Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 89

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 89

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Illinois. In 1899 he was in Coffeen, Mont- gomery county, Illinois, where he was mine examiner, and he also served on the school board and as a village trustee. Landing at Maryville in July, 1900, he has since made his home here. He came here as night boss of a force of men, subsequently became assist- ant manager of the Maryville mine, a position he filled until he resigned, and since then he has been mine examiner.

Mrs. Jones, formerly Miss Ann Jones, was born in Pennsylvania, but was reared in Ohio, where she was taken when four years old. She and Mr. Jones are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Edith, wife of Lou Sands; Susie, wife of George Bridgewater, of Cof- feen, Illinois ; Elmer E., court reporter at Ed- wardsville, Illinois ; Benjamin, Jr., and Clyde, both engaged in mining.

Mr. Jones belongs to numerous fraternal organizations, including the I. O. R. M., I. O. O. F. and the F. and A. M., in which he has served officially. In the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 258, he has filled all the chairs. Politically he is a Republican. He has been a member of the Maryville board of trustees and twice has been elected and served as mayor of the town. A hustling man, abreast with the times and with the best interests of his locality at heart, he is recognized as a man of sterling worth and is appreciated for his many good qualities.

WILLIAM E. MABBS, who enjoys the dis- tinction of being the first postmaster of Maryville, Illinois, and who has been the incumbent of this office for nearly a dozen years, came to this place about fourteen years ago from Michigan. His prominent identity with the town renders it of specific signifi- cance that some special personal mention be made of him in this work, and, briefly, a sketch of his life is as follows:

William E. Mabbs was born June 7th, 1854, in Hillsdale county, Michigan, son of William and Martha (Warner) Mabbs. William Mabbs was a native of England, who, at the age of eight years, was brought by his parents to the United States. For a few years they lived in New York City, where his father was a candle and soap maker. Later the family moved west to Michigan and made settlement in the forest in primitive pioneer style, the senior Mabbs engaging in sawmill and flour mill business, and here he lived until his death, in 1870. Grandmother Mabbs died in 1879. Their son William, father of William E., attended

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public school and grew to manhood in the state of Michigan. He settled on a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until he reached the age of forty-five years, when he became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and the rest of his life he gave to the preaching of the Gospel. He died in 1880. To him and his good wife were given four children, all of whom are living at this writ- ing, namely: Harriet, wife of Henry Bush ; Josephine M., wife of A. L. Joles; William E., and Austin I., of Herradura, Cuba.

William E. Mabbs was reared on his father's farm in Michigan and received his education in the public schools, attending school until he was sixteen. After that he farmed for five years. Then he turned his attention to the manufacture of tile and brick at Pittsburg, Michigan, and was thus occupied there for a period of ten years. Having disposed of his plant he came to Illi- nois and took up his residence at Maryville. That was in 1898. Here he opened a gen- eral store, which he has since conducted, in connection with which he has kept the post office, having been appointed postmaster in 1900. He is also interested in the real estate business, and from time to time has filled various minor offices in the village.

On November 7, 1879, Mr. Mabbs and Miss Sarah Hammond were united in mar- riage, and their home has been blessed in the birth of four children, as follows: Er- mia, wife of R. White; Ralph, representa- tive of the Nedig House at Granite City, Illinois; Avis L., a graduate of the Collins- ville high school, and Carl I., a student in the same school. Mrs. Mabbs is a graduate of Howell Academy, and previous to her mar- riage was a teacher. Fraternally, Mr. Mabbs is identified with the F. & A. M. and the R. A. M. lodges at Collinsville.

HON. GEORGE ROTH. The life of a good and just man and the record of his kind and noble deeds are in themselves a true biog- raphy. In the life of such an individual the observer of human character may find both precept and example ; he may also discover in such a life sermons that speak more eloquently and leave a deeper impression upon the heart than any human words. The simple influence of such a man is a benediction to all with whom he comes in contact. Such were the attributes of the late Hon. George Roth, in whose death the city of Highland lost not only one of its most sterling citizens, but on hon- ored public official whose administration of

affairs may well serve as an example to those who hold high offices and create in them a de- sire to reach the standard which he set. George Roth was born at Oberoewisheim, Bruchsal, Baden, Germany, on the 30th of March, 1845, and was a son of Sebastian and Theresa (Vind) Roth, natives of the Father- land. Sebastian Roth immigrated to the United States in 1846 and settled in Madison county, but in 1849 both he and his wife died of cholera, within three days of each other, and their three sons, John S., George and Joseph J., were left orphans.

