USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 75
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In 1864 Mr. Knobeloch was married to Kath- erine Hage, a native of Germany, whose mental instruction was obtained in its public schools. Her parents, Philip and Elizabeth Hage, were
also German-born. Mrs. Knobeloch came to the United States at the age of four years, with her parents, who settled in St. Clair County. She lived in the country until 1879, when she moved to Belleville and resided on North High Street until 1897. Since that year she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. John E. Thomas.
Mr. and Mrs. Knobeloch were the parents of the following children, namely: Adolph, George, Mrs. John E. Thomas, Emma (Mrs. Davis) and Walter.
KNOEBEL, Thomas, Ph. . G., pharmacist, 209 Collinsville Avenue, East St. Louis, was born in Belleville, August 30, 1859, the last but one in order of birth of ten children of Carl Knoe- bel. He was graduated from the Belleville High School in 1876. Accepting a clerkship under Adolph Finke, of East St. Louis, he entered the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where he was graduated with honorable mention in 1880. Later he took a special course in microscopy in the same institution. In 1881, he bought the drug stock and fixtures of Mr. Finke and began his successful career as a pharmacist, in 1888 removing his stock to his present location at No. 209 Collinsville Avenue. He was prominent in securing the enactment of the pharmacy law of Illinois, is a member of the Illinois Phar- maceutical Association, of the American Phar- maceutical Association and of the St. Louis Club of Microscopists. Possessing marked lit- erary talent, and having views on many sub- jects of interest to progressive people, he is a welcome contributor to the city and county press. He married Miss Minnie D. Eslaman, of Belleville, March 20, 1883.
KNOX, Charles Gordon, the controlling force of the great National Stock Yards, St. Louis, was born at Yonkers, New York, in 1852, and is, consequently, fifty-four years of age. He is the son of Isaac H. Knox, who is also a na- tive of New York. Charles Gordon Knox was educated in the University of Bonn, Germany. After completing his education, he became con- nected with New York bankers and financiers who dealt extensively in foreign securities, and here laid the foundation for acquiring that knowledge which so admirably fitted him in after years to assume the management of the diverse interests which he controls so creditably at the great St. Louis National Stock Yards.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
He remained with the New York financiers un- til 1873, when he became imbued with that idea of the advancement of the great West which has dominated so many of the leading spirits of the older States. He knew that there were many fine fields in this section awaiting rich harvests, and, after consulting with his father, Isaac H. Knox, who was then Treasurer, and subsequently President of the National Stock Yards, he accepted the position of Chief Clerk of the corporation, in 1873, and has remained with the institution ever since. By his close application to details, his diligent attention to the interests of the corporation and his un- tiring devotion to the work of making the St. Louis market a pride to the officers of the company, and an object of rivalry among the great stock markets of the world, Mr. Knox began to climb the ladder which has placed him in command of the flourishing institution and its kindred business interests.
In 1889 Mr. Knox was appointed Vice-Pres- ident, Secretary and Treasurer, and in the spring of the same year, was made President of The Stock Yards Bank. He is also a Di- .rector of the Mechanics National Bank and the Commonwealth Trust Company of St. Louis. The connection of Mr. Knox with the National Stock Yards practically dates from its birth in 1873. In that year, of course, the business of the yards was small. Soon, however, with the addition of local packing houses, and the invasion of the Southwest Territory by local stock men, the St. Louis National Stock Yards began to crowd to the front and bid for busi- ness with the strongest competitive fields of the country. New life was injected into every de- partment of the yards, and the Board of Di- rectors of the company could find no stronger figure in this section, or even in the country, to assume general command of their interests than Mr. Knox who had grown up with the institution. He knew every detail from bot- tom to top, and could be trusted to work every string which would materially advance the in- terests of the yards. He was also placed at the head of the Stock Yards Bank, an institution which has a larger surplus than any other bank in Southern Illinois and does more busi- ness, on the same amount of capital, than any other bank in the State. It is generally believed that the popularity of the yards and its stand- ing among the shippers of the country were
earned mainly through the efforts of Mr. Knox. Be that as it may, it is certain that he was one of the leading spirits in the advancement of the institution at all times. One of its most decisive steps forward was the concentration, through his personal endeavors, of the St. Louis horse and mule market at the National Stock Yards. Mr. Knox's attachment to the yards has certainly brought the name of the place into remote sections, and placed it in a favorable position among stockmen who, under ordinary circumstances, woud not have had opportunities for learning of its accom- modations, conveniences and general standing.
