USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Columbia > History of Columbia and Columbia precinct, Monroe County, Illinois, 1859-1959 and centennial celebration, Columbia, Illinois, July 3-4-5, 1959 > Part 13
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Three children were born to the union, August F. Wei- nel, who graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1936 and reached the rank of Commander. He gave his life for his country in the Pacific area in 1943 during World War II. A daughter, Marian Weinel, graduated from Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa and is married to Andrew P. Burgess. Mr. Burgess is now a secretary and manager of the August F. Weinel Lumber Co. Mr. Burgess was a Commander in the U. S. Navy during World War II. Ellyn Weinel graduated from William Woods College at Fulton, Mo. and DePauw University at Greencastle, Ind., and is married to Dr. August G. Swanson and lives in Seattle, Wash. Dr. Swanson is a Harvard University graduate and served as a flight surgeon in the U. S. Navy.
The William Weinels live in a beautiful country home near Columbia, formerly the property of the Proctors. The house, a stately Georgian country home is built high on the hills overlooking Columbia and the lovely countryside. Mr. Weinel had always admired the site of the Proctor home, and he is happy to be able to reside there and en- joy the beautiful scenes surrounding his home.
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A. F. WEINEL LUMBER YARD
GUS TUNZE'S SALOON
E. A. WEINEL HARDWARE CO.
POST OFFICE IN ARNIN'S STORE
COLUMBIA STAR MILL
EXTERIOR OF THE MILL SALOON NOW THE CLARION PRINTING CO.
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VICTOR BREIDECKER
Victor Breidecker, member of the Centennial Histori- cal Committee, was born in Columbia, the son of Charles Breidecker and his wife Laura, nee Harres. The Breidec- kers were an old Columbia family coming here from Ger- many. Charles taught school here and also ran a printing plant. He was an excellent teacher though a stern disci- plinarian. He was married to Laura Harres. They had four children, Miss Alfrieda, Miss Hulda, Oliver and Victor. Oliver is vice president of the First National Bank in East St. Louis and a civic leader there. Miss Hulda is the book- keeper at the Dupo State Savings Bank, while Victor Breidecker is with the Lewin Mathes Co. division of Cerro de Pasco Corporation, Monsanto, Illinois.
Victor attended school here, grade and high school, Brown's Business College at East St. Louis and Jefferson College of St. Louis. His paternal grandparents were Christian H. Breidecker and Catherine German Breidecker. His maternal grandparents were George Adam Harres and Gertrude Scheuermann Harres. All came here from Ger- many and all were early settlers. Gertrude Breidecker was the sister of Henry Scheuermann who had a tavern here in what was the Wm. Vogt store. Christian Breidecker was a business man in early Columbia, conducting a store and serving as Columbia's postmaster.
Victor Breidecker married Miss Nelda Faus of near Maeystown. She died in 1939. They have two children, Kay Hulda, wife of Dale Prediger of Carbondale, Illinois and Private Karl Lewis Breidecker who is with the U. S. Army at Ft. Belvoir, Va.
Mr. Breidecker is a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, is a past secretary of the church consistory and treasurer of St. Paul's Church Brotherhood.
He is a Mason, a member of Columbia lodge, also of Scottish Rite bodies and Ainad Temple A. A. ONMS.
THE WILLIAM VOGT FAMILY
William Vogt, Jr., was born in Stookey township, St. Clair Co, Illinois, the son of William and Julia Vogt, nee Waelti. The Vogt family was of Swiss origin, but migrated to Germany, close to Prussia. They were landowners there, but the lure of the new country of America beckoned them and they sold their land and came to America, landing at New Orleans and finding their way to Stookey Township in St. Clair County. Here they bought five quarter sections of land. This land remained in the Vogt family for over a hundred years but was sold in 1941.
Mr. Vogt worked on farms in his youth, then in the coal mines as an engineer. He married Miss Henrietta Boemer of Millstadt. Two boys were born of this union. The mother died and two weeks later the younger boy died. The other lad survived-Otto H. Vogt of St. Louis.
Mr. Vogt remarried-Miss Sophia Diesel of Millstadt becoming his second wife. They moved to Columbia where Mr. Vogt found employment as an engineer in the Lam- brecht-Huch Mill where he learned to do plumbing and heating work.
