USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 72
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
sons and four daughters. All the children still survive the parents. Ernest Hilgard is the youngest in the family. He was born in St. Clair County, Ill., January 20, 1845. He was reared upon a farm, where he continued until 1863, when he enlisted for three years in the United States service, in the Forty-third Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteers, and he remained in the service until the end of the war. In 1869 he came to Belleville and engaged in the hard- ware trade. In 1871 he went into the dry goods business with Messrs. Espenhain, Fuess & Co. In October, 1880, he opened a large dry goods and carpet house on Main Street. January 1, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Scheel, the accomplished daugh- ter of John Scheel, now deceased." (Brink's History, 1881.)
HILL, Christopher Columbus, mining engineer of Marissa, was born near this place in 1854, . and received his education in the district schools. His parents were Christopher C. and Elizabeth J. (Austin) Hill, the former being a native of South Carolina and the latter of Middletown, Ohio. His paternal grandparents were Ephraim and Letitia (Brown) Hill, whose place of birth was South Carolina, while on the maternal side his grandparents were George and Mary (Wright) Austin, the former having been born in New York State and the latter in Ohio.
Christopher C. was reared on a farm near Marissa and, being quite young at the time of his father's death, was brought up by his grandfather. On August 18, 1873, he was ap- prenticed to the blacksmith trade and was employed in various country shops for the fol- lowing nine years. In 1884 he began working in the coal mines as a blacksmith and engi- neer, and in 1884 took charge of an engine in the Marissa mine, a position he held for four- teen years. In 1898 and 1899 he was employed in several other mines as engineer, and in 1900 the Superior Coal Company was organ- ized, in which he became an equal stockholder and held the position of chief engineer. In 1902 the name of the company was changed to Border's Coal Company, No. 1. Mr. Hill is a Baptist churchman; in politics he is a Pro- hibitionist, while socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Hill has been married three times. One child, John C., now aged twenty-four, and Wil- liam Hayes (deceased) were born to him by his first wife, and a daughter, Mary E., aged sixteen years, and Christopher C. (deceased) were fruits of his second union. In 1896 he married Ellen M. Dahling, a native of Baldwin, Randolph County, this State, in whose public schools she received her education. Mr. Hill is a good example of what energy and thrift, combined with perseverance and ability, will do for a man when he has the desire to get ahead in the world. Starting in life as an ap- prentice, he has advanced to a position where his future is assured, and has achieved that success which should be the object and ambi- tion of every man. It is said that Mr. Hill was first taught by his grandfather to own a pock- etbook, and, what is more to the point, to always have something in it. His motto has always been to save what he made, and per- sonally he attributes his success chiefly to temperance and economy. That the latter vir- tue has proved one of the most valuable assets of his character is evident from a considera- tion of these facts in his life history-that from the age of fifteen to twenty years his average wages were fifty cents per day, with board, and that from twenty to thirty-five, they never exceeded $1.50 per day.
HILL, William H., who is one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of East St. Louis, was born in Summerfield, Ill., June 4, 1867, the son of W. H. Hill and Mary E. (Bea- dle) Hill, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. His father established the family residence in East St. Louis in 1870, and through exceptional capacity, careful methods and diligent attention to his affairs, built up by degrees an extensive and flourishing busi- ness as a general contractor. He departed this life in 1893.
The subject of this sketch, who was brought by his parents to East St. Louis when he was three years old, obtained his primary mental training in the public schools of that city, and afterward gained a classical education at Fos- ter's Academy. He subsequently pursued a commercial course at Eastman's College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he gradu- ated in 1887. Having been reared and spent his life in East St. Louis, enjoying ample op-
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
portunity to observe, with a naturally keen perception, the peculiar features and charac- teristics of the city, he was confident of his thorough qualification to assume the charge of his father's considerable and varied busi- ness interests at the time of the latter's death. This course he adopted, and has since con- ducted those interests with notable success, becoming generally recognized as one of the leading contractors and business men of South- ern Illinois. ยท By constant application and close practical calculation, he has mastered every detail of the work with which he is identified, until he is now regarded as occupying the fore- most rank in St. Clair County in his particular field of operations. Among the various enter- prises with which Mr. Hill is connected as the principal factor are: The W. H. Hill Lime and Cement Company; the Hill-Gaynord Construc- tion Company; the Queen City Quarry Com- pany; and the East St. Louis Transfer and Storage Company. Of these the most exten- sive concern is the first named, which does a wholesale and retail business in lime and cement, handling large quantities of both the American and imported products in that line.
