USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 68
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and was educated in the schools of that place. His father, Nicholas Gansmann, commenced the manufacture of brick in 1872 on the site of the Gansmann & Mueller Works. Mr. Gans- mann's partner is Mr. J. A. Muller. The plant has a capacity of 16,000 brick per day. Mr. Gansmann understands the business thorough- ly and has met with great success. In 1886 he married Miss Anna Meyer, a native of Belleville, and the following named children have been born to them: William, Francis, Nick, Lillie, Katy and Louisa. In his religious belief Mr. Gansmann is a Catholic.
GARVEY, William, who is the proprietor of a saloon at the corner of Broadway and Fifteenth Street, East St. Louis, this county, was born in Chicago, Ill., in the year 1870. His father, Martin Garvey, was a native of England, and his mother, Susan (Radeky) Garvey, was born in New Albany, Ind.
In 1876 William Garvey came to East St. Louis with his parents, and his father was em- ployed in a rolling mill. After finishing his public school course, William joined his father in the mill. Subsequenty, for two years, he worked as a huckster. He then became con- nected with the city fire department as fore- man of No. 3 engine house, and filled this po- sition for six years. On January 31, 1903, he established himself in his present location, where he conducts an up-to-date saloon and pool room. Mr. Garvey was married in 1891 to Caroline Schwald, who was born in Ger- many. They have one child-Freddie-who has gained considerable notoriety as a whistler.
GAUCH, Jacob C., was born in St. Clair County, in 1851, a son of Jacob and Mary (Skaer) Gauch, both natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1842, where the father engaged in farming and was very suc- cessful. Jacob C. was reared on the farm, re- ceiving his education in the common school. At the age of twenty-four he left the farm, coming to Belleville in 1889, and two years thereafter, in connection with Mr. Gundolo, opened a livery and undertaking establish- ment. He is President of the firm, and has contributed largely toward the founding of an important and profitable business.
Mr. Gauch was married in Belleville to Mary Brandenburger, and the following children
have been born to them: Otto H., Irving, Hen- rietta and Olga. Otto H. is bookkeeper for the St. Louis Kregal Casket Company. Mr. Gauch belongs to the following fraternal or- ganizations: Knights of Pythias, Federal Royal Americans and Howa Gowa.
GENT, Frederick J., foreman of the mounting department of the Belleville Stove Company, is a native of St. Louis, and was born in 1863. Compelled to earn his own living at an early age, he found employment in his native town with the Charter Oak Stove Company, and dur- ing his six years with this establishment ad- vanced from a minor to a responsible posi- tion. About twenty-one years ago he came to Belleville and accepted a position as Superin- tendent of the mounting department of the Belleville Stove and Range Company, his length of service being the best guarantee of his abil- ity and faithfulness. In 1888, Mr. Gent was united in marriage to Lena Bentrup, of St. Louis, and two children have been born to their union-Edna and Myrtle.
GEYER, Louis, contractor of brick work in Belleville, this county, and one of the foremost in his line, was born March 25, 1856, at Red Bud, Ill., a son of Fred and Rosa (Wolfram) Geyer, natives of Saxe-Weimar, Germany, and born in 1826 and 1831, respectively. The fa- ther learned the mason's trade in his native land, and in 1865 established a contract brick business at Belleville. He became one of the leading contractors in the county, and, with characteristic foresight, began to teach his son the business when the boy was only thirteen years old. His days devoted to learning the mason's trade, the lad attended school at night, thus laying a foundation both of labor and education, the worth of which has been thor- oughly tested in his mature years. At the age of twenty-eight he was taken into partnership with his father, and when the latter died in 1892, assumed entire charge of the large business. Among the undertakings due to his constructive skill may be mentioned the brew- house of the Star Brewing Company, the Ohnes & Yung Buildings, the Benson and Douglas schools and the St. Luke Parochial School; and the Barthel and Stookey residences, as well as the Dr. Bechtold residence at O'Fallon, valued at $12,000, and the Romeiser Building, recently
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
completed. His reputation as sa master work- man is by no means confined to Belleville, for evidences of his skill are seen in all of the towns of St. Clair County. At present he has under way a bank building at Freeburg, hav- ing previously erected in that town the Evan- gelical church, and the $4,500 residence of Mr. Reichert.
