Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 63

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 63

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On June 28, 1905, Dr. Griffith was married to Miss Sadie A. Giddings, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Giddings, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and they reside in their pleasant home, at No. 1115 South Second Street, a quiet and restful place. They have two children, Alice Hester, born at Springfield, Ill., April 14, 1906, and Ben Barret, Jr., born at Colorado Springs, March 4, 1911.

GROSS, William L. (Vol. I, pp. 212-213.)

GROSSELL, Michael .- The history of the de- velopinent of the commercial interests of Spring- field is dealt with elsewhere In this work. The present prosperity is largely due to the efforts of the men who built the foundations upon which the present generation is rearing so stately a structure. Among the earlier mer-

chants of this city, and one who through his entire business career labored to help his com- munity, as well as to better his own couditions, is Michael Grossell, now retired. He was born in France, September 12, 1835, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Mapes) Grossell, both natives of France. The father was a butcher by trade, but was a natural musician, of more than or- dinary talent. Both he and his wife died in France when their son was very young. The latter had three brothers and five sisters.

Brought up in France, Micheal Grossell studied both French and German, and speaks both lan- guages fluently, as well as English. He as- sisted his father in the butchering business iu boyhood, and later worked on a farm. When he was eighteen years of age he came to America, landing in New York City, whence he came to Freeport, Ill. but after a short time there weut to Fountain City, Wis., where he found employment chopping wood. After a year there, he went to Stillwater, Minn., where he rafted logs, then returned to Freeport where he lived until he traveled south to New Orleans. There he worked with a steamboat firm, until he went to St. Louis, and from there to Cairo, Ill. Within a short time he was back in Freeport, finally coming to Springfield, in 1861. After his arrival he interested himself in several lines, eventually embarking in a mercantile business, which he operated successfully until his retire- ment. A few years ago, Mayor Kramer ap- pointed him watchman in the North End Fire Station, and Mayor Woodruff re-appointed him. At present he is custodian of Washington Park, and is one of the most reliable men in the service of the city. He is a Democrat, and a consistent member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.

a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Coun- - November, 1865 (on Thanksgiving Day), to So-

Mr. Grossell was married, in Springfield, in phla Richard, born In France, in 1847. Her parents came to Springfield, where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Grossell had the following children : Charles, a traveling salesman, resides with his father; Rose, wife of Frank Seibert, an employe of the Roberts Laundry Company, and live who are deceased. Two grandchildren, a boy and a girl, have been born into this family. Mr. Grossell owns his residence at No. 1102 North Rutledge Street, and has made it one of the most comfortable homes in his neighborhood. For the past forty-five years he has lived in this locatiou, although he has been in Spring- field for forty-nine years, and one of the most important events of the earlier years of his resi- dence there is, in his mind, the funeral of Abra- ham Lincoln, which he attended as one of the sorrowing crowd, gathered to do tender homage to the greatest man the country ever knew.

GROTH, Wilhelm, Sr., who is successfully en- gaged in gardening near Springfield, is a pub- lic-spirited and representative Gerinan-Ameri- can citizen of Sangamon County. He was born May 7. 1852, a son of Segert and Wilhelmina Groth, botlı natives of Germany, where they

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always Ilved. The father died at the age of sixty years, aud the mother, if still living, is now eighty-two years old. Mr. Groth was mar- rled in Germany, November 11, 1877, to Olga Radtke, daughter of Ludwig and Augusta (Braasch) Radtke, her father born September 24, 1810, and the mother born September 16, 1820. There were seven chlidren in the Radtke family, uamely : Auna, wife of Charles Stuempe ; Mrs. Groth, who was born November 3, 1856; one son, Frauk, of Missouri, born January 13, 1859; and four died in infancy. Mr. Radtke was a Corporal for a time in the German Army, in which he served two years, and one brother served in the navy, and a balf-brother of Mrs. Groth served In the army. When Mrs. Groth accompanied her husband to America In 1886 her mother came with her and located in Alta- mont, Ili., where she died.

Mr. Groth brought his wife and their two children to America in 1886, one of whom is still living, and they first located in Effingham County, Ill., where they remained but two months. They then removed to Saugamon County, where he worked for nine years on the Tansy farm, but in 1894, purcbased a small tract of land in Woodside Township, where he has since Ilved. He has but five acres of land, but it is sufficient for the purpose to which it is devoted, and as he Is skilled in gardening has been very successful in this line. He bas a beautiful home and is in good circumstances. A member of the Lutheran Church, and in poli- tics a Republican, he is highly respected as an upright and substantial citizen, and stands well hi his community.

