USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 32
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HENRY RUPPEL, dealer in boots and shoes, Beardstown; was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, Jan. 28, 1836. At the age of fourteen he began learning the shoe- maker's trade, at which he served three years' apprenticeship. He then worked about six months at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, afterward conducting a shop in his native village till 1854, when he emi- grated to this country. He worked at his trade for a time in New York City, and at Rushville, New York, and after working at various occupations in different places, found employment at his trade in Rochester, N. Y. He left there in January, 1856, and came, by way of Chicago, to Springfield, Ill., and worked as journeyman there until December, 1857, when he visited his native country, re- turning the following year to Springfield, Ill., where he worked for his former employer till 1859. He then carried on a custom shop
in Springfield, where, in 1860, he married Elizabeth Weigand, who was born in his na- tive village, Hesse-Darmstadt. In 1861, by the failure of the Illinois banks, he lost $400, and again worked as a journeyman until 1869, when, in March, that year, he came to Beards- town, where he and his brother, Adam, bought a stock of boots and shoes, and carried on business in company till 1873, when Henry bought out his brother's interest, and since January, 1880, has occupied his present place of business, carrying a large stock of boots and shoes, also doing repairing. His store, which is sixty-five by twenty-two feet, is one of the finest in Beardstown. Mr. Ruppel has six children living.
F. G. I. RATCLIFF, baker, Beardstown; is a native of Staffordshire, England; born March 5, 1823. At the age of eighteen he be- gan learning the baker's trade, in Newcastle, Eng., to which he served an apprenticeship of three and a half years. He worked at his trade at Liverpool, and at other places till 18:9, when he came to this country, worked a short time in Troy, N. Y., afterward worked at Andover, Henry County, Ills., about six months, then went to New Orleans, La., then to Baton Rouge, where he was pastry cook in a hotel four years. In 1854, he opened a bakery in Rock Island, Ils., which he carried on there three years, then came to Beardstown, where he has since carried on the bakery business, doing the principal wholesale trade of the town; he is assisted by his two sons, Richard and Thomas. Mr. Ratcliff is also proprietor of a barber shop; he cooked the first meal served in the Park House, and held the position of cook there till 1863, when he paid a visit to his native country. In Mobile, Ala., in 1852, he mar- ried Rebecca Morrow, who has borne him ten children, five of whom are living.
CHAUNCEY RICE, druggist, Beards- town; was born in St. Lawrence County,
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N. Y., Feburary 21, 1830, and in 1842 came, with his parents, to Williams County, O. In 1846, removed to Hancock County, Ill., where he engaged in farming till the fall of 1849, and taught school two winters. In the sum- mer of 1850 he entered the drug store of James G. McCreary, of Rushville, Ill., and clerked for six years. In 1856, he came to Beardstown, and entered into partnership with E. R. Maxwell, in the drug business there. They conducted a drug store under the firm name of Rice & Maxwell, till 1865, when Mr. Rice bought out his partner's in- terest; afterward bought out the stock of Henry Menke, and is conducting the two drug stores in his own name, his son James G., managing one store. He has occupied his present site, on Park Row, for twenty- three years. Mr. Rice has been twice mar- ried. In Hancock County, Ill., in the fall of 1852, he married Emily J. Denny, of Au- gusta, Ill., who died in July, 1848, leaving three children: James G., Mrs. H. J. Nead, of Nebraska, and Chauncey J. In 1879, he married Elizabeth J. Knight, of Beardstown. James G. Rice, son of our subject, was born in Rushville, Ill., in 1853, and at thirteen years of age began clerking in his father's drug store, remaining in the same store thir- teen years; and in 1879 he became a member of the firm, and took charge of a branch store on Main street, which he has since conducted with good success. He married, March 6, 1882, Eva Shutts, of Camanche, Iowa.
HENRY ROTES, grocer, Beardstown; was born in Beardstown, Aug. 4, 1849. His father, Henry Rotes, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, about 1811; emigrated to America, and worked for a cotton planter some time, then came to Beardstown, where he married Mrs. Mary Nolte, née Bolte, of that town, who bore him two children, viz .: Henry (subject), and Carrie, both living. Subject's father died about the year 1869. Mr. Rotes, at eighteen
years of age, began farming on a part of his father's place, and followed that occupation till 1876, when he engaged in the grocery business with J. L. Black, under the firm name of Black & Rotes, for two years, when Mr. Rotes . sold out his interest in the business to his partner, and until May, 1880, worked in the boiler shops of the C. B. & Q. R. R., when he purchased the grocery business of J. L. Black, on Main street, and has since been engaged in that business, meeting with good success.
