USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume II > Part 98
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He was a great student of architecture, a deep and appreciative reader in literary fields, and a lover of music. He possessed an excel- lent voice and directed the choir of the First Presbyterian church for many years, incident- ally planning and aiding in building two churches for that denomination in Edwards- ville. He affiliated with only one organiza-
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tion, the Grand Army of the Republic. He William W. and Anna ( Willoughby ) Barns- possessed a kindly nature, which he sometimes back. Her forebears were, a century ago, num- bered among the earliest pioneers in Southern Illinois. Elizabeth B. Spilman, after graduat- ing from the Edwardsville high school, com- pleted her studies at Chicago University, the University of Illinois at Urbana and the Illi- nois Normal. Their home has been blessed with two sons-Charles Harvey Spilman, born July 4, 1910, and Robert Barnsback Spil- man, born February 23, 1912. delighted to mask under a gruff exterior, which, however, did not deceive his friends. He was unfailingly courteous and hospitable, and one of his prime characteristics was his love for children. He was loyalty itself to his friends and aided many where his aid re- mained unsuspected. He was open hearted, generous and charitable, and these qualities. coupled with his sterling honesty, made him esteemed by all. In his entire life he never did anyone an intentional injury, and his pass- ing was sincerely mourned.
Mr. Spilman was married on August I, 1876, at Bunker Hill, Illinois, to Miss Ellen Silver, only daughter of the Reverend George Silver, of that city. Rev. Silver was a native of Montreal, province of Quebec, Canada, a son of John Silver and Margaret McMurray, both of Scotland. The former was a descend- ant of Captain D'Argent, a French nobleman, who as a Hugenot, was driven out of France by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1688, and who settled at Lawrencekirk, Scot- land. There he fell in love with a Scotch lassie, who, while she reciprocated his affec- tion, would not wed him while he bore the French name, whereupon he translated it to its English meaning, Silver, and thus founded the family of that name. Mrs. Spilman's mother was Nancy Skelley, a native of Beams- ville, Ontario. She was a daughter of Rob- ert Skelley and Margaret Weir, who went to Beamsville, Ontario, from New Jersey at the conclusion of the Revolutionary war, and there engaged in farming.
To the union of C. H. Spilman and Ellen Silver there were born three sons-Charles Hadley Spilman, born June 9, 1877; James Franklin Spilman, born November 22, 1880, and died April 20, 1881 ; and George Silver Spilman, born March 18, 1883, and died March 30, 1883. Mrs. Spilman survives her husband and still resides on the home place in Ed- wardsville.
The only surviving son, Charles Hadley Spilman, grew to manhood in Edwardsville and after graduating from the high school learned the printer's trade in the office of the Edwardsville Intelligencer, then became re- porter and city editor, and has ever since con- tinued with the publication in an editorial ca- pacity, a period of almost a score of years. He was married on August 21, 1909, to Eliza- beth Barnsback, of Edwardsville, daughter of
The affiliation of Charles Hadley Spilman with the Masonic order and his progress in its various grades were a source of pleasure to his parents. Made a Master Mason on July 26, 1902, he was appointed junior stew- ard the same night, and in eighteen months was master of the lodge. At the age of thirty- two he has held all the offices and conferred the degrees in all bodies of the York and Scottish Rite at that time established in this part of Illinois. He is past master of Ed- wardsville Lodge No. 99, A. F. and A. M .; past high priest of Edwardsville Chapter, No. 146, R. A. M. ; past thrice illustrious master of Alton Council, No. 3, R. & S. M., at Alton, Illinois ; past commander of Belvidere Com- mandery, No. 2, K. T., of Alton, Illinois ; past thrice potent master of St. Clair Lodge of Per- fection, A. A. S. R., at East St. Louis, Illi- nois, and after the establishment of Council, Chapter and Consistory of the Scottish Rite, and a Temple of the Shrine at East St. Louis, was equally active in these, besides being presi- dent of the Masonic Temple Association. On September 21, 1911, at the meeting of the Supreme Council in Saratoga, New York, he was elected to receive the thirty-third and last degree in Masonry, which degree was con- ferred at Boston, Massachusetts, on October I, 1912, incident to the world's convention of thirty-thirds. His only other affiliation is with the Sons of Veterans, being past com- mander of the local camp and at one time junior vice commander of Illinois. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and be- longs to the various civic and commercial or- ganizations of the city of Edwardsville.
