USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 67
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corruptible politicians, he was appointed a dep- uty under County Clerk Wick, and was later chosen County Clerk, holding the office four years. In 1874 he opened an abstract office on the public square, and it was this occupation which chiefly concerned him at the time of his death in 1889. While in the abstract business he engaged in newspaper work for several years, owning and managing at different times the "Post," "Zeitung," and "Democrat," eventu- ally disposing of the latter to Kraft & Kern. He was prominent in all measures for the bet- terment of the town, was a liberal contributor to worthy causes, and was valued for his prac- tical common-sense and far-sightedness.
On May 1, 1864, Sebastian Fietsam married Louisa Dauth, a native of St. Clair County, and sister of his first wife, Sophia Dauth, who died in January, 1864. Of the first marriage there were two sons and one daughter, of whom Adolph H. and Theodore C. have been employed in St. Louis railroad offices for twen- ty-five and twenty-one years, respectively. and Ida is the wife of Augustus Chenot. Of the second marriage there are two daughters, Mrs. Sophia E. Tindale and Mrs. Bertha M. Paul (wife of P. C. Paul). Mr. Fietsam found a last resting place in Walnut Hill cemetery, whither he was followed by a host of mourn- ing friends.
FISCHER, Henry, one of the leading grocers of Belleville and vicinity, is a native son of St. Clair County, and was born September 3, 1863. The thrift and energy which have brought him success are partly the result of Teutonic inheri- tance, and they have stimulated a steady ap- plication to the same line of business since he was fifteen years old. His parents, Adam and Elizabeth Fischer, were born in Germany, and were early settlers of St. Clair County, owning and operating a farm here for many years. Gaining his initial grocery experience in the store of Peter Herman, of Freeburg, Henry Fischer worked his way up by patient attention to small details, and at the end of three years came to Belleville and worked for Valentine Ridermann for three months. He was then identified with the business of Wil- liam Eckhardt for twelve years, and in July, 1894, erected a fine business block at 707 Cen- terville Avenue, where he established his pres- ent business under auspicious circumstances.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Being the only groceryman in this section of the town, he has no local competition, and it is his good fortune to cater to a large local and country trade, deriving a substantial income also from a bar in connection with his store. A resident of the Fourth Ward, Mr. Fischer has been prominent in Democratic politics for several years, and has, on two occasions, acted as judge of election. April 21, 1883, he was united in marriage to Katerina Harst, a native of Michigan, who was educated in a convent. To Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have been born five children : Celia, Alma, Henry, Joseph and Henrietta. The family are members of the Evangelical Church.
FISCHER, Thomas, was born in Germany in 1856. After coming to the United States he devoted his time to the farming industry until 1880, when he turned his attention to the ice business in Belleville, which occupation he still follows. In June, 1881, Mr. Fischer was married to Teresa Miller, and they became the parents of five children: Louisa, George, An- nie, Freda and Carrie. Mrs. Fischer died in May, 1895, and Mr. Fischer married Katie Feder, and they have one son named Eugene. Socially, Mr. Fischer belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
FLACH, George, President of the Richland Foundry Company, Belleville, Ill., was born in Belleville in 1856. His father, Nicholas Flach, was a native of Germany, and a tailor by oc- cupation. Mr. Flach has been engaged in the foundry business for thirty-eight years. In October, 1881, he was married to Catherine Fischer. He and his wife have four children, namely: Nick, Dora, Maggie and Joseph.
FLACH, Joseph, one of the successful and prominent residents of St. Clair County, is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1834, the son of George and Anna (Hildman) Flach, both of whom were also natives of his father- land. Mr. Flach emigrated to the United States in 1851 and learned the trade of a shoemaker, but in 1862 he started a general store. In 1882 he organized the New Athens Milling Com- pany, of which he has since been President, fill- ing that office with unusual ability and gaining general confidence by his conscientiousness and ability. The elevator belonging to this
company is one of the largest in the county and the mill has a capacity of 325 barrels per day.
In 1855 Mr. Flach was united in marriage to Catherina Schmitt, whose birth occurred in Germany, and they are the parents of the fol- lowing four children, now married: Mrs. Adam Karr, of Belleville; Mrs. Peter Haupt; Mrs. Wiemer, of New Athens; and Mrs. Dr. Irwin, also of Belleville.
