USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 27
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CHARLES W. SAVAGE, Virginia ; was born Jan. 12, 1853, at the Savage homestead, in Virginia Precinct, Cass Co. His father, Henry S. Savage, was a native of Morgan
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
County, and was born April 22, 1824, in Jack- sonville Preeinet, and his father, John Savage, was one of the first pioneers of Morgan, having come to the county in 1823, where he became a successful farmer, an occupation that he followed during his life. He was a native of New York, and married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Guy Smith, Esq. John Savage was son of James Savage, who was an Irish- man, and came to America during the Ameri- ean Revolution as a British soldier, fought under Burgoyne, and was taken prisoner by the American troops at Ticonderoga. He was paroled, and upon becoming convinced of the injustice of the war against the Americans, he fought on the American side. Henry S. Sav- age was the fourth child, and third son of John Savage, and was born April 22, 1824, at Dia- mond Grove, three miles south west of Jackson- ville. He married Miss Sarah F. Ward, daugh- ter of Jacob Ward, deceased. Mr. Savage was a thrifty farmer, and one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of his day in Cass County. He met death by injuries re- ceived from an unmanageable colt, March 29, 1865. He left a family of fonr sons and one daughter. Three sons, our subject, C. W., Ed- ward E., and Louis L., are residents of Cass County. Ella B. and Henry S. are living with their mother, in Jacksonville. Mr. Savage left a valuable estate. Charles W. received his schooling first in Cass County, and later, in the Illinois College, at Jacksonville. He entered farming on the homestead in Virginia Precinet, in 1879. In 1881, he entered the lumber and grain business, in company with J. B. Steven- son. He was married on Jan. 6, 1875, to Miss Kitty Kelly, of Davenport, Iowa, daughter of Moses Kelly, a native of Massachusetts, for twenty-five years a resident of that place, and is now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Savage have three daughters, viz .: Anna L., Bertha M., and Hattie L. Mr. Savage is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W., of Virginia.
J. B. STEVENSON, grain and lumber merchant, Virginia, Cass Co .; was born July 11, 1847, at Little Indian, Princeton Precinet. He is the sixth of the family of William and Frances (Berry) Stevenson, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Joseph B., after attending the schools of his distriet, took a course of study at the then Cumberland Presbyterian College at Virginia. He married, April 17, 1870, Miss Dora Vandemeter, daughter of Fenton- ville Vandemeter, then a farmer of Cass County, now a resident of Springfield. Mrs. Stevenson was born April 11, 1849, in Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Vandemeter are both natives of Kentucky, and came to Illinois at an early date. They raised a family of ten children, and Mrs. S. was the seventh child. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have one child, Mary F. Mr. S. has been associated in busi- ness with Mr. C. W. Savage, since the fall of 1880, and is also a partner with his father in the grain trade, at Little Indian.
ADOLPH H. SIELSCHOTT, sheriff elect, of Cass County, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, on June 3, 1835. In 1854 he came to this country. He first did farm labor for about two years in the vicinity of Beards- town, after which he learned the carpenter trade. He followed his trade until 1862, when he engaged in merchandising until 1820. In 18GS, he, in company with Robert Schmoldt, purchased a saw mill, located in the upper part of the City of Beardstown, which business the firm conducted with sue- cess until 1875. In the year 1876, Mr. Sielschott was elected to the office of Sheriff of Cass County, and has acceptably filled this responsible office since that time. During the years 1871 to 1874, Mr. Seilschott filled the office of Mayor of Beardstown, with the entire approval of the citizens of that pros- perous and enterprising city. In 1862, Mr. Sielschott married Miss Ellen Peeper, a native
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of Hanover, who emigrated to this country with her parents when quite young. They have three children: Adolph F., Alice A., and Martha M.
