USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 105
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 105
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 105
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Columbia Lodge, No. 379, D. O. H., was chartered in 1875. It has about 75 members, and $900 in the treasury. The hall in which its meetings take place is held by the society under a five years' lease.
Monroe Lodge, No. 165, A O U. W., was chartered Mar. 31, 1880. It has 54 members and $250 in the treasury.
BIOGRAPHIES.
HON. JOHN T. ANGERER.
JOHN T. ANGERER was born in Bavaria, Germany, Febru- ary 16th, 1832. His father Jasper Andrew Angerer was a farmer. John T. received his primary education in the schools of his native country, and after his arrival in this country attended the schools here for a short time. In the fall of 1848, he came to America, landing in St. Louis, November 10th, 1848. He there learned the trade of baker and remained in St. Louis until September 7th, 1856, when he romoved to Columbia, in Monroe county, Illinois. Dur- ing a part of the time he was in St. Louis, he was engaged in steamboating on the upper Mississippi. After he came to Columbia, prior to engaging in the hotel business, he worked in the Gardner flouring mills. He continued there for four years ; then opened a hotel in Mr. Grasse's property and in 1867 bought the property and removed to where he now is, where he has continued the business of hotel keeping until the present. Mr. Angerer's house is well known to the traveling public as a place that is first elass in all of its appointments, and in consequence enjoys a large patronage.
On the 24th of May, 1854, Mr. Angerer was united in marriage to Miss. Emma Margarita Baumann, a native of Germany, but a resident of this county since the fourth year of her age. She was raised in Syracuse, New York. The family subsequently removed West to St. Louis, where her
marriage to Mr. Angerer took place. By that union there have been four children, two of whom are living The names of the latter are Caroline, who is the wife of James Hart, of Belleville, Illinois. They have two children whose names are Emma and James. Eva Margarita, married Julius Breidicker of Columbia. They have two children named Amanda and Caroline. Mr. Angerer is a member of the order of A. F. and A. M., and was made a mason in Waterloo Lodge. He is now a member of Columbia Lodge No. 474. He takes an active interest in everything pertain- ing to the order, and it was through his aid and efforts, as a chairman of the building committee, that the new Masonic building was projected and brought to a successful comple- tion. l'olitically he was a Demoerat, until the breaking out of the war, when being a strong union man and heartily in favor of the.early suppression of the rebellion, he joined the Republican ranks and remained with that political organization until 1872, when believing that the results had been attained for which the Republican party had been called into power, he left it, liberalized and since has voted the Democratic ticket. In 1880 he was elceted by the people of Monroe as one of the commissioners, and at present is a member of the Board. Mr. Angerer is a pleasant and genial gentleman and possesses that rare faculty of making all at home who come beneath his roof.
454
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
R. H. Malson.
THE Wilson family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Their ances- tors on coming to this county settled near Frederiektown, Maryland Joshna Wilson, the grandfather of John H .. moved from there to Kentucky, and there died in 1802. He married Deborah Dorsey, who belonged to an old and well- known family in Maryland. She died in Kentucky in the year 1800. They left three children named Otho, Edward, and William. The latter was the father of John H. He was born in Washington county, Kentucky, in 1798. In 1804 he accompanied his brothers to Illinois territory. At the age of twenty-one he married Matilda Wallace, who was born in Georgia, but the family had settled at an early period near Harrisonville in this county. By that union there were eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity. John H., the subject of this sketch, was born about one mile northwest of Columbia, Monroe county, Illinois, Angust 8, 1819 His education was obtained in the subscription schools of his neighborhood, and by a short time in the schools of Waterloo. During the time that he was attend- ing the school in Waterloo, he received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff, under John Morrison, the father of Hon. W. R. Morrison. He held the office of deputy for fifteen months, then returned to the farm. Soon after Mr. Wilson married, and then he rented a farm near Columbia, and re- mained on it three years, then moved to a farm south of the
before-mentioned place, and there he continued to reside until the present, exeept a short time when he was sheriff, when he resided in Waterloo. Iu 1856; he engaged in merchandising in Columbia, in which he continued for four or five years, and a short time before the war was also in the milling business.