Mr. Knox is a man of extreme modesty, yet by judicious orders and systematic work, he has created a corps of managers at the yards who, in carrying out his ideas and aims, trans- act business with the precision of clock-work. He is affable and genial, and by possessing those qualities is beloved by all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Knox, who was mar- ried in 1887, to Edith Sherman, a native of New Jersey, lives in St. Louis.
KOCH, Charles, foreman of the bottling de- partment of the Star Brewery, was born in Hamburg, Germany, March 15, 1868, and was educated in the public schools of his native town. Mr. Koch resided with his parents in Germany until 1889, when he came to the United States, locating in New York, where he re- mained for seven years. He then went to Little Rock, Ark., for a year and thence moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he was employed by the A. B. C. Brewing Company. In 1903 he came to Belleville and accepted a position as fore- man in the bottling department of the Star Brewery Company. Socially, he is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Germania Bund of Illinois. He was married, in 1896, to Martha Durigen, a native of Saxony, Germany.
KOERNER, Gustavus Adolphus (deceased), late a lawyer of the city of Belleville, was born in that city January 17, 1845, and died in St. Louis, Mo., October 24, 1904. He was a son of Gustavus and Sophia (Engelmann) Koerner. His father served at different times as Repre- sentative in the General Assembly, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1846-48), Lieu- tenate-Governor (1853-57), United States Min- ister to Spain (1862-64), and in 1868 was chosen
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Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket. He was distinguished not only as a lawyer, jurist and statesman, but as a man of letters.
The son, Gustavus A. Koerner, acquired his early education in the public schools of his native city, and, in March, 1860, entered Wash- ington University, St. Louis, Mo., where he was a student until 1862, when he accompanied his father to the Court of Madrid. After remain- ing there a short time, he entered the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where he secured a degree in 1864. Then returning to Belleville he pursued the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1865. Almost from the beginning, he took a prominent rank at the bar. He was not only a well-read and accom- plished lawyer, but was well versed in liter- ature, possessed an excellent literary taste and was master of several foreign languages. He was not a seeker for office, but served for a number of years as Master in Chancery of St. Clair County. He acted in association with the Republican party until 1872, but then became a local leader in the "Liberal" movement, and took an active part in the Cincinnati conven- tion, in May of that year, which resulted in the nomination of Horace Greeley as a candi- date for the presidency. He thereafter acted with the Democratic party until 1896, when, on account of his views on the currency question, he declined to support its platform, as he also did four years later. Mr. Koerner was mar- ried on December 31, 1868, to Mary F. Kin- ney, a daughter of William C. Kinney, who was a prominent lawyer of Belleville and a son of former Lieutenant-Governor Kinney. Mrs. Koerner was also a granddaughter on the ma- ternal side of Elias Kent Kane, who was a member of the first Illinois Constitutional Con- vention (1818), the first Secretary of State and United States Senator from· Illinois eleven years, dying in office in 1835. Mrs. Koerner, with their five sons and two daughters, sur- vives her husband.
KOHL, Walter John, who is engaged in the drug business in Belleville, this county; was born in that place September 1, 1876. His father, Charles Kohl, was born in Rupersburg, Germany, and his mother, Katherine (Neu) Kohl, in Belleville. At the age of eight years Mr. Kohl worked as a newsboy and continued this occupation until he was sixteen years old.
He was then employed as messenger in the postoffice for a year, when he was promoted to General Delivery Clerk. He then entered Feikert's drug store as an apprentice and after two years went to St. Louis to study pharmacy. The education of Mr. Kohl was received in the public schools and in the St. Louis School of Pharmacy, his studies being completed when he was twenty years old. He was the first student from Belleville to gain the honor of the second prize. He became a registered pharmacist in Missouri when nineteen years old.
After graduating, Mr. Kohl was employed in a drug store in St. Louis, and then became manager of another drug store in Kansas City. From this he came to Belleville, and worked at. Kempff's pharmacy five years. In 1903, the Woods Medicine Company was incorporated, of which Mr. Kohl is the President. On October 24, 1903, he established a drug store at No. 100 East Main Street, where he employs one reg- istered clerk and two junior clerks. He han- dles drugs and druggists' sundries, paints, oils, etc., and makes a specialty or prescriptions.
