Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 95

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 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Brockmann received his education in the Central school and at the Bryant and Stratton School at St. Louis, and spent his youth in much the same manner as that of other farmers' lads of his community. He remained at home, assisting his father and learning to be a good, practical agriculturist, until his marriage to Miss Sophia Wittneben, an estimable young lady of Nameoki town- ship, daughter of Charles and Helena (Kote) Wittneben, and sister of Minnie, Matilda, Au- gusta, Henry, Christian and Charles Wittne-

ben. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brockmann began their wedded life on a farm of sixty-eight acres, a tract lying east of the village of Nameoki, and here they have con- tinued to reside to the present time. Mr. Brockmann has proved himself an excellent farmer, and has always been an adherent of progressive ideas. He uses the latest models of farming machinery, and is well versed in crop rotation and soil and climatic conditions, and the general appearance of his highly pro- ductive farm proves that he is an industrious and skilled agriculturist. His upright busi- ness principles in dealing with his fellow citizens have won the confidence of his neigh- bors, who first selected him as school director, and later, in 1897, chose him for treasurer of the school board of Nameoki township, an of- fice which he held for fourteen continuous years and is again appointed for two years more. During his tenure thie public have felt secure in the knowledge that the funds of the district were in honest and capable hands. He has been a friend of education, and his children, John and Helena, have received the advantages of attendance at the Central school and a German institution at Nameoki. Po- litically a staunch Republican, Mr. Brockmann casts his influence with that party, but he is not bigoted and is always ready to recognize the rights and opinions of others. Anything that bears on the welfare of his community will receive his instant attention and his hearty co-operation and support, and in assisting these movements he brings to them the same progressive and enterprising methods that have made him so successful personally. He and Mrs. Brockmann are consistent members of the German Evangelical church at Name- oki, and have been well known as liberal sup- porters of religious and charitable movements, thus. adding to their popularity in the section where they have spent their lives.

ISOM JOHNSON. Madison county, Illinois, is the home of some of the best agriculturists in the state, men who have spent their lives in farming and have become experts in their calling ; hard, faithful workers who have ad- ded to the dignity and raised the standard of farming, and public-spirited citizens whose community's interests have always been their own. These men have accumulated hand- some properties which have been developed to the highest degree, and Nameoki township has its full share of these highly productive tracts, among them being found the excellent farm of Isom Johnson, of section 9, one of

1107

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

the most popular men in the township. Mr. Johnson was born in Macoupin county, Illi- nois, near the present site of Hettick, on June 5, 1849, and is a son of Isom and Margaret (Finley) Johnson, of good old Scotch-Irish ancestry.

Isom Johnson, the father of Isom of this sketch, was born in the state of Tennessee, from whence he migrated to Illinois at an early day, becoming a well-known stockman and traveling all over the west, buying horses and cattle, which he brought back to Illinois to dispose of. While making a trip to Mis- souri he was taken suddenly ill and there his death occurred. He was buried at High Point, Missouri. At that time he had two children, William and Mary, and shortly af- ter his death Isom was born. Later Mr. John- son's widow married Joseph Handlin, a pros- perous merchant of Fayette, Greene county, Illinois, and there were three children born to this union : Douglas, Sarah and Elisha.

When Isom Johnson was eight years of age his uncle, Benjamin Wood, a farmer of Name- oki township who had no children of his own, took the lad to his home east of Nameoki, and there reared him as his own son, sending him to the Central schools and training him to be- come an upright and honorable man and good agriculturist, and instilling in him good prac- tical knowledge that was to prove so valuable to him in the years to come. When he ar- rived at the age of thirty-six years Mr. John- son laid the foundations for a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Margaret Wil- kins, daughter of Thomas and Susan (Wil- kins) Wilkins, the former of whom was a liveryman at Belleville, who died when his daughter was but two years old. As she grew to young womanhood her mother gave her a careful training with the idea of fitting her to become a school teacher, and for a number of years she followed that profession, teaching at the Central and Collinsville schools, at which latter institution she was employed when she married Mr. Johnson. She was well and favorably known throughout this part of Mad- ison county as an educator, and the friends that she made at that time have continued their friendship through the years that have passed.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson began their wedded life on their uncle's farm, where Mr. Johnson had always resided, and as the years passed he gradually took charge of affairs, relieving his uncle of the cares and responsibilities, and caring for him in his declining years in a lov-

