USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 106
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In April, 1912, Mr. Short was married to Leta M. Blockburger, a graduate of the Hillsboro High school, class of 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Short have one daughter, Doris M., who was born August 18, 1914. They are members of the Presbyterian Church of Witt, in which he is an elder, and he was a deacon of the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Red Men. Politically a Democrat, he is the present clerk of Witt Township, and a very efficient official. Mr. Short is a stockholder of his bank, and also owns his residence at Witt. No man stands any higher than he in public esteem, and he has won his reputation fairly and honorably.
SIEVERS, John, who owns and operates 267 acres of land on Section 29, Nokomis Township, is one of the leading farmers of this locality. He was born in Germany, January 12, 1847, a son of John and Anna (Honshirt) Sievers, na- tives of Germany, who were reared in their native land where they were married. In 1877 they came to the United States, and located near Nokomis, where they lived until death claimed them.
John Sievers attended school until he was fourteen years old, and then he left in order to help his father. He was twenty years old when he came with the family to the United States, and borrowed $100 to pay expenses of the jour- ney. As soon as he arrived in Montgomery County, he began working by the month, and so continued until July 14, 1874, when he was married to Frances Moore, who was born in Adams County, Ill., March 15, 1852. She was reared in Fayette County, Ill., and there she attended school. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sievers moved on the farm they now own, at first renting it. When they had saved enough to buy eighty acres, they went to Hillsboro to record the deed. and the expenses exceeding the amount they had figured upon, they had but fifty cents left, so had to go without their din-
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ner, but were so pleased at having secured their own farm, they made the sacrifice willingly. Later they added 107 acres, and still later, forty acres more, and all of the improvements upon the property have been made by them.
Mr. and Mrs. Sievers have two sons, namely : John HI., who was born May 18, 1875, attended the German and district schools, and was con- firmed at the age of fourteen years; and Willie, who was born November 20, 1878, was also confirmed, and he was married December 18, 1906, to Gertrude Clements, they now having three children, Louisa Gladys, Wayne and Ever- ett. The family belong to the German Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican, and for six years he was a school director, Both Mr. and Mrs. Sievers are quiet, industrious and thrifty people, and very typical of the best class of farming people in Montgomery County.
SIHLER, George Albert, M. D., senior member of the medical firm of Sihler & Sihler, of Litch- field, is one of the learned and capable physi- cians of Montgomery County, one who is a credit alike to his profession and community. He was born at Simcoe, in Ontario, Canada, in 1863, a son of Charles J. and Mary (Schott) Sihler, natives of Germany who came to Canada about 1858, where the father went into a lumber business and conducted it until 1901, when he retired. He is still living at Simcoe, and his wife also survives, they being very highly respected residents of that place.
George Albert Siller attended the grade and high schools of Simcoe, and its collegiate insti- tute, where he was prepared for matriculation in McGill University, at Montreal, from whence he was graduated in 1884. He then took a trip to Europe and pursued post graduate courses in inany large cities there, and upon his return to this country located at Litchfield, and has since then been in active practice.
In 1885 Dr. Sihler was married to Bertha Ohnersorg, born at St. Louis. Mo. Dr. and Mrs. Sihler became the parents of three sons, all of whom are professional men: George Albert, who is a physician and surgeon in part- nership with his father; Arthur E., who is a dental surgeon : and Harold C., who is a physi- cian and surgeon. Dr. Siller was reared in the Episcopal Church. He is a Mason in high standing, having reached the Knight Templar degree, and the Scottish Rite to the Thirty- second degree. He also belongs to Litchfield Lodge No. 654, B. P. O. E. When the First National Bank of Litchfield was founded. Dr. Sihler was one of the incorporators, and since 1906 he has been its .vice president. Few men stand higher in the community in any way.
SIHLER, George Albert, Jr., M. D., who is one of the leading young physicians and surgeons of Litchfield is the junior member of the firm of Sihler & Sihler. He was born August 14, 18SG, a son of Dr. George AAlbert and Bertha (Ohner- sorg) Sililer, and grandson of Charles J. and Mary (Schott) Sihler, all natives of Germany,
except Dr. Sihler, Sr., who was born at Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.
After attending the Litchfield High school, the younger Dr. Sihler entered the University of Illinois where he took a classical course, and then matriculated in his father's alma mater, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, from which he was graduated in medicine, with the degree of M. D., June 10. 1910. For the sub- sequent year he was an interne in the Montreal General Hospital where he gained very valu- able experience, and he then spent six months at the Polyclinic Hospital of New York City, and for another six months was in the Associated Hospital of St. Louis, Mo. In January, 1912, he entered into partnership with his father at Litchfield, and has maintained this connection ever since, and has established a very large clientele.