George Roth was. adopted by Mr. John Buchter, a lumberman of Highland, and re- mained with his foster parents until he was seventeen years old. In 1862 he learned the trade of blacksmith in the shop of B. A. Sup- piger, and continued to follow that vocation until February, 1865, when he persuaded a number of his youthful companions to enlist with him in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment of Illinois Infantry Vol- unteers, and served with that company until the close of the Civil war. On receiving his honorable discharge he again took; up his trade, following it in Colorado and Kansas, but in 1869 he returned to Highland and estab- lished himself in the hardware business, in which he continued until about 1890. The manner in which he conducted his business affairs not only won him a competency, but furnished him with an enviable reputation as a man of the soundest integrity, and he had so established himself in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens that in 1895 he was elected to the mayoralty chair and brought to his administration the same sound methods that had characterized his business life. His excellent ability as a public official was recog- nized and appreciated, and on two separate occasions he was petitioned by more than two hundred of Highland's best citizens to again take the nomination for the chief executive's office, but declined on the grounds that he felt there were younger men by whose youth and enthusiasm the city might benefit to a greater degree. One of Mr. Roth's many business in- terests was the Helvetia Milk Condensary, and it was largely to his support and cooperation during the days when the company was still in doubtful uncertainty as to its ultimate suc- cess that the enterprise finally prospered. He became patentee of five different inventions, namely, the milk preserving and liquidizing machines, and the machines for can cleaning, testing and filling.

Junge Roth

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

In 1871, on October 12, Mr. Roth was married to Miss Emma Kuhnen, the daughter of Christian and Anna (Ruedy) Kuhnen. She was a prominent figure in the life of Highland and is especially remembered for her charitable work. She was one of the pro- moters of the Old Folks' Home, and it was due to her unceasing efforts that this philan- thropic enterprise was brought to a sucessful culmination. She was a member of the Ger- man Evangelical church and was an active participant in the social and charitable work of the church. Having always been together in life, as the most faithful and loving com- panions, she followed her husband in death on November 29, 1911, just six months later, after a severe illness of five months' duration. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Roth, namely : Adelina, Erwin G., Ella, Ada, Laura, Florence, Walter and . Carlyle. They were all given excellent educational advan- tages, fitting them for whatever positions they might be called upon to fill in after life. Such noted institutions as Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Missouri; Forest Park University ; Barnes Business College, St. Louis; Colum- bia Commercial College, St. Louis ; Bryant and Stratton's Business College, and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, were chosen for their educational excellence, and the children proved creditable students. Adelina married Edward Suppiger, a prominent Highland business man, and has had five children : One who died in infancy, and George, Edith, Russell and Edward. Ella married Albert Schott, presi- dent of the John Wildi Evaporated Milk Com- pany, and has two children : Waldo and Doro- thy. Edwin married Miss Blanche Mumpe- row, of St. Louis, and died in 1904. The re- maining children reside in the family home at Highland.

That his death was a severe blow to High- land, and that he was held in universal esteem, was evidenced when Mayor Henry Lory, on June 1, 1911, issued the following proclama- tion : "By the death of Ex-Mayor George Roth, Highland is bereaved of one of its most useful, influential and respected citizens. His life's work has done much for the progress of our city. It is befitting that we, as citizens, pay a tribute of respect to his memory. Now, therefore, I, Henry Lowry, Mayor of the city, of Highland, Illinois, proclaim, That, in order to show due homage to the departed, all busi- ness shall be suspended on Friday, June 2, IQII, for one hour, from two to three o'clock, P. M. Funeral services will be held at the

German Protestant church at 2:30 Friday afternoon, June 2. Interment at city ceme- tery. Henry Lory, Mayor." The death of Mr. Roth occurred on the 30th of May, 19II.

