USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 90
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Jacob Mueller was eleven years old when he came to this country and had enjoyed the advantages of the excellent schools of his native land. He had been advanced in his studies there for his age and his coming to America interfered with his education. How- ever, he attended school in Highland for four years and then went to work on his father's farm, where he stayed until he was twenty- five, when he married and settled in a home of his own.
The lady with whom Mr. Mueller began his independent life and who has been the companion of his toil and the partaker of his success was prior to her marriage Miss Emma Rutz. Her father is Jacob Rutz, who belongs to one of the old families of High- land. Miss Rutz became Mrs. Mueller on March 6, 1879. The union was blessed with eight children, six still living. These are Mrs. Adolph Mahlen (Emma Mueller), Sophia, Jacob Junior, Albert, Hermia and Harry.
For fifteen years Mr. Mueller continued to rent and farm and then he purchased the place of one hundred and thirteen acres where he now resides. This large tract is the reward of Mr. Mueller's own industry and prudence and all of it he has acquired by himself. From a poor boy he has become a prosperous landholder and he has made fur- ther provision for his family's needs by in- surance in the Bankers' Life Company.
The Methodist church of Highland has in
Bernan Saying en
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Mr. Mueller and his family some of its most interested workers, who are always ready to advance its work for the good of the com- munity. In politics, he is a Republican, but he is not in the least degree a politician, de- voting himself rather to serving the country by promoting its industrial welfare and ob- taining an intelligent understanding of gen- eral conditions. He is a man prominent in the county, by reason of his pleasing person- ality and his sterling character as well as the vim which has won success for him from so slight a beginning.
JOHN NAGEL. Born in Madison county, September 8, 1864, John Nagel is the son of Adam and Sophia (Shafer) Nagel, natives of Baden, Germany, who emigrated to America in their youth. They met in St. Louis and there were married. Mr. Nagel came to Madison county and engaged in farming, purchasing a farm in Highland and after a few years he sold it and bought an- other farm in the vicinity of Highland. It was a splendid tract of 327 acres in a fine location directly overlooking the village of Highland, and is conceded to be one of the most attractive places thereabouts. They reared a family of five children, Henry, Emma, Joseph, Mary and John.
John Nagel, the youngest of the family, was, like his brothers and sisters, educated in the parochial school of Highland. On finishing school John remained at home as the assistant of his father on the farm, and he became proficient in the business of farm- ing, by reason of his close application to duty and careful study of the most practical methods of carrying on that industry. In 1889 he married Miss Anna Spaeth, born in New Baden, Illinois, in 1870. She was the daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Gans) Spaeth, natives of Baden, Germany, who settled in New Memphis, Illinois, on arriving in this country, but who later settled in New Baden, where Mr. Spaeth was engaged in the farming industry. Mrs. Nagel was one of a family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Nagel settled on the old homestead, to whose ownership Mr. Nagel had succeeded by virtue of his stay-at-home qualities, and he continued in the work in which he had been engaged for years with his father as head of the business. He has made many important changes in the old place, installing various needed improvements and erecting new buildings where necessary, and as a re- sult of his careful attention to business he
was able to purchase the farm of his brother, when he left for Colorado, thus adding very materially to his already generous holdings. In 1905 the death of Adam Nagel occurred, followed by the passing of his bereaved widow in 1907, and in 1911 the father of Mrs. Nagel, Mr. Joseph Spaeth, passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Nagel are the parents of a goodly family as named below: Lorenz, Eugene, Claudine, Sophia, Edwin, Herman, John, Theresa, Cletus and Marcellus. They have been, and some still are, attendants of the parochial school of Highland, the Nagel family being members of St. Paul's Catholic church, and liberal supporters of that faith. Mr. Nagel is Democratic in his political views, and his faithful adherence is given to that party. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus society. Mr. Nagel, in addi- tion to his regular farming interests, is en- gaged in the dairy business, and has a hand- some herd of thoroughbred Holstein cows furnishing the milk which he sends daily to the Helvetia Condensery at Highland. On the whole, his career as a farmer and dairy- man has been most successful from every view-point, and his reputation among his fel- low men is one of which any man might well be proud. His record is clean, and he is widely known in his section of the country as one of the representative men of the com- munity.
