USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 29
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JOHN R. DUTCH, grain dealer, Beards- town ; was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Sept. 7, 1830, and came to Illinois with his parents in 1837. In 1849, he joined the Cass County Company, consisting of twenty-one persons, who went overland to California where he worked at mining until the fall of 1850, when he returned to Cass County, and in 1851 entered Mckendree College for one year, after which he engaged in merchandis- ing in Beardstown with his brother, which he has continued; also dealing in grain. In 1879, this firm purchased a steamer and several barges, and operated largely in grain along the river from Peoria to St. Louis, handling a large amount of grain. Capt. E. J. Dutch was born in Salem, Mass., in 1783, and fol- lowed the sea for twenty-five years, being commander of many vessels, and sailing all over the world. He first located at Cincin- nati, and afterward went to Cape Girardeau and helped lay out the town. In 1836, he came to Cass County, where he died in 1849. He married in New York City, and had ten children, six sons and four daughters, John R., (our subject) being the third son. Three brothers and three sisters are living.
F. M. DAVIS, merchant, Beardstown; was born in Monroe, Cass Co., July 26, 1844; son of John and Elizabeth (Dobson)
Davis, he (John) being born near Ashland, this county, Nov. 16, 1823, and was the first white child born in Cass County. She (Eliza- beth) was a native of Kentucky. They were married Nov. 16, 1842, and five children were born to them. Mr. F. M. Davis, our subject, for a young man, has had a varied life. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and served as drummer till May 24, 1865, nearly three years, being in numerous hot engagements, including Vicksburg, Jackson, Nashville, etc. Returning after the war, he elerked awhile, and then entered a commer- cial college. After his marriage with Miss Lizzie King, he removed to Secor, but re- turned to Beardstown and entered into busi- ness on his own account, in which he has sinee continued. His wife is a lady of much business ability and enterprise, and she has for many years successfully conducted the millinery and dress-making business. She is a native of North Carolina, born March 15, 1846.
HENRY B. DESOLLAR, dealer in agri- cultural implements, Beardstown; was born in London, England, February 11, 1820. His father, who was of French parentage, was born in Amsterdam, Holland. Mr. DeSollar came to America in 1834, and located at Brantford, Upper Canada, and when fifteen years of age was apprenticed to the carriage and wagon-making trade, at which he served three years. He served in the militia in the Canadian rebellion of 1832, for six months. In 1838, he moved to Akron, Ohio, where he worked at his trade as journeyman nine months; then started a shop of his own in South Akron; afterward moved to Hartford, O., where he ran a shop for eighteen months. In July, 1842, he came to Bethel, Morgan County, III., where he carried on business for some years. In 1848, he came to Beards- town, bought a shop, and carried on the man-
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ufacture of carriages and wagons, until 1868, when he turned his shop into warerooms for agricultural implements, and has since en- gaged in the implement business. In Akron, O., in 1839, he married Christina Clemens, who died in Bethel, Ill., in 1847, leaving three children. In 1849, in Beardstown, he married Miss Cook, and from this second mar- riage four children have been born.
OLIVER DECKER, farmer and grain- buyer; P. O. Bluff Springs; is a native of this county; born Jan. 29, 1839; son of John and Mary Ann (Guyott) Decker. John Deck- er, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, was born in Germany, May 21, 1804, and is still living near Bluff Springs, this county; his wife is deceased. They had two children: Oliver and Oscar, the latter de- ceased. Oliver received but a limited educa- tion, attending for a short time the country schools and the school in Beardstown. He began life as a farmer, and hassince followed that occupation; he also deals in grain. He married in this precinct, Dec. 18, 1867, Jose- phine L. Rew, born Jan. 22, 1843, who has borne him two children: John W. and Charles H. Mrs. Decker is a daughter of Bradford B. and Julia Ann Rew; he, a native of New York, born Jan. 12, 1816; she, a native of Ohio, born Aug. 25, 1821; still living. Mr. Decker is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has been Road Supervisor two terms.
JAMES A. DICK, farmer; P. O. Beards- town; was born in Simpson County, Ky., Jnne 10, 1823. His parents, Peter and Christina Dick, were natives of North Carolina, and are both deceased; they had a family of eight children-five boys and three girls; his father was a farmer. James A. attended school in his native county, and afterward in Sangamon and Cass Counties, of this State, receiving but a limited education. ] He began life as a farmer, and has since followed that occupa- tion. He was married in this county Oct 7,
1845, to Mary Bowen; born in Monroe County, O., Sept. 27, 1819; daughter of Jeremiah and Ellen Bowen; from this marriage they have had the following children: Samuel (de- ceased), Ellen, Nancy (deceased), Amanda (deceased), James M., Mary A. and William F. Mr. Diek was elected Sheriff of this county in 1856, and served two years; was re-elected in 1864, and again served two years. He has been School Director and Road Supervisor; and is a member of Ark Lodge No. 23 A. F. and A. M. in Beards- town; he is a Democrat.
