USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
DAUBACH, William, agent for the Air Line Railroad Company, and member of the West End Fire Department, of Belleville, this county, is a European by birth, and was born in 1854. He became a resident of this town in 1865, and for the first ten years engaged in coal mining, since which time he has been connected with the railroad, and has also engaged in the liquor business. He is the second bearing the name to engage in the development of coal in this county, for his father Peter, who also came here in 1865, was similarly employed for many years. In 1875 Mr. Daubach married Theresa Rehm, to whom have been born six chil- dren: Charles, Ida, Edward, Ella, Amelia, and William.
DAVIS, O. C., coal and ice merchant, of East St. Louis, and prominent Democratic politician and office-holder, was born in Litchfield, Ill., May 12, 1860, a son of Jefferson and Elizabeth Davis, who were emigrants from North Caro- lina. Mr. Davis has spent his entire business life in the ice trade, starting in at the age of
996
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
nineteen, and finding employment with the same firm for seven years. In 1888 he branched out into an independent venture, dealing in soft and hard coal and ice, and at present has three coal and five ice wagons. In 1896 Mr. Davis was elected Alderman of the Third Ward, serv- ing two years, and in 1904 was elected School Trustee for a term of three years. He is a member of both the County and the City Cen- tral Committee, and has taken a prominent part in the local deliberations of his party. Fraternally he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd-Fellows, the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen, and the Eagles. In April, 1887, he married Mary Pierce, of East St. Louis, and five children have been born to this union: Mamie, Estella, Ettie, Clarence and Elizabeth.
DAVIES, William A .- The death of William A. Davies, on August 20, 1903, removed from the community of Belleville a man of excellent business reputation, who, during his compara- tively brief active life, had worthily filled posi- tions requiring judgment and acumen. Born in Guarden, Wales, July 14, 1866, Mr. Davies was a son of Thomas and Margaret Davies, natives also of that country, and farmers by occupation. As a boy William dreamed of adorning the medical profession with his skill and ability, but after qualifying for the same, he evidently changed his determination, for after emigrating to America in 1889, and set- tling at Pittsburg, Pa., he found employment in the Carnegie Steel Works for two years, re- moving then to Belleville, where also he worked in the iron works, as well as in the office of a St. Louis business firm located at that point. During four years he was steward of the State Hospital at Jacksonville, Ill., later securing a position as traveling salesman with the spice firm of Thompson, Taylor & Company, of Chi- cago. While in the latter city he was taken suddenly ill, and after weeks of suffering suc- cumbed to an abscess of the stomach. Mr. Davies was buried in the beautiful Green Mound Cemetery at Belleville, the ritual of the Episcopal Church being read at his grave.
The deceased was a Republican in politics, and fraternally was connected with the Masons. Mr. Davies left a wife, whom he married Jan- uary 17, 1892, and whose girlhood name was Emma Knobeloch, daughter of George and Cath-
erine (Haege) Knobeloch, of Belleville; also the following four children: Madelaine M., born March 18, 1893; Annette C., September 29, 1894; Arthur W., May 3, 1898; and Iona M., deceased. Mrs. Davies is prominent in the social life of Belleville, is well informed on current events, and owes her education to the public schools of Elmira, Ill., and to Green- ville College.
DEANS, Robert, Mine Superintendent, was born in St. Clair County in 1866, and there obtained his public school education. He is a son of Henry and Amelia (Jeffe) Deans, the birth place of the former being Scotland and that of the latter Yorkshire, England. At an early age Robert became interested in mining and eventually secured a position as hoisting engineer. In 1886 he went to Percy, Randolph County, Ill., where he remained for thirteen years, three years of which period he held the office of Town Clerk. Returning to St. Clair County he was again employed as hoisting en- gineer until 1901, when he accepted the posi- tion of foreman for the Royal Coal Mining Company, and was later promoted to be Su- perintendent, the duties of which he has since continued to fulfill with more than ordinary executive ability. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F., and the Improved Order of Red Men. In 1888 he mar- ried Emma Gillespie, a native of Steeleville, Ill., and they are the parents of the following children: Ala, Gladys, Charles, Robert E., and Nellie.