FLANNERY, James P., member of the firm of P. Flannery & Sons, dealers in building mate -. rials in East St. Louis, this county, was born in the city named in 1879. His father, P. Flan- nery, is a native of Ireland; the birth of the .mother, Mary (Wright) Flannery, took place in Tennessee. The father came to America in 1864. On May 21, 1896, he organized a company for dealing in contractors' material, acting as its general manager. Besides being known as a business man of ability, he has well served the public in various municipal offices. Mr. Flannery purchased the interests of his business partners on May 1, 1899, and with his sons, James P. and William, organ- ized the firm known as P. Flannery & Sons, which handles all kinds of building material and builders' supplies. It has recently com- pleted a new warehouse and office, half a block south of the intersection of the Ter- minal Belt and State Street. Here are located its store-house, stables and yard, covering an area of 150 by 285 feet.
James P. Flannery is a member of a family of eight children, namely: James P., William, Abbie, Vincent, Mary, Charles, Alonzo and Romie. Mr. Flannery received his business education in the Bryant & Stratton College, St. Louis.
FLECKENSTEIN, Christian, is engaged in farming in Prairie Du Long Township, this county, where he was born December 21, 1876. His parents, Joseph and Mary Ann (Wachtel) Fleckenstein, were natives of Germany. The former came with his uncle from Germany to Prairie Du Long, at the age of six years, and was reared on his uncle's farm, attending the public schools at intervals. When he was twenty-six years old he bought the property, and resided on it until his death, March 1, 1900. In 1898 Christian Fleckenstein bought his fa-
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
ther's farm, consisting of 200 acres, and has since continued to cultivate the place, devoting his attention mainly to the raising of wheat. Mr. Fleckenstein was married April 14, 1891, to Ava Armbruster, who was born and schooled in Prairie Du : . Long. They have one child, Charles A., born June 11, 1895. In politics Mr. Fleckenstein is a Republican, and his reli- gious connections are with the Catholic Church.
FONTANA, Louis, liquor dealer, of St. Clair County, was born in the Empire of Austria- Hungary, in the year 1864, the son of Julius Fontana, also a native of that country. In 1886, after being educated in his native land, Louis Fontana came to America. Having spent five years in different cities, in 1892 he came to St. Clair County, where for five more years he engaged in coal mining operations. In 1897 Mr. Fontana opened the saloon at Lebanon, which, in connection with his billiard rooms, he has conducted ever since. In 1893, Mr. Fon- tana was married to Minnie Jeanette, of Col- linsville, and of this union four children have been born-Emma, Louis, Minnie and Florence.
FORCADE, Louis, business man of Belleville, this county, and a native of St. Clair County, born in 1848, devoted the first twenty-eight years of his active life to farming and stock- raising. For the past few years he has been a liquor dealer, and is considered successful in his chosen line of activity. His ancestors have been tillers of the soil for generations in Germany, and his father, Louis, was thus employed in the fatherland, where his birth occurred in 1812. Upon emigrating to America the older man settled in Edgar County, Ill., purchased land of the Government, and con- ducted thereon general farming. Louis For- cade, Jr., married Elizabeth Press in 1869, and of the union the following children have been born : Catherine, George, Louis, Henry, Ida, Hilda, and Luella.
"FORMAN, Isaac, (deceased), who died on the 29th of October, 1878, was one of the leading farmers of Ridge Prairie. He settled there at an early day, and by industry and good business management, secured an ample for- tune. Like many of the early settlers of Illi- nois, he was a Kentuckian by birth. He was born near Paris, Bourbon County, Ky., on the
2d day of November, 1800. His father, Joseph Forman, was born in the year 1775, and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Lan- ders, was born on the 12th of February, 1782. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of family of several children. His early life was spent in Kentucky. The locality in which he was raised offered not the best advantages for obtaining an education. The schools were usu- ally of an inferior character, held in log school- houses, with puncheon floors and slab benches, while a strip of greased paper pasted over an aperture made by leaving out a log on the side of the building furnished the only sub- stitute for a window. In these rude schools the boys of that day acquired the elements of an education, and fitted themselves for the future duties of life. Mr. Forman succeeded in acquiring a good English education, and, after coming to Illinois, for some time previous to his marriage taught school.
