Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 156

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 156

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Thomas Morris, second son of Joseph Vau Nattan, was born In Sangamon County, and was a successful farmer of Fancy Creek Township. He was married after the war and died May 4, 1872, leaving a widow and two children living near Springfield. His wife was Anna P. Renne. Their son Thomas was born July 19, 1869.

Thomas Van Nattan was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools. After leaving school he learned telegraphy and worked as operator at Ridgely. He has contributed his share to the promotion of all public movements and is a well-known and popular citizeu of Springfield, which has been his home several years. He is highly esteemed as a refined and cultured man, and is a worthy representative of his family, which has for many years been held in high regard in Sangamon County. He has lived all his life In the vicinity of his present home. He served two years in the City Police Department and discharged his duties accep- tably. He belongs Hope Congregational Church at Sixteenth and Carpenter Streets, and in politics is a Republican. He has been eu- gaged as a representative of the Illinois State Journal for the past four years.

Mr. Van Nattan was married, at Peoria, Ill., July 30, 1899, to Anna J. Schelble, who was born August 23, 1876, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Dressenderfer) Schelble, the former a native of Germany, who came from Germany in 1860. Mrs. Schelble was born in Illinois. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Nattan : Emma Marie, April 17, 1900; Anna Elizabeth, July 18, 1903; Elsie May, June 8, 1906; Lawrence Joseph, June 9, 1910. The family reside at 903 North Twelfth Street.

VENNEMAN, Theodore (deceased), achieved prominence as a farmer in Sangamon County.

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He was born in Prussia April 17. 1842, a son of William and Eliza (Hllkenberch) Venneman, farmers, who lived out their days and died in thelr native land. Of the four sons and three daughters of the family there are living, besides the subject of this sketch, two sons and one daughter in Prussla. Mr. Venneman was edn- cated in his native land, attending school nntil he was fourteen years old, and worked for his father on the farm through the days of his yonth, while dreaming of America and planning some day to go to that far off country of promise. He landed in New York in 1857, when he was not yet sixteen years of age, and came direct to Springfield, Ill. His first work in the United States was on a farm, but he was varionsly em- ployed untii 1861, when he enlisted at Spring- field in Company A, Thirty-eighth Iilinois Voi- unteer Infantry, with which he served through the war except during seven awful months dur- ing which he saw more fearfui service in Libby Prison, at Richmond. He participated in the Battie of Chickamanga, in the operations around Vicksburg, and in numerous other hard-fought batties and minor engagements. Returning to Springfield, after his honorable discharge, he was employed for a time in driving a govern- ment wagon to and from Camp Butler. Then, after working a year In a machine shop, he came back to the soil, renting a farm north of Spring- field. It was not iong, however, before he moved to Christian County, Ill., where he carried on farming three years. Then, returning to Sanga- man County, he farmed successfully untli his death, which occurred January 4, 1907. His family removed to Buffalo, where the home is yet maintained. Besides a farm iu Southern Iilinois, his widow owns the town home and considerable other village property, the former amounting to 160 acres of land.

Mr. Venneman was a Roman Catholic and the surviving members of his family belong to St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Buffalo, Iii. He was long an enthusiastle Grand Army man. His marriage took piace at Springfield, Ili., October 24, 1865, when he was united with Catharine Mathies, born in Bavaria, May 18, 1840, daugh- ter of Vaientlne Mathles, who brought his family to America in 1848, salilng from Havre, France, and landing fifty-five days later at New Orleans, after a voyage of much discomfort and peril. Mr. Mathies, a cabinet-maker by trade, settled at Centervilie, St. Clair County, Iii., where his wife died in 1849 and he, iu 1854. After her father's death Mrs. Venneman lived for a short time at Belleviiie, Ill., whence she removed to Spring- fieid with her brothers Leonard and Valentine. She has a sister in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Ven- neman had nine children, seven of whom sur- vive : Leonard, the eldest, is a farmer in Sanga- mon County ; Johanna Is the wife of Maurice Madden, a farmer of Iowa; Henry lives on the old Venneman home farm; Catharine is the wife of William Mulcahy, who is farming west of Springfield ; Elizabeth marrled Joseph Costeilo, a Sangamon County farmer; Sister Frauces is a

nun in Charity Hospital, New Orleaus, La .; Anna Is a member of her mother's househoid. Mrs. Venneman rejoices in twenty grandchildren.