HENRY RICKS, saloon, Beardstown; was born near Hamilton Station, this county, Sept. 12, 1850, and is a son of Conrad and Juliana (Landmann) Ricks, natives of Germany. Con- rad Ricks, a farmer by occupation, was born Nov. 20, 1815, and died July 10, 1877. His wife was born June 3, 1812, and died Aug. 29, 1877. They had five children, two hoys and three girls. Our subject received his education in the " Warrior School," near Bluff Springs, this county, and also attended the Beardstown school. IIe farmed for several years near Bluff Springs, and has for the past six years been keeping a saloon in Beardstown. In Virginia, this county, Feb. 5, 1876, he mar- ried Minnie Vellor, a native of this county, born May 24, 1857. They have three chil- dren, viz .: John H., William G., and Odelia. Mrs. Ricks is a daughter of Frederick and Mary Vellor; he, a farmer, born Feb. 24, 1814; she, born Oct. 30, 1830; both in Germany. Mr. Ricks is a Democrat. His father came to this county in 1842.
W. H. RHINEBERGER, carpenter and builder, Beardstown; was born in Marietta, O., June 10, 1844. His father was born in New York State, June 12, 1816; was raised in Wheeling, W. Va., and has been a resi- dent of this county since 1846; he is a carpen- ter by trade, and is now engaged as a con- tractor and builder in Ashland, this county. He has been twice married; his first wife, Julia Dunham, whom he married in Virginia,
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died in Marietta, O., leaving three sons, of whom W. H. is the youngest; his second wife, Mrs. Martha Morrow, whom he married in Beardstown, has borne him five children. The subject of this sketch came to Beards- town in 1846, with his father and grandfather, who settled on the land where the Central Ilotel now stands. June 28, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, of which Grant was colonel, and served three years, participating in the en- gagements at Fredericktown, Mo., Resaca, Stone River, and Chickamauga. He received a flesh wound in the neck at Kingston, Ga., May 19, 1864, and on July 9, that year, was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tenn. After his return from the war, he learned the car- penter's trade with his father, and in 186℃ went to Linn County, Kan., where he owned a farm, and worked at his trade for eight years. He returned to Beardstown in 1875,
where he has since been a contractor and builder, employing from two to ten men on his contracts. He has been twice married; May 29, 1867, he married Nannie Richards, of this county, who died May 13, 1879, leav- ing four children, of whom two daughters are living. June 7, 1882, he married Delia Clark.
WV. C. REW, merchant, Bluff Springs; is a native of this county; born Jan. 21, 1845, in an old log house, on the Springfield road, built by his grandfather, one of the first houses in this county. He is a'son of Bradford B. and Julia Aun Rew; he, a native of New York, born Jan. 12, 1816; died in Beardstown, this county; she, born in Ohio, Aug. 25, 1821; re- sides in this county with her daughter, Jo- sephine Decker. W. C. attended a school near Beardstown six or eight years, and about two years in Beardstown; afterward worked on a farm, and then taught school for about five years. He married in Quincy, III., May 2, 1815, Josephine Weber, who was born in
this county, Nov. 5, 1855. They lived in Quincy about eight months, after which he entered into partnership with Oliver Deck- er, in the general merchandising business here. Jan. 1, 1879, he bought out Mr. Deck- er's interest, and has since carried on the business on his own account. In 1864, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ill. Infantry, under Capt. Will- iam Weaver, and after serving five months was obliged to return home on account of ill health. Mr. and Mrs. Rew have had two children: Mabel, born Nov. 30, 1879, and Henry B., born March 7, 1882; died March 24, 1882. Mr. Rew is a Democrat; is township School Treasurer of this township (No. 18), and has for many years been a mem- ber of Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., in Beards- town; his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
( HON. J. HENRY SHAW, attorney- at-law, Beardstown, was born in Boston, Mass., July 25, 1825. His father, Joseph Shaw, had been a book-publisher of that city, but, meeting with financial reverses, and pos- sessed with but small means, in 1836 he re- moved to Morgan County, Illinois, which then included Cass County, and settled near Jacksonville, where he pursued farming a few years, and afterward, merchandising at Beardstown, where he died in 1868. While he was living and working upon his father's farm as a boy in 1837, Henry received three weeks'. instruction at a country school, in which he obtained the elements of the arts of reading and writing, which was all the school education he ever received; this was not he- cause his father did not appreciate the advan- tages of an education, but because all the as- sistance that could be obtained was necessary to carry on the farm, and Henry's education was put off for a more convenient season; the school which he attended for so short a term, was held in a log cabin in Diamond Grove,