The entire career of George Roth was characterized by acts that endeared him to all who knew him. He was a shining example of a self-made man and from youth he had to learn to work and to plan for himself. He was recognized as one of the leading Demo- crats of his part of the state. He was tax-col- lector of the township two years, was manager of the iron foundry, was the founder of the Helvetia Dwelling House Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company, and was interested in the creamery, in the Highland Brick and Tile Works, the Helvetia Milk Condensing Com- pany, and in many other enterprises. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, and in the work of the German Evangelical church was active and earnest, as he was also in behalf of the Old Folks' Home, his wife being treasurer there- of, as has been mentioned. Mr. Roth was a public-spirited citizen and contributed freely of both time and money to projects of benefit to the community. At the time of his demise he was president of the Highland Water Com- pany, vice president of the Highland Milling Company, and vice president of the First Na- tional Bank of Highland. He led a retired life for the last eighteen years of his life. To attempt to delineate in eulogistic words his fine life and character would be futile. He was a man of fine, quiet dignity. Successful himself, he delighted in the success of others. In the happy phraseology of a great writer, he was "one of God's own gentlemen."

EDWARD NICHOLAS AMBUEHL. A promi- nent and prosperous agriculturist of Saline township, Madison county, Edward Nicholas Ambuehl has achieved success in life through his own efforts, and holds high rank among the self-made men of his community. A son of Nicholas Ambuehl, Jr., he was born No- vember 4, 1872, in the township where he is now a resident, of excellent Swiss ancestry. His grandfather, Nicholas Ambuehl, Sr., was born and reared in Switzerland, and when a young man immigrated to the United States. Coming directly to Madison county, where many of his countrymen had previously set- tled, he located at Highland, and here reared a family of children, all of whom grew up to be useful members of the community.

Born in Saline township, Madison county, Illinois, Nicholas Ambuehl, Jr., obtained his early education in the district schools, and

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Emilie Frey, and of the six chil- dren born of their union four are living, as follows: Edward Nicholas, Matilda, Ida and Louise.

Edward Nicholas Ambuehl obtained the rudiments of his education in the schools of Saline township, completing his studies in the Highland schools. Turning his attention then to the study of the various branches of agriculture, he assisted his father on the home farm until ready to establish a house- hold of his own. Moving then to a portion of his father's farm, he labored with un- flagging industry for a number of years, and met with such good results in his labors that he was enabled to buy the land on which he had been living, and which he has now converted into one of the most attractive and desirable farming estates in this part of the county, his seventy-five acres of land being under a good state of cultivation and richly productive.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Ambuehl served as tax collector two years, and at the present time is one of the school directors of Saline township. Socially he is a member of the Highland Club of Sharp Shooters. Religiously he and his family belong to the German Evangelical church at Highland.

On November 23, 1899, Mr. Ambuehl was united in marriage with Ella Mueller, a daughter of A. R. Mueller, of Highland, and they are the parents of four children, name- ly : Edna, Nelda, Raymond and Erna.

HERMAN ROEDGER, JR. The Madison county citizenship is fortunate in the pos- sion of a man of the type of Herman Roed- ger, Jr., an estimable member of society and a representative of the agricultural industry. Daniel Webster has said: "Let us never for- get that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. Man may be civilized in some degree without great prog- ress in manufactures and with little com- merce with his distant neighbors. But with- out the cultivation of the earth, he is, in all countries, a savage. Until he gives up the chase and fixes himself in some place and seeks a living from the earth he is a roaming barbarian. When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization." There is no gain- saying the truth of this and furthermore, the farmers constitute one of the most independ- ent and wholesome classes. Mr. Roedger is of stanch German stock and is a thorough-

ly self-made man, his present prosperity and high standing having been wholly the result of his own well-directed efforts.