On November 4, 1880, Mr. Geyer married Sa- rah Meyer, who was born in Nashville, Ill., and is the mother of three children, of whom Rosa, born November 5, 1881, died in January, 1886. The living children are G. William, born Sep- tember 12, 1883, and Ophelia, August 12, 1885. Mr. Geyer is a Republican, and in religion is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a highly respected and thoroughly ap- preciated citizen, enjoying the advantages of an occupation which perpetuates him in the history of the community, and which enables him to encourage and employ a considerable number of high-class workmen.
GIESSING, Fred, one of the leading public men of East St. Louis, this county, and one of the most prominent merchants of Southern Illi- nois, was born at Iron Mountain, Mo., August 17, 1863, the son of Charles and Mary (Hoehn) Giessing. His father is a native of Germany, but removed to this country when quite a young man. He settled in Missouri in 1847, long before any of the railroads which now cross the State were projected. In fact, the number of houses was very limited, and the elder Giessing at first ยท occupied a hut constructed of branches of trees, covered with the skins of wild animals, which were plentiful around Iron Mountain at that date. When Fred Giessing was three years of age, his parents removed to Valley Forge, Mo., where his father em- barked in the milling business. From a small beginning, this mill became one of the largest and strongest in that section of the State. Fred Giessing attended the schools of his native place, and later pursued courses at the Farm- ington College and Johnston's Commercial College, St. Louis, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1883.
The family of Giessing consisted of seven boys and one girl. The boys, all of whom were active millers and mill owners, were called the Milling Brothers. Fred Giessing was the fifth member of the Milling Brothers, and, on ac-
count of his adaptability to the work, had particular charge of the books of the general store, while the other brothers managed the mill and farm. After his graduation Fred Gies- sing assumed charge of the books of Giessing & Sons, the milling firm, to which the general store and other interests were added in 1888. It was the mercantile department to which he paid particular attention. Mr. Giessing also took an active interest in the educational work of his section and acted as School Director for years, serving as Secretary of the Board. Later he was appointed Postmaster, under President Harrison, and held the position for six years.
Desiring a larger field of action, Mr. Gies- sing removed to East St. Louis, in 1894, and became connected with the Schaub Hardware and Iron Company, a leading firm of Southern Illinois. He was elected Secretary of the com- pany in 1898, and the same year was chosen a Director of the Southern Illinois National Bank. Mr. Giessing represented the Third Ward in the City Council, having been elected to the place on the Citizens' ticket. He was also President of the East St. Louis Retail Mer- chants' Association for two years, and Vice- President of the Illinois State Retail Mer- chants' Association. He has been a member of the Board of Managers of the Protestant Hospital Association for eight years. In re- ligion, Mr. Giessing is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran Church. In politics, he is an ardent supporter of Republican principles, fol- lowing the precepts of his father, who, at an early date, was one of the three Republicans of his county in Missouri.
On June 14, 1894, Fred Giessing married Anna K. Schaub, daughter of George and Eliz- abeth Schaub, one of the oldest and most re- spected families of this city. Four children blessed the union, but only two are now living.
GITHER, Richard, grocer and meat merchant of East St. Louis, this county, is a native of Woodstock, Ill., and was born August 22, 1873. His parents were Jacob and Theresa (Speaker) Gither, and his maternal grandfather, William Speaker. The family came to Illinois at an early day, and Richard had few advantages of any kind, save those which he created for himself. At the age of nine he began to work for a butcher at Quincy, Ill., learned the trade in a thorough manner, and remained
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
with his first employer for twelve years. With this practical experience, he came to East St. Louis in 1892, worked for Christ Rohn, Sr., for three years, for John Herman a short time, and for Charles Ketter about a year and a half. In March, 1903, he established a business of his own at No. 328 North Tenth Street, and now carries a full line of meats, vegetables, and general groceries.
Mr. Gither is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. On Octo- ber 17, 1894, he married Celestine Dauer, who was born, reared and educated in East St. Louis, and who is the mother of four chil- dren-Edith, Richard, Rosalie and Jacob.
