Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 89

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 89

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BARR, Martin J., one of the prosperous general farmers and stockraisers of Pilot Grove Town- ship, is very well and favorably known through- out Hancock County. He was born in Prairie Township, September 7, 1874, a son of John and Margaret (Bratz) Barr, natives of Germany. They came to the United States when young, and located in Hancock County, where they met and were married. They then settled in Prairie Township, and lived there until about 1900, when they bought a farm in Pilot Grove Town- ship, and there he died May 8, 1912. His wife survives and makes her home at Burnside. Their two children were Martin J .; and John J., who lives in Pilot Grove Township.

Martin J. Barr was reared in his native town- ship, and attended its schools, remaining with his parents until he was married on March 1, 1899, to Belle Simms, born in Pilot Grove Town- ship, a daughter of William and Fannie (Patter- son) Simms, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have two children, namely : Fannie Mar- garet, and Alice Simms, both of whom are at home.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barr took up their residence on the Simms' farm of 430 acres of land. Mr. Barr now owns eighty- two acres, of Mrs. Barr's father's old farm, and altogether Mr. Barr and wife own 430 acres. He carries on general farming and raises hogs and cattle. In politics he is a Republican, and for five years he was a school director. The Methodist Episcopal Church has in him a con-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

sistent member. An excellent farmer, he is setting an example in efficiency to his neighbors, and is rightly numbered among the representa- tive men of the county.

.BARTELS, William H., hardware dealer, and one of the substantial men of Hancock County, was born in Hanover, Germany, October 31, 1848, a son of Henry and Christina (Hartrick) Bartels, who were born and reared and married in Ger- many. They came thence to the United States in 1856, and after they settled at Carthage, the father engaged in farming although he was an architect by profession, and had been a government fire inspector in Germany. He rounded out his life on a farm just west of Carthage, and he and his wife took an active part in the Lutheran Church of their neighbor- hood, which they assisted in founding. In 1858 the pioneer Lutheran families of Bartels, Hoch, Kern, Reinoel, Ruger, and Barr, began to hold services once a month in the little frame Methodist Church building, which stood east of Mrs. Noyes' residence. The minister was Rev- erend Eisenbach from Nauvoo. The first local minister was Reverend Oswald, and after he arrived, services were held every Sunday in a hall in the building on the southwest corner of the square. Here was the first Lutheran confirmation, on Palm Sunday in 1862, W. H. Bartels being the only one in that class. In 1862 the congregation decided to erect a house of worship, but money was so scarce that it was with difficulty that any could be raised for the purpose. At that time it took a year's savings of the ordinary person to pay the taxes. These sturdy pioneers were not discouraged, but worked and hoped. They did all the work them- selves, burning the brick, making the window and door sills, and the cornerstones were taken from the Mormon temple, members hauling them to the new site with oxen. Shortly after the completion and dedication of the church, in 1863, Reverend Oswald died and Dr. Conrad Kuhl became the resident minister. He was a fine preacher, speaking in both German and English, and under his charge the church grew in membership and influence, and the Lutheran Synod was induced to hold meetings at Carthage in 1863, and at this session the location of the new college was decided upon. When Carthage College was completed, it was deemed fitting to have a church connected with it, and the Eng- lish members withdrew from the German con- gregation to form the Trundy Congregation.

William H. Bartels was reared on- the home- stead and attended the Carthage schools. He takes much interest in designing and making fine furniture, all of it in his home having been made by him. He made the gavel that called the Republican convention to order at St. Louis, Mo., which nominated William Mc- Kinley for the presidency. It was made from a piece of wood taken from the cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born. A very active Mason, Mr. Bartels is past master, and past eminent commander of Knights Templar, having

attained to the Knight Templar and Thirty- second degrees. A Republican, he has been county central committeeman for years, and is known all over the county. Although it is prob- able he could have almost any office within the gift of the people, he has never consented to the placing of his name on the party ticket, preferring to work for the principles of his poli- tical faith, as a private citizen. Mr. Bartels has never married. He belongs to the church his parents helped to found.