Fourteen children have been born to Mr. Groth and wife, namely : Willlam, a farmer, married Lena Welborg; Charles is a boiler- maker In the employ of the Chicago. Peoria & St. Louis Railroad Company, married Ida Stuckemeyer ; John, a gardener, lives at home; Elizabetb, also at home, is a dressmaker; Anna, at bome, a bookkeeper in the employ of the Roberts Laundry Company ; Olga, at home, is clerk for the Smith Grocery Company ; Frank is attending college in Chicago; Louis is at- tending a German school, and six died in in- fancy. There are two grandchildren in the family : Louis and Frederick George. Mr. Groth is the owner of a valuable seven-acre tract of land on South Sixth Street, near the city.

GROVE, G. R .- All over Sangamon County are to be found men who are holding to their farm land with tenacious purpose, for tbey realize its value and propose to keep it, no matter what price may be offered tbem. One of the men who has demonstrated his abllity as an agriculture- allst is G. R. Grove, residing on Section 34, Divernon Township, where he owns a farmu of sixty acres. He was born in Maryland. Feb- ruary 6, 1866, being a son of James S. and Mary D. (Cauliflower) Grove, farmers of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. James S. Grove re-

sided in their native State until coming to the town of Divernon in 1905. Mrs. Grove's motber was one of three sisters who married three brotbers.

G. R. Grove attended school in Maryland, and grew up as any healtby, happy farmer's son, and after coming to Illluois began farm- ing for himself. Hls valuable farm is located two and three-quarter miles southeast of Di- vernon, and he and his wife dispense a royal hospitality. -

On August 16, 1899, Mr. Grove was married in Springfield to Miss Nancy E. Dill, born in Montgomery County, November 20, 1866, a daughter of A. B. aud Nancy ( Hinman) Dill. She was brought to Sangamon County by her parents when she was six years old, and this bas since contluued ber home. Both her parents are now deceased. The grandfather of Mrs. Grove, J. B. Hinman, came to Sanga- mon Couuty in 1818, and spent the remainder of bls life there. Two of her brothers, A. W. and W. F. Dill, survive, the former residing in Hope, Ark., and the latter in Butler, Ill. Four other members of her family are de- ceased. The Grandfather Dill came from Ohlo, settled near Auburn and bought 400 acres of land. He went back to Ohio, where be died while on visit. His wife died on the farm near Auburn. An aunt, Mrs. Dicy Dill, is now living, being eighty-two years old. She had two brothers in the Civil War, and her Grandfather Smith was born in New York and was a sea captain for years. When she was about seven years old the family moved to Sangamon County, and she remembers back seventy-five years very distinctly to a winter when the snow was so deep that it came up to the roof of the log cabin.

Mr. and Mrs. Grove have two sons: James Clarence, born June 13. 1900, and Howard Le- roy, born August 3, 1902. For the past twenty- oue years Mr. Grove has been a Modern Woodman of America. Since casting his first vote he has been a Democrat, aud served as School Director for three terms. He is an enterprising farmer and stockman, interested In bis home and devoted to his family. The Groves stand high in their neighborhood, and have many friends throughout the township. They are members of the Baptist Church and Mrs. Grove is a member of the Royal Neigh- bors. .

GUNDY, Nathaniel .- One of the best known of Pawnee's citizens is found in Nathaniel Gundy, the oldest wagon-maker there, a vet- eran of the great Civil War, and a man who is universally respected and esteemed on ac- count of his many sterling traits of character. Mr. Gundy was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 20. 1835, a son of Noah and Nancy (Lyons) Gundy. His paternal grand- father was a native of Germany, who came to Pennsylvania and later removed to Ohio, where he died In 1856, and his maternai grand-

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father, a native of Holland, died iu Obio in 1845. Noah Guudy was born in Ohio, Jan- uary 6, 1800, and was married in 1829 to Nancy Lyons, who was born in Germany July 6, 1800, and who came to Pennsylvania when three years old and to Ohio when uine years old. Mr. Gundy died in 1896, having followed farming all of his life, and his wife passed away in 1884. There were teu children in their family, of whomu five are now living : Silas, George W., Nathaniel, Betty and Han- nah, and four of the sons of this couple served in the Civil War. Noah Gundy served dur- ing the War of 1812 and Nathaniel, his son, has many mementos of that struggle, some of which were made by his father.