Herman Roedger, Jr., is a native son of Collinsville, his birth having occurred here April 30, 1866, the son of Herman and An- stina (Froberg) Roedger. The father, whose birth occurred in Germany, immigrated to the United States, called by some one "The Land of Promise," when a young man. He made the journey alone and found himself a stranger in a strange land. He eventually found his way to Collinsville, where he se- cured work as a farm hand and then, made more independent by a capital representing his accumulated savings, went on a farm of his own. The mother was born in Collins- ville township, and it was there that the union of the two took place. Of the six children born to bless their union five are living, as follows: Emma, wife of George Geissert; Robert, who married Emma Nie- buhr; Herman, of this record; Frank, who is associated with the foregoing in his farm- ing operations, and Lily, wife of Even Ed- wards.

Mr. Roedger, of this record, passed his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm and received his education in the public schools. When it came to the question of choosing a life work he decided to follow in the paternal footsteps and he has been very successful in his operations in the great basic industry. He bought one hundred and forty acres here in the year 1909 and later added sixty acres, making a tract of two hundred acres, upon which he carries on general farming. At the age of eighteen he left home and worked on the farms of men in need of hired help until the age of thirty. He then went to East St. Louis, where he was en- gaged in the steamboat business for a time and then came back to resume farming. When he began upon his career he did not have a dollar in his pocket and now he is a man of substance. Best of all, he is a highly respected, as well as a successful, farmer. He is a Republican in politics; belongs to the Lutheran Evangelical church at Collins- ville, and fraternally he is a member in good standing in the Modern Woodmen of America in Cassville, carrying insurance in this order.

Mr. Roedger established an independent household in 1894 by his marriage to Amelia Meyers, daughter of Frank and Anna (Mech- fessel) Meyers, and to their union have been

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born the following quartet of children: Anna, aged fourteen, a bright and ambitious public school pupil, at the head of her classes ; Viola, aged twelve, and Frank, aged six, the two latter in school; and Esther, aged at the time of the writing of this biographical record but seven weeks.

FREDERICK SCHEURER. Generously en- dowed by nature with the habits of industry, honesty and thrift characteristic of German ancestors, Frederick Scheurer, mayor of the city of Marine, Madison county, has steadily climbed the ladder of attainments, through his own efforts, having arisen from an humble station in life to a position of promi- nence and influence. A son of Dioneus and Barbara (Friedman) Scheurer, he was born February 19, 1869, in Baden, Germany, where he was bred and educated, attending the common and high schools.

On June 14, 1887, ere attaining his ma- jority, Frederick Scheurer bade farewell to his family and friends and immigrated to the United States, hoping in this fair land to soon find remunerative employment, al- though he had but limited means to start with. Going directly to Canton, Ohio, he worked for four years with the well-known firm of George Metzer & Son. He subse- quently spent two years each in three of Ohio's large cities, Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton, and was afterwards a resident of Newport, Kentucky, for a year. In the spring of 1893, the World's Fair year, Mr. Scheurer went to Chicago, and was there for a time in the employ of G. Y. Markwald, proprietor of a large meat market. Locat- ing in Saint Louis, Missouri, in the fall of 1893, he worked for a year and a half in the sausage factory belonging to John Bopple.

Marrying soon afterward, Mr. Scheurer settled in Edwardsville, Illinois, and at the end of six months, with a partner, bought out the man for whom he had been working, and was there engaged in business pursuits for two years. Selling then, he went back to Canton, Ohio, where for eleven months he worked for the firm which employed him when he came to this country a stranger, sev- eral years before. Returning then to Illi- nois, he purchased a butcher's establishment at Marine, and conducted it successfully for twelve and one-half years, when he disposed of his. stock, but retained the ownership of the building. After selling out, on March I, 19II, Mr. Scheurer built the packing and ice plant which he is conducting most satisfac-

torily to , his patrons, and with substantial financial returns.

A sound Democrat in politics, Mr. Scheur- er has ever evinced a warm interest in local progress and improvements, heartily en- dorsing all enterprises calculated to benefit the general public, and has served most ac- ceptably as mayor of Marine since 1905. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and religiously he be- longs to the Catholic church.

Mr. Scheurer married, in 1894, Anna K. Talleuer, a native of Marine township, Illi- nois, and into their home six children have been born, namely: Cecilia, now, in 19II, sixteen years of age; Mary, fourteen years old; Bertha, twelve years old; Barbara, ten years of age; Gertrude, a girl of six years, and Alma, who is but two years old.

