USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 69
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Frederick E. Schweer is of German nativity, having been born in Hanover, Germany, May 28, 1845. He is a son of John H. and Catherine (Dubelmeyer) Schweer, who came, in 1854, by
way of New Orleans to Beardstown, Ill., after consuming thirteen weeks and five days on the journey. John H. Schweer died in 1SS6 and his wife in 1889. He was a general laborer. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Frederick E. was the youngest. IIe obtained a fair education by four years of study in the public schools, and remained with his father and mother until March 7, 1864, when he enlisted for the Civil war, joining the Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being attached to the West- ern army. He was honorably discharged from the service in January, 1866, and then applied himself to farming and teaming, taking care of his parents until their death. From 1SS2 to 1883 he did police duty in Beardstown, and then became city marshal, holding the latter office until 1902. In November of the last named . year Mr. Schweer was elected sheriff of Cass County, serving until 1906, when he was elected assessor and treasurer of the county, serving thus until 1910. Since that time he has lived in retirement, occupying a spacious and attrac- tive residence in Beardstown.
On March 7, 1867, Mr. Schweer was united in marriage with Catherine L. German, born in Prussia, Germany, a daughter of Jacob and Louisa German, who were natives of Germany, but came to Beardstown and engaged in farm- ing. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Schweer arc : John M. ; Theodore J., a physician ; Emma (Mrs. C. E. Anger) ; Otto ; Alice (Mrs. William Haire), a widow ; and Roy, all of Beardstown. In all of the various capacities in which Mr. Schweer has served the public he has given thorough satisfaction to his constituents, and his reputa- tion as a man and a citizen is deservedly high. Mr. Schweer's religious connection is with the Congregational church. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to McLean Post No. 97, G. A. R.
SCHWEER, Otto .- One of the old and much re- spected families of Cass County, the Schweers, a narrative of whose personal history may be found elsewhere in this volume, is still further represented by the subject of this sketch, a resident of Beardstown, and a son of Fred and Catherine (German) Schweer, long and favor- ably known in this vicinity. Otto Schweer, who is among the most energetic, intelligent and in- dustrious of the younger members of the com- munity, was born in Beardstown, Ill., Septem- ber 23, 1874. In boyhood he attended the com- mon schools of his neighborhood, and at an early period, learned the trade of a machinist, at which he worked from the age of sixteen years, although he lived with his parents until he was twenty-six years old.
At this time. December 21, 1900, occurred Mr. Schweer's marriage to Tillie Hendriker, who was born in Cass County, Ill., her father and mother also being natives of this county. After his marriage Mr. Schweer was engaged for a time in the laundry business, and some of his time was devoted to his trade of machinist. In
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1903, he formed a connection with a stock com- pany under the name of the Goodell Ice and Fuel Company, in which he continued active until 1909, when he went into the coal busi- ness. For a while he has been wholesale agent for the Pabst Brewing Company of Beardstown and vicinity. In all his undertakings he has met with a good measure of success, and in the various enterprises which have occupied his attention, he has made numerous friends who hold him in high regard. In his political course Mr. Schweer has uniformly acted with the Democratic party. He is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., being a Knight Templar, and is also identified with the -B. P. O. E. No. 1007, and the A. O. F., all of Beardstown.
SEHY, John, manufacturer of drain tile and brick, is one of the representative manufac- turers of Cass County, and his plants at Ash- land are thoroughly modern in every respect, and do credit not only to his own business enter- prise and ability, but to the community as well. He was born at Berlin, Ill., February 7, 1867, a son of Peter and Margaret (Stork) Sehy, who came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1865. The father is a shoemaker by trade, and since 1SS1 has lived at Ashland. His brothers and sister were: Adam, Conrad, Frank and Catherine. After the birth of her two children, John and Frank, the first Mrs. Sehy died. Later Peter Sehy married Mary Reith, and they had two sons, Matthew and Steven, and two daughters, Mary E., who is Mrs. William Henn, of Morgan County, Ill. ; and Catherine, who is Mrs. Henry Hein, of Cass County, Ill.
