Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 98

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 98

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Henry A. Nautkes was reared on the home- stead, and sent to the public schools of the dis-

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trict, and the German parochial school, and he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. As soon as he was old enough, he began working, and his wages were turned over to his mother to help to support the family. On April 14, 1887, Mr. Nantkes was married to Maggie Adden, who was born near Bunker Hill, Ill., October 20, 1866, where she was reared, and attended school. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nantkes located on their present farm, he buying elghty acres from the other heirs, to which he later added eighty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Nantkes have the following children : Hattie, who is the wife of E. D. Hubbard, has a son. Lloyd E .; Jesse, who is a resident of Nokomis Township, was married to Annie Meiers and they have two chil- dren, Wayne and Marvin; Willie; Garrelt H., who was married to Amanda Arkebauer; and Louis, Pauline, Leona, Edward, and Lawrence. One son, Milo, is deceased. Mr. Nantkes belongs to the German Lutheran Church of Nokomis, and is one of its deacons. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the township school board. An excellent farmer, Mr. Nantkes believes in handling a high grade of stock, and in all of his work follows modern methods with gratifying results.

NEAL, Albion E .- Among thie representative men of Montgomery County, one of the best known is Albion E. Neal, the present circuit clerk, who has been identified with public affairs in this county and in other sections for many years and is also numbered with the able busi- ness men of Hillsboro.

Albion E2. Neal was born in East Fork Town- ship, Montgomery County, Ill., July 28. 1862. His parents were William and Sarah (Young) Neal, natives of Kentucky and he is one of their family of eight children, namely : Ellen, now deceased, who was the wife of Cyrus Bost; Caledonia, now deceased, passing away at Boulder, Colo .. was the wife of George Davis; Albion E .; Frances, deceased, who was the wife of George A. Hayden; B. Y., who is a minister located at Santa Ana, Cal .; and three who died in infancy.

William Neal, father of Albion E., was born in Kentucky. His parents were Moses and Lucy Neal who lived there into advanced age. They had children as follows: Berry. Frank, William, John S., Lucinda, Diana and a Mrs. Paisley. Wiliam Neal came to Montgomery County in 1847 and located near Donnellson in East Fork Township. taking up government land and also purchasing a farm. He died there in 1887 aged sixty years. He married Sarah Young, who died at the age of sixty-seven years. Her father was Douglas Young, a native of Ken- tucky. who died in Missouri. Her mother spent her entire life in Kentucky. Douglas Young and wife had the following children : Sarah, William J., Mary Lyles, Julia Bost, Shelby D., Emeline Quick, John and Ellen Phipps.

Albion E. Neal was reared on his father's farm in East Fork Township and in boyhood attended the district schools. The necessary limitations of farm life, greater then than now,

decided him to prepare himself for a profes- sional career and he entered the Normal school at Danville, Ind. Later he took a course in a business college at Keokuk, Iowa, and then entered the educational field. For the next seven years Mr. Neal taught school and became well known and popular as an educator. Just at that time he was appointed deputy in the circuit clerk's office and the teaching profession lost him for he remained deputy circnit clerk for the next ten years, when he resigned in order to go into the abstract business. For about four years Mr. Neal conducted this business and then moved to Oklahoma and went into the farm loan business at Oklahoma City. In 1912 Mr. Neal returned to Hillsboro and here embarked in a real estate business, in which he is still interested. Politi- cally he is a Democrat and on the Democratic ticket he was elected a justice of the peace, in which office he served for four years. In November, 1916, Mr. Neal was elected circuit clerk, having previously served in this office for six months filling a vacancy, and Mont- gomery County has the satisfaction of knowing that this important position is filled by an ex- perienced and capable man.

Mr. Neal was married September 21, 1889, to Miss Alice Geer, who is a daughter of James V. and Rebecca Gecr, and they have three chil- dren : Loren R., Florence and Laidley. Loren R. Neal is a resident of East St. Louis and is in the employ of the American Express Com- pany. He married Dorothy Williams, Mr. Neal was reared by Christian parents in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has always been identified with that religlous body.