BARTH, Henry Frederick, a successful general farmer and stockraiser of Sonora Township, is a native son of this township, having been born on section 24, on May 10, 1876. His parents, Peter and Catherine (Schmits) Barth, were na- tives of Germany. Peter Barth was born Sep- tember 17, 1824, and died July 23, 1891. Cath- erine (Schmitz) Barth died May 20, 1880, aged forty-seven years. They were married in Sonora Township, where they became the owners of 114 acres of land, and conducted it until they died, the father passing away in 1891. The mother died in 1880. Their children were as follows: August, born August 25, 1867, died February 21, 1889, at the age of twenty-two years; Elizabeth, who is Mrs. John Welsh of Winnebago, Minn .; Louis, who was born Octo- ber 9, 1873, died June 17, 1891, at the age of twenty-six years; and Henry Frederick.

Henry Frederick Barth attended the district schools, and grew up on the farm, residing with his father until the death of the latter, when Henry and his brother Louis farmed the home- stead until Henry attained his majority. At that time Henry Frederick Barth went to Geneva, Neb., and worked on a farm in that vicinity. On May 22, 1898, he enlisted for serv- ice in the Spanish-American War, in the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, and went into the training camp at Camp Presidio, San Francisco, Cal. Six weeks later he was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, and was in camp there for about a month before sailing to Manila, P. I. For the subsequent nine months Mr. Barth was stationed there, assisting in the subjection of the natives, when he was sent back to San Francisco, via Japan and the Inland Sea, and received his honorable discharge in 1899. Following this he returned to Sonora Township, Hancock County, and spent the ensuing winter with his sister, Mrs. Welsh. He then went to Adrian County, Mo., and for a year conducted a rented farm, when once more he came back to Sonora Town- ship, and in the following spring farmed a por- tion of the homestead, living alone until his mar- riage, after which Mr. Barth moved to his por- tion of his father's farm, which comprised fifty- four acres of land, and spent five years upon it, and then moved to an adjoining farm of sixty acres, operating both farms and carrying on general farming and stockraising.

On April 2, 1902, Mr. Barth was married to Miss Maggie May Printy, born in St. Mary's Township, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Kimbrugh) Printy, natives of Ohio. Mr. and

Oliver 6. Peck

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

Mrs. Barth became the parents of the following children : Leoma; Byron, who died at the age of four years ; and Harland. The family all be- long to the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and he served as a school director for six years. In his young manhood, he gave his country efficient service as a soldier, and now in his more mature years he is rendering equally important service in adding to the food supply of the world, and in pointing out the way for others to follow in making their land yield bumper crops.

BAUMERT, Michael, Sr., who was a prominent contractor and builder closely associated with the rebuilding of Nauvoo, had a fine record also as a veteran of the Civil War. He was born at Kehl, Baden, Germany, October 1, 1833, a son of Michael and Magdelina (Schutterle) Baumert. The parents brought their family to the United States in 1852, making the voyage on a sailing vessel that after forty-five days on the ocean landed them at New Orleans. From that city they engaged passage on a steamboat that ran up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo., and that trip took nine days. While they were on the steamer, cholera and malarial fever broke out, but they escaped. After a residence in St. Louis for two years they came to Nauvoo in 1854, The father was a stone mason and brick layer, and when the Mormons were driven out, he and his sons found plenty of employ- ment in rebuilding the city. They were con- nected with the erection of the first Methodist Episcopal Church, and other important building operations. It was not until 1860 that Michael Baumert secured his final citizenship papers, althought he had voted for Franklin Pierce for President of the United States.

On March 15, 1857, Michael Baumert was married to Mary Schini, born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and they had the following children : George, who is deceased; Julia, who is Mrs. Boquet, of Keokuk, Iowa; Mary, who lives at home; Anna, who lives at Keokuk, Iowa; Michael, who is the publisher of the Nauvoo Independent ; and Emma, Mrs. Higander, who died, leaving a son, Ralph Higander.

Michael Baumert on March 22, 1865, enlisted at Chicago for service during the Civil War, in Company G, Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged on July 24, 1865, at Richmond, Va. He belonged to the G. A. R., and served as commander of his post for several years, and also had been quartermaster and adjutant, being the first to hold that office in the Nauvoo Post. Mrs. Baum- ert died August 27, 1907, and Mr. Baumert died April 3, 1919.

BAUMERT, Michael, Jr., publisher and pro- prietor of the Nauvoo Independent, the only semi-weekly journal issued in Hancock County, comes of an old and honored family. He was born at Nauvoo, Ill., May 20, 1869, a son of Michael and Maria (Schini) Baumert. natives of Baden, Germany, and Alsace-Lorraine,

France, respectively, and grandson of Michael and Magdalena (Schutterly) Baumert and ot Michael and Mary (Isreal) Schini. A sketch of the Baumert family is given elsewhere in this work.

