History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 74

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 74
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 74
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 74

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).

and employs several skilled workmen in manu- facturing. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has a family of eight children, viz .: David Black ; Betty, wife of S. Rosenstein ; Fannie, wife of Samuel Rosenwater, of Cairo ; Sarah Rosenwater, of Sikeston, Mo .; Herman H., lawyer and ex-member of Illinois State Legis- lature ; Lewis, Marx C. and William E. Black.

BYRON F. BLAKE, merchant, Cairo, Ill., was born November 21, 1848, at Kensington, N. H. His father, Josiah T. Blake, was also a native of New Hampshire, and born August 15, 1812. His mother, Joanna H. Raynes, was born March 16, 1814, in York County, Me. They had a family of seven children, B. F. Blake being the third. When he was yet a child, his parents removed to Lynn, Mass., `where he grew to manhood and was educated, and where the parents still reside. In the above-named city he learned the trade of a last-maker, which he preferred to that of his father, who was a carpenter. He worked at last-making in the city of Lynn for six years, but finally left the parental roof to seek his fortune in the West. He first came to Chica- go, where for several months he did a fair bus- iness at his trade, but soon returned to his home in Lynn, with the expectation of remain- ing ; but, having seen a portion of the West in its rapid development and numerous busi- ness advantages, he soon decided to return, which he did in 1869. In that year, he came directly to Cairo, Ill., which has since been his home. On coming to Cairo, he associated him- self with Benjamin F. Parker in business, un- der the firm name of Parker & Blake. The stock consisted in paints, oils, glass, wall-pa- per, window-shades, etc., in which Mr. Blake is still engaged, on an increased scale. In 1874, the partnership terminated by the retirement of Blake, but was again renewed in January, 1876, and in the fall of the same year was again dissolved, this time by the retirement from the firm of B. F. Parker. Since that time,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Mr. Blake has conducted the business alone ; has a large stock of supplies in his line, and does an extensive business in house-painting, by which he gives employment to quite a force of practical painters. Business location, on the corner of Eleventh street and Commercial av- enue. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, Royal Arch and Knights Templar, also of the Knights of Honor. In politics, he is an enthusiastic Democrat. He has served the city of Cairo as Treasurer two terms, and is serving his third year as a member of the City Council. He was married in Cairo, Ill., on the 29th of June, 1876, to Miss Annie E., daughter of John B. and Rachel J. Phillis. She was born in Washington County, Penn., March 8, 1851. John B. Phillis died in Cairo on the 25th of September, 1881. The mother is still living, and makes her home with the subject of this sketch. Mr. Blake has one son, Frank F. Blake, born in Cairo February 17, 1883.

HENRY BLOCK, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, Cairo, Ill., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 25th day of December, 1841. His father, Fred Block, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1812, and the mother, Sophia Kramer, was born in the same kingdom in 1817. They were married in their native country, where they resided until after the birth of their first child, when, in the spring of 1838, they came to the United States and set- tled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later, the family removed to Ripley County, Ind., where, in 1852, the father died. He had a family of twelve children, Henry being the third. Mrs. Block was subsequently married to Peter Gros- mann, to whom have been born four children. She still survives and resides in Ripley County, Ind. Henry received an ordinary German ed- ucation in Indiana, and went to the trade of shoe-making in 1857, which he completed in two years, working at his shoe-bench until after the breaking-out of the war, when he was em- ployed at Cincinnati, by the Government, in the

manufacture of military saddles. In 1867, he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked at his trade until 1870, coming that year to Cairo, Ill. He here worked in the shop of Fred Winter- berg for about two and a half years, and for the next year and a half was again in St. Louis. In April, 1874, he opened a small shop in Cairo, situated on Eighth street, between Washington and Commercial avenues. By close application to work, he was able, in 1868, to invest in a small stock of ready-made boots and shoes, to which he added as he was able. By honorable dealing, he has succeeded fairly, and now, at No. 131 Commercial avenue, he has a complete stock of goods, in connection with which he does an extensive custom business, employing three skilled workmen. To say that Mr. Block has risen from the shoe-bench to the proprietorship of a first-class shoe store would only do him an injustice, as he has not abandoned his bench, but continues to su- perintend the manufacturing department and work at the bench when not otherwise engaged. He was first married in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 24th of October, 1865, to Miss Louisa Kortgartner. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 10, 1845, and died December 5, 1866, leaving one daughter, Louisa Block, born November 17, 1866. He was married to his present wife, Dena Stekhahn, August 6, 1874. She was born in Hanover, Germany, April 22, 1851. Her parents, George and El- eanor Stekhahn, both natives of the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, came to the United States in 1867, and settled in Cairo, Ill., where the father died October 1, 1877. He was by trade a wagon-maker, and, like each of the sur- viving members of the family, was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church. Was born in July, 1812. The mother was born Septem- ber 20, 1807, and now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Block. Mr. Block's family comprises Al- wena, born April 29, 1875 ; Hermina, born October 28, 1876 ; Anna, born June 4, 1879 ;