JOHN DECKER, farmer; P. O. Bluff Springs; one of the oldest settlers of this county; was born in Germany, May 21, 1804. His parents, Nicholas and Mary (Kersting) Decker, had five children, three boys and two girls: John, Antony, Theresa, Elizabeth and Henry. Mr. Decker received his education in Germany, where he attended school seven years, till he reached the age of fourteen, and began farming in Germany, and since the year 1835 has pursued that occupation here. In this precinct, in 1835, he married Mary Ann Guyott, who was born in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1797, and died Nov. 28, 1873; they have had two children: Oliver and Oscar. When Mr. Decker came here, he bought 320 acres of land, at eight dollars per acre, which is still in his possession. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church.
DAVID C. DILLEY, insurance; Beards- town; was born in Columbiana County, O., Sept. 3, 1828, and was raised near Warren, Ohio, where, at the age of eighteen, he ap- prenticed to the harness-maker's trade, at which he worked there till 1850. In the fall of that year he came to this county; lived for a time east of Virginia, then moved into that town, where he worked at his trade till 1853; afterward engaged in farming for about three years. In 1858 he came to Beardstown,
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where he worked at his trade a year, and in the fall of 1859 was elected County Treasurer of this county, which position he held twelve years. Since 1870 he has been engaged in the insurance business. In June, 1853, he married Melvina Hall, of Virginia, Ill.
J. C. H. EBERWEIN, merchant, Beards- town; was born at Giessen, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in March, 1819, and received his education in the University of Giessen. In 1837, he came to this country, and in 1838, to Beardstown; worked for a time in a packing house and on a farm, and for about two and a half years in a store. In 1842, he moved to Butler County, O., where he married Miss Maria Gungerich, and, returning to this county, engaged in farming, near Arenzville, until the death of his wife, in the spring of 1846. He then spent some time in Wiscon- sin, New Orleans, La., Kansas and Nebraska. He kept store at Richland, Ill., for about two years, for Mr. Moore, and in 1849 engaged in business with a partner, to whom he sold out his interest in 1851. He then entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Monroe Precinct, this county, improved about fifty-three acres, and in 1852 went to Califor- nia, with a party of four, by the overland route. He traded in provisions between Sac- ramento and Nevada City, Cal., and in 1853, returned via the Panama route. He then engaged in business for two years with a part- ner, whose interest he then bought out, and carried on business in the same store till 1880, when he built his present business house, where he carries on a general mer- chandising business, assisted by his two sons. In 1853, he married Christina Tucken, of Beardstown, and by this union there have been born four children: August, Herman, Christina and William. By his first marriage he had two children: Lena and Bertha. Since 1853 he has been engaged in the pork-packing business.
JOHN EDDY, foundry; Beardstown; was born Dec. 25, 1836, in Cornwall, England, where he served seven years apprenticeship to the machinist's trade. In 1857, he came to this country, and located at Beardstown, where he worked at his trade until the breaking out of the late war, when he went to St. Louis, Mo., and there became foreman in a gun-boat yard during the war. In 1867, he returned to Beardstown, and till 1871, was foreman in Mr. Ebaugh's machine shop and foundry there. He then engaged as engineer on various steam- boats, which Mr. Ehaugh commanded on the Illinois River, till 1874, and in 1875 again en- tered the foundry and soon became foreman of the machine shops, which position he still holds. The foundry and machine shop, when running full time, employ twenty-four hands, and are now filling contracts for the C., B. & Q. R. R.
FREDERICK W. EHRHARDT, manu- facturer, Beardstown; is a native of Han- over, Germany, born March 24, 1842. He was educated in Brunswick, where he received a university course, and afterward learned the mercantile business, being employed with cotton and linen manufacturers. He came to the United States in October, 1867. Re- mained in New York two years. He was en- gaged in the manufacture of neckwear in Chi- cago, for about two years, and came to Beardstown in 1871. The first year, he was engaged in the manufacture of neckties, and the sale of special lines of furnishing goods. In 1873, he began the manufacture of baking powder and extracts, and in 1875, added the manufacture of ginger ale and white beer. In 1879, he added the manufacture of soda and mineral waters; and then blueing and per- fumeries. He has a large sale for his different productions, and especially, his Universal Baking Powder. His sales average about $10,000 per year, selling mostly to wholesale dealers. In 1870 he married, in Chicago,
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Miss Rosa Rosenmerkel, and has five children living, two sons and three daughters.