Mr. Gundy's education was secured in the schools of Ohio and he remained at home uu- til he was twenty years of age, at which time he started to learu the trade of wagon maker, and remained iu his home county for three years longer. He then located in Shelby County, Ill., but in 1859 came to Pawnee, where he has followed his trade to the present time. On August 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company K One Hundred Twenty-fourth Regiment, Il- linois Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, under Captain Sanders, which was mustered in September 10, 1862, and ac- companied this hard-fighting regiment through- out its many hard marches, numerous skir- mishes and vicious battles, always comporting himself as a brave and valorous soldier and making for himself a record of which any man luight well be proud. Some of the battles may be here mentioned : Port Gibson, Ray- mond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River, Siege of Vicksburg, second battle of Champion Hill, Jackson, Benton, a trip across Louisiana to Shreveport. New Orleaus, Mobile Bay, Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley, and then a march to Montgomery, Ala., whence, July 12, 1865, he was ordered home, going via Vicksburg up the river to Cairo, III., and thence to Chicago, where the regiment was mustered out August 16, 1865, after a faithful service of eleven days less than three years. Mr. Gundy was always willing and eager to do his duty and this generally brought , him into the thickest of the fightiug, and at the Siege of Vicksburg he received a wound, his entire time under fire being a matter of eighty- seven days. He is now a popular comrade of A. J. Weber Post. No. 421, Grand Army of the Republic, and for the past twenty-three years has served as Chaplain. In 1878 he was elected to the office of Overseer of Public Highways, and he has also served as Assist- ant Postmaster of Pawnee and as School Di- rector. For many years he has been a Repub- lican, but he casts his vote rather for the man than the party, and lets no party lines bind him. Baptized in the faith of the Christian Church January 7, 1860, Mr. Gundy has always been a faithful, conscientious church member, and in all his seventy-six years has never touched either chewing or smoking

tobacco, nor taken a driuk of whiskey or other spirituous liquor.

Mr. Gundy was married in Pawnee Town- ship, March 21, 1867, to Mary J. Williamson, who was born Juue 22, 1840, in Indiana, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine (Snyder) Williamson, natives of Pennsylvania, who were married in Ohio and removed to Indiana, where both died. They had nine children, namely : Elmira, Hiram, Nancy, Levi, Susan, Mary J., Cassira, Laura and Henry. Of these only two are now living : Mrs. Gundy, and Henry, who lives in Grand Rapids, Mich. Mrs. Gundy's grandparents were Germans and early settlers of Pennsylvania.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gundy : Evert, born Juue 26, 1868, single and liviug at home; Minnie, born April 1, 1877, quarried Charles Hollow aud now lives in Tul- sa, Okla., having two children, Gladys and James H .; Heury D., born January 27, 1874, died October 4, 1894, and an infant daughter born September 4, 1872, died on the same day.

GUY, David Franklin, a substantial citizen of Springfield, Ill., residing at No. 1710 East Car- penter Street, has for seventeen years beeu engineer of the Saugamon Coal Company's mine, and is one of that large corporation's most trusted employes. Mr. Guy was born on a farm in Watauga County, N. C., in 1853, a sou of James C. and Caroline (Cable) Guy, and a grandsou of Levi and Lydia May Guy.

There were no free schools in the vicinity of Mr. Guy's birthplace and his grandmother paid for three mouths tuition for the lad, but owing to a quarrel he had with another boy he left school two weeks after entering. He is well read, however, having learned much from observation. MIr. Guy's grandfather, Levi Guy, who had served during the Mexican War, was such an ardent Union, supporter and so outspoken in his beliefs, that he incurred the emnity of those who bad Southern sen- timents and was eventually taken out and hung. At this time James C. Guy, David F. Guy's father, was serving in the Union army, as were also three of his brothers, but he obtained leave and hurried home to hunt down, if possible, his father's murderers, only to suf- fer a like fate himself, also being hung by Southern sympathizers. His three brothers lost their lives while doing army service.

In 1873 David F. Guy located in Olney, Ill., finding employment on farms for several years and then working in a coal mine in Fountain County, Ind. He then went to Grape Creek, Ill .. where he worked under mine superin- tendent John Vosi as fire boss and coal dig- ger, and in 1889 came with Mr. Vosi to the Sangamon Coal Company's mine, where he dag coal until 1893, and in that year was made engineer, a position which he has since held. In the spring of 1904 he built the fine resi- dence which he now occupies.

