USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 62
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BORDERS, William E., a banker of Marissa, St. Clair County, who is also engaged in the coal business, is a native of Randolph County, Ill., born September 10, 1860. He is a son of Michael W. and Rachel (Alcorn) Borders; the . father was born June 6, 1823, in Randolph County, and the birthplace of the mother was near Kaskaskia, Ill. Major Andrew Borders, grandfather of William E., was born in Geor- gia, and, as a farmer, came to Randolph County in 1818. His wife, Martha (Clark) Borders, was also a native of Georgia. The grandpar- ents on the maternal side. Josiah and Sallie Alcorn, were of South Carolina birth.
William E. Borders pursued his early studies in the select school of Marissa, and took a business course in Jones' Commercial College. In 1878 he left school and settled in Marissa, where he followed general merchandising until 1899, when he embarked in the coal and bank- ing business. He is at the head of two coal companies in this place, and is also President of the Bank of Marissa, which was organized in 1903, with a capital stock of $20,000, and received deposits amounting to more than
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$100,000 during its first year. Mr. Borders was married in October, 1882, to Luella Little, who was born at Connersville, Ind., and re- ceived her education in Centralia, Ill. Po- litically, Mr. Borders is a Democrat. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
BORG, Michael, a painting contractor, of Belleville, this county, was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, March 21, 1852. His par- ents, Ignatius and Katherine (Martine) Borg, came to Belleville when Michael was five years old. The latter received his early instruction in the parochial school, and at the age of thir- teen years was employed for a year in a har- ness shop; for a year and a half afterward he worked at cigar making. Then he learned the painter's trade, and was engaged for six years in painting chairs. He subsequently be- came a painting contractor and has since fol- loweo that business, having become one of the leading operators in the painting, paper hanging and decorating line in this section of the county.
On October 27, 1877, Michael Borg was mar- ried to Amelia Meyer, a native of Belleville, who had been instructed in the parochial schools. The offspring of this union was as follows: Frank J., deceased; Adelina, Arthur, Emil, Cecille and Eugene. Mr. Borg is a Dem- ocrat in politics. His religious connection is with the Catholic Church. Socially, he belongs to the St. Peter's Benevolent Catholic Orphan Society and the C. K. of A.
BORNMAN, Louis C., who, with his brother, James A., and his sisters, Frances and Mary, owns and operates a farm of 225 acres a mile southwest of the Belleville court-house, was born in this county, July 22, 1836, a son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Miller) Bornman, na- tives of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and St. Clair County, Ill., respectively. There are few fami- lies of earlier or more substantial connection with the history of Illinois than that to which Mr. Bornman belongs. His father, who ar- rived from Germany in 1818, was the first of his countrymen to locate near Belleville, and he became the possessor of a large landed es- tate. He had nine children, of whom the sons and daughters occupying the old homestead are the sole survivors. William Miller, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Bornman, who
was born in Virginia and married Nancy Huff- man, of Hardy County, that State, came to Monroe County, Ill., in 1897, and a couple of years later located in St. Clair County, where he became the owner of 200 acres of land, twenty of which are still owned by the Bornman brothers.
Educated in the public schools and at McKen- dree College, Louis C. Bornman left the school room at the age of twenty-two, after which he devoted three months to the study of law un- der George Trumbull, of Belleville. Not taking kindly to the profession, he worked on a farm until the breaking out of the Civil War, and in April, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months. At the expiration of his term of service he enlisted in Company E, of the same regiment, for three years, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Corinth, and many others, in all taking part in 110 engagements. At the battle of Shiloh he was shot in the left arm, and was honorably discharged August 20, 1864, returning then to his home in St. Clair County. The family was one which encouraged patriotism and loyalty, and Daniel served in the same company with Louis for three months, while James entered the service in 1864 and re- mained until the close of the war. William and Daniel have been dead many years. Uninter- ruptedly, since peace was established, the re- maining brothers and sisters have lived on the old place, engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and owning two coal mines which are leased to operators. They are men of the highest character, representing the substantial, reliable and dependable element of the com- munity.
BOROWSKI, Richard H., was born in Germany in 1861, and received his education in his na- tive country. His vocation is that of chief en- gineer. In 1885 Mr. Borowski was united in marriage to Miss Margarethe Young, who re- ceived her education in Scotland. They are the parents of three children, namely: Harry, Caroline and Oscar (twins).