"He was married on the 22d of December, 1836, to Mrs. Rebecca Hardesty. Her maiden name was Beedle, and she was the daughter of `Samuel Beedle and Sarah Benham. She was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 2d of July, 1812. Her father was an early set- tler of that part of Ohio. She was five or six years old when her father came from Ohio to Illinois. The family settled in this county on Section 28 of Township 2 North, Range 8 West, and Mrs. Forman was raised in that vicinity. When she was twenty-one she married Richard Hardesty, who was also born in Ohio, and who died within a few years after their marriage." (Brink's History, 1881.)
FORMAN, W. S., lawyer, East St. Louis, Ill., was born at Natchez, Miss., January 20, 1847. and was educated in the common schools and at Washington Seininary, Richview, Ill. He was admitted to the practice of law April 20, 1871; was elected to the Illinois State Senate from the district composed of Bond, Clinton and Washington Counties in November, 1884, and after serving his term of four years, in 1888, was elected Representative in the Fifty- first Congress and re-elected to the Fifty-sec- ond and Fifty-third Congresses, serving from 1889 to 1895. In 1894, having declined a third re- election to Congress, he entered upon the prac- tice of his profession at East St. Louis, which
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
has been his residence to the present time. He was appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the Southern District November 10, 1896, continuing in office until 1898.
FORSYTH, Robert, Superintendent of Mines, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania. He is a son of James and Jennette (Jeffry) Forsyth, both also being natives of Scotland, the for- mer's birth taking place at Glasgow. Mr. Forsyth's parents came to the United States in 1865 and settled in Maryland about the fall of 1866, when they moved near Pittsburg, Pa., and in 1875 took up their residence in Mur- physboro, Ill. In 1874 Mr. Forsyth commenced his career as a miner, a manager and a pro- moter, to which he has since given his entire time and attention. In 1894 he moved to Ma- rissa, where he was employed in the capacity of foreman of the White Oak Mines for five years. In 1900 he organized the Superior Coal Company, now known as Border's Coal Company, No. 1, of which he was appointed Superintendent. In 1903 he assisted in organ- izing Border's Coal Company, No. 2, in which he also holds the office of Superintendent. This last named company has the best equipped plant in St. Clair County, all of the machinery used in it being of the most modern make. It is built for a daily capacity of between 1,200 and 1,500 tons. Mr. Forsyth is a stock- holder in both companies, No. 1 and No. 2.
In 1900 Mr. Forsyth became united in mar- riage to Ava Ripley, who was born in Ora- ville, Jackson County, Ill., and received her education in the public schools and Ewing College. They are the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Lamont, Walter, Willard and James. Fraternally, Mr. Forsyth is a member of the I. O. O. F.
FRANKEL, Albert Brur, one of the most prom- inent, skillful and largely patronized architects of Southern Illinois, and a highly esteemed res- . ident of East St. Louis, this county, is a na- tive of Stockholm, Sweden, where he was born March 1, 1868. He is a son of Lars August and Theresa H. D. (Gallgren) Frankel, both of whom were of Swedish nativity, the former born in Orebro and the latter in Stockholm. Mr. Frankel's parents emigrated to the United States in 1871, and during that year estab-
lished the family residence in East St. Louis. There Albert obtained his primary education in the public schools, afterward supplementing this rudimentary instruction by courses of study pursued in St. Louis and elsewhere.
In early youth Mr. Frankel manifested a strong inclination toward agriculture, and having shown indisputable indications of pe- culiar talent in that direction, placed himself under the tutorship of one of the leading archi- tects of St. Louis. He earnestly devoted him- self to study in the schools of drawing, and also to the practical application of the knowl- edge thus acquired by painstaking efforts in his employer's office. Thus by assiduous ex- ertion, aided by exceptional natural aptitude, he mastered the profession which he has since followed with such signal success. At the end of his course of preparation, Mr. Frankel spent three years in architectural work in Texas. Then, realizing that his home city afforded an inviting field for the exercise of his skill, in 1893 he returned to East St. Louis, where he has made an enviable pro- fessional record. As attesting the eminent success attained by Mr. Frankel in the pursuit of his vocation in St. Clair County, the fol- lowing buildings, among many others planned and erected by him, are entitled to particular mention: The Horace Mann, Irving, Washington and Webster Annex schools; the Plymouth Congregational, Washington Place United Pres- byterian and the First Methodist churches; the Josephine and Metzan buildings; the Horse Sales Pavilion at the National Stock Yards; Priester's Sanitarium; the stores of Dr. Doyle, M. Esserman and T. L. Fekete; the Joyce resi- dence; the residences of J. W. Kirk, C. T. Jones, John A. Campbell, Charles G. Desleth and Judge E. C. Kramer, East St. Louis, the J. A. Farmer home, at Belleville, and the Joyce mausoleum.