J. F. DICKMAN. The well-known and popu- lar agent of the Clover Leaf Railway at Peters was forty-one years old on March 12, 191I. His father was George Dickman, who came over from Germany at the age of twenty-one in a sailing packet. The voyage lasted six months, and so it was with. more than com- mon joy that her passengers disembarked at
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New Orleans. George Dickman was a cabi- net maker by trade, and came to St. Louis, where he worked at that and at carpentering. He was married to Mary Anne Harmann, and five children were born to them. Three are now living: Mrs. Joseph Schlueter, John and William.
George Dickman died when the subject of this sketch was only two years old. The mother then returned to her parents' home and the three children were brought up by Mr. and Mrs. William Harmann, their grand- parents, residents of Edwardsville township. At ten years of age John was sent to the pa- rochial school in Edwardsville, and was a stud- ent there until his fourteenth year. Until he was seventeen he worked for his grandfather on the farm, and then set out to make his own way in life in the manner of his own choice. His grandfather had given him the melon crop and with the money he had saved from this he began to learn telegraphy and the work of a railroad agent.
Mitchell, Illinois, was the place where Mr. Dickman took his training in railroading, and he spent nine months there. His first inde- pendent work was at Comstock, and from there he went to what is now Granite City. Here he did night work for the Big Four for a time. A year followed during which Mr. Dickman worked on a farm instead of at rail- road work, and at the end of which he at- tended a commercial school in St. Louis for three months. He then followed the pursuit of farming until 1897.
On October 1, 1896, Mr. Wickman was married to Miss Emily Urban, daughter of Mary Urban of Laplace, Macon county, Illi- nois. Emily Dickman lived only until April, 1897, and it was in October of the same year that John Dickman resumed the business of railroad work.
Mr. Dickman became agent for the Clover Leaf and operator at Peters and Glen Carbon, continuing to have charge of the two stations until 1904, when the two were separated and he was put in charge of the work at Peters.
On May 28, 1809, was solemnized the mar- riage of John Dickman and Anna Mateka, daughter of William and Barbara Mateka, living near Glen Carbon. This union has been blessed with six children: John O., Stella M., Hilbert W., Leonard, Margeurite and Leona.
Since 1897 Mr. Dickman has been agent at Peters for the Clover Leaf, and he has iden- tified himself with the life of the vicinity in
all its best aspects. He and his family are de- vout communicants of the Catholic church of Edwardsville. In the same place he is af- filiated with the Knights of St. Boniface and at Mitchell he is a member of the Catholic Knights of Illinos. The Modern Woodmen's lodge of Glen Carbon also numbers him among its prominent members.
In the realm of educational matters Mrs. Dickman has been long recognized as one who was sincerely and practically devoted to the cause of improving the schools of the county. He has been a school director for a score of years and fills the same place on the board of the Collinsville township high school. In politics, too, he is a potent factor in the af- fairs of the Democratic organization of the county, being a member of the central com- mittee at Peters. Like most men who fol- low railroading as a profession, he is always in the front ranks of the progressive think- ers of the time, and a man of affairs in the best sense of the term. He owns several ele- vators at Peters, thus facilitating the advan- tageous disposal of the abundant crops of the region. It would be quite impossible even in a much more extended sketch, to adequately convey a conception of the esteem and regard with which he is so deservedly looked upon by all who know him.