In 1893 he became a pioneer in the merchandising business and opened a big department store where you could "Buy anything from a needle to a threshing ma- chine". He built a small store at the corner of Main and Church streets and as business expanded Mr. Vogt's broth- er, George, who lived at Belleville, came to Columbia to help his brother in the store. Here he met and married Miss Emma Schneider, member of an old pioneer family. Three children blessed this union: Mrs. Carrie Bollinger and Mrs. Viola O'Brian of Pittsburgh, Penna. and George F. Vogt, Jr., of Grand Rapids, Mich.
When Mr. Vogt began business, Columbia was a fur center and many residents depended on trapping as their
livelihood. Trappers traded furs for supplies. Mr. Vogt was successful, built a beautiful home and was active in business and social circles in Columbia. He died at tht ripe old age of 90. Four daughters and three sons survive: Otto H. of St. Louis, Milton of California, William of Car- rollton, Mrs. Sophia Sondel of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Mrs. Virginia Schuette of St. Louis, Mrs. Esther Joyce of St. Louis and Mrs. Julia Haller of Columbia. A grand- daughter, Mrs. Florine Burks lives in Columbia in the old Vogt residence.
MRS. WAYNE COMPTON
Mrs. Wayne Compton, nee Annabelle Weible, is a member of the Centennial History committee. She is des- cended from an old Columbia family. She is the daughter of Edward T. Weible, who was born near Millstadt in 1857, and Miss Anna Wilson who was born in Columbia in 1864. Mrs. Compton's paternal grandparents were John Weible and Jane Townsend Weible of Ohio. Her maternal grand- parents were Louis N. Wilson, member of an old and prominent Columbia family and Emily Morrison Wilson, born in Prairie du Long Precinct, Monroe county. Mrs. Wil- son was the sister of the late Col. William R. Morrison, who was once a candidate for President of the United States. The Wilson family came originally from Ireland, then migrated to Maryland and Kentucky, and finally set- tled in Illinois.
Mrs. Compton's father was principal of the Columbia grade school for thirty-five years. He also had a photo- graphic studio and during the summer months was a salesman for the American Text Book Co.
Her mother was one of the first women school teach- ers in Monroe county, teaching in the Etter and Sand Bank schools. Her aunt, Julia Wilson, now Mrs. Bert Div- ers, taught in Sand Bank school, walking back and forth every day, rain or shine, in mud or dust. Teaching was the profession Mrs. Compton's family followed, her mother, father, uncles and sister all being teachers. Her grand- father strved as sheriff of Monroe county for many years. They were all unpretentious and unassuming law-abiding citizens.
Mrs. Compton was originally a member of the old Metthodist Episcopal church here, but when the services were discontinued she united with St. Paul United Church of Christ. She is past president and the current treasurer of the Columbia Woman's Club, Guardian and Treasurer of Job's Daughters Bethel 65, Member of the DeMolay's Booster's Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Compton for many years has been employed by the Wein- el Hardware Co. in a secretarial position.
MRS. MELVIN GASSER
Mrs. Melvin Gasser, nee Mildred Lee Roberts, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lee Roberts of Dyersburg, Tennessee, was born at Hurricane Hill, Dyer County, Ten- nessee. She received her education in the public and high school of Dyersburg. She is a member of the Board of Di- rectors of the Centennial Association and the Centennial Style Show committee chairman.
In fact she was untiring in developing the Style Show and it was largely through her efforts that the Style Show proved the great success it was.
She studied Interior Decorating and for fifteen years she has followed this profession.
She is a collector of fine antiques, furniture and other objects of art. The home she and her husband purchased is over 100 years old and is a fine example of the German Classic Revival style. It formerly belonged to the Rohm family.
Mrs. Gasser is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Her hus- band works under civil service, being a railroad mail clerk.
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MRS. HARRY ARNIN
Mrs. Harry Arnin, nee Bertha Anna Kunz, was born in Columbia the daughter of the late Henry John Kunz, who was at one time mayor of Columbia, as was his son, Henry N. Kunz. Mr. Kunz, the senior, was born In Zurich, Switzerland and came to this country when he was five. Emilie Kunz, his wife, nee Steffenauer, was born in Carondelet, then a city in its own right, now a part of St. Louis. At the age of five she and her family moved to Columbia. Mr Kunz lived In St. Louis until he was 22, met and married the beautiful Emilie Steffen- auer and came to Columbia to live on the Steffenauer farm, later Hills and now Mollankamp's. Later they muv- ed to Columbia where Mr. Kunz became a cigar-maker, making them and then going on the road to sell them.