John Sehy attended the common schools of his native place and worked at various things until 1892, when he. with four others, bought out the brick manufacturing plant of J. B. Lohman. From time to time he purchased the interests of his partners and since 1902 has been sole proprietor. In 1909 he added the manutac- ture of drain tile, erecting a plant for that pur- pose, and now has a very large and flourishing business. The capacity of his brick plant is 15,000 per day, while he manufactures from 3.000 to 6,000 drain tile. according to the size. Since 1909 his plant has been operated by a 35- horse power engine and a 40-horse power boiler. and employment is given to six men. The main drying shed is 125x32 feet, and he has a second building 75x28 feet. in which are located the engine, boiler, machine shop and clay pit. The drying room has a cement floor and exhaust steam is forced into the tile which heats the shed and assists in drying the product. Mr. Sehy has two round down-draft kilns, with a capacity of 70,000, heated by a grateless tur- nace of the latest improved model. All equip- ments in his plants are the most modern in the county, and he is constantly improving them.
On February 18. 1890. Mr. Sehy married Mary Elizabeth Brazzle, born in La Salle County, a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Farrel) Brazzle, natives of Ireland, and the following
children have been born to them: Charles Francis, who is of Ashland. Ill., is engineer of the tile plant : Anna Marie, who is at home; Frances Catherine. Helen May, Margaret Mary, Frank Conrad, Gertrude, Thomas Peter, John James, and Agnes Louise who died in infancy. Mr. Sehy is a member of the Catholic church. He belongs to the W. C. U. No. 24, of Ashland. In politics he is a Democrat.
SHANKLAND, Ora, editor and publisher of the Chandlerville Times, and a man who is con- scientious in moulding opinion and advocating improvements and liberal reforms, was born at Chandlerville, Ill., June 20, 1SS1, a son of Rev. Benjamin Hartley and Elizabeth (Peek) Shank- land, the former born in Nicholas County, Ky .. November 23. 1843. and the latter in Menard County, Ill .. November 19, 1835, The father was a Methodist minister and a farmer, and both he and his excellent wife spent their lives in doing good to others. Earnest and consistent members of the Methodist church, they worked towards its advancement, and made relieving the needy one of the chief aims of their existence. During the Civil war. the father served for six months in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty- fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, while in political views he is a Democrat.
Ora Shankland is a graduate of the Chandler- ville High school. class of 1900, and after com- pleting his school course he learned the printing trade, which he has followed ever since, with the exception of a few months when he was a gro- cery clerk. On September S, 1911, he bought the Chandlerville Times and has since issued it and conducts in conjunction with it a well equipped job printing office. He is a member of the Chandlerville Chamber of Commerce and an honorary member of the Cass County Country Life Club. Since 1907 he has belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America, and in July, 1913. he joined the Knights of Pythias. He is not only clerk and secretary of the Christian church board, which religious organization he joined January 1, 1910, but he is a member of the Sunday school orchestra. In politics he is a Democrat, and one of the leaders of his party.
On May 10. 1911, Mr. Shankland married Nellie F. McDonald, a daughter of William Edgar and Ida Mae (Johnson) McDonald, the former a painter and paper hanger, Mrs. Shank- land was born at Virginia. Ill .. May 7, 1893, and is a member of the Christian church and a very prominent worker in the same, with which church she united when twelve years of age. She is also a member of the Court of Honor, which she joined October 5, 1914. Mrs. Shank- land also taught a very successful term of school. Mr. and Mrs. Shankland have many warm per- sonal friends at Chandlerville, and are numbered among the social leaders of the place.
SHAW, Rev. William Bird, minister of the Con- gregational church at Chandlerville, Ill., and a man widely known and universally respected
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for his dignified capability and profound learn- ing, and beloved for his reasonable charitable- ness, was born at Beardstown, November 12, 1853, a son of John Barnwell and Mary Jane (Chandler) Shaw, the former born in Cumber- land, Maine, July 22, 1823, and the latter at Scituate, R. I., May 27, 1830. John B. Shaw was an attorney-at-law, and was one of the organ- izers of the Cass County public school system, and the first county superintendent of schools in Cass County. On the maternal side, the Chand- lers not only were early identified with Cass County, but were ever the first to aid and help school, church and social enterprises. The sites of the schoolhouse, the Congregational church and the Methodist church at Chandlerville, were given by Dr. Charles Chandler, Dr. Shaw's grandfather, as well as all parks and other public grounds. He was the most influential factor in securing the passage of the railroad through Cass County. Mrs. Shaw, the mother of Dr. Shaw, was brought from Rhode Island to what afterwards became Chandlerville, by her father, Dr. Chandler, when young, and was the first child in that neighborhood.