In May, 1844, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Morgan, by which union there were seven children. All died young with the exception of Joshua, who is now a young man, grown Politieally, Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, and has always been active in the support of its principles. His zeal in the eause of his party, and his worth and character as a man and citizen, has received publie recognition at various times. In 1846 be was first elected sheriff of the county, and re-elected in 1848, without opposition. He was under the law ineligible in 1850, but in 1852 he was elected for the third time. In 1870 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention that framed the present organic laws of the State, and in con- neetion with his colleague, Hon. Geo. Wall, represented the counties of Monroe, Randolph, and Perry. In 1878 he was again eleeted sheriff, and re eleeted in 1880, and again elected for four years in 1882, and at present is discharging the duties of his position in a manner that gives complete satisfaction to his many friends. Mr. Wilson's private and
454B
RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. WILSON, COLUMBIA, MONROE CO. ILLINOIS.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
public life has been without a reproach, and his honesty and integrity has never been called in question. The family be- long to that heroic band, the pioneers of the west. Here, Mr. Wilson was born and reared, and here he hopes to live until the " dread summons comes to join that innumerable caravan that is moving to the pale realms " that lie beyond this world.
THOMAS KOENIGSMARK
Is one of the enterprising and substantial business men of Columbia. He was born in Bohemia, October 2d, 1835. IIe is the son of John and Catherine (Fait) Koenigsmark. The parents came to America and settled in Columbia, where the father died in 1864. The wife and mother of Thomas still survives, and at present is a resident of Columbia. Thomas received his education in his native country. At the age of fourteen, in company with others, he emigrated to America, and came direct to St. Louis, landing there in the spring of 1849. In 1850, Mr. K. went to New Orleans, and there followed clerking and the tailoring business. He remained in New Orleans until 1855, when he came up the river to Illinois and settled in Columbia, and there clerked in a general store. In 1863, he engaged in merchandizing, in which he continued actively engaged until 1870, when he was compelled to retire from active pursuits on account of ill health. lle remained out of business until 1874, when he purchased the old Gardner Mills and became a manufacturer. He has continued in the milling business until the present. Under his possession and management, the mill has undergone many changes, and various improvements all tending to make it first-class in every respect. In 1882, it was practically rebuilt and the " roller " system introduced.
In April, 1858, Mr. Konigsmark was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Geiger. She is a native of Germany, but came to America with her parents while yet in her infancy. By that union there have been ten children, four of whom are still living, whose names are Jacob, Louisa, John and Mary. Jacob married Miss Dora Roever, and have one child named Thomas Konigsmark. Louisa is the wife of Edward Kuehner. Both Mr. and Mrs. Koenigsmark are members of the Catholic church. Politically Mr. K. was originally a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. During the war he was a strong Union man, and in favor of the speedy suppression of the rebellion and the restoration of the government and union. This feeling naturally led him into the Republican party, and he has remained with it to the present. He, however, is not a partisan that sees no good in any men or measures, unless belonging to or originated by his own party. He possesses sufficient independence to vote for men and measures, which will redound to the advantage of the whole country. Prac- tically Mr K. has been the architect of his own fortune. lle started in life unaided, but by the exercise of good management, industry and economy, has succeeded in mak- ing a comfortable competency, and at the same time has made for himself a character for honesty, integrity and honorable dealing with his fellow-men.
WILLIAM ROSE, M. D.