In December, 1899, Mr. Kohl married Bertha. Keil, who was born and schooled in Belleville. They have two children-Aurelia and Leona. He has a notable talent for music, and is skillful with the cello. Mr. Kohl supports the Republican party, and is Evangelical in his religious convictions. Fraternally, he belongs to the K. of P.
KOLB, Philip, a coal-mine operator at Mas- coutah, this county, was born in that town Feb- ruary 29, 1848. He is a son of Henry and Magdalena (Blum), natives of Hessen, Ger- many. In 1863, after completing his studies in the public schools, Philip began to learn the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked un- til 1869. He then engaged in agricultural pur- suits, having rented a farm for ten years. Following this he went into the dairy business, in which he continued five years, and then for ten years conducted a creamery. He had al- ready purchased a farm of 140 acres in Mas- coutah Township, which he still retains. Mr. Kolb sold his dairy business, however, and en- gaged in the butchering line in Mascoutah for two years. He afterward spent four years in the lumber business. In 1895, together with E. R. Hagist, Philip Hucke and Jacob G. Mann, he sunk a shaft just outside of the city limits,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
on the east, and struck a coal vein from seven to eight feet thick. The product of this is from 700 to 800 tons daily. The company sup- plies Mascoutah, but ships most of the output to St. Louis, where it maintains an office. 1ts officers are: Philip Kolb, President; Jacob G. Mann, Vice-President; E. R. Hagist, Secretary; and Philip Hucke, Treasurer. The other coal mines owned by this company are situated on the Illinois Central Railroad, between New Ath- ens and Lynchburg. One shaft, sunk in 1900, has a vein between six and seven feet thick, and yields 1,000 tons per day. The other, sunk in 1903, about a mile distant from the first, and tapping the same vein, has a daily output of the same quantity.
Philip Kolb was married in October, 1866, to Katherine Reinhardt, who was born and ed- ucated in Mascoutah. Their children are Ru- dolph, and Lena, now Mrs. Beatty, of Mas- coutah. Mr. Kolb is a Republican in politics. Religiously, he adheres to the Evangelical faith. His fraternal connection is with the O. O. M. A. and K. of P.
KOLB, William, a merchant, of Lebanon, St. Clair County, was born in Mascoutah, Illinois, October 17, 1869. His parents, Killian and Mary (Heilmann) Kolb, were natives of Ger- many. Killian Kolb came to the United States at a very early age, with his parents, and spent some time in Pennsylvania. He then came to Mascoutah, where he first followed blacksmith- ing, and afterward engaged in the merchandise business. When fourteen years old William Kolb was employed by Charles Tiedemann, in a grocery store, and remained with him four years. He then went to East St. Louis and worked two years for Kohl & Niemann. After this he moved to Lebanon, and in 1890 em- barked in the general merchandise business, handling also hay and feed.
In 1895, Mr. Kolb was married to Lizzie Bachmann, a native of Salem, Illinois, and a daughter of Adam H. Bachmann of that place. They have three children-Marie, Catherine and Charles William Kolb. Politically, Mr. Kolb is a Republican and has been a very prosperous business man-one who has a fu- ture before him in the financial world.
KRAFT, Fred W., the well known publisher of "The Democrat," in East St. Louis, this
county, was born in Lenzburg Township, St. Clair County, February 15, 1863. He is a son of William and Eliza (Leilich) Kraft, natives of Germany. William Kraft was a farmer by occupation, as was also his father before him. The former was brought to the United States by his parents, who came to this country in 1833, locating in St. Clair County, Ill., and set- tling in Lenzburg Township, on the farm where Fred W. was born. Grandfather Kraft served in the capacity of reader on the mili- tary staff of the great warrior, Napoleon, shared in the disasters of the Moscow cam- paign, and took part in the battle of Waterloo. His son, William, was a man of superior intel- ligence and sterling traits of character. Dur- ing the whole of his mature life he was a prominent citizen of St. Clair County, and faithfully and efficiently served the public in several important relations. During the Civil War he performed the duties of enrolling offi- cer in his locality. For nearly twenty years he filled the position of Justice of the Peace for St. Clair County, with signal credit to him- self, meriting and receiving the commendation of all classes of people. With equal ability and fidelity, he discharged the duties pertain- ing to the office of County Commissioner for a period of nine years.