BOSCH, Robert, foreman of the polishing and plating department of the Belleville Stove and Range Company (formerly the Belleville Stove ·Works), is a native of that place, where he was born in 1880 and where he obtained a public school education. He is a son of Theodore
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
and Elizabeth (Ruess) Bosch, both of whom are natives of Germany, the father coming to this country and following his trade of a plas- terer. The son learned the same trade, at which he worked for three years. In 1900 he secured a position with the Belleville Stove Works and in July, 1903, was appointed fore- man of its polishing and plating department, and has since (under the new name, adopted January 1, 1906), continued to fulfill the duties of that position in an energetic and satisfac- tory manner.
BOUL, Nicholas, one of the most prominent and highly esteemed among the pioneer farm- ers of St. Clair County, was born at the lo- cality where he now lives, in Centerville Sta- tion Township (at French Village), on Febru- ary 28, 1841. The place of his residence is in the northwest quarter of Section 25, Town 2 north, Range 9 west. Mr. Boul is a son of Michael Boul and Magdalena (Germain) Boul, natives of the village of Langath, Department of the Meurthe, Province of Lorraine (then France). His paternal grandparents, Francis and Susanna (Bolinger) Boul, were born in Lorraine, and that province was also the birth- place of his grandfather and grandmother on the maternal side, Hyacinth and Elizabeth (Lobsinger) Germain. Hyacinth Germain came from France to the United States in 1831, making a temporary sojourn in Hamilton, Ohio. In the following year he journeyed to St. Clair County, where he established his home. He purchased 431 acres of land in French Vil- lage from John L. Schomberger, who had ac- quired it from the Government by reason of service in the War of 1812. Grandfather Ger- main was the father of nine children.
The mother of Nicholas Boul, Magdalena (Germain) Boul, who was born December 25, 1800, accompanied her parents to America in April, 1831, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel, and landing at New Orleans after a voyage of forty-four days. Thence the family proceeded up the Mississippi River to Cairo, and up the Ohio River to Hamilton County, Ohio, where, as before stated, her father was located for one year. On arriving in St. Clair County, Ill., he purchased the northeast quar- ter of Section 36, Town 2 north, Range 9 west, where, having made the necessary improve- ments, the family made their home for a num-
ber of years. In March, 1832, the purchase of 431 acres previously alluded to was made. This consisted of the west half of Section 25 and the northeast fractional quarter of Section 26, in Township 2 north, Range 9 west. The price paid for the tract was $5.56 per acre, aggre- gating $2,400. On the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 25, Mr. Germain built a double log house, in which he lived during the remainder of his days. At his death the house and 100 acres of bluff and bottom land became the property of his daughter, Magdalena, who in the mean- time had married Michael Boul. After living several years in Stookey Township, St. Clair County, the latter moved with his family into this dwelling. Michael Boul was a carpenter by occupation, and worked at his trade until he died, in September, 1842, being a man of industrious habits and upright character. His worthy wife, who was a faithful companion and dutiful mother, survived him until No- vember 23, 1878, when she, too, passed away.
Nicholas Boul, who was the youngest son of his parents, received his early education in the public schools of his neighborhood, mean- while making himself serviceable in the line of farming operations. He inherited the house and land constituting the homestead, as well as other tracts of land which his mother had acquired. In 1867 he tore down the log house which had so long been the family residence, and on its site built an eight-room brick house, which he occupied, with his widowed mother, until late in the fall of 1874. Having been reared to farm work, he continued to make that occupation the business of his life. In this he has met with invariable success. His house is situated on the western slope of the bluffs overlooking the American Bottom, and affords a fine view of his 110-acre tract and the lowlands adjoining it. He has relinquished the ordinary labors of the farm and spends his days in virtual retirement from active pur- suits. He is in close touch, however, with the affairs of the surrounding country, the elec- tric car service connecting his residence with Belleville and East St. Louis.
