USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 87
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
supporters, and he has been particularly active among the young people, serving as President of the City Sunday School Union for two years, and as Sunday School Superintendent. His married life dates from March 9, 1892, when he was united to Jessie L. Prince, daughter of Dr. L. F. Prince, of St. Louis, and who is now the devoted mother of four children: Emma, John B., Arthur L. and Raymond C.
SIMPSON, Joseph, who is the proprietor of a saloon in Belleville, was born in 1874, in Free- burg, Ill., his father, Robert Simpson, being a native of Durhamshire, England. For eight years Joseph Simpson was engaged in painting at the Harrison Machine Works, and in 1898, he established himself in his present business on West Main Street. In 1899, Mr. Simpson was married to Lillian Hargrave, who attended school in St. Louis, which was her native city. They have two children, Arleigh and Vernon. Socially, Mr. Simpson fraternizes with the Red Men, Good Samaritans, and Eagles.
SIX, George, proprietor of a well-equipped machine shop in Lebanon, St. Clair County, was born in this place December 7, 1860, and here attended the village school. He is a son of Frederick and Eliza (Roth) Six, natives of Saxony, Germany. Frederick Six came to the United States in 1853, and spent some years in Lebanon, Pa. In 1858, he moved to Leba- non, Ill., and started a general repair shop for machinery, which he operated until his death, September 7, 1893. Since that period George Six, the son has conducted the business. The shop is furnished with a full outfit of modern machinery, and does all kinds of machine re- pair work.
In 1887, George Six was married to Jose- phine Buscher, who was born in Lebanon, a daughter of John and Caroline Buscher, and three children-Flora, Arline and Fred-have resulted from their union. Politically, Mr. Six is identified with the Democratic party, and socially, is a member of the K. of P. and Modern Woodmen.
SLADE, James Park, the popular and efficient Superintendent of Schools in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, from August, 1890, to Novem- ber, 1895; former State Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois, and
one of the most favorably known and highly reputed of Western educators, was born in Westerloo, Albany County, N. Y., February 9, 1837. He is a son of Leonard and Eliza (Park) Slade, natives, respectively, of New York and Connecticut. The birthplace of Leonard Slade, who was a farmer by occupation, was the same as that of his son James. The latter was reared on the home farm, passing his childhood years with his parents, brothers and sisters. In early youth he received his education in the public schools of his vicinity, and after finish- ing his rudimentary studies became a pupil at Fairfield (N. Y.) Seminary. He afterward supplemented this course by attending the Hudson River Institute, at Claverack, in the same State. His academic instruction having been completed, he applied himself to the task of teaching a country school for one year, boarding in the neighborhood of his work. He then removed to Belleville, Ill., near which place he taught school for another year.
In 1857, Mr. Slade commenced his career as a teacher in Belleville, where he was prin- cipal of one of the grammar schools until the summer of 1861. In that year he was elected principal of the Belleville High School, filling that position until 1867, when he was chosen County Superintendent of Schools. By election and appointment he acted in this capacity until 1878, in the fall of which year he was elected State Superintendent of Public In- struction. On retiring from this office, Mr. Slade received a letter, dated January 15, 1883, from Dr. Robert Allyn, President of the Southern Illinois Normal University, in which he wrote thus: "In most points, your adminis- tration of the office you now leave, in my opinion, excels any previous one, and equals almost the highest of Mr. Bateman, in his few best points. I am sure educators fully ap- preciate your work, and the whole people will have for it the highest regard, as time re- veals to them its meritorious character." At the end of his term as State Superintendent, Mr. Slade became President of Almira College, at Greenville, Ill., remaining in this connection until 1890, when he accepted the position of City Superintendent of the Public Schools of East St. Louis. State was 4 certificate awarded to Mr. Slade in 1864, and in 1873 the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Shurtleff College. He was appointed
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY:
by Governor Palmer a member of the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University, and upon the expiration of the first term was reappointed by Governor Beveridge. For a number of years he was Treasurer of the Illi- nois State Teachers' Association, and was one of the founders of the Southern Illinois Teach- ers' Association, of which he has served twice as President, and acted in the capacity of Sec- retary for a considerable period.