They had four children, Emilia, who married Julius Lotz of Columbia; Minnie, who married Joseph Weisen- stein and the subject of our sketch who married Harry Arnin, son of Jos. M Arnin and Henry N. Kunz. Jos. Arnin was the postmaster here for many years and conducted a general store He also served on the Town board and the school board and many similar civic organizations for the betterment of Columbia. His sons Harry and Arthur were clerks in the postoffice. Arthur later became the postmaster, and his sister Olivia Arnin served as clerk for him.
Mrs Arnin's maternal grandparents were John and Anna Steffenauer, nee Huber. The paternal grandparents lived in Switzerland.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Arnin reside in the lovely home built by Mr. Kunz. Bertha has inherited the graciousness of her mother. They have two children, Marjorie, wife of Monroe Trost, and Walther H. Arnin at home.
Mrs. Arnin is a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, the Women's Guild, the Sewing Circle of the Church and Monroe Chapter 597 Order of Eastern Star.
B. D. MIDDLETON
B. D. Middleton, chairman ¿ the Pageant committee of the Columbia Centennial Association, is superintendent of Columbia Unit No. 4 grade and high schools, coming here June 4, 1951. Mr. Middleton was born at Iuka, Il- linois, the son of T. J. Middleton and his wife, Mary Catherine, nee Mulvaney. His ancestors came from Wales, migrating to South Carolina, thence to Tennessee and then to Iuka, Illinois. Juka was then called Middleton because in 1851 the section where the village was sit- uated was deeded to the subject's great-grandfather, John B. Middleton. Later his grandfather Daniel J. Middleton purchased the land, together with his brother Alfred. The name was changed to luka to avoid a clash of names.
Mr Middleton is a direct descendant of Arthur Mid- dleton, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was married to Mildred Chapman and they have one daughter, Kim, wife of Dr. R. D. Rawson of Tuscon, Arizona. Mrs. Middleton attended Southern Illinois University and taught for fourteen years In Marion county schools. She is a graduate of Salem, Illinois high school.
Mr. Middleton is a member of A. F. and A. M. No. 1510; the Eatsern Star; the Illinois Education Associa- tion; a life member the National Education Association; Kappa phi Kappa; Rotary International and American Association of School Administrators.
Mr. Middleton is a graduate of Southern Illinois Uni- versity; with a master's degree; he also attended the University of Indiana and the University of Illinois.
lle and his wife are members of the United Church of Christ having transferred here from the Methodist Church.
JOHN McKEE
Stewart Mckee was Columbia's first mayor. Of him there seems to be no record. Of the second mayor, John Mckee, there is both record and memory, for the MeKee family was prominent in Columbia in the early days
In tracing the family history, the grandson of James, found that the family name was not Mckee but Mckay and pronounced Mcki, with the long "!".
They were of the Clan Mckay and came from the highland of Scotland, high up in the Inverness region. A clan Is a division of a tribe made up of "septs" - so many septs to a clan.
John McKee married Mary MacGowan. A description of him was given to the grandson, John Scott Mackie, by the late Jus. Volkert, Sr, who knew the old pioneer well. Mr. Volkert told him that John Mckee was a "hoss" doctor, and he asked Joseph Volkert to hold a horse which was to get treatment, while he went over to Angerer's Hotel across the street where the Breidecker Building now is. He said the doctor was a fine figure of a man, tall and broad-shouldered. The horse balked at the medicine but the doctor gave it to him by sheer force of will - and brawn. He said Mr. Mckee rode a big horse, at least sixteen hands high. His office was in a barn back of the Arlington Hotel, now the Chic Shop. Mr. Volkert was a little boy then and always re- membered the incident.
James Mickee was a fixture here. He owned much land here. He was secretary of the Village Board for many years and a teacher in the public school here. The records kept by him were beautiful, his ornatte script looking like steel engraving. He lived to be 90. He had one son, Harry, who married Louise Weinel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Weinel. They had three children, Ruth, wife of Hugh Burke of Waterloo, Edith, wife of William Grimes of Downers Grove, Illinois and John Scott Mackie of Burlingame, California. (He uses the correct form of the name). James McKee also had two daugh- ters, Mrs. Jessie Farrell of East St. Louis, and Mrs. Mabel Elish of Springfield.
James McKee had one sister, Janet, who was a beau- tiful woman and whom, many said, greatly resembled Mrs. Grimes.
This is the legend of the Mckee or Mackay or MacKle family, Scottish highlanders, who sought and found a brave new world.
MRS. CLIFFORD HABERL
Mrs. Clifford Haberl, nee Florence E Metter, is a member of the Centennial Historical Committee.