DECKER, Henry J., a retired hotel and livery keeper, of Mascoutah, St. Clair County, was born in Frankweiler, Rheinpfalz, Germany, De- cember 8, 1824. His father, Peter L. Decker, was born at Frankweiler, Germany, and his mother, Martha M. (Walter) Decker, at Eden- koben, Rheinpfalz, same Empire. Mr. Decker received his schooling in his native land, and in 1884 came from the old country to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked at blacksmithing, having learned that trade in the fatherland. In 1846 he came to Mascoutah and engaged at his trade with Matthew Brentzel. In 1850, he built and conducted a shop in Belleville, but in 1852 returned to Mascoutah, where he oc- cupied a rented building until 1863. Then he purchased a hotel, to which he made additions
997
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
until, in 1902, it contained fifteen bedrooms. He conducted the establishment until May, of that year, when his son, Jacob, assumed the management.
Henry J. Decker was married June 7, 1851, to Mary A. Brentzel, who was born in Rhein- pfalz, Germany, and received her schooling in this country. Their children are: Jacob; Eliza- beth, who is the widow of Anthon Barbian; P. Henry; Emma L .; and Otellia (Mrs. Palm). Mr. Decker is a Republican in politics, and served as County Commissioner from 1881 un- til 1884. He was Chairman of the Town Board for two years, and was elected Police Magistrate, serving in this capacity for eight years. In religious belief Mr. Decker is an Evangelical Protestant. Fraternally, he belongs to the I. O. O. F.
DECKER, Jacob, proprietor of a saloon, hotel and livery in Mascoutah, this county, was born in that place, on February 22, 1857. He is a son of Henry J. and Mary A. (Brentzel) Decker, natives of Germany, the latter having been born in Bavaria. Jacob Decker completed his public school studies when he was fifteen years old, and attended a commercial college in St. Louis for one term. He then returned to Mascoutah, where he was engaged in the hotel business with his father until 1879. Then he went into the implement business, which he conducted for fifteen years, after which he was appointed to a position in the Chester Penitentiary, where he remained for fifteen months. He then returned to Mascoutah and was employed for nine months by the Postel Milling Company. On May 1, 1902, he took charge of the business which his father had conducted for thirty-eight years, being now pro- prietor and active manager of the "Mascoutah House," with its bar and livery.
Mr. Decker was married February 13, 1883, to Anna A. Schott, who was born and schooled in Belleville, St. Clair County. Their children are as follows: H. P., Washington (deceased), Delmar J., Elsie E., Alvira C., B. F. Harrison and Paula. In politics, Mr. Decker is a Re- publican.
De HAAN, H. J., physician and surgeon, East St. Louis, is a native of St. Louis, Mo., born May 24, 1858. J. J. de Haan, his father, was born in Cologne, Germany, and came to St.
Louis in 1857. Until 1865, Mr. de Haan was manager of the Saler Publishing House, St. Louis. Then he removed to East St. Louis, where, two years later, he became a real estate agent and general paymaster of the Wiggins Ferry Company until 1889. He married Cath- erine Rudtge, who was born in Audernach, near Coblentz, Germany. Before coming to this country, he attained an honorable rank in the German army. The paternal grandfather of Dr. de Haan was a successful architect in Holland. The immediate subject of this sketch studied at the German Institute, then a noted school in St. Louis, and at Sacred Heart College, Ruma, 111., graduating from the latter institution in the Latin course when he was only eighteen years old .. After that he was for three years assistant railroad agent for the Wiggins Ferry Company. After reading medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Prewitt, of St. Louis, he was a student at the Missouri Medical College (now Washington University), 1881-83. Early in the latter year he went to Germany to per- fect his professional knowledge at Berlin, where he was under the instruction of Dr. Koch and other eminent physicians. In 1885, he was graduated with the degree of Medical Doctor, and after taking special post-graduate courses at Vienna, Paris and London, returned to East St. Louis. In 1884, he attended the Interna- tional Medical Congress at Copenhagen and traveled on the Scandinavian Peninsula. He began practice here in 1885 and has been suc- cessful professionally and financially. He was influential in promoting the establishment of St. Mary's Hospital, of which he became sur- geon in 1890. He has invested quite heavily in real estate in East St. Louis, and has done much toward the upbuilding of the city. In 1886 he married Miss Nell Bergen, a native of Litchfield, Ill., who died in 1891, having borne him three children: Adrian, Nellie anad Marie. Politically, Dr. de Haan is a Democrat. He is a member of St. Henry's Catholic Church. His office is in the Cahokia Building, Missouri and Collinsville Avenues, and his residence at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue.