BERNARD SUPPIGER. One of the most pro- gressive men of Madison county, who through his own industry built up a comfortable for- tune for his family, who through his kindly heart won innumerable friends, and whose death left a gap in the community which it is hard to fill was the late Bernard Suppiger. He was known in Highland as one of their most public-spirited citizens, whose hand was ever ready to go down into his own pocket when any public improvement was in question. His death, in 1901, brought sorrow, not only to his own family, but also to the whole com- munity.
Bernard Suppiger was a native of that sturdy little republic of Switzerland. He was born at Sursee, on the 19th of February, 1813, the son of Joseph Suppinger and Johanna (Kaempf) Suppiger. In 1833 Joseph Sup- piger decided to immigrate to America in com- pany with friends, and consequently landed in this country during the month of May. He became one of the leading members of the first group of early Swiss settlers who established
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themselves at Highland and left that rare herit- age of thrift and industry which the inhabit- ants of the town have successfully endeavored to preserve. They found a wide-stretching prairie, covered with grass and occupied mainly by prairie-dogs; they left rich and fer- tile farms, comfortable homes, schools and churches. During the August following his arrival Joseph Suppiger died. At that time no place for a cemetery had been selected, for he was the first of the band to die. The ground which has since become known as the Highland City Cemetery was then chosen. Loving hands made a rude coffin, cross and bier, which were painted in somber black and with a nephew, Bernhard A. Suppiger, ahead to carry the cross, the little procession wended its slow way to the grave. In the absence of a minister of the gospel one of the mourners delivered the funeral address.
The Suppiger family in Europe were manu- facturers of linen, and in addition Bernard was the owner of a famed health resort, es- pecially well known for the invigorating prop- erties of its bathis. The place was called Knutwyl, and it was located among the most majestic of the snow-capped mountains of the Alpine country. A fine picture of the old home now hangs on the wall in one of the rooms of the present home of the Suppigers, showing fascinating walks and drives, and the cool, snow peaks, tempting to gaze upon on an afternoon in mid-July. In 1845. be- ing a member of the Catholic faith, then so abhorrent to the Swiss people, he decided to seek freedom from religious persecution in the United States. He first came over alone, and finding that the tales of those who came before him concerning the freedom and pros- perity to be found here were true, he returned for his family, consisting of his wife, their four children, and two of his sisters, Louisa and Josephine. They settled in Highland, where he engaged in the milling business and in the manufacture of lumber. In April, 1877, his wife died, leaving seven children, Rob- ert, Emma, Bertha, Louisa, Hermine, Albert and Otto. All of these are now married with the exception of Albert, who died on the 19th of April, 1869. On the 14th of January, 1878, Mr. Suppiger was married for the second time, his bride being Eliza Geissmann. She was born in Highland, Madison county, on the 24th of June, 1851, a daughter of John and Zitha (Bellm) Geissmann. Her parents were natives of Germany, who immigrated to this country in the late forties. Mr. Geissmann
was a cooper by trade, also having a knowl- edge of the brewing business. The worthy couple were very ambitious for the success of their children, of whom there was a large family. To this end they gave them all a good education and brought them up with a clear understanding of the true principles of citizenship. In addition to Mrs. Suppiger, their children were Caroline, Sophia, Emma, Bertha, Louis, Jolin and Otto. Mrs. Suppi- ger was educated in the public schools of Highland, and also received one year of train- ing in a parochial school. Her brothers and sisters grew up to fill useful positions in the sections in which they live.
Mr. and Mrs. Suppiger spent all of their married life in Highland, where he became more prosperous as the years passed. On the 11th of February, 1901, death came to Mr. Suppiger. Only one child, a daughter, Lena, was born of his second marriage, and she has had not only the advantages which the public schools offer, but she has also received fur- ther instruction in music as well as in the literary branches. With this daughter Mrs. Suppiger has lived since the death of her hus- band. In 1905 they concluded to build an- other home for themselves further up in town, and their present modern home is the result.