JUDGE SYLVESTER EMMONS, de- ceased, was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., Feb. 28, 1808. In 1831, he went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he studied law; was admitted to the bar in Hancock Coun- . ty, Ill., in May, 1843; and in 1844, be- came editor of an anti-Mormon paper, called the Nanvoo Expositor, only one number of which was published, when the press was de- stroyed. He came to Beardstown in 1844, and conducted the Beardstown Gazette until 1852. TIe served as Circuit Clerk of this county nine years; was appointed Postmas- ter of Beardstown, in IS49; was Mayor of Beardstown two terms; was Master in Chan- cery of this county several terms, and was Police Magistrate and Justice of the Peace here, for many years. He was originally an old line Whig, afterward a Republican. In 1847, he married Elizabeth Miller, sister of E. B. Miller, and from this union four children were born: Alice, Arthur, and two others, who died in infancy. Judge Emmons died Nov. 15, 1881. He was a member of the Methodist Church.
HENRY T. FOSTER, retired, Beardstown; was born in Lincoln County, Me., Feb. 3, 1815, son of Robert Foster and Maria (Emer- son) Foster; he, a native of Boston, born in 1773, and she, a native of New Hampshire; they had eleven children. Robert was a mer- chant and shipbuilder, and came to Illinois in 1835, but returned to Westchester, Pa., where he died in 1847, his wife having died in 1831. Our subject eame to Illinois in 1835, and in 1836 opened a store, which after two years he sold out. He then made a trip to New York, and returning, went into partnership with his brother for several years. He was one of the joint purchasers of the Wilbourn Flouring Mills, which he assisted in conducting about three years. From 1840 till 1852, Mr. Foster
was engaged in farming; also in packing and shipping hogs, for the Eastern markets, and from 1852 till 1876, he was engaged in mer- chandising, and the agricultural implement business.
ABNER FOSTER, retired; Beardstown ; was born in Union, Lincoln Co., Me., Aug., 3, 1817, and came west at the age of eighteen years, locating in Schuyler County, Ill., but shortly afterward removed to Richmond, where he remained two years, merchandising, in connection with his brother Henry. In 1838, he and his brother came to Beardstown, and began merchandising. In 1840, he with two others, bought a mill, and continued the business two or three years. He then engag- ed in farming. In 1849 he quit farming, and came to Beardstown, and conducted the lum- ber business till 1856, when he went to Han- cock County, and run a steam saw mill. In 1860, he returned to Beardstown. In 1868 he again engaged in the lumber business, and in 1872 commenced the hardware business, which he continued until 1881. In 1876, he was elected President of the Cass County Bank, in which he has been a director and stockholder for many years. In 1844, he married Miss Sarah J. Ward, daughter of Col. John M. Ward, of Menard County, and two children were born, both of whom are dead.
COL. JOHN B. FULKS, deceased, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1805. His mother died when he was an infant; his father married again, and John B., at the age of eleven years, went to live in Kentucky. He received a good education in Frankfort, Ky., where he learned the printer's trade; he was U. S. Marshal, and a member of the Kentucky Legislature. He came to Beardstown, April 4, 1834, where he worked at his trade; he afterward started a paper in Jacksonville, Ills .; thence removed to Rush- ville, Ills., where he published a paper four or five years, and in 1841, returned to Beards-
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town. In 1851 he was elected Sheriff of this county; he was the first City Clerk of Beards- town. He married Feb. 26, 1835, Sarah Crewdson, a native of Logan County, Ky., daughter of James and Elizabeth (Bell) Crewd- son, natives of Westmoreland County, Va., who came to this county in 1831 from Logan County, Ky. Mr. Fulks died Nov. 1, 1866, leaving a widow and seven children: Timole- on C., editor of the Marion Co. (Ills.) Enquir- er; Richard B., merchant, of this place; Sam- ucl, U. S. Express Messenger in Wright City, Mo .; Mary, Emma, at home; Charles C., cashier of Cass Co. Bank; and Frank M., clerk in a store. Mrs. Fulks came to Beards- town with her parents in 1831, where she re- ceived her education. Richard B. Fulks, second son of Col. John B. and Sarah (Crewd- son) Fulks, was born at Rushville, Tils., Feb. 6, 1840. At the commencement of the late war he enlisted in Co. " K," 33d Illinois In- fantry, and after serving two and one-half years in the ranks, was commissioned Quarter- master, and served in that capacity till the close of the war. In July, 1872, he opened the Great Western grocery store in Beards- town, but after two months it burned out, cu- tailing a loss to him of $1,000; he then started business in another store, which was also con- sumed by fire, Nov. 22, 1825; he again start- ed in business, and was again burned out. In August, 1876, he moved to the Opera House Block, where he has since carried on an ex- tensive grocery and dry goods business.
