USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 81
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PERROTTET, (Hon.) Louis (deceased), for- mer retired farmer of Belleville, St. Clair County, was born in Freebourg, Switzerland, March 29, 1843, and died at his home in Belle- ville, March 8, 1905. His father and mother, John and Mary (Pantillon) Perrottet, and his grandfathers, on both sides, Joseph Perrottet and Albert E. Pantillon, were all natives of Switzerland.
At the age of twelve years, Louis Perrottet came with his parents from Switzerland to St. Clair County, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Shiloh Valley. There he obtained some school instruction, and remained until September, 1863. Then he enlisted in the For- ty-third Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
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and took part in three engagements. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and returned to his father's farm, where he re- mained one year. He then moved with his father to a farm in Macoupin County, Ill., where he remained two years. Subsequently, (until November, 1900), he lived on a farm of 160 acres in Shiloh Valley, St. Clair County, which his wife had inherited from her parents, John and Elizabeth (Herdy) Knobeloch, who were pioneers in St. Clair County, settlers of 1830. Then he moved to Belleville, where he purchased a fine residence at the corner of Missouri and East Main Streets.
Mr. Perrottet served as Supervisor of Shiloh Township from 1871 to 1876; as School Direct- or sixteen years; and as Township Collector three years. He was elected a Representative in the Thirty-seventh General Assembly in 1890; served also in the Thirty-ninth General Assembly (1895-97), and in the Forty-first Gen- eral Assembly (1899-1901) ;- all of his public service being rendered as the choice of the Republican party.
Louis Perrottet was married in August, 1868, to Mary Knobeloch, who was born and schooled in St. Clair County. The children born to them were: Elizabeth (Mrs. M. Blab) ; Emma (Mrs. F. Clark); Sophia (Mrs. L. Schubert) ; Charles; Alvena (Mrs. E. Kelsey) ; Ida (Mrs. Robert Klengil); and Hilda. Religiously, Mr. Perrottet adhered to the Evangelical faith, and was a member of the G. A. R.
PETERS, Bernhardt M., was born April 21, 1880, in Belleville, Ill., a son of George and Fredericka (Harder) Peters, both of whom were natives of Germany. At the age of four- teen he had finished his schooling and began to work in the mine at Belleville, where he was employed until October 15, 1901, when he and Mr. Lattmann leased a coal shaft on Mrs. Biebel's farm, situated two miles south of town. They had a six-and-a-half foot vein, employed eight men, and had four teams, their output supplying the local market.
Mr. Peters sold his interest in the coal mine and formed a partnership with Mr. Bien, under the firm name of Bien & Peters, dealers in coal, lime, sand, cement and sewer pipe; they also do a general draying business. In religion Mr. Peters follows the doctrines of the Evangelical Church, while politically, he supports the Re-
publican party. On October 6, 1903, he was married to Albertina Thom, who was born and educated in Germany, and they have one child, Edwin Albert, wliose birh occurred February 16, 1904. Mr. Peters is one of the intelligent and energetic young men of Belleville, and possesses the high regard of all who know him.
PFEFFER, Christian J., one of the proprie- tors of the Pfeffer Milling Company, of Leb- anon, Ill., was born September 29, 1857, at Portsmouth, Ohio, where he received his edu- cation in the public schools. His parents were Christian and Margaret (Kuespert) Pfeffer, the former a native of Wurtemburg, and the latter of Baden, Germany. His father emigrated to the United States in 1849, locating at New York, where he remained about two years. He then made the long journey across the Western plains to California, making that State his residence for two years. At the end of that time he returned East by water, via New York, finally locating at Cincinnati, where his marriage occurred. In his youth he had learned the cabinet maker's trade, but after coming to this country he engaged in the dis- tilling business, being connected with one of the largest distilleries in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he continued in that business for fifteen years. In 1873 he came to Lebanon, St. Clair County, and there engaged in the distilling line until 1888, when he retired from active business life. He died February 18, 1897, the death of his wife occurring May 8, 1902. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Agnes, Christian J., Katherine, Louis L., Caro- line E., Margaret, Anna M., and Edward S.
