Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 87

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

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HOWELL, Albert M., promoter of many busi- ness interests which have important bearing on the substantial development and progress of Hillsboro and Montgomery County, was born at Bunker Hill. Macoupin County, Ill., June 23, 1854. The family is of Welsh lineage and the ancestors of Mr. Howell located in the American colonies at an early day and became especially prominent in New Jersey. During the Revolu- tionary War General Richard Howell from that state was credited with many fine soldierly qualities. He was one of the early governors of New Jersey and Albert M. Howell of Hills- boro is a direct descendant.

The founder of the family in America was Thomas Howell, who came from Wales in 1726-7 and settled at Newark, on the Delaware River. One of his sons, Ebenezer Howell, born in 1726-7, died in 1787, was a judge in Cumberland County. Del., during the War of the Revolu- tion and was an ardent patriot. He was born during the voyage to America. Governor Rich- ard Howell of New Jersey, 1792-1800, was born in 1754 and died in 1803. He was a major serving under General Maxwell at the battle of the Brandywine. He married Keziah Burr. The second Richard Howell was born in 1784. He married Rebecca Augusta Stockton, who was a niece of John Cummings, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The 'paternal grandfather of Albert M. Howell was George Howell, who was born in 1766 and died in 1848. He was a farmer and lived in Cumber- land County, New Jersey. In 1801 he married Anna Mulford, who died in 1845, and they had the following children : Lewis, Richard, Charles, George, Ebenezer and Sarah.

Dr. Ebenezer Howell. father of Albert M., was born in New Jersey April 10, 1810 and lived in that state until 1835, when he emigrated westward and settled at Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Ill., where he engaged in the practice of medicine, continuing for fifty years. He was widely known as a practitioner and attain- ed to eminence. In 1893 he came to Hillsboro, where his death occurred in the following year November 1, 1894 when in his eighty-fifth year. He secured a competency through his pro- fessional skill and the careful husbanding of his resources. He was trusted and beloved in many households as a family physician but his

his name is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him. In early manhood he married Almira Cake, April 10, 1837 who was born at Deerfield, N. J., January 2, 1815, and died in Illinois, October 28, 1835 at the age of seventy years. Her parents were David and Margaret Cake, natives of New Jersey but of Welsh descent. The father followed an agricultural life and both he and wife died in New Jersey. They had the following children: Richard, Joseph, George, Frank, Almira, Rebecca, Phoebe, Sarah and Cordelia. To Dr. and Mrs. Howell four children were born, namely: George, now deceased, who was the first white child born at Bunker Hill, Ill .; Frank and Alfred, who are both deceased; and Albert M.

Albert M. Howell spent his boyhood at Bunker Hill and enjoyed many early advantages be- cause of his parents' social position and also because of their determination to afford him abundant educational opportunities. After com- pleting the public school course he attended Blackburn University at Carlinville, and later continued his studies at Notre Dame Univer- sity. His first business position was that of bookkeeper in a wholesale house in St. Louis, Mo., where he remained for eighteen months and then returned to Bunker Hill, shortly after- ward accepting a clerical position in a dry goods store.

In the following year Mr. Howell went to the South and for six months was a lumber inspector in a sawmill, going then to Jersey City, N. J., where he opened a lumber yard as a dealer in yellow pine. He continued in that business for four years and then returned to Illinois and entered the employ of D. P. Woodman, a lumber merchant at Litchfield, and acted as bookkeeper for the next four years. Still interested in lumber, Mr. Howell then went to New Douglas, Ill., and in 1883 estab- lished a retail lumber yard and conducted the business there for two years. In 1885 he sold the enterprise and removed to Florence, Kans., where he was again proprietor of a lumber yard for two years, conducting the same under the firm name of Dean & Howell. When he sold his interest he returned to Illinois and pur- chased and conducted a lumber yard at McLean, for six years. Finding a chance to sell advan- tageously he disposed of his interest at McLean and moved to Litchfield where he bought an interest in a lumber business owned by Edward Rice. The Rice-Howell Lumber Company was thus organized and a successful period of busi- ness expansion followed. In 1893 Mr. Howell sold again and purchased the lumber business of E. Y. McKnown, at Hillsboro, and continued alone in the conduct of the business until 1904, when he sold a half interest to Howell M. Dor- sey, of Gillespie, Ill. The firm name became Howell & Dorsey and a large and profitable

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

business resulted. the firm carrying a very large stock of both dressed and undressed lum- ber. February 1. 1917, Mr. Howell sold his lum- ber interest to his partner, Mr. H. M. Dorsey and retired after forty-three years in the lumber business.