In his political affiliations Mr. Suppiger was a Democrat, and in the social world he was a member of several organizations. Among these were the Alt Gard and the Helvetia Schutzengesallschaft. He was an honorary member of the last named society, and as a token of the high regard in which he held the society he gave them a donation of great generosity.
Such was the life of a man to whom High- land is deeply indebted, not alone from the practical benefits derived from his presence in the town, but also for the spirit of progres- sive activity which he has endeavored to instill into the hearts of his fellow citizens. Every project for the uplift of humanity had his warm approbation, and his personal success was no more than a just reward for the glad service he had given to his fellow men. The respect and love which is given to his men- ory by his friends and neighbors is of much comfort to his wife, who for so many years stood by him nobly. sharing his burdens and doing her part in the care of his home.
JOHN WILHELM. At this point in the his- tory of Madison county, Illinois, attention is directed to the life and career of John Wil- helm, who, through his own well directed
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efforts has made of success not an accident but a logical result. Beginning life with ab- solutely nothing to back him except pluck and perseverance he has so directed his af- fairs as to make every thing count for good. At the present time, in 1911, he is the owner of some three hundred and seventeen acres of splendidly improved land in Jarvis town- ship, where he is actively engaged in farming on an estate of one hundred and forty-three acres.
A native of Kentucky, John Wilhelm was born on the 29th of January, 1853, and he is a son of Joseph and Mary (Wintz.) Wilhelm, both of whom are now deceased. The father was born in Germany and he immigrated to the United States in the year 1848, settling first in St. Louis. He served with all of valor and distinction in the Mexican war for a period of six months and subsequently he went to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where he was engaged in the work of his trade, that of cooper, for a number of years. Thence he returned to St. Louis, where he followed the work of his trade and where he passed the residue of his life, his death having oc- curred in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years. As a young man he enlisted for three years service in the Union army of the Civil war. He was twice wounded during his term of enlistment, first in the head and later in the hip. The second wound disabled him for the rest of his life. Mrs. Joseph Wilhelm was called to the life eternal in 1864, at which time her son John was a lad of eleven years of age.
The boyhood and youth of John Wilhelm was passed in the city of St. Louis, where he attended a Catholic parochial school until he had reached the age of fourteen years, at which time he went to work on a farm in the vicinity of Mitchell, Illinois. For the en- suing thirteen months he worked for Mr. Kesler and he then returned to St. Louis, where he passed one winter. In the follow- ing spring he engaged as a farm land in Jarvis township and one year later he went to Shelby county, where he passed two years. Returning to Madison county, he settled in Pin Oak township, where he was employed as a farm hand until his marriage, in Sep- tember, 1878. About that time he started out with a team of mules and, renting a farm, he began to give evidence of that perseverance and determination which have played so im- portant a part in his active business life. At the present time he is engaged in general Vol. II-30
farming and the growing of high-grade stock on a well cultivated farm of one hun- dred and forty-three acres, the same being eligibly located some two miles distant from Troy. In addition to this farm he is also the owner of other land in Jarvis township, the aggregate of which is three hundred and seventeen acres.
On the 6th of September, 1878, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Wilhelm to Miss Hannah Holtmann, who was born and reared in Madison county, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Henry Holtmann, of Pin Oak township. This union has been prolific of eight children, six of whom are living. Carrie is the wife of George Ottwein, of Jarvis township; Emma is deceased; Lydia is the wife of Fred Blumberg, of the same town- ship; Henry remains at the parental home, as do also Hannah and Lulu; Gusta is de- ceased, and George remains at home. In their religious faith the Wilhelm family are devout members of the German Evangelical church and they are liberal contributors of their time and means to all matters advanced for philanthropic projects in this community.
In politics Mr. Wilhelm is aligned as a stanch supporter of the cause of the Repub- lican party, believing that the principles pro- mulgated by that organization stand for the best possible government. The only public offices of which he has been incumbent are those of school director and road overseer, but in discharging the duties connected there- with he has acquitted himself with all of honor and distinction. He is a man of lib- eral views and broad human sympathy and in the various avenues of usefulness he has made good in the most significant sense of the word. As a self-made man his career is particularly interesting and for that and other reasons he is eminently well worthy of representation in this historical compilation.
