USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 78
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1073
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
was defeated by a very small majority, the county going 1,200 against his ticket.
On October 28, 1875, Mr. McConaughy mar- ried Lucy Thomas, born and educated in Belle- ville, and of this union the following children have been born: Malcolm M., Thomas W., John W., Donald K., Elizabeth, Kenneth A. and Helen. Mr. McConaughy's career has been char- acterized by adherence to the best tenets of his profession, by fairness to clients, and bet- ter government for the city. He is respected and liked for his many desirable personal quali- ties, for his optimism, tact and moderation.
MCCRACKEN, Robert X., M. D., Coroner, East St. Louis, is a son of Robert and Cora (Illinski) McCracken, and was born in the historic vil- lage of Cahokia in 1864. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School at St. Louis, at Jeradon, at Jesenett, at Valparaiso, Ind., and at Foster's Academy, a commercial school in St. Louis. He studied medicine at the St. Louis Medical College, and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1890. He began the practice of his profession at Cahokia and practiced successfully there and in Fayetteville, Ill., un- til he came to East St. Louis. Dr. McCracken is a lineal descendant of some of the most es- timable of the pioneers of St. Clair County. He is a grandson of Robert and Arthouts (Jarrot) McCracken, early settlers at Cahokia, where his grandfather had a distillery. After the death of Grandfather McCracken, his widow married Dr. Brackett. Robert McCracken, son of Robert and father of Dr. Robert X. Mc- Cracken, was married early in life to a woman who soon died childless. His second wife was a daughter of the celebrated Dr. A. X. Illinski, and her mother, Ophelia Lebur, was the widow of Dr. Butler when she married Dr. Illinski. Dr. McCracken's father was educated for the law, but gave attention to business, merchandising at Cahokia and East St. Louis. As a gold- seeker in California he achieved considerable success. He died when Dr. McCracken was four years old and his widow married C. W. Droit. Dr. McCracken's office is at 229 Collinsville Avenue, his residence at 542 North Fourteenth Street.
MCCULLOUGH, Ralph Eugene, tea and coffee merchant, of Belleville, Ill., was born in that place March 31, 1877, the son of James W. and
Callie Mccullough, natives respectively of Flori- sant, Mo., and Springfield, Ill., who came to Belleville in the 'sixties, where the father be- came bookkeeper for the nail works. He was also City Clerk for a period of ten years.
Mr. Mccullough received his education in the Belleville and St. Louis high schools, and aft- erward was employed in a brokerage office in St. Louis for the sale of tea and coffee, in which line he continued for six years. In the spring of 1897 he opened a retail tea and cof- fee store in Belleville, where he likewise made a specialty of roasting coffee to suit the fas- tidious tastes of his many customers. Mr. Mc- Cullough is agent for the "St. Louis Republic" in Belleville, and is also Secretary of the Rinck Manufacturing Company, whose special patent, a cylinder attachment for threshing machines, he is selling.
McDADE, K. W., was born in Mississippi in the year 1878, being a son of J. C. McDade, also a native of that State. He received a public school education and in 1903, with H. E. Ecker and W. N. Rose, purchased the poultry business formerly owned by A. E. Ayers. The firm conducts a general poultry business, mak- ing a specialty of raising fowls for the mar- ket, and at present own about 200 hens. Mr. McDade came to Belleville about a year ago, prior to which time he was in the employ of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company, and was also connected with Nelson, Morris & Co. as book- keeper.
McGEEHON, Brice, late Postmaster at O'Fal- lon, St. Clair County, was born in this county in 1855, and obtained his early instruction in the common schools. His father, James K. Mc- Geehon, was a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and his mother, Rebecca (Scott) McGeehon, a daugh- ter of Whitfield Scott, was born in St. Clair County. The former came to this county in 1846, and followed the carpenter's trade for some time. He subsequently practiced med- icine for forty years.
Brice McGeehon worked on a farm until he was eighteen years old, and was afterward em- ployed as clerk in a store for thirteen years. He was then engaged in the merchandise busi- ness in company with A. D. Bunsen and S. E. McGeehon, but retired from this connection, after two years, on account of his health. He
IO74
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
received his appointment as Postmaster from President Harrison, was reappointed under the Mckinley administration, and is at present in the retail shoe business. Naturally, he is a Republican in politics, and has served on the Village Board and Board of Education. In 1895 Mr. McGeehon was married to Susan Weil, who was born in this county, and is by him the mother of Oral May.