Michael Baumert. Jr., attended the common and also the high school of Nauvoo. When only thirteen years old he began learning the print- ing trade with the Independent at Nauvoo, and when seventeen years old, he went to Fort Madi- son, Iowa, and was with the Daily Plaindealer for six months, going from there to the Gem City Daily, of Fort Madison. At the age of twenty years, he returned to Nauvoo, and bought a half interest with his brother George, in the Nauvoo Independent. George Baumert died April 27, 1914, and Michael Baumert then bought the interest of his brother's heirs, and has since continued alone.

On October 28, 1903, Mr. Baumert was married to Stella E. A. Clark, born at Nauvoo, a daughter of William and Ellen E. (Coon) Clark, he born at Ribchester, Lancashire, England, January 31, 1835, died October 7, 1908. . In 1841 Mr. Clark was brought by his parents to Nauvoo. They were of the Mormon faith and his father, the grandfather of Mrs. Baumert, who was a stone cutter, was engaged to carve the oxen, moons and other figures which decorated the Mormon temple. Mr. and Mrs. Baumert have no children, but Mrs. Clark, who has survived her husband, lives with them. Mr. Baumert is independent in politics. Fraternally he be- longs to the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Royal Neighbors, Modern Woodmen of America, the Moose and the Hancock County Mutual Insur- ance Company. A man who has devoted his life to newspaper work, he understands every detail of it and his journal ranks with the leaders in its line in this part of the state.

BAXTER, Emile, now deceased, was one of the solid men of Hancock County who played an important part in the reclamation of Nauvoo from the effects of the Mormon occupation. Because of his influence and high character, it is but fitting that a biography of his life be given in a work of this class. He was born at St. Quintin, France, in 1825. a son of John and Marie Antoinette Baxter, the former of whom was born in Scotland, and the latter in France.

John Baxter was a soldier who served in the Napoleonic wars, and after reaching France was so pleased with the country, that he located at St. Quintin, where he established a lace fac- tory, exporting his product to the United States. His cousin, E. S. Jaffray, sold his lace for him and thus started his business in the United States, and this house still stands, being one of the oldest lace importing concerns in the United States. Later he came to the United States with his family, and in 185S located at Nauvoo, where he bought a large tract of land that is now included in the business district. Here he planted grapes and became a manufac- turer of wine.

Emile Baxter located in Connecticut upon

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

coming to the United States in 1846, and there he was married in 1852, to Antoinette Powell who was born in 1828. For some years he was a bookkeeper for an importing house at New York, N. Y. In 1858 he came to Nauvoo to locate permanently, although he had paid a visit to the locality as a director of the Icarian Com- munity, but not being satisfied with conditions, he returned to his old home. When he came back to Nauvoo it was to take a constructive part in the development of the town. His wife. who was a very highly educated lady, having been trained in the schools of England and France, had taught school at Farmington. Conn., and other New England states, opened a school at Nauvoo in a stone building con- structed from portions of the old Mormon tem- ple. Her father was Nathaniel Powell, and both he and his wife were of English birth. They came to the United States, settling in New Jer- sey, where both died. In 1863, the first Mrs. Baxter passed away, having borne her husband the following children : Emile Edward Jaffray ; Dr. Alfred J., who lives at Astoria, Ill .; An- toinette, who is Mrs. George W. Smith, of Keo- kuk, Iowa: Thomas P., who lives at Nauvoo; Cecil J., who lives at Nauvoo; and Bertha. who is Mrs. G. R. Bradford, of Pierce City, Ill. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Baxter was married (sec- ond) to Mary Wimmer, of Vienna, Austria, and they had one daughter, Addie, who is now the widow of Ernest Kroskopf. and lives at Keokuk. Iowa. The death of Mr. Baxter occurred at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1895, his second wife surviv- ing him until 1911.

BAXTER, Emile Edward Jaffray, one of the most influential men of Nauvoo, who has found time to devote to public affairs as well as to developing a fine business in raising fruits and bees, being recognized as one of the leaders in bee culture in the state. comes of an old and honored family of Hancock County. IIe was born at Newark, N. J., May 13, 1853, eldest child of Emile and Antoinette (Powell) Baxter, and grandson of John and Marie Antoinette Baxter and Nathaniel Powell. A sketch of the Baxter family is given elsewhere in this work.

