USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 76
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
1
I062
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
ment and took part in the Battle of Cor- inth, where he was again wounded by a gun- shot through the breast and removed to the hospital. After the expiration of his second period of enlistment, he enlisted for a third time in February, 1865, as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry-one of the last regiments organ- ized for the Civil War-of which he was com- missioned as Colonel and on March 13, follow- ing, promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General for gallant and meritorious service, remaining in service until January 27, 1866, when he was honorably discharged with his regiment at Springfield, Ill. In all Gen. Kueffner took part in 110 battles and skirmishes. During a part of the war he was stationed for one year and three months at the Barracks, St. Louis.
Gen. Kueffner was a zealous champion of the principles of the Republican party and, after the war, served for a time as Justice of the Peace and Police Magistrate, and in March, 1867, was appointed Collector of Internal Rev- enue for the Belleville District. He later be- gan the study of law in the Law Department of Washington University, from which he graduated on March 8, 1871, after which he practiced his profession in Belleville up to the time of his death. He was twice married, first to Cecelia Mahlinkrodt, a native of St. Louis, to whom he was married in May, 1865, and who died in 1873, having borne him two chil- dren-Cecelia W. and Louisa D. On June 3, 1876, he was married to Miss Elise Lorey, who was born and educated in Belleville and who still survives. His death, resulting from an attack of pneumonia, occurred March 18, 1893, and he was buried with the honors due to a veteran of the Civil War, in Walnut Hill Ceme- tery.
An earnest patriot, Gen. Kueffner took a just pride in his record as a soldier, and was a de- voted member of Hecker Post, No. 443, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Almost his last words, uttered in command of his comrades- the "Boys in Blue"-as he lay upon his death- bed, indicated the deep hold the memories of the war period still had upon him.
KUNZE, Ernst, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Marissa Township, this county, was born December 31, 1848, at Peterveldt, Ger-
many, son of Frederick A. and Rennata (Schreiber) Kunze, who were also natives of the Fatherland. They emigrated to America in 1854, settling on a farm in Marissa Town- ship less than two miles from Marissa, and there they reared a family of seven children. Ernst was educated in the public school of Ma- rissa Township and has always resided on the home farm. He is the youngest member of the family, and after the death of his parents he became heir to the homestead, at that time comprising 320 acres of land. Since then he has added 80 acres and now possesses one of the largest and most highly cultivated farms in Marissa Township. In 1875 Mr. Kunze was married to Catherine Hotz, a daughter of Johan and Maria Hotz, who was born and educated in Germany. Two children have been born of this union, Gustave and Edward.
KUNTZMANN, Charles J., proprietor of the Owl Saloon, 20 West Main Street, Belleville, was born at Highland, Ill., January 12, 1871, a son of Mathew and Margaret (Appel) Kuntz- mann. At nine years of age, he went to Tren- ton, Ill. He worked in mines and on farms till he was twenty years old, then went to St. Louis, Mo., and there began a connection with the liquor trade that has survived continuously to the present time. He came to Belleville in 1895, and established the Owl Saloon in 1902. He married, in 1898, Caroline Engel, and they have a son named Charles Le Roy Kuntzmann. The family are attendants upon the services of St. Paul's German Protestant Church.
"THE LAND FAMILY. - The family here named are among the early settlers of St. Clair County. Philip, son of Moses Land, was born in Virginia, March 2, 1785. He removed to South Carolina, and there married Elizabeth Fike. The year of the marriage was 1805. He afterwards left South Carolina and went to Kentucky, and from that State came to Illi- nois in 1816, and settled in St. Clair County, at a point then and now known as Turkey Hill. About the year 1818 he moved to a place on the Kaskaskia, near where Fayetteville now stands, and there he remained until his death, which took place in April, 1857. His wife died on the old place or homestead in 1841. There were six children born to Philip and Eliza- beth Land. Their names were Aaron, Cynthia,
.