THEODORE BECK. Madison county may boast of her big-hearted jolly men, for the kindly prosperous life of the county has bred many genial sons. Of these none has a more hearty, contagious laugh, a more whole-souled willingness to do another a favor, a more jolly presence than Theodore Beck. But it is not alone as one of the most even-tempered neigh- bors and wholesome and loyal friends that Mr. Beck is known. He has also made the name of Beck stand for progress and indus- try, for he is one of the most prominent farm- ers and stock-growers in the county. He was born near Marine, in 1853, a son of Anton and Theresa (Schneiper) Beck. His parents were -native born citizens of the Republic of the Alps, who immigrated from Switzerland and came to the United States in 1843; with their one child they settled near Highland. In Europe the father had been a goldsmith, but after coming to Highland he found that there was more field for a tinner, and he fol- lowed this trade instead, and buying forty acres of prairie land on which there was a little cabin, he set out to farm. With charac- teristic Swiss industry and unconcern for ob-
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stacles, he set to work to improve his prop- erty and built a house. He finally sold and moved to Leef township, and, doubling his former holdings, purchased eighty acres of land in that vicinity. To the union of Anton and Theresa Beck were born the following chil- dren: Fred, Robert, Sophia, Theresa, Min- nie and Theodore, the latter the subject of this brief personal review. The Beck children received their early educations at the Marine and Saline schools, and have now for the most part settled in homes of their own in Illinois. Their father and mother were members of the German Lutheran church, and, living all the rest of their lives in Saline township, passed away mourned by a large circle of friends that had learned to love them well and respect their sterling qualities.
In 1880 was solemnized the marriage of Theodore Beck to Miss Christina Reinemer, who was born in Bond county in 1859. She was the daughter of Peter and Wilhelmina (Schrump) Reinemer, natives of Germany, who had immigrated to this country. Besides Christina they were the parents of Henry, Sophia, George and Lizzie Reinemer. The Reinemer children attended the Harned school, and were all subsequently married and settled in the neighboring country. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Beck commenced their wedded life on a rent-farm near Saline, which was the property of Mr. Beck's mother. The home-making talent and industry of Mrs. Beck coupled with Mr. Beck's excellent man- agement, made success inevitable. After two years the young couple rented another farm, eighty acres, three miles north of Pierron, where for several years they worked hard and saved their earnings. At the end of that time they purchased the land they had rented and began making more improvements, plant- ing shade and fruit trees, building a substan- tial barn and well equipped out buildings, and erecting an attractive house. Today they have one of the finest country houses in the town- ship. It is set on an elevation and besides an excellent view of the surrounding country, with its soft greens and pleasant fields, it com- mands a view of the four towns, Pocahontas, Highland, Pierron and Old Ripley. Its gen- ial owners have made it the scene of some of the most pleasant hospitalities in the county.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Beck were born nine children, one of whom was taken away in infancy. Besides their own children, Theresa, Dora, Minnie, Bertha, George, Er-
win, Theodore and Sophia (deceased) Mr. and Mrs. Beck have opened their hearts and home to little Alvin Ziegler, now a boy oí seven. The parents sent their children to the Fairview school and the girls also attended the German Lutheran school at Saline, thus enab- ling them to speak both German and English. Theresa has become the wife of Louis Non - man, a prosperous farmer of Bond county, and is the mother of three children, Laurine, Olive and Mabel Newman. Dora was united in marriage to Edwin Bleisch, like her sister's husband, a farmer in Bond county, and their union has been blessed with two children, Floyd and Delma Bleisch. Minnie is now Mrs. Benjamin Augustina, and lives with her husband on his farm in Leef township. Bertha passed successfully the teacher's examination and received her diploma, but still remains at home assisting in the family duties.
Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the German Evangelical church at Saline and their children were confirmed in that faith. They are interested members of the congregation, and always willing to lend a hand in every good work that is put forward.
Politically Mr. Beck is a Republican from the ground up, and does all in his power to help the men and measures of the "Grand Old Party." He and his wife have had in- teresting ideas about keeping their children at home, and they have always made the Beck home a center for music, fun and festivity.
VICTOR S. SETCHANOFF. Not only do many immigrants yearly enrich the brawn and blood of American life, but now and again, though more rarely perhaps, does the tide of new- comers contain elements that also add brain and character of exceptional quality. A high degree of talent and moral force is repre- sented by such a personality as that of Victor S. Setchanoff, a worthy American of foreign blood and a brilliant young lawyer of Granite City.
Mr. Setchanoff was born in Lamokov, Bul- garia, on January 24, 1884. His parents were Helen and Sotir J. Setchanoff, the latter a merchant of the town. He is still living, though his wife has not survived to watch the full development of the son's career. Vic- tor Setchanoff's education was begun in the schools of his native country. He was eigh- teen years of age when, in 1902, the family came to this country. The young man entered Boston University in 1903. Three years later he was graduted from the law school of the
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institution and was ready for the practice of his profession.
