USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 91
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JOHN BANKS. Among the citizens who are connected with the industrial life of Collins- ville is John Banks, assistant superintendent of the Hydraulic Pressed Brick Company, one of the county's most important institutions. Al- though his time and energy are largely given to the affairs of this concern, he at the same time has interested himself with the affairs of
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the community in an admirably public-spirited fashion.
John Banks was born January 24, 1870, in Collinsville, Illinois, and is the son of Ferd- inand Banks. The father was a native of Germany and immigrated from Baden to the United States when a young man. Soon after his arrival on our shores, he went to Cincin- nati and for some time made his home in the "Queen City," whence he removed to St. Louis in 1868. From that place he came to Collins- ville, but remained a comparatively short time. returning to St. Louis in 1876. Subsequently his family returned to Collinsville, whose charms had remained ever vivid with them, and here at the present day they maintain their residence. In the '8os Ferdinand Banks farmed for a time in Nebraska and other western states. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in the Union army not long after his arrival on our shores, and his service was almost from the beginning to the end of the conflict between the states. Among his distinctions was that of running the first ice machine ever operated in St. Louis. He was a great traveler and his perigrinations had taken him over the greater part of Europe be- fore he came to the United States. On this continent he continued his travels and was familiar with almost all the states of the Union. He and his wife were the parents of five children, and all of this number survive at the present time. They are as follows : John of the sketch; Louise, wife of Frank Langameyer; Emma, wife of Jule Ecker ; Charles; and Marguerite, wife of Moritz Wilhelm, Jr.
, John Banks attended school in Collinsville for a short time, but his educational training was terminated at the age of ten years. When of such tender age force of circumstances made it necessary for him to secure employ- ment, and this he found in a brick yard in Collinsville, where he continued for six years. Proving faithful and efficient in small things, he was given more and more to do and was steadily advanced. His next step was to be- come an employe of the Hydraulic Pressed Brick Company in 1888, and in this business he has ever since been engaged. He started at the bottom of the ladder by cutting fancy brick, and step by step he has risen until he now occupies the office of assistant superin- tendent of this large industry. His success is the logical result of his perseverance and many good qualities and ability.
Mr. Banks was married October 31, 1894,
Anna Webster, daughter of Richard Web- ster, becoming his wife. Mrs. Banks was born in Australia, but was living in Collinsville township at the time of her marriage. They share their home with a son and a daughter --- Cecilia, eleven years old, and Henry, eight years old, both pupils in the Catholic schools.
Mr. Banks has other business interests in addition to the main one, and he carries in- surance in the New York Life. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church and are valued in its good works. The head of the house is a Democrat, but is liberal in his political views. He was at one time alder - man for two terms from the fifth ward, and he has in every way shown himself to be a public-spirited citizen.
JOIIN A. O'CONNELL. As with every com- munity, it is upon her young men that the hope of Madison county depends, and one of the most substantial and progressive factors in the younger generation of her citizenship is John A. O'Connell, ex-city treasurer of Col- linsville and a director of that thriving con- cern, the Arctic Ice & Coal Company. Mr. O'Connell was born' in this city October 31, 1880, the son of James and Ellen ( Einder- hand) O'Connell. He comes of Irish stock, as is indicated by his name, his father, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, being of Irish extraction, and the mother's birth having occurred upon the Emerald Isle. They were married in Collinsville and are still residents of this city. The elder Mr. O'Connell is a cigar manufacturer and conducts a plant in this place. The immediate subject is the sec- ond in order of birth in a family of ten chil- dren.