While Mr. Howell has won great success as a lumber merchant, he has been additionally interested and has been the promotor of various stable enterprises which have contributed to the commercial and industrial activity of the county and have brought commensurate pros- perity. In 1895 he was one of the four organiz- ers of the Montgomery County Telephone Com- pany. of which he is now president. In 1901 he was instrumental in forming the Commercial Chb and from the beginning was its president for four years. He is one of the largest stock- holders in the Hillsboro Hotel and was one of the promoters of the Kortkamp Coal Company. A man of excellent business ability, executive force and keen discernment, he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken, and while he has promoted his individual prosperity he has opened up avenues for general prosperity and at all times has been honest. upright and trustworthy.

Mr. Howell was married June 23. 1SS6. to Miss Carrie S. Macknett, who was born at Gir- ard, Ill., a daughter of Daniel and Rhoda (Clark) Macknett, her father being in the him- ber business there and at Carlinville. Mr. and Mrs. lowell have three children : Almira R., who was born December 25. 18S9, was married November 12, 1913. to Erschell C. Constans, who was born August 25. 1889; Alberta Macknett. who was born October 5. 1891. was married June 23. 1914. to Brewer H. Dammann, born November 30. 1891: and C. Annell, who was born July 7, 1894. An interesting bit of domes- tic history is that Mr. Howell was married on his birthday which was also the anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Macknett. Mr. Howell's daughter. Alberta M., was married on the same date, celebrating several other im- portant events. Mr. Howell is very prominent in the Masonic fraternity. He belongs to Mount ¡Moriah Lodge No. 51. F. & A. M .; Hillsboro Chapter. Staunton Council, Springfield Con- sistory. He is a member of Ansar Temple and has attained the Thirty-second degree. In his political views he is a Republican.

HUBER, Herman, owner of the reliable general store at Harvel that bears his name, is one of the older merchants of Montgomery County, and one whose name stands for honorable deal- ing and reasonable prices. He was born at St. Louis, Mo .. November 13, 1856, a son of Anton and Elizabeth (Gebhard) Huber, both natives of Baden, Germany, born in that country before the present empire was founded. They took the same ship to America, and during the long voyage an affection developed between them that materialized in marriage after they had landed in New Orleans. Both very poor, their united capital amounting to sixty cents, they

faced the world together with undaunted front. and worked to accumulate sufficient funds to take them up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo. In time they arrived at their goal, and started a small grocery.

In the meanwhile the Civil War broke upon their adopted country, and with self-sacrificing patriotism Anton Huber enlisted in its defense, but owing to physical disability was honorably discharged soon thereafter and returned to his wife and family. By 1865 the little grocery had so prospered that it was sold for a sufficient amount to enable the family removal to Prairie- ton. Madison County, Ill., where another store was bought, and successfully carried on until 1878, when a farm was purchased south of Bunker Hill, comprising 320 acres of land, and on it Anton lluber lived until 1882. when he went into business at Bunker Hill, with a part- ner, and for six years was actively occupied, and then retired altogether, living at Bunker Ilill. He and his wife had seven children, namely: Andrew, who died in 1900; Herman : Caroline, who is unmarried ; Charles, who lives at St. Louis, Mo; Loulsa, who married Rev. August Guebert, a German Lutheran minister of Bunker Hill: llenry, who lives at Bunker Ilill. and one who died in childhood.

llerman Huber lived at home and assisted his father and attended the local schools until he was twenty years old, when he took charge of the farm. On December 7, 1882. he was married to Mary C. Schoeber, born in Ft. Russel Township. Madison County. Ill., to which locality her parents came from Germany. Until 1890 Herman Iluber and his wife remained on the farm, and then moved to Harvel, and on February 10. he bought Henry Niehan's general store which he has operated ever since, building up a large and valuable trade. The children of Herman Huber and his wife are as follows: Mary C., who married A. C. Jordan of North Dakota : John A .. who is a banker of Harvel: Louisa S., who married W. F. Zimmerman ; Henry C., who lives in Granite City, Ill. ; Wil- liam H., who is manager of the Harvel Lumber Company ; Angust A. H., who is with his father in the mercantile business; and Caroline F .. who married George C. Weber of Granite City, Ill. The family belongs to the German Luther- an Church of Harvel. The political views of Mr. Huber make him a Republican, and he served Harvel Township as supervisor for two and one-half years. although this township is strongly Democratic, his personal popularity causing him to run way ahead of his ticket.