William Bird Shaw was graduated from Illi- nois College, Jacksonville, and the Union College of Law, Chicago. His boyhood was spent on a farm with his widowed mother, he having lost his father when he was five years old, and there he enjoyed life as a lover of books and of agri- culture. He studied law and become an attorney, and in 1SS4 went to Ford County, Kas., and was one of the first settlers and law- yers of the county. It was while residing there that he determined to turn from law to the ministry, began the study of theology and was ordained at Ford, Kas., in 1889. After many years of active work in that state, he came back to Illinois, and took charge of the Congrega- tional Church at Beardstown, in 190S. He has always been very much interested in church and educational work, and in political faith is a Progressive Republican. The Masonic order and the order of Odd Fellow's hold his fraternal membership.
On March 16, 1886, Mr. Shaw was married to Mary Louise Broadwell of Jacksonville, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have had two children : Mary Louise, who was born at Jacksonville, July 27, 1SS0 ; and Harold Bird, who was born at Downs, January 16, 1890. The family home is at Chandlerville. Dr. Charles Chandler entered and purchased the land upon which Chandler- ville now stands, and it takes its name from this notable pioneer, extended mention of whom will be found in the historical part of this work.
SHOEMAKER, Martin R .- Beardstown has one of the best photographic studios in Cass County, conducted by Martin R. Shoemaker, and those patronizing it are given artistic work at reasonable prices. Mr. Shoemaker was born in Titus County, Tex., January 18, 1864, a son of William R. and Margaret Alice (Martin) Shoe- maker, natives of Landstone County, S. C., and Wheeling, W. Va. He was killed in Texas dur- 23
ing 1864, and his widow married again, and her son, Martin R., was brought up by his step- father, William Birks, in Macon County, Ill., until he was seventeen years old, during which period he attended the schools of his district.
When he was seventeen years old he began learning the carpenter trade, but after a year was engaged in sign painting, and then became interested in photography and the enlarging of pictures, while he was in Nebraska, and he trav- eled about Texas and in other states, including Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota. He sup- plemented his practical experience with a course at Rockford, Ill., in the air-brush method of enlarging pictures. In 1889 he located in Beardstown, Ill., where he has built up an excellent trade in photographic work, the enlarging of photographs, crayon drawing, etc., and handles photographic sundries and does picture framing, and is doing a very large business.
On January 19, 1887, Mr. Shoemaker was married at Argenta, Ill., to Lena Alice Sprague, born at Randallville, Ill., a daughter of Dr. Joshua Sprague. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have had the following children : Leah Alice, who is at home; Carletta May, who is Mrs. Clifford Norman, resides at Beardstown ; and Clarence, who died at the age of nine years and five months.
Mr. Shoemaker belongs to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and has been an elder since 1900. He has been church historian of the Central Illinois District that comprises twenty-one counties in the cen- tral part of Illinois, and is now its president. In addition he is first counselor to "The St. Louis Quotam of Elders," comprised of three districts, Central Illinois, Southeastern Illinois and St. Louis districts, so that it can be easily seen that with business and church work his time is pretty well occupied. Believing that idleness is criminality, and that work without art is brutality, he has combined the two, "work and art" in his achievements which has enabled him to surmount many obstacles in life. In politics he is independent. Fraternally he be- longs to the Court of Honor and the Modern Woodmen of America, both of Beardstown.
SIMPSON'S FURNITURE AND UNDERTAK- ING CO .- Among the well known enterprises of Beardstown, Cass County, Ill., is the concern above named, located at No. 115 West Third street, the proprietor of which is L. L. Simp- son. This business was purchased from C. E. Williamson, on September 1, 1911, by Mr. Simp- son, who came from Carrollton, Ill., and it has since been under his immediate management. Formerly, the partnership in control was Huge & O'Kricke, who sold it to Huge & Williamson, and the latter subsequently bought out the former's interest on April 15, 1911. Jointly in- terested with Mr. Simpson in the enterprise is his mother, Mrs. Emma J. Simpson. The con- cern deals in all varieties of furniture, rugs, etc., and also does upholstering and picture
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framing. The establishment is equipped with private parlors and a private morgue in the undertaking department. Mr. Simpson is a li- censed embalmer, and has his mother's assist- ance in this department, as well as that of J. H. Huge.