De KUM, Dominick, a retired farmer of this county, was born in Centerville Township, St. Clair County, February 7, 1851, the son of Michael and Mary Ann (Klock) De Kum, na- tives respectively of Bavaria, Germany, and
998
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Lorraine, France, who came to America with their parents, and located in St. Clair County, about 1844. Mr. De Kum received a common school education, and until he was twenty-four years of age remained on his father's farm, assisting in the work of the place. He then lived for two years with Joseph Schmisseur.
On February 17, 1870, Dominick De Kum married Louisa Schmisseur, a native of St. Louis, Mo., and a daughter of the Joseph Schmisseur imentioned above. After this event he moved to Belleville, but after a seven months' tarry, purchased a farm on the Shiloh road, two and one-half miles east of that place, where he remained for seven years. In 1886 the family came to St. Clair Township, lo- cating on the old Schmisseur homestead, two miles west of Belleville, where Mr. De Kum has since lived in retirement. In his political con- nection he is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
DELATINAZ, Eugene, who is engaged in blacksmithing in French Village, St. Clair County, was born at Centerville Station, this county, in 1866, and there attended the public school. His father, also Eugene Delatinaz, was born in France, and his mother, Sophie (Schlis- teur) Delatinaz, was a native of St. Clair County. Born on his parents' farm, Eugene remained with them until he attained the age of twenty-one years. During this period, he had served a portion of his apprenticeship at blacksmithing, and on leaving the farm went to Jerseyville, where he fully learned his trade. He then worked for six months in St. Louis, Mo., after which he started in business in Mad- ison County, Ill. There he lost everything on account of high water, and returned to St. Louis, where he worked four years; then moved to French Village, buying a shop there in 1892. His shop and building are now valued at $8,000, and his homestead and unimproved property at $7,000. He is the patentee of several valuable farm implements, and altogether a man of en- terprise and substance.
Mr. Delatinaz was married January 10, 1894, to Kate Copie, who was born and educated in St. Louis, Mo. The names of the children are Marie, Rose, Genevieve and Eugene. Socially, Mr. Delatinaz is connected with the I. O. O. E., I. O. O. F., K. of P., I. O. R. M., Elks and Im- proved Order of Red Men.
DEMPCY, Thomas E., a successful and well- known attorney of East St. Louis, was born in 1858, at Urbana, Ohio, the son of Ezra L. and Lacrissa (Perrington) Dempcy, both na- tives of Ohio. The father followed the indus- trious life of a farmer in the Buckeye State. After attending the public schools, Mr. Dempcy studied law in Cincinnati, and was admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1885. He then moved to Kansas and continued the practice of his profession there for eight years, when he came to East St. Louis, where for two years he practiced with Judge Crow. He then practiced alone until 1893, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Washburn, with whom he was associated until October 1, 1904, when he entered into partnership with S. W. Baxter, and the firm of Dempcy & Baxter has since been prominently identified with the le- gal affairs of East St. Louis. In No- vember, 1905, Mr. Dempcy was appointed Assistant Attorney-General of the State, which position he has held continuously to the present time. In October, 1906, William P. Barnhart became a member of the firm of Dempcy & Baxter, the style of the East St. Louis law firm now being Dempcy, Baxter & Barnhart. In his fraternal affiliations, Mr. Dempcy is a member of the Elks and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He was married in 1886 to Florence Wright, who was born and educated in Ohio.
DIETRICH, Henry,' Jr., the present Assessor of Belleville, is a young man of energy and resource, who has supported himself since he was thirteen years of age, and who has gained his most valuable lessons in the hard school of experience. Born in Bellevile May 25, 1872, Henry Dietrich derived an inheritance of thrift and industry from his parents, Henry and Bertha (Goeritzer) Dietrich, natives of Sax- ony, Germany, and early settlers of St. Clair County, and at the age of thirteen was appren- ticed to Hans Schwartz, of the "Arbeiter Zeitung," to learn the printer's trade. His as- sociation with this periodical continued for eighteen years, and later he was connected with various papers in the town, being with the "Morning Record" at the time of his election to the office of Assessor, April 1, 1902, for a term of four years. Mr. Dietrich is prominent fraternally; has held all the offices in the
999
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Knights of Pythias Lodge, and is also a mem- ber of the Good Samaritans. He has held various offices in the Typographical Union No. 18, and is a member of the Kronthal Lieder- tafel Singing Society of Belleville, being also identified with the Belleville Commercial Club, West Belleville Workingmen's Benevolent So- ciety and Glendale Pleasure Club. An honor- able man and efficient public servant, Mr. Dietrich commands the respect and support of the community at large, being an encouraging example of that success acquired solely through determined personal effort.