John A. O'Connell received his carly educa- tion in the Catholic parochial schools and sub- sequently became a student in St. Louis Col- lege. His first adventures as a business man were in the confectionery business, with which he continued to be successfully identified for six years. He early manifested exceptional gifts in executive ability and business judg- ment and for one of his years his success has been of the most definite sort. In the year 19II, in association with A. C. Pohmann, he organized the Arctic Ice & Coal Company. He is a director of this institution, and much of its growth and prosperity is directly trace- able to his efforts. He is an admirable citizen and there is nothing of public import in Col- linsville in which he is not helpfully interested. He was elected to the important office of city treasurer of Collinsville in 1909, and for two
P
R.b. Morriss
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years served in that capacity, his tenure of office ending with 1911. He is a stockholder in the opera house at Collinsville, among his subsidiary interests, and was instrumental in its erection. He is interested in the success of good government, and aids in the promotion of business and social harmony by a straight- forward course as a citizen. In politics he is independent, esteeming the man and the prin- ciple above partisanship. He is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church and be- longs to the Knights of Columbus, and he is also affiliated with the Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Business Men's Club. Mr. O'Connell has not, as yet, become a recruit to the ranks of the Benedicts.
ROBERT C. MORRISS. With his hand on the pulse of progress, and his mind always ac- tively engaged on new ways to bring about improvements in the general welfare as well as his own private affairs, Robert C. Morriss stands out as one of the most valuable busi- ness men and upright citizens of Troy, Illi- nois. He was born in Jarvis township, Madi- son county, January 10, 1862, the son of Rode- ville and Arminda (Hamilton) Morriss. Rodeville Morriss was a native son of Vir- ginia, leaving the Old Dominion state to set- tle in Madison county, Illinois about the year 1840. His wife was also of southern extrac- tion, and when these two settled in the new state they brought with them much of that quiet refinement and the fine ideals that have ever been the attributes of the true 'Virginian. They became the parents of nine children, five of whom are now living, in 1911, namely : Lewis; Henry; George; Robert C .; and Mol- lie, now the wife of S. S. Gaskell.
Robert C. Morriss was reared amid the healthful surroundings of the old home farm, enjoying the happy freedom of country life and learning its two great lessons, clean liv- ing and the honor of all kinds of labor. His early education was attained along with that of most of the boys of that day, in the county schools, where he attended until he was seven- teen. At fourteen he got his first employ- ment, farm work at the wage of seven dollars a month. The next year he did the same work, this time drawing twelve dollars instead of eight. Later he received sixteen dollars, after that leaving farm work to enter the employ of the St. Louis Dairy Company in Jarvis township. With this firm he remained two years and then accepted a position with the Illinois Dairy Company at Bunker Hill, Illi- nois, where, after receiving fifty dollars the
first month, he was at once put on a salary of seventy-five. After nine months in Bunker Hill he was transferred to St. Louis, in which place he continued for a period of six years. At the end of that time he became a conductor on the fast electric line in St. Louis. After two years he gave up that line of work and entered the employ of the Crystal Water Com- pany at St. Louis, remaining as one of their salesmen for two and a half years before ac- cepting another position on the Houseman electric line as conductor, which line was the first line running through St. Louis county. Mr. Morriss then rented a farm in St. Louis county and for two years followed the great basic industry of agriculture on that land and for five years on the old home farm in Jarvis township.
In 1902 Mr. Morriss moved into Troy and established a dairy business, and this he ran for two years in connection with dealings in implements. In 1905 he became the manager of the Highland Milling Company, the same being a position which he still holds. He was also connected with the Brookside Coal Com- pany and was vice-president of the Troy Shoe Company, of which he has since become presi- dent. In June, 1910, the Brookside Coal Com- pany was organized, and Mr. Morriss became a stockholder and later its president.
On July 4, 1882, Mr. Morriss was united in marriage to Miss Emma Riebold, daugh- ter of John and Mary Riebold, natives of Troy, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Morriss have become the parents of the following children : Mamie, who lives with her parents ; Fannie, the wife of Sam Davis, Jr. ; Rodeville, who has graduated from the public schools ; and Hazel, who is still a school girl.
Mr. Morriss and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, and he himself manifests his interest and devotion in the faith by serving as elder and trustee of the Troy church. Fraternally he is affiliated with Troy Lodge, No. 588, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has had the honor of serving as noble grand ; the Modern Woodmen of America; and his wife and daughter join him in membership in the Order of the East- ern Star and the Order of the Rebekahs. In his political affiliations Mr. Morriss is to be found under the standard of the Republican party and he held the presidency of the Taft- Deneen ยท Republican Club which acted in the interests of the "Grand Old Party." In 1909 Mr. Morriss was president of the school board
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and gave appreciated service on that body. He further has interest in affairs as treas- urer of the Athletic Association.