1063
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Moses, Rebecca, Evaline and Nathan. Aaron and Cynthia were born in South Carolina, Moses, Rebecca and Avaline, in Kentucky, and Nathan in St. Clair County, Ill. Aaron Land married Lucy Dial. Cynthia married Patrick Costello, who died about the year 1841, after which she married Edward McGarren. Moses Land married Louisa Dial. Rebecca died un- married, about the age of eighteen years. Na- than was twice married; first to Sarah Curtis, in 1845. She died in 1853. He then married Minerva Benwell, daughter of Joseph Primm, in 1858. He was raised on a farm, and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until after the death of his wife, when he engaged in mer- chandising in the town of Mascoutah, in which he continued for three or four years, when he sold out and purchased an interest in the flour- ing mill in Mascoutah, which was built by Messrs. Postel & Eisenmayer, and is now owned and operated by Philip H. Postel. In August, 1862, during the war, he raised a com- pany of volunteers, which were enlisted into the service, when they became a part of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment Illi- nois Volunteers, Col. R. M. Moore command- ing. The regiment did gallant and meritorious service during the war. Captain Land contract- ed sickness, which compelled him to send in his resignation, and he was honorably dis charged in September, 1864." (Brink's History, 1881.)
LANG, Charles T., Postmaster of O'Fallon, this county, was born in that place in 1867, a son of Theobald and Mary (Dressel) Lang, na- tives respectively of Germany and St. Clair County, this State. The father came to the county in 1836, where he followed the cooper's trade. Charles T. received his education in the public schools of O'Fallon until he moved to Summerfield, where he now resides and con- ducts a barber's business.
In 1890 Mr. Lang was married to Emma Schuster, who was born in Summerfield, and to them four children have been born: Arthur, Arnold, Eleanora and Clarence. In his political affiliation Mr. Lang is a Republican, and has always been very prominent in the affairs of the village. In February, 1900, he was ap- pointed Postmaster of O'Fallon, which position he still retains. He has been Village Clerk for six years and Treasurer for four years. So-
cially, he is connected with the following or- ders: Masons, Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias.
1 LARKINS, T. B .- The business reputation of T. B. Larkins, in East St. Louis, is based upon his ten years of effort as a coal merchant, and upon the fact that from a small beginning he has built up a substantial and constantly in- creasing trade. Beginning in 1894, he conduct- ed his business alone until March, 1903, when he received as partner, James F. Brew, and since has carried on a general jobbing trade in all kinds of coal. Born in East Liverpool, Ohio, where his parents, J. B. and Phoebe (De- Witt) Larkins, conducted a general merchan- dise store, he accompanied the family to Mis- souri while still a boy, and there received his education in the public schools, eventually graduating from the Normal School. Removing to Quincy, Ill., he worked at railroading for thirteen years, and from 1886 until 1891 filled the position of yard master at East St. Louis, resigning because of an accident which inca- pacitated him for physical labor. Recovering his health, he engaged in the coal business be- fore referred to, and now has one of the larg- est enterprises of the kind in East St. Louis.
Mr. Larkin's established a home of his own in 1889, marrying Alma Peeples, who was born in Illinois, and who is the mother of a daugh- ter, Gladys. Genial and approachable, a large share of the success of Mr. Larkins is due to his tact and consideration, no less than to his fairness and integrity, and his thorough knowl- edge of the coal business.
LATTMANN, William, coal dealer and well known citizen of Belleville, this county, is a native of Hanover, Germany, his birth having occurred there on February 14, 1861, his par- ents being Conrad and Wilhelmina (Gremell) Lattmann, who were also born in his father- land. William obtained his education in Ger- many, and later came to the United States, in 1891, locating in St. Clair County, where he worked at various occupations, including min- ing, until 1901, when, in partnership with Ben- hardt Peters he purchased a coal mine situ- ated one mile south of Belleville. This they continued to operate until 1905, when Mr. Lattmann became the sole proprietor. He dis- poses of all his coal to the local trade in his
1064
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
home city. In his religion Mr. Lattmann is a consistent adherent to the Catholic Church, and politically, he supports the Democratic party.
LEIBROCK, George, Jr., a prosperous saw-mill proprietor and lumber dealer of Mascoutah, this county, was born in Hassloch, Bavaria, Germany, November 15, 1834, a son of John Philip and Maria Katherine (Schuster) Lei- brock, the former being a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Weisenstein) Leibrock, and the lat-
ter a daughter of George Schuster, all natives of Bavaria, Germany. George received his edu- cation in Germany and the United States, com- ing with his parents, in 1844, to Mascoutah, where his father purchased a farm two and a half miles south of the town, on which he resided until 1850, when he began operating a saw mill in Mascoutah. This he conducted until 1861, when George took charge of the business, which he still carries on. His moth- er died on August 28, 1868; his father, on July 10, 1891, and they are both buried in the ceme- tery at Mascoutah. Mr. Leibrock owns one saw mill on the Okaw River in Clinton County, another in Mascoutah, and in connection with these mills he deals in all kinds of lumber.