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and Ludwig Block, born August 19, 1881. Mr. Block is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and is in politics a Democrat. Fam- ily residence on Eighth street, between Wash- ington avenue and Walnut street.

HERMAN BLOMS, Cairo, Ill., grocery and provision dealer, on the corner of Seventh street and Washington avenue, was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 16th day of October, 1841. The names of his parents were Engle- bert H. Bloms and Gesina Kettel, both of whom were natives of the Kingdom of Hanover. His father was born in 1800, and died in the old country in 1866. His mother was born in 1798, and is now living in Hanover. They had but two children, the subject and an older sister, Mary, wife of William Book, of Germany. She was born in 1838. Herman received a fair ed- ucation in the country of his nativity, and ob- tained his business training in Rhorer's Com- mercial College, of St. Louis, Mo. He came to this country in 1860, and after finishing his business course he established a market business in the city of St. Louis, remaining in that city in business until 1865. In March of that year, he came to Cairo, Ill., and for two years there- after engaged in the same kind of business, but in 1867 opened a grocery and provision store on Washington avenue, between Eighth and Ninth streets. In 1869, he was burned out with a severe loss, but, knowing no such word as fail, he immediately opened up again, and this time on the corner of Seventh street and Washington avenue, where he is still located. He carries an extensive stock and enjoys the confidence of a large number of friends. He was married in Cairo, on the 5th of January, 1873, to Miss Maragret Maloney. Their family consists of M. Gesina, Englebert J., Herman and Annie Bloms. The family are members of the Catholic Church of Cairo. Mr. Bloms owns city property consisting of three improved lots on his business corner, and including his family residence.

WALTER L. BRISTOL. In all communities are found men who rise equal if not superior to their surroundings, and instead of being en- tirely the creatures of circumstance, by their native energy and perseverance, so mold and direct their business interests as, to a great extent, to govern circumstances and make them subserve their immediate interests. The city of Cairo is not without its portion of such men. Taking front rank in this class is the subject of these lines, Walter L. Bristol. He was born in Erie County, Penn., on the 6th of May, 1839, and is the son of Lester Bristol and Adelaide Pettibone. The father was of German parent- age, and was married in Pennsylvania, and about 1844 removed to Wisconsin, where the mother died in 1849. The father lived to the age of seventy-seven years, and died in Iowa about 1870. They had a family of five children -Walter L., of Cairo, Ill .; Edward Bristol, of Dakota ; Adeline, deceased wife of A. Stone- braker; George Bristol, of Wisconsin; and Lucius Bristol, of Iowa. Mr. W. L. Bristol was reared on the farm, and chiefly by strangers. In 1859, having grown to manhood, he went to Chicago, and until 1863 was employed in the dry goods house of Potter Palmer, of that city. Having saved a little money, he came to Cairo in 1863, and soon after associated with L. W. Stilwell in the grocery trade, the partnership existing until April, 1875, when Mr. Stilwell retired from the firm, which was known as Bristol & Stilwell. Since the latter date, Mr. Bristol has conducted the business alone, and with marked success. In 1881, he erected a neat two-story brick business house at No. 32 on Eighth street, where he keeps a select stock of groceries, provisions and queensware. In addition to his city business, he has-a grain and fruit farm of 243 acres in Pulaski County. He was married in Bristol, Wis., on the 25th of December, 1866, to Miss Louisa S. Watkins, daughter of George and Maria (Chamberlain) Watkins-the former born in England in 1811,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

and the latter was born in 1814 in Connecticut. These parents, in 1844 (then having three children), removed from the State of New York, to Kenosha Connty, Wis., where the father en- gaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1851. His wife and four of a family of nine children still survive him. Mrs. Bristol was born in the State of New York in 1844. Their family consists of Walter W., born Octo- ber 2, 1867; Willis E., born October 23, 1868; Louis T., born September 1, 1872; and John B. Bristol, born May 15, 1877. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cairo.