On June 12, 1914, Dr. Sihler was married to Lois Elizabeth Miller, born at Hillsboro, Ill., a daughter of Charles W. and Minnie (Linx- weiler) Miller, of Hillsboro. Dr. Sihler is a Mason. and belongs also to Lodge No. 574, B. P. O. E., and is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Illinois Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a Presbyter- ian in religious faith. Like his father he is very highly esteemed, both personally and pro- fessionally.
SILENCE, George Francis, superintendent of the cap department of the Schram Glass Manufac- turing Company at Hillsboro, is not only an ex- perienced workman and a trained electrician, but is also a young man of thoroughly practical business capacity. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., November 15, 1882. and is a son of Thomas E. and Mary A. (Ross) Silence. His paternal grandfather, George W. Silence, was born in London, England. as was his wife. When they came to the United States they settled at St. Louis, Mo., and in that city passed the rest of . their lives. They had the following children : Mary, Thomas E., William. Laura, James, Fran- ces. Sarah and Anna. The maternal grand- father of Mr. Silence was Dr. Ross, of Mobile, Ala. During the Civil War he was a surgeon in the Confederate army, and it was while he was amputating a soldier's leg on the battlefield that a cannon ball explosion caused his death. After hostilities had ceased, the grandmother with her three daughters. Henrietta, Mary and Annie. moved to St. Louis, and in that city she lived until the close of her life.
Thomas E. Silence, father of George F. Silence, was born in the city of London and accompanied his parents to the United States. He followed the painter's trade for about ten years. During the Civil War he served as a private in a Mis- souri regiment for four years and after its close worked at his trade, but for the past forty-six years he has been a United States government mail carrier in the city of St. Louis. He was married to Mary A. Ross, who was born at Mobile. Ala., and nine children were born to them as follows: Willis T., who is deceased ;
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Robert H., Mary L., Lulu Clara, the last named being the wife of John F. Baab, all residents of St. Louis; George F., who lives at Hillsboro; Thomas E. and Francis A., both of whom live at Eureka, Cal. ; Mabel B., who is the wife of Byron V. Steinmetz, of Chicago; and Lydia B., who · died in infancy.
George Francis Silence was reared and edu- cated in St. Louis. He started to work with a surveying instrument company but desiring to further better himself, put in an application with the Emerson Electric Company which was favorably received, and he was employed with that company for three years, going then to the St. Louis Electrical Company, with which con- cern he completed his trade. He then became electrician for the St. Louis Furniture Exposi- tion. In 1905 he became acquainted with A. L. Schram, general manager of the Schram Glass Manufacturing Company, and confidence and friendship developed. He accompanied Mr. Schram to Hillsboro, on January 29, 1906. to assist in the erection of the glass and cap plants in this city, and on their completion assumed the duties of foreman of the cap department of the Schram Glass Manufacturing Company, one of the largest industrial enterprises of the state. In 1908 Mr. Silence was entrusted with the open- ing of a cap department for the company's plant at Waterloo, Canada, where he spent three months satisfactorily completing his mission.
Mr. Silence was married January 29, 190S. to Miss J. Christina Winkelmann, daughter of Fred and Anna (Weber) Winkelmann, and they have four children : Mildred Eleanor, George Wil- liam. Gladys Laurain and Lois Christina. The family belongs to the Lutheran Church. Politi- cally Mr. Silence is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51. A. F. & A, M. : Hillsboro Chapter, and Sullivan Council. lle also belongs to Montgomery Lodge No. 40, I. O. O. F .; to Benton Council. R. A .. of St. Louis, and to the order of Moose, at Hillsboro, his high standing in all of these organizations indicating his sterling character. 1
Mrs. Silence was born at Hillsboro. November 26. 1SSS, and her parents still reside here. She at- tended the Hillsboro grammar schools. and then entered the high school and was graduated there- from in 1907. Her father was born in Hanover. Germany, and her mother in Hillsboro Town- ship. Montgomery County, Ill. They had five children born to them : John F., Henrietta W .. William L., J. Christina and Leda V. The pa- ternal grandfather. John Winkelmann, was born and died in Germany, as did his wife. They had two sons. Fred C. and William. On the maternal side, the Webers were early settlers in Mont- gomery County, farming people well known. The children born in the Weber family were: Anna. Catherine, Emma. Minnie, and a son who died in infancy.