ing and faithful manner, thus in part paying the debt to the kind, affectionate man who had lavished his love on the poor, dependent orphan boy so many years before. Mrs. Wood's death occurred in 1897, while the un- cle survived until 1902, and these good peo- ple, who were known throughout the com- munity as kindly and charitable neighbors, were both laid to rest in the Odd Fellows Cem- etery at Nameoki. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have continued to live on this property, and here they now have a fine tract of two hun- dred and twenty-seven acres, on which stands one of Nameoki township's most comforta- ble homes. They have had one child, a son, who died in infancy. Mrs. Johnson is a faithful member of the Methodist church, in which she is known as a liberal supporter of religious and charitable movements. She is also an active worker in the Ladies' Coterie of Granite City, a charitable organization which has become widely known because of its good work. Politically Mr. Johnson is a Democrat.

He has always been an industrious and thorough worker. When a boy of nine years, in 1858, he rode horseback over a small levee which had been built by the neighbors, and so completely and thoroughly did he pack it by this primitive method that it has done good service ever since and is still in use at this time. He has displayed the same thorough- ness and earnestness of endeavor in the larger enterprises with which he has been connected in later years, and as a citizen who has led an upright and honest life he has the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens. Personally he is blessed with a cheery, jovial disposition, and he and his wife are both known for their whole-souled hospitality. Mr. Johnson is very fond of travel, and aside from the pleasure that it affords believes that it broadens the mind and acquaints one with methods that would otherwise be unknown. In 1908 he went to Idaho to visit some former Illinois boys, Leo Gieszelmann and William and Louis Rath, and while there enjoyed the fine scenery and healthful climate. The fishing and hunt- ing were especially attractive to Mr. Johnson, who has always been an out-of-doors man, and there he partook of bear, deer and elk meat for the first time. In 19II, accompanied by Mrs. Johnson, he took a pleasure trip to California, and during the three months spent on the journey visited Los Angeles and va- rious points of interest in New Mexico and Colorado.

1108

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

JULIUS GIESZELMANN. By a long and hon- orable business career, a thoughtful interest in others and public-spirited efforts in behalf of his community, Julius Gieszelmann las made himself one of the most popular citi- zens in Nameoki township, and now holds a position in the front rank of Madison county agriculturists. He now owns a finely-culti- vated tract in section 9, where he has taken active participation in the development of the community, and well merits the respect and esteem in which he is universally held. M1. Gieszelmann was born near Kinderhook (now Granite City), Madison county, Illinois, in 1858, and is a son of Henry C. and Katherine (Hagemann) Gieszelmann, natives of the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany.

Henry C. Gieszelmann received his educa- tion in the schools of the Fatherland, and in 1847 immigrated to the United States, land- ing at New Orleans, in which southern city he was first employed as a gardener. Working his passage on a Mississippi river boat to St. Louis, he arrived in that city with a cash capital of one silver dollar, which he carried for a number of years, and finally paid it out as part of his first payment on a farm in 1865. For some years Mr. Gieszelmann was employed in St. Louis, but eventually he came to American Bottoms, where in partner- ship with Herman Brandes he became the owner of a farm, on which was erected a good residence, this being later destroyed by fire. The next house built on the premises is now occupied by Albert Brandes. His first wife died in 1881, leaving five children, namely : Henry, Leo, Theodore, Joseph and Julius, and he was married a second time, having by this union three children: Fred, Emma and Anna. During the many years that he was engaged in agricultural pursuits this pio- neer of Madison county did much to assist in the development of his county, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1903, at Marine, he was rated among his community's leading citizens and left many friends to mourn his loss. He was buried in St. John's Cemetery at Nameoki.