Mr. Boul has been twice married. On No- vember 24, 1874, he was united in matrimony with Mary C. Berthelsman, a daughter of Cas- per and Clara (Buehlman) Berthelsman, who was born near Belleville, Ill., where she was educated in the parochial schools. Two chil-
JOHN P. STACK, M. D.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
dren resulted from this union, namely: Ben- jamin A. and Magdalena. The mother of these children died on April 6, 1882, and is buried at French Village. After remaining a widower for thirteen years, Mr. Boul was married the second time, on August 21, 1895, to Josephine Fuchs, a widow and a daughter of Captain . John Trendley, of East St. Louis.
In general politics, Mr. Boul has long been a steadfast supporter of the Democratic party- in local matters, independent-and has filled with notable ability and fidelity many posi- tions of public trust. He was first elected School Trustee of his township, in which ca- pacity he served from 1873 to March, 1877. He was then appointed to the office of School Treasurer, which he held until 1900. In 1874 he was elected Justice of the Peace and of- ficiated as such until 1882. He was elected Township Supervisor in 1885, and discharged the duties of that position until 1894. In the fall of 1890 he became a Representative in the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, and served as such during the session of 1891, in which Gen. John M. Palmer was elected United States Senator. During the long memorable contest which resulted in his election, when 101 Democrats remained firm in his support from January 7 to March 12, Mr. Boul was one of the unswerving members of that faithful band. For their loyalty in this prolonged and exciting struggle, all received gold medals inscribed with the number "101" and the name of each Representative composing it. In reli- gion Mr. Boul is a consistent member of the Catholic Church of French Village. Frater- nally, he is identified with the Knights of Co- lumbus. For more than three-score years his career has been interwoven with the welfare and progress of St. Clair County, and for the morality and stability of his past meridian pe- riod of life, none of its citizens is held in more profound regard than he.
BREUSS, Oswald, a real estate dealer of East St. Louis, this county, who is engaged in the liquor. trade also, was born in 1866, in Austria, and there was educated. In 1884 he came to the United States and secured employment with the brewing interests. For ten years he traveled for the Heim Brewing Company, estab- lishing branch agencies, and during the last ten years has been engaged in the retail liquor
business, besides dealing in real estate. In 1904 he built a block 140x50 feet in dimensions, at Eighteenth and State Streets, in which he maintains his residence and conducts his sa- loon and family garden.
In 1886 Mr. Breuss was married to Mary Yeuger, a native of East St. Louis, and they have one child, Ida. Mr. Breuss is a member of the following fraternal organizations and so- cieties : Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, Eagles, Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Liederkranz and Mozart Societies.
BRICHLER, George W., of the Benner & Brich- ler Livery and Undertaking Company, 126-128 Collinsville Avenue, East St. Louis, was born near Smithton, St. Clair County, March 16, 1863, a son of John L. and Magdalena (Munier) Brichler. His father, who was a farmer, came from Lorraine, France, in 1832, his mother in 1842, and they were married in French Village in 1855. George W. Brichler completed his ed- ucation, which was begun in the Belleville Cath- elic school, in the Franciscan College at Teutop- olis, Ill., and for a time assisted his father on the latter's farm. He was a teacher in the Mound City Commercial College, 1888-91; was connected with a publishing house in Chicago, 1891-92; and in the latter year entered the un- dertaking business in East St. Louis. Since that time he has been a member of the Benner- Brichler Livery and Undertaking Company, in- corporated. He is a member of St. Henry's Catholic Church and of numerous fraternal or- ders. He was married in Belleville Cathedral, May 4, 1897, to Agnes Gundlach, who died Feb- ruary 24, 1902.
BROCKWAY, Richard, who is engaged in the liquor business in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, was born in Coloma, Cal., in 1871, and received his scholastic training in the public schools. His father, S. Henry Brockway, and mother, Ella E. ( Carner) Brockway, were na- tives, respectively, of New York State and San Francisco, Cal. In 1849 the former sailed from New York to California, where he was for some time engaged in prospecting, after which he embarked in the mercantile business. In 1891 he came to East St. Louis, where he and his son Richard were associated for a while in merchandising. At a later period the lat-
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
ter was employed by the Elliott Frog and Switch Company, and subsequently spent six years in the grocery business. In 1897 he established himself in the retail liquor line, in which he still remains. In 1892 Mr. Brock- way was united in marriage with Effie Heath, who was born in Sumner, Ill., and two chil- dren, Lance and Harry, have resulted from their union. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, in which he was recently elected Grand Vice-Protector for the State of Illinois.
