Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 82

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 82

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MMissouri Pacific Railroad, doing the work of two men in order to make more money. Mov- ing to Madison County. he rented land for eight or ten years, and then came to Montgomery County and bought eighty acres of land in Ray- " mond Township, where he spent the remainder of his life. adding to his acreage until at the time of his death he had nearly 500 acres of valuable land. He and his wife had twelve children, six of whom now survive, namely : Augusta, who is the wife of Herman Rosenthal of Rountree Township: Albert, who lives at Hillsboro ; Henry, who lives in Rountree Town- ship: William, who is on the home place in Raymond Township; Gustav; and Dora, who is the wife of C. H. Kerr, lives at Nokomis, Ill. The father died on the homestead April 19, 1893, but the mother survives and makes her home at Nokomis with her daughter Mrs. Kerr.

Gustav C. Fricke was educated in the dis- trict schools of Raymond Township, and re- mained at home until he was twenty-one years old. For the following four years he worked for Henry and William Fricke, and then located on his present farm. In addition to his farm he is a stockholder in the Nokomis State Bank.

On November 10. 1897, Mr. Fricke was married to Theressa Doerr, born February 13. 1877, a daughter of Louis and Minnie (Walters) Doerr, natives of Germany and old settlers of Mont- gomery County. Mr. and Mrs. Fricke have three children, namely : Henrietta W., born March 21, 1901. Lester L. born April 30, 1904 and Walter C., born January 11, 1907. Mr. Fricke is a Republican, and is now serving in his fifth term as a school director. He belongs to Nokomis Lodge No. 33S. I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Harvel Lodge. A. H. T. A. A man of indus- trious habits and natural liking for farming, he is making a success of his work, and stands well with his associates everywhere.

FRICKE, Henry, one of the prosperous farmers of Rountree Township, owns and operates 160 acres of valuable land on Section 9. He was born at Marine. Madison County, Ill. January 19. 1863. a son of Christian and Dorothea (Eppers) Fricke. Christian Fricke was born in Brunswick. Germany. in 1822, and there grew up, leaving his native land about 1852 when thirty years old, for the United States. He was very poor when he landed at St. Louis, Mo .. and went to work as a fireman on a Mississippi River steamboat, running between that city and New Orleans. La. He was married to Dorothea Eppers, who was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1854. Owing to the influ- ence of his wife, who wanted him to leave the river service and engage in farming, Christian Fricke came to Marine. Ill .. and in 1SGS they came to Montgomery County where land was cheaper. By strict economy they had saved a little money with which they made a first paviment on eighty acres of land, going into debt for the remainder. By working hard and saving every cent, they prospered and when

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Christian Fricke died he owned 850 acres of land. His death occurred April 10, 1893, and his widow lived on the farm for a few years and then spent three years with her son Henry, when she located at Nokomis, and is now living there with her daughter, Mrs. C. H. Kerr. She and her husband had twelve children, of whom six are now living : Augusta, who is the widow of Herman Rosenthal, of Rountree Township; Albert, who lives at Hillsboro, Ill .: Henry ; William, who is on the homestead in Raymond Township; Gustav C., who lives in Rountree Township; and Dora, who is the wife of C. H. Kerr, of Nokomis, 111.

Henry Fricke was reared on the farm in Ray- mond Township, and attended the local schools, remaining at home until he was married to Ida Kram on April 24, 1890. They became the parents of five children, four of whom survive, namely : Emma, Walter, Gussie and Ernest. Walter is living with his father, and the other children are living in Cisco. Tex. Mr. Fricke was married (second) on March 7. 1901, to Fredricka Heidemann, a daughter of John A. Heidemann, who enlisted for service as a soldier during the Civil War, at St. Louis, Mo. After his honorable discharge he moved into Mont- gomery County, and here lived and died. To his second marriage, two children have been born to Mr. Fricke: an infant, who died soon after birth, and Frank. Mr. Fricke is a Repub- lican in politics. His farm, which he bought in 1879, is one of the finely improved ones of the county, and he is engaged in general farm- ing and the raising of a good grade of stock. He also owns ten acres in Irving Township. In addition to his farms he owns stock in the Raymond Farmers Elevator Company and thus is a man of substance and is of high standing in his community.