As a youth Julius Gieszelmann received his preliminary educational training in the Kinder- hook schools, and later his parents removed to St. Louis in order to give their children the ad- vantages to be obtained by a higher education, and in that city Julius attended the public schools, the Capitol Commercial College and the Mound City College, thus being equipped for practical and commercial work. In 1873,

at the time the financial panic swept over the country, Mr. Geiszelmann was employed by Thornsen & Phirman, a St. Louis firm, which like so many others was compelled to close its doors, and the youth returned to his studies, remaining in school until business resumed, when he was given back his old position and continued there until 1881. In that year he came to his father's farm with his brother, the boys taking hold and working industriously to develop the ninety-five acres, where he has re- sided ever since. He has become one of the leading agriculturists of his community, and his success in handling his own affairs has led his fellow-citizens to elect him to public of- fice. He is a friend of education, and for a number of years served efficiently and satis- factorily as a member of the Nameoki town- ship school board. A Republican in his po- litical views, Mr. Geiszelmann is broad and liberal-minded in his views, reserving the right to vote for the man whom he deems best fitted to hold office, and believing that candi- dates for political positions should be chosen by the people from the men who will give their community the best service, irrespective of party ties. All movements which have for their object the advancement of the interests of Nameoki township or Madison county have his hearty support, and he has always been progressive in all things With his wife he attends the German Evangelical church at Nameoki.

In 1900 Mr. Gieszelmann was united in marriage with Miss Sophie Buehrer, daughter of Jacob and Christina ( Willaredt) Buehrer, farming people of this county, whose other children were: Christina and Rosa, deceased; and John, Louise, Minnie, Emma. Pauline, Lizzie, William and Emil, all of whom were educated in the Atkins school. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Geiszelmann, William, born August 30, 1902, a typical American boy, who is now attending the Central school.

Having worked hard all of their lives, and being possessed of a fair share of prosperity, Mr. and Mrs. Geiszelmann believe in enjoying life and both are very fond of travel. In 1908, in company with a friend and neighbor, Isom Johnson, they made a trip to the west, visiting northern Idaho. During this trip Mr. Gieszelmann's friends had considerable amuse- ment at his expense. When he left Madison county his health had for months demanded careful dieting. and he therefore started with a goodly supply of his favorite brand of

1109

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

shredded biscuit. His appetite increased in the keen air of the west, the supply of bis- cuits ran out, and one day after making an eight-mile tramp with Mr. Johnson to the nearest town for provisions, a stop was made at the home of a rancher for something to eat, as Mr. Gieszelmann had learned that man cannot live for long on shredded biscuit alone in the Rocky Mountain air. The rancher's wife had only a kettle of boiled cabbage and bear meat, and after eating nearly his weight in these delicacies Mr. Gieszelmann declared that if he could survive the unaccustomed diet he could eat everything, and since that time he has given no thought to dieting, thus hav- ing more than one reason for admiring the glorious Golden West.

HERMAN H. STRACKELJAHN. Probably no better example of what may be accomplished through thrift, perseverance, energy and good management can be found than the career of Herman H. Strackeljahn, of section 26, Na- meoki township, one of Madison county's lead- ing agriculturists, whose whole life has been spent in farming, and whose indomitable spirit has made him one of the wealthiest and most influential men of this section, although he started life with no advantages of any kind and from his earliest boyhood has been com- pelled to fight his own battles in the world. Mr. Strackeljahn is a native of Prussia, born in 1844, a son of John Strackeljahn.

John Strackeljahn came to the United States in 1847, with his wife and five chil- dren, Mary, Henry, Fred, Caspar and Her- man H., and landed at New Orleans. From that city he traveled up the Mississippi to St. Louis, but unfortunately reached that city at a time when a plague of cholera and small pox was ravaging the vicinity, and there lost his wife and his son Caspar. Thus left alone with his little ones, he came to Pleasant Ridge, Madison county, where he sought em- ployment among the farmers, placing his chil- dren in the homes of the residents of this section as best he might, and when Herman H. was ten years of age the father rented land and had the comfort of again establish- ing a home for his family. This was short- lived, however, for two years later the father passed away, and thus again the children were left to their own resources. Herman being an industrious boy. obtained employment, went to school and received his confirmation, later going to work in a brick yard in St. Louis, where his wages were $19.50 per