BRUER, Jacob Andrew, was born in O'Fallon, Ill., March 28, 1868, a son of Jacob and Kather- ine (Engert) Bruer, both natives of Germany. He received his education in the parochial school, which he left when thirteen years of age to assist his father in his brick yard, where he remained until his sixteenth year, at which time he came to Belleville to enter the grocery store of William Eckhardt, in whose employ he remained three and a half years. He then re- turned to O'Fallon, where he worked for ten months for Pfifert & Isch, wholesale grocers. After this he went to Omaha, Neb., where for one year he engaged in the dry goods business with Haden Brothers. Subsequently he was employed in the Government survey in Mon- tana for a period of six months, then returned to Omaha, where he remained for three more years in the employ of Haden Brothers. Re- turning to St. Clair County, he worked for Mr. Vogt one and a half years in the saloon busi- ness, following which he worked in Belleville as barkeeper for Mr. Tiemann until he pur- chased his employer's business, which he con- ducted for one year; was with another firm three months; then going to Breckenridge, Minn., where he was engaged in a general store for a year, after which he returned to Belleville, entering the employ of Mr. Hertzler, with whom he remained five years, or until February, 1904. He then opened a saloon of his own, located at the corner of Second and Third Streets, in which business he is still engaged.
On November 7, 1894, Mr. Bruer was united in marriage to Ida Gorges, who was born in Lincoln, Ill., and educated in its public schools. The following two children were born of this union : Katherine, December 6, 1896; Mar- garet, August 21, 1898. Mr. Bruer is a Demo-
crat in his political affiliations, and in his reli- gious belief, a member of the Catholic Church.
BRUMM, Fred, carpenter, 623 St. Clair Ave- nue, Belleville, is a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 93, Knights of Pythias, of which he was Keeper of Records and Deeds. He was for a time lessee and manager of the Green Tree Ho- tel. In his youth, Mr. Brumm learned the ma- chinist's trade, and as a machinist was em- ployed at the Harrison Machine Works seven- teen years. He is of Teutonic ancestry, his father, Christian Brumm, having been born and reared in the fatherland. Mr. Brumm married Lena Schiffendecker in 1890, and there have been born to them three children-Irma, Luella and Manilla.
BUESSE, Christian, was born in Germany in 1829, and acquired his education in the public schools of that country. Emigrating to Amer- ica, he located in East St. Louis in 1849, and in 1856 was employed on a farm which he later purchased. In 1859 he sold this property and built what is known as the "Wedge House Gro- cery and Saloon," conducting the same until 1874. In that year he disposed of his business and engaged in the buying and selling of horses and mules, in the prosecution of which he used to pasture all of the land now comprising the business and residence part of East St. Louis. In 1871 he opened what was known as the Buesse Subdivision; in 1884 became proprietor of Buesse Place, and in the same year retired froni active life.
In politics Mr. Buesse is a Republican, and was a member of the village Council when the town was called New Brighton. On June 21, 1857, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Buhs, a native of Germany.
CAMPBELL, J. M., M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Marissa, St. Clair County, was born in Perry County, Ill., August 4, 1853, and is a son of J. J. and Mary L. (Mil- ligan) Campbell, both natives of Kentucky. In 1872 Dr. Campbell graduated from the public school at Pinckneysville, Ill., and subsequently entered the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, obtaining his degree therefrom in 1884. For one year he practiced his profession at Baldwin, Ill., after which he located in Ma- rissa. In 1892 the Doctor was elected Coroner
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of St. Clair County, and filled that office four years.
In November, 1885, Dr. Campbell was mar- ried to Lutitia Wilson, who was born at Steele- ville, Ill., and received her education in the public schools there and at Ewing College. Two children - Arkell and Beulah - resulted from this union. Mrs. Campbell died June 22, 1890. In politics, Dr. Campbell acts with the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Masonic Blue Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Modern Woodmen.
CANBY (Hon.) B. H., lawyer, 233 Arcade, East St. Louis, was born at Bellefontaine, Ohio, June 8, 1857, a son of Richard S. and Elizabeth (Simpson) Canby. He was educated and read law at Olney, Ill., and since removing to East St. Louis has been City Attorney and Judge of the City Court in that city. He is a Republican in politics, and a Swedenborgian in religious faith, a member of the Modern Woodmen and of the National Union. Judge Canby was married in East St. Louis, in 1883, to Nannie Carr.