GOEDDE, Charles B., is a native son of East St. Louis, this county, and to say that he is one of its most progressive citizens would be stating a fact which past events have fully demonstrated. Mr. Goedde, who is now Treas- urer of city, enjoys the distinction of being the youngest man ever elected to such an important place in East St. Louis. He was born within the limits of the town on May 27, 1865, when the city extended to Tenth Street on the east and when Illinois Ave- nue was the northern limit. He came of sturdy German stock, and, inheriting the pro- gressive and tenacious characteristics of his father, soon after reaching his majority evinced those sterling qualities which only successful business men possess. His father, Bernhardt Goedde, was born in Prussia, but became a pioneer settler of this section. His mother, Adelaide (Wetterer) Goedde, a native of Baden, Germany, came to this country when quite young. His maternal grandfather was Henry Wetterer, a Nationalist of Baden, and his paternal grandfather, Clemens Goedde, was also a friend of liberty in Prussia.
"Charlie" Goedde, as he is familiarly known in this part of the country, attended the local schools of East St. Louis until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the lumber firm of B. Goedde & Company, which was estab- lished by his father. He remained in the office until 1892, when he became a manager of the company, and it was mainly through his efforts as such that it became one of the leading concerns of the kind in Southern Illinois. The firm has recently established a planing mill in connection with the great lumber yards.
Politically, Mr. Goedde is a Republican, but he was elected to the office of Clerk of the village of New Brighton, Clerk of Centerville Station Township, member of the Centerville Station Drainage Commission, Alderman from the Sixth Ward and Treasurer of the city of East St. Louis, successively, on a non-partisan ticket, by the votes of Democrats and Repub- licans alike. Fraternally, Mr. Goedde is a mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M., Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. E. and the Modern Woodmen. In June, 1901, he married Erna Ropiequet, of Belleville, who was born, reared and educated in that city. They have an interesting family of two children, Bernice and Gladys. Mr. Goedde is of a retiring disposition, but straight- forward and scrupulously honest. At no dis- tant day, it is understood, the people of this section will call him to a higher position than he at present holds. They claim that he would greatly advance the interests of East St. Louis if placed at the helm of the city as its Mayor.
GOTTSCHALK, Louis, President and Treas- urer of the Gottschalk Grocery Company, Belle- ville, Ill., was born in Germany in 1860, came to America in 1881 and, in 1882, became con- nected with the old Gundlach grocery business. William A. Twenhoefel, Jr., Vice-President of the Gottschalk Grocer Company, was born of German parentage in Cincinnati, Ohio. Henry Stoltz, Secretary of the Company, is a native of Belleville. After selling groceries for the late Henry Gundlach during 1882-83, Mr. Gotts- chalk was, in 1883-85, a clerk in the First Na- tional Bank of Belleville. On August 4, 1885, he succeeded to the management of the grocery business of his former employer. In April, 1906, the store was removed from 200 East Main Street to the Rentchler Building, 116-118 East Main Street, its present location. Mr. Twenhoefel was a clerk for Mr. Gundlach and later for Mr. Gottschalk till the Gottschalk Grocer Company was incorporated, March 10, 1906, when he became a stockholder in the concern, and is now (1906) senior partner in the firm of William A. Twenhoefel & Sons, real estate dealers. Mr. Stoltz also clerked for both Mr. Gundlach and Mr. Gottschalk. Eugene Weingartner, another stockholder, had been for more than ten years a salesman in Mr. Gotts- chalk's employ. The Gottschalk grocery ranks as the most attractive establishment of its
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
kind in Belleville. Its fixtures are modern, and its large stock comprises goods of the highest grade. In fact, very few grocery stores in large cities could compete with it in quality of goods in all lines. The business, under Mr. Gotts- chalk's able and progressive management, is growing rapidly. Three delivery wagons are required to serve its patrons, many of whom have bought their food supplies from Mr. Gottschalk ever since he took the business in hand. His every effort is to insure com- plete satisfaction to his customers. Mr. Gotts- chalk was married in 1897 to Miss Emily Tie- mann, of Belleville.
GRAF, Hugo, one of the prominent business men of Belleville, this county, was born in 1866 at Peru, Ind., in whose public schools he re- ceived his education. His parents were Henry and Ernestine (Kraus) Graf, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. Graf came to Belleville in 1890 and followed the trade of a molder, working in that capacity at the Belle- ville Stove Works until 1899, when he organ- ized the St. Clair Laundry. In 1902 he disposed of his interests in that business to Wisskamp Brothers, but two years later he again em- barked in the same line of business, which he has continued to follow. In 1891 he mar- ried Emma Skaer, who was born and educated in St. Clair County.
