USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 63
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In early youth Charles B. Carroll received his primary education in the public schools in the vicinity of his home, and later became a student in the Christian Brothers' College, at St. Louis, Mo., where he remained three years. After finishing his studies in that institution, he applied himself to the task of learning the printing trade, the details of which he fully mastered. Not feeling inclined to follow that occupation as a means of livelihood, he devoted his attention to teaching school for a while, in the meantime studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1889, and at once opened an of- fice in East St. Louis, where he has since con- tinued in the successful practice of his profes- sion. Mr. Carroll has attained an enviable standing both as a practitioner and counselor, and is held in high regard by the legal frater- nity, as well as by a numerous clientele, whose confidence and respect he has won through able, efficient and faithful service.
On October 11, 1880, Charles B. Carroll was united in marriage with Mary Barron, of St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of Capt. James Barron and Jeannette Barron, also natives of that city. Six children have resulted from this union,
namely: Charles, Mary, Audrey, Percy, Barron and Frank. In politics, Mr. Carroll is a stead- fast supporter of the Republican party, in the local councils of which he wields no small in- fluence. From 1891 to 1895, he held the office of City Attorney of East St. Louis, discharg- ing the duties of that position with signal abil- ity and fidelity. In religious belief, he is an ad- herent of the Roman Catholic Church.
CHAMBERLIN, (Hon.) John M., Jr., President of the East St. Louis Real Estate Exchange, and engaged in real estate, insurance and loan busi- ness, 437 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, was born at Lebanon, St. Clair County, Ill., August 19, 1872, a son of John M. and Maggie E. (Royse) Chamberlin. John M. Chamberlin, Sr., born at Lebanon, January 21, 1837, is a son of the Rev. David Chamberlin, a native of Vermont, and one of the pioneer residents of Lebanon and of St. Clair Coun- ty. He was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Lebanon the greater part of his ac- tive life, but has retired. He has been one of the active supporters of McKendree College, of which institution he has been Treasurer for many years, his brother, Dr. M. H. Chamberlin, uncle of the subject of this sketch, being the President of the institution at this time. Mr. Chamberlin's mother, Maggie E. Chamberlin, whose death occurred in 1889, was a daughter of the late Rev. P. E. Royse. John M. Cham- berlin, Jr., was educated in the Lebanon public schools and at McKendree College, at which lat- ter institution he was graduated in the class of 1890. He was employed as a telegraph oper- ator for a period of five years, and in 1896 es- tablished the "Lebanon Leader," a weekly paper which he edited for five years. He is at present engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan business, and is President of the East St. Louis Real Estate Exchange. In 1900 he was elected on the Republican ticket a member of the Forty-second General Assembly of Illi- nois, serving one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. He was married to Lulu M. Farthing, of Odin, Ill., November 26, 1903. Mrs. Chamberlin is a daughter of W. D. Farth- ing, formerly State's Attorney of Marion Coun- ty, a member of one of the best known families in that part of the State.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
"CHANDLER, Hon. Samuel B. (deceased) .- Among the many prominent citizens of St. Clair County of the past, who aided and did much to advance the material interest of the county, was Samuel B. Chandler. A history of the county to which he contributed so much would be incomplete without proper mention being made of him. It is also fitting that a man possessed of so many good traits of char- acter, of so benevolent a disposition and lib- erality, should be passed down to posterity as an example of worthy imitation. He was of English ancestry on the paternal side, and German on the maternal. He was the son of Samuel and Saloma (Hoffman) Chandler, and was born in Rockbridge County, Va., February 9, 1808. At the age of twenty-one he came west, and for several years worked in the lead mines near Galena, Ill. It not proving re- munerative, he came south to St. Louis, and from there to Belleville. Here he found work at his trade of saddler in the shop of John D. Hughes, who paid him the small pittance of twenty-five cents per day. He continued at the trade but a short time, and then engaged in general merchandising, in which he con- tinued actively until his death, August 7, 1871. On the 21st of January, 1834, he was united in marriage to Miss Adalina La Croix, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Dubuque) La Croix. Mrs. Chandler was born December 6, 1806, at Marivais Ferre, then an Indian trading post on the Illinois River, near Peoria, I11.” (Brink's History, 1881).
