USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 96
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J. H. Winter remained at home until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he began working among the farmers of the community, and being bright and industrious found little trouble in securing employment. At the age of twenty-six years, in 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Harmeyer, who was born in Nameoki township, daughter of Henry and Evangeline (Portman) Harmeyer, farming people of that township, and sister of Henry and Emma Harmeyer. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Winter settled on the old Winter homestead, where they have since continued to live. Mr. Win- ter is an industrious, hard-working agricul- turist, and throughout his career has labored hard to make his property one of the finest in the township. That he has succeeded in his endeavor is testified to by the abundant crops raised on this land, and by the general pros- perous appearance of the farm. He has brought scientific methods into play in devel- oping his property, thoroughly understands crop rotation and the use of modern ma- chinery, and is known as a good, practical agriculturist. A fine two-story residence, sur- rounded by shade and fruit trees and wide, well-kept lawns, graces this land, while the barns and out-buildings are of substantial character and testify to the thrift and industry of their owner. A friend of progress in mat- ters agricultural, Mr. Winter has also carried this policy into effect in the other walks of life, and his fellow-citizens have demonstrated their faith and confidence in him by electing him to offices of trust and honor. A Republi- can in political matters, he has served twenty- one years as school director of Nameoki town- ship and fifteen years as highway commis- sioner, and during this time has proved his worth and ability as a public official on many occasions, always working for the best in- terests of his community. He and his wife are members of the German Evangelical church, the Rev. Plassmann, pastor, a struc- ture which is a credit to the community and to its German membership.
Five children have been borr to Mr. and . Mrs. Winter: Henrietta, Harry, William,
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Dorothea and Lawrence. The three eldest attended the Confirmation school at Nameoki ; William is a student of the Mckinley school, Granite City; Harry took a business course at Jones' Commercial College, St. Louis ; Dorothea received her diploma from the eighth grade of the Sand Prairie schools and then graduated with honors from the school at Edwardsville; and Lawrence is now at- tending the Sand Prairie schools.
An honest and upright citizen, an excellent farmer, an efficient and responsible public official and a friend who is ever ready to assist those who have been less fortunate than he, Mr. Winter is an excellent type of Ameri- can citizenship, and is honored and esteemed by his fellow-townsmen and very popular with a wide circle of warm, personal friends.
JOHN W. SEGAR. Among the prominent farmers of Madison county whose activities have contributed materially towards its up- building is John W. Segar, a man well and favorably known in this section. Mr. Segar was born on Chouteau Island, Madison county, Illinois, on September 20, 1844, the son of Balser and Mary (Emmert) Segar, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Illinois. His paternal grandparents were Ja- cob and Dorotha Segar, both natives of the Fatherland. Jacob Segar was the founder of the family in America, and he came in time to show his loyalty by serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He became a land owner on Chouteau Island and at his death his sons, Balser and John, fell heir to his land. Both became very prosperous and suc- cessful farmers, and at his death the former left to his children six hundred acres of land on Chouteau Island. Balser Segar's family consisted of James, William, John, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth and Julia. They secured their education in the district schools of Chouteau Island. Balser Segar died in 1851, at the time of the cholera plague. In those days the coun- try suffered greatly from floods of the Mis- sissippi river and the more advantageously situated families provided places of refuge for the others less fortunate. At one time Balser Segar moved his family to Alton for safety, but returned to look after a large crib of corn on his farm, which he feared would be swept away, and while there he with several families took refuge in
the Ebenezer church located on the ridge. There he contracted cholera, dying suddenly before his family could come to him. The widow returned to the home after the flood
had subsided and her sons continued the oper- ation of the farm.