Mr. Guy was married in Salem, Marion

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County, Ill., November 7, 1SS0, to Miss Eliz- abeth Peart, daughter of Benjamin Peart, a well-known citizen of Logan County, Ky., where Mrs. Guy was born and rearcd. There have been born to this union the following children: Le- Roy, a resident of Potlatch, Idaho, who mar- ried a Miss Hollingshead; Carrle Myrtle, who married J. P. Gannon, of Springfield ; James Benjamin, of Springfield, who married Flo Cnff ; and Annie L., who married William Cherry, of Springfield. Mr. Gny was reared in the faith. of the Presbyterian Church. He is a stanch Republican in politics and his fraternal connections are wltli the Modern Woodmen and the Odd Fellows.

GUYMAN, Ralph A .- In these days of pro- gression, when all business connected with the printing trades is receiving such an Impetus for- ward, those who are engaged in any line of re- production are bound to succeed. The 1910 printer differs materially from his prototype of fifty years ago. Not only have methods changed. but there are so many more opportunities now for securing fine work, that the up-to-date printer has to be well Informed and skillful, and must know how to meet the popular demand rapidly and satisfactorlly. One of the most progressive of this class of men is Ralph A. Guyman, born In Randolph County, Ill., November 20, 1876. He Is a son of William J. and Amella (Hanna) Randolph, both born In Randolph County, he in 1849, and she In 1854. He. was a miner, who spent hls life in his native county.

Ralph A. Guyman was brought up In one of the small towns of Randolph County, and fol- lowed his father's calling until he went to In- diana. From there he came to Springfield, in 1892. Coming there, he commenced learning the printer's trade, and has followed that Ilne of work ever since. He Is one of the leading men in his line, and has been so successful that he is regarded as one of the responsible men of his locallty.

Mr. Guyman was married In Springfield, Oc- tober 7, 1899, to Elizabeth Andrews, born In Springfield, October 2, 1881, daughter of John and Bridget Andrews, both of England. Mr. and Mrs. Guyman became the parents of two chil- dren: William A., born March 30, 1901, and Helen L., born July 13, 1903. For a number of years Mr. Guyman has been a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Church. He is a Democrat, and Is prond of his party and what it represents. Fraternally Mr. Guyman Is a member of the Order of Owls, the Royal Arcanum, the Frater- nal Order of Rangers, and the Pressmen's Union, being active In all of them. Geuial and courte- ons, Mr. Guyman makes and retains friends, and is popular wherever he is known.

HACKETT, Daniel J .- Recent mine accidents in Illinois and elsewhere have demonstrated the fact that there is a fascination in the work of the miner that attracts men, clearly outside

of any mercenary reason. Men who have es- caped death or injury by the slightest of mar- gins will gladly return to their positions the moment then can, and the average miner does not retire from the work until he has ac- cumulated a comfortable competency or nntil old age has Incapacitated him for further duty. Daniel J. Hackett, who retired bnt a few years ago, was a uilner during all of his ac- tive career, and followed his calling in a num- ber of States in the Union. He was born on a farm uear Clonmell, County Tipperary, fre- land, March 17, 1848, the youngest of the seven children of John and Margaret (Carey) Hack- ett, both of whom died on the Emerald Isle.

Mr. Hackett attended the schools of his native place, and on reaching the age of six- teen years embarked for the United States. On his arrival he joined his sisters iu Schuyl- kill Connty, Pa., where he first became en- gaged in mining, one year later being a full- fledged miner and drawing a man's salary of $250 per month, the average wages paid in those days. He was married in 1875 in Ma- hanoy City, Schuylkill County, Pa., and dur- ing the following year left for the West, lo- cating first in Iowa and working in the mines at Fort Dodge and in Boone County. His wife joined him in Iowa, and in Oct., 1879, they went to Equality, Ill., where oue year was spent, then removed to Springfield, where they have since made their home. Mr. Hackett re- tired from mining in 1902 and since then has been living a qulet life at his comfortable res- idence at No. 1629 North Eightlı street.

On September 13, 1875, Mr. Hackett was united in marriage with Catherine Fall, who was also a native of Cloninell, County Tip- perary, Ireland, where she was born March 17, 1856, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Trav- ers) Fall, the former of whom died in Ire- land and the latter in New York City. Mrs. Hackett came to the United States with her mother and a sister, and after landing at New York City, the little party went direct to Ma- hanoy City, Pa., where numerous of their relatives had already arrived. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hackett, namely : Margaret, Mrs. John McNamara of Spring- field ; John J., also of this city; Thomas Richard, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Nicholas and James, residing at home with their parents; Mary Ellen, who married Charles C. Carter, of Springfield; and Ellz- abeth May, Catherine and Daniel Joseph, all at home.