DIETRICH, Philip E., one of St. Clair County's well-known and successful coal operators, was born in the county in 1872 and attained his education in the public schools. His parents were John and Christina (Bummelmann) Dietrich, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. In 1895 Mr. Dietrich began to operate what is known as The Green Hill Mine, which he has since conducted as a hand mine. It has a capacity of twenty tons per day. In April, 1903, Philip E. Dietrich was united in mar- riage to Alice Wooters, his wife being a native of Monroe County, this State.
DEITZ, John, foreman of the Queen City Range Company, at Belleville, St. Clair County, is a native of that city, his birth hav- ing occurred in the year 1872, and his educa- tion being obtained in the public schools. His parents, Frank and Elizabeth (Krieger) Deitz, emigrated to the United States, where the father was employed as a cigar manufacturer for many years. After completing his schooling Mr. Deitz learned the trade of a sheet metal worker, and for twelve years was engaged in mounting stoves. In May, 1903, he accepted the position of foreman of the Queen City Range Company, at Belleville, a position he has since held, giving to his work that intelligence and high degree of ability that comes from long years of experience in a special line of work. In 1895 Mr. Deitz was united in marriage to Louisa Hirth, who was born and educated in Belleville. Mr. and Mrs. Deitz are the parents of Lizzie, August and Bertha.
DINGES, Charles (deceased), Belleville, this county, was born in Folkenhausen, Nassau, Ger- many, February 2, 1836, the son of John Dinges
and N. N. Dinges, natives of the same province. Mr. Dinges received his education in his na- tive land, where also he learned the trade of a machinist. After he came to America he settled first in St. Louis, but in 1845 came to Belleville, where for ten years he worked in the machine shop of that town. In 1855, how- ever, he established a place of his own on South Jackson Street, which he conducted until his decease.
On June 17, 1845, Mr. Dinges was married to Katherine Meyer, of Germany, and of this union seven children were born: Gertrude, now Mrs. Samstag; Frederick; George; John; Frank, Chief of the Fire Department; Margaret, now Mrs. Miller; and Mary, now Mrs. Rudolph. For a long time previous to his death Mr. Dinges was greatly interested in the Fire De- partment of his town, and was one of the chased the first fire engine owned by the city and installed the first steam fire engine used in that section of the country. He also put in all the iron work used in the construction of the first Catholic cathedral. In his political views Mr. Dinges was a Democrat. He was a member of the Catholic Church. His death occurred February 7, 1880.
DINTELMANN, L. F., who operates a nursery and farm one mile south of Belleville, this county, was born in St. Clair Township, St. Clair County, November 30, 1861. His parents, Henry and Anna Elizabeth (Keller) Dintel- mann, were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many. His paternal grandparents, John and Eva (Mueller) Dintelmann, and those on the maternal side, John Philip Keller and Kath- erine (Geiss) Keller, were all German-born.
L. F. Dintelmann received his early educa- tion in the public schools, and in his more mature years commenced work on the farm near his birthplace where he now resides. In 1893 he studied the nursery business and planted orchards on his father's farm, devoting his attention mainly to apples, peaches and pears, and handling a general line of nursery products. He cultivates about fifteen acres for this purpose, and is yearly adding more land. He ships to every part of the country, and is building up an extensive business. He had apples on exhibition at the World's Exposition in Paris, France, and secured first prizes for the Wine Sap variety. At the St. Louis Expo-
1000
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
sition he also exhibited various fruits, all of which were grown on the Dintelmann home- stead. Politically, Mr. Dintelmann is a Re- publican, and served in the capacity of Clerk of St. Clair Township from 1891 to 1901, in- clusive. His religious connection is with St. Paul's Evangelical Church.
DOMHOFF, John F., until quite recently a leading undertaker and embalmer of East St. Louis, is now engaged as a manufacturer and distributor of the Okey burial vaults. Mr. Domhoff was born in St. Louis, Mo., June 14, 1867, and was educated in the public schools of that city. His parents, Herman and Anna (Puls) Domhoff, and his paternal grandfather, Fred J. Domhoff, were natives of Hanover, Germany.