In 1889 Christian J. Pfeffer, with his broth- ers, Louis L. and Edward S., organized the Pfeffer Milling Company, of Lebanon, in con- nection with which they operate a lumber yard and grain elevator, besides owning a large ele- vator at Summerfield. The capacity of the ele- vator is 200,000 bushels, and that of the mill, which grinds both wheat and corn, is 800 bar- rels per day. About sixty men, including thirty coopers, are employed in the business. In his church affiliations Mr. Pfeffer is an adherent of the Evangelical faith. Politically, he is in- dependent; is the present Mayor of the city (serving his second term) and is a member of the School Board. Fraternally, he is affil-
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iated with the Masonic Order and the Odd Fel- lows. He has been President of the Commer- cial Club of Lebanon. In 1881, Mr. Pfeffer was united in marriage to Anna Bachman, who was born Noveniber 19, 1859, in Lebanon, and there educated in the public schools. Of this union have been born two children: William C., and Agnes J. Henry Bachman, the father of Mrs. Pfeffer, married Magdalena Blass and both are now deceased. Mr. Bachman died June 26, 1904, and Mrs. Bachman November 19, 1898. They were well known residents of Leb- anon and highly respected.
PFEIFFER, Henry W., coal dealer of East St. Louis, and a native of the town in which he has achieved merited success, was born Novem- ber 3, 1861, and educated in the Howe public school. At an early day his parents, John and Christina (Rohm) Pfeiffer, of Germany, located at East St. Louis, where the father found em- ployment in the roundhouse as hostler and engineer, and where the balance of his active life was spent. Henry W., upon completing his education, engaged in the coal business as an employe, later establishing a trade of his own, and at present having a large and grow- ing business. He has been prominent in Re- publican ranks, and among other offices has lield that of Alderman of the Fifth Ward for three terms-from 1894 to 1896, 1898 to 1900, and from 1901 to 1903. His family consists of his wife (formerly Minnie Droz, of East St. Louis) and his two sons, Lester and Elmer.
PIAT, Alexandre, an industrious and highly esteemed farmer of St. Clair County, was born in 1842, being a native of France, where he ob- tained his education. Coming to the United States he first located at St. Louis, Mo., in November, 1866, and was there employed as a basket maker for six months. He then re- moved to Cahokia Bottoms, now French Vil- lage, and there purchased fifteen acres of land upon which he raised vegetables in summer, his winters being occupied in making baskets. He continued adding land to his original pur- chase until at present he owns 160 acres, with a fine 45-acre orchard. In religion Mr. Piat is a consistent member of the Catholic Church, and in politics supports the Republican party. In 1875 he married Josephine M. Lenoir, who was born'and educated in Lorraine, France,
and to them have been born the following. five children: Mrs. Amelia Padget, Alexandre L., Emil, Josephine and Leon.
POPP, Edward C., was born in 1867, near Lenzburg, St. Clair County, a son of Mathew and Emilie (Haas) Popp, both natives of Ger- many. He was educated in the public schools of the county, after leaving which he engaged in farming, a vocation that he has since fol- lowed with more than ordinary success. In his religious views Mr. Popp is a follower of the Lutheran Church, and fraternally, is affili- ated with the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He was married in 1896 to Emma Muselmann, who was born in Germany in 1877 and died a year after their union in 1897. Mathew Popp, the father of Edward C., came to this country in 1838, and located near Lenzburg, working on various farms until 1855, when he married and entered 147 acres of government land, the deeds for which were filed in the old Kas- kaskia court-house. He died in 1902, leaving widow and the following six children : a Henry (Mrs. Fredrica); Neunberger (Mrs. Christina); Winter, William, Mrs. Emily Ute and Edward. The latter now manages the home farm, where his mother resides witli him.
PORTUONDO, Buenaventura H., M. D .- A tal- ented and erudite member of the medical pro- fession of Belleville, Dr. Buenaventura H. Por- tuondo is conducting a large general practice in the town of his adoption, and is also further- ing its interests as a member of the United States Pension Board, as a member of the State Medical Society, and as the Secretary of the Belleville Medical Society. The training of the Doctor has been the best procurable in the United States, he having graduated from the Columbian Medical College of New York City in 1889, thereafter gaining extended experience in several of the largest hospitals of the east- ern city. He continued to practice in New York until coming to Belleville in 1897, for- tunately selecting a community which has ap- preciated his sagacity, his humane and large hearted tendencies, and his devotion to the best tenets of his life work.