She is the daughter of Albert C. Metter and his wife Cora, nee Baltz of Columbia. She is the grand-daughter of Mr. and Mrs Charles Metter and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Baltz. She was born in Columbia. ller ancestors came from Alsace-Lorraine and Germany.
She is married to Clifford W. Haber] and is asso- ciated with him in their business known as the Clifford W. Haberl Plumbing and Heating. She is the bookkeeper and the secretary of the firm.
They have one son, Eugene, who is 10 years old.
Mrs Haberl is a graduate of the Columbla grade and high school and Brown's Business and Secretarial School in St. Louis.
She has always been interested in Columbia's public library, being a member of the library board. She is now assistant librarian.
A member of the St. Paul Church of Christ, she is a deacon in the church and also a member of the Chancel and the Senior choir She is an active worker in the Parent-Teachers Association and the Columbia Woman's Club. She is also an officer in Monroe Chapter 597 Order of the Eastern Star.
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MR. AND MRS. CONRAD STEFFENAUER
Front Row: Catherine Niemeier, Christian Niemeier, Chas. Niemeier. Back Row: Emma Rueck, Ida Kunz, Tillie Sodeman, Bertha Heinemann and Carrie Bollinger.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES LANDGRAF
A GAY BLADE OF THE 1800's
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JAMES HENRY CROWE
James Henry Crowe, president of the Lions Club which is in charge of the Beards for the Centennial, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James P. Crowe, nee Mary Frisch. There were four Crowe children: James, the oldest, the subject of this sketch; Ina Mae, Mrs. Raymond Jahr; Margie, the widow of George Menges of Belleville and Arlou, wife of Victor Reichert.
. "Jimmie's" father, James P. Crowe, was a school teacher, coming from near Burksville, then later worked at the Sligo Iron Stove Co. in St. Louis. "Jimmie" worked for the Chevrolet Company at Columbia, later at St. Louis, then at Monsanto for nine years and eventually established his own business, The Jimmie Crowe Auto Repair, at his present place of business.
Jim has an interesting family background. His grand- father, James Crowe, spent his first 16 years in Ireland, going to the public schools there. When he was 16 he accompanied his parents to America and in 1871 was married to Miss Margaret Fox. They had six children: Mathias, the oldest, Catherine, Agnes, Thomas, Mary and James. Mrs. Crowe, nee Fox, was a native of Monroe county. The family were all devout Catholics. Jimmie's great-grandfather, also James Crowe, was a native of Ireland. He was born there on May 1, 1836, the son of Mathias and Catherine (Ragin) Crowe. He married in Ireland and farmed there until 1852 when he set sail for the New World. He located in Monroe county and farmed there until his death, becoming a very successful farmer. He died in 1864; his wife in 1878 They were parents of seven children: Celia, Mary, Patrick, Lawrence, Bridget, Thomas and James. James Crowe, the grandfather, was called the "White Crowe" because he was the possessor of snowy white, curly hair, and was a very distinguished looking gentleman.
Jimmie is the fourth Crowe to bear the name of James.
With the Juek of the Irish, Jimmie won a goodly sum of money in a sweepstakes, and with true Irish warm- heartedness, gave most of it to worthy charities and to churches, that is, what Uncle Sam did not get by way of taxes.
Mrs. Crowe. nee Flora Weilbacher, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Weilbacher nee Elizabeth Leighten- helmer. The Weilbacher family is a pioneer family of this area, this branch of the family being prosperous farmers, who lived and farmed at the farm where now Pichard Weilbacher farms, on the outskirts of Columbia. Mrs. Crowe's father and mother purchased the beauti- ful old Pfeffer home and retired and afterward Jim and Flora bought the home. It has been modernized and re- decorated and is still a show place, sturdy and beautiful after many years.
The Crowes have four children: John Patrick (Jack); Mary Louise, a Miss Columbia Centennial candidate; James Joseph, the fifth James In the family and Jo Ann.
MRS. IRENE HABERL
Mrs. Irene Haberl, daughter of Fred and Catherine Dollar, Is a member of the Centennial Historical Com- mittee. She was born in Columbia. She is the wife of Frank Haberl. The Haberls have four children, Vernon J., Howard. Clifford W. and Marcella (Mrs. Alfred Crowder).
Mrs. Haberl's ancestors came from Germany and Bo- hemia Her grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. John A. Pfef- fer. nee Scherrer. The Pfeffers were a well-known Co- lumbia family for John A. was in business for many years.