VETTER, John .- Many of Springfield's best known citizens are Germans by birth. and are an honor to the Germanle race (to which they are prond to belong), and to their adopted country. A leading business man of the city who has demonstrated through his ad- mirabie quaiitles that America is truly a iand of opportunities, is John Vetter, ice, wood and coal deaier of No. 1005 East Carpenter Street. He was born in Oberkrucking, Province of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, February 11, 1856, a son of George and Margaret (Nuhemyer) Vetter, both of whom died in Germany. There were four children in their family : Jacob, deceased ; George, of Germany; Peter came to the United States when seventeen years of age and is uow a blacksmith in Cleveland, Ohio; and John, of whom we write.

Untii he was fonrteen years of age John Vet- ter attended school, and he gained a fair Ger- man education, but at that age left school to , work for two years on his father's farm. At sixteen he came to the United States, being aux- ious to avaii himself of the better opportunitles offered here for a boy of ambition. He sailed from Hamburg to New York City on the steam- ship "Main," and from the latter city went to Dayton, Ohlo, where he joined friends, remain- ing with them a short time. He then went on to St. Louis, and from there to St. Clair County, Iil. In the latter locality he found employment on a farm, but iu the fall of 1873 he came to Springfield. By this time he had gained some knowiedge of English, and became a driver for Dr. B. M. Griffith, coutinuing with this good physician for five years., By this time the fru- gai young German had saved up enough to em- bark in a grocery business at No. 111 North Fifth Street, where he remained until 1885. In this year he was made superintendent of Camp Lincoin, and held that position untii 1892, when he returned to Springfield to engage in a wood and coai business at his present location. In 1906 he added the handling of Ice to his other lines of activity, and now operates three teams and controls a large trade.

Mr. Vetter was married in Springfield, August 12, 1883, to Elizabeth Bockhouse, of Sangamon County, daughter of John Bockhouse. Mrs. Vet- ter dled Aprii 16, 1901, and is buried in Cai- vary Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Vetter had children as follows : Mary, who married Earl Gilbert, of Springfield ; Edward and John, at home; Frank, who mnarrled Etta Wilcox, of Spring- field ; Annle. Ellen, William and Rosie, ali at home. Mr. Vetter and his family belong to the Reformed Lnthern Church, and are very active in its good work. He is a stanch Republican, always working for the advancement of his party, although he is not seeking his own pre- ferment. The influence he has exercised has been for good, not only in business affairs but

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in public activities, and at all times he has stood for good government and honesty in politics, which entitles him to representation in a work of this kind.

VINCENT, Oscar, a prosperous young farmer of Sangamon County, now manager of a fine 135-acre farm owned by his father-in-law, A. J. Hudsou, in Loami Township, was born in the village of that name, March 15, 1877. He is a son of William H. and Amanda (Covedale) Vin- cent, and grandson of Henry Vincent, the lat- ter still surviving and residing with his son William, in Loami, aged eighty-three years. William Vincent and wife had three children, oue of whom died in iufancy, the others being Fred Vincent, a railroad man residing in Oklahoma, and Oscar.

The latter was reared in the village of Loami, to which his parents had come as early as 1855, becoming associated with its early his- tory. He attended the Loami school and early in life began supporting himself, then, as now, being eugaged in agricultural pursuits. Ou August 26, 1903, he was united in marriage with Miss Marie Hudsou, a daughter of Andrew J. Hudson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Vincent settled ou Sectiou S, Maxwell Township, Mr. Hudson having practically retired frou active life, beiug content to leave the conduct of his affairs in the competent hands of his ener- getic son-in-law. This farm is one of the best in the county, averaging sixty bushels of corn to the acre. Mr. Vincent is a scientific farmer, be- lievlng thoroughly in rotatlon of crops, and keeps his corn laud fertile by turning under a crop of clover. He alternates from coru to wheat and back again, aud by his methods has brought the yield up from forty bushels per acre to the present high average. He plows deep, cultivating shallow for his corn, and is well satisfied with his results. He is a firm be- liever in carrying a good grade of stock, pre- ferring the Duroc-Jersey hogs. short-horn and Jersey cows, and Percheron horses. All his stock is eligible to registration at any time. Having devoted his life to farming and kindred line's, he understands his business thoroughly and is a recognized authority on all matters per- taining to it.