CHARLES E. FULKS, cashier of the Cass County Bank, Beardstown; was born in Beardstown, Feb. 10, 1856, and received a good education in the schools of that place. At the age of twelve years, he entered the office of the Central Illinoisan, where he worked six years. He then engaged as clerk for R. B. Fulks, seven years. In October, 1881, he was elected cashier of the Cass County Bank, which position he has since
filled. He was also elected City Clerk of Beardstown, in November, 1881.
ANTON GREVE, cigar manufacturer; Beardstown; was born in Hanover, Ger- many, January, 28, 1847, and at the age of eleven years began learning the cigar-maker's trade, which he completed when seventeen years old, having in the meantime received his education by attending school in the mornings. He worked as a journeyman for a year in his native State, and in 1865 came to the United States, and followed his trade about three years in New York city. In the spring of 1868 he came to Beardstown, where he worked at his trade as journeyman for about seven years, and in 1875 opened a cigar factory in the room now occupied by the post office, and the following year entered into partnership with his brother, in company with whom he carried on business for four vears. They then dissolved partnership, and since the fall of 1880, Mr. Greve has carried on business alone. His present factory, No. 29, Fourth District of Illinois, is situated on State street, opposite Park, where he removed from his old stand in 1881. He employs two cigar makers, and manufactures on an aver- age 120,000 cigars annually; his principal brands are "Smoking Car," and " At Home." In Beardstown, in 1822, he married Mary Pauk; they have four children.
ROBERT H. GARM, merchant tailor and clothier; P. O. Beardstown; is a native of this county; born Aug. 30, 1854, and at the age of ten years moved with his parents to Beards- town, where he received his education. He af- terward took a business course in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, St. Louis, Mo., from which he graduated in December, 1871. In February, 1872, he became a member of the firm of Garm & Benneson, merchant tai- lors and clothiers, he having one-half interest in the business; after two years, Mr. Pilger bought Mr. Benneson's interest, and after
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carrying on business two years, under the firm name of Garm & Pilger, Mr. Garm sold out his interest to his partner. Mr. Garm, in company with his father, then engaged in business under the firm name of Henry Garm & Son, until Sept. 1, 1877, when G. M. Pitner bought Henry Garm's interest, and the busi- ness was conducted on the same stand, under the firm name of Garm & Pitner, until August, 1879, when Mr. Garm bought out his partner's interest and Jan. 1, 1880, moved to his present place of business, where he has since carried on the clothing business.
HENRY GARM, grain buyer; P. O. Beardstown; is a native of Germany; born May 22, 1831; son of Henry and Margaret (Albers) Garm, natives of Altenburg, Ger- many, and parents of two children. Subject's father, who was a farmer, was born in 1798, and died in Washington, D. C., in 1840. Mr. Garm attended school in that city several years, and began the business of life as a farmer in this county in 1852. He ran a saw mill six years; then kept a lumber-yard; en- gaged in the merchant tailoring business; af- terward in the ice business, for three years; and finally engaged in his present business, dealing in grain. He married here, in May, 1851, Mary D. Harris; born March 22, 1831, who has borne him eight children, five of whom are living: Robert, John, Mamie, Jo- seph and Frank. Mr. Garm is a Democrat; has been Master of Lodge No. 23, A. F. and A. M., three years; has been Alderman four years. He is a member of the M. E. Church.
GEORGE W. GOODELL, ice dealer, Beardstown; was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, April 29, 1823. At the age of seventeen, he began boating on the Ohio Canal, running from Portsmouth to Cleveland, and soon be- came captain of a boat. In 1848 he became captain of a freight boat, running from Chi- cago to La Salle, Ill .; in 1851, he took com- mand of a boat running from La Salle to St.