Dr. Portuondo was born in the island of Cuba January 11, 1866, and in 1884 came to the United States to study medicine in New
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
York City. The members of his family have cherished high civic and professional ideals, and his brother was the second speaker of the House in Cuba. In the Cuban war his sympathies for his downtrodden people were practically demonstrated, for he sent out of his own private purse the first installment of medicines for use in the field, otherwise aid- ing the cause, from his vantage ground of ob- servation and information. He was an agent of the provisional government during the Rev- olution and the first Cuban Consul to St. Louis after the recognition of Cuban independ- ence by the United States Government. He was also one of the Cuban World's Fair Com- missioners at St. Louis. Throughout the war he was in close touch with his personal friend, President Palma, the head of the Cuban junta. Three of the Doctor's brothers also served in the army; and his counsel and advice were dictated by a patriotism as intelligent as it was loyal. The wife of Dr. Portuondo is a native daughter of Belleville, her girlhood name having been Josephine Thomas. She is a granddaughter of Governor Bissell. The mar- riage occurred in 1893, and there are three children in the family-Rita, Josephine, and Isabel.
POSTEL, George, Treasurer of the Ph. H. Postel Milling Company, manufacturers of flour, etc., Mascoutah, was born in Mascoutah October 11, 1852, a son of Philip Henry and Anna M. (Eisenmeyer) Postel, natives of Hass- loch, Germany, who settled in Mascoutah in 1840. He was educated in the Mascoutah pub- lic schools and at McKendree College, and learned the milling business under his father's instructions, and has been engaged in it con- tinuously to this time. He has been a Mason since 1880; is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church; and politically, is a Republican. He married, May 24, 1882, at Quincy, Ill., Me- dora T. Jansen, who was born there May 16, 1859, daughter of F. W. Jansen, a well-known furniture manufacturer of that city. They have children named Amelia J., Medora T., Philip H. and Fred William Postel.
POSTEL, John Philip (deceased), was born July 18, 1834, in Hassloch, Bavaria, Germany, a son of Andrew and Katherin (Schmitt) Pos- tel, the former a son of George and Katherine
(Gramlick) Postel, all natives of the kingdom named. At the age of fourteen (in 1848) John P. came with his parents from Germany to Mascoutah, where his father was a farmer un- til his death, which occurred when the youth was sixteen years of age. He remained on the farm a few years, and then was for several years in the employ of E. Bagby, a merchant at Mascoutah; subsequently was employed for a period of six years by Julius Scheve, who was at that time Postmaster and a merchant. On leaving Mr. Scheve he formed a partner- ship with Fred Matzenbach and Charles Kunz in the distillery business, which they operated for about three years. Later he was in the employ of his uncle, Philip Postel, at O'Fallon, for eleven years. In 1879 he built a corn mill at Mascoutah, which he operated until 1892, when he consolidated with the other mills of this section of the country. In 1899 he retired from active business life, but still retained an interest in the Postel Milling Company. He died at Mascoutah, February 28, 1905.
On December 6, 1856, John P. Postel was married to Alvina Scheve, a daughter of Julius Scheve. She was born in Sobernheim, Prus- sia, Germany, and educated in American public schools. The children born of this union are: Andrew; Amelia, who married Julius Postel; Alvina, wife of C. B. Gammon; Julia and Fred. In his political affiliation the deceased was a Republican, and served as Constable for two years, and School Director about four years. In his religious belief, he was an Evangelical Lutheran churchman.
POSTEL, Philip H., Sr., pioneer citizen and veteran manufacturer, Mascoutah, St. Clair County, was born at Hassloch, Rheinphalz, Ger- many, July 11, 1818, the son of George and Maria Katherina (Gramlich) Postel, who were natives of that country, where they passed their lives. Their immediate descendants con- sisted of a family of four children, of whom Philip H. is the only one now living. Of the three other children, two-Eva Catherine and Andrew-died of cholera, and Anna Margaret passed away in the parental home, at the age of seventy-four years.