CHERRINGTON, Seth K., official city sten- ographer of the city of East St. Louis, was born in 1877 in Jackson County, Ohio, and was educated in the public schools. His parents were L. W. and Mary Catherine Cherrington, both natives of Ohio, the father being engaged in railroading, which he has followed during his business career. Mr. Cherrington went to Kansas and after completing his schooling there, moved to Texas, where, for ten years, he was in the grocery business. Then remov- ing to Perry County, Ill., he embarked in the same line of trade there, continuing thus em- ployed until 1899, when he took up his resi- dence in East St. Louis, and again engaged in selling groceries until May 5, 1903, when he was appointed to the position of city stenog- rapher, whichi he still holds.
CHRISTIAN, Jacob .- When Jacob Christian came to Belleville, in 1847, he found little promise of the thriving town which now con- tributes its home and commercial importance to St. Clair County. He knew little of the lan- guage or customs of the people among whom his lot was to be cast, for he had but recently arrived from Germany, and his assets con- sisted chiefly of a strong constitution and a mastery of the carpenter's trade. Availing himself of the rapid settlement, he acquired a reputation for thoroughness and reliability as a builder, and today this reputation is being maintained by his son and namesake, Jacob Christian, Jr., to whom he imparted his knowl- edge of tools, and his skill in constructing strong and substantial buildings.
Jacob Christian, Jr., was born in Belleville in 1858, and for many years worked with his father, in 1880 establishing a business of his own. For seven or eight years he owned and operated a planing-mill and saw-mill, but since has devoted himself entirely to contracting and building in Belleville and vicinity. He is a man of strong characteristics, is public spirited and broad minded. In politics he is a Republican, and has been a member of the City Council, holding also other offices of trust and responsibility. Mr. Christian is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America. He married Susan Schnipper, May 27, 1901, and has two children, Elma and Edmund.
CHRISTOPHERSEN, Henry J., merchant of Belleville, this county, President of the Loren- zen Grocer Company, and one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his adopted town, was born in the vicinity of Schleswig, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, September 19, 1860, and emigrated to America September 7, 1878. With the enthusiasm born of a good constitution, practical views of life and the advantage of a common school educa- tion, he located in Belleville with the intention . of teaching school, but instead became inter- ested in the grocery business of his uncle, John Lorenzen, with whom he has since been asso- ciated, with the exception of four years as bookkeeper for the Belleville Glass Company. He has the manner, sagacity, many-sidedness and knowledge of human nature, which consti- tute the equipment of the successful general merchant, and, having worked from the bottom
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
up, is a typical representative of the German who lands on American shores with the deter- mination to make a success of his life.
A stanch Republican, Mr. Christophersen has been called to not a few offices of trust and responsibility in Belleville, and, though never seeking office for himself, has been of valuable assistance to his deserving friends. He is a member of the County Central Committee, and has served six years on the Board of Educa- tion, and four years on the Board of Super- visors. Fraternally he is a welcome member of the best lodges in the State; is master of St. Clair Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., Past Chan- cellor and Cavalier of Lodge No. 49, K. of P., and a member of the Good Samaritans. He is a member of the two German singing so- cieties of Belleville, and foremost in promot- ing social diversions. His wife, formerly Rosa Lorenzen, is a native of St. Louis, and he has a son, Hans M.
CHURCH, James W., hoisting engineer at the Advance Mine, near Marissa, St. Clair County, was born in 1865 at Dekoven, Ky., son of Robert and Mary (Blackburn) Church, the former be- ing a native of Wales and the latter of England. His early education was acquired in the public schools of Kentucky, and at the age of twelve years he began working in a coal mine near Dekoven, being thus employed until 1880, when with his parents he came to Marissa and there engaged in mining until 1889. In that year he accepted a position as engineer with the Meek Milling Company, remaining there until 1900, when he was appointed hoisting engineer of the Advance Mine at Marissa, in which capacity he has since been working. Mr. Church is a man of energy and progressive ideas, in consequence of which he has advanced to his present respon- sible position. In 1888 he was united in mar- riage to Katie Steinheimer, who was born in 1870 at Marissa and was educated in the public schools of that place. They have two children, Benjamin and Daniel.