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are the parents of two bright little ones : Floyd Hudson Vincent, born August 17. 1904, and Florence Alma Vincent. born August 16, 1906. While not connected with any religious organization. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are at all times ready to give their sup- port to church and educational measures, and are very charitable. He is a member of the Court of Honor, of Loami. Politically a Demo- crat, he is a member of the School Board of liis district, and is faithfully discharging his dnties relative to it.

VINEY, William A., a retired farmer and prom- inent citizen residing in Springfield. Ill., and a

veteran of the Civil War, has lived in the city siuce 1890, beng retired from active life. He is a native of Sangamon County, having been born near Auburn, March 2, 1844, and is a son of Heury C. A. and Catherine (Kessler) Vincy. The father was boru in Kentucky aud for years lived on a farm three mlles east of Auburn, but at the time of his death was living on a farm in Macoupin County, Ill. He died June 15, 1889, and was buried in Greenfield, Greene County, and his wife dled March 18, 1896, and was buried in the same place. He was but one year of age when he came to Illinois, and lived In Sangamon County thirty-seven years, then moved to Macoupin County. He was seventy- one years old at the time of his death. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

The boyhood of William A. Viney was spent on a farm and he was educated in the schools of Sangamon and Macoupin Countles. after which he engaged in farming. Since locating lu Springfield he has purchased four houses in- cluding the one where he lives, at 116 North State Street, and has been occupied in looking after his realty interests. He was an Indus- . trious and energetic farmer and devoted him- selt closely to his work, becoming accordingly successful.

Mr. Viney was married, In Greene County, Ill., September 10, 1871, to Miss Elmira Teaney, born near Carrollton, Greene County, July 1, 1847, daughter of Frank H. and Elizabeth (Mor- gan) Teaney, natives of Kenutcky, and the for- wer born near Lexington. Mr. Teaney was born March 4, 1817, was married July 18, 1845, by Revereud L. Wood, and died November 5, 1892, at the age of seventy-five years. Hls wife died October 8, 1853. Mr. Teaney came to Greene County, Ill., from Kentucky, and located on a farm near Carrolltou. He afterward moved to a farm near Peirce Clty, Mo. He returned to Illinols before his death, which occurred at Hillsboro. where he was buried.

Mr. Viney spent forty years on his farm in Macoupin County and is well known, both there and in Springfield, where he has won many friends. He is interested in the progress and welfare of the community and is friendly to every noble and worthy cause. He and his wife have no children. In politles Mr. Viney has followed the footsteps of his father: It has been said of them both, "Republicans to the back-bone." .

VLIET, Joseph .- When the call was made for volunteers to support the Union, meu responded from all over the North, leaving their private interests to the care of others. They were gathered from every trade aud every profession. None stopped to think of self when the country was in peril. Que of the men who thus gener- ously forgot private affairs in his support of public interests, is Joseph Vliet, now living re- tired in Williamsville, after many years spent in active work. He was born in Belmont County, Ohlo, October 30, 1832, a son of David and Jane

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( Williams) Vliet. the former born in New Jer- sey, 1781, and died in 1865, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800. David Vliet was a shoemaker by trade, who moved to Ohio in 1848, seeking a better field for his business.

The boyhood days of Joseph Vliet were passed in Ohio, where he alternated attendance at the district school with hard work on his father's farm. At an early age he learned the trade of a plasterer and followed it the greater part of his active life. In 1848 he came from Monroe County, Ohio, to Springfield, where he found ready employment at his trade, living there un- til 1874. when he moved to Williamsville, buy- ing a home in this village. He owns a house and several lots on Lester Street, and is in comfortable circumstances, having earned all he owns through hard work and thrifty saving.

On Angust 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Third Illinois Light Artillery, under Captain T. F. Vaughn, participating in the battle of Lit- tle Rock, as well as several skirmishes, and receiving his honorable discharge in April, 1864. He is an enthusiastic member of the G. A. R., of which he has been a member twenty-five years. In politics he is a Republican and the. Presbyterian Church holds his membership.

Mr. Vliet was married in Springfield, July 10, 1856. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Vliet, was born May 9, 1835. Her parents were natives of Ken- tucky and died when she was very young. Mr. and Mrs. Vliet became the parents of eight cbil- dren, fonr of whom survive: George, William, Albert and Sarah J. After nearly two years spent in serving his country as a soldier, Mr. Vliet returned bome to become a useful citizen, and in his declining years is a valued addition to the village in which he has made his home for nearly forty years.