On November 5, 1890, Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Jennie Thomas, of East St. Louis, and he and his estimable wife are the parents of two prepossessing and gifted daugh- ters, Gertrude and Ruth. In politics, Mr. Hill is a supporter of the Democratic party, and takes a good citizen's discriminating and un- selfish interest in public affairs. In religious belief, he is a Methodist. Fraternally, he is connected with the Masonic Orders. He is held in high esteem as one of the most up- right, public-spirited and useful members of the community.
HILL, William H., Sr. (deceased), who was for twenty-three years a greatly esteemed citizen and successful merchant of East St. Louis, was born in Washington County, Pa., June 23, 1843, the son of Henry and Sarah (Wise) Hill, natives of Pennsylvania. The former was an engineer by occupation. He moved with his family from Pennsylvania to the northern part of Illinois when his son William was quite young, and there the latter received his early education in the public schools. In 1870 the subject of this sketch moved to the southern
portion of the State, locating in East St. Louis, where, a short time afterward, he assumed the position of Superintendent of the Wig- gins Ferry Company. In this connection he continued until 1875. At that period he laid the foundation of one of the largest enter- prises in Southern Illinois, in the line of build- ing material. He secured from the city au- thorities the right to remove sand from the levee in East St. Louis, south of the bridge across the Mississippi. To this work he ap- plied himself diligently, having, when he com- menced operations, but a single team of mules wherewith to do his hauling. He was the possessor, however, of those traits of charac- ter which assure success-industry, energy and perseverance-in an abundant degree, and un- der his vigorous and wise management the undertaking prospered and rapidly assumed extensive proportions. At a later period he added lime and other building material to his steadily increasing trade. To such an extent did the affairs of the enterprise which he had established develop, that in a few years he had the satisfaction of seeing his shipments begin to spread beyond the boundaries of Illi- nois and Missouri.
In 1866, Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Mary E. Beadle, who was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where, in early youth, she enjoyed the advantages of scholastic culture. Two chil- dren, Jessie and William H., were born of this union. The latter survives the head of the family, who died December 16, 1893, after a brief illness. Jessie passed away during the year of her father's demise. William H., Jr., a record of whose life, containing further men- tion of the subject of this sketch, appears else- where in this volume, is widely known in con- nection with the William H. Hill Lime and Cement Company, established by the latter and now ranking as the leading concern of its kind in that section of the country. In poli- tics, William H. Hill, Sr., was a supporter of the Democratic party, and religiously, he was an adherent of the Methodist Church. In fra- ternal circles, he was identified with the A. F. & A. M., in which order he was a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter. He was a man of strong mind and high character, and his life left a deep impress on the community, whose best interests he did much to promote.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
HIPPARD, George, a substantial merchant and mine and land-owner of Belleville, this county, was born in Fourth, South Wales, September 21, 1863, a son of Jacob Hippard, a native of Somersetshire, England. He was self-taught during his early years, but later took a course in mining at Scranton. When but nineteen years of age he came to New Orleans on the steamer "Annie, of Wedbey," and was em- ployed in that city on the levees of the Mis- sissippi River, and also for six months by the Government, as a cook. Later he went to Chi- cago, where he secured a position as steward on one of the lake steamers plying between Chicago and Buffalo. After this he went to New York City, intending to enter the navy, but, failing in this, he worked for some time on the Erie Canal and in Buffalo; subsequently he was engaged in the lumber trade on the lakes, continuing in this industry until the close of the season. In 1884 Mr. Hippard came to St. Louis and thence to Belleville, where he worked in the coal mines and studied engi- neering. He was employed as engineer in various mines, and was with William Avery for nine years. About this time he decided to visit his native country of Wales, where he remained for three months. On his return he was again employed in the mines, and in a short time purchased property, but lost $2,000 in a year's work by the investment. In 1900 he leased ground one and a half miles south of Belleville, where he opened mines, of which his brother has the superintendence. During the year named he purchased the grocery busi- ness of John Kissler, located at No. 601 South Illinois Street, Belleville, where he employs three clerks. He also has an interest in the Williamson Coal Company at Carterville; is the Vice-President and general manager of the Carterville Colliery Company, and owns 600 acres of farming and timber land at Coulter- ville, this State.