Philip H. Postel received the customary com- mon-school education in the land of his birth. Although this was in the compulsory public schools of that period, he enjoyed the advan-
J. a. Whiteside
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
tage of receiving his training under the direc- tion of intelligent and competent teachers, who thoroughly understood their duties and discharged them with unselfish fidelity to the State and the interest of their pupils. Inspired by a laudable ambition to win fortune for himself, in 1841, before he had reached the age of twenty-three years, he came to Amer- ica, sailing from the port of Havre, France, on May 9th of that year, and landing in New York City on June 22d. After a short stay in the American metropolis, he went to Philadelphia by one of the first railroads constructed on this continent; thence journeyed (chiefly by canal) to Pittsburg, and then by river to St. Louis, the entire journey occupying some three weeks. From St. Louis he proceeded to Mas- coutah, with a view to visiting the Eisenmayer family, with two of whom he later became associated in business, while a third became a life-member of his family. He had antici- pated spending only a few years in America, but on November 20th of the same year, he engaged in business as the partner of Conrad and Philip H. Eisenmayer, who were then op- erating a grist and saw-mill at Mascoutah. At that time the place was only a village of eleven houses, and the mill with which he be- came associated was the first erected in Mas- coutah Township. Shortly after the formation of this business connection, the firm bought a water-mill in Monroe County, about four miles from the village of Red Bud, but this proved an unprofitable investment and the mill was sold in 1846.
During the first years of his residence in Mascoutah, besides attending to his duties in connection with the milling business, Mr. Pos- tel was giving evidence of his vigorous industry and enterprise by attending a night school one hour every evening, after working eigh- teen hours during the day, for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of the English lan- guage and thereby fitting himself for a wider sphere of usefulness. The result has been seen in his success in later years, and the wide range to which his business has grown. During his business career he has been associ- ated with five partners-two of them at two different periods-but at the present time has no business associates except his three sons. Their plant consists of three extensive mills, with a capacity for the manufacture of 1,000
barrels of flour per day, and the constant bus- tle resulting from the receipt of grain and the shipment of the manufactured product, makes it one of the busiest places in this locality. The mills are fitted with every device for the successful manufacture of wheat and corn products, and besides enjoying a large local trade, the success of the company is attested by extensive shipments to foreign markets. The company was formally incorporated in 1886, its present officers being Philip H. Pos- tel, Sr., President; Ph. H. Postel, Jr., Vice- President; George Postel, Treasurer; and Julius Postel, Secretary.
On September 4, 1842, Mr. Postel was united in marriage with Anna Maria Eisenmayer, the daughter of Philip H. and Anna Elizabeth (Haas) Eisenmayer, natives of Hassloch, Ger- many. Mrs. Postel was also a native of Ger- many, and came to America in 1840 with her brother Conrad, who later became one of Mr. Postel's first partners in the milling business. She died December 4, 1887, losing two chil- dren in infancy and leaving seven children who are still living, namely: Elizabeth, who resides with her father; Maria E., wife of Carl Schwalb; Philip H., Jr., also at home; George, who married Dora Jansen, of Quincy, Ill .; An- na, wife of John Fackt, of Mascoutah; Louise, wife of Boyd Cornick, M. D., of San Angelo, Texas; and Julius, who married Amelia, daughter of John P. Postel. In his political relations Mr. Postel is a zealous supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and in 1880 was elected on the Republican ticket as Representative from St. Clair County in the Thirty-second General Assembly (1SS1-82), proving himself a faithful and conscientious representative of his constituents; later, serv- ing on the board which had charge of the sub- division of St. Clair County into townships. At an earlier period he served, by appointment of the Governor, as one of the Trustees of the University of Illinois. In 1841 Mr. Postel be- came a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a relation which has since continued for sixty-five years, and now, in the evening , of his days, is enjoying the success of an in- dustrious and well-spent life, with the respect and confidence of the community in which he has so long resided, and in the advancement of the prosperity of which he has been so im- portant a factor.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
POWELL, T. H., who is foreman of the new mine started in April, 1904, by Joseph Randle and others at Belleville, this county, was born in the State of Missouri, in the year 1862. Mr. Powell has been connected with the coal min- ing industry since he was twelve years old, and has worked in a number of mines in dif- ferent parts of the country. He is a stock- holder in the mine whose operation he super- intends.
In 1886, Mr. Powell was married to Mary J. Lewis, who was born and educated in St. Clair County. They have three children- Thirza, Emma and Edwin.
