History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 100

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Illinois > Union County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 100
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 100
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 100

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).

HENRY HARMES, physician and sur-

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geon, Dongola, was born September 12, 1825, in Berlin, Germany. He is of Greek descent, his great-grandfather being a native of Athens. His father, Christopher Harmes, was for many years in the German army, and in that country's war with Napoleon I, which lasted from 1806 to 1815, he was engaged in nearly every battle, receiving eight wounds, from the effects of which he died in 1838 or 1839, at an early age. The mother of our subject was Louisa Linden, who died when he was small. The parents were blessed with seven children, 'our subject being the fifth child of the family. He received his education in his native city, attending the Gymnasium and the University, at which latter institution he studied medicine three years, and for eight years was engaged in the practice of his profession in Berlin, being two years a practitioner in the Charity Hospital. In the fall of 1858, he sailed from Hamburg for America, and for a year traveled throughout the Union for recrea- tion and pleasure, and in August, 1859, he located at Jonesboro, Union Co., Ill., where he was married, on the 27th of the same month, to Alice Duschel, a lady of French descent. In the spring of 1860, he removed to Dongola, where he has since enjoyed a liberal practice. He is a member of the A., F. &. A. M., I. O. O. F., K. & L. of H. and G. T .. and is the medical examiner to the first three named and also to three insurance companies. He is also a member of the Anna Encampment, No. 91. Mr. and Mrs. Harmes are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living-Mollie T., Dora A., Henry, Otto, Albert, Nettie, Frank (de- ceased), Cornwell J. and Louisa. Subject and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is Republican in politics.

JACOB M. HILEMAN, farmer, P. O. Jonesboro, was born July 30, 1833, in Union

County, Ill., son of Peter Hileman, born in February, 1795, and died December 5, 1875. His father, Jacob Hileman, born July 20, 1762, died August 25, 1828, came to this county at an early day. His children have seen the country, which was then a wilder- ness, turned to a productive and prosperous land. Peter Hileman married Susan Miller, born February 19, 1801. Her father was an old pioneer named John Miller. She is yet living, with our subject, and is the mother of twelve children, of whom nine are now living. Our subject, Jacob M. Hileman, had but few chances to acquire even the rudi- ments of an education, as his services were needed on the farm, where he assisted his aged parent to provide for the family wants. He was joined in matrimony, September 23, 1865, in this county, to Miss Mary E. Kim- mel, born June 22, 1849, daughter of George W. Kimmel, an old pioneer. She is the mother of six sons, viz., George W., born September 1, 1866; Thomas J., born Decem- ber 13, 1869, died August 11, 1873; Bruno, born November 30, 1873; William, born September 10, 1875; Oliver, December 16, 1878, and Walter, born May 10, 1882. Our subject, Jacob M. Hileman, although no scholar, is a splendid farmer, and owns 382 acres of land. In politics, he is a Demo- crat.

FREDERICK JOHNSON. blacksmith, Dongola, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 12, 1822, a son of Henry and Hemke (Fredericks) Johnson, both Germans by birth. The parents were blessed with eleven children, five of whom were living at last accounts. Our subject received his early education in the schools of his native prov- ince, and in 1837 le commenced a four years' apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade. In 1851, he sailed from Bremen for New Or- leans. He came up to Caledonia, on the

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Ohio River, where he worked for two years at his trade. He removed to Dongola Precinct in 1854, bringing his smithing outfit with him, and has since run a shop in this place, where he does all kinds of black- smith work. He is recognized as being a very skillful mechanic 'in all kinds of iron and steel work. When he first came here, he purchased forty acres of land, which he has since increased to 1333 acres, which is partly operated by a renter. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, November 3, 1856, to Margaret R. Meisenheimer, born October 26, 1840, a daughter of Elias and Nancy (Davault) Meisenheimer. This union has been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living-Martha N .. born August 21, 1857: James H., November 31, 1859; Mary E .. August 25, 1860; John W., deceased; Margaret E., No- vember 23, 1867; Nancy J., February 12, 1869; William F., May 6, 1872; and Fred- erick L., September 25, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Baptist Church. He is an I. O. O. F., Dongola Lodge, No. 343. In politics. he is a Democrat.