HUBER, John A., cashier and member of the banking firm of H. H. Zimmerman & Company or Harvel. Ill .. is one of the sound financiers of Montgomery County, and a man widely known and universally respected. He was born near Bunker Hill, Ill., July 6, 1885, a son of Herman and Mary (Schoeber) Huber. Herman Huber was born at St. Louis, Mo .. a son of Anton and Elizabeth Huber, both of whom were born in Germany and came to the United States by way

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

of New Orleans. La. They were very poor, and while they remained in New Orleans they both worked so as to raise the money to get to St. Louis. Although Anton Huber enlisted for serv- ice during the Civil War he was soon after- ward honorably discharged on account of dis- ability. They remained at St. Louis until after the close of the Civil War, and then moved to Prairieton, Madison County, Ill., where he operated a general store. Still later removal was made to Bunker Hill, Ill., where he engaged in a general merchandising business for a few years and then retired from active life.

From Prairieton Herman Huber went on a farm which lay between Prairieton and Bunker Hill. and was there married. The parents of his wife were of German birth. both coming to the United States at an early day. Herman Huber and his wife lived on their farm for about eight years and then moved to Harvel, where he bought the business owned by Henry Nichaus, general merchant, and since February, 1891, has been engaged in conducting it. He and his wife have had seven children, namely : Mary, who is Mrs. A. C. Jordan of Driscol, N. D .; John A .: Mrs. Louise F. Zimmerman, who lives in Christian County : Henry C., who lives in Granite City. 111. : William H., who is manager of the Harvel lumber yards; August A. H., who is with his father in the mercantile business : and Mrs. Caroline S. Weber, who lives at Granite City. Ill.

John A. Huber attended the Harvel schools. being graduated from the high school, and was then employed by his father as a clerk until 1903, when he came into the banking firm with which he is still connected, holding the position of a clerk for three years. when he was made assistant cashier. He then bought stock and since 1913 has been cashier of the institution, and is one of the partners.

On January 24, 1912, Mr. Huber was married to Miss Robena Buchanan, daughter of H. M. Buchanan of Morrisonville. Christian County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Huber have two daughters and one son namely : Helen L., Esther M., and Howard W., all of whom are at home. The family belongs to the Trinity Lutheran Church of Harvel. In politics Mr. Huber is a Republi- can. and has served as township clerk and village treasurer, being elected to the latter office as soon as he attained his majority, and holding the same office continuously ever since. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Huber is a stockholder, director and secretary and treasurer of the Harvel Lumber Company, and is a very able and reliable business man and desirable citizen.

HUBER, John L., one of the prosperous farmers of Witt Township, owns and operates 130 acres of valuable land on Section 21. He was born in St. Genevieve County, Mo., April 30, 1861, a son of Paul and Mary (Manly ) Huber. Paul Huber was born in Baden, Germany, where he lived until twenty-nine years old. He then came to the United States, reaching here in 1854, and

remained in Ohio for four years, when he went to St. Genevieve County, Mo. In the meanwhile he had been married. at Gallipolis, Ohio, his wife being also a native of Baden. Germany, who had come to this country with two sisters, their father being deceased. Buying a farm in their new location, Paul Huber and wife lived upon it until 1894, when they came to Witt Township, Montgomery County, and here she died February 13, 1907, and he died April S, 190S. They had eleven children, of whom six grew to maturity, and four of them still sur- vive : John L .; Martin, who died in 1910, at St. Mary's Mo .: Anna, who was the wife of August Geiler. died in 1892. in St. Genevieve County, Mo. ; Agnes, who is the wife of Andrew Huber of Witt Township; Amelia. who is the wife of Joseph Geiber, lives at St. Mary's Mo .; and Henry, who is a farmer of East Fork Town- ship, this county. The family belonged to the St. Louis Catholic Church of Nokomis. In politics the father was a Republican, and took an intelligent interest in local affairs.