CLARK, David (deceased), was born fourteen miles from Belfast in County Down, Ireland, September 2, 1812. His parents were natives of the same county, his mother only coming to the United States and dying at the home of her son, Hugh Clark, in this county. Mr. Clark received his education in Ireland and
did not come to the United States until the year 1840; at which time he went to Canada, later going to St. Louis and finally removing to St. Clair County, where his first work was to make himself the possessor of forty acres of land upon which he took up his abode.
On May 29, 1849, David Clark married Nancy McBride, of Alabama, and of this union were born three children who reached maturity -- Elizabeth, Mary; and Jennie, who became the wife of Albert Scott, of Huntsville, Mo. Mr. Clark was an active energetic farmer, who ac- cumulated an estate of 320 acres in Englemann Township, which since the death of its owner still remains the property of the family, al- though the survivors reside in a brick resi- dence at No. 702 E. First Street. In his po- litical views Mr. Clark was a Democrat; in re- ligious views, a Presbyterian. His death oc- curred on February 18, 1870.
CONNELLY, Daniel, was born December 17, 1864, in County Cork, Ireland, son of Daniel and Anna (Joice) Connelly, who were also natives of the county mentioned. While he was still an infant the parents of Daniel emigrated to the United States, locating at Hartford, Conn., where the father engaged in farming. Daniel worked in a rolling mill until 1884, when he removed to East St. Louis and was there em- ployed as a passenger conductor on the Eads Bridge for seventeen years. In 1898 he em- barked in the liquor business at No. 420 Mis- souri Avenue, where he continued until May 4, 1901, when he sold out and opened a similar place at No. 926 Illinois Avenue. In politics he is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, fraternally is a member of the B. P. O. E. and the A. O. H., while in his religious affiliations he upholds the precepts of the Catholic Church. Mr. Connelly acquired his education in the public schools, and has progressed to his present position in life through personal endeavor and a conscientious adherence to business principles.
COY, George, who is engaged in the live-stock business in East St. Louis, this county, was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1859, and is a son of William Coy, a native of Indiana. The latter followed steamboating on the Mississippi River, for a considerable period, his occupation being that of an engineer. His son George was
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
educated in St. Louis, and since attaining man- hood has been identified with the live-stock trade for twenty-seven years. Until January 1, 1904, he was connected with Cassady Brothers, at the National Stock Yards. At that date he formed a partnership with M. A. Bright, under the style of the Bright-Coy Commission Company. Since the establishment of the firm it has handled 2,100 cars of cattle, hogs, etc., valued at $1,700,000.
In 1889 George Coy was united in marriage with Ella Flaherty, who was born in East St. Louis, and their union has resulted in two chil- dren-Ethel and Walter. For six years Mr. Coy served as a member of the School Board . of East St. Louis.
CRAGEN, Edward L., Jr .- Judging by the suc- cess thus far achieved, the future business career of Edward L. Cragen, Jr., is one of ex- ceptional promise. One of the youngest, as well as most capable of the rising generation of real estate dealers in East St. Louis, he al- ready has the reputation of having made the largest loans on property in the city, and of having encouraged and substantially aided the settlement of more people and industries in de- sirable localities within a given time, than any other man in the business. This would seem an unusual showing when it is known that Mr. Cragen is barely twenty-two years old, having been born in Alton, this State, October 16, 1882. His wit and ingenuity are the inheritance of Irish forefathers on both sides of his family, his grandfathers, John Cragen and Christopher Coyne, having been born in Cork and Dublin respectively, removing to the United States as young men, and settling at an early day in Alton, Ill. Christopher Coyne took as wife Elizabeth Dooling, of Macoupin County, Ill., and their daughter, Catherine, the mother of Edward L., was born in Alton in 1862. Ed- ward L. Cragen, Sr., was born in Alton in 1854, and seems to have set his son an example of vigorous energy, to which was allied a capacity for practical and substantial results.
Graduating from the East St. Louis high school, Edward L. Cragen, Jr., inaugurated his industrial life at the age of nineteen, selecting the real estate business in what has since proved a profitable field, and having his first office in the Arcade building. Later he estab- lished headquarters on Main Street, and it is
in this latter office that his most ambitious sales and loans have been conducted. Mr. Cragen has been chiefly concerned with the Cragen sub-division of 1,614 feet in the eastern part of the city, and in 1904 he opened a tract of land lying north of the new Vandalia yards. His loans have been many and large, the most conspicuous being a loan of $50,000 on the Model flats. He is what is known in business parlance as a "hustler," using keen judgment in his undertakings, and making no mistakes as to present values or possibilities of deprecia- tion. He is public spirited in the extreme, and of a kindly and generous nature; takes an interest in Democratic politics, and attends regularly the Catholic Church.