McGOWAN, John T., was born October 27, 1865, in St. Louis, Mo., and was educated in the public schools of that city. At the age of fifteen he began as an apprentice in the boiler- making trade, at which he worked for eleven years. On October 15, 1890, he established the "McGowan Hotel" at No. 8 St. Clair Avenue, just opposite the National Stock Yards. His hotel is a large, roomy building containing twenty-five rooms. In politics he is a Repub- lican and has been a leader in his precinct since first starting in business in his present locality. He has served as judge of election since 1900.
Mr. McGowan was married February 7, 1890, to Elizabeth Crake, who was born in St. Louis and educated in the public schools of the city. They have two children-Mary, born in Septem- ber, 1892, and Joseph, born in August, 1900. Mr. McGowan is a son of Michael and Winnifred (Heffren) McGowan, both of whom were born in Ireland.
MCINTYRE, Thomas N., a prosperous and well- known farmer of St. Clair County, was born in in 1858, in Randolph County, and there edu- cated in the district schools. His grandparents, John and Margaret McIntyre, both of whom were natives of Scotland, located in Randolph County, Ill., of which they were among the earliest settlers. The grandfather was em- ployed by the Hudson Bay Company as a guide, hunter and trapper. The parents of Thomas N. were John and Catherine (Murphy) McIn- tyre, the former of whom was born in Paisley, Scotland, the latter's birth occurring in Belfast, Ireland. Thomas N. McIntyre has always been engaged in farming, spending most of his time on his father's estate in Randolph County, but on September 1, 1890, he bought eighty acres of land in St. Clair County, bordering on Ran- dolph County, and within one mile of his birth- place. By industry and economy he has made
a success of his life and has secured enough of this world's goods to be able to retire from active work on the farm which he still owns and manages. He was married in 1882, but be- came a widower by the death of his first wife in 1899. On October 23, 1902, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Jennie McNabany, who was born at Fort Dodge, Ill., where she obtained her education.
McKINZIE, John, farmer and pioneer resident of St. Clair County, was born in South Caro- lina in 1823, and came to St. Clair County in 1844, and has resided there continuously ever since, his home for the last thirty-four years being on his farm adjoining the city of Belle- ville. He was married in Belleville, June 18, 1853, to Margaret Phillips, and they celebrated their golden wedding on June 18, 1903. In No- veinber, 1906, Mr. McKinzie celebrated his eighty-third birthday, the event being partici- pated in by his wife, three daughters, two sons, twenty-four grandchildren and two great-grand- children. His children are: James McKinzie, of Williamson County; Mrs. J. Cahoe, of Madi- son; Mrs. Beinbrinke, Mrs. Otto Nagel and Isaac McKinzie, of Belleville.
McLEAN, Richard, former real estate and liquor dealer of East St. Louis, and now rep- resenting the firm of H. S. Taylor & Company, of Rochester, N. Y., is a native of Ireland, and was born in October, 1830. Coming to the United States in 1852, Mr. McLean lived in Newark, N. J., and New York City for ten years, removing then to Macoupin County, Ill., where he operated a farm for four years. His next home was in Nokomis, Montgomery Coun- ty, Ill., where he engaged in the liquor busi- ness for thirty years, and whence he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and continued his former oc- cupation for three years, at No. 330 Broadway. Since then he has engaged in the real estate business on a more or less extensive scale, and at present represents the eastern firm above men- tioned. In 1857 he was united in marriage with Sarah Boyle, of Newark, N. J., and of the union six children were born: John R., Dr. William H., Julia, James, Martin and Nellie. Mrs. Mc- Lean died in 1883, and Mr. McLean married Kate Cummins, of England, in 1889. In polit- ical affiliation Mr. McLean is a Democrat, and in religion a Roman Catholic.
1075
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
MEEK, Andrew James, a leading citizen of Marissa, Ill., and one of the most substantial and successful merchants of St. Clair County, was born in Randolph County, Ill., July 27, 1840. He is a son of William and Polly Ann (Borders) Meek, natives of South Carolina. Maj. Andrew Borders, great-grandfather of An- drew J. (a record of whose career appears else- where in this volume), was conspicuous among the pioneers of Illinois. William Meek was a . farmer by occupation, and was also engaged in merchandising. He was a man of sterling char- acter and strict probity, provident, diligent, per- severing and justly charitable. His daily life was governed by the dictates of duty, and he enjoyed the respect of all with whom business or social relations brought him into contact. He was regarded as an exemplary member of the community. In political affairs, he was a supporter of the Whig and Republican par- ties. Religiously, he and his worthy wife were adherents of the Presbyterian faith, and were zealous in their devotion to the work of the church.