In early youth Fred W. Kraft attended the country district school on Dutch Hill, in Lenz- burg Township, continuing his studies through his fifteenth year, and at intervals assisting his father in the operation of the farm. After finishing his schooling, he applied himself for a time to the study of pharmacy, and subse- quently turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits on the home farm. He was thus en- gaged until he reached the age of twenty-five years, when he left the homestead and secured employment in the real estate and law office of F. B. Bowman, in East St. Louis. In 1890 he assumed the management of the "East St. Louis Gazette," remaining in this connection for two years. At the end of that period he purchased a half interest in the Southern Illi- nois Publishing Company, at Belleville, and there conducted the publication of two daily papers-the "News Democrat" and the "Zei- tung." After being thus engaged until 1895, he disposed of these interests, and commenced the issue of "The Democrat," in East St. Louis. which he sold in 1898. In 1901 he embarked
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
in the real estate and insurance business under the firm name of Fink & 'Co., of which he is President and the controlling spirit.
On September 14, 1903, Mr. Kraft was united in marriage, at Denver, Colo., with Adolphina Boos, a native of St. Louis, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Kraft are the parents of one son, Fred W., Jr., born March 17, 1905. In politics, Mr. Kraft is a steadfast and earnest supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and in the local councils of that organization wields no small influence. In fra- ternal circles, he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. and the B. P. O. E. His whole life has been spent in St. Clair County, and his career as a man and as a citizen has been such as to win for him the respect and esteem of all who enjoy his acquaintance.
KRAMER, Edward Charles, lawyer, 431 Mis- souri Avenue, East St. Louis, was born in Wa- bash County, Ill., February 1, 1857, a son of Henry and Martha (Calverley) Kramer, the former a native of Germany, the latter a native of England. He was brought up to farm life and was educated in normal schools. He taught school and read law, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois in 1882. He is a member of the East St. Louis Bar Association, the St. Clair County Bar As- sociation, the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in religious belief is affili- ated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married, at Grayville, Ill., September 15, 1880, Miss Laura J. Ellis, a native of that place, born April 8, 1858. They have two children: Kenneth Edward Kramer, born June 8, 1892, and Pauline Ida Kramer, born February 26, 1895.
KRANTZ, Jacob .- In 1900, after almost half a century of coal mining in this country and Europe, Jacob Krantz established a flour and feed business in Belleville, in partnership with his son Charles, his store being located on the corner of Switzer and Centerville Avenues. In this comparatively short time he has worked · up a profitable trade, has enlarged the capacity of his store, and has the satisfaction of realiz- ing that at any time he may retire from active life, leaving his enterprise in competent and painstaking hands. Born in Nassau, Prussia, Germany, November 20, 1838, Mr. Krantz had
a common school education in his native land, and, following the precedent of boys in his walk of life, he began to earn his own living at the age of fourteen or fifteen. His work was of a gloomy kind, in the coal mines of the country, and in 1865 he came to America, fol- lowing the same occupation in Perry County, Ind. Six months later he moved to St. Clair County, Ill., worked in the mines around Belle- ville until 1882, and then became the owner and operator of a coal mine of his own near that city, conducting it until 1900. Disposing of his mining interests to Reeb Brothers, he started his present business, his only son, Charles, having in the meantime developed into an intelligent and conscientious business man.
Two years after coming to America, August 11, 1867, Mr. Krantz married Mary Dirk, who was born and educated in Germany, and who is the mother of four children: Katherine, Charles, Louisa and Hermina. Mr. Krantz is a Democrat in politics, fraternally is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in religion is a member of the Evangelical Church.
KRAUSS, Philip, a prominent brick manufac- turer of Freeburg, Ill., was born in that place August 19, 1867, and is a son of Henry and Barbara (Heigle) Krauss, both of whom are natives of Germany. Completing his schooling at the age of fourteen, he started to work in a keg factory, where he remained but a short time, and then for the following nine years was employed in a nail mill at Belleville. He then worked for one year in a brick yard, after which he organized the firm of Snyder & Krauss Bros., brick manufacturers, which con- tinued in existence for three years. Upon the dissolution of this partnership, March 2, 1898, Mr. Krauss again started a brick manufactur- ing plant at Freeburg, which is the only one of its kind in the city. His trade is entirely local, and his output is about 6,000 bricks per day. In his fraternal affiliations he is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic order.