On November 15, 1858, George Leibrock, Jr., was united in marriage to Katherine, a daugh- ter of John D. Hoffman, who is one of the early settlers of the county. She was born in Lebanon, St. Clair County, and educated at the Illinois Female College, Jacksonville. The fol- lowing children have been born of this union: Philip H., who is a physician; Elise D., wife of Dr. E. P. Koch, of Chicago; and Louisa H., wife of Professor James A. Bishop, also of Chicago. Mr. Leibrock votes the Republican ticket and in his religion affiliates with the German Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Socially, he belongs to the Masons and has taken the third degree, be- ing also a member of the Knights of Honor.
LENZ, August (deceased), formerly President of the Belleville Oil Company, and a retired farmer and merchant of St. Clair Township, was a native of Feldhausen, of the Rhine coun- try, Germany, and was born July 17, 1827. He died April 1, 1905. At the age of eleven he came to America with his parents, Arnold and Annie Maria (Busch) Lenz, natives also of
Germany, and soon after locating in St. Louis his father purchased a farm on the line be- tween St. Louis County and Franklin County, both in Missouri. Here the lad lived until 1848, when he found employment in the "Planter's Hotel" for a couple of years; then was employed in a general store in St. Louis, and later became a partner in the latter es- tablishment. At the outbreak of the Mexican War he enlisted in Company E, Captain Ste- vens' Cavalry, but owing to an injury sustained while on horseback was unable to enter the service. From 1849 until 1872 he engaged in the mercantile business in St. Louis, and then purchased a farm of fifty acres in St. Clair township, four miles west of Belleville. For years he was one of the successful general farmers and stock-raisers of his neighborhood, but in 1898 sold his farm to his son-in-law, F. M. Priester, who since has converted it into a summer resort, known far and wide as "Priest- er's Park." On May 1, 1881, Mr. Lenz bought a fourth interest in the Belleville Oil Works, at the same time assuming the vice-presidency of the company, and holding the same until be- coming President in 1898. In 1886 he erected the Belleville Nail Works, and after operating the same for three years, disposed of it to other parties.
Mr. Lenz was a Democrat in politics, and served twelve years as a School Director of the St. Clair district. In addition to his substan- tial business qualifications, the deceased had the social tendencies of his countrymen across the sea, and it had ever been his aim to pro- mote healthful and diversional opportunities in his adopted land. As far back as 1855 he as- sisted in the organization of the Rhenish Froh- sin Singing Society, of St. Louis, and continued ever after as one of its stanch supporters. Fraternally, he was connected with the Masons. On September 21, 1850, Mr. Lenz married Amelia Halbach, of Pittsburg, Pa., and of the union five children were born: William; Rosa, the wife of F. M. Priester; Emma, the wife of William Driver; George, now executor of the estate; and Carl F. Lenz. The two last named are in business in St. Louis. On September 21, 1900, Mr. and Mrs. August Lenz celebrated their golden wedding, which was the occasion of a great demonstration of friends and rela- tives at Priester's Park.
Herm. & Heter O
1065
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY ..
LEONARD, Henry, proprietor of the "Com- mercial Hotel," O'Fallon, this county, was born in Clinton County, Ill., in 1860, a son of Ed- ward and Mary (Stockmann) Leonard, both na- tives of Hanover, Germany. The father came to the United States and followed his trade as a shoemaker, later becoming the proprietor of the Germantown Mill. Henry received his education in the Breese schools and followed the industry of farming in Clinton and Joe Daviess Counties, remaining in the latter county for thirteen years. He then removed to Belleville, where he opened a saloon and later to Aviston, where he became proprietor of the "Aviston Hotel." On March 1, 1903, he took possession of the "Commercial Hotel" in O'Fal- lon, which he still conducts, profitably to him- self and to the satisfaction of his patrons.
In 1886 Mr. Leonard was married to Caro- line Vonderah, who was a native of Joe Daviess County, and died in 1897. In the fall of 1898, he was united to Lizzie Dinges. They are the parents of five children, namely: Mary, Ben, Anna, Louis and Gertrude.
LEOPOLD, Joseph (& Bro.) .- Joseph Leopold, the well known wholesale liquor dealer of Belleville, this county, was born in the place named, August 7, 1859. He is the son of Jo- seph Leopold, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, and Philipina (Rosche) Leopold, a Bavarian. After receiving his education in the Belleville schools he formed a partnership with
his brother, Edward, in the wholesale liquor busi- ness, and the firm has since conducted it on a large scale. They are now the importers of no less than eighty different varieties of wines, liquors and cordials.