month. He remained there for four years, and when seventeen years of age, fired with patriotism for his adopted land, and with characteristic youthful zeal, enlisted in St. Louis in Company G, Fourth Missouri Cav- alry, under Captain Malbert, a number of his youthful companions accompanying him. Un- der General Sigel this company was sent to the front, via Jefferson City and Springfield, and thence to Rolla, and back to Springfield. He participated in a number of hard-fought engagements, and at the battle of Pea Ridge received a severe wound in the leg, being sent back to Richmond and thence to a hospital in St. Louis. On his recovery he rejoined his company at Richmond, and served until re- ceiving his honorable discharge in 1864, after a brave and faithful service of three years and two months.

On his return home Mr. Strackeljahn se- cured employment among the farmers of American Bottoms, and in 1871 laid the foundation for a home of his own by his marriage with Miss Anna Winter, an estima- ble young lady born and reared in Madison county, and daughter of Frederick Winter, of Germany. Mrs. Strackeljahn had a sister, Amelia, and two brothers, William and Henry. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Strackel- jahn began their wedded life on rented land in Nameoki township, Mrs. Strackeljahn prov- ing herself an industrious helpmeet and the possessor of the qualities of a good home- maker. Eventually they secured a forty-acre tract near Horse Shoe Lake, to the south- east, which was formerly owned by Mr. Win- ter, ten acres of which had been improved, and on which there was located a little log cabin. The luxuries of life were few at that time, and the hardships and privations many, but the young couple struggled bravely and industriously to make a home, and their hard work was eventually rewarded by the accumulation of a handsome property. As the years went by new buildings were erected, and the little log cabin gave way to a fine modern residence, while the primitive imple- ments of pioneer days were supplanted by the latest improved farming machinery. Condi- tions on this farm are now in the best possi- ble shape and it is probably one of the most productive in Madison county.

Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Strackeljahn, namely: Mary, William and Carrie, who are deceased ; Fred, Herman, Minnie (deceased), Henry, Lizzie, Augusta,

1110

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

Adele, Margaret, Alma and Annetta. The parents took pains to educate their children, sending them to the Sand Prairie, Collins- ville and Nameoki public schools, and to the German schools for confirmation, and they have lived to see them grow up to be honora- ble and honored men and women, highly re- spected in their several communities, and ably filling those positions in life to which they have been called. Mary married Albert Kuenemann, a farmer of Nameoki township, and had four children-Adele and Evaline, deceased, and Alvin and Elmer. Mrs. Kuene- mann died in 1898. Lizzie married John Rel- leke, a farmer, and living on the old Strackel- jahn place, where he is engaged in farming, and has three children-Raymond, Evaline and Ivan. Fred married Carrie Englemann, resides at Granite City, where he is the pro- prietor of a grocery store, and has no issue. Minnie married George Hess, and had two children-Elvira and Georgia. Henry mar- ried Belle Martin and is employed in a bak- ing establishment at East St. Louis. Augusta married Merle Allen, who is employed at East St. Louis, resides in Nameoki township, and has one child, Alyne. Adele married Dr. H. J. Wedig of Granite City. Herman mar- ried Lyla Recklein and resides in East St. Louis. Margaret remains at home ; Alma and Annetta reside at Granite City with their brother, Fred, and Annetta is a student in the Emerson school of that city.

In political matters Mr. Strackeljahn is a Republican, and though never an office seeker he has always had the interests of his party at heart and in his earlier years was an active worker in its ranks. He has been a factor in the development of his part of Madison county, and as a citizen whose success has been won by his own efforts, whose whole career in business dealing has been without stain or blemish, and whose kindly hand has ever been stretched forth to aid the needy or unfortunate, he well merits the esteem and respect in which he is held by all who know him. The Strackeljahn home, on so many oc- casions the scene of merriment and social gatherings, was the scene of a different order of events in 1901, when it was visited by the Angel of Death, and the loving wife and mother was called to her final rest. A faith- ful member throughout her life of the Ger- man Evangelical church, she was buried in St. John's German Cemetery, mourned by a

wide circle of friends and loving acquain- tances.