EDWARD A. BUDER, jeweler and watch- maker, Cairo, Ill., was born November 4, 1839, in Austria. He is the second of a family of five sons of Florian and Rosalia Buder, both of whom were Austrians by birth. Edward A., when fourteen years old, having received a fair education, came to the United States, and for four years was located at Hartford, Conn., dur- ing which time he was learning the art of plat- ing in the establishment of the famous Rogers Bros. of that city. Leaving there in 1857, he came to St. Louis, Mo., where he spent another four years in perfecting the trade of watch- maker and jeweler. He came to Cairo, Ill., in 1861, and that year, in connection with his brother, William Buder, opened a business on a very limited scale. By a natural adaptation to business, and a thorough knowledge of their line, together with a native energy, they soon found themselves able to branch out largely, and in a few years began a wholesale business, employing a traveling salesman. For a num- ber of years the firm did business on corner of Eighth street and Washington avenue, now oc- cupied by Barclay Brothers, druggists. Mr. Buder has met with some severe losses, one by fire, and others perhaps more serious, and from a source far more aggravating. Being in busi- ness during the war, they were subjected to

cruel robbery at the hands of an unprincipled mob of drunken soldiers who, in passing along, were attracted by the display of watches in the show windows. Immediately, as if by instinct, they were impressed with their need of watches, and a rush was made for the window, all (in- cluding the proprietors) striving for first choice. In 1877, the partnership terminated by the withdrawal of William, since which time Edward A. has been sole proprietor. He is now located at No. 104 Commercial avenue, where he has a stock and trade second to none in Southern Illinois. He owns a quantity of valuable city real estate, including a block of three-story buildings on northwest corner of Eighth street and Commercial avenue. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor. He was married in Cairo, Ill., Febru- ary, 1866, to Miss Susan Schmidt. She was born in Prussia in 1844, and died in Cairo, Ill., in 1870, leaving two daughters- Mary and Rosa Buder. Minnie Kaufman, to whom he is now married, was born in Prussia in 1850. By this union there are four chil- dren, viz. : Edward, Otto, Minnie and Florence Buder.

ANDREW J. CARLE, Cairo, Ill., was born near Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y., on the 7th day of April, 1823. He is the fifth of a family of ten children of David T. Carle and Sibyl Ow- ens, who were both natives of New York. The father was born December 25, 1794, and died in Pennsylvania on the 20th of March, 1872. The mother was born on March 20, 1789, and died in Pennsylvania on the 17th of February, 1865. In 1836, the family moved from Tomp- kins County to Western New York, where An- drew J. grew to manhood, and from where the parents removed to Pennsylvania. In the year 1844, Andrew J. went to Girard, Penn., and there learned the trade of a carriage-maker. He opened a carriage shop at Meadville, Penn., in 1846, which he operated until 1852, when he sold out and removed to Lacon, Ill., where he

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purchased a carriage business, but becoming dissatisfied with the business facilities of that town he soon returned to Meadville. Here, on the 23d day of August, 1853, he was married to Miss Harriet M. Kinnear, of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Milita Kinnear, of Cairo. She was born in 1825, and died in Cairo in 1870, leaving one son, Frank A. Carle, who was born June 10, 1860. Soon after marriage, Mr. Carle settled in Allegany County, N. Y., where they lived, however, but a short time. They re- moved to Cincinnati from Allegany County by water, bringing their effects on a rude raft constructed for the trip, and spent nine weeks in reaching Cincinnati. He then established a bus- iness in Willoughby, Ohio, where he remained until coming to Cairo, Ill., which he did in the fall of 1858, immediately after the flood of that year. In 1859, he was appointed to the office of City Police, and for many years thereafter was connected with that part of the city gov- ernment. In 1873, he opened a livery and sale stable on the corner of Tenth street and Wash- ington avenue, which he still owns. In 1883, there was opened another stable on corner of Tenth street and Commercial avenue, which is under the control of Frank A. Carle. Mr. Carle was married to his present wife, Mrs. Angeline (Warner) Bushnell, in November of 1871. Mrs. Carle has one daughter by former marriage, Clara Bushnell, who was born in Pennsylvania December 4, 1859, and the mother in Ohio in 1836. Family residence, No. 32 on Ninth street, Cairo.