Frank Lohmann
THE
NEW ORK PUBL'. BAARY
Aster, Lenov and Tiden
For ++ + - $ 1Su
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near Jacksonville. There was a good school at that time in Jacksonville, and Illinois Col- lege was in infantile operation, but Henry was needed to help work the farm, and seemed destined by circumstances to grow up in igno- rance; but it is a way that self-made men have, to control and direct, or at least divert, cir- cumstances. His father, being a practical printer, was frequently called from his farin to assist a friend, Mr. Edwards, in publishing the Illinois Patriot, a Jacksonville news- paper, and brought home many of the news- paper exchanges from the Patriot office; these were eagerly perused by Henry; his taste for reading increased with his opportuni- ties, and having no books of his own, and no money to buy any with, he borrowed of who- ever had them who were willing to lend; his time being occupied in working on the farm in fair weather, his reading opportunities were restricted to rainy days, Sundays, and nights; often while the family were sleeping he was spending the silent hours of the night in the little attic between the ceiling and roof of his father's log cabin, poring over a bor- rowed book by a dim light made by a cotton rag and lard or butter in a saucer. Whenever his occupation was of such a nature as to allow of it, he carried a book with him, and read at intervals while the team rested, and generally held a book in his hand and read while plowing-a seemingly difficult task, but yet not so with him; he generally carried something to read or write upon wherever he went, and improved his leisure moments. Mills were scarce in Illinois in those days, and one of the valuable uses that young Shaw was put to, was to go on horseback with a sack of corn and get it ground at some dis- tant mill; Henry, riding upon the top of the sack, was usually lost in the mazes of his bor- rowed book; he was habituated to reading whenever he had a minute that could be util- ized for that purpose, and felt unhappy if he
sat down even for a moment with nothing to read; he read everything he could get hold of, even scraps of newspapers and old alma- nacs, and used to say that he learned something from every scrap of paper that had any read- ing on it. He was also in the habit of writ- ing down everything that occurred to him as of sufficient importance, both original and selected. As writing paper cost money, and he had no money to buy it with, he util- ized the margins of newspapers, the blank leaves of books, and made marginal notes to such books as he was able to purchase. The other boys in his neighborhood, having neither knowledge nor the desire for it, other than for those things that appertained to the usual avocations and pleasures of life, derided him for his peculiarities, and he avoided, so far as he could, being seen by them with a book. Even the men shook their heads forebodingly at him, and said that if he kept on in this course he would some day try and get his living without work and come to a bad end. Indeed, book learning was contemptuously spoken of by the country people, and it was not uncommon for justices of the peace and preachers to be without the qualifications of reading and writing. The most of his youth- ful life was passed in this manner, during which time he had read largely in history, ancient and modern classics, and general lit- erature and intelligence, and had begun to attract attention, not only for what he knew, but for his ability to express himself in good language, either orally or in writing, on any occasion, and frequently before he was twenty years old, made speeches on public occasions. He also, while yet a mere plow-boy, wrote articles for the newspapers, which attracted the attention of public men, and although they appeared without signature, inquiries were made and the writer was sometimes made known. It was by means of his news- paper articles that Richard Yates, then just
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entering upon his public career, was attracted toward him, and the acquaintance thus formed subsequently ripened into a friendship. He also cultivated a taste for writing poetry, much of which was suggested by public occa- sions in his vicinity, and many songs that were sung at festivals were of his pro- duction, but the author was seldom known by those who enjoyed them, as he had a dread of being sneered at as a coun- try poet. One of his articles, which was published in the Jacksonville Journal, under his usual nom de plume of " Hal Heryn," during the war with Mexico, is here inserted as a fair specimen of his boyish muse. The subject was suggested to him by reading a letter from a soldier in the army, from Mor- gan county :
THE MORGAN SOLDIER.