NATHAN KARRAKER, farmer, P. O. Dongola. Among the substantial farmers of Dongola Precinct is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in this county January 12, 1827. a son of Dan- iel and Rachel (Blackwelder) Karraker. The father was born February 8, 1793, in Cabarrus County, N. C. He was a farmer, and died July 30, 1861. The mother was also a na- tive of North Carolina, born October 1, 1794, and died Angust 10, 1881. Ten chil- dren were born to them, six of whom are liv. ing, four boys and two girls. What little schooling our subject received in early life was gained from a limited attendance in the old subscription schools of Union County He worked for his father on the home farm until his marriage, which occurred May 25,

1854. He wedded Sarah Knight born March 31, 1834, in Montgomery County, Ind., daughter of John and Polly (kelley) Knight. Mr. and Mrs. Karraker ary 'he parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living-William J., born September 1, 1855, and died January 3, 1883; he had graduated in medicine at Keokuk, Iowa, and at the time of his death was engaged in the practice of his profession; he married Min- nie L. Montgomery. born January 20, 1859, a daughter of E. L. and Elizabeth Montgom- ery, and by her, who now survives him, had three children, two of whom are living, Owen O., born January 6, 1877, and William C., born July 26, 1881. Harriet A., born June 9, 1857, died February 24, - 1859. Joseph F., September 5, 1859; married, February 26, 1880, Georgiana Montgomery; has two children-Ella Viola, born December 18, 1881, and Earl, October 1, 1882. James A., born October 30, 1861; married, Novem- ber 26, 1882, Melissa A. Corzine, born Jan- uary 14, 1864, a daughter of R. B. and Sarah Corzine. Mary E., born March 10, 1864; married, September 11, 1881, to J. W. Keller, and has one child-Sarah A .. born August 7, 1882. John W., February 14, 1866; Daniel W., deceased; Francis M., July 1. 1869; Laura J., October 10, 1871; an infant; and Nathan T., born February, 1875. Mr. Karraker has farm property to the extent of 700 acres, besides property in the town of Dongola. He engages in general farming. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He has been Township Treasurer for twenty-two years of Township 13 south, and Range 1 east, and has settled many estates. Politically, he is a Democrat.

DENNIS KARRAKER, farmer, P. O. Dongola, was born in Union County, Ill., July 19, 1830, a son of Daniel Karraker (see sketch of Nathan Karraker, of this precinct).

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His ea ly education was meager, a limited attendance in the subscription schools of the counts having to suffice in that direction. H. worked on the home farm for his father, with whom the remained until he married. February 19, 1851, he wedded Nancy Hinkle, born April 10, 1830, a daughter of Philip and Sarah Hinkle. She died October 18, 1880. By her our subject had eleven chil- dren, eight of whom are living-Amanda J., born December 6, 1851, deceased; Wilbern, August 7, 1853; Cornelia. October 15, 1854; Marinda, April 19, 1856; Thomas J., No- vember, 27, 1857; Sandy, September 14, 1859; Isadora, June 15, 1861, deceased; El- bert J., December 15, 1862; Randolph, May 30, 1865; Harvey, October 5, 1867, and Isora, April 9, 1871, deceased. Our subject was married a second time, February 18, 1881, to Keziah Goodman, born May 8, 1832, a daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Jeffords, and widow of Henry Goodman. Mr. Kar- raker has a farm of 253 acres, which is given to general farming. He and wife are mem- bees of the Christian Church. He was one of the first Directors under the free school law, and served many years. In politics, he is a Democrat.

JOSEPH H. KUEGLER, restaurant, Don- gola, was born in the city of Hof, Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, March 2, 1853, a son of Joseph and Barbara (Trampler) Kuegler, both of whom are natives of the same king- dom, where they are at present living, the father being engaged as Superintendent of a Government railroad. The parents were blessed with nine children, eight of whom are living, six sons and two daughters, our sub- ject being the eldest of the family and the only representative in America. He received a good education during his six years' at- tendance in the common schools of his native place, which he supplemented by a three

years' course in the Mercantile College at Beyreuth, Germany, where he acquired a thorough knowldege of book-keeping and the various business branches. For a period of three years, he was employed by a whole- sale dry goods house at Muenchberg, Ger- many, and was afterward for a year a clerk in a cotton mill in his native town. He then worked in his father's office until he em- barked for America, October 3, 1872. He landed at New York, and for several months was engaged in farming in various States. In June, 1874, he removed to Pulaski County, Ill., and worked in the lime kiln of J. A. De Baun, and afterward in Morris, Root & Co.'s saw mill. [He was afterward, for several years, variously engaged, both in Cairo and Dongola, until April 11, 1883, when he opened a restaurant in the latter place, whichi he now runs, with the intention of increasing his storeroom and carrying a general line of groceries, etc. He was united in marriage, August 16, 1876, in Pulaski County, Ill., to Louisa N. Sexton, born September 24, 1857, widow of William D. Sexton (by whom she had one child -- Archibald, born October 22, 1875), and daughter of William G. and Mary Elizabeth (Wilson) Carter. Mr. and Mrs. Kuegler are the parents of three chil- dren-Charlie, born March 12, 1878; Agnes, November 16, 1880, and Henry, February 12, 1883. Mr. Kuegler is a member of the I. O. O. F., Dongola Lodge, No. 343. Politically, he is a Democrat.