GRAF, William A., who is engaged in the liquor business in Marissa, St. Clair County, was born in Louisville, Ky., August 28, 1878. He is a son of Peter and Philippina (Houk) Graf, natives respectively of Germany and of Louisville. Mr. Graf pursued his early studies in St. Anthony's School and St. Xavier Col- lege, Louisville, after which he followed va- rious occupations until 1898, when he enlisted in the United States Regular Army, Troop I, Second Regiment, in which he served two years in Cuba and one year in this country. In 1901 he settled in Marissa and engaged in his pres- ent business. On November 24, 1903, William A. Graf was married to Julia Buechler, who was born and educated in Belleville. Mr. Graf's political views are in harmony with the doc- trines of the Democratic party. His religious creed is that of the Catholic Church.
GRANER, Louis, civil engineer, residence No. 101 Wabash Avenue, Belleville, was formerly
City Engineer of Belleville and was long County Surveyor of St. Clair County, his in- cumbency of the latter office dating from 1877. He was born in St. Clair County, February 12, 1853, a son of George F. and Louise (Guentz) Graner, the former a native of Hesse-Cassel, the latter of Leipsic, Saxony. George F. Gra- ner, who was born in 1822 and died in 1875, became a civil engineer before he came to America. Locating in St. Clair County in 1849, he gave his attention to surveying and sur- veyed many of the important farms of the county. He gave private instruction in mathe- matics, and had for his pupils several men who became well known. Under President Lin- coln he was a United States Surveyor. Louise (Guents) Graner came to this country in 1848. She bore her first husband one son, Justice Henry Guentz, of Belleville. The subject of this sketch was her only child by her second marriage. She died in 1880. Louis Graner was educated in the public schools of his neighborhood and studied surveying under the tutelage of his father. His first professional work was done as an assistant surveyor on the Cairo Short Line Railroad. Later he had charge of the survey of the Illinois & St. Louis Railroad, from Belleville to the river. From time to time he has been identified in a professional capacity with other railway and public work. He was married May 28, 1876, to Miss Augusta Meyer, a daughter of August Meyer, a merchant of St. Louis, Mo., where she was born August 11, 1858.
GRAY, Charles McL., Secretary and Manager, Southern Illinois Construction Company, 106 North Main Street, East St. Louis, and Victoria Building, St. Louis, and a Vice-President of the Union Trust and Savings Bank, East St. Louis (residence 1238 St. Louis Avenue, East St. Louis), was born and reared at Olney, Ill., and in 1890 entered business life as a contractor and builder. He is one of the most progressive men in his line in his adopted city, and fine buildings there and elsewhere are monuments to his skill as a contractor and builder.
GRIFFEN, Charles, Postmaster of Grass Land, and substantial farmer of St. Clair Coun- ty, was born February 20, 1845, son of Joseph and Sally Ann (Collins) Griffen, the former of whom was a native of Clinton, Dutchess County, N. Y., and the latter of Greenville,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
same State. The paternal grandfather was also born in New York State. On the mater- nal side the grandparents were Joseph and Hannah (Silkman) Collins. In 1820 the father moved to Randolph County, Ill., making the journey with one horse and a wagon. After remaining there a short time he disposed of his property and went to Turkey Hill, this county, where he bought a farm and resided for six years. He again sold his property and purchased 120 acres of land on Section 14, Shiloh Valley Township, and there remained engaged in farming until his death, which oc- curred in October, 1874, at the age of seventy- eight years.
Charles Griffen received his early education in the public schools of Shiloh Valley Town- ship, supplemented by a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. After returning from the latter institution he engaged in farm- ing on the old homestead, where he at present resides. He is the youngest of twelve chil- dren that comprised the family of his father, and at the latter's death he became heir to 400 acres of land, that being his share of the estate. To this he has added 240 acres, all of which is located in Shiloh Valley Township. Here he has a highly cultivated and well im- proved farm-the result of industry and up- rightness- and he is both popular and highly esteemed. In politics Mr. Griffen is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, has been School Trustee since 1889. In November, 1890, when Grass Land was created as a postoffice, he was appointed its first Postmaster, and has filled the office acceptably ever since. In June, 1873, Mr. Griffen was united in marriage to Martha M. Park, who was born in Shiloh Valley Township, and in whose public schools she received her education. The Griffen house- hold includes the following children: Cyril A., Myrtle A., J. Boon and Charles Laclede.