REFRAIN: " Bingen on the Rhine."
" While we were camped on the Rio Grande, A. G. S. died: a noble soul as ever bore musket. His last mur- murings were of somebody by the name of Mary-his sister, I believe, iu Morgan county."-Taken from a Soldier's Letter.
Where the moonbeams shimmer brightly Upon the silvery sand, And the little waves flow lightly Along the Rio Grande ; Where the breeze a requiem weaves Among the wild wood leaves,
And the star-robed river, gently,
To the summer wind upheaves,
And dew-tears, pearl-like, nestle In meek-eyed flowers around, Like fragile spirits drooping With sorrow to the ground ; There lay a dying soldier, His life fast ehbing forth,
And he had come from Morgan, Old Morgan in the North. Worn and wasted were his features With a long-enduring pain, And with incoherent murmurs llard he sought to speak, in vain. Low and sad I bent me o'er him,
And I scarce could hear him say That his heart, though weak and blighted, Was upon the northern way.
Then he whispered of a cottage In the distant prairie-land; And he said a weeping sister Beckoned with a gentle hand :
I fancied that he said his sister, But it might have been his bride ; She was far away in Morgan- Old Morgan, Honor's pride. Ile would show to me a treasure, All he had to cheer him there ;
'Twas a little heart-shaped ringlet Of his sister's silken hair ; In his hand he held it, fondling, And essayed to speak a name ; But the leaves and wavelets murmured, And I sought to hear in vain. The stars looked down : the soldier died Upon the Rio Grande.
Ilis last look toward his sister's home Far in the prairie-land :
Perchance 'twas not his sister, His bride it might have been :
She was far away in Morgan- Old Morgan, tressed with green.
Upon arriving at the age of twenty-one years, Henry, at the suggestion of Richard Yates, began the study of law, Mr. Yates lending him the necessary books, and encour- aging him with kind words to proceed. These books he took, one at a time, and read them at home while working on the farm. The same plan he had pursued with his boy- ish studies, he continued while preparing for his professional life. He utilized the nights and rainy days. Every spare moment found him with a book in his hands. He has a well-worn copy of "Gould's Plead- ings," which he read over and over while he was plowing, holding the book in one hand and guiding the plow with the other, while the horses were held in place by a line over his shoulder and under one arm. He became so attached to this book that Mr. Yates pre- sented it to him, and it was the first law-book
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he ever owned. He occasionally reported progress to his friend, and received further encouragement, but never recited a lesson to him, or received any instruction beyond a recommendation of the proper books to read. When he became twenty-five years of age, notwithstanding he had continuously labored on a farm, he felt sufficiently advanced in his studies to warrant him in applying for a license to practice law, and with Mr. Yates he went to Springfield, where he was ex- amined by the Judges of the Supreme Court, and admitted to the bar. He then removed to Beardstown, and commenced the practice of the law, where he has ever since remained. During his many years of practice, he con- tinued as before, a laborious student. He has not confined himself wholly to the law, but has wandered into the by-paths of litera- ture, and has contributed many able articles to magazines, newspapers, law-journals, etc. As an orator, he has taken a front rank, and at the bar has met but few superiors in the later years of his practice. In 1873 he met with an irreparable misfortune, which, at least in a measure, blighted his further aspira- tions. By severe professional labor, he brought on himself a slight attack of paraly- sis, and although he was confined to his room but a few days, yet it was an imperative no- tice to him that his constitution had begun to give way under the constant mental strain it had been subjected to, and that he must change his laborions life to a more quiet and less ambitious one. He was then but forty-eight years old, in the prime of life, and at a time when he might reasonably claim a reward for his past labors and perseverance ; he was warned in this solemn manner, that he must retire to the shade trees, and rest among the weary toilers, who had borne the heat and burdens of the field. This unfortunate oc- currence grieved and disappointed him, as he was ambitious of further distinction among