Louis, Mo., and during the twelve years which he spent on the river, commanded freight, tow and passenger boats; he made one trip up the Missouri River. During the late war he engaged in the ice business, in which he had been previously interested, and in 1871, located in Litchfield, Ills., where he lived eight years. In 1875, he began cutting ice on Muscooten Bay, and built an ice house near the C. B. & Q. Railroad depot, from which he shipped ice by rail. In 1880, he formed a partnership with Huse, Loomis & Co., of St. Louis, Mo., the firm here being known as Huse, Goodell & Co., and built an ice house on the Bay, having a capacity of 18,000 tons, and enlarged the capacity of the houses on the C. B. & Q. Railroad, to 12,000 tons. Their houses are fitted up with all mod- ern contrivances, and with a hoisting appara- tus, invented by Mr. Goodell. The firm of which Mr. Goodell is a member, is one of the most extensive ice companies in the West, and employs about 250 men in the cut- ting season, and the great portion of the ship- ping season, from forty to fifty men.
THEODORE HEINZ, deceased, was a native of Germany, born near Frankfort- on-the-Main, February 4, 1830. His mother died when he was a babe, and his father, Jacob Heinz, came to America in 1341 or 1842, and located in Arenzville, this coun- ty, and sent for his family of three small boys in 1842. Jacob Heinz worked at carpenter's and other trades. Mr. Heinz lived in Arenzville till he was about seventeen years old, then came to Beardstown, where he was employed as clerk in a general store, till he reached the age of twenty-two; then he re- turned to Arenzville and engaged in mer- chandising about three years. He then re- turned to Beardstown, where he was engaged as book-keeper for Nolte & McClure for a number of years; then engaged in the cloth- ing and merchant-tailoring business, which
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he followed until his death; in June, 1877. He was married in Beardstown, in November, 1851, to Elfen A. Coolidge, a native of Massa- chusetts, born in 1832. From this union eight children were born, five sons and three daughters, all living. Mrs. IIeinz came to Beardstown in 1849, with her sister, Mrs. Jo- seph McGee, now of Waukegan, Ill., and taught in a Beardstown private school, be- fore her marriage, and in the public schools for the last five years. Mr. Heinz served as City Clerk, and in other eity offices. Ile was a Republican.
LYMAN HAGER, farmer, P. O. Beards- town; was born in New Hampshire, Aug. 30, 1828 ; son of Reuben and Sarah ( Reed ) Hager; also natives of New Hampshire; he, a fariner, born March 8, 1793, died March 22, 1871 ; she, born April 4, 1795, died Sept. 12, 1846 ; they had a family of seven children. Lyman received a limited education, having attended but a short time the schools at Beardstown and Bluff Springs, and also at the Cottonwood school house. He began farming in this precinct, where he has since followed that occupation, with the exception of four years, which he spent mining in Cali- fornia. In Beardstown, this county, June 15, 1855, he married Cornelia Spalding, a native of Indiana; born Jan. 15, 1838, and died Dec. 23, 1878, leaving nine children: Rose A., Edward, Douglas, Clara, Esther, Emma, Christina, Mary and Joseph. Jan. 5, 1879, lie married his present wife, Annie Devlin; born near Dublin, Ireland, June 29, 1847; daughter of Patrick and Rose Devlin ; from this marriage two children have been born, William and Charles. Mr. Hager is a Demo- erat ; his wife is a member of the Catholic Church.
WILLIAM RILEY HAGER, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; is a native of Beardstown, this county; born Oct. 29, 1850; son of Cur- tis F. and Elizabeth (Horrom) Hager. Curtis
F. Hager, a native of New Hampshire, and a farmer by occupation, was born June 21, 1815, and died Jan. 1, 1877; his wife, a na- tive of Indiana, was born in 1809, and died April 14, 1867; they were the parents of six- teen children. Mr. Hager attended the schools of this district about ten years, and has since followed farming here. He married here, Sept. 11, 1873, Hannah E. Bristow, born in Missouri, July 25, 1856, daughter of George W. and Mary E. Bristow. Their children are: Arthur L., born Jan. 23, 1827, and Clar- ence, born May 18, 1880. Mr. Hager is a Democrat; is connected with the M. E. Church, and is a member of Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., in Beardstown.
JAMES M. HAGER, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; was born here, April 29, 1849, He began life as a farmer, and has since pur- sued that occupation. In Beardstown, this county, Aug. 13, 1872, he married Elizabeth Chesscher, a native of Illinois, born Nov. 26, 1848, daughter of Thomas and Esther Chess- cher. From this union eight children have been born: James, Sarah, Elora, Esther, Mary (deceased), and three others who died in infancy. Mr. Hager is a Democrat; he is a brother of William R. Hager, whose biog. raphy appears elsewhere in this work.
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