SINGLER, Victor C., cashier of the Nokomis State Bank, is one of the men prominent in financial matters in Montgomery County. He was born at New Baden, Ill., January 23, 1881, a son of Victor and Rosa (Kuhner) Singler. The
father was born in Illinois, and the mother in Germany, she coming with her parents to the United States on a sailing vessel that took three weeks to cross the ocean. They landed at New Orleans, and came from there up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to New Baden, Ill. There she met and married Victor Singler, who died in August, 1SSS, but she sur- vives, making her home at Nokomis, Ill. She was the mother of ten children, six of whom survive, namely : Frank J., who is a farmer of Irving Township; Frederick, who is also a farmer of Irving Township; Mary, who is the wite of George E. Huber; Melena, who is the wife of James Ward, a deputy sheriff of Mont- gomery County ; Victor C .; and Henry B., who is a dentist at Nokomis.
Victor C. Singler was reared on the home- stead, and attended the local schools, and the Irving High school, from which he was gradu- ated. He then took a commercial course at the Dixon Business College for two terms. During 1899 and 1900 he taught school in the winter, and farmed in the summer. Being ambitious he took the civil service examination for mail clerk, and was appointed by the United States Government in 1904, and was mail clerk on the Illinois Central Railroad for a time, running from St. Louis to Memphis. He was then trans- ferred and his run was from St. Louis to Pa- ducah, Ky. Once more he was transferred, his l'un being on the Big Four, from St. Louis, Mo., to Cleveland, Ohio, and he was in the service in all five years. Desiring to remain more at home he took a position as bookkeeper and stenographer with the Farmers National Bank of Nokomis, and remained with that institution from May, 1909 to 1914, when he was made cashier of the Nokomis State Bank, and still holds that responsible office.
In May. 1905, Mr. Singler was married to Miss Elizabeth Hartlieb, who had attended the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Singler have two children, namely: Donald J., who was born November 5, 1907 ; and Irvin V., who was born August 6, 1910. They belong to the St. Louis Roman Catholic Church. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and in politics he is independent.
SMITH, Arthur Frederick, a general contractor and a dealer in coal and fertilizer at Litchfield. is one of Montgomery County's representative business men. He was born in the city of Lon- clon. England. April 17, 1853, a son of James A. and Elizabeth Ann (Burch) Smith, natives of London, England. They came to the United States in April, 1857, landing at New York City, from whence he came west to Chicago. There James A. Smith was engaged for two years as owner and captain of a lake boat. He then went to St. Louis and for the succeeding fifty years. he was engaged in a wholesale and retail ice business, and after selling it, he lived retired until his death in 1906. His wife died in 1SS6.
Arthur Frederick Smith attended the district schools and the Jones Commercial College of St. Louis. From the time he was ten years
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old until he was sixteen, Mr. Smith put in his spare time on a farm, and then his father put lıim to work in the ice business, in which he remained until he was twenty-six years old. He then came to Litchfield where he built an ice and cold storage house of 20,000 tons capacity, but this he sold in 190S to M. J. Busher who continues the business. Since then Mr. Smith has handled a large amount of coal of all grades to the retail trade, and has also handled limestone fertilizer, and during 1915 shipped 10,000 tons, and the volume of his business is still increasing. Some years ago Mr. Smith went into a general contracting business, and has made it very profitable.
On August 8, 1878, Mr. Smith was married to Hortense Grace DeHanlique, born at Paris, France, from whence she came to St. Louis, Mo., in 1873, with her parents. Her father was a fur dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of the following children : Arthur James, who lives at St. Louis, married Anna Clark, a widow with one son, James; Frances Elizabeth, who lives at St. Louis; 'Alice Marie, who is Mrs. Theodore Bramyel, ot Litchfield ; and Rus- sell Victor, who is at home studying to be a den- tal surgeon. In politics Mr. Smith is a Republi- can. The Methodist Church holds his member- ship. He belongs to Litchfield Lodge No. 236, A. F. & A. M .; Litchfield Chapter No. 120, R. A. M .; Omar Commandery No. 30, K. T., and Litchfield Camp, M. W. A.