On October 25, 1883, Joseph Leopold was married to Maggie Rhein, a daughter of Fred- erick and Charlotte (Nenninger) Rhein, and to them seven children have been born. Mr. Leopold is connected with the Masons and the order of Elks.
Fred Rhein, Sr., Mrs. Leopold's grandfather, was a native of Rheinpfalz, Germany, and came to St. Clair County in 1839, settling on the Georgetown road. The old Rhein farm of nearly 1,000 acres is still in the possession of the Rhein family. Grandfather Fred Rhein was well known in St. Clair County where he was known as a farmer and a stock-raiser and dealer.
LINK, Charles W., Jr., manager of the Lyric Theater buffet, Belleville, a son of Charles W. Link, Sr., was born in St. Clair County October 27, 1874, and there received his early educa- tion. The elder Link was engaged in farming in St. Clair County until 1876, when he moved to O'Fallon, where he conducted a saloon and hotel until some time in 1881. He then spent five or six months in Shiloh, whence he came to Belleville in 1882 and continued in the sa- loon and hotel business. The subject of this sketch became manager of a saloon in Belle- ville on November 16, 1892, and in 1904-'05 con- ducted the "Budweiser" bar, garden and thea- ter as proprietor. He is now manager of the Lyric Theater buffet. Mr. Link was a member of Company D, Fourth Regiment Illinois State Militia, for four years, and in 1898 served as Regimental Commissary Sergeant during the Spanish-American War. He was married Sep- tember 29, 1903, to Cora Long, who was born and educated in Belleville.
LISCHER, George W., a brick manufacturer of Mascoutah, St. Clair County, was born in that place August 5, 1867. His father, Chris- topher Lischer, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and his mother, Mary (Baltz) Lischer, in St. Louis, Mo. He is a grandson of Conrad Lis- cher, a native of Bavaria. The name of his grandmother was Hafelie.
At the age of fifteen years Mr. Lischer com- pleted his studies in the public schools. Be- fore this, however, he had learned the trade of a brick mason, at which, when sixteen years old, he was employed in St. Louis at $3 per day. He worked there about eight years, and then went to Mt. Olive, where he did contract work for four years. He also owned a brick manufacturing plant, of which he disposed in 1895. He subsequently returned to Mascoutah, where he entered into a contracting partner- ship with Carl S. Mueller; the firm also dealt in lime and cement. Mr. Mueller retired from the partnership in 1899, and Mr. Lischer sold out the lime and cement interest on June 16, 1904. In September, 1902, in connection with John Facht, Mr. Lischer commenced the manu- facture of dry-pressed brick. The concern is incorporated, Mr. Lischer being general mana- ger, and Mr. Facht, Secretary and Treasurer. The plant has a capacity of 21,000 brick per day. Thus far, this quantity has proved inade-
27
1066
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
quate to supply the demand. Mr. Lischer is a Director and President of the Mascoutah Brew- ing Company, and a stockholder in the Mutual Creamery Company.
George W. Lischer was married January 12, 1895, to Ida Haering, who was born and schooled in Mascoutah. Their children are: Otto, born May 24, 1896; and Elsa, born No- vember 12, 1901. Politically, Mr. Lischer is a' Democrat, and is serving his third term as Mayor of Mascoutah. His religious connection with the German Methodist Episcopal is Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M., and Arbeiter Verein.