DAAB, Frederick, a retired farmer
of St. Clair County, and Vice-President of the Seibert Mercantile Company, was born February 28, 1856, in Smithton, Ill., and received his early education in the public schools, supplemented by a course at Central Wesleyan College, War- renton, Mo. His parents, J. N. and Anna M. (Grossman) Daab, were natives of Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, who, in 1834, located in St. Clair County, where they entered govern- ment land adjoining the town of Smithton and there passed the remainder of their lives. His maternal grandfather was Charles Grossmann, also a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. Frederick, who was the youngest of seven children, lived on the homestead with his parents until twen- ty-three years of age and then, after his mar- riage, moved into Smithton, locating on a tract of land ninety-five acres in extent. Here he remained until 1899, when he built a modern residence in the northern part of Smithton and has since made that his home, having retired from active farming. In 1891 the Seibert Mer- cantile Company was incorporated, with five members, Mr. Daab being elected Vice-President and Albert Steudle, President.
In politics Mr. Daab supports the Democratic party and has served as School Director and Town Clerk, and for six years was a member of the Village Board. In religion he is a Lutheran churchman, and socially is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the George- town Turnverein. On March 13, 1879, he was married to Mary L. Seibert, who was educated in the Smithton schools, and to them have been born the following three children: Ella, Mrs.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Frank Young, Jr .; Edgar T., who married Anna A. Kiefer, of Belleville, this county, and now resides in Indianapolis, Ind., and Ernst W., who is still at home. The parents of Mrs. Daab, George and Catherine (Hoereth) Seibert, were born in St. Clair County, her paternal grand- parents, George and Margaret Seibert, being natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. The maternal grandfather, Ludwig Hoereth, was one of the earliest German settlers in the county, having entered land from the Government at High Prairie.
DAMM, Henry, Sr., soldier of the Civil War, and retired carpenter of Belleville, was born in Hessen-Nassau, Prussia, June 28, 1835, his parents, Otto and Anna G. (Loeber) Damm, being also natives of that province. At nine- teen years of age Mr. Damm emigrated to the United States, settling in St. Louis, Mo., on June 10, 1854, and soon after finding employ- ment as a carpenter, being thus engaged at the outbreak of the Civil War. Enlisting in Com- pany A, Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, for three months, he was stationed at Camp Jackson, and three days before the expiration of his first enlistment, re-enlisted in Company A, First Missouri Cavalry, for three years. During the service he participated in eleven battles and a number of skirmishes, and No- vember 7, 1861, received his first wound, through a horse's kick, which incapacitated him for six weeks. Later he was again injured by a horse falling on him near Little Rock, Ark. Dis- charged from the service in St. Louis, Septem- ber 17, 1864, he continued to live in that city for a couple of years, removing then to East St. Louis, which remained his home until he located at Belleville in 1868. Here he opened a saloon on Richland Street, a little later starting a similar place on Main Street in Leifert Hall, disposing of his interest three years afterward and starting a business on Richland Street. A year and a half later he entered the employ of Andel & Weber, remained with them for seven years, and then was em- ployed by Mr. Shook for one year. Still later he worked for Louis Bartle for a year, and then turned his attention to carpentry, which he again followed until his retirement from active life in 1903.
On March 6, 1871, Mr. Damm married Mrs. Caroline Dern (nee Ellich), a native of Ger-
many, and who, by her first marriage, had a daughter Eliza, now the wife of George Ray- mond. Of the present marriage there were three children, of whom Anna G. is deceased; Katherine is the wife of Philip Germain; and Henry, Jr., is at home. Mr. Damm is a Re- publican in politics, and is prominent in affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic, being iden- tified with Hagen Post No. 143. He is also a. member of the United Workmen Lodge No. 138, and the Hermann Lodge No. 286.