SMITH, Harry Everett, who owns a fine farm of 240 acres in Witt Township, is one of the leading younger farmers of Montgomery County. He was born in Union County, Ill., August 8, 1881, a son of Albert M. and Clarinda (Noble) Smith, both natives of Union County, Ill., where they were rearcd and married. The father died in that county in 1SS6. He was a son of An- drew, and a grandson of George and Ruth Smith.
George Smith was born in North Carolina, and in 1819 brought his family, including Andrew Smith, all of whom had been born in North Carolina, to Union County, Ill., becoming one . of the pioneers of that section. He entered land from the government, as did other mem- bers of his family, and Harry E. Smith owns forty acres in Union County which was entered in 1839 by his great-uncle, Adam Smith, for which he holds the original land grants. Albert M. Smith married Clarinda Noble, who was a daughter of Riley Noble, who was one of the early settlers of Union County, Ill. Albert M. Smith and his wife had one son, Harry E. Smith. After the death of Albert M. Smith, his widow later married Z. Z. Lyerla, and they are now living at Alta Pass, Union County, Ill., Mr. Lycrla having retired from active life. The parents of Harry E. Smith early connected themselves with the Christian and Free Will Baptist churches, respectively.
Harry E. Smith was reared in Union County, and attended the local schools until he was seventeen or eighteen years old, when he en- tered the Normal school at Carbondale, Ill.,
from which he went to Dixon, Ill., and attended the business college in that city. Returning to Union County, he lived with his mother until he attained his majority, and then worked for her and his step-father for five years. He then moved to Montgomery County, where he has since resided. Mr. Smith is engaged in general farming and raises and feeds cattle, and has been very successful in his ventures.
On October S, 1902, Mr. Smith was married to Cora A. Redenaudau, a daughter of W. C. and Margaret E. (Lyerla) Redenaudau. W. C. Redenaudau was born in Greene County, Ill., a son of Samuel B. and Harriet (Christian) Redenaudau, who came to Greene County at an carly day. The Christian family was a very wealthy one. Mrs. Smith is the only living child born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of four children: Juanetta E .; William Z .; LeMar N .; and Frances L., all of whom arc attending school. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Irving Christian Church. In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican. The Smith family is a well known one in this county and they stand very high in public esteem.
SMITH, John L., a retired farmer of East Fork Township, is one of the highly esteemed men of Montgomery County. He was born at Bur- lington, Iowa, February 28, 1846, a son of Ira G. and Mary M. (Lindemuth) Smith, he born at Ashtabula, Ohio, and she at Lancaster, Pa. By a former marriage contracted at Ashtabula, Ohio, the father had a daughter. Fannie, now Mrs. Hubbard, of Farmington, N. M. His second marriage, which was with the mother of John L. Smith, was solemnized at Lancaster, Pa., and he later moved to Burlington, Iowa. In 1849, accompanied by his wife and two children, with an ox-team and wagon, he went to the gold fields of California, being six months on the trip. He had never been in Illinois, but a brother, B. P. Smith, was located in Bond County, and he wrote Ira G. such glowing accounts of the local- ity, that money was sent to him to buy a farm. In the meanwhile, Ira G. Smith first served as a deputy sheriff of Sacramento, Cal., and was then elected sheriff of that county. At the ex- piration of his term of office he returned to the east and then came to the farm purchased for him near Greenville, Ill. That continued his home until 1860 when he traded that farm for one in Fayette County, Ill., and in 1862 he rented the farm and moved to southeastern Missouri, and conducted a livery barn at Potosi, in Washington County, during 1862 and 1863. In the latter year he returned to his Fayette County farm, and in 1865 sold it and moved to East Fork Township, Montgomery County, where he bought 1041% acres of land that was improved, and on it he farmed until his death November 26, 1889. His wife died December 1S, 1876. Their children were as follows: John L .; Jediah, who lives in Canada; Mary Elizabeth, who is Mrs. William Kilpatrick, of Hillsboro Township; and Gilbert, who lives at Alton, Ill.
John L. Smith lived with his parents as long as they lived, and at the death of his father
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assumed the mortgages on the place and paid them off, and operated the homestead until 1916, when he rented the property to his son-in-law, and since then has lived retired. On March 15, 1877, Mr. Smith was married to Mary Eliza Wharton, born at Greensboro, N. C., March 19, 1855, a daughter of Jesse Watson and Catherine Jane (McLain) Wharton, natives of Greensboro, N. C., who came to Bond County, Ill., in 185S. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of the following children : Lura Frances, who is Mrs. William W. Jenkins, of Miami, Fla .; Flora Bell, who is Mrs. William E. Bondurant, of East Fork Township ; Jesse Gilbert, who lives in Mon- tana ; Myrtle Illinois, who is Mrs. Albert C. Bondurant, of East Fork Township, lives with her father; Lena Catherine, who is Mrs. Robert P. Gannon, of Hillsboro, Ill. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith attended the district schools. The family belongs to the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and he has served on the school board for two years. Dur- ing the winter months, Mr. and Mrs. Smith visit their daughter at Miami, Fla.