THE subject of this sketch is the leading and representa- tive physician and surgeon of Columbia and vicinity ; he is of German birth, born in Clausthal, Hanover, Germany, Feb. 12, 1848 ; he is the third child in a family of six chil- dren ; his parents, Frederick and Dorothea Rose, were natives of the same place in Germany, where the father carried on the manufacture of furniture. William received a good education ju the schools of his native country, and at the age of thirteen years came to America in company with his sister; they settled in St. Louis with their uncle, Dr. Edward Rose, a prominent physician of that place; there Mr. Rose spent several years in the College of the Christian brothers; he then entered a drug store, and learned the drug trade, and spent three years in obtaining a thorough knowledge of pharmacy. He determined to adopt the profession of medi- cine as the business of his life, and, with this idea in view, entered the office of his uncle, Dr. Edward Rose, and com- menced the study. He was industrious in his habits, and made rapid progress, and soon entered the Missouri Medical College and took one full course. He then came to Illinois and settled in Columbia in Monroe county, and commeneed the practice ; the date of bis arrival in the county was in the spring of 1869. Here, by close attention to business, and the thorough knowledge of his profession, he soon built up a large and lucrative practice. In 1878, under the operation of a statute providing for the regulation of the practice of medicine in the State of Illinois, and which required of all physicians to have a diploma from some standard Medical Col- lege, or have practiced ten years preceding the passage of the Act in the State, was constrained to enter the Medical College at Keokuk, lowa, from which institution he graduated in the following spring. He returned to Columbia, and con- tinued the practice, which has gradually increased from his first arrival here until the present. When he first came to Columbia he engaged in the drug business in connection with his practice, in which he still continues. Dr. Rose be- longs to the regular school of medicine, and is of the pro- gressive kind that keeps pace with all the discoveries that are daily being made in the science of medicine. On the 12th of March, 1869, he was happily united in marriage to Miss Lena, daughter of Stephen and Magdalena ( Wiess) Frockman. Mrs. Rose was born in St. Louis, Missouri. By that union there are six children-three sons and three daughters; their names in the or er of their birth are: Frederick, Amelia, William, Ida, Herman and Louise Rose. Dr. Rose is an honored member of the A. O. U. W., and be- longs to Lodge No. 165, and also of the Harrugari Order, No. 376, Columbia, Illinois. Politically he is an active Republi- can, and votes that ticket in all general elections. Ile takes an active part in the cause of education, and has been a mem- ber of the School Board for the past four years. In conclu- sion, it may be said of Dr. Rose that he has been very suc- cessful in his chosen profession. He came to Columbia almost unknown, if not quite so, and in the face of much opposition built up an extensive practiec. His success is attributable to several causes, chief of which are his close attention to business and his skill as a physician.
PRAIRIE DU LONG.
MONROE CO.
P RAIRIE DU LONG precinct, so named from the prairie that con- stitutes an important part of its ter- ritory, lies in the extreme eastern part of the county, and by the cen- sus of 1880 had a population of 1480. Its area embraces the whole of Township 3, Range 8, together with a strip of territory lying be- tween the Kaskaskia and the west boundary line of town- ship 3, Range 7, and also sections 1, 12, 13, 24 and 25 of Township 3, Range 9 and section 36 and one-half of section 25 of Township 2, Range 9. Most of its territory was orig- inally wooded, and the timber was quite heavy along the streams. Prairie du Long and Prairie du Round (hybrid terms of French and English) so called on account of their shape, were open areas. The former has a length of about nine miles, half of which lies in St. Clair county. Its width is about three and a half miles Prairie du Round is about three miles in circumference, and lies a little south- west of the central part of Township 3, Range 8. A small portion of Twelve-mile Prairie lies in the northeastern part. Horse prairie extends a short distance into the precinct from the south. The surface, aside from the prairies, is mainly broken, although even in the timbered parts, there is much bad land. The timber, of which there is still a considerable amount, consists of the different varieties of oak and hickory, maple, ash, pecan and black walnut. Wheat is the staple, though corn and oats are largely grown. The principal streams are the Kaskaskia river, Richland and Prairie du Long creeks. Attention is paid to the subject of good roads, and Richland and Prairie du Long creeks are spanned by iron bridges, the former on the state road extending from Nashville, Washington county, to Harrisonville on the Mississippi, passing through Freedom, and the latter on the Kaskaskia and St. Louis road.
The earliest permanent settlement was made in the year 1802 by John Pulliam, from Horse prairie, a place described in the chapter on Red Bud precinct. Pulliam improved a farm on Prairie du Long, a little north of Richland creek. Among the settlers of about this date were three brothers, John, James and Richard Hix. They settled in section 31, Township 3, Range 8. They were owners of farms, but were especially hunters and Indian fighters. One of the brothers was in pursuit of game, when he and an Indian simulta- neously discovered each other dodging behind a tree for pro- tection. Hix outwitted the red skin by a little device. He placed his hat on the ramrod of his riffe, and with mock cau- tion exposed it to the Indian's view. He, supposing that Hix's
head was in the hat, pierced it with a bullet, and then started forward for his scalp, when the latter stepping from his retreat, shot him dead. Two brothers, John and Modglin Wright, lived on adjoining farms in section 28. They were farmers and professional hunters.