FRIDDLE, William R., one of the representative men of Litchfield, has been interested in various business ventures and has made a success of his work. He was born at Parker City, Ind., July 26. 1876, a son of Eli M. and Margaret S. (Jones) Friddle. natives of Xenia. Ohio, and Indiana, respectively. The father was a hlack- smith by trade, and in 1882 he moved to Mul- berry Grove, Ill., where he died in 1914, the mother having passed away in 1898.

William R. Friddle learned the blacksmithing trade with his father, and worked on the Van- dalia Railroad as a signal man and repairman for eighteen months. He returned to Parker City. Ind., and with a brother. Herbert Friddle, conducted a horseshoeing shop for six months, ,when he went to Joplin, Mo., and worked in the lead mines at that point for eighteen months. Then he went to East St. Louis, Ill., and worked at his trade for a time. He then was in a packing house for a year, when he went to New Douglas. Ill., and worked at his trade again for a time. For a year he was a miner in the coal mines at Worden. Ill., and spent a similar period at New Douglas. He then, with three others, leased a mine and worked it for a year,

but owing to his distress over his brother being killed in a mine accident, March 10, 1905, Mr. Friddle abandoned mining, and came to Litch- field where he began working at his trade. After about eighteen months, he engaged with a furniture house and remained with it for five months, and then for the following four years he worked at his trade. He and James Downs then bought an old established blacksmith shop, and five months later Mr. Friddle bought his partner's interest and conducted it alone. In 1906 he went to New Douglas and for a year was engaged in a butchering business there, but then returned to Litchfield where he has since remaincd.

On February 28, 1903, he was married at New Douglas, to Julia Kline, who was born at Papin- ville, Mo .. a daughter of William and Louise Klinc, natives of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Friddle have one son, Celland, who was born Septem- ber 4, 1904. Mr. Friddle is a member of the 'Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Elks.

FUNK, Robert L., proprietor of the Irving Poultry House, is one of the reliable business men of Irving Township. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., June 4, 1863, a son of Ben and Caroline (Krause) Funk. Ben Funk was born in West Prussia, Germany, in 1832, and came to the United States when he was twenty-two years old, being at that time without any money or influence. His wife was born in the same part of Prussia as he. and she was brought to the United States in 1842 by her parents, who located near Pilot Knob, Mo., later going to the vicinity of Annapolis, Mo. During the Civil War. Ben Funk, who had located in this section of Missouri after his marriage, was driven from his home because of his northern sentiments, to St. Louis, Mo., where he engaged in painting, he having learned that trade in his native land. He enlisted in the Union army and served three years in the Fifth Mo. Regiment. In 1881 he came to Montgomery County, Ill., locating in East Fork Township, on 360 acres of land he bought. Some years later he retired. moved to Hillsboro, and there round- ed out his life, dying July 25, 1916. His nice residence at Hillsboro was his and he was a man of considerable means at the time of his demise. In politics he was a Republican. He and his wife had seven children, three of whom survive, namely : R. L .; Hugo, who is a farmer on 160 acres of the old farm; and Otto, who is a music teacher, owns 160 acres of the home- stead.

R. L. Funk remained in his native city until he was eighteen years old, attending the public and the German Lutheran schools of that city. In 1881 he accompanied the family to Mont- gomery County and lived on the farm until 1900, when he moved to Irving, and went into the produce business. He owns his own build- ing and home. and five and one-half acres of land, together with four business stores at Irving.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Mr. Funk was married first to Martha Fer- aris, who is deceased. They had three children, namely: Valle, who is now at home, but has been a soldier in the United States army, stationed at Honolulu; Olie, who is the wife - edge of and interest in young people make of Elsmore Smith, of Decatur. Ill. ; and Nellie, him an excellent guide for them during their school period, which is the important formative part of their lives. who is a teacher in the public schools of Irving. She was graduated from the Irving High school, and then took a teacher's course at the Charles- ton Normal school. He was married (second) GARTNER, Henry William, a progressive gen- eral farmer of South Litchfield Township. is one of the substantial men of Montgomery County, whose finely improved property is very valuable. He was born in South Litchfield Township, February 11, 1873. a son of William and Mary (Schweppe) Gartner, natives of Prussia, Germany, and a grandson of Peter and Charlotte Schweppe, who came to this township in 1855. to Anna King, and they have eight children : Marion, Charles. Alice. Julia, Harry, Robert and Virginia. The family belongs to the Luth- eran Church at Irving. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the M. P. & L .. and the C. O. of H. Politically he is a Republican, and is now serving as clerk of the Irving High school board of education. He has been very prominent in public affairs, has served as mayor of Irving. as trustee, collector and assessor, and has rendered valuable assist- ance to his community in all these offices.