On December 27, 1865, John W. Segar laid the foundation of his own domestic happiness by marrying Miss Josephine Atkins, an es- timable young lady of Venice township, who was born in Nameoki township January 13, 1846, the daughter of Charles and Eleanor (Waddell) Atkins, natives of Massachusetts, who migrated first to Kentucky and thence to Illinois in 1807. Eleanor Waddell was de- scended from a fine old French soldier, Alex- ander Waddell, one of the soldiers of Lafay- ette, who bravely aided the struggling little colonies to freedom. He also fought in the War of 1812. He came to this country in 1786 and he received a tract of land in Venice township, every French soldier being entitled to such at that time. He improved his land in a successful manner and became a pros- perous land owner. His death occurred in 1818. His widow, Mary, was married the second time, to Moses Seeds, theirs being the second marriage performed in Madison county. When her granddaughter (the wife of John Segar) was born, she named her Josephine after Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife. John Atkins, who was the grandfather of Josephine, located in Venice township prior to 1812. He was a native of Massa- chusetts and when but sixteen years of age enlisted as a patriot in the Revolutionary war, in which he served with merit until peace was declared. Subsequently he went to Kentucky, where he married Nancy Stewart, of that state. He and his two sons were soldiers in the War of 1812 and were present at the treaty of Portage des Sioux, a short distance above Alton on the Mississippi river. Wil- liam lived to be seventy-seven years of age. John Atkins was originally from Kentucky. He and his sons were all abled-bodied men, models among pioneers. In 1817 he kept a tavern at or near Alton. With the exception of Josephine Segar, and her cousin, Sarah Drummonds, and a cousin in California, Ta- bitha Atkins Lowell, all the other descendants of this interesting and brave family are de- ceased. In 1853 the death of Charles Atkins occurred, and that of his wife in 1873. They were good and honorable citizens of whom Madison county may be proud to lay claim. The family consisted of Mary Ann, Allen, Alexander, Sarah, Emily, Ruth, Virginia, Mi- randa, Josephine and Maria.
After the marriage of John Segar and his wife they began life on Chouteau Island, on
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J. W. SEGAR AND JOSEPHINE SEGAR
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
the old Segar homestead. Full of hope and youthful energy, they were destined for suc- cess, much of this being due to Mrs. Segar, who proved a loyal, industrious helpmeet, possessing all the qualities of the true home- maker. Very abundantly was their industry rewarded, for they became the owners of seven hundred acres of the finest and most fertile land the county affords. In course of time there came into their home as its chiefest blessing thirteen children, of whom six boys died in infancy. The others are Mary Eleanor, Julia Maria, Jennie, Mabel, Lucy, Ferdinand and John. Mr. and Mrs. Segar made it their object to give their children a good education, sending them to the district school of Chouteau Island, subsequent to which they became students in the Alton high school. John finished his education in the Bryan & Stratton Business College, of St. Louis, from which he graduated with the hon- ors of student achievement. In the youthful minds of the boys and girls entrusted to their charge the subject and his wife endeavored to instill the principles of honor and honesty, fit- ting their minds for true citizenship. Mary E. married William Majors and resides in St. Louis and they are the parents of (a daughter, Goldie. Another child died in in- fancy. Julia married George Schillinger, a farmer living near Alton, and is the mother of six children, namely: George, Ferdinand, Julia, Allen, Archie and Joseph. A little son Charlie is deceased. Jennie married George Johnson, a farmer residing near Alton, and their children are George Jr., Dora, John,
Laurence. She also had three children by a former marriage --- Louie, Elmer Rob- erts, and May, deceased. Mabel married William Segar, a resident of Mitchell, who had lived neighboring to her parents. Lucy married Frank Bailey, a resident of Alton, employed as an electrician in the power house at Hartford, and their two sons are Earl and Elmer. John A. took as his wife Margaret Rapp, of Mitchell, and they reside on the old Segar estate, whose affairs he superintends with his brother Ferdinand. They share their home with two daughters, Margaret and Virginia, and a son died in in- fancy. Ferdinand married Minnie Stein, and they reside on her father's estate on Chouteau Island, their four children being Clarence, Ferdinand, Irvin and John. The sons, John and Ferdinand, take all charge of their father's estate, thus relieving him of respon- sibility. They effectually lighten his burdens
and make easy and pleasant the evening of life.