John L. Huber was reared in his native county, and received a German and English education. When he was twenty years old he began working for himself, and came to Mont- gomery County. For the subsequent seven years he worked among the farmers. On November 26, 1889 he was married to Mary Hoehn, born June 10, 1868. a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Singler) Hoehn. Mrs. Huber was born in Clinton County, Ill., but her parents were of German birth. and after her father's death when she was a child. her mother married (second) Bernard Hoehn, and he now lives at Witt. Ill., she being deceased. Follow- ing their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Huber rented land in Witt Township, and then he bought his present farm, which he has improved consider- ably. They have three sons, namely : Charles P., born March 22, 1891. attended the schools of Witt Township, and a Decatur Business College, and is at present with the Illinois Central Rail- road, now in Evansville. Ind., married Byrdie Wade of Kentucky ; Harry J., born January 3, 1897, who is attending Brown's Business Col- lege of Decatur, Ill .; and Leo J., born May 7, 1906, who is attending school. The only daughter, Oliva, died when fifteen months old, born April 29, 1893, died August 3, 1894. The family belong to St. Louis Church of Nokomis. In politics he is a Republican, and was collector for two years, and assessor for three years, and he has served as township treasurer for seven- teen years. Mr. Huber is a stockholder in the Oland National Bank of Witt. He is a stock- holder and director and treasurer and president of the Magnetic Iron and Coal Company of Johnson City, Tenn., now known as Crab Or- chard Iron and Steel Company, a $5,000,000 cor- poration, with main offices at Chicago. Ill. In his farming Mr. Huber raises cattle and hogs and a diversified line of crops. He. and his brothers are well known in their several com- munities, and his sons are particularly brilliant and promising, the youngest, although only ten

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

years old, being already in the seventh grade at school.

HUESCHEN, Diedrich, formerly supervisor of Rountree Township, and one of the leading farmers of this vicinity, is operating a fine farm on Section 5. He was born in Germany, November 27, 1857, a son of John and Lena (Renken) Hueschen, both natives of Germany. There they were reared, went to school and married. They came to the United States in 1878 and located in Iowa, where they lived for some years. While in Germany John Hneschen was a carpenter and contractor, and worked at his trade after coming to this country, and was also engaged in farming. Both he and his wife died in Iowa, and they were members of the Lutheran Church. They had six children, five of whom survive. namely : Fred, who lives at Danville, Iowa, is a retired farmer ; John, who is a retired farmer of Platte County, Neb. : Lena, who is the wife of Henry Frerichs, lives at Davenport. Iowa : Mary, who is the widow of Herman Fenske: Diedrich ; and Sophia, who was married to Conrad Pilgram, is deceased. as is her husband.

When he came to the United States, Diedrich IIueschen was twenty years old, having been educated in the public schools of his native land. Leaving school when he was fourteen years old. he worked on a farm for two years, and then in a brickyard. After coming to this country he worked on a farm in Iowa for four years and then came to Illinois, working in a Macoupin County coal mine for four years more. In 1886 he settled on a farm in the northeast corner of Raymond Township, Montgomery County, and rented it for a year, and then went to a farm in Rountree Township, that he occu- pied for eleven years. In the spring of 1901. he bought 150 acres of land, later adding to it eighty acres across the road in Christian County, which is his present farm. and on it Mr. Hneschen raises full blooded Jersey hogs and a good grade of other stock, he being a very progressive farmer.

On March 3, 1886, Mr. Hueschen was married to Johanna Trauernicht of New Douglas, Mad- ison County, Ill., born March 10, 1867, and they have had ten children, namely : William. Marie. Rosie, Emil, Anna, Lena, Ida, Luella. and two who died in infancy. William married Josephine Fesser, and Rosie married Albert Miller. The family belong to the Lutheran Church of Harvel, Ill., which Mr. Hueschen serves as secretary. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and in 1912 he was elected supervisor of the township, serving for two terms. He is treasurer of a drainage ditch, and a stockhold- er and a director of the Farmers Grain Com- pany, and of the Harvel Lumber Company, both of which he helped to organize. A capable man, he has fairly earned his success, and stands high in the esteem of the neighborhood.

HUSMAN, H. A., cashier of the Farmers Bank of Ohlman, and one of the sound, reliable and

responsible men of Montgomery County, stands very well in public esteem. Ile was born in Audubon Township, this county, November 3, 1887, a son of John and Susan (Dahler) Hus- man, the former of whom was born near Mt. Olive, Macoupin County, Ill., and the latter in Switzerland. She came with her parents to the United States when she was one year old, and the family located near Rosemond, Mont- gomery County, Ill., where she grew to woman- hood and was married. John Ilusman and his wife then located on what is known as the Husman farm, where they lived until his death, in February, 1906, she surviving. He was a member of the German Evangelical Church. In addition to the 112 acres of land near Ohlman, John Insman owned seventy-nine acres com- prising the homestead. He was a quiet, unas- suming man, who impressed others favorably, and inspired confidence. His three sons were as follows: Henry F., who is married and lives on a farm; Herman A .; and Fred J., who died in March, 1915.