Emile Edward Jaffray Baxter attended the common schools, but the greater part of his educational training was secured by candlelight, under the instruction of a scholar, a friend of his gifted mother. His mother was an educator of note. and while teaching at Farmington, Conn., the wives of two men who afterwards became famous, were her pupils, they later marrying Senator Jolin Sherman and Gen. George B. MCClennon, Sr. When he was cighteen years old Mr. Baxter rented land and operated his father's property, began raising grapes, and also taught school during the win- ter months for thirteen years. In time he bought ten acres of land. on which was a sub- stantial residence formerly occupied by a Mor- mon leader, and in it the Baxter family lived for twenty-five years. In the meanwhile Mr. Baxter erected a fine barn, chicken house and

shop. In 1913 he built a modern brick resi- dence, with four large rooms, hall, and bath- room on the ground floor, and five bedrooms, closets, and an office on the second floor. He has added thirty acres to his place, and has put it in fruit, principally apples, pears and grapes. On his first ten acres he put in four acres in grapes and has eight acres additional in his vineyard. Until 1901, Mr. Baxter owned, in partnership with his brothers, a vineyard of thirty-four and one-half acres operating as E. Baxter's Sons, wine manufacturers, but in that year sold to his partners. At that time he began specializing in bee culture, and now has 350 colonies of bees, in four yards, and produces extracted honey of extra quality.

Mr. Baxter was a Lincoln Republican, but in later years has been a Democrat, and he served for one term as supervisor of Nauvoo Township, and has been alderman of the Third Ward most of the time since 1880. He has been a director of school district number 3 since 1890, and has been a member of the board of education of the Nauvoo Township High School for m ny years, to him being due the credit of consolidating the schools in one. He also secured an extension of the original three years' high school course to four years. For one year he was mayor of Nauvoo, and proved eminently fitted for that high office. Mr. Baxter has rendered other val- uable service, for he was vice president of the Illinois State Horticultural Society for many years, was president of the Illinois State Bee- keepers Association for six years, and refused re-election, and he was a director of the Na- tional Beekeepers Association of the United States and Canada. He was one of the found- ers of the State Bank of Nauvoo, and is the only surviving member of the original board of directors, and is chairman of the examining committee and served. for many years on the loan and discount committee of this institution. At one time he was connected with the Hamil- ton Loan and Building Association, and is still a stockholder in it. Fraternally he is a charter member of the Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 222; the Rebekahs, and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and also belongs to Black Hawk Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Hamilton, Ill.

On June 21, 1877, Mr. Baxter was married to Eugenie Dadant, born in France, but long a resident of Hamilton, Ill., a daughter of Charles and Gabrielle (Parisot) Dadant, natives of France, who came to Hamilton, Ill., in 1863, where Mr. Dadant became one of the most suc- cessful bee raisers in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter became the parents of the fol- lowing children : Alice A., who lives at Kanka- kee, Ill., is a piano and vocal teacher ; Miles E., who was married to Grace Martin, has a daugh- ter, Billie, and they live on an apple orchard near Ft. Leavenworth, Kans .; Charles B., who also lives on an apple orchard near Ft. Lea- venworth, Kans. ; Florence G., who is Mrs. Alden Snyder of Kankakee, Ill., has three children, Lillian, John and Hellen. Mr. Alden Snyder is Farm Advisor of Montgomery County, Ill.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

BECKMAN, John P., owner and publisher of the Hancock County Journal, and one of the alert, progressive and representative men of Han- cock County, resides at No. 245 Cherry Street, Carthage. He was born in Columbus Township, Adams County, Ill., January 5, 1877, a son of John Henry and Hannah (Hocamp) Beckman, farming people who are now living retired at Pasadena, Cal. Beginning his business career with absolutely nothing, John Henry Beckman has proven what energy and thrift can accomplish, for he accumulated a fine farm of 260 acres in Adams County, Ill., that is as valuable as any in that region. He sold it to one of his sons, and now lives in retirement.