WILLIAM H. THOMPSON. One of the rep- resentative men of Madison county, Illinois, is this well-known and highly honored citizen of Collinsville, where he has maintained his home since 1887. He came here to superintend the local business of the Illinois Hydraulic Pressed Brick Company and he has been identified with various lines of business and civic enter- prises, and here has made an unblemished record as a man and a citizen. Among Mr. Thompson's distinctions is that of having been a gallant soldier of the Civil war, serving al- most throughout the entire struggle and par- ticipating in some of the most important actions. He is a native Southerner and nat- urally his sympathies were with the institu- tions of the south, which he strove to defend in the dark days of the '60s.
William H. Thompson was born January 2, 1842, in Perry county, Tennessee, and is the son of Oliver P. and Eleanor ( Marshall) Thompson, of Kentucky. The father was a native Scotchman, the son of Austin Thomp- son, who with his wife and their one child, William's father, severed their associations with the "land o' cakes" and came to America. They eventually located in Tennessee and there Oliver grew to manhood. He adopted the trade of a moulder and later took the man- agement of a large iron plant, at the head of which he remained for twenty years. He was the owner of a large farm in Tennessee, upon which his family resided and the cultivation of its fertile fields he superintended as a side issue. His iron business was located in Stew- art county, Tennessee. Oliver Thompson and his admirable wife became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living at the pres- ent time, namely : William H. ; John Bell ; Bux- ton L .; Mary Jane, wife of Sam Larance ; Mar- tha E., wife of William Black; Ella, wife of Milton Brewer ; and Oliver, Jr.
Until the age of sixteen years Mr. Thomp- son attended the schools of Tennessee and then he engaged in farming for a short time, or until the outbreak of the Civil war. His youth had been clouded to some extent by its approach and being a high-spirited young fel- low he enlisted almost at the first, becoming a member of the Fourteenth Tennessee Infan- try, under Colonel Forbes, of Clarksville, Tennessee. His service in Virginia was under Generals Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson, and he was with the former at the time of the
surrender to Grant at Appomattox. Engage- ments in which he participated were First Bull Run, Cheat Mountain, Bath, Hancock, Win- chester, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Beaver Dam, Savage Station, Frazier's Farm, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill and Cedar Mountain. At the last named battle he was seriously wounded and taken to the hospital at Staunton where he remained about eight months, returning to his command the last of March, 1863. The following May he participated in the battles at Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg July I, 2 and 3. He was here slightly wounded twice and taken prisoner, being sent to Fort Dela- ware, Delaware, where he remained for twen- ty-one months, being exchanged there April, 1865, shortly previous to the surrender. After the termination of the great conflict, he return- ed to Tennessee, and there resided beneath the parental roof-tree until he attained to the age of twenty-five years.
Mr. Thompson was married December 20, 1866, to Frances Keel, also a native of Ten- nessee, and a daughter of W. T. Keel. The first years of their married life were spent in the Big Bend state, and there Mr. Thompson served in various public capacities until the year, 1881. He then entered the employ of the Lagrange Iron Company as superintendent of a mine in Stewart county, Tennessee, and re- mained there until 1887, when he made a radi- cal change by removing to St. Louis. In that city he was employed as Clay Hill foreman of the Hydraulic Brick Works in St. Louis. He came to Collinsville, Madison county, Novem- ber 1, 1887, where he assumed the important position of superintendent of the Illinois Hy- draulic Pressed Brick Company, and his splen- did executive ability, judgment and progres- siveness as displayed in the management of this large industry has greatly contributed to its prosperity.
The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son has been blessed by the birth of ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living at the present time, as follows: Robert E. Lee; Minnie B., wife of Ernest Morris; Lena Dell, wife of H. W. Whitaker ; Lillie May, wife of Henry Hedden; Ethel, wife of Ernest Wilson; Clarence Clifton and Jack S. They maintain a hospitable home and are prominent in the best social life of the community in which their interests are centered.