L. L. Simpson is a native of Carrollton, Ill., where his birth took place in the year 1SSS. His early educational training was obtained in the public schools of that place, after which he eutered the high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907. He then pur- sued a course of undertaking and embalming under his father, E. L. Sirupson, deceased, and in the Barnes School of Sanitary Science and Embalming of Chicago. His father was a mem- ber of the firm of S. E. Simpson & Company. After his death on September 22, 1910, L. L. Simpson took charge of the business until June 1, 1911, when it was disposed of, and Mr. Simp- son and his mother located in Beardstown. Mrs. Emma J. Simpson is a daughter of Enoch and Margaret (Loper) Keele. She was born in Macoupin County, Ill., and her marriage took place in the same county. Mrs. Simpson is the mother of two children, Levis and Leita.
L. L. Simpson was united in marriage, on October 16, 1913, with Caroline Post, a daugh- ter of Fayette and Minuie (Knight) Post. He is a business man of much intelligence and enterprise and has the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends.
SINCLAIR, Harry Watson .- It requires a thor- ough knowledge of farming iu all its many details to be a successful agriculturalist. There are men engaged in tilling the soil in Cass Couuty who appreciate this fact and have taken a deep interest in their work and through their success are doing much to make this locality a center of agriculture. One of these men is Harry Watsou Sinclair of Virginia.
Harry W. Sinclair was born in Champaign County, Ill., July 10. 1SS3, a son of Johu N. aud Eliza (Stout) Sinclair. While he was still an infant. Mr. Sinclair's parents moved to Chand- lerville, Cass County, and in 1SSS, located at Virginia, so that the lad enjoyed the advan- tages of excellent schools. When he was fifteen years old, he began to be self-supporting, secur- ing work in a country store, aud in 1906 he embarked in a grocery business at Virginia, in partnership with J. C. Baily. This associatiou continued with profit to both until 1912. when Mr. Sinclair sold his interest to his partner, and moved to the farm of Marquis L. Crum in Virginia Precinct, where, during the following years, he has been engaged in general farming and stockraising, feeding the greater part of his grain. His success along these lines has been of such a nature as to mark him a man well fitted for agricultural pursuits, and he is cor- rectly numbered among the leaders of his county.
Ou September 12. 1912, Mr. Sinclair was mar- ried by Rev. Loyd. of Virginia, Ill., to Rena Frances Crum, boru November 14, 1SSS, in Vir-
ginia Precinct, a daughter of Marquis L. and Frances ( Stubblefield ) Crum. Mr. and Mrs. Sin- clair have one son, Marquis Crum, who was born July 22, 1913. Mr. Sinclair is a Presbyteriau, while his wife is a Methodist. In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to Ma- sonic Lodge No. 544 of Virginia, and to the Knights of Pythias No. 551 of the same city. Mrs. Sinclair is a member of the Eastern Star.
SKILES, Lee H., president of the Goodell, Skiles Lumber Co., Inc., a director of the Petefish- Skiles Bank, of Virginia, and one of the leading men of Virginia, Ill., was born in Cass County, Ill., August 1, 1871, a son of Oswell and Ann (Conover) Skiles. After attending the public schools of Virginia, and the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, Ill., he was employed for a time in the Couover, Skiles & Mertz Bauk, of Jackson- ville, a private institution, but in October, 1894, he purchased the lumber business of Stout & Wilson, of Virginia, which plant was located on the present site of the Methodist church. In the following year, he bought land and built the quarters now occupied by his firm. The rapid growth of the business demanded the infusion of more capital, and Mr. Skiles consolidated with William S. Goodell, who had a yard and works at Chandlersville and at Kilbourne, IIl. The present company was incorporated on Jau- uary 1, 1909, with a capital of $30.000, with Lee H. Skiles as president ; C. F. Achamire, vice pres- ident; and W. S. Goodell secretary and treas- urer, the board of directors being composed of the officials. The company handles lumber, paints, hardware, wire fencing and gates of various descriptions, lime, cement and general building materials.