DAMMRICH, Eugene A., one of the youngest, as well as one of the most promising grocers of Belleville, was born in St. Clair County, Ill., October 10, 1879, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Doser) Dammrich, and grandson of Jacob Dammrich .. Mr. Dammrich's parents were born in St. Clair County, where his grand- father had settled shortly after his arrival from Germany at an early day. As one in a large family dependent upon the meager earnings of a small farmer, Eugene A. became a wage- earner at the age of thirteen, finding employ- ment in the grocery store of George Seib, with whom he remained for ten years. December 10, 1902, he engaged in the grocery business with H. L. Heinecke, at 409 East Main Street, under the firm name of Heinecke & Dammrich.
The store of Heinecke & Dammrich indicates the character and tendencies of the owners. One is impressed with the idea of progression, of a desire to please, and above all else of abso- lute cleanliness. The windows are clean, the displays behind them are calculated to attract the eye and arouse the appetite, and the shelf- goods are neatly and systematically arranged. There is a breeziness about their clerks, and an air of cheerfulness, such as are recognized as. great aids in the business world of today.
DANIELS, Samuel, Superintendent of the Garside Mine No. 4, was born in England in 1838, son of Joel Daniels and Anna (Swindd) Daniels, both natives of England. In 1848 Samuel came to the United States with his. parents who located in St. Louis, Mo., the: father there engaging in coal mining, which, together with farming, he followed for many years. Samuel Daniels, like his father, became interested in farming and coal mining and has given his entire time and attention to these lines of industry. He worked in the Garside
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Mine No. 3, in 1859, and was superintendent of the same from 1864 until 1875, subsequently going to Trenton where, for a time, he was similarly employed. He then passed four years on a Missouri farm. In 1876 he again became connected with Mr. Garside as manager of Mine No. 4, of which he was lately appointed super- intendent. This mine was purchased by the Consolidated Coal Company, in 1886, but Mr. Daniels continues to occupy his former position. The mine has a capacity of 250 tons per day, employs fifty men, and is operated entirely by machinery. It is located on the Southern Railroad, and all its output is shipped to Si. Louis. Mr. Daniels was united in marriage to May Ward, a native of England, where her early education was acquired in the public schools. They have two children, James and Joel, who are also employed in the mines, one as mine manager, the other as engineer.
DARMSTATTER, George (deceased), who was prominently connected with the farming inter- ests of St. Clair County, was born in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa., December 10, 1843, and was educated in the public schools of St. Clair County. He was a son of Lenhardt and Magdalena (Guise) Darmstatter, both na- tives of Germany, and when he was two years old his parents moved from Pennsylvania to St. Clair County, where they both died. After his father's decease he remained on the home farm in New Athens Township with his mother until her death. Mr. Darmstatter continued to cul- tivate the farm until August 10, 1887, when he received fatal injuries from the kick of a horse and died a few days later, his remains being interred in the home farm cemetery. The de- ceased was an adherent of the Lutheran Church, and in politics supported the Demo- cratic party.
On February 28, 1864, George Darmstatter was married to Elizabeth Roeder, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, whose education was acquired in her native land and in the public schools of St. Clair County. Of this union the following children were born: Louis, Magdalena (deceased), Lenhardt, Laura, who married Louis Joseph; Peter, Ida, who became the wife of F. Oberbeck; Lucy, now Mrs. Edward Vogel; Elizabeth, who married Frank Walter; Julia, the wife of John Baehr; Edward, and Matilda (deceased). Mr. Darm-
statter was the first Supervisor of New Athens Township, a position he filled with honor until his death. After his demise his wife and chil- dren moved to New Athens village, March 1, 1898. Mrs. Darmstatter's parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Keller) Roeder, who came from Germany to the United States when she was eight years of age.
"DARROW, Charles B. (deceased) .- Charles B. Darrow was born in the State of New York, September 19, 1806. He was a son of Rev. Zadok Darrow, a Baptist preacher, who came to Illinois at an early date, and settled east of the present town of O'Fallon, where he had a farm, and also followed his trade of a car- penter. He was zealously devoted to the inter- ests of the Baptist Church, and preached some- where every Sabbath. He frequently held serv- ice at the Rock Spring Seminary, founded by the Rev. John M. Peck, and also at the Rich- land Baptist Church. He was pastor for one year of a Baptist Church on the Horse Prairie in Randolph County. After becoming incapaci- tated from labor and unable to preach, he moved to Collinsville, where his daughter lived, and died there of the cholera in the year 1849." (Brink's History, 1881.)
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