In early youth Andrew J. Meek obtained a good education in the public schools, and made himself serviceable on the paternal farm, and in connection with his father's store. When a mere lad he was accustomed to accompany his father to market, and while still in his "teens," drove a peddling wagon to St. Louis. After attaining years of maturity Mr. Meek devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising, in which occupation he continued successfully for several years. In 1871 he located in St. Clair County and entered into the general merchan- dise business, dealing also in grain. This en- terprise he carried on in association with M. W. Borders, under the firm name of Meek & Borders, which was dissolved at a later period. After the dissolution of the above-mentioned partnership, Mr. Meek engaged in the grain and milling trade, which he has followed for twenty-five years with exceptional and pro- nounced success. In this line of operation he now stands at the head in his locality. The results achieved by him are almost phenomenal, and have gained for him a position of affluence. During his entire business career, he has been located within four miles of his birthplace.
On December 3, 1863, Mr. Meek was united in marriage, in Randolph County, Ill., with Mary Rutherford, of Scotch parentage, who was
born in that county in 1843. She died March 15, 1870. Two children resulted from this union, namely : William, born November 24, 1864; and Thomas, born November 7, 1866. The mother of these children was a woman of noble character, and a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. None named her but to praise. William, the eldest son, is the father of a daughter, Beryl, nine years of age; and his brother, Thomas, has three children-Fred- erick, Margaret and Gertrude, aged nine years, six years and three years, respectively. On March 30, 1871, Mr. Meek was wedded to Eliz- abeth Aiken, of Randolph County, Ill., who was born March 15, 1842. Mrs. Meek is also a most estimable woman, an earnest adherent of the Presbyterian faith, and a faithful and devoted wife and mother. To the second mar- riage of Mr. Meek were born four children, as follows: Minnie Frances (Mrs. Bryan), now thirty-three years of age; Clara Belle (Mrs. Varnes), aged twenty-nine years; Norton, aged twenty-six, who is married; and Margaret (Mrs. Hanna), aged twenty-four years. Mrs. Bryan is the mother of two daughters, one twelve years old, and the other aged nine years. William Meek, the eldest son, is the owner of a one-half interest in the Meek Mill- ing Company, of which he is manager. He is a man of superior business capacity, excellent judgment, and tireless energy, and is consid- ered one of Marissa's most enterprising and valuable citizens. Thomas Meek, his younger brother, also a man of sterling business quali- ties and vigorous methods, is identified with extensive coal interests, owning 900 acres of mining property. In politics, Mr. Meek was a supporter of the Republican party until 1889. In that year he became a Prohibitionist, and has thus far been mainly instrumental in pre- venting the establishment of saloons in Ma- rissa, a town of 3,000 population. Religiously, he is prominently identified with the Methodist Church.
Andrew J. Meek has led a very active and busy career, but nevertheless has found time to indulge in occasional recreation, and has trav- eled widely in the United States and Central America. He is a man of large public spirit, and has been a steadfast and earnest promoter of all sound and wholesome public measures. He is a firm friend of the cause of education, and a generous contributor to all worthy chari-
1076
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
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ties. The lives of few men have been so close- ly interwoven as his with the growth and wel- fare of Marissa, a town in which he built the second dwelling house. He is a man of ample fortune, amassed through his own exertions, and, in addition to extensive and valuable coal interests, he is the owner of a number of fine farms, aggregating in area from 700 to 800 acres. Mr. Meek is considered one of the truly representative business men
of Southern Illinois.
MEEKER, William, President of the East St. Louis Plumbing Company, was born May 15, 1861, a son of Samuel O. and Catherine (Hooh) Meeker; the former was born in New Jersey and the latter, in St. Louis, Mo. William ob- tained his education in the public schools and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to the trade of plumbing, in St. Louis, continuing thus employed for ten years. For the following four years he was in business independently and then removed to East St. Louis and engaged in plumbing contracting. He continued alone until 1899, when P. J. Soucy was admitted into partnership and elected Secretary and Treas- urer. The East St. Louis Plumbing Company now does two-thirds of the plumbing work in East St. Louis and employs throughout the year from twenty to thirty experienced men.