his compeers, and hoped to rise to a position among the highest. But this result can hard- ly excite surprise, when we consider the cir- cumstance of his past life. Perhaps no man ever achieved an education and position under such apparently insurmountable diffi- culties, and no young lawyer ever had a brighter array of competitors for business and glory than he. He found practicing in the courts where he must practice, such men as Lincoln, Douglas, Baker, Yates, Richardson, McConnell, Blackwell, Browning, Williams, Walker, Smith, Brown, Dummer, and a host of stars of only a degree lesser magnitude, and among these giants he was compelled to parry and thrust with his home-made sword. But, notwithstanding his wading through Scylla and Charybdis, he had strength and nerve enough to throw stones even at the Cyclops. At the time he was stricken with paralysis, he was getting his cases ready for the August term of the Cass Circuit Court, 1813, and was also preparing an historical address for a meeting of the "old settlers " of Cass, Brown and Schuyler Counties. The attack began ten days before court, the bus- iest time in the life of a lawyer. At the sit- ting of the court, although he was present, his brother lawyers kindly attended to his business for him, and his friends and physician advised him not to deliver the address at the "old settlers" meet- ing, but as he had expended much labor in its preparation, he concluded to deliver it, which he did at great risk of a relapse. He then spent some months at the east- ern sea-coast and mountains, and returned home much refreshed. Since then, by advice of his physicians, he lias avoided the more ex- citing and litigous practice, and confined himself mostly to office business and consulta- tions. He continues to read extensively, and sometimes writes for the press; his men- tał powers are unimpaired, and his knowledge
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of the history and present condition of the nations and peoples of the world is remark- able. While he has mingled much in polit- ical controversies, both on the rostrum and in the public journals, yet he has never made any effort to obtain office, and although he is now the representative of the counties of Cass, Brown, Menard and Mason, in the State legislature, yet it was without his own solic- itation. As a legislator, he is noted for his ability and strict regard for duty ; and in the committees to which he belongs, particularly the " Judiciary," and "Canals and Rivers," two of the most important, he is influential and indefatigable in his labors, and constant in his attendance. During the session of 1880, 1881, and the special session of 1882, he labored for the improvement of the great water-ways of the State, originating a bill to enable steamboats to pass from St. Louis to Chicago, offering competition to the railroads of the State, and thus securing to producers cheap transportation. As a testimonial of his eminent services we insert the following resolution, passed at the Cass County Demo- cratic Convention, held in Virginia, July 1, 1882. "Whereas, The Hon. J. Henry Shaw has ably and honorably represented this the XXXVITH Senatorial District as a member of the last General Assembly of Illinois, be it Resolved by this Convention, that we en- dorse his action and conduct in said last Gen- eral Assembly, and trust that as an endorse- ment of his action he may be returned to the next General Assembly as our representative." Previous to the year 1813, he led a very active life. Not a minute was allowed to be wasted. He gave his time and labor freely to public matters, without remuneration frequently making speeches or writing for the papers, in aid of railroad building and other enterprises, and for the advancement of the interests of the people. He wrote and pub- fished many historical sketches local to the
Mississippi Valley, and at one time contem- plated, and had in course of preparation, a history of Illinois ; but the publication of Davidson and Stuve's excellent work about that time, caused him to abandon this project. His story is simple and short, but it has points worthy of record. It shows that even a small boy may form a resolution which will be a magnet and polar star to him through life. That teachers, schools and colleges may be convenient for the indolent, and advanta- geous as a luxury, but are not absolutely necessary to any one who is deter- mined to get an education without them. That a person who has learned to read, has thereby in his possession a key, which, by ap- plication, will unlock all other sources of 'knowledge; that while circumstances may in- fluence a man's destiny, yet the continuous exercise of his will in a great measure con- trols it. Mr. Shaw has been identified with Cass and Morgan Counties and acquainted with their people and affairs, nearly half a century, and has been one of the most influ- ential citizens of Cass County for thirty years. In 1876, by suggestion of the Presi- dent of the United States, and by a resolu- tion of Congress, the people of every county and city in the Union were requested to ap- point a suitable person to deliver, on the Fourth of July of that year, an oration, con . taining a brief account of such county or city, so that its local history should be per- petuated. Mr. Shaw was appointed to deliver the oration for Cass County, which he did, giving a complete history of it, occupying two and a-half hours in its delivery. And now, as applicable to the closing of this sketch, we deem it best to give his peroration on that occasion: "I have now told you, in a comparatively short time, what I can con- dense of a half century's history of this county, nearly all of which period has passed under my own personal observation. How
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