The family are consistent members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Hack- ett is a stanch Democrat in his political be- liefs and has always been ready to defend the principles of his party. He has spent a long and useful life and is now enjoying the fruits of his years of labor. He has been a member of the Western Catholic Union twenty-five years and is a charter member of the Cath- olic Order of Foresters. He also belongs to

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

the United American Society and has been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for forty years.

HAEGELE, Patrick (deceased) .- The late

Patrick Haegele. who passed away at his home in Springfield, Ill., January 11, 1905, was highly cstecmed as a man of true worth and a public- spirited citizen. He was a successful business man and left a large number of sincere friends to mourn his loss. Mr. Haegele was a native of Rittenberg, Germany, born February 5, 1849, being a son cf Patrick and Theresa (Swartz) Haegele, both natives of the same place. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both parents died iu Germany at an advanced age. They had eight children Patrick being the old- est, and the others were: Tillic lives in Ger- many; Mary, wife of John Bush, of Chicago; Theresa, of Germany; Lena, wife of Lenard Schacfer, of Springfield; John, a Road Commis- sioner, and Bernard, a machinist, both of Springfield; Tardy, a successful farmer of North Dakota.

Mr. Haegele received his educational training in the schools of his native land and came to America in 1867. He engaged in the butcher business at Springfield, and later established a retail meat market on the corner of Sixth Street and North Grand Avenue. In 1889, he purchased a forty-acre tract of pasture land near Oak Ridge Cemetery, and sixty acres five miles west of Springfield. During that year, he engaged in dairy business, which he suc- cessfully conducted until his death. Soon after coming to Springfield, he erected a beautiful home on four city lots on what is now North Grand Avenue. A successful business manager, he was able to provide well for his family. He was a devout Catholic and was affiliated with SS. Peter and Paul Church, belonged to St. Paul's Society, and was a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and in politics, a Democrat.

Mr. Haegele's marriage was celebrated in SS. Peter and Paul Church, Springfield, May 25, 1871, Father Yarley officiating when he was united with Elizabeth Zimmerman, a native of Germany, born July 16, 1850, daughter of Ber- nard and Barbara Zimmerman, also natives of that country. The Zimmerman family came to Springfield in 1866 and located there perma- nently. Mr. Zimmerman died in 1894 and his wife in 1891. Twelve children were born to Mr. Haegele and wife; four are deceased: Frank, born February 16, 1879, a successful farmer living eight miles west of Springfield; Carl B., born October 19, 1887, lives at home and is' employed as bookkeeper for the Scott Coal Company ; Adolph, born December 4, 1896, at home ; Minnie, born June 6, 1881, wife of Clyde A. Ralph, of Springfield ; Anna horn February 13, 1882, wife of Frank Gallenbeck, a farmer of Westport, Minn .; Frances, born February 19, 1884, wife of Henry E. Dressendorfer of Spring- field ; Elizabeth Barbara, born April 27, 1889,

at home; Mary Rosie, born April 25, 1892, at home. Mrs. Haegele died March 1, 1911. Some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Haegele disposed of the one hundred acre farm. She was a faithful member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and has reared her chil- dren in the same faith. She was a good mother to her children and was warmly regarded by many friends. Mrs. Haegele belonged to the Royal Neighbors and the Catholic Foresters.

HAGAMAN, Thomas, a retired farmer of Buf- falo, Ill., was born in Bath County, Ky., January 15, 1837, son of John and Elizabeth (Shropshire) Hagaman, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter of Kentucky. The father was a carpeuter and he and his wife spent their latter years in Kentucky. He came to Illinois on a visit to his son Thomas and was taken sick and died there. He served through the War of 1812, taking part in the Battle of New Orleans. His father was a native of Holland and his wife's family were from Kentucky. John Hagaman and his wife had fourteen children, of whom nine were daughters, and besides Thomas two sons and two daughters still survive.

The education of Thomas Hagaman was re- ceived in Kentucky, and though he attended school only about three months, he educated him- self later and made the most of all his oppor- tunities for improvement. As a young man lie conducted a saw-mill in Bath County, Ky., for five years, and for two years worked in iron mills there. He came to Sangamon County in 1860 and spent two years driving an ox team, then took up farming. He worked ten years in a tile yard, then resumed farming and became quite successful. For the past twenty-five years he has acted as street commissioner and has also served as Constable. He and his son have been quite successful in conducting a small apiary. He is a devout Christian and carries his teach- ings and principles into his every-day life. For the past thirty-five years he has been a Deacon in the Christian Church, of which he is an ac- tive member. In politics he is a Democrat. He has worked hard most of his life and well en- joys the rest he has earned.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 63

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