Ilerman A. Ilusman was reared on the home- stead, and attended the public schools of Ohl- man, being graduated from the grammar grade. I'ntil he was twenty-one years old he remained at home, and then took a civil service examina- tion and for two years was in the railroad post- al service. He then became cashier of the Farmn- ers Bank at Ohlman, and from February, 1912, has held that responsible position. This bank is a strong financial institution, its officials being as follows: Harvey D. Gossmann, presi- dent ; John Pieper, vice president ; Herman A. Ilnsman, cashier : Edward C. Dahler, assistant cashier. The board of directors is composed of the following : Harvey D. Gossmann. John Pieper. II. A. Husman, Henry Zimmerman. J. C. Dahler, Henry F. Schmidt, Andrew Zeifang, Rudolph Buse and L. A. Schrerber.

On Jime 9. 1911. Mr. Insman was married to Edna D. Pyle, born in Nokomis Township, and educated in the common schools of the county, and the Nokomis High school, and prior to her marriage she was a school teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Husman have one child, Donald, who was born June 19. 1914. Mr. IInsman is a Demo- crat in politics, and is justice of the peace of his township. Fraternally he belongs to No- komis Lodge No. 436, A. F. & A. M., and Pana Chapter, R. A. M. In addition to his other interests he owns 185 acres of land in the Yazoo Valley, in Mississippi.

JENSEN, Martin, one of the leading creamery men in this section of the state, is treasurer and general manager of the Litchfield Creamery. He was born in Denmark, September 2, 1877, where both his parents passed away. From the time he was fifteen years old he has worked in a creamery, and prior to leaving his native land, in 1904, he took a course in an agricultural college. specializing on creamery work, and in that year after coming to Quebec, Canada, he took a further creamery course in that city, fol- lowing it up still later with one at Urbana, Ill. In 1905 he arrived in the United States, and for

JAMES G. WELSH AND PLACE OF BUSINESS

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

the subsequent four years was employed at Clinton, Iowa, by the Iowa Cold Storage Com- pany, leaving that city in 1909 for Flora, Ill., where he took charge of a creamery. His work in this special line attracted attention and favorable comment and in 1913 the Litchfield Creamery Company secured his services, and since then he has been its treasurer and gen- eral manager. The company manufactures butter, ice cream and condensed milk, and ships milk and cream. During 1916 the business aggregated $400,000, although that of 1912 was only $50,000. The volume of business shows a healthy and steady increase. The creamery plant is a new, modern building, and all the equip- ment is of the latest pattern. and is valued at $S0,000. Employment is given to about twenty men, four of whom are in the office.

In November, 1906. Mr. Jensen was married to Johanna Hanson, who was born in Denmark, and they have three children. namely : Henry, Alma and Helen. In politics Mr. Jensen is a belongs Republican. He the English Lutheran Church. Believing in organized action. he belongs to all the creamery associations, and his expert knowledge is often called upon, for he is recognized as one of the best and most highly trained creamery men of central and southern Illinois.

JOHANNES, Rev. Clement, pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church at Nokomis, was born at Quincy. Ill .. April 10. 1860, where he was reared and spent his early life. From 1879 to 1SS4 he attended the seminary of his church at Montreal. Canada, and his first pastorate was at Mound City. Ill .. but he was soon transferred to Bloomfield. Adams County. Ill., where he re- mained for three years. and was then stationed at Liberty. Ill., where he remained from 1SS8 to 1892. From the latter year until 1897 he was in the northern part of Calhoun County. Ill .. from whence he was sent to Nokomis. His long and varied experience enabled him to take hold of his parish in an efficient manner, and he has made some very important changes. During his pastorate the present beautiful church edifice has been erected. and also the fine rectory and school. both in close proximity to the church, the entire property not only being valuable, but very artistic. He is a very courteous and genial man. a devout churchman and scholar of rare attainments. and he not only is beloved by his own people. but is also held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens in the city where he has labored so long and ably, and his advice is often sought by those who are looking for civic nplift regardless of religious lines.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 87

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