GARST, Rev. Cassius A., pastor of the Raymond Christian Church and principal of the Ray- mond High school. a man of unusual ability and scholarly attainments, was born in McLean County, Ill .. May 13. 1885. a son of O. F. and Sarah E. (McConkey) Garst, natives of Ohio and McLean County. Ill., respectively. The father came to Illinois in young manhood. hav- ing been educated in the common schools of his native state. For many years he was con- nected with building operations in McLean County as a contractor and builder, and was very active in local politics serving as town- ship clerk for ten years. and is now on the town board of Stanford. The parents had seven children. as follows: Cassius A .: Nellie, who is the wife of Robert Hoover, was graduated from the Stanford High school, following which she was a teacher until her marriage; George: Wilha, who is the wife of Samuel Johnson. was also graduated from the Stanford High school : May, who is living at home. also is a high school graduate: Letta, who resides at home; and Wilbur. who is attending school.

Cassius A. Garst grew up in his native county, and after being graduated from the Stanford High school, entered. the University of Valparaiso. Ind .. and also took a one year's course at the State Normal of Illinois. He studied for the ministry of the Christian Church, and was placed in charge of the Ray- mond Christian Church. coming to this village from Danville. Ill., where he had been for three years. During his first year in Raymond he gave all his time to his pastoral duties. but after the first year he was also a teacher in the graded school, and as his abilities later received deserved recognition, he was made principal, which position he has since filled to the satis- faction of all.

On October 7. 1914. Mr. Garst was married to Helen Rothenberger, who is a graduate of the Danville public schools. Mr. Garst belongs to the Odd Fellows, at Raymond. In politics

he is a Republican. A young man of studious inclinations and enlightened understanding. he is constantly adding to his store of knowledge by reflective study and reading, and his knowl-

When William Gartner was thirteen years old he came with his mother to this section, and was reared in Montgomery County and in time bought a farm on which he and his wife settled after their marriage. It was in South Litch- field Township and he kept adding to it and improving the place until he owned 200 acres of land in his homestead and 160 acres of land on which Henry William Gartner now lives, as well as forty acres of brush land in Macoupin County. William Gartner died Jan- uary 28. 1913, but his widow survives and lives on the home farm. Their two children were : Henry William, and William Frederick, who lives on the homestead.

Henry William Gartner remained at home. attending the local schools and assisting his father in the farm work until January S. 1899, when he was married to Henrietta Hauser, born in Jefferson County, Mo., a daughter of Martin and Johanna (Hartke) Hauser, he born in Wurttemberg, Germany, and she in Prussia. Germany. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gartner moved on the 160 acres of land on Section S his father had given him. On this property there was an old house at the time. and he has replaced it with a fine eight-room modern frame house, and has built two large barns, a machinery shed, granary, corn crib. and other buildings, and his premises are in prime condition. On this farm Mr. Gartner carries on general farming and raises horses. hogs and cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Gartner have two children : Elmer and Oren. Mr. Gartner belongs to the German Lutheran Church, which he supports liberally. He is a Republican and has served as a trustee of South Litchfield since 1907.

GAUL, P. J., stock buyer and president of the First National Bank of Farmersville, is one of the most substantial business men of Mont- gomery County, and his personal standing in this part of the state is of the highest. He was born in Jersey County, Ill., February 26, 1857. a son of John and Catherine (Whealen) Gaul. John Gaul was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and there grew to manhood, but soon after becom-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

ing of age he came to the United States, and located in Jersey County, IN. His wife was born in Dublin, Ireland, and upon coming to this country also located in Jersey County, and there the parents of P. J. Gaul met and were married. In 1860 the family came to Pitman Township, Montgomery County, and later lived in Harvel Township, where the parents both died. They had the following children: P. J .; Mary, who is the widow of William McLain, lives in Bois D'Arc Township; and Ellen and Elizabeth who are deceased. The parents be- longed to the Roman Catholic Church.

P. J. Gaul grew to manhood on his father's farm, and attended the schools in his district. remaining at home until his marriage, when he located on a farm in Harvel Township, living there until 1911, at which time he went into the stock business at Farmersville, although he had previously dealt in stock for a number of years. Since its organization, he has been a stockholder and director of the First National Bank. and May 13, in 1918 was made its exe- cutive head.