Mrs. Segar is a member of the Baptist church, with which her family and the Segar family have always been identified. For thirty years Mr. Segar has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 87, Nameoki Lodge, and for a number of years he has been treasurer of the Levee dis- trict, Chouteau Island. He has served as such in an efficient and highly satisfactory manner and, although he did not desire the office, his fellow citizens continued to retain him in the same without bond. He is the only man in the state of Illinois who has handled public moneys in public office with- out being required to furnish bond-could higher tribute to his honor possibly be given? Naturally his children are very proud of this record.
In his political affiliation Mr. Segar has been first and last a Democrat and has ren- dered stalwart support to the party. He is liberal rather than partisan, however, and be- lieves in supporting the best man, irrespective of politics. His word is good as gold in the hands and he has ever stood for honesty and justice. He is a strong temperance man. The visitor is ever welcome at the pleasant home in Mitchell, where in 1909 he retired and where in leisure he enjoys the good things of the earth and the good-will of his fellow men. Indeed, well worthy of compilation in this history of Madison county is the life of this good man.
Mr. Segar has in his possession a ten dollar bill issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, for which he has refused one hundred dollars. Mrs. Segar owns an old fashioned copper penny of 1827.
CHRISTIAN BISCHOFF. Madison county is proud of its self-made men, and those who have been forced to fight their own battles in the world, to educate themselves and force an entrance through the gate of success, prize more highly that which they have won than those to whom prosperity has come by in- heritance. Christian Bischoff is an admirable example of this class of citizens, for he came to this country as a poor German lad, with- out a knowledge of the language of the strange land and with little advantages of any kind. Today he is the owner of a well-cul- tivated tract of land in section 25, Nameoki township, and holds a prominent position among the agriculturists of this part of the county. He was born on the 24th of Au-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
gust, 1871, in the Province of Hanover, Ger- many, and is a son of Fritz and Elizabeth (Blemeier) Bischoff, farming people of the Fatherland.
Christian Bischoff was the youngest of his parents' children, the others being August, Fred, Henry and Louise, and the first named had come to the United States some years be- fore Christian had completed his education. August had become comfortably situated in the new country and wrote glowing letters of praise in regard to the opportunities offered here to earn money, and Christian, at the age of eighteen years, decided to try his fortune in America, subsequently taking passage for New York, where he landed March 17, 1890. Coming on to Madison county, he at once be- gan work for his brother, with whom he re- mained two years, and later was employed by various farmers in this part of the county. In 1899 he decided to set up a home for him- self, in that year marrying Miss Elizabeth Schillinger, an estimable young woman of Choteau township, who was born in 1878, daughter of George and Christina Schillinger, natives of the old country. Mrs. Schillinger, by a former marriage with a Mr. Cook, had two children: John and Anna, while by her marriage with Mr. Schillinger there were four children: Minnie, Gottlieb, Christina and Elizabeth. The children were educated in the Mitchell schools, the Central school and the Confirmation school at Nameoki. Mr. Schillinger met his death while at the ferry going to St. Louis with a load of pears in 1878, Elizabeth being born three months thereafter. His widow struggled bravely to keep her little family together, and succeeded in securing them good educational advan- tages and in rearing them to worthy man and womanhood, but the years of hard, unre- lenting labor told on her health, and she died when Elizabeth was nine years old, being laid to rest in St. John's Cemetery at Nameoki. After her death her children went to find homes among the friends of the family, and Elizabeth went to live with Henry Clover's family in Nameoki, remaining there until she was eighteen years of age, when, with char- acteristic energy and pluck, she started to pro- vide for herself, continuing to do this until her marriage to Mr. Bischoff. They began their wedded life on a rented farm at Horse Shoe Lake, owned by a Mr. Dedering, but after four years there removed to a farm of their own near by, a tract of eighty acres
whose well-tilled fields denote the presence of excellent management. Mr. Bischoff is pro- gressive in all things, and believes in using the most up-to-date machinery and methods in carrying on his operations. He has spent $500 in tiling his land, has it well drained and neatly fenced, and the abundant crops raised on this property show that he thoroughly un- derstands his business.