NEECE, George C., one of the successful farmers of Audubon Township who owns 240 acres of fine land on Section 21, is a representative of the best class of agriculturalists of Montgomery County. He was born on his present farm, which is the old Neece homestead, September 22, 1875, a son of William and Pyrena ( Wil- liams) Neecc. William Neece was born in North Carolina where he was reared, but he left his native state soon after the close of the Civil War and came to Pana, Ill., where he found farm work. His wife was also born in North Carolina, where she was reared and married. They finally located on the farm in Montgomery County now owned by their son George C., and there they died. Starting out in boyhood with- out means. William Neece accumulated 500 acres of land. He was a strong supporter of Demo- cratic principles and candidates. Both he and his wife belonged to the Free Methodist Church in which he was a class leader. They were the parents of the following children : Minnie, who was the wife of Henry Tabor, is deceased ; George C .; John D., who lives in Witt Town- ship: Bert who lives in Audubon Township; La Tosca, who is the wife of Douglas Young, lives near Sorento, Ill .: Fred W .. who lives in Mont- gomery County ; and others who are deceased.

George C. Neece was reared on the home- stead and sent to the district schools. and remained with his father from whom he learned

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farming from the bottom up. On November 2, 1902, he was married to Lola Sanders, a daughter of John and Sarah Sanders, of Mont- gomery Couuty, Ill. They have the following named daughters : Opal, Ruby, Pearl and Dorothy, all of whom are attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Neece are consistent members of the Free Methodist Church of Audubon Township, and he is one of its trustees, and a leader in its good work, not only in the local congregation, but throughout the county. In politics he is a Democrat, and during 1912 and 1914 he served Audubon Township as supervisor. In addition to his farm he owns stock in the Farmers Bank of Ohlman. In his farm work he has proved it is more profitable for him to raise stock, and he specializes in registered Shorthorn cattle. His operations in this line have been so exten- sive and his results so conclusive that he is a recognized authority upon cattle raising and breeding and his advice is often sought by others who desire to profit by his experiments.

NEECE, John D., whose fine farm on Section 21, Witt Township, illustrates efficiency in its man- agement, belongs to the best type of agricul- turalist to be found in Montgomery County. He was born in Audubon Township, this county, ou the farm now occupied by George Neece, in October. 1877. a son of William and Pyrena (Williams) Neece. William Neece was born in North Carolina. By trade he was a hatter and he made a number of the hats worn by the Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, in which struggle he was a Confederate officer, as was his father. He came as far west as Indiana; but after a short time in Indiana, in 1865, he located in Audubon Township, Mont- gomery County, Ill. He also conducted a brick yard at Pana. Some years after his location in Illinois, he returned to North Carolina, and brought all his family back with him, and located on the county line between Montgomery and Christian counties, where he rented land, and on it he died in May, 1907. His wife, Pyrena Williams, was also born in North Caro- lina, and was brought to Montgomery County, > Ill., by her parents when she was a girl. She died when J. D. Neece was small. The parents had the following children : George C., who lives iu Audubon Township; J. D .; Bert, who lives in Audubon Township; La Tosca, who was married to Douglas Young of Bond County, Ill. ; Fred, who lives in East Fork Township, this county, and others who are deceased. William Neece was a member of and an active worker in the Free Methodist Church, and one of the leaders in that denomination in Montgomery County.

John D. Neece attended the district schools. and Greenville College at Greenville, Ill., and was later graduated from that college. He lived at home until his marriage which occurred September 11, 1901. when he was united with Norma Z. Wilsou, a daughter of N. B. and Ida (White) Wilson, the former of whom was born in Montgomery County, where he was reared. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Neece lived

at Pana for a year and then moved on their present farm. They belong to the First Metho- dist Church at Irving, Ill., of which Mr. Neece is a trustee. In politics he is a Democrat but he is a prohibitionist in his attitude on temperance. He feeds and raises Hereford cattle and is a big raiser of this strain. Interested in educational matters, Mr. Neece is a trustee of the Green- ville College, at Greenville, Ill., to which office he was elected in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Neece have two children, namely : Russell W. and Pauline M.

NEIGHBORS, James L., whose activities are di- rected towards the handling of real estate and the selliug of insurance, is one of the sound business men of Litchfield. He was born near Palmyra, Macoupin County, Ill., July 12, 1858, a son of Woodford H. and Julia Ann (Duncan) Neighbors, the former of whom was born at Bowling Green, Ky., and the latter in Macoupin County, Ill. The father was a blacksmith who was . one of the early settlers of Macoupin County, Ill., from whence he went in 1879 to Reno County, Kas., but in 1880 he returned to Macoupiu County.