VON HOF, Nicholas-Perhaps no country of the old world has sent so many responsible men to America as has Germany. Her sons are to be found in every community where men have set- tled with a view to establishing homes and go- ing into legitimate business. One of the men of Springfield who long worked faitbfully and is now living retired, is Nicholas Von Hof, who has a pleasant home at No. 1619 South First Street. He was born on the historic River Rhine, in Germany, October 22, 1848. a son of Conrad and Madeline (Stronk) Von Hof. Both parents died when Nicholas was a child, leaving him and his brother to the care of relatives. The brother still lives in Germany.

The boybood of Nicholas Von Hof was spent in Germany. where he attended schooi until he was fourteen years old, then entered a slate mine and worked in it for many years. Later he took up coal mining but, believing he could secre opportunities for himself and his fam- ily, he brought his wife and five children to America, in November, 1885. The little party landed in New York, whence they came direct to Springfield, where Mr. Von Hof found im- mediate employment in the mines, but has lately

retired, having accomplished what he set ont to do.

In 1877. Mr. Von Hof married Victoria Rhode, also a native of Germany. She bore him one son, Joseph, now of Springfield, and died Feb- ruary 8, 1879. On August 31, 1879, Mr. Von Hof married Theresa Becker, born in Germany, September 3, 1849, daughter of Martin Becker, a shoemaker who died in Germany, but his widow came to America in 1879, located in Springfield, and died at the home of Charles Grescb in 1903. Five children were born of this second marriage, but only one, Catherine, survives. She married Thomas Layden, of Springfield, and has one danghter, Theresa. Mr. Layden is also a miner. Since locating in Springfield Mr. Von Hof has been connected with Sacred Heart Parisb, being a Roman Catholic. In political faith be is a Democrat. Mr. Von Hof has made a success of his life work and is entitled to the ease and comfort he is now enjoying.

VOSE, John, Sr., one of the most prominent mining men of Springfield, who bas been super- intendent of the Sangamon Coal Company's mine for the past twenty-two years, was born Oc- tober 14. 1850. in the village of West Houghton, Lancashire, England, one of the nine children of Peter and Alice (Miller) Vose, natives of England. Mr. Vose was educated in the schools of his native country, but left school at the age of eleven years to go to work in the coal inines. At that time there were no mules used in the mines, and boys would push and ioad the cars to the shaft bottom. "Mr. Vose's first pay at this kind of work was four shilling per week.

From that work he went to mining coal and was so employed until leaving for the United States, in 1873, in September of which year, he ianded in New York. He at once made his way to Streator, Ill., where he mined coal until September, 1887, and then came to Springfield where he passed the examination for State Mine Inspector. The following spring he was made mine manager for the Grape Coal Company of Danville, Ill., a position in which he served for fourteen months. On April 15, 1889, Mr. Vose returned to Springfield to accept the position which he now holds, and he has followed the duties of it with the utmost efficiency and capa- bility.

On October 7. 1872, Mr. Vose was united in marriage, in England, with Miss Mary Prescott, the daughter of John and Sarah Prescott, and this union has been biessed by the birth of six children, two of whom are living: William, re- siding in Springfield, who married Ada Seaman; and John, Jr., also of Springfield, who married Grace Myers.

Mr. Vose was reared in the faith of the Church of England. In political views he has always been a stanch Republican, while his fraternal connection is with the Odd Fellows. His long experience in the mining business has made him thoroughly conversant with mines

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY .

and minlug conditions in Illinois, and he bears a wide reputation as a competent judge of such matters here. Probably no man in this part of the State has had the extensive experience In mining that Mr. Vose has had. No man stands hlgher in the estimation of the people than he. His reputation for honesty, fairness and square dealing is possessed by but few mine superin- tendents of the middle west. Notwithstanding his duties In his own line of work and business, he has always found time to assist in the ad- vancement of any movement that would be of benefit to all the people of the present or fu- ture. To such men is due the credit of the growth and development of Springfield, Sanga- mon County, and the State of Illinois.