CARL, William -Christopher, President of the W. C. Carl Planing Mill Company, and exten- sively engaged in the real estate and building business in both East St. Louis and Belleville, is a native of the town of Saline, Saline County, Mo., where he was born June 14, 1868. His parents were both natives of Germany, and the family of Carl, as well as the maternal family of Selinger, are among the long estab- lished households of the empire. His mater- nal great-grandfather was Baumgardner Selin- ger, and is believed to have been a farmer dur- ing his entire active life. The educational op-
portunities enjoyed by Mr. Carl have been en- tirely of his own making, and for the greater part have been connected with his more ma- ture years. The necessity of assisting with the family maintenance confronted him during his eighth year, when he began to assist his father in the blacksmith shop, remaining there until his twelfth year. He then engaged in work on a farm near Edwardsville, and in 1886 went to Venice, Ill., where he was variously em- ployed. Returning to Columbia, Mo., in 1892, he came to East St. Louis in March, 1893, and during the following November started a build- ing enterprise without capital, with little expe- rience and no influential connections. Energy
and determination accomplished desired re- sults, and in 1901 he added to his responsibili- ties that of the real estate business, which he has since conducted in East St. Louis and Belle- ville. In 1904, Mr. Carl organized the W. C. Carl Planing Mill Company, with a paid-up capital of $60,000, of which he owns stock amounting to $48,000. Mr. Carl is a Socialist in politics, and in religion is a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. A new branch of this religious organization was established in East Lansdowne, East St. Louis, at a meeting held here October 14, 1906, in charge of Apostle I. N. White and Bishop G. H. Hilliard, of In- dependence, Mo .; Elder H. Sparling, of Hol- den, Mo., and Elder J. A. Tanner, of St. Louis. Elder T. J. Elliott was chosen President of the branch; G. F. Barraclough, presiding priest; W. R. Widman, presiding teacher, and George Vandal, presiding deacon. There were sixteen members enrolled. The present meeting place will be in the new school in East Lansdowne, but the branch contemplates the erection of a church edifice on a site that has already been purchased. A Sunday school had been in progress for a month, conducted by Elder W. C. Carl as Superintendent. June 12, 1895, Mr. Carl was united in marriage with Olive Pur- nell, of Wheeling, W. Va., and who was edu- cated in Bellaire, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Carl have been born three children-John Chris- topher, Birdie Mabel and Prosper Willis.
CARR, Albert L., was born January 10, 1869, in Smithton Township, this county, in whose public schools he obtained his preliminary ed- ucation, which was supplemented by a course in Ewing College. After the completion of his collegiate course he returned to the home farm and there remained until his marriage, which took place four years later. He then moved to a farm located at Turkey Hill, where he lived from the fall of 1892 until March 1, 1902, at the latter date moving to a farm which he had purchased two years previously, and which is located on Section 36, Smithton Township. The farm comprises sixty acres, and here Mr. Carr carries on general agriculture, his principal crops being corn, wheat and oats.
In politics, Mr. Carr is a stanch supporter of Democratic sentiments. He was united in marriage October 19, 1892, to Matilda E. Hill, who was born and educated in Smithton Town-
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ship, and of this union the following four chil- dren were born: 'Esta, Ona, Susan and Ethel Carr. Mr. Carr's parents were Augustus and Catherine (Schiook) Carr, the former of whom is a native of St. Clair County.
CARROLL, Charles B., who is accounted as one of the most thoroughly equipped, resource- ful and reliable lawyers of East St. Louis, St. Clair County, and whose professional career has been highly creditable both to himself and the community in which he has for many years taken an active and useful part, is a native of Illinois, being born in Bethalto, Madison Coun- ty, September 19, 1858. Mr. Carroll is a son of John B. and Mary (McDonald) Carroll, both of whom were of Irish nativity. John B. Car- roll, who was a contractor by occupation, and a man of sound judgment, diligent habits, hon- orable character and irreproachable business methods, came to the United States in the year 1854, locating in Madison County, where he followed his accustomed pursuit with successful results. He rendered a gallant soldier's serv- ice during the Crimean War, and participated in the famous charge of the "Light Brigade" at Balaklava.
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