EDWARD W. TURNER, deceased. Ed- ward W. Turner was a native of Bourbon County, Ky .- a wagon maker by trade, which business he followed for many years of his early manhood. His father was one of the pioneers of Kentucky. Our sub- ject left his native State, came to Illinois in 1825, and became one of the prosperous pio- neers of Cass County. He was energetic, thrifty, and public-spirited. He represented his county in the State Legislature of 1846 and 1848. He made farming his business after coming to Illinois, but erected and run a wag- on shop for a time upon his farm, near Virginia, soon after locating. He married in Fayette County, Ky., Miss America Morrow. Iler father's farm joined the Ashland home of the lamented Henry Clay, near Lexington. They raised a family of eight children, all living to mature years but one, Thomas B. Sarah, the oldest, is now deceased; lived to marry W. W. Ward, a farmer of Cass County; Elizabeth J., is now Mrs. B. G. Troutman, of Cass Coun- ty; James E. is a merchant of Virginia; John W., a farmer of Oregon Precinct; William A., a farmer in Kansas; David S., R. R. Ex- press Messenger; Henry H., Express Agent, Virginia; and Charles is out of business. James E. was born Dec. 13, 1842, and has for several years been engaged in the mercantile business in Virginia, and is at present; has one of the most extensive furniture stores in Cass County. He married, Feb. 25, 1862, Miss Henrietta Conover, daughter of John Conover, of whom see extended mention eise- where in this volume. They have five chil- dren: Anna L., Linna M., Katie, James A., and Fred. They are both members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Turner is member of the A. O. U. W. and I. O. M. A. William
A., a farmer in Kansas, furnishes us the follow- ing data: He was born 1845, in the month of August, on the Turner homestead, in Cass County. He commenced business as a farmer in Princeton Precinct, and later, farmed at Walnut Grove. He built and run the only plaining mill ever run in Virginia, in 1870. The venture was not a success, however, and he closed out the business and returned to farm- ing on the old Downing farm, which he sold and went to Wichita, Kansas, in 1876. He married March 6, 1866, Mira Berry, daughter of William M. Berry, a farmer of Morgan County. They have three children, Nellie, Nina, and David. H. H. Turner, the sixth son, was born Nov. 22, 1850, in Cass County. He attended the Kentucky Univer- sity at Lexington, during 1868-9, and after- ward engaged in the dry goods business in Virginia, and iater, the grocery trade, having at times been associated with W. W. Early, Bowman Craft, and M. J. Oliver. He aban- doned the mercantile business in 1864, and since that time has been acting as agent for the American and United States Express Com- panies, and also engaged in insurance busi- ness. He married Dec. 3, 1871, Miss Alice R. Buckley, daughter of Mark Buckley, a pioneer of Cass County. They have three children: Olive, Coral, and Ralph. Mr. Tur- ner is a member of the I. O. O. F., Saxon Lodge, No. 68.
H. C. THOMPSON was born Aug. 6, 1848, in Virginia, Cass County, and is the third son of N. B. Thompson, now of St. Louis, Mo., and for many years one of the foremost and successful business men of Cass County. He first came to Virginia as Clerk and Recorder of Cass County, upon the first removal of the county seat from Beardstown, and was the first Clerk of the county, receiving his appointment from Judge Jesse B. Thomas, the first County Judge. He commenced mer- chandising in Virginia and continued until
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the year 1867, when he removed to St. Louis, where he lives in retirement. He was married March 30, 1837, to Miss Louise Dutch, daughter of Israel J. Dutch, of Mor- gan County. He was a native of Massachu- setts; married Miss Caroline C. Thorington, of New York City. He is of French descent, and Mrs. Dutch of English. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have raised a large family, all of whom are still living in independence, being successful in their several undertakings, and, as will be seen from the following, are filling honorable positions, both of a business and professional nature. Louise A., wife of Abram Bergen, a prosperous lawyer, of the State of Kansas; Josephine married John Anderson, a farmer of Saint Clair County, of this State; Eliza, wife of Mr. G. Polland, an able attorney of St. Louis, Mo .; the Hon- orable W. B. Thompson is also an attorney of Saint Louis, Mo., and represented the Twenty-eighth Senatorial district of that State in the Forty-sixth General Assembly; L. C. Thompson is a merchant of Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Ill .; Harry C., our subject, is a thrifty farmer and a stock-dealer, of Cass County; he married Miss Lila Hall, daughter of Robert Hall, one of the wealthiest and extensive agriculturists of Cass County, of whom see sketch in another chapter of this work; Harry C. is an enterprising, publie spirited and go-ahead man of business, and quick to see the business bent of a transac- tion. Mr. Thompson is the oldest of his fa- ther's family, and was born Oct. 14, 1861; Mary, wife of Mr. J. A. Johnston, head sales- man for Mermod, Jaccard & Co., No. 4 Locust St., St. Louis; Frank P. is a resident of Cass County, Mo .; George D. is a physician and surgeon at the Marine Hospital, St. Louis; and Ella B. is at home with her parents, in St. Louis. The Thompson property interests in Cass County and Virginia are large, and as yet have not been divided.