LOUIS KOLB. At Marine, Illinois, on the 2nd of January, 1855, occurred the birth of Louis Kolb, a son of Jacob and Catherine (May) Kolb. The father was born in Ba- varia, on the 29th of November, 1826, and the mother was born in Bavaria on the 25th of November, 1834. Jacob Kolb came to the United States in 1843, and after his mar- riage the family home was established in Madison county, Illinois, where they passed the residue of their lives, he having died on the Ioth of December, 1876, and she having passed to the higher life on the 2nd of March, 1856. Prior to coming to America Mr. Kolb had learned the shoemaker's trade and for a number of years he was identified with that line of work at Marine. When shoes began to be manufactured by machinery, however, he turned his attention to farming, being a very extensive land owner at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb became the par- ents of one child, Louis, whose name forms the caption for this review.

Louis Kolb was reared to maturity at Ma- rine, to whose public schools he is indebted for his preliminary educational training, con- tinuing his studies under the instruction of Professor Keller. At the age of twenty years he turned his attention to farming op- erations and in 1885 he became manager of the big flouring mills at Marine, continuing as such for the ensuing twenty years. In 1905 he disposed of his interest in the mills and invested the capital in a general mercan- tile business at Marine. His store is well equipped in every particular and caters to the best trade in this place. Mr. Kolb is a stockholder in the Bank of Marine, being a

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

member of its board of directors. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat and has served with the utmost efficiency as a member of the local school board and as township super- visor, retaining the latter incumbency for a period of ten years. He is decidedly loyal and public spirited in his civic attitude and while he has never been an office seeker, his interest in community affairs has ever been of the most insistent order. He is held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, all of whom honor him for his sterling integrity of character and high moral worth.

On the 2nd of January, 1879, Mr. Kolb was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Spies, a daughter of Jacob and Katherine (Kauf- man) Spies, both of whom were born in Ba- varia, the former on the 3rd of August, 1817, and the latter on the 13th of August, 1821. Mr. Spies immigrated to the United States in 1842 and Mrs. Spies came in 1843, their marriage being solemnized in Madison coun- ty, Illinois, on the 25th of May, 1843. Mr. Spies was identified with extensive farming enterprises during the greater portion of his active career and he died on the 9th of Janu- ary, 1908, his wife having passed to the life eternal on the 17th of June, 1888. Mrs. Kolb was the eighth in order of birth in a family of ten children and she received an excellent education in her youth. After at- tending McKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois, she pursued the prescribed course of study in Almira College, at Greenville, Illi- nois. For two years prior to her marriage she was a popular and successful teacher in Madison county. She is a woman of most gracious personality and exerts a great in- fluence for good in her home community. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb have two children. Leo S. is a graduate of the Manual Training school of St. Louis and also of a commercial business college in the same city. He is now associated with his father in the Kolb Mer- cantile Company at Marine. Hilda B., after completing the curriculum of the public schools of Marine, was graduated in Hosmer Hall, at St. Louis, with the degree of Bache- lor of Science. She is also very talented in music, being a skillful performer on the piano. In religious matters the Kolb family are members of the German Evangelical church.

JACOB MUELLER, the substantial farmer of Helvetia township, is a son of another Jacob Mueller, who was also a farmer in this dis-

trict. Switzerland was the birthplace of both father and son, as well as of eight other children who came to this country in 1864, with their parents, Mary Wirtz Mueller be- ing the mother. She and Jacob Mueller had been married fourteen years at that time. He was a carpenter in his native country and followed that trade for the first year he was in America, before moving to a farm in Hel- vetia township. The family had spent one month of that year in East St. Louis and the rest in Highland. For two years the father rented a farm and then he bought a place upon which he lived until 1889, when he moved to Highland and for ten years worked at his trade again. He died in 1909, and his widow still lives in Highland. Jacob and Mary Mueller were the parents of four- teen children, seven of whom are yet alive. These are Mary (Mrs. Henry Merfert), Jacob, Adolph, Gottlieb, Rose (Mrs. Henry Blecher), Minnie (Mrs. Gottlieb Henry ) and Emil.

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Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 89

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