John P. Beckman was graduated from the Camp Point High school, and the law depart- ment of the University of Illinois. His boyhood was passed amid rural surroundings on his father's farm, but he early evinced a taste for journalism, and after completing his collegiate course, he bought a newspaper at Golden, Ill., and conducted it for seven years. At the ex- piration of that period he came to Carthage, and purchased his present paper, which is conducted in the interests of the Democratic party, as he is a Democrat, first, last and always. He was elected city clerk of Golden, Ill., on the citi- zen's ticket, and he promoted the Farmers' Tele- phone Company of Golden, Ill., and served as its secretary for three years, when he resigned on account of leaving the village. Fraternally he belongs to Hancock rouge, A. F. & A. M., and Bentley Lodge, No. 412, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand. Not only is he a member of the Lutheran Church, but he is an elder of Trinity Lutheran Church of Carthage and treasurer of the church board.

On August 23, 1906, Mr. Beckman was mar- ried at Augusta, Ill., to Miss Sylvia Reaugh, a daughter of Clark and Elizabeth (Hendricks) Reaugh, both born in Adams County, Ill., in 1850. A man of high intellectual attainments, he is fully qualified by taste and training to achieve distinction in journalism, and his paper ranks among the leaders in his part of the state.

BEEBE, Henry Clay, a substantial farmer of Hancock Township, belongs to one of the old families of the county, and is himself held in high esteem by all who know him. He was born in Fountain Green Township, November 5, 1844, a son of Jabus A. and Martha (Wait) Beebe, natives of Connecticut and Chenango County, N. Y., respectively. They were married in New York. He was a civil engineer, and also was interested in farming, His first wife was Sophia Wait, a sister of his second wife, and she was born July 3, 1793, and died May 17, 1840. By his second wife, Jabus A. Beebe had two children, one born April 16, 1834, died March 12, 1838; and Henry Clay. After the death of his second wife, Jabus A. Beebe was married (third) to Louisa Taylor. Jabus A. Beebe was born July 1, 1789, and died July 3, 1871. He and his father came to Hancock

County at a time when there were only twelve other families in the county, and they helped to lay out Fountain Green village, so called because of the intense green of the grass about a spring included in the new village.

Henry Clay Beebe attended the common schools of his township, and remained with his parents until 1850, when he moved to Webster. Ill. On February 14, 1870, Mr. Beebe was mar- ried to Martha Taylor, born in Staffordshire, England, daughter of Samuel Taylor, and they have one son, Jabus A., who lives in Carthage Township. By trade Mr. Beebe was a well dig- ger, and while following it he invested in forty acres of timber land near Webster which he partly cleared, although he continued to live at Webster. In the spring of 1870 he traded that tract for fifty acres of farm land on section 6, Hancock Township, which has since continued to be his home. This he has greatly improved and developed and here he carries on general farming. He is a Republican in his political sentiments. The Church of Latter Day Saints holds his membership. A man of high principles he has always lived up to them, and no man in his locality stands any higher in the regard of his neighbors.

BEGER, August J., formerly postmaster of Nauvoo, and one of the leading druggists of the city, is a man whose standing in his com- munity is unquestioned. ' He was born at Nauvoo, April 17, 1862, a son of August and Wilhelmina (Mester) Beger, he born at Hilde- sheim and she also in Hanover, Germany, They met in New Orleans, and were married there, at that time she being the widow Elhorn.

August J. Beger attended the district schools of Nauvoo, and at the age of sixteen years began working as a clerk for a druggist, so continuing for six years, when he formed a partnership with Robert Atchison, and went into the drug business. In 1894 Mr. Atchison was elected county treasurer, and Mr. Beger bought his business interest, and has since conducted the drug store, developing it into one of the best in the county. In August, 1897, he was appointed by the Republican administration, postmaster of Nauvoo, and held that office until February, 1916.

On May 10, 1886, Mr. Beger was married to Christina Risse, born at Nauvoo, a daughter of John Bernhard and Mrs. J. B. (Reimbold) Risse, born at Cologne, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Beger became the parents of the following chil- dren : Oscar and Frank, both of whom are de- ceased ; Ursula, who is the wife of Dr. William J. Herstein, of Dyersville, Ill .; Donald, who lives at Bartlesville. Okla., and Junius. Ger- trude, Madeline and Brooks, all of whom are at home. The family belongs to the Catholic Church. Mr. Beger affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America.

BELL, Miss Chestina, one of the most highly esteemed residents of Hamilton, is a lady of unusual characteristics, and she comes of an old

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 89

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174