On November 15, 1888, George Hippard was married to Elizabeth A. Avery, a native of St. Clair County, who was educated in the pub- lic schools. Six children have been born of this marriage, of whom the following are liv- ing: Clements W., George Wesley, Clyde Mark and Raymond Avery. Mr. Hippard is politically affiliated with the Republican party, and, in his religious belief, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the choir of
which he is the tenor and has the reputation of being the finest vocalist in Belleville. He generously supplies coal to his church and the Y. M. C. A. free of charge.
HOLDER, (Judge) Robert D. W., long promi- nent as a lawyer in Belleville, this county, and now Judge of the Circuit Court of St. Clair Coun- ty, was born in Jefferson County, Ill., February 22; 1847. He is a son of Willis and Fariba (Cook) Holder, natives, respectively, of Georgia and Tennessee. His paternal grandfather, Solomon Holder, and maternal grandfather, Theophilus Cook, were born in Georgia. His grandmother on the maternal side, Elizabeth Caldwell, was a native of North Carolina.
Judge Holder was educated at McKendree College and the University of Michigan, and commenced the practice of his profession in Mascoutah, St. Clair County, his former place of residence, in June, 1875. On March 1, 1877, he came to Belleville. He served as State's At- torney of St. Clair County for two terms- from 1880 to 1888. For one term, from Jan- uary 15, 1900, to January 15, 1902, he was Master in Chancery. He was elected Circuit. Judge of St. Clair County in June, 1903.
Robert D. W. Holder was married August. 23, 1877, to Anna E. Barth, who was born and educated in St. Clair County. The Judge and his wife have one child-Jessie M., now Mrs. F. B. Smiley. In politics Judge Holder is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Supreme Court of Honor, Knights of Pythias, Elks, and Ancient Order of United Workmen.
HOPPE, Hugo C., representative of the Star Brewery Company, at Belleville, this county, was born September 16, 1854, in Fayetteville, Ill., and educated in the public schools of the former place. His parents were Conen and Louisa Hoppe, the former of whom was a na- tive of Nassau, Germany, and the latter of Aus- tria. They came to America with the Rev. Ja- cob Hoppe, grandfather of Hugo C., who was a Protestant minister, and in 1848 settled in Belleville and later in Freeburg. In the for- mer town the father followed the trade of a. scenic painter. In 1890 Hugo C. Hoppe be- came connected with the Star Brewery Com- pany, and at present holds the confidential po- sition of traveling representative. On account
J. E. Thomas
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
of his genial nature and happy disposition he is known throughout his territory as "Uncle" Hoppe. He is also associated with H. J. Fink in the insurance business.
Fraternally, Mr. Hoppe is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and was a charter member of Lessing Lodge, No. 71, which was organized in June, 1877. His son William has been Chan- cellor Commander of this lodge, and has the distinction, at the age of twenty-two years, of being the youngest Chancellor Commander elected to that position in the State of Illi- nois. Mr. Hoppe is very enthusiastic in the work of the order, for the benefit of which he devotes much of his time and attention. He is a member of the Philharmonic Society, the Ger- mania Band, the West Belleville Workingmen's Society, and also belongs to a number of sport- ing clubs. Mr. Hoppe was married in 1874 to Mary Gruenewald, a native of Belleville, and they have one child, William Morris, mentioned above.
HORNER, Frank M., Superintendent of the City Water Works, East St. Louis, with office at 26 North Main Street, in that city, was born and educated in Ohio, and was brought up to the profession of hydraulic engineer. For many years he was with the American Water Works and Guarantee Company, of Pittsburg, Pa., and was engaged in the construction of water works in many cities throughout the Union. He also bought and sold water works plants, bonds, franchises and he has had an extensive experience in this line, to which he has de- voted practically his whole business life. He came to East St. Louis in 1885 to plan and carry out the construction of the plant in that city, and has, by successive reappointments, re- mained in charge of the system to the pres- ent time. Mr. Horner's residence is at 1030 Baugh Avenue.