Mr. and Mrs. Bischoff have had five chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy, while the survivors are Wilbert, Walter and Adela. In political matters Mr. Bischoff is a Republican, and his fellow citizens have showed their con- fidence in his ability by electing him to the office of school director. He and his wife are consistent members of the German Evangel- ical church, of which they are liberal sup- porters, and they are known as genial, whole- souled, hospitable people, ready to assist all in need, and with hosts of friends in the com- munity which they have helped to develop.
REV. GUSTAVE PLASSMANN. The discoverer and the man of science, as well as the poli- tician, have been important factors in mould- ing the history of our nation, but no greater and more potent influence is there than that of the minister of the gospel, whose work re- sults in spiritual uplift to a community. A gifted and conscientious representative of his profession is Rev. Gustave Plassmann, pastor of the German Evangelical church of Nameoki township, whose ministrations in the many- sided life of the community have added in no small degree to the intellectual and religious culture of this portion of Madison county. and without mention of whom the history of Madison county is incomplete.
Gustave Plassmann was born July 4, 1861, in Halle, Westphalen, Germany, and is a son of Professor William and Minnie (Lange) Plassmann. The father was engaged as an instructor in German schools for fifty years and came from a long line of educators and teachers. Their family consisted of Theo- dore, Julius, William, Herman, Clara, Anna, Lena, who died at the age of two, and Gus- tave, the subject of this review. The Plass- mann children received their education in the Fatherland under the excellent tuition of their father, who did not forget to instill into their youthful minds principles calculated to fit them for true usefulness to the world. When about eleven Gustave became a student in the high school at Schildesche, Germany, where he studied three years, there receiving his
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confirmation. From that institution he was graduated with honors before the age of fif- teen. Desiring to enter a university, he first studied three years in a preparatory school at Bilefeld and then matriculated at the Uni- versity of Petershagen. He made a specialty of pedagogy, it being then his ambition to be- come a teacher. He finished at the Univer- sity of Petershagen after three years and then began upon his career as a school teacher. He also pursued post-graduate studies in prepara- tion for the state board examinations and after passing these received an appointment from the government as rector in the county of Minden, which position he held for ten years. The work was hard and he was zealous and in a few years his health broke down un- der the strain. Upon the advice of his doc- tors to take a sea voyage, he came to America in 1893, and located at Alton, Madison county, Illinois.
Shortly after his arrival here Rev. Mr. Plassmann bought a furniture store, but feel- ing that this was not his calling he sold out in a year. In 1895, having pursued his theo- logical studies, he united with the German Synod and was given a charge at Troy, Illi- nois. In the following spring he was ordained at the Salem German Evangelical church at Alhambra. He remained in Troy five years and in 1900 was appointed pastor of St. John's German church at Nameoki, where he has ever since continued. He is doing a splen- did work and the membership has greatly in- creased. Six months out of the year he con- ducts a German school. In 1903 he was elected secretary of the Southern Illinois dis- trict of the German Evangelical Synod and in 1906 was elected president of the same, an office he held four years. At the present writ- ing he is president of the Home Missionary board of the Southern Illinois district.
On October 6, 1885, Rev. Mr. Plassmann laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage at Lerbeck, Germany; to Lena Bauer, born in Porta, Westpalica, Germany, in 1864, a daughter of Fred and Henrietta (Kuetemeyer) Bauer. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children, equally divided as to sons and daughters, namely : Elsbeth, Walter, Paul and Helen, all born in Germany, Paul dying in infancy; and Ewald and an infant deceased, born in this country. These children have had the advantage of ex- cellent educational training, their study at Troy and at Walther Lutheran College at St. Louis being supplemented by study at home Vol. II-32
with their father. Elsbeth graduated after a scientific course of four years at St. Louis and Walter, following his graduation from the Granite City high school, studied medicine, attending for three years Washington Uni- versity at St. Louis and for two years the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chi- cago. He graduated in June, 1911, and at present is located at Richmond, Indiana. Helen became a student at Jones Business Col- lege of Kansas City and eventually entered the Walther College of St. Louis, from which she was graduated with honors. Elsbeth, in October, 1905, was united in marriage with Edward Fresen, cashier of the Citizens' State Bank of Edwardsville, and they are the par- ents of one son, Edward, a promising little lad. On June 21, 1911, Helen married Louis F. Fresen, a brother of Edward Fresen, em- ployed as bookkeeper for the Granite City Brewery. Ewald, aged thirteen, is at pres- ent finishing the eighth grade studies in the McKinley school.