WILLIAM G. CARY, undertaker, Cairo. Among those whose residence in Cairo entitle them to the appellation of pioneers must be mentioned the name of William G. Cary, who came here in 1854. His father was a native of England, though of Irish descent, and married in Vermont Miss Aurilla Bishop, a native of that State. They reared a family of six chil- dren, all of them now living, and of whom William is the third. From Vermont the par-

ents moved to Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., where our subject was born on the 14th of April, 1824. They then removed to Canada, and later to Michigan, where they died-the mother in 1858, and the father in September, 1881, at the advanced age of one hundred and eight years. At the age of twenty, William G. went from his home in Canada to Niagara Falls, where he remained about five years ; then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and ran the rivers from that place to St. Louis, Mo. He after- ward engaged in business in Louisiana, from where he came to Cairo in 1854, as above stated. Being a practical carpenter and builder, he found the city of Cairo an ample field of labor, for some time employing a large number of men in his business. In 1858, he began the manufacture of coffins, and has re- mained in Cairo, engaged in the undertaker line, ever since. He was married, 1855, to Em- ma Crabtree, daughter of James Crabtree and Phobe E. Cookney. Her father was of Eng- lish and the mother of Scotch birth. They were married in Virginia, and had a family of ten children. Of this family, Mrs. Cary is the fourth member, and was born in Kentucky on the 29th day of September, 1829. Mr. Cary has a family of three children living, and has buried several-Aurilla J., wife of W. H. McFarland, was born September 23, 1858 ; Ella M., born January 27, 1864, and George W. Cary, born March 10, 1867. It is worthy of remark that Mr. and Mrs. Cary are still liv- ing in the same house in which they began their married life, where each of their children were born, and also a grandchild, daughter of Aurilla J., who was married at the "same old stand." They are members of the Episcopal Church, and he of the I. O. O. F.

BENJAMIN F. CLARK, engineer, Cairo, Ill., was born in Ohio County, Va., January 19, 1824. He is the youngest of a family of eleven children of Samuel and Elizabeth (Anderson) Clark, who were born and reared in Maryland. He was

BIOGRAPHICAL.

left an orphan at the age of twelve years by the death of his mother, the father having died about seven years previous. He thus early in life was thrown, comparatively, upon his own resources, and soon after began an apprentice- ship to the trade of blacksmith, which he pur- sued until the year 1852. He worked at his trade, in the employ of the Government, during the Mexican war, remaining with the United States Army through the entire contest. In 1852, he began what has ever since been his oc- cupation, that of marine engineer, on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and during the late civil war was a regularly commissioned engi- neer in the United States Navy, participating in several severe naval engagements. Since the war, he has been a resident of Cairo, Ill., and employed on local vessels ; now in the em- ploy of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Compa- ny, as engineer of their transfer vessel. In 1845, at Ravenswood, Jackson Co., Va., he married Miss Mary E. Merryman, daughter of Caleb Merryman, formerly of Baltimore, Md. She is a native of Virginia.

JEFFERSON M. CLARK, painter and pa- per hanger, Cairo, Ill., is a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was born in the city of Philadelphia on June 1, 1844. His parents, Charles S. Clark and Sarah B. Taylor, were born and reared in the East, the father in New Jersey, and the latter in Pennsylvania. Jefferson M. is the oldest of a family of eight children; he learned the trade of painter in Philadelphia, and in 1860 moved with his parents to Indiana, and in the spring of the following year he enlisted in Company F, of the Thirteenth Indiana Regi- ment, serving in this organization for three years. He was afterward commissioned a First Lieutenant, on Gen. Thomas' staff, and served one year. He participated in several hard- fought battles, including Rich Mountain, Win- chester, Nashville and the siege of Charleston and others. He was discharged in Nashville, Tenn., where he immediately began work at

his trade, and where, on September 25, 1865, he was married to Miss Mildred E. Atkins. She is a daughter of A. L. and Nancy Atkins, and was born October 22, 1847, at Waverly, Tenn. Mr. Clark continued in the South until 1874, when he came to Cairo, Ill., and has since been engaged constantly at his trade. He keeps in stock an assortment of paints, wall paper, window shades, picture frames and moldings. Mr. Clark has four children living and two deceased-Bertie, born October 3, 1867 ; Jefferson L., born June 25, 1869 ; Charles M., born January 6, 1873, died Sep- tember 19 of same year ; John A., born July 9, 1874, died February 16, 1879 ; Angelo A., born February 7, 1879; and an infant, born September 3, 1881. Mr. Clark is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has filled the vari- ous offices of honor ; is also a member of the Knights of Honor and of the Arab Fire Com- pany. Addison L. Atkins, father of Mrs. Clark, was born in Virginia ; married, in Tennessee, Miss Nancy S. Coffman ; reared a family of ten children, and died in 1868. The mother still lives at Waverly, Tenn.