"GRIFFEN, Joseph (deceased) .- The family from which Joseph Griffen is descended was of Welsh origin, and at an early date came to America, and settled in the State of New York. His father, Jacob Griffen, resided in Dutchess County, N. Y., and in that part of the State was born Joseph Griffen, on the 23d of September, 1796. His birthplace was the town of Clinton, in Dutchess County. His father afterward moved with the family to Al-
bany County, N. Y. He secured an ordinary common school education. He left home at the age of nineteen and began life on his own account, without any means on which to rely except his own industry and energy. He went to the western part of New York State, and for about a year was employed on a farm in the vicinity of Rochester. When he reached the age of about twenty-one he determined to strike out for the West and find what opportu- nities existed in a new country. His first trip to Illinois was made by way of the Ohio River, which he descended in a flat-boat. His first stopping place in this State was in the vicinity of Kaskaskia.
"After a couple of years he returned to New York, making the trip in a one-horse wagon. But after remaining in the East a short time he came back to Illinois, making the entire journey on horseback. When he first came to Illinois he was employed part of the time in a saw-mill at Walnut Hill. He managed to accumulate a little money, and after returning from New York invested his means in a stock of goods, which he sold throughout the county, carrying the goods around in a one-horse wagon. In those days stores were scarce to what they are at the present time, and often the settlers' only opportunity to purchase goods was from the itinerant merchants who traveled over the country. In exchange for his goods he was obliged to take considerable produce, money at that time being a scarce article. He sold this produce, especially large quantities of honey, at advantageous prices, and gradu- ally obtained sufficient money with which to buy land in Horse Prairie, in Randolph County. He lived there till his removal to St. Clair County. On coming here he first resided on Turkey Hill, and there two of his children are now buried. In the year 1828 he purchased for $400 the south half of the southeast quar- ter of Section 14 of Township 1 north, Range 7 west. He had not then sufficient means to make the whole payment on the land. The place was subsequently his residence till his death. At the time he moved on this land only a small part was under cultivation. Mr. Griffen worked industriously at improving the farm. He was a man of great energy and ac- tivity. He had good business qualifications, and, at the time of his death, was one of the largest land-owners in Shiloh Valley. His first
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
marriage took place in February, 1826, to Mrs. Mary Shepherd, whose maiden name was Foulks. Her death occurred on the 5th of Feb- ruary, 1841, at the age of thirty-nine. She was born in Pennsylvania on the 5th of February, 1802. His second marriage was on the 13th of October, 1841, to Sally Ann Collins, who was born near Greenville, N. Y., on the 1st of December, 1805. This marriage occurred at Amsterdam, N. Y., while Mr. Griffen was in that State on a visit to his brother.
He had in all twelve children, whose names are as follows: Jacob Fardon Griffen, born on the 6th of February, 1827, died on the 15th of November of the same year; Smith Griffen, who was born in 1828 and died in 1831; Har- riet Jane Griffen, born August 10, 1831, and died the succeeding 15th of November; Joseph Griffen, who was born in 1832, and is now living in the Shiloh Valley; Caroline Griffen, born in 1834, and died in 1835; Sarah Ann Grif- fen, born March, 1836, now residing in Macon County, the wife of James H. Alexander; Ma- riah Griffen, now Mrs. William D. Howard, of Lebanon; Rachel Griffen, who was born in 1840 and died the same year; Boon Griffen, who was born July 27, 1842, and died May 4, 1862; Alletta Griffen, who was born in 1843 and died in 1844; Charles Griffen, born Feb- ruary 20, 1845, and Jane, who was born in January, 1849, and died in September of the same year. Boon Griffen was a student at McKendree College at the time of the break- ing out of the War of the Rebellion. He en- listed at St. Louis in a Missouri regiment, not then nineteen years old, and was in three months' service under General Fremont. After the expiration of his term of service he re- turned to his studies, but died of consumption in 1862, while a member of the college gradu- ating class. He would have graduated had he lived till June.
For a number of years subsequent to 1841, Joseph Griffen served as Justice of the Peace, and in that capacity gave satisfaction as an upright man, and a just and impartial magis- trate. He was a man who believed in uphold- ing the rights of others, and never, if he could prevent it, would he allow the weak to be im- posed on by the strong. He was respected as good neighbor and a worthy citizen. His religious views coincided with those of the Baptist
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