In the matter of politics, Mr. Thompson in- clines toward the policies and principles of the Democratic party, but he is decidedly lib- eral, and esteems the best man and the best
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measure high above mere partisanship. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist church and he has not departed from it, being a valued member of the local church. He is, in short, an excellent citizen and a valuable member of society.
JACOB DEIBERT. An essentially prominent and influential citizen of Marine, Illinois, is Jacob Deibert, who has here been engaged in the general merchandise business for a period of thirty-two years. He is a man of splendid executive ability and though now somewhat advanced in years retains in much of their pristine vigor the fine mental and physical qualities of his youth. Though not a poli- tician, he is deeply and sincerely interested in the progress and improvement of Madison county, where he has lived during practically his entire life time thus far.
Jacob Deibert was born at Graugreweiler, Bavaria, on the 9th of September, 1847, and he is a son of John and Elizabeth (Kolb) Deibert, both of whom were born and reared in Bavaria, and both born in the year 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Deibert were united in marriage in their native land and they immigrated to the United States on the 17th of December, 1859, proceeding directly to Madison county, Illinois, and locating at Marine, where he en- gaged in the work of his trade, that of a tailor. About the year 1880 he turned his attention to mercantile interests, and a fine business was built up and controlled by the firm of J. Deibert & Son. The father was called to eternal rest on the IIth of October, 1907, and since that time Mr. Deibert of this notice has conducted the business individually. The firm is now that of J. Deibert & Son, and the store is well stocked with everything in demand at Marine, where it is recognized as one of the finest equipped concerns in this sec- tion of the county. In politics Jacob Deibert accords a stanch allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party, and while he has never been anxious for the honors or emoluments of pub- lic office of any description he has been a mem- ber of the school board for the past fourteen years, serving as president of the board dur- ing a portion of that time, and he was post- master for five years, during Cleveland's ad- ministration. In a fraternal way he is affil- iated with the Modern Woodmen of America and in his religious faith is a devout member of the German Evangelical church.
On the 13th of February, 1879, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Deibert to Miss Lizzie Schirmer, who was born in Germany
and who was an infant of but one year of age at the time of her parents' immigration to America. Mrs. Deibert was reared and edu- cated in Marine township, Madison county, Illinois, her father having long been engaged in agricultural pursuits here. Mr. and Mrs. Deibert are the parents of six children, con- cerning whom the following brief record is here entered: Edwin is cashier for the Amer- ican Hardwood Lumber Company at St. Louis, Missouri; Otto is associated with his father in the store business; Hugo L. is a student in the St. Louis University at St. Louis, Missouri, where he is preparing for the profession of dentistry; Agatha remains at the parental home; Olga, in the store with her father ; and Adelia, married to Oscar A. May and living in St. Louis. The Deibert family are popular in connection with the best social activities of Marine, where their attractive and spacious home is recognized as a center of most gracious refinement and hospitality.
SIMON BARGETZE. On the fine old farm near Highland Mr. Simon Bargetze, one of the most progressive and industrious farmers of Madison county, is to be found. Here on the old homestead he was born and here he has spent his life, devoted to his farming in- terests, to his business, his family and friends. His good common sense and benevolent spirit have won for him a high place in the regard of his neighbors, while his own industry and business acumen have given him his full meed in material things.
Simon Bargetze was born in Madison county, in 1866, the son of Christian and Katerina (Nickli) Bargetze. Both of the parents were natives of Switzerland, who im- migrated to America in their youth. They were married in Nashville, Tennessee, and came thence to Madison county, Illinois. Mr. Bargetze had always been a farmer and he had saved enough money to enable him to purchase a fine farm of a hundred and forty acres, one and a half miles north of Highland, and here the pair settled in 1862. Their family consisted of Christian, Florein, Kater- ina (who became Mrs. John Leder), and Simon. Mr. and Mrs. Bargetze saw that their children had a good education, and from the success that they met later in life it is evident that their parents instilled into them some of their own high principles and strength of character. Mr. Bargetze died on the 3rd of October, 1881, and his wife followed him on the 14th of July, 1883. They were both prom- inent in the work of the German Protestant
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
church in Highland, and at their death left many to mourn outside of their own family.