POWELL, (Gen.) William H. (deceased), com- missioned Revenue Collector of the Thirteenth District of Illinois by President Mckinley in 1895, veteran of the Civil War, and former business man of Belleville, Ill., was born in picturesque Wales May 10, 1825, a son of William and Sarah (Griffith) Powell, natives of Monmouthshire, Southern Wales. The fam- ily crossed the Atlantic in a sailing boat in 1830 (the father having preceded them Au- gust 28, 1828) and located at Nashville, Tenn., March 30th, of the same year. Mr. Powell ·owed his education to the public schools of Nash- ville, and his first business experience to an iron foundry of that city, of which he even- tually became superintendent of works. For ten years he lived in Wheeling, W. Va., and afterward was employed in the iron works of Ironton, Ohio.
On August 1, 1861, Mr. Powell organized a company of soldiers from among his employes, called Company B, Second Regiment, Loyal West Virginia Cavalry, of which he was elected Captain, and which participated in sixty-nine engagements of the Civil War. On July 18, 1863, his valor received a check in the shape of a gun shot in his right lung, at the battle of Wytheville, Va., and he was left on the battle-field, as supposed, in a dying condition. Taken prisoner, he was confined in Libby Prison six months, his twenty-seven days in a dungeon terminating January 29, 1864, when he was paroled for thirty days in order to effect the exchange of Robert H. Lee. Returning to his command after this enforced absence, he was promoted, through Major-General George Crook and General Philip Sheridan, to Major, Lieutenant-Colonel. Colonel, Brigadier-General
and Brevet Major-General, and in the spring of 1865 was honorably discharged at Winches- ter, Va.
Returning to his former occupation in Iron- ton, Ohio, General Powell removed to Mason County, W. Va., in 1867, and while superin- tending the erection of a large nail works met with an accident which necessitated a change of occupation. Given the agency of the Stand- ard Cil Company and the Ohio River and Sagi- naw Salt Company, at 'Kansas City, Mo., he re- mained there for five years, locating then in St. Louis, where he held the agency of the American Central Insurance Company for one year. He then removed to Belleville, and in September, 1876, assumed the management of the Waugh Company nail works. The latter part of 1881, and the fore part of 1882, he spent in Chattanooga, Tenn., and upon return- ing to Belleville organized the Western Nail Company, erected the works, and remained the superintendent and general manager until 1891.
General Powell was prominent in Grand Army of the Republic circles, and in 1895 was elected Department Commander of Illinois. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion. Fraternally, he was connected with the Ma- sons and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. On April 29, 1879, he was united in mar- riage with Emma P. West, of Belleville, who was educated at the Monticello Seminary. Mr. Powell stood high in the estimation of his fellow townsmen, and his many admirable traits of character attracted to him distinguish- ed friendships all over the country. His ser- vices as Revenue Collector were characterized by the same thoroughness and regard for jus- tice noted in his business and military life. General Powell's life work was ended on De- cember 26, 1904, when he passed away at the venerable age of nearly eighty years.
PRICE, Thomas J., was born in Staffordshire, England, July 14, 1855, a son of Thomas and Jane (Bird) Price, natives respectively of Wales, and Staffordshire, England. His parents came to the United States when he was an infant, settling in Glendon, Pa., where they lived for three years, then returning to England and remaining there until Thomas J. was seven years old, when they again caine to the United States and settled in Madison
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
County, nine miles from Alton, where the fa- ther engaged in mining. Five years later the family moved to St. Clair County, and there Thomas J. has since resided, having been edu- cated in the common schools, with supplemen- tary courses at a night school. His parents are both dead and are interred in Walnut Hill Cemetery, Belleville. His paternal grandfather was Timothy Price, also a native of Wales, his maternal grandparents being Stephen and Maria (Shakespere) Bird, both of whom were natives of Staffordshire, England.
When but ten years of age Thomas J. Price began to work, and for fifteen years held vari- ous positions in the mines. When he was twenty-five years old he secured a position as agent for the Fairbanks Sewing Machine Com- pany, which he retained for one year, and was then employed in Belleville as agent for vari- ous sewing machines and agricultural imple- ments. He followed this line of work for about one year, and then (in 1889) began busi- ness for himself as a dealer in musical instru- ments and sewing machines. He is at present located at No. 15 West Main Street, next door to the postoffice, where he has been since 1889.
In politics, Mr. Price is affiliated with the Republican party, and in his religious belief is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he is connected with the National Union and the Good Samaritans. On October 4, 1893, Mr. Price was married to Anna Eckel, whose birthplace was Belleville, Ill., and there she received her education in the public schools. They have three children, namely: Florence, Alice and Edna May.
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