While James L. Neighbors was growing up in Macoupin County he attended the public schools in his home district. He early developed busi- ness capacity and conducted a mercantile es- tablishment at Emporia. Ill., for six years, and then went into handling real estate. He was also in a painting and decoratiug business and worked as a contractor on the State Normal school, and other public buildings, until 1900, when he came to Litchfield. Here he continued as a coutractor for a few years. Afterward for three years he conducted a store, and also traded iu real estate, the latter transactions finally becaming so important that in 1911 he sold his mercantile interests in order to devote himself entirely to handling realty and to insurance, and his success has justified his action.

On October 22, 1884, Mr. Neighbors was married to Olive Gilmore, born in Morgan County, Ill. a daughter of William and Char- lotta (Deadhop) Gilmore born in Edinburg, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Neighbors have one son, Victor L., who is agent for the American Express Company at Litchfield. Mr. Neighbors belongs to the Christian Church. Iu politics he is a Democrat, and his fraternal affiliation is with the order of Ben Hur. A man of pleas- ing personality and forceful characteristics, he has steadily advanced and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

NEISLER, Daniel W., a prosperous farmer re- siding on Section 27, Witt Township, is one of the men who has made himself well and favor- ably known in this community. He was born in Irving Township, Montgomery County, Ill., October 21, 1846, a son of H. M. and Elizabeth (Lipe) Neisler, natives of Knox County, N. C. When the mother was nine years old she was brought to Illinois by her parents, and the father came to the state after he had attained

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his majority. Both settled in Irving Township, where they were later married. The father entered wild land and improved it, and also worked at a trade, and lived on his farm until his death which oceurred August 23, 1881. Following his death, his widow was married (second) to Joseph Davis. By her first mar- riage the mother had fifteen children, of whom seven survive, namely: Joseph L., who is a farmer of Witt Township; Daniel W .; David C., who lives in Colorado; Henry L., who lives in Irving Township; Catherine, who is the widow of Wallace Weber; Anna, who is the widow of J. B. Marks; and Laura, who is the widow of Scott Romaine.

Daniel W. Neisler was reared on his father's farm. and attended the common schools of Irv- ing Township. On December 2, 1875, he was married to Ora E. Knodle, born September 10, 1854, a daughter of George and Margaret (Speil- man) Knodle, natives of Hagerstown, Md. In 1864 they came to Montgomery County, loeating near Hillsboro, where Mr. Knodle lived until he bought land in Witt Township. In December, 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Neisler located on their present farm. He owns 280 aeres of land in Witt Township and fifty aeres in Fillmore Township, his home farm being known as the Mound View Farm. Mr. Neisler is a breeder of Holstein cattle, and has a fine dairy herd. The other farm is known as the Lone Oak Farm, and both are very valuable properties. Mr. and Mrs. Neisler have had the following children : Oscar L., who is a graduate of the Irving High sehool, also attended school at Chicago, is a mas- ter mechanie with the Illinois Railroad, married Florence William; Harry D., who is deceased ; Guy K., who is at Hillsboro; Milton E., who married Corinne Moore, lives in Witt Town- ship; George A., who married Estella LeMay lives in Fillmore Township: Ira E. who is at home : Walter, who married Effie Ivy, lives in Irving; and Edgar L., who married Elizabeth Lash, resides on the homestead. Beatrice MI., who is an adopted daughter, lives at home. The family belong to the Lutheran Church at Irving, Ill. Mr. Neisler is a Democrat but has never entered publie life, being too much occupied with his own large affairs, but he is very popular and is widely recognized as a judicious farmer and stoekman, and as a good citizen.

NEISLER, Joseph L., whose fine farm on Sec- tion 27. Witt Township, is a model for other agriculturalists, owns 160 acres at this place, and fifty acres on Seetion 6. Fillmore Township. He was born in Irving Township, Montgomery County. Ill .. two and one-half miles southeast of Irving, March 9. 1845. a son of H. M. and Elizabeth (Lipe) Neisler. H. M. Neisler was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., in 1816, and eame to Montgomery County, Ill., when he was about twenty-one years old. having at that time $7 in his pocket as his sole capital. Immediately upon his arrival he found employment. how- ever. at carpentering and as a millwright. trades he had previously learned. His wife was also born in Cabarrus County. N. C., and was brought