On February 7. 1882, Mr. Gaul was married to Mary Fahey, a daughter of Michael and Ellen ( Kelly) Fahey, both natives of Ireland. who came to St. Louis, Mo., where Mrs. Gaul was born. Mr. and Mrs. Gaul are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Farmersville. In politics Mr. Gaul is a Democrat and while living in Harvel Township served as drainage com- missioner and school director. Hle is one of the alert. progressive and successful business men of the county and his advice is sought and taken npon matters of importance.

GOAD, Duncan D., who has been in the grocery business at Hillsboro for the past thirty-two years. is one of the oldest in this business in point of service, in the county. He was born in Macon County. Tenn., near Lafayette. May 14. 1:57. a son of William A. and Mary (Gibbs) Goad. natives of Tennessee. They had five children, as follows: Tabitha, who is deceased. was the wife of Robert Diaz: Winfield, who is deceased ; Luvern, who is deceased, was the wife of John Parkhurst: Duncan D. ; and William A .. Jr., who lives near Lafayette, Tenn. Wil- liam A. Goad. Sr., was a farmer and school teacher, who died about 1865 at his old home in Tennessee. His widow died in 1876. He was a member of the Christian Church and, many years later, became a member of the Baptist denomination. The paternal grandfather was Daniel Goad and he was married to Susan Cart- right, both being natives of Tennessee. where they died, having had the following children : William A., John, Richard. James. Harvey, Cyrus. Elizabeth Carter. Mary Wallace, Mrs. McDonald and Octavia.

Duncan D. Goad was reared in Tennessee and there attended the common schools. When he was twenty years old he came to Hillsboro, and began working for $13 per month and his board. in the brickyard of C. W. Seymour, as a chore boy. For a few years afterward he followed

various pursuits, and then was a clerk for a year in a grocery store. In the meanwhile he had been married and had saved up about $250, and as he felt he ought to make it earn him something. he started a grocery business in a very small way. From this initial beginning has grown his present large store and desirable connections, industry and good management hav- ing been large factors in bringing about success.

On October 16, 1881, Mr. Goad was married to Miss Nancy A. Gilmore, a daughter of David and Rachel (Watkins) Gilmore, and four chil- (Iren were born to them, namely : Edna Leone, Vera Kathleen, Frank C. and Jesse M. Edna Leone was married to Edward Woodruff, and they live at Detroit, Mich., and have one child, Harold Edward. Vera Kathleen was married to Ray Harkey, and they live at St. Louis, Mo., and have four children ; namely : John, Nancy, James and Julia. Frank C. is in the dry goods business in Hillsboro. He was married to Nel- lie Woodard, and they have three children : Welston, Jeanette and Josephine. Jesse M. is in the employ of his father. He was married to Hazel Risk, and they have two children, Wil- liam and Jesse M. Jr. Mrs. Goad died in Jan- mary, 12, 1905, aged forty-six years. She was born in Kentucky, and came to Hillsboro early in life with her parents both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Goad's brothers and sisters were : Nancy A., Naomi, James D., Robert, Jesse, May and Ada. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church to which Mr. Goad also belongs, and he has always been ac- tive in church work. In politics he is a Re- publican.

GOSSMANN, Harvey D., president of the Farmers Bank of Ohlman, is one of the solid and responsible financiers and business men of Montgomery County. Ile was born in Germany, December 6, 1844, a son of D. D. Gossmann. His mother's maiden name was Beyen. They lived and died in Germany.

Until he was twenty-three years old, Harvey D. Gossmann remained in his native land, where he attended the public schools. At that time he came to the United States arriving here in 1809, and for the first eighteen months after he landed he was engaged in working on a farm at Rosemond, in Christian County, Ill., for $18 per month. Before leaving Germany, he gave his country the regular military service required of its men. On August S, 1872, Mr. Gossmann was married to Mrs. Amelia Myers, who was born in Germany, but came to the I'nited States when she was a girl, and was later married to Henry Myers, to whom she bore two children, namely : Lena and Johanna. Mr. and Mrs. Gossman became the parents of three children, namely : Amelia, who is the wife of Arnold Dahler, of Nokomis Township; Hat- tie, who is the wife of William Nollmann, of Christian County, Ill .; and Emma, who is the wife of Henry Nollmann of Nokomis Township. Mr. Grossmann belongs to the Evangelical Church, of which he is a trustee, and to which

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

he is a liberal contributor. After their mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Gossmann located on her farm, and he added to the acreage, becoming a large landowner. In 1913 he was one of the men to organize the Farmers Bank of Ohlman, ' which he serves as president, and under his able management it has taken its place as one of the sound institutions of the connty. A man of strong principles. and excellent ideas, he has always been willing to stand up for his convic- tions, and holds the confidence and respect of all who know him.