Mr. Meeker is a Republican in his politics, and socially, is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. On June 30, 1879, he was united in marriage to Flor- ence Doddy, who was born in Gillespie, Ill., where she received a public school education. The following children have been born to them: P. W., Florence Easter, Harry, Anna, James, Catherine, Ruth, Prosper, and Theodore.
MENG, John, who follows the occupation of a farmer in Prairie Du Long Township, St. Clair County, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, March 19, 1827, and was a pupil in the public schools, both of the fatherland and the United States. His parents, Conrad and Eliza- beth (Mueller) Meng, were natives of Hesse- Darmstadt. Conrad Meng came to the United States when his son John was ten years of age, and settled in St. Clair County. He bought a tract of land consisting of about twenty-four acres, situated in what is now Prairie Du Long Township, and on this farm he died when the
son was fifteen years of age. John Meng then left home, and lived with his brother-in-law for ten years, largely engaged in the dealing of cattle. When he first left home he learned the saddler's trade, which, however, he never followed. Finally he bought a farm of 128 acres in Prairie Du Long Township, and has re- sided on this property ever since. For two years he served as School Director.
John Meng was married January 9, 1853, to Mary Peter, who was born and schooled in Car- lisle, Pa. Seven children resulted from this union, as follows: Louis F., George J., Anna E., Wesley H., Henry, Emma C., and Cora Louisa. Politically, Mr. Meng is a Democrat. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran Church.
MENGES, Louis, was born in St. Louis in 1861, his preliminary education being acquired in the public schools, supplemented by a course in the Jones Commercial College. His parents are Louis and Carolyne (Becker) Menges, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1854 and engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi River, but later went into the hotel business. His son Louis followed railroading for nine years, and from 1885 to 1887 engaged in the liquor busi- ness in East St. Louis. In 1892 he was ap- pointed Steward of Joliet prison under Gover- nor Altgeld, a position which he held for three years, when he resigned and returned to East St. Louis, there starting the "American Hotel," of which he is still proprietor. Mr. Menges is a Democrat in politics, and has been County Supervisor from East St. Louis, Chairman of the Democratic Committee for six years, and Alderman from the old Second Ward. Frater- nally, he belongs to the order of the Eagles. In 1888 Mr. Menges was married to Miss Mar- guerite Canty, a native of St. Louis, and two children have been born to them, namely: Louis J., and Eugene V.
MERCK, Charles (deceased) .- Charles Merck, Jr., was for many years proprietor of a bakery established by his father, Charles Merck, Sr., in 1835, and which since has uninterruptedly catered to the needs of the people of Belleville. The junior Merck was born July 28, 1837, in Belleville, and was one of the city's most hon- ored and upright citizens, being loved by all
1077
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
who knew him, both in a social and business way. Charles Merck, Sr., and his wife, Louise (Knoebel) Merck, were both born in Germany, coming to this county at an early day. In 1835 the former started in the bakery business with a very small capital on South Illinois Street, but by careful management, energy and a de- sire to please, he soon overcame any obstacles which beset his path. In its early history this establishment was noted for its excellent qual- ity of ginger-bread and cider with which Mr. Merck served the public, as many of the older inhabitants of Belleville well remember. In 1845 the elder Merck moved his establishment to No. 24 West Main Street, its present loca- tion, where he trained his son to be an excel- lent baker, and to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and purity.
Charles, Jr., developed practical business qualities, and upon succeeding to the bakery not only retained the old trade, but added greatly thereto. In the early 'sixties Charles Merck, Jr., was married to Margaret Kessler in Belleville. Of this, the first union, there were born eight children: Louise, now Mrs. Graf; William P., who died in October, 1903, leaving a widow and one child; Bernhardt; Bertha; George; Fredoline; and Ella and Freda (twins)-the former now the wife of Dr. Bechtold, of Freeburg, Ill. On March 10, 1881, he was again united in marriage to Eugenie Bechtold, who was born in Belgium, and of which union there were three children: Eu- genia and Freda, who reside at home; and Herman, who is attending Washington Uni- versity (dental department), at St. Louis, Mo. Politically, Mr. Merck was a Republican, and served two years as Alderman from what was then the Third Ward. Fraternally, he was an honored member of the Masonic order, and was also a member of St. Paul Evangelical Church. His death occurred October 13, 1901, and cut short a career still rich in promise. The bak- ery business at No. 24 West Main Street has since been very carefully and successfully man- aged by his widow, Mrs. E. C. Merck.