THOMAS WILSON, of Virginia, was born April 15, 1816, in Lancashire, England. His father, David Wilson, raised a family of ten children, and Thomas was the second youngest of the family. Ile married Mar- garet Coates, before he left his native land, in the year 1837, and in 1841 they emigrated to the New World, in company with two sisters, lIannah and Sarah. Mrs. Wilson, also a na- tive of England, was born about July 18, 1817, and lived until Oct. 18, 1880, being sixty-three years of age, at the time of ber death. She left six sons and one daughter to mourn her loss: James, born Dec. 19, 1839; David, born Aug. 2, 1842; Joseph, born May 3, 1844; Sarah J. (deceased), born Aug. 24, 1846, died Nov. 3, 1865, at nineteen years of rge; William R., born April 18, 1849; John T., born July 3, 1851; Charles, born Aug. 13, 1853; and Mary E., born May 20, 1857. The subject of this sketch first settled near the Sangamon Bottoms, about seven miles north- west of Virginia, in Virginia Precinct, and farmed with success until 1861, when he re- moved to Virginia and retired. He has in- vested a liberal capital in city real estate, and is one of the public spirited and substantial citizens of the town, and a member of the Cumb rlund Presbyterian Church. Of his family, Joseph, John, Charles, and the only living daughter, Mary (who is at home), live in Cass County; David is in Kansas; James is in Missouri; William is in Menard County, this State. They are all farmers but Joseph, who is a tinner by trade; he has for several years been a successful merchant in Virginia, in company at different times with D. N. Walk- er, and A. G. Angier. He received his school- ing at Sugar Grove, Cass Co., and learned his trade at nineteen years of age. He lias been a successful business man, and has some of his present means invested in Cass County farming lands. May 26, 1872, he married Miss Nancy R. Berry, daughter of James and
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VIRGINIA-CITY AND PRECINCT.
Sinah (Roe) Berry, deceased, formerly of Vir- ginia Precinct. They have three children, viz .: Anna L., Frank H., and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat, and a member of the A. O. U. W., and I. O. O. F., and Secretary of the Virgin- ia Lodge.
D. N. WALKER, Police Magistrate of the city of Virginia, was born in Fauquier County, State of Virginia. His father, Solomon Walker, is also a Virginian by birth, and a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Em- ma Wilkins, a native of Virginia, and daugh- ter of Thomas Wilkins, a Virginia farmer. Mr. Walker (our subject) is the third son of a family of seven sons and two daughters, and was educated in the common schools of his native State, and was brought up a farmer. He came to Illinois with his father's family in 1855, and in 1860 commenced farming in Hickory Precinct, Cass County. He spent the years of 1862-3 and a part of 1864, in the mining fields of Oregon and Idaho, and then returned to Cass County. In 1866 he took up his residence in Virginia, and followed contracting and building until 1868, when he entered the tin and hardware business. He continued in this business, in company with Angier, and later, with Joseph Wilson, until 1873, since which time he has occupied the position he now holds. Mr. Walker was elected Mayor of Virginia in 1876, but re- signed after having served a part of his term. Ile married Nov. 21, 1861, Miss Elizabeth Adams, a native of Macoupin County, Ill. She died March 3, 1873, leaving one son, John L., and a daughter, Mary E. Mr. Walker again married in January, 1876, Miss Martha E. Clark, of Schuyler County, and many years a resident of Cass. In politics, Mr. Walker is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Knights of Honor, of Virginia.
JOHN N. WILSON, the present efficient
postmaster of Virginia City, was born in Licking County, O., June 1, 1832. George Wilson (deceased), his father, was a native of the Old Dominion State; was born Oct. 30, 1295, and by occupation was a farmer; he removed from his native State to Ohio about the year 1805, and thence to Virginia Pre- cinct, Cass Co., and entered farming in 1842, and there died in 1872. He married Miss Jane B. Moore, a native of Pennsylva- nia, in the year 1819. They had nine chil- dren-four sons and five daughters; John, our subject, was the sixth born, and was about ten years of age when his parents came to Cass County. He received his schooling in Virginia public schools, and entered a dry goods store and post-office as a clerk, in 1856, at twenty-four years of age, for S. W. Nealy. He continued with Mr. Nealy for about six months, after which he entered the drug bus- iness for about two years. He served as the Virginia agent for the Wabash Railroad Company two years, and in 1867 was ap- pointed postmaster of Virginia, by Andrew Johnson, and has continuously held the posi- tion with entire satisfaction to the public up to the present time. In 1873, Mr. Wilson opened in the same room with the post-office, a full and complete stock of books, stationery, wall paper, news, notions, etc., and takes the lead in his line of trade in the city. Oct. 7, 1858, he married Miss Rachae: M. Berry, daughter of Thomas S. and America Berry, and a native of Cass County. She di d Oct. 8, 1872, leaving three chi dren: Kate, Jessie and Ella, who died at eight months of age. Ile again married, January 20, 1861, Miss Mary F. Walker, of Virginia, Cass Co., and a native of the State of Vir- ginia. She died January 11, 1877. As a third wife, he took Miss L. H. Ainsworth, Feb. S, 1878; she is a native of Vermont, and daugh- ter of Samuel Ainsworth, deceased. Mr. Wilson is of Scotch-Irish descent. His fa-
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ther, George, was a son of Archibald, who was one of the first pioneers of the Buckeye State, and his father, also Archibald, came West to fight the Indians, about 1760. Our subject was the first City Treasurer of the
City of Virginia, and has twice been a mem- ber of the City Council. He is a Republic- an, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the A. O. U. W., Virginia Lodge.