HORNER, (Hon.) Henry H., lawyer, Lebanon .- The following sketch of the life of Judge Hor- ner was published in "Southern Illinois" in 1894:
"Among the many interesting social fea- tures of the city of Lebanon, it is gratifying to note the fact that some of the most eminent professional men of the State were born here. In this connection special mention may be
made of Judge Henry H. Horner, who, at the age of seventy-three, is still a leading light at the bar. His father, a native of Baltimore, Md., was a pioneer merchant of the town near- ly a century ago. Judge Horner was among the first graduates of Mckendree College, class of 1841. Subsequently he was admitted to the bar and has continued uninterruptedly the prac- tice of law ever since. He was at the head of the law department of McKendree College some years after the death of ex-Governor French. He is possessed of large property interests within the city limits, and owns considerable farm- ing lands outside. His office and residence, for nearly half a century, have been located on the north side of the public square. Mr. Horner has always taken an active interest in the pro- motion of the city. At his advanced age, he sustains a well-preserved physical constitu- tion and vigorous mental powers. He is re- spected and esteemed by all classes of the com- munity, and is most favorably recognized throughout the State as a public-spirited citi- zen and an honorable professional man."
HOSTO, (Rev.) William Henry, minister of the Lutheran Church at Smithton, St. Clair County, was born in Alhambra, Madison County, Ill., January 18, 1861, a son of Edward J. and Clara (Kamphoeffner) Hosto, who were natives of Prussia and Hanover, Germany, respectively. He was the eldest of a family of twelve chil- dren, and acquired his early education in the public schools of this country and in a parochial school under the tutelage of his father, sup- plemented by a college course at Elmhurst, Chi- cago, and Eden, St. Louis. He had studied for the ministry in college, and after graduation located at Smithton, where, on October 2, 1886. he took charge of the Lutheran Church of that place, the pulpit of which he has since con- tinued to occupy. This is one of the oldest Lutheran churches in St. Clair County. On No- vember 10, 1887, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Apple, whose birth occurred in Sum- merfield, St. Clair County, where she was edu- cated in the public schools. They are the par- ents of the following named children: The- ophilus, born April 25, 1889; Herbert, born Sep- tember 23, 1891; Armin, born May 3, 1893; Ro- land, born February 27, 1895; Raymond, born September 1, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Hosto also have one adopted daughter, Ella Pausch.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
HOUSAM, William, ex-Mayor of O'Fallon, was born in St. Clair County, February 14, 1859, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Penn) Housam, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of St. Clair County. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of the county, later turning his at- tention to the business of engineering, in which he has been engaged for the past thirteen years, being in the employ of the James Taylor mines as hoisting engineer.
On September 22, 1881, Mr. Housam was mar- ried to Mary E. Dunkerly, who was born in England and received her education in the schools of St. Clair County. To Mr. and Mrs. Housam have been born the following three children: Jessie May, Oscar William and Mary Edith. Politically, Mr. Housam is a Democrat; was elected Mayor, April 21, 1902, and re- elected April 22, 1903, for a term of two years. Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the Modern Woodmen of America. His paternal grandfather was Jacob Housam, a native of Germany.
HUBER, Charles C., engineer at the Star Brew- ery, Belleville, was born September 27, 1864, in Ridge Prairie, St. Clair County, Ill., a son of Charles and Sophie (Krieger) Huber, both na- tives of Germany. He was educated in the public schools, and when fifteen years of age began working on his parents' farm, where he remained until their death, which occurred when he was seventeen years old. After this he came to Belleville, where he was employed for two years as a barkeeper for his brother- in-law, Nick Thomas. Subsequently he was connected with the Reliance Tea Company for two years, then for a short time was employed in a hardware store. Later he secured a po- sition in the Star Brewery, which he still re- tains, and at present has charge of the large ice plant in that establishment.