Thus Rev. and Mrs. Plassman have the sat- isfaction of seeing their children following in, the footsteps of their ancestors in their eager pursuit of knowledge and taking their places in the most useful callings of life. Madison county is indeed proud to include them in its most useful citizenship. In his political convictions the subject is a stalwart Republican and renders unwavering support to his party. The parsonage at Nameoki is a cheery, hospitable and generally delightful spot and has hosts of visitors. It is the scene of useful and helpful lives and the subject and his wife may look back with pardonable pride over the well-spent years. In 1910 they celebrated their silver wedding at their pleas- ant home at Nameoki and were surprised by five hundred friends. Among the many gifts was a silver shoe, shaped like the wooden shoes, and reminiscent of the Fatherland; a loving cup of solid silver; a wreath of beau- tifully wrought silver flowers from Germany ; and twenty-five silver dollars to remind them of their twenty-five years of wedded life. It was a delightful occasion and eloquent of the regard in which the subject and his wife are held.
LOUIS H. KAHLE. It is the happy lot of Mr. Kahle to carry on a name which his fa- ther made honored in Madison county before him and to own and operate the place which was carved out of the wilderness by his par- ents. Christian Kahle was born in Germany and immigrated to America in 1857. He went
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first to St. Louis county, Missouri, and there in 1860 he was married to Henrietta Reife, also a native of Germany. Shortly after- wards they came to Madison county, pur- chased a farm in Venice township and be- came one of the successful pioneer families of the county. By wise management and hard work they acquired a fine estate of five hundred acres of finely improved land. They were the parents of four children, of whom Louis is the third. The others are Hermina, August and Anna, deceased. All received the benefit of such educational advantages as the country afforded at the time. Christian Kahle lived until 1909, and at his death the county lost one of its most useful and beloved citi- zens. His wife still resides in Granite City with her daughter, Mrs. Hermina Theis.
Louis Kahle was born in 1867, in Venice township. Until 1890 he resided in his fath- er's home and helped conduct the home farm. In that year Louis was married to Miss Car- rie Bauer, of Venice township, the daughter of Martin and Anna Giese Bauer, both natives of Germany. At the age of two Mrs. Kahle and her brother John were left motherless. The father, Martin Bauer, later married Paul- ina Neuman, and by his union with her had six children: Clara, Frank, William, Charles, Edward and Martin. The Bauer children went to school in St. Louis and later in Ven- ice township.
It was on the old home place that Mr. and Mrs. Kahle began their wedded life, and there they have continued to reside ever since. Suc- cess and prosperity have attended them and they have worthily carried on the work begun by their forebears. A family of four children was born to them, one son and three daugh- ters. The boy died in infancy but the girls, Clara, Henrietta and Tillie have all lived to grow up and Clara has married Albert, the son of Charles and Anna Bauer, and has made her parents grandparents of a son, Wilbert Bauer. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Kahle were all educated in the Gaberet district school and also in the parochial school of Nameoki. They were all confirmed in St. John's Prot- estant church of Nameoki, of which their par- ents are members, and in which they are both earnest workers. The parents of Mr. Kahle were charter members of this church and ac- tive workers in it. Mrs. Henrietta Kahle is a member of this church and Christian Kahle, her lamented husband, helped to build it and was president of its board of trustees for sev- eral years, and was one of its most generous
contributors. His son, Louis Kahle, has also been a trustee of the church for several years.
In politics Mr. Kahle is a Republican, but he is in no sense influenced by mere party considerations in supporting any candidate for office, believing that the prime requisite in a public servant is his character and not his party. Mr. Kahle has been called upon to serve the community in the capacity of school director for fourteen years. He is secretary of that body and also of the American So- ciety of Equity and of the Edwardsville Town- ship Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany. He is recognized as one of the gen- uinely public spirited men of the county and one who can always be counted upon to do his part in all undertakings for the common good.
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