On July 13, 1876, at Steeleville, Randolph County, Ill., Mr. Slade was united in marriage with Ella Bowman, of Belleville, whose mother was a teacher for a number of years in the pub- lic schools of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Slade are the parents of one son-Leonard Tracy, born November 3, 1878. Politically, Prof. Slade has been a lifelong Republican, and an unswerving and influential advocate of the policies of his party. On the Republican ticket, he was elected to the positions of local and general Superintendent of Schools. In both capacities he made an enviable record for efficiency and fidelity. On the occasion of his seeking a re- nomination to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the representative Repub- lican newspapers throughout the State, as well as the nonpartisan press, were outspoken in their endorsement of his candidacy, and ex- pressed, in terms of unqualified praise, the popular appreciation of the signal ability and high conception of duty which marked his administration of that important and honorable function. In religious belief, Mr. Slade is an adherent of the Baptist Church, with which he has been connected since 1852. His life has been one of diligent and conscientious fulfill- ment of the obligations of duty, and his ami- able disposition and urbane demeanor have en- deared him to all who have been so fortunate as to enjoy his personal acquaintance.
SMILEY, E. H., President of the First Na- tional Bank of O'Fallon, St. Clair County, is a native of this place, where he was born May 24, 1865. He is a son of S. C. and Jennie (Simmons) Smiley, both of whom were born in this county. S. C. Smiley was born in 1841, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he relinquished that work. For a num- ber of years he was connected with the Charles Tiedemann Milling Company. He was one of the promoters of the Electric Light Company
of O'Fallon, of which he was manager for eight years. During the Civil War he served in the Union army, and was afterward a Representa- tive, for one term, in the State Legislature. Four of his children are still living, namely: E. H., Charles T., Josie M. and Jennie.
E. H. Smiley received his early education in Smith Academy of St. Louis, Mo., and later graduated from the St. Louis College of Phar- macy. Since 1894, he has been engaged in the drug business in O'Fallon. In September, 1903, he organized the banking institution of which he is President. The other officials are George W. Tiedemann, Vice-President; H. T. Bechtold, Second Vice-President; and W. R. Dorris, Cashier. The Board of Directors consists of E. H. Smiley, H. T. Bechtold, George W. Tiede- mann, A. B. Smiley, S. C. Smiley, Joseph Tay- lor, C. T. Smiley, C. E. Tiedemann and W. R. Dorris. Mr. Smiley is interested in the electric light plant here, and in Smiley Bros.' Tele- phone Company. He is a member of the Amer- ican Bankers' Association, and the Illinois State Bankers' Association. Politically, Mr. Smiley is a Republican, and socially, a member of the Masonic fraternity, (K. T.), Eastern Star, I. O. O. F. and other societies.
SMITH, Leon G .- The real estate, insurance and loan interests of East St. Louis are aug- mented by the energy and ability of Leon G. Smith, one of the younger generation of finan- cial aspirants who are furnishing intelligent and practical examples of success, and who, because of the nature of their occupations, must needs continue an important factor in the growth of the city. Born in Belleville, St. Clair County, Ill., in 1875, Mr. Smith was edu- cated in the common schools, and at the St. Louis Business College. In February, 1901, he embarked in his present business with his brother, Robert M. Smith, of whom he has since been a partner. His family has long been con- nected with the State, and his parents, John W. and Pearl (Moore) Smith, were born here, the former in Columbia, Monroe County, and the latter in St. Clair County. The elder Smith located in Belleville several years before the birth of his son, and still makes that town his home, his occupation being that of com- mercial traveler for a Belleville concern.
During the Spanish-American War Leon G. Smith served in Cuba as a member of Com-
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
pany D, Fourth Volunteer Infantry. On March 22, 1904, he renounced bachelorhood and married Maud Standing, who was born in St. Louis. Mr. Smith has no political aspirations, being a quiet and unassuming young man, intent upon making a success of his business and es- tablishing a reputation for progressiveness and thrift. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Protective Order of Elks.