EBENI LEAVENWORTH, deceased, was born in Camden, N. Y., October 16, 1811, a son of E. I. Leavenworth, a Presbyterian missionary, who died at Brownhelm, Ohio. Our subject was a lawyer by profession, and was engaged in practice in Chester and Sparta, Ill., having removed from Ohio in 1841. Finding that his profession was un- congenial to his nature, he turned his atten-

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

tion in another direction. He studied sur- veying, and came to Union County as assist- ant in running the line for the prospective I. C. R. R. While here, he purchased a tract of land, and laid out the town of Dongola. He was the founder of the old Novelty Works, and during his life was engaged in milling and merchandising, and was prom- inently identified with many popular and noble enterprises. He was married, in 1847, to Eliza S. Henderson, a daughter of John Henderson, a resident of Randolph County, Ill. She died in Chester, Ill., December 21, 1850, leaving one son-Charles. He was married a second time, January 1, 1856, to Alice M. Little, a daughter of Ebenezer Lit- tle, of La Salle County, Ill. She died in Dongola July 4, 1865. She was the mother of four children, all of whom died in infancy. Our subjec"'s third marriage occurred in 1866. He wedded S. Jane Galbraith, who sur- vives him. She was the widow of John Gal- braith, who was Sheriff of St. Clair County, Ill., at the time of his death. Her father, C. S. Burr, was a resident of the same county. He moved from Connecticut to Kaskaskia in 1817, bringing his bride with him to the wilderness. He afterward moved to St. Clair County, where he died. Ebeni Leavenworth died of pneumonia in April, 1877, leaving a widow and one child- Charles-who reside in Dongola. He was truly a self-made man, wide-awake in busi- ness matters, and full of enterprise and energy to the last. He was a man who did his own thinking, who governed his actions by a sense of right and justice, and who at- tained all his ends by high-minded and honorable means. Whatever he did was done with deliberation, and a consciousness that he was doing right. His hand was at all times extended to those in need, and the alacrity with which he rendered assistance

in all enterprises calculated for the public good are lasting monuments to his memory. Upon his tombstone is inscribed: " One who lived and died with an abiding faith in God and his fellow-men."

CALEB LINGLE, farmer, P. O. Dongola, was a native of Pulaski County, Ill., born October 15, 1820, a son of Daniel and Mar- garet (Cell) Lingle, natives of North Caro- lina; he of Cabarrus and she of Rowan County. The father was a farmer, and died in 1862, aged seventy-three years. The mother died March 5, 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The parents had nine children, five of whom are living- James, Nancy, Caleb, Betsey and Sally. Caleb's early education was received in the old schools of Union County, his parents having removed from North Carolina about 1816. He took up farming for an occupa- tion, and remained with his father until he married. March 9, 1843, he wedded Eliza- beth Keller, born August 2, 1827, a daughter of Absalom and Mary (Beggs) Keller. In August, 1862, our subject enlisted in Com - pany G, One Hundred and Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Jackson Nimmo. The regiment went into camp at Jonesboro and Anna, and were afterward sent to Co- lumbus, Ky., and were consolidated with the old Eleventh. They fought under Grant at Vicksburg, and were engaged toward the last in nearly an every-day fight. At Jack- son, Miss., our subject was seriously wounded, and was taken to the hospital at Vicksburg. He was mustered out at Mem- phis May 31, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Lingle are the parents of fifteen children, twelve of whom are living-Francis M., born January 2, 1846; John W., December 24, 1849; Daniel K., April 12, 1851; Leonora, May 14, 1854; Alexander, April 6, 1856; Mere- dith, February 13, 1858; Caleb, February

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27, 1860; Amanda E., April 5, 1862; James F., July 19, 1864; Mary L., Septem- ber 14. 1866; Paul, February 22, 1869, and William A., April 5. 1872. Mr. Lingle first purchased forty acres of land, which subse- quent additions have increased to 283 acres, which are given to general farming. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.