KRAUSS, William, a prominent manufacturer of New Athens, St. Clair County, was born in St. Louis, Mo., son of Henry and Barbara (Hei- gele) Krauss, the former of whom was born in Darmstadt, and the latter in Schobe, Germany.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
William attended the public schools until he was twelve years old, when he commenced work in a keg factory, remaining there for five years. During the following five years he was employed in a steel plant and various other places, and then located at Marissa, where he learned the trade of brick making. After work- ing there four years he removed to Freeburg and with his brother Philip engaged in the manufacture of bricks. Three years later ,the brothers dissolved partnership, and in April, 1902, Mr. Krauss came to New Athens where, with Fritz Zwetselke he again embarked in the brick manufacturing business, which they continued to conduct until the fall of that year, when Mr. Zwetselke retired, and since that time Mr. Krauss has continued to operate the plant alone. Each season he manufactures about 3,000,000 bricks, which are all disposed of in the vicinity of New Athens. Socially, Mr. Krauss is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. On December 6, 1899, he was married to Lena Thebus. who was born in Belleville, Ill., and educated in its public schools. Of this union two children have re- sulted, as follows: Erma, born September 2, 1900, and Mary E., September 18, 1903.
KREBS, Arthur E., was born April 27, 1858, in Belleville, Ill., a son of Edward Krebs, who came from Germany to the United States and located in St. Clair County in 1856. Here he was very successful as a merchant, and at one time filled the office of Deputy Sheriff of the county. Arthur E., after completing his edu- cation in the public schools of Belleville, went to Kansas City and Chicago, where he engaged in the china and glassware business. In 1896, in partnership with Mr. Rodenheiser, he pur- chased the house-furnishing store of Charles Drees, who established the business in 1860. In 1898 he bought Mr. Rodenheiser's interest in the firm and has since successfully carried on the business, of which he is the general manager under the name of Krebs Bros., china, glass and house-furnishing store. At one time Mr. Krebs was Assistant Postmaster under F. M. Taylor. Socially, he belongs to the Order of Elks, of which he has been Secretary since its institution; is a Director of the Commercial Club and Vice-President of the Retail Mer- chants' Association.
In 1890 Mr. Krebs was married in Chicago
to Emma Rutz, who received her education in the schools of Belleville, and they are the parents of one child, Wilbur.
KROPP, Leonard, President of the Millstadt Lumber Company, and a prominent citizen of that place, was born in Millstadt, in 1839, a son of Leonard and Catherine E. (Kueffner) Kropp, both of whom were natives of Germany; they came to the United States and in 1836 located in St. Clair County. Here Leonard was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools, after leaving which he fol- lowed the vocation of farming until 1883, when he engaged in the lumber business at Mill- stadt. He continued in this line of industry until 1903, when the Millstadt Lumber Co. was organized, of which he was elected President. He is now retired from active business life. He is a stockholder in the Millstadt Creamery Co., and has been a member of the Town Board for two terms. Reared as a farmer boy, Mr. Kropp is an excellent example of what en- ergy, ability and industry will do for a man who desires to advance in the world, and he is now enjoying the fruits of his early labor. On June 9, 1864, he was married to Margaret Dewald, and they have two children-Margaret and Leonard F.
KUEFFNER, (Gen.) William C., (deceased), soldier of the Civil War and former attorney- at-law, Belleville, Ill., was born in Rostock, Mecklenburg, Germany, February 27, 1840. His father, Carl Kueffner, was also a native of Mecklenburg. Mr. Kueffner came to America at the age of sixteen years and was located at Memphis, Tenn., at the outbreak of the Civil War. Thence he came to St. Louis, and then to Belleville, Ill., where he enlisted April 20, 1861, in Company D, Ninth Regiment Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in as Sergeant of Capt. Alexander G. Hawe's com- pany, and transferred to Company C, as First Lieutenant, serving three months. He then re-enlisted for three years as Captain of Com- pany B, in the same regiment, and participated in the battles of Saratoga, Ft. Henry, and Ft. Donelson, Tenn., in February, 1862. He was wounded in the head by a gunshot at the Battle of Shiloh, and was taken to the hospital and thence to St. Louis. Af- ter recovery his he rejoined his regi-
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