MERKER, Henry F., City Engineer of Belle- ville, this county, was born in that city in 1877. His father and mother, Louis P. and Anna (Schneider) Merker, were natives of St. Clair County. Louis P. Merker was toll-gate keeper on the Lebanon Road for twenty-eight years,
and served also as City Weighmaster and Mar- ketmaster. Henry F. Merker was a pupil in the Belleville high school, from which he gradu- ated, and subsequently pursued a course of study in the engineering department of the University of Illinois, from which he was grad- uated in 1898. He afterward followed railroad work, and was construction engineer for the St. Louis, O'Fallon & Lebanon Electric Rail- road, when the line was being built. Since May 2, 1904, he has served as City Engineer of Belleville. Fraternally, Mr. Merker is affili- ated with the A. F. & A. M., K. of P., and M. W. A.
MERTZ, Frank Frederick, was born April 10, 1876, in East St. Louis, a son of John and Catherine (Ammon) Mertz, both of whom were natives of Germany. His early education was obtained in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen he started to work in the rolling mills where he remained one year. He then be- came an apprentice in the tinner's trade, being employed by the C. Hauss Hardware Company, with whom he remained eight years. Later he became associated with the Barbour Hardware Company, in which he became a stockholder and was elected Vice-President. On Septem- ber 15, 1904, the Barbour Company was merged with the Illinois Hardware Company, and since that time Mr. Mertz has served as Second Vice- President. He is a Lutheran in religious be- lief and, in politics, a Republican. On Novem- ber 26, 1898, he was married to Miss Catherine Schmidt, who was born in Belleville, and there educated in the public schools. Their children are William Norman and Harvey.
MESSICK, (Hon.) Joseph B., one of the most able and prominent lawyers of Southern Illi- nois, and an honored and highly esteemed resi- dent of East St. Louis, St. Clair County, was born in Macoupin County, Ill., January 29, 1847. He is a son of Joseph W. and Sarah E. Messick, natives of Kentucky. Joseph W. Messick was a farmer by occupation, and a man of notable industry, sound judgment and sterling charac- ter. In boyhood the son, Joseph B., made dili- gent use of the opportunities for instruction afforded by the public schools of his neiglibor- hood, and spent his early youth on the home farm, assisting his father in its operation until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He
1078
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
then applied himself to teaching school for three years, meanwhile reading law. When twenty-four years old he was admitted to the bar and for one year practiced his profession in Carlinville. At the end of that period he established his office in East St. Louis, where he has since continued, with constantly in- creasing patronage and prestige. Through his optimistic temperament, affable disposition and genial demeanor, he has won hosts of friends in both professional and social circles, and is one of the most popular men in his section of the State. During the Civil War, Judge Mes- sick served as a private in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
On January 1, 1885, Joseph B. Messick was united in marriage with Sarah P. Woods, a daughter of James A. Woods, of East St. Louis. One son, Joseph B., an interesting and promis- ing youth of eighteen years, is the result of this union. He is a graduate of the Smith Acad- emy, St. Louis, and is now a student in the law department of the University of Illinois.
Politically, Judge Messick is a lifelong ad- herent of the Republican party, and is one of the potent factors in its State organization, wielding an influence which is perhaps second to that of no man in Southern Illinois. To the interests of that party he has steadfastly de- voted his ability, time and financial resources. He was appointed Judge of the City Court of East St. Louis in 1875, and filled that position with signal ability for four years. In 1882 he was elected to the Legislature, was re-elected successively in 1884 and 1886, and served, to the satisfaction his constituents, in the
Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth
General
Assemblies.
In
January,
1889,
was
he appointed Commissioner £
of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary at Chester, con- tinuing in this office until 1893, when the State administration became Democratic. He was reappointed to the position by Governor Tan- ner in 1897, and resigned April 1, 1901. In fra- ternal circles, Judge Messick is identified with the G. A. R., M. W. A., K. of P., D. O. K. K. and B. P. O. E. His extensive and lucrative law practice is conducted in offices located in the Adele Building on the corner of Broadway and Main Streets, East St. Louis. He is widely recognized as a man who reflects honor upon the community of which he has been so long a power.
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