JAMES B. McCALLEN, bookseller and gardener, Dongola, was born in Hillsboro, Orange Co., N. C., May 17, 1812, the young- est son of James and Jane (Turner) Mc- Callen. The father was a native of the same county, born August 19, 1770, and was a farmer by occupation. He died at the age of seventy-five years. The mother died in Kentucky, aged seventy-nine. Six children blessed the married life of the old folks, two of whom are living-John E., who resides near Nashville, Tenn., and the subject of these lines. The latter received but a limited subscription school education, in Robertson County. Tenn., whence his parents had re- moved when he was about six years old. He assisted his father on the home place up to the time of his marriage, which occurred August 20, 1829. He wedded Lucinda Thompson, born March 3, 1813, in Robert- son County, Tenn., a daughter of John and Nancy (Walker) Thompson, natives of North Carolina. Shortly after his marriage, our subject moved to Grant County, Ky., where he purchased a farm of eighty acres. He sold in 1843 and came to Illinois, locating about three and a half miles from Dongola, on the old Metropolis road. With another man he entered eighty acres of land, and farmed his forty until 1851, when he dis- posed of it, and, with his family, removed to the State of Rhode Island, for the benefit of his own health and the education of his children. Here he remained for about three

years, and after a residence of several years in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, he returned to Dongola by way of water, late in 1864, and purchased a lot in the town, on which he at present resides. He also has other town property. He keeps a little nursery garden and also many swarms of bees, which contrive to give him sufficient trouble to keep him busily engaged in his old age. Adjoining his residence he has a store, where he carries a general line of books and stationery goods. In early years, Mr. Mc- Callen was actively interested in religious matters, and he first came to this country as a home missionary, establishing religious organizations throughout the then wilderness of Southern Illinois. Many churches to-day, whose members exceed a hundred in number, owe their present prosperous condition to his indefatigable labors in the days of their in- fancy. In later years, he has been an or- dained minister in the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, and his earnest sermons have been the means of guiding many a wayward traveler into the narrow path which leadeth to life everlasting. Mr. and Mrs. McCallen are the parents of eight children, four of whom are living-Francis M., born August 10, 1830; George W., October 9, 1832, died November 10, 1880; Louisa J., April 25, 1835, deceased; John C., March 17, 1837, deceased; James B., December 18, 1839; William M., August 5, 1842; Alexander F .. "February 25, 1846, deceased; and Freeman W., July 5, 1848. Our subject had five sons in the late war, and he himself served a year as Clerk to the Fifty-second Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Col. Grider. Mr. and Mrs. McCallen have been members of the Presbyterian Church for over sixty years. He is a member of the Good Templars' Lodge, and in polities has been a Repub- lican since the organization of the party. In L

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August, 1879, upon the occasion of the golden anniversary of the happy union of Mr. McCallen and his noble wife, a large concourse of friends gathered together to do honor to the venerable couple.

A. MEISENHEIMER, retired, Dongola, is a native of Union County, Ill .. born Feb- ruary 13, 1828, the youngest son of Moses and Christina (Fisher) Meisenheimer. The father was one of the worthy pioneers of Union County, having settled here in the year 1816. He came from Cabarrus County, N. C., where he was born December 7, 1795, a son of Abraham Meisenheimer, a native of Germany. He was a man that was univer- sally esteemed, and he served the people as Justice of the Peace and County Commis- sioner for many years. He lived here until his death, which occurred June 2, 1857. His noble wife survived him many years. She was also a native of North Carolina, born May 22, 1797, and departed this life May 4, 1876. The happy union of the old couple was blessed with ten children, five of whom still remain-Henry, Nancy, Malinda, Sally and Abraham, the subject of these lines. The latter received what little education the old subscription schools of this county afforded. His father needed his assistance on the home farm, and he remained with him up to the time of his marriage, which oc- curred March 2, 1854. He was united in marriage to Jane Sethman, born in Pennsyl- vania June 20, 1836, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Cotrell) Sethman, both of whom died when she was small. Shortly after his mar- riage, our subject went to merchandising in earnest, having previously in 1849 been en- gaged in that business on a small scale. For a few years he kept a small store a few miles northeast of Dongola, and in 1858 removed to the latter place, where he met with success. His business steadily enlarged and he was

actively engaged prosecuting its affairs up to the time of his retirement in April, 1882. At the latter date he turned his business in- terests over to his sons, and the present firm of Meisenheimer Bros. ranks among the leading merchants of Dongola. Mr. and Mrs. Meisenheimer are the parents of six children, five of whom are living-William S., born November 26, 1854; Mary I., Feb- ruary 6, 1858, and died December 28, 1880; Frank W., March 9, 1862; George A., March 23, 1865; Charles R., October 23, 1871, and Birdie B., January 9, 1874. Our subject has a good residence in Dongola, and also about fifty acres of land and twenty-four lots, all of which lie in the corporation. Politically, he is a Democrat.