SMYTH, James H., general foreman of the Pump and Skein Works, and the Belleville Stove Works, of Belleville, this county, was born in Ireland in 1841, and emigrated to America in 1862. Learning the machinist's trade in Auburn, N. Y., he became master mechanic with the Cairo & St. Louis Railroad Company, and at the expiration of four years became as- sociated with the Illinois & St. Louis Railroad in a similar capacity. His present responsi- bility was assumed in 1882, and since he has become a stockholder in the company. Mr. Smyth has a thorough knowledge of the stove manufacturing business, has the faculty of managing and getting the best service possible out of a large number of employes, and fur- nishes at all times an example of the conscien- tious, painstaking, and capable leader. His wife was formerly Miss Anna Gruner, of Au- burn, N. Y.
SNADDEN, Peter, merchant, of St. Clair County, was born in St. Louis, Mo., September 23, 1861, the son of Joseph and Margaret (Al- land) Snadden, natives of Scotland, who came to America in 1850, and settled in the county about 1865, where the father found occupation for a number of years as a coal miner. Mr. Snadden received his education in the Casey- ville schools, after which for a time he tried coal mining. He then learned telegraphy, but in 1885 decided to become a merchant, which business he has followed to the present time. In his political views, Mr. Snadden is a Repub- lican, and has been Alderman for Caseyville since 1890.
SNOWBALL, John J., was born near New- castle, Northumberland County, England, No- vember 22, 1830, and there received a public school education. His parents were John and Mary (Jackson) Snowball, the former of whom was born in Northumberland County, England,
the latter being a native of Walsend, England. When about twenty-one years old he came to America, landing in New York and later going to Pittsburg, Pa., where he was employed on the steamboats on the Ohio River. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-two came to St. Louis, where he worked on Mississippi River steamboats. A year later he became connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, while that line was in course of construction, and remained with it until the road was completed. He then became a resi- dent of Louisiana, there engaging in construc- tion work for a while and subsequently return- ing to St. Louis, where he was again employed on a railroad. He next moved to East Alton and there held the position of roadmaster for the Chicago & Alton Railroad for nine years. In 1872 he came to East St. Louis, where he was superintendent of the railroad construction work on the Eads bridge. Later he accepted a position as Superintendent of Railroad Tracks at the Stock Yards, which he held until 1893, when he retired from active life. In 1879 he built the residence in which he now resides, at No. 607 Summit Avenue.
In political belief Mr. Snowball is an active Republican and served on the School Board for six years, being a member of that board at the time the high school house was erected. The marriage of Mr. Snowball took place in 1857, when he was united to Honora Mulquiney, a native of County Claire, Ireland, in whose public schools, as a girl, she was educated. They had two children, of whom John J. died at the age of twenty-eight years. He was stock agent for the Chicago & Alton Railroad at the National Stock Yards and left a widow and two children. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Snowball was James Jackson, who was born in Walsend, England, and his paternal grandfather was John Snowball, also a native of that country.
SOLOMON, Charles C., general manager of the Union Dairy Co., East St. Louis, St. Clair County, was born May 14, 1868, in Saxony, Germany, son of Carl and Louisa (Henschel) Solomon, the former a native of Saxony and the latter of Austrian birth. His early educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Ger- many and at the age of eleven years he ac- companied his parents to the United States,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
they locating in St. Louis, where he resided for about five years. At the age of sixteen Charles C. went to Arkansas, where for the following ten years he was engaged in the fruit business. At the end of that period he returned to St. Louis, and entered the dairy business, on March 20, 1902, opening an establishment in East St. Louis under the name of the Union Dairy Co. He has six wagons, handles about 350 gallons of milk per day, and also does an extensive business in the manufacture of ice- cream. In his church affiliations, Mr. Solomon is an adherent of the Lutheran faith, in politics, he supports the Republican party, while fra- ternally, he is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. Mr. Solomon was married in June, 1891, to Louisa Hoffman, who was born and educated in Hanover, Germany, and to them were born the following five children: Arthur, Walter, Robert, Grace and Helen.