A family named Faraday, were among the very earliest settlers in the precinct. They were several sons, and their mother, and lived on the E. } of section 29. They neither worked nor hunted, yet fared more sumptuously than their pioneer neighbors. Samuel Winn, may also be referred to as among the early settlers. Matthew and John Donahoo, lived on section 10. James Lacy, an early settler, owned a considerable quantity of land in section 16.
About 1810, James and Robert Smith, from Tennessee, arrived. They brought families with them, and settled on section 36. James had two sons, Booker and Ransom. Robert had one son, Henry. James was a lover of good horses, and had a valuable mare, which he prized very highly, not only on account of her personal good qualities, but also because she gave promise of profit. One night he heard the noise of wolves, perceptibly in great numbers, and felt assured that his mare was a victim, but though a brave man he dared not venture to her assistance. In the morning her carcass and that of her filly lay near each other. One evening, one of the Smiths shot a wolf; imme- diately he heard a wolf ' call,"and then in succession he heard others, and soon found that he was surrounded by them. He climbed a small tree that stood near and was obliged to remain in captivity all night. The wolves used their teeth with diligence and energy, but did not succeed, in felling the tree, as Smith feared they would. Major Starkey, an early settler in Prarie Du Long, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a man of gentlemanly bearing, of fine phys- ique, and of standing in the community. Henry Hill, one Slater and one Scott, were among the early settlers on Twelve Mile prairie. Hill settled in the N. E. } of section 2, and Slater and Scott in the immediate vicinity. Their descendents, as those also of most of the other early settlers in the precinct, have been displaced by a population mainly German. John Morrison, was of the Morrison family that played so important a part in mercantile affairs at Kaskas- kia, at an early day. At this city he was born. He mar- ried a Ralls, and settled on Richmond creek, two or three miles above its mouth. Here some time prior to 1821, he had a water mill. He moved to Kaskaskia and subsequently returned and settled on the Philip Sauer place, in section 20. He beld the office of Sheriff and Judge of the county court, for a number of years. "Morrison's bridge," that spans Prairie Du Long creek, bears his name. He was the father
456
457
HISTORY OF RANDOLPHI, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of Col. Wm. R. Morrison, at the present writing a member of Congress. His death occurred at Waterloo. Abraham McMurtice came from South Carolina, in 1814 or '15, and settled in the forks of Richland and Prairie Du Long creek. IIere he improved some land, but did not remain long. Henry Null, a German, and his wife, came as early as 1815, and settled southeast of Freedom, on the N. E. 4 of section 14. At this place he made his home for life.
The most important early settlement was formed by the English Catholics, in the northwestern part of Township 3, Range 8. The central spirit of this settlement was Thomas Winstanley. Ile lived just across the line of Monroe, in St Clair county, and is mentioned here because the settle- ment bears his name and because of his influence in its affairs. Ile was a man of means and a devoted Catholic, and a center of attraction for those of his nationality and of his faith. This English settlement at that carly day possessed most of what there was of culture and refinement in the territory of Prairie Dn Long precinct. St. Augus- tine Church and the school that at an early day was taught near it, symbolized their devotion to piety and to learning. William Threlfall was a native of Lancashire, England. On his arrival in Illinois, he landed at Kaskaskia. He re- mained here but a short time, and then with his wife and children came to the Winstanley settlement io 1819, and located on the N. E. # of section 6, where he improved a good farm. Mr. Threlfall was a patriotic citizen and served his country in the Black Hawk war. He had nine children, John, Edward, Peter, James, William, Jane, Nancy, Mary and Elizabeth. John was a man grown when he came. 1le married Margaret Thompson, and settled on unimproved land in section 6. He died of cholera in 1849. In the year 1519, Edward Newsham, also an Englishman and his wife arrived in the settlement. He located south of St. Angustine Church on section 6. He never had any children to advance the settlement, but was a prominent, influential and useful man in the community of which he formed a part. John Bamber, arrived in 1821. He was a native of Yorkshire, England, and in 1817, came to Maryland, where he remained two years. He then set ont for Illinois with his wife and eight children, James, Thomas, William, John, Ann, Mary, Betsy and Ellen. Ile was also accompanied by five brothers, Edward, John, Thomas, William and Richard Coop, who came from England to Maryland in 1819. De- scending the Ohio in a flat boat they landed at Shawnee- town, where they remained for a period of two years, Wil- liam Coop having in the meantime died. In 1821, the Bamber family and Thomas Coop left Shawneetown, and came overland to what is now Prairie Du Long precinct. On their way to the Winstanley settlement they stopped at the house of John Morrison on Richland creek. Mr. Bam- ber settled on the N. ¿ of section 6, land now owned by Dr. Kemp, a mile and a half west of Freedom. Here he im- proved a good farm and ended his days.