SIMEON D. MILLER, farmer, P. O. Dongola, was born in Union County, Ill., July 15, 1849. His father, Dewalt Miller, was a native of North Carolina. He was a farmer by occupation, and was twice mar- ried, Sallie (Beaver) Miller, the mother of Simeon D., being his second wife. He died about 1868, and his wife in 1875. They were parents of fifteen children, eleven of whom are living. His parents removing to Pulaski County, Ill., when he was about five years old our subject obtained his early schooling in that county. He took up farming for an occupation, and has always been 'thus en- gaged. He has a good farm of 142 acres, forty-two of which lie in Pulaski County. He was united in marriage, September 16, 1869. to Susan Mowery, born August 1, 1850, a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Hartline) Mowery. He has a family of three children-Turner L., born December 11, 1870; Jasper N., September 18, 1873, and Olie I., August 27, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Republican.

FRANK NEIBAUER, miller, Dongola,

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was born in Furstenthum, North Germany, October 9, 1834, the eldest son of Nicholas and Johanna (Franke) Neibauer, Germans by birth. The father was a stone mason and cutter by trade, and died in his native coun- try at the age of about sixty-five years. The mother is still living in the old country. The parents were blessed with eight children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom are living excepting the youngest son. The early schooling of our subject was obtained in the common schools of his native place. At the age of fourteen, he commenced an ap- prenticeship to his father's trade, at which he worked until coming to America in 1854. He landed in New York June 22 of that, year, and for several years following was engaged at his trade and other work in various parts of the country. In 1858, he came to Don- gola, and worked at his trade, off and on, for a few years. He was married, in November, 1859, to Rachel Keller, who died December 28, 1875, the mother of seven children, five of whom are living-Jane, Henry, Sarah J., Lucinda and Frederick W. He was married a second time, in March, 1877, to Mary Craver, by whom he has one child -- Dolly E. Shortly after his first marriage, Mr. Neibauer engaged in farming, and he still has a farm of 300 acres in Dongola Precinct, which is operated by renters, and on which he has one of the finest sandstone quarries in this section of the country. In 1874, in partner- ship with Joseph Schlegel, he purchased a mill in Dongola, which was run nine months when it burned. He purchased the interest of his partner, and shortly afterward built his present mill, which he has since operated. It has a run of four buhrs, which turn out from 75 to 150 barrels per day. Mr. Nei- bauer is an A., F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of H., K. & L. of H., and is also a member of the Anna Encampment, I. O. O. F. He

and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the present (1883) County Commissioners of Union County, and in politics votes the Republican ticket.

JOHN OVERBAY, teamster and farmer, P. O. Dongola. Nicholas Overbay, the father, was born in Virginia, lived there until his marriage, and then moved to Tennessee, where his first wife died. He then married Miss Mary Campbell, the mother of John. Our subject was born in Tennessee July 18, 1827. ' His parents left Tennessee when he was about five years old, and came to this State, settling first in Williamson County. Remaining there three years, the father then went to Saline County, where, in about a year from the time he moved, he was killed by falling through a hatchway. His mother then married a Mr. Pistol, and our subject was soon put to work by his step-father, and although he remained there until he was six- teen, he was only permitted to go to school about three months. Then, starting out in life, he first went to Hardin County, and worked three years for a man there. The next two years he worked for different par- ties, and at the age of twenty-one he came back to Gallatin County, and remained there about eight years. In 1868, he came to Dongola, Union County, where he has since resided, and now follows teaming and gar- dening; was a soldier in both the Mexican and civil wars, enlisting in the former in 1847, in an independent company commanded by Col. Lawler; enlisted in the latter; was in the One Hundred and Twentieth Regi- ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Mc- Kaig, Company D. Capt. Pillar, August 16, 1862, and remained out three years and four months; was married, in 1844, to Martha Jane Gates, daughter of Esquiro Gates, of Gallatin County. She is the mother of eight children, seven of whom are living -

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 100

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948