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BEARDSTOWN-CITY AND PRECINCT.
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BEARDSTOWN -- CITY AND PRECINCT.
JUDGE JOIN A. ARENZ, Beardstown; was born Oct. 28, 1810, in Blankenberg, Province of the Rhine, Prussia. After hav- ing received a good school education, he was sent to an institute, where he received in- struction in languages, drawing, engineering, surveying and music. Then he was employed for a year in a corps of surveyors, working for the government. He then entered as a stu- dent in a college, and for two years in the seminary at Bruhl, near Cologne. After hav- ing passed his examination, he received an appointment as teacher, and after having served in that capacity one year, was promoted to the office of principal, with three assistants. He held that position until 1835, when he re- signed, and came to the United States, at the solicitation of his brother Francis, with whom he resided for several years. In 1836 he was employed as assistant engineer in the survey of a canal. For the purpose of perfecting himself in the English language and acquiring a knowledge of mercantile business, he entered a store at Springfield, where he remained until 1838, when his brother took him as a partner in his business. In 1844, he became the editor of a campaign paper, advocating the election of Henry Clay for the presidency, published at Springfield in the German language. He has been engaged in various business enterprises, and held many different offices. His first commission as Justice of the Peace, is dated Aug. 21, 1843; his first com- mission as Notary Public, is dated May 1, 1850, which office he held ever since. He was the first Mayor of the City of Beardstown, in 1850. He was twice elected to the office of County Judge, was admitted to the bar March 13, 1865; he also holds a diploma from the Ger-
man National Society for Trade and Industry, dated Feb. 22, 1850, at Leipzig. He never followed the practice of law before the courts; but he has settled up more estates, and of more value, than any man in Cass County. In the memorable county seat contest, in 1867, between Beardstown and Virginia, he was the Justice chosen by Beardstown, and selected by the two other justices, as presiding officer. The citizens of Beardstown were so well satis- fied with his services, that when the decision had been made, they serenaded him. He has retired from all active business affairs, to settle up his own matters. He married in 1849, Miss Mary L. Miller, who is yet living, and the mother of two daughters, one of whom is the wife of Philip Kuhl, in Beardstown, and the other the wife of S. O. Spring, in Peoria.
FRANK J. ARENZ, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; was born near Arenzville, this county, April 8, 1838, and is a son of Francis and Louisa (Boss) Arenz. Francis Arenz, a politician of some note, and by occupation a merchant, miller and farmer, died in Morgan County; his wife died in Arenzville, this county. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom one son and one daughter are deceased. Mr. Arenz received his primary education in Arenzville, after- ward attending the Illinois College, Jackson- ville, Ill., for two years, and the Business College at Rockford, Ill., for one year. He then engaged in farming, in this county, where he has since pursued that occupation. In Arenzville, Feb. 21, 1860, he married Caroline B. Cire, who was born there, Feb. 4, 1839, and who has borne himn tive children: Katie L., Ada, Et a J., Frank C., and Lena. Mrs. Arenz is a daughter of John L. and
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Catherina (Hamm) Cire; he a native of Kur- hessen, Prussia, was born May 4, 1806; she also a native of Prussia. Mr. Arenz has been Deputy Assessor and School Director for two years. He is a Republican.
ERNST ARNOLDI, farmer, P. O. Bluff Springs; was born in Nassau, Germany, Sept. 13, 1822; son of Gustave and Margaret (En- (ris) Arnoldi. Gustave Arnoldi, who was an Inspector of Forests, died in Germany, in 1834; his wife also died in Germany, in 1822; they had seven children. Our subjeet attended school for seven years in Germany, where he began life as a farmer, which occu- pation he has pursued sinee he came to this country. In this county, March 2, 1850, he married Amelia Winhold, a native of Ger- many, born April 13, 1833, daughter of Wil- liam and Barbara Winhold; from this mar- riage six children have been born: Bertha, Ferdinand (deceased), Gustave, Jennie, Ella, and an infant (deceased). Mr. Arnoldi is a member of the Lutheran Church; he is a Re- publican.