ANDREW C. SCHMIDT. An essentially rep- resentative farmer and stock raiser in St. Jacob township, Madison county, Illinois, is Andrew C. Schmidt, who is the owner of a finely im- proved estate of ninety-one acres of most arable land, the same being located some miles distant from St. Jacob. Mr. Schmidt was born in St. Jacob township, this county, on the IIth of June, 1875, and he is a son of An- drew and Catherine (Wittmer) Schmidt, both of whom are now deceased, the former having died in 1890, and the latter having also passed away. The father was a son of Martin Schmidt, whose birth occurred in Germany,
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whence he immigrated to the United States at the age of nineteen years. He had been married just previously to his farewell to his native land and after his arrival in the United States he located in St. Jacob township, Mad- ison county, Illinois, where he began farming operations on a rented estate. Subsequently he removed to Marine township, where he bought a farm and where he continued to reside dur- ing the residue of his life. Andrew Schmidt, father of Andrew C., was born in St. Jacob township, on what was once known as Look- ing Glass Prairie, but he grew to maturity in Marine township. His father died when he was a mere youth and thereafter he remained in the home of his paternal grandfather until he had attained to the age of twenty years. He then began farming on his own respon- sibility in Marine township, where he re- mained until 1870, in which year he purchased the farm now owned by Andrew C., of this notice. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schmidt were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are living, namely, Amelia, who is the wife of Albert Heinze; Henry L., Lena, who married August Hensen; Sophia, who is the wife of Fred Weber, Jr. ; Andrew C., Jacob C., Anna, who is the wife of Ed Pratt ; Ella, who wedded Fred Pratt ; and Bertha.
Andrew attended the neighboring district schools until he had reached the age of fifteen years and about that time he lost his father. He immediately assumed the active manage- ment of the old homestead farm and con- tinued to run the same with marked success until he married. That important event oc- curred in 1900 and immediately thereafter he located on his present fine farm of ninety-one acres in St. Jacob township. While most of his attention is devoted to diversified agricul- ture and the raising of high-grade stock, he still has time to participate actively in public affairs. While not an office seeker, he has served with the utmost efficiency as a member of the board of school directors for a period of nine years. He is affiliated with a number of representative fraternal and social organi- zations and in his religious faith is a con- sistent member of the German Evangelical church at Marine. In politics he is an un- compromising Republican.
On the 14th of March, 1900, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Schmidt to Miss Ida Weber, who was born and reared in Madison county, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Jacob Weber, a prominent and influential citi-
zen in Marine township. This union has been prolific of one child, Florence, born in 1901.
CHARLES G. SCHMIDT, M. D. Other men's services to the people and the state can be measured by definite deeds, by dangers averted, by legislation secured, by institutions built, by commerce promoted. The work of a doctor is entirely estranged from these lines of enterprise, yet without his capable, health-giv- ing assistance all other accomplishment would count for naught. Man's greatest prize on earth is physical health and vigor. Nothing deteriorates mental activity so quickly as pro- longed sickness, hence the broad field for human helpfulness afforded in the medical profession. The successful doctor requires something more than mere technical training- he must be a man of broad human sympathy and genial kindliness, capable of inspiring hope and faith in the heart of his patient. Such a man is he whose name initiates this article.
Dr. Charles G. Schmidt was born at Chester, Illinois, on the 10th of April, 1872, and he is a son of Emil and Clara (Kraft) Schmidt, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a farmer and subsequently a journalist and newspaper publisher, and in these lines of enterprise he achieved noteworthy success. The fifth in order of birth in a family of eight children, Dr. Schmidt was reared to adult age under the invigorating influence of the old homestead farm and he received his prelim- inary educational discipline in the neighboring district schools. Subsequently he pursued his studies under a private tutor in the Mound City College, at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1894 he was matriculated as a student in what is now known as the St. Louis University, in the medical department of which well known institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1897, duly receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after graduation he located at St. Jacob, Illinois, where he has since devoted his entire time and attention to the work of his profession. Here he controls a large and representative patron- age and he has gained distinctive prestige as one of the most efficient physicians in Madison county. In connection with the work of his profession he is affiliated with the Madison County Medical Society and with the Illinois State Medical Society and by reason of his close observance of professional ethics he commands the admiration and esteem of his fellow practitioners.