Simon Bargetze was only a lad of fifteen when his father died, but he spent the re- mainder of his boyhood at home assisting in the work of the farm and the support of his mother and sisters. In 1887 he married Mrs. Anna (Guntly) Bargetze, the widow of his eldest brother, Christian. His wife was born in Marine township in 1868, the daughter of Bartly and Veronica (Schnurr) Guntly. Her father was a Swiss by birth, while her mother came from France, although she was of Ger- man extraction. They came to America in their youth and were married in Marine town- ship. Mr. Guntly was a successful farmer and Anna was their only child. Mrs. Guntly had been married before and by her first mar- riage had had two daughters, Louisa and Philopena.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bargetze began their wedded life on the old Bargetze homestead, a beautiful old place, the deed for which was made out to one James Reynolds in 1831. A copy of this abstract deed is in the hands of Mr. Bargetze at present. The big house of warm red brick, built a hundred years ago from materials manufactured on the place, gazes down from its comfortable seclusion upon forest, rolling fields and ponds. Among the most interesting points about the house are the two doors opening from with- out into the sitting room. They were built opposite each other so that a team of horses might haul a log up to the door, and then turning, drag it into the living room where it would be rolled into the huge fireplace, and the fire that it made would not have to be re- newed for a week. The casings and floors are of beautifully polished black walnut, and the whole house is in excellent repair, owing to the affectionate care which Mr. Bargetze has bestowed upon it.
Six children were born to Mrs. Bargetze, two of whom have died. Christian, who is the son of her first husband, and Bruno, Rob- ert, Fremont and Hermenia are the children of her second marriage. All the children were sent to the public schools at Highland and all have been glad to remain at home.
In 1902 the Highland Condensory and Brewery established a water system adjoin- ing the Bargetze farm, which furnishes pure spring water for businesses in Highland. This plant is operated and managed by Mr. Bar- getze, leaving his son Bruno as superintendent of the farm. Christian, the oldest son, is en-
gineer at the gravel pits. In addition to his farming operations Mr. Bargetze is exten- sively engaged in dairying, owning a fine herd of well bred cows.
Mr. and Mrs. Bargetze are members and active workers in the German Protestant church, whose beautiful building is a credit to the community. Both of these good people are actively interested in any movement for the welfare of the church or of the community and are able assistants to the pastor, Rev. Carl Meyer. In his political affiliations Mr. Bar- getze belongs to the Republican party.
When Mr. Bargetze first started out for himself the old home place was owned by several. With a small amount of capital but with much hard work and courage to venture where the footing was a little uncertain, he succeeded in gathering the funds necessary to buy out the other interests and since that time has bent every effort to the improving and building up of the estate. The geniality and genuine friendliness of the occupants of this old brick mansion make friends glad to come and strangers reluctant to leave. The business integrity and high ideals of the father are ap- parent in the lives of the sons, and the entire family merits in the fullest degree the af- fectionate regard which is poured out upon them from all parts of the county.
LOUIS LEDUC, prominent among the farm- ers of Saline township, and a resident of Madison county since his birth, is the son of John LeDuc, the founder of the family in that county. John LeDuc came to America from France in 1852. He settled on a farm in Madison county, married Sophia Hen- schen, and lived the life of a simple country- man. They reared a family of several chil- dren, their second child and eldest son being Louis, born January 26, 1860.
Louis LeDuc remained with his father after he was grown to man's estate, helping with the many duties in connection with the suc- cessful operation of their farm. When he was twenty-seven years old, on the 19th of April, 1887, he married Mathilda Messerli, the daughter of Gottleib and Elizabeth Messerli, who had long been prominent in the rural life of Alhambra township. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. LeDuc began with their resi- dence on a farm in their home township. It was a tract of one hundred and four acres in a fertile district, and their efforts have been rewarded by the steady growth of this unim- proved farm into a veritable garden spot. They did not remain permanently on this
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