On November 10, 1897. Mr. Skiles was married to Edith Crum. a daughter of Marcus L. and Fannie (Stubblefield) Crum. and they have two children. namely : Heleu and Marcus Oswell, both of whom are attending the Virginia public schools. Mr. Skiles is a member of the Moderu Woodmeu of America and the Masonic frater- uity, joining both orders at Virginia. For four Tears or two terms. Mr. Skiles was a member of the city council of Virginia and can always be depended upon to take a public-spirited interest in local affairs.
SKILES, Louis Oswell, county clerk of Cass County, and a man of more than average busi- ness foresight, whose grasp of public matters has placed him in a position where he can use his knowledge for the good of the people, is one of the leading men of Virginia. He was boru in this city on September 27. 1SS3, a sou of O. and Eliza (Epler) Skiles. old settlers of Cass County, the former of whom was one of the pioneer bankers of this locality. He died in 190S. his wife surviving until 1912. They had three children, namely: Lee. Louis O., aud Stella. who married M. J. Alkire, but is now a widow.
After passing through the public schools of Virginia, Louis O. Skiles attended Knox College
.
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of Galesburg, Ill., and then began his business life in the bank of Conover, Skiles & Mertz at Chandlersville, Ill., as assistant cashier. Atter a year in the bank, he went on a farm and carried on farming and stockraising for four years. For the next two years he discharged the duties of deputy circuit clerk of Cass County, and in 1910, was elected county clerk, and still holds that position, and in that same year, was elected vice-president of the State Board of Agriculture and is still in office. His support has come from the Democratic party, as he belongs to that political organization.
In 1905, Mr. Skiles married Gertrude Stout, a daughter of Philemon and Nellie (Walker) Stout, no issue. Mr. Skiles is a Mason, having joined the order in 1906, and has passed through the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Consistory, and also belongs to Mohammed Shrine of Peoria, and is also a member of the Elks Lodge of Beardstown. Yet in the very prime of life, Mr. Skiles has a prosperous future before him. His friends are many, his connections desirable, and those who know him best, rely upon his judg- ment, and are proud of his advancement in public favor.
SLIGH, J. R., county treasurer and assessor of Cass County, is one of the enterprising and reliable men of this part of the state, one whose foresight and knowledge of affairs has placed him in more than one office of importance. Mr. Sligh was born at Wooster, Ohio, April 10, 1865, a son of Archibald and Christina (Bucannon) Sligh.
J. R. Sligh grew up amid excellent home sur- roundings, and received the usual common school education, but from boyhood he pos- sessed more than ordinary ability, and upon entering upon a business lite, made a success of his work. For twenty years he was asso- ciated with flour milling at various places, finally locating in Cass County, and his business career in Cass County, which extended over a period of some sixteen years, proved his worth, and during that time he continued to devote himself to milling. As a man of judgment and stability he found such favor with the people that he was elected sheriff of the county in 1906, and held that office for four years. He was then elected county treasurer and assessor, and is regarded as one of the best men Cass County has had to discharge the duties of these offices.
In 1899 Mr. Sligh was married to Emma Kirchner, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Yeck) Kirchner, and they have one child, Christine, who is attending the Virginia public school. Mr. Sligh belongs to the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and is popular in both orders. A man of uprightness of purpose, lie has lived up to his ideals and has always done his full duty as he saw it.
SMITH, Earl .- The business interests of Vir- ginia are carefully conserved by the enterpris- ing men of the county seat, and one of them who
is deserving of more than passing mention is Earl Smith, whose operations in coal place him among the successful merchants of the county. Mr. Smith was born at Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., February 24, 1SS2, a son of Joseph and Helen (Gover) Smith, the former of whom died February 28, 1906, the latter surviving and making her home at Virginia. When he was still an infant, Earl Smith was brought to Vir- ginia, Cass County, Ill., and here he grew to maturity. After taking the public school course, Mr. Smith began to assist his father in the coal business, continuing until the father's death, when he succeeded, and has continued in this line alone ever since. He farms forty acres of land near Virginia in addition to attending to his other business. He has not married, but lives with his mother, being the fourth in order ot birth of the nine children that were born to his parents.
Mr. Smith is interested in fraternal matters, belonging to the Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs, and to the Modern Wood- men of America, in which he is now venerable counsel. The Presbyterian church holds his membership. His standing in the community is exceptionally good, and he deserves the success which has been his, for he has always worked intelligently and diligently, and also has been able to spare time to take a useful interest in local affairs, although he is in no sense a poli- tician.
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