Following the custom of his ancestors, Mr. Domhoff early evinced a spirit of independence and at the age of fourteen became apprenticed to a stair-builder, following that occupation for twelve years. As a boy, his energy and will were noticeable, and to the labor devolving upon his apprenticeship he added that of sell- ing newspapers. He became much interested in the latter work, and pursued it so success- fully that eventually his route extended all over East St. Louis; and yet he covered his terri- tory, with relays of horses, in less time than many newspaper agents of the present day whose fields are smaller. He also enjoyed the distinction of being the only man who could be depended upon to deliver papers in almost inaccessible places. Even to this day, he is hailed by old customers who say that they never received papers regularly after he dis- continued the work, and it was this very promptness and desire to please his patrons which gave him such unbounded success in after years.
For a short time prior to entering the livery business, he was associated with Christ An- derson, in the contracting line. On July 1, 1896, he started a livery and sale stable, hav- ing been for some time previous in the under- taking business, and on account of his pro- nounced success in that branch, a general un- dertaking department was added to the busi- ness. In this line Mr. Domhoff scored another success. He was prompt, genial and sociable, and, as a consequence, not only enjoyed a large and increasing business patronage, but when
the younger and progressive element of his section of the city sought a candidate for the offices of Supervisor and Alderman of the Sixth Ward, he was selected and successively elected to both positions.
Later Mr. Domhoff learned of the possibilities in the manufacture of the Okey burial vault, and from the patentee accepted the sole agency for this section, disposing of his livery busi- ness that he might devote his entire time to the enterprise. The vault is a hermetically sealed cement-box, built for each coffin, which, when put in place, is capable of preserving the remains for an indefinite period.
Mr. Domhoff resides at No. 1214 Cleveland Avenue, and his factory and place of business is at Nos. 1030 and 1032 State Street. In pol- itics he is an ardent but consistent Republican, although he was elected to the offices of Super- visor and Alderman on the local Independent Municipal ticket. Fraternally, he is one of the most prominent men in the city, being identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias, and Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; is a charter member of the B. P. O. E., and a member of the Modern Woodmen, Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, Tribe of Ben Hur, D. O. K. K., the Concordia and Mozart Singing Societies, and the Germania Men's and Ladies' Insurance So- ciety. Mr. Domhoff was joined in marriage with Augusta Broeggelmeyer, of St. Louis, Mo., in 1891, of which union Gertrude (born Sep- tember 14, 1904) is the only child.
DONAHUE, James H., a merchant of East St. Louis, this county, was born in Selma, Ala- bama, December 19, 1863. His father, Patrick Donahue, settled in that place when he came to the United States, but subsequently moved to Chicago, where he followed his trade and became a contractor for brick work. James H. Donahue received his early mental training in the Chicago schools, after which he became as- sociated with his father in business, removing to East St. Louis in 1879. In 1901 he estab- lished himself in the line of handling mantels, tile and marble work, doing all kinds of tile laying, wainscoting, etc. For eighteen years he has also been interested in the drayage busi- ness.
In 1894 Mr. Donahue was married to Delia Ho- ran, who was born in England, and one child, James Joseph, is the offspring of their union.
John D. Storkey
IOOI
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
In politics, Mr. Donahue is a Democrat, and has twice represented his Ward in the City Council. He is at present Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, and serves in the capacity of oil inspector for that city. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
DORRIS, William R., Bank Cashier, was born October 13, 1874, near Greencastle, Mo., a son of August and Harriet E. (Cantrell) Dorris, the former of whom was a native of Baden, Germany, the latter's birth having occurred in Tennessee. After passing through the public schools, William R. took a course in McKen- dree College, later completing his education at the University of Illinois. For twelve years he was a teacher in St. Clair County, and upon the organization of the First National Bank of O'Fallon became its Cashier. At present he also holds the position of Secretary of the O'Fallon B. L. Association, which was organized in 1891 with a membership of 100. The other officers of this institution are: John Seddon, President; Alfred Mayer, Vice-President; and E. H. Smiley, Treasurer. The loans of the association amount to $26,000.
In 1898 William R. Dorris was united in marriage to Alice Louden, a daughter of John and Rosannah (Craig) Louden, old residents of this county, where the father died. Mr. Dorris was made a Mason in O'Fallon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in which he now serves as Senior Warden. He is a member of the Board of Education and helped to organize the Com- mercial Club of O'Fallon, of which ne is Presi- dent. Politically, he is a Republican.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.