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At St. Jacob, on the 17th of September, 1897, was recorded the marriage of Dr. Schmidt to Miss Ida Wasem, who was born, reared and educated in St. Jacob and who is a daughter of Louis Wasem, long a representa- tive citizen of this place. This union has been prolific of eight children, whose names are here entered in respective order of birth-Carl, Robert, Kathryn, Marguerite, Richard, Roland, Herman and Charlotte.
In his political convictions Dr. Schmidt is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party and while he has never manifested aught of ambition for polit- ical preferment of any description he is ever ready to give of his aid and influence in sup- port of all measures and enterprises advanced for the good of the general welfare. In fra- ternal circles he is a valued and appreciative member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Court of Honor and the Royal Neigh- bors of America. The Doctor is descended from staunch German stock, is possessed of a quiet and unassuming disposition and in all his dealings is broad minded and charitable. In their religious faith he and his wife are devout members of the St. Paul Evangelical church at St. Jacob.
MARTIN KIRSCH. The Kirsch family is one of prominence and influence in Jarvis town- ship, where representatives of the name have resided for a long number of years. Martin Kirsch traces his ancestry back to stanch Ger- man extraction, his parents having come to the United States about the year 1853. He is engaged in farming operations on his fine es- tate of ninety acres in Jarvis township, and his various business dealings have been char- acterized by that thrift and industry which are such prominent features of the sturdy German race.
Martin Kirsch was born in Jarvis township, Madison county, Illinois, on the 20th of No- vember, 1857, and he is a son of John and Louisa (Roth) Kirsch, the former of whom was a son of Martin and Martha Kirsch, and both of whom were born and reared in Ger- many, where was solemnized their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. John Kirsch emigrated to the United States in the year 1853, landing in the harbor of New Orleans, whence they pro- ceeded to St. Louis, later settling in Jarvis township, in which latter place he purchased a. tract of seventy acres. Here he became identified with the great basic industry of agri- culture and on his farm he passed the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring on
the 2nd of September, 1911. They were the parents of seven children, six sons and one daughter : Martin, of this review ; John, Will- iam, Gaston, Henry, Jacob and Barbara.
As a youth, Martin Kirsch attended school in Jarvis township and at the age of fifteen years he became associated with his father in the work and management of the farm. He remained at home until he had reached the age of twenty-seven years, at which time he was married. After that important event in his life, he launched into the farming business on his own account, settling on his present finely improved estate, excellently located two and one-half miles distant from Troy. On this farm he and his sons are engaged in di- versified agriculture and the raising of high- grade stock. They have been eminently suc- cessful as farmers and the Kirsch homestead is recognized as one of the best equipped farms in the entire county. In politics Mr. Kirsch accords a stalwart support to the cause of the Republican party. He is not an office seeker, but is interested in all matters affecting the general welfare. At the present time (191I) he is a member of the board of school direct- ors for District No. 62. In a fraternal way Mr. Kirsch is affiliated with the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he carries insurance. In their religious faith the family are consistent members of the German Evangelical church at Troy, and Mr. Kirsch has served on the board of trustees of the church for a period of six years.
On the 18th of November, 1884, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Kirsch to Miss Elizabeth Bernhardt, whose birth occurred in Jarvis township and who is a daughter of Peter Bernhardt of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Kirsch are the parents of seven children concerning whom the following brief record is here given: Annie is the wife of Henry Gindler and they reside at Jarvis township, and Ida, Edward, Louis, Leo, Otto and Beno, all remain in the shelter of the parental home. All the children have been afforded excellent educational advantages and they are popular in connection with the best social activities of the younger set in this vicinity.
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