On May 31, 1888, Mr. Huber was married to Emma Bassler, who was born January 11, 1867, at Mascoutah, Ill., and received her education in the public schools of that place. Their three children are Leroy, Leona and Sophie. Mr. Huber affiliates with the Democratic party in politics, and socially belongs to the Ger- mania Society, West Bellevile Working So- ciety, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
HUCKE, August C., a retired hardware mer- chant of Belleville, this county, and a resident
of the town for almost half a century, was born in Rotenburg, Germany, April 11, 1835, a son of Mathias and Katherine (Shade) Hucke, natives also of that country. Apprenticed to a confectioner and baker in his native land at the age of fourteen, Mr. Hucke came to the United States when eighteen years old, locat- ing at Pittsburg, Pa., where he followed his trade until 1859. He then came to St. Louis, and soon after to Belleville, starting one of the earliest bakeries in the then small village. Dis- posing of his business in 1865, he returned to Germany and visited his parents and relatives for a year. Returning to Belleville in 1866, he formed a partnership with Earnest Hilgard in order to establish a hardware business, and in 1867 erected a business place in Belleville, in which they started both a hardware and im- plement store. Mr. Hucke conducted the same with the success due his enterprise, practical judgment, hard work and economy, and in 1893 turned the business over to his sons, Otto and Albert, since which year he has lived in com- parative retirement. The death of Otto Hucke in April, 1901, left Albert the sole manager of the business.
August C. Hucke is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is connected with the Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M. On October 28, 1858, he married Ernestine Keim, who was born in Wall- duern, Germany, and who was reared and ed- ucated in her native land. To Mr. and Mrs. Hucke have been born seven children: Charles, Otto (deceased), Mrs. Lena Eysell (deceased), Albert, William, Ella (at home), and Walter.
HUDDLE, John B., promoter, St. Clair County, was born in Omega, Marion County, Ill., Sep- tember 8, 1868, the son of Benjamin and Rachel (Kagy) Huddle, natives of Ohio, who came to Omega in 1856, where the father followed his trade of a carpenter for a number of years.
Mr. Huddle received his education in the pub- lic schools and at the Iuka High School, after which (in 1891) he came to Caseyville and be- gan to work as a carpenter. On October 6, 1891, he married Anna M. Schmidt, of Casey- ville, and of this union four children have been born-Elmer, Rachel, Tolliver and Wil- liam Trautmann. Of recent years Mr. Huddle has taken up the work of a promoter, his most efficient labor in this connection perhaps being the present street car connection between East
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
St. Louis and Caseyville. In his political af- filiation ne is a Democrat. Since 1892 he has been Justice of the Peace, and is now Super- intendent of the Alta Sita schools in East St. Louis. He is President of the St. Clair County Teachers' Association, and for the past two years has served on the program committee. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., Modern Wood- men, Red Men and Knights of Pythias fra- ternities.
HUELBIG, Edward, who is engaged in the grain business in Marissa, St. Clair County, was born at Dutch Hill, same county, October 25, 1855. He is a son of Otto and Lena (Bol- gard) Huelbig, natives of Germany, the father having been born in Coburg, Bavaria, January 30, 1830. The grandparents on both sides of the family, Christian Huelbig and Jacob Bol- gard, were also German by birth. Mr. Huel- big attended school at Dutch Hill until he was eighteen years old, and then entered the hard- ware business at Marissa. This he abandoned in 1888 and engaged in the grain trade, being now manager for the St. Louis & Marissa Grain and Elevator Company.
On January 9, 1881, Edward Huelbig was married to Emma Och, a native of St. Clair County, who received her education in the Lenzburg school. They have two children- Bertha A. and Arthur G. Politically, Mr. Huel- big is a Democrat. He held the office of Town- ship Collector for four years, and served for two years as a member of the City Council of Marissa. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
HUNINGER, Rudolph A., Superintendent of the National Stock Yards Company, was born September 14, 1850, in New York City, son of John Martin and Eliza (Pagen) Huninger, both natives of Switzerland, where also was born his paternal grandfather, John M. Huninger. On July 26, 1860, Rudolph moved to Highland, Ill., and lived with an uncle, attending the public school during the winter and working in the summer. In the fall of 1865 he returned to New York; remained there until June, 1866; then went to California, where he resided until July, 1870, and again returned to New York. In Oc- tober of the last named year he went to High- land, and a few weeks later took up his resi- dence in East St. Louis, working here at va-
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