In politics, Mr. Frankel is a steadfast and earnest supporter of the Republican party, but has never bent his partisan zeal toward the attainment of any personal preferment. He is thoroughly informed in regard to public af- fairs, and takes an active interest in the ma- terial, educational and moral welfare of the , community. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In fraternal circles, he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., B. P. O. E., I. O. O. F. and K. of P. Personally, he is
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
a man of gentle nature, and of quiet and unas- suming deportment.
FREES, George W., was born in St. Clair County, October 5, 1866, the son of George and Katherine (Fauth) Frees, natives of Ger- many, who came to America and located at the place of his birth. George attended the public schools and helped his parents in the work of the homestead until he was eighteen years of age, when for a time he assisted neighboring farmers. At length he secured employment in the Mercersboro mines, which occupied his attention for five years. His em- ployment was either at the Freeburg or Mer- cersboro coal fields until 1889, when his par- ents moved to Belleville. Here Mr. Frees was employed as a bartender for six years, after which, for twelve months, he engaged in the insurance business, but in August, 1897, embarked in the saloon business, continuing thus until June, 1905.
On May 26, 1896, Mr. Frees was married to Elizabeth Etteldorf, a native of Germany, and of this union two children have been born- Walter M. and Teressa. In his political views Mr. Frees is a Republican. He belongs to the C. K. of I. and U. C. U. fraternities, and is a member of the Catholic Church.
FREIN, Henry P., one of the energetic and progressive business men of St. Clair County, was born in St. Louis, Mo., September 2, 1857, son of Peter and Angelica (Kellerman) Frein. His early education was acquired in the paro- chial and public schools, supplemented by courses at St. Francis College and Illinois Nor- mal, at Normal. After being graduated from the latter institution he taught school at Van- dalia and Du Quoin for three years, and for fourteen years was identified with the public schools of Paderborn and Smithton, his worthy career as an instructor thus covering a period of seventeen years. In 1887 he became one of the founders of the Smithton Creamery Com- pany and purchased the entire stock in 1898, since which time he has devoted his whole time and attention to that business. By his industry and conscientious methods he has es- tablished an excellent trade, and now con- ducts two branches besides the main plant. All of his butter is manufactured at the cen- tral plant in Smithton, one of his products be- ing the famous Diamond brand.
In politics Mr. Frein supports the Demo- cratic party, and in religion is a consistent member of the Catholic Church. On May 16, 1882, he married Mary Nehring, who was born in Smithton, Ill., and there obtained her edu- cation in the parochial and public schools. They are the parents of the following children: Dr. Henry J., John J., William P., Clara, Ar- thur, Cecelia, Clemens, Louisa and Elmar.
FRITZ, Conrad .- As a pattern maker who has conducted a business of his own in Belleville for the past year, Conrad Fritz has the advan- tage of extended experience, and of having learned his trade under an exacting European taskmaster. He was also educated in Ger- many, where he was born in 1851, and in 1872, at the age of twenty-one, sought a larger field in the United States, until establishing his present business being employed in the pat- tern department of Pump & Skein. His own shop is well equipped, and his prospects for a successful future are practically assured. Mr. Fritz is a man of family, having a wife, formerly Mrs. Poranthal, and two sons, George G. and Walter.
FUESS, Joseph, President of the First Na- tional Bank of Belleville, this county, and also of the Fuess-Fischer Company, an extensive dry goods concern, was born in Baden, Ger- many, March 10, 1842. He is the son of Jo- seph Fuess, who came from Germany to St. Clair County, where he died in 1879. Joseph Fuess worked on the home farm until he was six- teen years old, attending the public school dur- ing the winter months. Then he came to Belle- ville with his parents, and was a pupil in the Rau & Noetling school for one year. In April, 1861, he enlisted for three months' service in the Union army, and was mustered out No- vember 1, 1865. His first enlistment was in the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and his re-enlistment was in the Forty- third Illinois Regiment, in which he was made Second Sergeant. He was promoted to be Second Lieutenant, to fill a vacancy caused by the battle of Shiloh, where he was on duty as Orderly Sergeant. Subsequently he was made First Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor. On his re-enlistment, after the first three years' service, he was advanced to the Captaincy of Company E, Forty-third Regiment, Illinois Vol-
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
unteer Infantry, at Little Rock, Ark. He par- ticipated in the battles of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), and Corinth, taking part in all the engagements of his regiment without receiving a wound. At Shiloh the regiment suffered ter- rible loss, going into battle with but eight companies, aggregating 268 men. In the charge made during the first hour at Shiloh, the loss in killed amounted to one-fifth of its strength.