GRAHAM, John T., a successful farmer residing on Section S, Fillmore Township, is one of the men who have helped to place Montgomery County in its preseut favorable position with re- gard to agricultural production. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 9, 1853, a son of Nathaniel and Mary (Haller) Graham. His father was born near Philadelphia, Pa., in 1811, and died February 18, 1879. His mother, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1813, died March 18, 1856. They were married in Penn- sylvania, later coming to Ohio, where they lived until 1866, when they came to Mont- gomery Connty, Ill., and here spent the re- mainder of their lives. He was a member of the English Lutheran Church. Four of his sons served in the Civil War, namely : Benjamin, F., as a member of Company I, Third Illinois Cav- alry; N. J., of Company A, Twenty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; Samuel, in Company A, Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; and Wil- liam, in Company B, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Aside from these sons, there were five others in the family, uamely: Charlotte, who became the wife of B. T. Down; Savilla, who is deceased: Mary, who is the wife of George Liston : Adaline, who is the wife of F. F. Ludwick of Fillmore, Ill .; and John F. Seven of the family are living in 1918.

John F. Graham was twelve years old when the family came to Montgomery County, and here he was reared and sent to the district schools, remaining at home until he was nine- teen years old. On January 11, 1879, he was married to Martha J. Barriuger, a danghter of Alfred aud Emma Barringer, who were pioneers of Montgomery County, coming here from North Carolina, and locating iu Fillmore Township, where they died. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Graham rented land in Fillmore Township for seven years, and then bought 122 acres of land which forms their present farm, He is a breeder of Spotted Poland-China hogs, aud other varieties of good stock, and an extensive raiser of fruit as well as other farm crops.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Graham are as follows : Fred, who is unmarried, lives at home ; Roy, who married H. J. Phillips, lives in Bond County, Ill .; Ray, who is unmarried, lives at Fort Morgan, Col .; Olive, who is unmarried, lives in Minnesota ; and Effie, who married Amos Snook. died May 2, 1913. The family be- long to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Graham be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and

represented his camp several times in the na- tional camp of that order and he is a Republi- can in politics, having represented the county in state couventions as a delegate and was a school director for twenty-five years. He was also superintendent of the Sunday school of his church for a like terin, in all of which posi- tions he has deserved the confidence reposed in him.

GREENE, James A., first vice-president of the Coffeen National Bank and superintendent of the Coffeen Coal Company, at Coffeen, Ill., and one of the representative coal mining men of this section, stands very high in public esteem. He was born in East Fork Township, July 4, 1874, a son of William T. and Snsan (Canuon) Greene.

William T. Greene was born in New York City, in December, 1818, and was there reared. From his boyhood he followed the sea, being at one time five years continuonsly on the water. In yonng manhood he came to Montgomery County, and bought a farm in East Fork Town- ship, where he was married. His wife was born in Grisham Township, a daughter of Wil- liam Cannon, one of the first settlers on the prairies of Montgomery Connty, and he played an important part in the upbnilding of this section, and was well known at Hillsboro. He owned and developed several farms, selling them at a good figure, and died on the last farm he bought, in December, 1881, when his son. James A. was only seven years old. He and his wife had twelve children, namely : John T., who lives in Coffeeu ; Sarah, who is de- ceased ; Ellen, who married M. S. Lewis, lives on the homestead; Catherine, who married As- bury E. Nevinger, lives in Bond County, Ill. ; Albert, who died in 1916; Alena, who is de- ceased ; Robert, who lives in Oklahoma ; Emma, who married Robert Elmore, of Fillmore Town- ship ; Charles C. who lived at Decatur, Ill., died December 3, 1916; James A .: Harry, who died in 1906; and Florence, who married A. R. Haen- ny of Coffeen, Ill. William T. Greene was a quiet, nuassuming man who attended to his own business, and was very successful, popular and well known.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 82

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810