VREDENBURGH, Peter, who helped build up and develop one of the leading lumber enter- prises of Illinois, has been at the head of his present business since 1878, and is In every re- spect a self-made man. Hls business career has been remarkable, beginning when he was a boy of eleveu years, at which time he herded cattle for five months for twenty-five dollars. He is a native of Sangamon County, born In Curran Townshlp, February 7, 1837, son of John S. and Ann E. (Doremus) Vredenburg, the former born in Somerset County, N. J., March 11, 1809. and the latter born in New York City, October 12, 1810. The father removed to New York City in 1821, and he and his wife lived in that city several years after thelr mar- riage, two of their children belng boru there. They removed to Sangamon County in 1835, ar- riving there July 20. They located first in Cur- ran Township, later moving to Springfield. They had two children born in Curran Townshlp and four in the city of Springfield. John S. Vre- denburgh engaged for a time in mercantile busi- ness, but later confined his attention chlefly to hls growing lumber business. He served two terms as Alderman and was Mayor of the city from April, 1864, to April, 1865. He and hls wife were parents of eight children, namely : Maria V. D., Frances D., Peter, Thomas D., John S., Jr., Aune E., Margaret and LaRue.

Until he was ten years of age Peter Vreden- burgh attended a subscription school taught by Francis Springer and for two years studied un- der the direction of Peter Van Orman. He lived with his parents until nineteen years of age, then went to Peorla and sold lime for D. Mar- tin & Company, of Springfield, and two years later moved to Alton in the interests of the same firm. He was afterwards engaged in a similar line of business at Decatur, and soon after this spent four years conducting his father's farm, in partnership with J. T. Smith. Later he pur- chased this farm, comprising 334 acres, and still owns the property. About the time of the Civil War Peter Vredenburgh became a member of the lumber firm with which his father was connected, which was doing business under the firm name of E. R. Ullrich & Company, buying the interest of Mr. Ullrich, and a year later re-

turned to the farm aud resumed agricultural pur- suits. He sold his lumber Interests to his broth- ers upon their return from the Civil War and remained upon hls farm until 1878, when he purchased the iumber business, which was then owned by his father, becoming sole owner and proprietor, and operating under the uame of Peter Vredenburgh Lumber Company. The business was incorporated in 1900, and he sold stock to his five sons.

Mr. Vredenburgh rented a small planing miil In Springfield in 1898, but a few years later felt warranted in erecting a mill of his own. In 1903 the firm purchased 9,000 acres of pine tim- ber land iu the vicinity of Plne Hill, Ala., pur- chased and improved a large mill and erected several new buildings, which were equipped with modern machinery, a valuable asset in con- ducting a business of the kind. Peter Vreden- burgh, Jr., who was well informed iu every de- tail of the lumber business and had gained vai- uable experience, moved to Alabama to assume charge of the southern branch of the work. The lumber yards at Springfield burned in 1904, but were rebullt ou a larger scale, and the business has been constantly Increasing. The value of thelr product increases in value from year to year, as the avallable supply decreases. Some seventy men are employed in the planing mill, about forty in the yard and office, and about one hundred in the plant in Alabama. Mr. Vreden- burgh also employs about ten men on his farm, which is conducted under the supervision of his son-in-law, Mr. Merrick. From their vast lum- ber estate in the South the company ships lum- ber by the carioad to all parts of the United States, and thelr retall lumber yard In Spring- field is believed to be the largest of its kind in the country. The annual output from Alabama is immense and the growth In all lines of the business has been largely the result of the en- ergy and force of character displayed by the head of this gigantic enterprise. He has been indefatigable in keeping in touch with the many detalls of the work under hls control and In preparing his sons to assist him has secured their future welfare.

Mr. Vredenburgh was married in Springfield, December 27, 1866, to Miss Mary A. Canfieid, born in New Jersey, July 5, 1846, daughter of Josiah F. and Abigail (Clark) Canfield, the former born in Morristown, N. J., and the lat- ter in Philadelphia. Josiah Canfield was a min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and moved to Sangamon County, where he owned land, about 1855, remaining In the county about forty years, then went to the New Jersey coast for hls health and died there. His widow sur- vlved him, having been born May 24, 1819. Mrs. Vredenburgh graduated with the Class of 1866 from the Springfield High School and has since been prominent In the alumni association. She is active in church and benevolent circles and is also a member of the Woman's Club, of Springfield. The family have a delightful home at the coruer of Sixth aud Edwards Streets.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 156

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774