ALBERT C. COLEMAN, traveling passen- ger agent of the Illinois Central Railroad, is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born March 7, 1824, son of John and Ama (Smith) Coleman, the father a native of Hartford, Conn., and a descendant of an English family, who were first represented in the United States about 1760. He grew to manhood in Connecti- cut, and in 1808 became a settler in Oneida County, N. Y., then a wilderness ; he was there married to Miss Ama Smith, a native of Ver- mont, and of English origin, and a daughter of Asal Smith, a Revolutionary soldier. A. C. Coleman is the youngest of a family of ten born to these parents. He grew to manhood in Oneida County, N. Y., receiving the benefits of an academic education. From 1841 to 1857, he was chiefly employed on steam and sail ves- sels, becoming a master. In 1852, however,

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he was employed by Messrs. Phillips & Vandu- sen, contractors on the Illinois Central Rail- road, as foreman of a part of their work, and superintended the first of their earthwork at La Salle, Ill. Since June, 1864, he has been in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, as traveling passenger agent, with his residence at Cairo, Ill. He was first mar- ried in Bellows Falls, Vt., to Miss S. A. Carter, a native of New Hampshire. She died in 1851, at La Salle, Ill. Subsequently he was mar- ried, in Chicago, to Miss Susan E. McIntyre, of Fabius, Onondaga Co., N. Y. She died in Cairo, Ill., February, 1876, leaving two chil- dren-Effie May and Albert V. Coleman. His present wife was Miss Flora Van Cleve, daugh- ter of Dr. William Van Cleve, of Centralia, Ill., and was born in Illinois in 1844. Mr. Cole- man is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

WILLIAM M. DAVIDSON, tinner, Cairo, Ill., was born February 7, 1838, in Allegany County, N. Y., and was reared from child- hood to maturity in Wyoming County, of that State. James Davidson, father of William M., was born in 1808, in the State of New Jersey, but of Scotch parentage. He grew to manhood in his native State, and in Tompkins County, N. Y., he was married to Miss Lucy Com- stock, of that State. Their family comprised eight children, seven of whom are now living, William M. being the second of the family. The mother died in Pulaski County, Ill., on May 29, 1877. The father is still living, making his home with his son William M., and though seventy-five years old retains much of his youth- ful vigor. William Davidson first came West in 1854, located at Rockford, Ill., where he adopted the trade of tinner, and where he worked until 1858, returning that year to New York, there engaging at the trade until May, 1861, when he became a member of Company I, Thirty-second New York Infantry. He par- ticipated in both the Bull Run battles, and most of the active service incident to Gen. Mc-

Clellan's campaign of the peninsula. He was mustered out in New York City at the close of his term of enlistment, with the commission of First Lieutenant of his company. Immediately after being discharged, he came to Cairo, Ill., where for a short time he was employed as a clerk in the post office. Soon, however, in con- nection with a man named Brown, he opened a tin store on a very limited capital, and a portion of that was borrowed funds. Fortune smiled upon them in this enterprise, and they were soon able to expand their business, and to do so they leased the Cunningham Building on Commercial avenue, paying an annual rental of $2,000. Mr. Davidson has stemmed the tide of business depressions, overcoming some severe financial reverses, and to-day has a very complete stock of stoves, tinware, etc., occupy- ing Nos. 25 and 27 on Eighth street. He was married in Cairo, Ill., on the 30th of October, 1867, to Miss Anna Helby, daughter of Herbert Helby. She was born in Liverpool, England, September 26, 1847. Their family consists of William, James H., Charles E., Harlow C., Lucy and Frank M. Davidson. Mr. Davidson is a member of the American Legion of Honor.

GIDEON DESROCHER, market gardener and florist, is the eldest of a family of six children of Francis and Victoire (Lafortune) Desrocher. His parents were born, reared and married in Canada, where he was also born on the 20th of April, 1829. His father was born in 1801, and died in Jackson County, Ill., in 1862. The mother died ten years later in Canada. Gideon was educated in his native place, and while young learned the cabinet, trade. In 1856, he went to Chicago, Ill., where for three years he was foreman in a cabinet manufactory. From Chicago he removed to Jackson County, Ill., where he undertook the task of clearing a tract of land, which he developed into a valuable fruit farm. The re- sult of this labor he lost in an unfortunate bus- iness partnership in Murphysboro, Ill. In 1872,

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 74

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