LISTER, James H., mine superintendent, St. Clair County, was born in Yorkshire, England, February 9, 1861, the son of Henry and Har- riet (Rowley) Lister, also natives of that coun- try, and grandson of James Lister, of Saxony, and James Rowley, of England. The father, Henry Lister, came to West Philadelphia to become superintendent of a mine, when his son was but three years of age. James H. Lis- ter attended public school and early showed an inclination to follow his father's dangerous occupation. In 1871, when he was but ten years of age, he found employment at O'Fallon in the Alma Mine, and afterward worked under his parent in the Knecht Mine. For three years he was County Mine Inspector in Madi- son County, Ill. On December 31, 1884, Mr. Lister was married to Ellen Williamson, a native of Caseyville, Ill., and of this union four children have been born-Harry, William, Ruth and Ellen. In February, 1903, Mr. Lister became General Superintendent of the Royal Coal and Mining Company. The mine operated by this company has a vein of coal six and one- half to seven feet, and the average output is 1,000 tons each day. Mr. Lister is a Repub- lican in his politics and belongs to the K. of P. fraternity. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
LOEBELING, Carl, an upright and highly re- spected farmer of St. Clair County, is of Ger- man nativity, born April 20, 1830, and was edu- cated in the public schools of his native land. Emigrating to the United States, at the age of twenty-five years he came to St. Clair County and there engaged in agriculture for the fol- lowing five years. He worked a farm on
Twelve Mile Prairie for ten years, and then moved to Freeburg, where he also farmed for the succeeding decade. In 1880 he bought sixty-one acres on Hazel Creek, onto which he moved and there resides at the present time. When he purchased the land it was entirely covered with timber and twenty acres still remain uncultivated. On March 18, 1860, Mr. Loebeling was married to Rosina Brown, a na- tive of Germany, where she received her edu- cation. To them have been born the following children: Henry, Edward, Theodore and George (both deceased), Emma and Kather- ine. In his church affiliations Mr. Loebeling is a Lutheran, and in politics he supports the Democratic party. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Henzer) Loebeling, were born re- spectively in Hanover and Nartan, Germany. His paternal grandfather was Ludwig Loebel- ing, who married a Miss Koeiltz, and his ma- ternal grandfather was Joseph Henzer, both natives of Germany.
LOELKES, (Dr.) George, a prominent and highly successful physician of St. Clair County, was born February 3, 1845, in Todenhausen, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, son of Jacob and Vilhelmina (Seibert) Loelkes, the former of whom was a native of Niederwetter, and the latter of Wetter, Hessen-Nassau, Germany. Af- ter passing through the public and high schools, Dr. Loelkes decided to study medicine, and for that purpose attended the universities of Marburg and Goettingen, Germany. In Feb- ruary, 1867, he came to the United States, and the following year graduated from the Hahne- mann Medical College, Philadelphia. He set- tled at Belleville April 19, 1868, and has estab- lished a fine practice there. In his political sentiments Dr. Loelkes is independent, voting for the candidate whom he considers most com- petent to hold office, while fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order.
On September 4, 1868, Dr. Loelkes was united in marriage to Emma Helff, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, her education having been ac- quired in the public schools of Philadelphia. Of this union the following children have been born: Alexander, subsequently a druggist by occupation, died in New York City at the age of thirty-three years; Ferdinand, Walter, Wil- helmine and Rudolph. On the paternal side of the family the grandmother, Christine Voel-
1067
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
kel, was born in Neiderwetter, Hessen-Nassau, Germany, all of the other immediate ancestors, both paternal and maternal, being natives of the same part of the empire.
LONG, George R., who in 1890 started a house- hold furniture establishment at No. 203 West Main Street, Belleville, and who now has a large local and country trade, is one of his adopted town's successful and honored citizens, as well as a representative of the stability and thrift of the sons of France. Born February 25, 1846, Mr. Long came to New York at the age of twenty-two, leaving behind him his par- ents, John and Pauline Long, agriculturists in sunny France. After a year in New York he journeyed to Chicago, remained a short time, and then secured a position as teamster and freighter on the plains. Still later he worked on the railroad in Illinois, and in the mines in Missouri and the vicinity of Belleville, for about eleven years. For the following ten years he was a traveling salesman for Kircher & Son, agricultural implement dealers, and in 1890, as stated, established a general house- hold furnishing business at 203 West Main Street. He now occupies four adjoining stores, as well as a large warehouse on Third and Spring Streets. His stock comprises all kinds of household furniture, including stoves, cook- ing utensils, pictures, wringers, washing ma- chines and sewing machines.
Mr. Long is an active Democrat, and fra- ternally, connected with the Masons, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and Knights and Ladies of Honor. On August 11, 1870, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Kimball, a na- tive of St. Francisville, Mo., and who is the mother of nine children: George A., Alice C., Nellie, Cora, Mary Louise, Pauline, Ernest, Eu- gene, and Francis Joseph. He has lately bought a handsome two-story brick residence at No. 117 East Fifth Street, and is in all regards,' one of the most substantial and honorable citizens of Belleville.
LOTZ, George, a leading merchant of East St. Louis, this county, was born in Germany in 1864. He attended the schools of his native place and acquired a fair common school edu- cation. At the age of fourteen years, how- ever, after he had read much of the history of the United States and pondered over its re- markable possibilities, he decided to emigrate
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.