SONTAG, Edwin F., builder and contractor of Belleville, this county, and partner of Herman A. Faulbaum, was born in St. Clair County, Ill., January 1, 1863, a son of Nicholas and Mary A. (Clock) Sontag, natives of Alsace- Lorraine, Germany. Reared on a farm, Mr. Sontag remained with his parents until twenty- eight years of age, coming then to Belleville, where he learned carpentry and building from William Weimer, and thereafter was his as- sistant until April, 1902. Upon the retirement of the latter, he became the partner of Her- man A. Faulbaum, with whom he has since con- ducted a building and contracting business, and at the same time is operating a planing mill, which enables the firm to manufacture the greater part of their building materials. Mr. Sontag is an energetic and painstaking man, conscientious and obliging, and the quality of his work invariably leaves an impression of satisfaction. Through his marriage with Annie Hercler, October 17, 1894, five children have been born: Irene, Raymond, Ambrose and twin boys, Cornelius and Sylvester, who were born March 23, 1906. He is a Democrat in politics, and, with his family, is a member of the Catholic Church.
SOUCY, Prosper J., a leading real estate dealer and financier of East St. Louis, was born in St. Clair County September 30, 1868. He is a son of Clovis and Mary (Toupin)
Soucy, the former of whom was born in Canada, and the latter in this county. The paternal grandfather was Prosper Soucy, also a native of the Dominion. The maternal grandparents were Joseph and Mary (Ferry) Toupin, the former being born in Canada, and the latter in France. Prosper J. was educated in the public schools and at Bryant & Strat- ton's Commercial College, St. Louis, from which he was graduated after an eight-months' course. He then engaged in the grocery business at Centerville Station, where he remained until he was nineteen years old, when he located in St. Louis, being there connected with the Simmons Hardware Co. for nine years. . He' then came to East St. Louis and went into the real estate business, which he has since followed. In 1900 the East St. Louis Plumbing Co. was formed, of which he was made Secre- tary and Treasurer, with William Meeker as President and manager, and James Doughty Vice-President. In 1903 he became interested in the Donovan-Guignon Land Title Co., of which he is President, George W. Detharding being Treasurer, and E. A. Merz manager. This com- pany has offices in East St. Louis and also in Belleville, Ill. In 1904 he became interested in the Mississippi River Lumber Co., of which he is President; R. J. Whitney, Alton, Ill., being Treasurer; L. D. Abbott, of East St. Louis, Vice- President and manager, and Sadie M. Brown Secretary. He is also a director in the Union Trust and Savings Bank of East St. Louis.
On February 11, 1890, Prosper J. Soucy was married to Mary Eveline Sample, who was born in St. Clair County and there acquired a common school training. The following chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Soucy: Viola Blanch, Agnes Elizabeth, Mabel Gertrude, Prosper Dewey, Marcell Joseph, and John Clovis. In his church affiiliations Mr. Soucy is a Catholic, and politically, votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the K. of C., the National Union, and the Supreme Court of Honor.
SPOENEMANN, Charles, President and Su- perintendent of the Enterprise Foundry Com- pany, general jobbers and manufacturers of fine gray iron machine castings and stoves, of Belleville, is a native of Lebanon, Ill., and was born February 19, 1861. His parents, Lawrence and Ann M. (Schmidt) Spoenemann, were born
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
in Germany, and the father having died while his son was still an infant, the latter was taken to Belleville, where he was educated in the public schools. His industrial life began at the age of fifteen, when he learned the moulder's trade, and he contiued to work at it until he was twenty-six, when he formed a partnership with L. Opp and the Wiechert Brothers, and started the St. Clair Foundry. At the end of six years the partners sold their enterprise and bought an interest in the Ehret Foundry, afterward incorporated into the Enterprise Foundry, of the company controlling which Mr. Spoenemann is President and Superintendent, and of which Louis Opp is Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Spoenemann is a Republican and, fraternally, is a Knight of Pythias. His marriage with Annie Miller, of Belleville, oc- curred in April, 1884, and of this union three children were born: Annie, Emma and Louis. Mr. Spoenemann's second marriage has resulted in three children: Arthur, Cordelia and Ruth.