In August of 1906 he became a member of the Massachusetts bar and began his legal work in the city of Boston. In 1907 he changed his location to New York City, where for a while he desisted from his professional practice, giving two years to the vocation of journalism for which his training made him particularly adaptable and which was inval- uable in broadening his insight into American affairs. After two years he prepared to again take up the profession for which he had been educated, and for which he was now more practically prepared. In the autumn of 1909 he came to Granite City and in December of that year was admitted to the Illinois bar. He opened a law office in Granite City and has gradually and surely won his way into the con- fidence and esteem of the citizens of the place. Mr. Setchanoff is still unmarried.
HENRY ATKINS. In the earlier history of this country there are many accounts of the trials and brave sacrifices of those who are numbered among the pioneers of certain dis- tricts. The tide of civilization then was mov- ing ever westward, and as soon as a section was fairly well developed there would be some venturesome souls eager to press still further towards the frontier, making new boundary lines for the outposts of civilization. Without these the United States would not lie from ocean to ocean, but would still be confined to a cluster of settlements along the Atlantic coast. If pioneers from the eastern states had not braved the unknown dangers from wild beasts and the equally wild Indians and con- quered Illinois, this great commonwealth would still be a waste of prairie land and dense timber, and where is now heard the cheerful bustle of urban existence, and the hum of hard-working farming machinery, the prairie chicken and wild turkey would wing their low flight. One of the families respon- sible for the Madison county of today is that bearing the name of Atkins, members of which are to be found in Granite City, among them being Henry Atkins, with whose parents and their children this article has to deal.
The Atkins family was founded in the American Bottoms at an early day, the grand- father of Henry Atkins taking up extensive tracts of land in Chouteau township, on Choteau Island, and here Amos Atkins, the father of Henry, was born and reared. He established a fine home, spent his life in agri- cultural pursuits and died in 1887, being laid
to rest in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery near Name- oki. He was a charter member of the Name- oki Lodge of that order, took a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community, and was one of the most highly esteemed men of his day. He married Ariana Job, also a native of Madison county, who proved a faithful and capable helpmeet, and they reared a family of children who have been a credit to them and their community. She died in 1890, a kindly, Christian woman, who was beloved by all who knew her. The children's names follow: Lucy, Duett, Amos, Ada, Albert, Rosa, Ariana, William E. and Henry, and all were educated on Choteau Island. Lucy married John Eichelberger, a resident of St. Louis, and they have five chil- dren : Myrtle, Eugene, John, DeWitt and Clarence. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Eichelberger returned to Choteau Isl- and, and now makes her home with her broth- ers, Henry and Amos. Her daughter, Myrtle, married Harry Barber, who is engaged in the newspaper business at Sullivan, Illinois. Duett Atkins married Mrs. Mary Adams, and is a successful farmer at Oldenburg. Ada mar- ried W. N. George, who is in the employ of the Terminal Company, at St. Louis, and they have had four children: Ethel, Hazel, Wil- liam and Henry. Albert Atkins married Nona Monger, resides in St. Louis, and has three sons: Joseph, Elmer and Whitfield. Rosa married David Enslow, a merchant at Sulli- van, Illinois, and had one child, who died at the age of one year. Ariana married Henry Hoehn, of East Alton, Illinois, and they have had four children : Blanche, Ariana, Mel- burn and an infant still unnamed. William E. married Claudia Enslow, and is a United States deputy clerk in St. Louis. Henry and Amos are still residing on the old homestead with their sister Lucy, and have developed one of the fine farming properties of this section. In political matters the family has always been connected with the Democratic party, and Henry Atkins has served twenty-seven years as a member of the school board and also as road commissioner and commissioner of the levee district.
The Atkins family has been one that has done much in every way to further the inter- ests of Madison county, in a manner that has left its imprint on the county's history. Its members have always adhered to the lines of honesty, integrity and fair dealing in all things, and the name has ever been associated with the best type of American citizenship.