James Bamber married shortly after his arrival and set- tled in St. Clair county. Thomas also settled in that county about 1830. William is living in Harrisonville. John, Ellen, Ann and Mary are dead. Betsy resides in Cali- 58
fornia. Thomas Coop married Ann Dickinson, and settled in section 1, township 3, range 9, where he still lives at the age of 77. Mr. Coop is a well-knowir citizen, and has been a useful man in his community. John Gregson immigrated from England in 1819. Ilis family consisted of his wife and three children, William, George and James. William and George died very young. Their names were afterward given to two after-born brothers. There was also a daugh- ter, Eliza. Mr. Gregson settled on section 19, where he be- came quite a successful farmer. James Ibison and his wife, about the year 1820, arrived from Lancashire, England, and located in the Winstanley settlement, in section 5. Ilere he improved a good farm. His children were named James, Thomas and Ann. 1Ie died in Fort Smith, Arkan- sas. Zopher Williams and his brother Arthur were settlers of the year 1820. The former located on the N. ¿ of seetion 5. The Winstanley settlement is, at present, a mere name for a thing that is past. The English settlers have become scattered, and those of another nationality have taken their place. Several of the families went to California. About the year 1820, Henry Noah, a Kentuckian, who married Eliza Robbison, settled in Horse Prairie, south of Richland creek. He was a teacher, and probably the first in the pre- cinet. To the same date and locality may be referred, the Guthries, a family from one of the Eastern States. The children were John, Charles, James, Samuel, Joseph, Catha- rine and Nancy. James was a teacher. Ile married Nancy Ilurlstone.
The Germans began to arrive about the year 1830. Philip Ilensinger was among the first. On his arrival from Ger- many he had a wife and two or three children. He settled in section 15. Henry and Catharine Frick, and their chil- dren, Conrad, John, George, William, Charles, Ernst, Jacob and Catharine, came from Hesse Cassel to St. Clair county in 1833, and thence to Monroe in 1835. The family located about two miles south of the town of Freedom. The father and mother are dead. Four of the brothers are living here. John Rohl arrived in Twelve Mile Prairie in 1833. He came from Hesse Darmstadt with his wife and four children, and settled on the N. E } of section 16. In the same year, Christian Steigers from Beyern, Germany, with his wife and five children, four sons and a daughter, settled on the E. } of section 13 in Twelve Mile. In the same prairie, on the N. E. { of section 14, Conrad Moore settled in 1835. HIe and his family, his wife and two children, were from Hesse Darmstadt. John Weaver, also a German, settled about the centre of section 13 in 1836. Timothy Dunn and his wife Ann Flood were natives of Ireland, married in New York city, and came here in 1838. The first land entered in this precinct was by Henry Neill, the N. W. } of section 14, 160 acres entered August 11th, 1814.
TOWN OF FREEDOM.
The town was laid out on land of Theodore Hilgard. It was platted and surveyed by Thomas Singleton, county surveyor, December 18, 1840. It stands on the N. W. quarter of section 4, T. 2 S., R. 10 W. In 1849, Jacob Frick built the first house. The same year he opened a
458
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
stock of goods. The Star flouring mill was built in 1863, by Keho and Thieltges. In 1864, it was purchased by George Frick, the present owner and operator. The build- ing is of frame, and contains four run of burrs with a capacity of eighty barrels a day. The school-honse is a brick building, erected in 1865, at a cost of $1,300. The Freedom Library Association was organized as early as 1867. It was chartered, December 9, 1872. It has five hundred and seventy volumes of books, worth about $2,500.
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