SMITH, Thomas Tindall, one of the retired farmers of Walshville Township, and a man widely known and universally respected, was born in Madison County, Ill., April 29, 1838, a son of Jonathan G. and Elizabeth (Tindall) Smith, he born at Pittsfield, N. H., and she born in Madison County, Ill. When the father was fourteen years old he came to Illinois, this being in 1830, and joined an uncle, David Sweatt, in Madison County. The maternal grandparents, Charles M. and Nancy (Boyd) Tindall, were very early settlers of Madison County, where the grandfather was one of the first farmers and millwrights. He was also a mechanic and was made surveyor. His mill was the first in his part of Madison County. Jonathan G. Smith and his family settled on a farm in Madison County, where they lived until his death, while serving his country during the Mexican War, at Rio Frio, Mexico, February 27, 184S. The mother had died in 1846. He had married sec- ond Sarah Sanders.
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After the death of his parents, Thomas Tin- dall Smith remained with relatives in Madison County until he was nineteen years old. Very few opportunities were given him for acquiring an education, and they were confined to those offered by the common schools. At one time he worked for three days, planting corn with a hoe for twenty-five cents per day, but as he had only thirty cents to his name, he was glad to get that work. He then came to Montgomery County and secured the job of breaking the prairie with five yoke of oxen for which he re- ceived $15 per month. After a season, he se- cured farm work by the month, so continuing until 1860, when he began farming for himself.
On February 21, 1861, he was married in Madison County to Susan Sackett, born in Madi- son County, December 25, 1842, a daughter of Elisha W. and Elizabeth (Boyles) Sackett, he being a native of New York. Samuel and Eliza- beth Boyles, the maternal grandparents, were
born in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, re- spectively, and became early settlers of Madison County, Ill. After his marriage, Mr. Smith rented land for four years, and then bought 100 acres of land in Walshville Township that was partly improved, but three years later sold it and bought 200 acres of land which are included in his present farm. There was a log house on the property, and the land was all broken. Mr. Smith added until he now owns 300 acres on Sections 15 and 22 Walshville Township. He has a well developed farm, and has put on all the improvements which are modern. Since 1907 he has lived retired, as his son who lives on another part of the farm, conducts it. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of the following children : Mollie L., who is Mrs. Thomas Easley, is a widow residing at Springfield, Ill. ; Edgar L., who is on the home farm ; John E., who lives in North Litchfield Township; and Bert, who died at the age of two years. Mr. Smith is a Methodist and since 1875 has been one of the stewards of the church, and superintendent of the Sunday school since 1875. He is a prominent Republican and has been a justice of the peace since 1905, has served as supervisor for eight years, and held all of the other township offices. For a number of years he has belonged to Walsh- ville Lodge No. 475, A. F. & A. M.
SNELL, Myron Webster, M. D., one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Montgomery County, actively engaged in practice at Litchfield, is a man widely known and universally respected both as a medical man and as a citizen. Dr. Snell was born in Macoupin County, Ill., Novem- ber 23. 1871, a son of Guy Asa and Abbie (Voor- hees) Snell, born in Jersey County, Ill.
Dr. Asa Snell, the paternal grandfather, came to Jersey County. Ill., from his native state of Vermont, in 1836, and there was married to Emeline Landon, born in Vermont, who came to Jersey County, Ill., in 1837. Peter Voorhees, the maternal grandfather came to Jersey County, Ill., in 1837, and here was married to Catherine Kirby. The Snells and Landons came here with teams, while the Voorhees made the trip from Allegheny City, Pa., by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Jersey County, Ill. All were farming people. After their marriage, the parents of Dr. Snell located in Macoupin County on a farm that is still in the family, although in 1900 the father retired and moved to Litchfield. where the mother died June 30, 1916. Their children were as follows: Hugh A., who is president of the Litchfield Grocery Company; Myron Web- ster ; Truman A., who is an attorney of Carlins- ville ; and Reber, who is Mrs. Harry J. White, of Litchfield, Ill.
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