in girlhood by her parents to Montgomery County, and here she was married. H. M. Nies- ler and his wife located in Irving Township, where he bought a farm, and this he operated and at the same time he continued to work as a carpenter. For the balance of his life, he con- tinued to live in Irving Township, becoming in time the owner of 1,200 acres of land. He and his wife after their marriage became members of the Lutheran Church, in their earlier days. but later connected themselves with the Presbyterian Church. The mother of Joseph L. Neisler afterwards became a Free Methodist. They had children as follows: an nnnamed infant; John M. and Sarah R., both of whom are deceased ; Joseph L .; D. W., who lives in Witt Township; Mary E., who died in infancy; David C., who lives in Boulder, Col .; Jernsha C., who is the widow of Wallace Weber, lives at Irving. Ill. ; Janiza A., who lives at St. Louis, Mo. ; William F., who is deceased ; Charles A .. who is deceased ; Isaac M., who died in Irving Township. Deeem- ber 12, 1916; James N., who died when three years old; Henry L., who lives at Irving. Ill .; and Laura J. who is the widow of Scott Ro- maine. lives in Alberta, Canada. The father was a Democrat, and served on the school board. taking an active part in church and educational work, and was in every sense a good and sub- stantial man.

Joseph L. Neisler was reared in Irving Town- ship and attended the local schools, remaining at home until he was married on November 9. 1865. to Anna M. Cardwell, a danghter of Thomas Cardwell. a native of Tennessee, who later came to Illinois, where Mrs. Neisler was born. Mrs. Neisler died January 26, 1899, having borne to her husband the following chil- dren : Fidelia O., who is the wife of Ray Hen- derson of Hillsboro. Ill .; William II., who is a Presbyterian minister stationed at Loogootec. Ill. : Luther A., who lives at Decatur, Ill. : Anna E .. who died in infancy ; Lula Etta, who died in infaney : Eva, who was Mrs. William MeCaslin of North Dakota. is deceased: Letha M., who is the wife of Engen Reed, lives at Loogootee. Ill. : Emily M .. who is the wife of Joseph Clot- felter, lives at Hillsboro. Ill .; and Bessie M .. who is the wife of Walter Scott. lives at Noko- mis. Ill. On December 24, 1899, Mr. Neisler was married. (second) to Mary C. Bost. a daughter of Martin and Hannah ( Knowles) Bost. Mr. and Mrs. Neisler have had one son, Joseph C., who died when he was four years and six months old. They are members of the Free Methodist Church of Irving. Ill. Although Mr. Neisler has voted the straight Prohibition ticket for many years, he was reared in the doctrines of the Democratic party.

In May. 1866, Mr. Neisler moved on his present farm. known as the J. L. Neisler Fruit and Dairy Farm. after having assisted his father in the operation of the homestead, and with the exception of six years spent in Mis- sonri, has lived here ever since. While in Missonri, he spent three years in Phelps County. and three years in Moniteau Connty, and while in the former, divided his time between farming

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and mining. Mrs. Neisler was born in Fillmore Township, one mile north of Fillmore, August 13, 1855, and lived there until her marriage, having attended the local schools. She is a fine housekeeper and a very efficient person in every respect.

NELDON, Zack, one of the prosperous general farmers of North Litchfield Township, has won neighborly approval and is a hard-working, self- respecting citizen of Montgomery County. He was born in Green County, Ind., January 4, 1863, a son of George W. and Barbara (Howell) Neldon, natives of Ohio and of North Carolina, respectively. They came to Mont- gomery County, Ill., in 1873, on a visit, and then left for Missouri and lived at different points in that state until 1879, when they returned to Montgomery County, Ill., and for a time the father was here engaged in farming. Once more they went to Missouri, where they bought land and there both died.

From the time he was sixteen years old, Zack Neldon has been self-supporting. He had but few opportunities for attending school, but he made the most of what he had, and is a well informed man. At the age of twenty-nine years he went to Gasconade County, Mo., where he bought land on which he farmed for seven years. He then sold it and returned to Montgomery County, and bought fifty acres in North Litch- field Township. was unimproved brush land. but he has cleared it, made many improvements including the erection of a modern residence and other buildings, and has it under a high state of cultivation, carrying on general farming upon'it.

On August 22, 1893. Mr. Neldon was married to Anna Poppenhouse, born in Gasconade County, Mo., April 7, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Neldon have had the following children : Martha, who was born February 27, 1895, is Mrs. Harry Mon- hick. of Raymond Township and has one son, Fred ; and George, who was born September 14, 1897, Mary who was born March 16, 1900, Flora, who was born September 27, 1904; and one who died in infancy.

