Mary, John, Elise, Sophia and Gustave, all of whom were given such advantages as the parents could secure for them and were trained to be honest and industrious.
Edward Zobrist remained with his parents until his marriage, when he rented a farm situated three miles south of Highland, 11li- nois, and in the course of time was able to purchase the same, which through his labor has been made one of the best farms in Hel- vetia township. He has not confined himself to the tilling of the soil but has also given at- tention to growing stock and cattle and his herd of fine Holsteins will compare favorably with any in Madison county. He disposes of his abundance of milk at the Helvetia Con- densing Company's plant. Mr. Zobrist has set out orchards and shade trees and his farm- house presents every appearance of being a comfortable home, where peace and plenty is found.
On April 4, 1882, Mr. Zobrist was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gruenig, who was born in 1860, in Switzerland, a daughter of Christian and Anna (Pfister) Gruenig, who immigrated from Switzerland to America in 1866. They settled at Jamestown, Illinois, ten miles east of Highland, on the Shoemaker farm. Mrs. Zobrist has the following sisters and brothers: Farina, Christian, Frederick, Magdelena, Anna, Samuel and Jacob. They were all reared under good home influences and developed into worthy men and women.
To Mr. and Mrs. Zobrist seven children have been born, namely: Otillia, Oscar, Ed- mund, Cornelia, Albert, Harry and Clarence, all of whom survive except the first born. They were sent to school and all were stu- dents at one time or another in the Buckeye school. Helvetia township. Several of them now have comfortable homes and domestic
circles of their own. Oscar married Emily Shuppach, and is a farmer in St. Jacob township, Madison county. They have three children : Florence, Milton and Lucille. Cor- nelia married Charles Klaus, and they have two children: Clarence and Dorothy. The other sons live at home and give their father assistance and take many responsibilities from his shoulders.
In politics Mr. Zobrist and sons are Re- publicans. He has never accepted any public office except that of school director, in which he served honestly and efficiently. He and his wife are valued members of the German Evangelical church at Highland, in which their children were confirmed, and they give financial help and personal interest to all the enterprises of benevolence that the church carries on. By their kindness and hospitality they have won many friends. They are peo- ple of genuine worth and belong to the class that has done so much to bring credit to Madison county, Illinois.
LOUIS MEYER. Farming and stock raising are important industries, and those who are qualified to successfully carry them on may really be numbered with the benefactors of the race. Every other line of activity would soon cease should the agriculturists of the land no longer cultivate their fields, plant their orchards and raise their stock and cattle. One of the independent and substantial farmers and stockmen of Madison county, Illinois, who lives on his fine estate situated four miles south of Highland, where he has one hundred and sixty acres, was born at St. Morgan, Madison county, Illinois, in 1872, and is a son of Henry J. and Caroline (An- dres) Meyer.
Henry J. Meyer was born in Switzerland and was young when his parents left that of the old slow-going sailing vessels of that day. Storms assailed their craft and before landing was made the passengers almost suc- cumbed to starvation, as all the provisions had been consumed. The grandparents had little capital with which to pay their way in the strange land and, like many other immi- grants, their hardships and privations were pitiful. In advanced years Henry J. Meyer had abundant mean's and all the comforts of life, but he often recalled the days of his boy- hood when, with his parents, bread and water sustained life for many days. Fortunately he was endowed with a robust constitution and through persistent energy and unfailing in- dustry made his way, in the course of years
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becoming a man of comfortable estate and able to retire from active labor as age came on. He married Caroline Andres, who was born in America, and the following children were born to them: Mary, Christian, Henry, John, Caroline, Louis and Frederick.
Louis Meyer grew to the age of nineteen years on the home farm in Madison town- ship, Illinois, assisting his father as a duti- ful son and in the meanwhile attending the Liberty school as opportunity was afforded, after which he started out to work for him- self. After his marriage in 1897 he rented his father's farm for four years and afterward another farm for six years, when, in 1906, he purchased his present farm, which is gener- ally admitted to be one of the best in Hel- vetia township. Here he carries on farming according to the most approved methods and also devotes considerable attention to the rais- ing of fine stock and growing Holstein cattle. From his herds the Helvetia condensing plant draws a large supply of milk.
In 1897 Mr. Meyer was married to Miss Anna Kuhn, who was born in 1873, at Mem- phis, Illinois, and is a daughter of Adam and Marie (Mank) Kuhn. Mr. Kuhn is a farmer and a well known citizen of Madison county and is a trustee of the Roman Catholic church at Trenton, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn have nine children, as follows: Anna, Fred, Ida, George, Peter, Herman, Henry, Joseph and Mary. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer: Leona, Edna, Oscar and Fremont. The daughters attend the Catholic school at Highland and the sons are students in the Buckeye school, all showing creditable advancement in their studies. Mr. Meyer and wife are members of St. Paul's Catholic church at Highland, Illinois, and both are active in all its charitable work. Mr. Meyer has never been anxious to serve in political office but has been clerk of the school district. He has met with gratifying success in his agricultural undertakings and very justly attributes a part of it to his estimable wife. In their early married life, when household duties did not prevent her giving him assistance, she frequently would assist at harvest time in the fields and has driven the team attached to the binder for days and without undue fatigue, for she was reared on a farm and was taught many practical farm details by her father. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have a very beautiful modern residence and both enjoy offering hospitality to their hosts of friends.
JOSEPH KAPP. The growth and develop- ment of Madison county, especially in the farming communities, has been steady and constant, and during the past half a century it has changed from a practical wilderness in spots to a flourishing, prosperous country, covered with farms yielding bounteous crops, whose productiveness reflects the industry of their owners. Such a change was not ef- fected in a day, but has come as a result of years of industry, years of striving to over- come obstacles, years of hard, unremitting toil, and those whose work this has been de- serve the gratitude of the community and the respect of the future generations. Prominent among those who have developed productive farms from practically wild country is Joseph Kapp, a farmer and stock raiser of Helvetia township and a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Germany, November 6, 1846, and is a son of John and Mary ( Huther ) Kapp.
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