STAATS, L. N., National Secretary of the American Sociey of Equity, of Indianapolis, Ind., a farmer and stock-raiser of St. Clair County, and formerly a legal practitioner and State's Attorney of Madison County, Ill., was born in Jackson County, W. Va., in 1863, and was educated in the public schools and at Mc- Kendree College, Lebanon, Ill. His parents, Louis and Catharine (Fisher) Staats, who were born in West Virginia and Ohio respectively, came to Lawrence County, Ill., in 1864, settled on a farm, and reared their children to an appreciation of that useful and peaceful occu- pation. L. N., following natural bent, studied law in the office of Judge Horner, later entering the law office of Happy & Travous, at Edwardsville, Ill. Successfully passing the examination at Mount Vernon, Ill., in 1891, he was admitted to the Illinois bar, and in 1896 was elected State's Attorney of Madison County, serving one term. At the expiration of that time he purchased property in St. Clair County, erected a modern rural home, and since has engaged in stock-raising and general farming. For some months he has been one of the organizers for the American Society of Equity, of Indianapolis, is serving as National Secretary of the organization, and in this ca- pacity travels all over the United States on lecturing tours. He leads a busy and indus-
trious life, is a man of energy and resource, and is highly respected for his uprightness, versatility, and public spiritedness. Mr. Staats married Josephine Pyle in 1888.
STACK, Dr. John P. (deceased), formerly a physician and surgeon of high standing and re- pute in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, whose. brief career in his chosen vocation gave ample assurance of future distinction, and whose at- tainments and skill, extremely rare in one of his years, had already made his life a source of beneficence to large numbers of the afflicted and led to his recognition as an ornament to the medical profession, was born in East St. Louis on March 8, 1869. He was the son of Garret Stack, a man of upright character and strong personality, whose death occurred when the boy was quite young. The worthy mother of Dr. Stack still survives, and occupies the family residence at No. 617 Summit Avenue, East St. Louis.
In early youth Dr. Stack received his pri- mary education in the public and parochial schools of his native city. Subsequently he pursued a course of study in the manual train- ing school of the Washington University, St. Louis, from which institution he was grad- uated at the age of seventeen years. He then matriculated at the St. Louis Medical College, where, although he had received the highest averages in his studies and work during the entire course, he was not permitted to grad- uate until he had attained his majority. This fact brought him to the notice of Dr. Dalton, who was at that time at the head of the city hospital, and of Dr. Bernays, two of the most eminent surgeons of St. Louis. Their ac- quaintance was of material assistance to him when, after receiving his diploma, he applied for a position as interne in the hospital, and he experienced little difficulty in obtaining the desired post, and still less in reaching the first assistant's grade, which is the objective point of all internes, at that stage of their am- bition. On the termination of his assignment in the hospital, the management of the insti- tution was reluctant to dispense with so val- uable an assistant, and at the urgent solicita- tion of Dr. H. Marks and other friends, he remained there an additional year, during which period he was virtually in charge of the hospital. It is conceded that no occupant
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
of such a position in that institution, either before or since Dr. Stack's incumbency, was the recipient of such emphatic commendation from his superiors, as well as from the leading surgeons of St. Louis, as was he.
Longing for a broader and more active field of effort, Dr. Stack relinquished his hospital duties, and established himself in practice in his native city, ignoring the adage that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, and among his own kindred." The phenomenal reputation he had acquired for one so young had reached his home, and he had no sooner opened an office than patrons thronged it for treatment. He devoted his attention assiduously to the work before him, and successful results enhanced his prestige. Some time after the commencement of his practice, he became desirous of pursuing fur- ther investigations in bacteriology, and after frequent correspondence with Dr. Koch, the famous German scientist, determined to avail himself of the opportunities for this purpose afforded by some of the noted hospitals of Ger- many. This he did, although his visit was not confined to that country, but extended to the great schools of Ireland, Scotland, England, Belgium, France and Italy, meanwhile follow- ing a system of research proposed and regu- lated by Doctors Koch and Lorenz. The tour thus made as a votary of science, and with the high purpose of perfecting his preparation to aid in the mitigation of human suffering, was unfortunately destined to bring his useful and brilliant career to an untimely end.
Dr. Stack embarked for home in November, 1901. During the return voyage, on a very inclement night, he was hurriedly summoned from his berth to assist in the performance of a very difficult operation on one of the crew of the vessel. Together with the regular physi- cian, he labored for hours in this effort, and although they succeeded in saving the sailor's life, he contracted a severe cold while engaged in the task, and this resulted shortly after- wards in pneumonia, which was the cause of
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