NOBBE, Charles H., one of the prosperous busi- ness men of Farmersville, is engaged in handling grain at that point, operating an elevator and is making a success of this line of endeavor. He was born in South Litchfield Township, Mont- gomery County, July 27, 1871, a son of Charles and Anna (Schoen) Nobbe. The father was born March 18. 1840, in Prussia. Germany, and re- mained there until he was ten years old, when he was brought in 1850, to the United States by his parents who made the trip by way of New Orleans, from whence they came up the Mis- sissippi River to Alton, and thence to Mt. Olive, Macoupin County, where Charles Nobbe grew to manhood. The family later moved into Walsh- ville Township, Montgomery County. Mrs. Nobbe was born in Hanover, Germany. and when fourteen years old was brought to this country by friends and locating at Staunton, Macoupin County, Ill., she was engaged in

earning her own living until her marriage. After marriage she and her husband located in Walsh- ville Township, where they remained until 1874, and in that year bought 240 acres of land in South Litchfield Township. Still later Charles . Nobbe moved to Litchfield where he was en- gaged in the grain business, and subsequently he established the grain elevator now conducted by his son, Charles H. Nobbe, at Farmersville.

Charles H. Nobbe attended the schools of his district, and he assisted at home until he was married. For a year succeeding his marriage he was engaged in farming, and then he moved to Farmersville and took charge of the elevator, and has been engaged in the grain business ever since. For a time he and his brother Henry were in partnership, but this association was dissolved, and Charles H. Nobbe has since con- tinued alone. In 1896 Mr. Nobbe was married to Minnie Peters, who was born in Montgomery County, her parents being natives of Germany. The first Mrs. Nobbe died within a year of her marriage. Mr. Nobbe was married (second) to Minnie Brockmeyer, daughter of August Brockmeyer, of Pitman Township. Mr. and Mrs. Nobbe became the parents of four children namely : Vera; Allen; Inza, who died at the age of one year and six days; and Edna. Mr. Nobbe is a Republican. He served as an alder- man of Farmersville, and was treasurer of the town for four years. The German Lutheran Church of Farmersville holds his membership, and has his hearty support.

Mr. Nobbe is a live business man and a valued addition to his community. In 1908 he established the Light Plant here and conducted it to December, 1912. then sold to the Central Illinois Public Service Company of Matoon. The office he now occupies is the first building built here and he and his father have con- ducted a grain business here continuously excepting one year, when he was in the lumber business a short time.

NOBBE, William H., one of the successful farm- ers of Pitman Township, owns and operates 240 acres of fine farm land on Section 3. He was born in Walshville Township, Montgomery County. Ill., April 6. 1862, a son of Charles and Anna (Schoen) Nobbe, the former born in Prussia-Germany, and the latter in Hanover. Germany. When he was eleven years old, Charles Nobbe was brought to the United States by his parents. settlement being first made in Macoupin County, Ill. Soon after the arrival of the family. the grandfather died. but the mother of Charles Nobbe kept her little family together on the farm of eighty acres, and on it . Charles was reared. Anna (Schoen) Nobbe came with a party of young people to Staunton, Macoupin County, Ill .; her parents never leav- ing Germany. Prior to her marriage to Charles Nobbe, she worked and earned her own living. When they married, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nobhe bought a farm of 360 acres in South Litchfield Township, but later went to Litch- field where he was a grain merchant. and he still later established the grain business at

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Farmersville, now owned by his son, Charles HI. Nobbe.

William H. Nobbe remained at home until 1883 when he rented a farm from his father and continued on it for four years. He then came to his present farm, then owned by his father, and rented it until the father's death at which time he inherited a portion of it, and bought the remainder, 120 acres, from the other heirs. He also owns 160 acres on Section 10, Pitman Township, and 240 acres in Oklahoma. Mr. Nobbe is a breeder, raiser and feeder of good cattle, specializing on Jersey stock. In addition to his farmning interests, he is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Farmersville which he helped to organize.

On July 8, 1883, Mr. Nobbe was married to Sophia Niemann, daughter of Henry Niemann. She was born at Mt. Olive, Macoupin County, Ill., February 1, 1862, and her parents came to that locality from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Nobbe had six children, as follows: Annie, who is Mrs. Albert Niemann, of Pitman Township; John, who died in 1904, aged eighteen years; Ida, who is Mrs. Edward Fuchs, of Pitman Township; Willie, who died at the age of eighteen months: and Louis C. and Linda, who are at home. Mrs. Nobbe died February 24, 1916, having been a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Nobbe is a member of Zion German Lutheran Church of Farmersville, of which he is a deacon and a member of the official board. His father helped to organize this church and was one of its leading members and officials for many years. The Nobbe family is one of the best known in Montgomery County, and its members stand high in public esteem.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 98

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