MENDALL AARON, merchant, Beards- town; was born in Prussia about the year 1834, and early learned the butcher's trade with his father, who kept a meat market. In the fall of 1862, he emigrated to this country; worked at his trade in New York City, three months; then in St. Louis, about a month, and then traveled on foot with a pack of dry goods and notions, for about six months. After some time he procured a horse and wagon, for a very small sum, and traveled about three months, selling goods. In 1864, he opened a store at Kampsville, a little village in Calhoun County, Ills., invested about $1,200 in goods, and carried on business there for nine years. He then sold out, and moved to La Grange, Mo., where he invested $9,000 in a rolling- mill, but unfortunately lost his investment; he engaged in mercantile business for four years, in La Grange, then moved to Hardin,
Calhoun County, Ill., rented a store a short time, then built a substantial store and dwell- ing, and carried on mercantile business, and dealt in land there for seven years. He then sold out his town property and part of his farming land, and Sept. 21, 1881, came to Beardstown, and opened a general store at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, where he has since done a good trade, employing two assistants. He married Oct. 8, 1862, Florence Driesen, a native of Prussia.
J. BAUJAN & CO., Home Mills, Beards- town; John Baujan, was born in Prussia, April 6, 1820, where he learned the brick- mason trade, beginning his apprenticeship at the age of eighteen, and serving four years. He followed his trade in Europe until 1849, when he came to this country, landing in New Orleans; thence came to St. Louis, Mc., where he worked at his trade for a year. From St. Louis he came, in 1850, to Arenz- ville, this county, where he pursued his trade seven years; then came to Beardstown, start- ed a brick-yard, and followed brick laying and brick making, building many houses in this county. He built the saw mill now ow.1- ed by H. C. Meyer, and run it for five years. In 1876, in company with John Schultz he built the present Home Mills, of which he has since been part owner. In April, 1852, he married Catharine Yeck, of this county, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany; they have seven children living, five sons and two daughters. John Schultz, junior partner in this firm, was born in Ottersheim, Bavaria, June 1, 1849, and at the age of fourteen years, apprenticed to the carriage making trade, working at the wood work branch of that business in his native State or l'our years. In 1867 he came to this country aird located at Beardstown, where he worked at his trade two years; afterward carried on a wagon mak- ing and repairing shop at Rushville, Ili., two years, then returned to Beardstown, where he
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BEARDSTOWN-CITY AND PRECINCT.
engaged in mercantile business about three years. In 1875, he became a member of the firm of Scheber, Schultz & Gemming, which began building the present Home Mills on the site of the old City Mills; before the com- pletion of the mills, however, the firm chang- ed to JJ. Baujan & Co., who have since ope- rated them, doing a merchant and exchange business. The mills are run by a fifty-horse power engine; have six run of stones, and three sets of rollers, having a capacity of 100 barrels a day, and employ from twelve to sixteen men. They manufacture four brands of flour: "Fancy Patent," "Viola," " Crown . Jewel," and "XXX," which find a ready market. The building is a three story frame, 50x40 feet, with engine room 21x30 feet.
JOHN J. BEATTY, hardware merchant and present Mayor, Beardstown; was born in Franklin County, Pa., Oct. 22, 1846, and came West in 1855, with Jacob Rearick, who raised him, his parents having died when he was an infant. After coming to this section, he learned the trade of tinsmith, and in 1866 he went to Marion County, Mo., and worked at his trade, at Hannibal, Palmyra and Can- ton; also in Quincy. In 1874 he returned to Beardstown, and entered the old firm, buying a half interest therein, the style of which has since been Rearick & Beatty. They orig- inally dealt only in stoves and tinware, but, about 1877, they added hardware and agri- cultural implements. Mr. Beatty was elected Mayor in 1881, and re-elected in 1882, and takes considerable interest in politics. Ile was married in Missouri, in 1873, to Miss Mary F. Pickering, of Canton, that State. They have two sons living.
DR. GEORGE BLEY, JR., Beardstown; was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 14, 1851; eldest son of a family of three sons, and three daughters, born to Dr. George and Elizabethi (Lavis) Bley. Dr. George Bley, Sr., was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, came to the
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