KATARINA R. HEINEMANN. Among the families that have contributed industry, intel- ligence and public and private honor to the citizenhip of Madison county during the past half century, one that deserves mention in this Centennial History is that represented by Mrs. Katarina Rosenstengel Heinemann, of Granite City.

She was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1840, a daughter of Joseph and Louisa Rosen- stengel, the other members of the family be- ing Daniel, Henry, Marie, Elizabeth and Adam. She was reared and educated in her native land up to the age of seventeen, when she left home to join her sister Marie in America. The trip across the ocean was made in a sailing vessel to New Orleans, and from there she came on a Mississippi steam- boat to St. Louis, where her sister, Mrs. Marie Drouesse, lived. She continued to reside with her sister until she was nineteen, at which time she was united in marriage with Theodore Laugraber, who at that time was a clerk in the Overstoltz store of St. Louis. Later, on the outbreak of the war, he joined the army, made a fine record as a soldier, and rose to the rank of captain in the regular army of the United States. During the In- cian hostilities in Wyoming he was ordered to Cheyenne, where he was killed in one of the engagements. His wife had accompanied him during his career as a soldier and wit- nessed many of the scenes of frontier and military life of the period. All the four children born to them died in infancy.

After the death of her husband she returned to friends in St. Louis, where she married Mr. Balthasar Heinemann, a farmer of Na- meoki township in Madison county. Their place was near Horse Shoe Lake. where the Heinemann home was known for its hospital- ity and the scene of many merry gatherings of young and old folks. The five children born to them were Charles, Edward, Leo, Ida and Georgia. Leo after attaining the age of twenty-six and at the entrance of promising manhood was taken by death in 1905. All the children were carefully educated in the local schools. Charles and Leo studied for three years in the Jones Business College of St. Louis, while Ida was a student at De Soto. Missouri. Charles married Miss Lizzie Moel- lenbrook, and they have two children, Helen

1111

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

and Leo. He is one of the leading citizens of Nameoki township, where he served as town clerk for four years, town supervisor for six years, and township collector for five years. A Democrat in a strong Republican community, he has nevertheless been for fii- teen years in public service, which is the best proof of his personal popularity and efficiency as a man of affairs. Ida married William Engelmann, a farmer of Nameoki township, who died five years after their marriage. Mrs. Engelmann now resides with her mother, to whom she gives kindly ministrations in her years of age.

The late Balthasar Heinemann passed away on the 25th of August, 1894. He had spent most of his life in this county and was a substantial citizen, a kind neighbor and be- loved in the home circle. He was laid to rest in St. John's Cemetery of Nameoki. Mrs. Heinemann and her children are members of the German Evangelical church of Nameoki, the Rev. Plassman being the pastor. Through many eventful scenes the course of her life has been led, and age has come to her in the midst of a happy and worthy family, sur- rounded by the material and social comforts which are the best fruits of life. She has been industrious herself and has instilled the same principles in her children, who are hon- orable, substantial members of the community.

J. H. WINTER. Some of the leading farmers of Madison county are carrying on operations on land that has been brought to a state of cultivation from the wild swamp, prairie and timber by members of their own family, and take a justifiable pride in the fact. These men form the best class of agri- culturists, for they have been brought up on the land they now occupy, and are thoroughly conversant with soil and climatic conditions, having been taught from their earliest child- hood the needs and necessities of their land. Prominent among this class in Nameoki town- ship may be mentioned J. H. Winter, of sec- tion 24, who was born in Nameoki township in 1860, and is a son of Frederick and Mar- garet (Ellersiek) Winter, natives of Prussia, Germany.

Mr. Winter's parents immigrated to the United States at an early day, Frederick Winter coming to this country in 1849 and locating in Nameoki township as early as 1857. He married Margaret Ellersiek, and they had a family of children as follows : William, Anna, Amelia, Matilda and J. H., all of whom received good common school

educations in the Sand Prairie schools. When J. H. Winter was eight years of age his mother died, and his father later married Mrs. Mary Bunselmeyer, and they continued to live on the old homestead, a tract of eighty acres located near Horse Shoe Lake, for a number of years, but eventually removed to Collinsville, where both died.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II, Part 95

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