After his discharge from service, Mr. Fuess returned to Belleville and engaged in the dry goods business on East Main Street, under the firm style of Espenheim, Fuess & Com- pany, which later became Fuess, Espenheim & Fischer. It continued thus until 1900, when Mr. Espenheim retired from the firm and the title was changed to the Fuess-Fischer Com- pany. In 1883 the concern moved into his pres- ent building, 30 by 140 feet in dimensions, and containing two stories and a basement. The company has been twice incorporated, the last time being in 1900, when the capital stock was reduced to $60,000, and Joseph Fuess was elected President and W. J. Fischer, Secretary and Treasurer. Besides these officials, C. A. Hoehner and H. F. Weingaertner are stockhold- ers. Mr. Fuess has always devoted most of his time and attention to this business, which employs thirty-five people. Since 1874, when it was organized, Mr. Fuess has also been a stockholder in the First National Bank of Belleville, of which institution he has been President since 1879.
Mr. Fuess has been twice married. He was first wedded in Belleville to Eliza Fischer, a sister of his partner in the dry goods store, and a daughter of Joseph Fischer, an old resi- dent in the county. She died in 1879, having had five children. In 1881 he married his first wife's sister, Anna Fischer, by whom he has had four children. The family home is at No. 212 South Charles Street. Mr. Fuess is a member of the B. P. O. E., the G. A. R., and many social orders, in which he has taken an active interest.
The facts stated in this narrative make ex- pressions of favorable comment almost super- fluous. The life itself speaks more significantly than words. A steadfast and gallant soldier of the Union, a clear-headed and upright busi- ness man and a useful and progressive citizen, Mr. Fuess has made a record which reflects credit on the city of his residence.
FUNK, Adam, a retired farmer of St. Clair County, whose early industry has given him the privilege of spending his later days in ease and comfort, is a native of Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, where his birth occurred Oc- tober 11, 1830. His parents were George and Katherine (Rhode) Funk, who were born in the same town as their son. When the latter was three years of age he came with his par- ents to the United States, the family locating on Section 14, Freeburg Township, where the father had taken up 700 acres of land. At the death of the latter, Adam Funk added more than 200 acres to his estate, and now owns over 1,000 acres in St. Clair and Clinton Coun- ties, his possessions in the latter county amounting to more than 110 acres. Since his father's death he has resided at the home farm on Section 14. In politics Mr. Funk sup- ports the Democratic party and held the office of Supervisor in 1860.
In 1858 Adam Funk married Katherine Rhode, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and the following children were born to them: George and Adam (twins), Henry, Mary and Charles. Mrs. Funk died in 1871. In 1872 he was united to Christiana Schnur, whose birth occurred in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and they are the parents of the following chil- dren: William, Philip, Anna, Katherine, Emma, Louis and August.
GALLENBECK, A., grocer, 1245 St. Louis Ave- nue, East St. Louis, was born in Germany, Sep- tember 25, 1859, a son of Ferdinand G. and Minna (Koelbel) Gallenbeck. His father was a decorator. The future East St. Louis mer- chant was educated in Germany, came to Amer- ica twenty-five years ago, worked for a time for A. Moll, the St. Louis grocer, and in 1889 located in East St. Louis, where, with William Rohm as a partner, he has attained success as a grocer and liquor dealer. He is a Republican, a member of the German Evangelical Church, an Elk, a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the East St. Louis Liederkrantz, a German singing society. He married Ida Rueckert, in St. Louis, November 27, 1889, and he has a son named Oscar, who was born May 2, 1901.
GANSMANN, John, of the firm of Gansmann & Mueller, brick manufacturers (Swansea), Belleville, was born in 1863 at O'Fallon, Ill.,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
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