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HENRY AUGUST SIMON. There was a period in the history of Madison county, Illi- nois, when its agricultural interests were of small importance, when the farmer garnered from his fields only a mere subsistance, and when his few head of common, scrubby stock scarcely paid for their maintenance; but, through the intelligent efforts of a body of thoughtful, earnest men, such conditions have become a thing of the past. In this connec- tion may be mentioned the scientific efforts of Henry August Simon, a good, practical agri- culturist of Nameoki township, and the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Simon was born in this township, September 12, 1865, and is a son of John and Anna (Brean) Simon, natives of Germany, who immigrated to America at an carly day, and were wedded in this town- ship. Here Mr. Simon first engaged in work- ing for wages until he could accumulate enough money to make the first payment on a farming property in this section, going into debt for most of the land. He soon purchased a pair of mules to do his plowing, and grad- ually, as year followed year, his primitive tools were discarded and replaced by new and more modern ones. Faithful and hard-work- ing throughout life, he and his estimable wife founded a home for their family and devel- oped an excellent farm from the raw prairie land, a tract of one hundred and eighty acres of some of the most productive property to be found in the county. Three children were born to this union : John, who died at the age of twelve years; Minnie, who was nine years old when she died ; and Henry August.
Henry August Simon secured his education in the Deterding school, now known as the East Granite school, later attending the Ger- man school at Namcoki, where he received his confirmation. He remained at home until his marriage, March 13, 1890, to Miss Minnie Al- lers, who was born December 6, 1865, in Nameoki township, daughter of William and Minnie (Urland) Allers, of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Allers immigrated to the United States as young people, and were married in Madison county, Mr. Allers later becoming a prosperous farmer of Nameoki township, where he died in 1883. He and his wife had two children. Louise and Minnie, both of whom received their education in the Marys- ville school. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Simon began wedded life on the Allers homestead, which Mr. Simon superintended
until 1892, and from that year until 1895 he had charge of the Simon homestead. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Nameoki township, paying $20,000 there- for, and here continues to reside to the pres- ent time. Mr. Simon has made all of the im- provements on this place, erecting a handsome residence, a large substantial barn, and neces- sary outbuildings for the shelter of his grain, live stock and implements, while the property is ornamented with large, graded lawns and beautiful flowers and shade trees, making it one of the finest places in this part of the county. He appreciates the benefits to be de- rived from the use of scientific methods in his operations, and makes use of his knowledge of crop rotation, modern treatment of soil and the latest farming machinery. As a citizen he ranks high in the esteem of his fellow towns- men, and his influence is always found on the side of right in movements that affect his com- munity.
In his political beliefs Mr. Simon is a stal- wart Republican, and always adheres to that party's principles. He and his wife take an active interest in the work of the German Evangelical church of Nameoki, of which they are well known and highly esteemed members. Their neighborly kindness and courteous, sociable manner have won them friends throughout the township, and they are very popular in social circles.
W. W. JARVIS. In every community there are a few individuals who are pre-eminently entitled to that pleasant designation-"leading citizen." Their personal attainments, their services to their country or their city, their standing among their fellow men acquire for them that distinction. There is no more strict or impartial jury than one's own neighbors, and when they award the palm of praise the lucky recipient may feel assured that it is acclaim that is actually merited.
The city of Troy possesses a resident who has been so thoroughly and consistently loyal to its interests at all times that when the general good of the community is mentioned the name of W. W. Jarvis is instantly coupled with it in the thoughts of those who reside in or near the place. Mr. Jarvis is the presi- dent of the Troy Exchange Bank, which he founded in 1885, and which is known among the bankers of Group Nine of Illinois and among the public as well as one of the sound- est financial institutions in the Mississippi valley.
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Mr. Jarvis is a native of Madison county, March II, 1842, being his birth date. He was a son of Wesley and Mary (Kinder) Jarvis, and was the fourth in their family of five, the other children being: George W., who is deceased; Sarah I., wife of George W. Has- singer ; John F., who married Nancy J. Mont- gomery; and James N., who died in 19II. The latter's wife was Elizabeth Donoho. The senior Mr. Jarvis was a son of John Jarvis by his second wife, Sarah Gillham. Wesley Jarvis followed farming, and was of the hon- est, upright and rugged stock which charac- terized the early settlers in the county. His wife lived to be eighty-nine years old and died in 1902.
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