The father of John A. Pfeffer came from Candel, Ba- varia, Germany by way of New Orleans In 1832. He came to the Illinois country and cleared a tract of land near Centreville, which he farmed He worked on steamboats which plied the Mississippi, and became an engineer in a distillery. lle married Margaret Scherrer who came from Alsace-Lorraine. Two of fourteen children survived to ma- turity - they being John A. and Mrs. Catherine Dollar.
John A. Pfeffer, conducted a store and a saloon. As this business grew the sons were taken into the business and it became the John A. Pfeffer and Sons Store. Later, under other management, it became the Columbia Mer- cantile Co.
John A. married Johanna K. Funk who was born in New Orleans. The following were their children, except for those who died in infancy: John Joseph, Joseph Fred, Emil F., Peter A., Mary, Theodore, Anna, Charles, Louis and Katherine, twins, and Louise, who is Mrs. David Jenkins, and who lives in East St. Louis. Being generous and kind people they adopted two children. Elizabeth Smith who became the wife of Frank Riebeling, and Johanna Mary.
The Pfeffers were prominent in church circles, belong- ing to the Immaculate Conception Church. Mr. Pfeffer for many years was a member of the Town Board and also the school board.
The Pfeifers built a beautiful brick home where they did much entertaining. They were very hospitable people and gracious hosts and hostesses. Their home is now own- ed by James Crowe.
Mrs. Haberl, a niece of the Pfeffers, is a member of the Immaculate Conception Church and is a Past Regent of the Daughters of isabella; she is a Royal Neighbor, a Past President of the American Legion Auxiliary, a mem- ber of the Mothers' and Friends' Club of her church and now president of the Altar Society. She is a hard worker for her community and her church, as is her husband, Frank Haberl.
RUDOLPH P. BRIEGEL
Rudolph P. Briegel for many years head of the Co- lumbia public and grade school was born June 16, 1866 in New Design Precinct. He was the son of Peter Briegel and his wife Elizabeth, nee Schrieber.
Both of his parents came from Germany and settled on a farm in New Design Precinet. The Briegels were among the first Germans to settle there.
Mr. Briegel attended Portland School which was then known as the Normal School of Monroe County. He also attended school at Waterloo for one year. He attended Mound City Commercial College at St. Louis and sessions of summer normal school.
In 1882 at the age of 16 he taught the Deer Hill School, then the Schroeder School and then the New Han- over School for four years, after which he came to Co- lumbia and taught in the grade school. He worked at the Star Milling Company here as a bookkeeper, and in 1912 became the superintendent of the Columbia School. Under his direction Columbia established a four year recognized high school with a two year commerelal de- partment. Under his direction the school acquired a fine library.
In 1894 he married Miss Pauline Stein of Belleville. They had one daughter Mildred Lucille, wife of Frank L. Eversull.
Mr. Briegel was one of the organizers of the Eagle Electric Co. which furnished electricity for the City of
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Columbia, and served as secretary for four years or until the company sold its interests to the city.
Mr. Briegel's hobby was raising fine chickens. Silver laced and white Wyandottes were his specialty, and he was the only person in Monroe County to take a prize for poultry at the St. Louis World's Fair.
He served as City Clerk of Columbia for four years and also as a Justice of the Peace.
He was first and foremost a teacher. He had a special gift for teaching the essentials. He so often said, "There must always be hewers of wood and carriers of water, and we must plan our teaching so that pupils in this category can be taught what they can use in life. The more brilliant pupils who would probably go out into the professions could follow any program but special care must be taken of the rank and file who make up most of America."
He was an excellent teacher and superintendent and an exemplary citizen.
MRS. C. L. VOLKERT
Mrs. C. L. Volkert, nee Consuelo Joy Smith was born in West Point, lowa. She moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Smith to Columbia in 1906. She attended Columbia public and high schools and Southern Illinois and Illinois University. She became a teacher of English and commercial subjects in Columbia high school and taught there for six years.
Mrs. Volkert was married to C. L. Volkert, son of Joseph J. and Barbara Volkert, nee Strassner. To them three children were born-Carroll Barbara (Mrs. George F. Vogt), J. L. Volkert and Margaret Volkert and eight grandchildren.
Mr. Volkert, "Mr. Dips" to most people, was born in St. Louis, moving to Columbia with his family in 1909. He was employed at the Herman Rose Drug Store for several years, then worked at Dupo for the Missouri Pacific for eleven years, resigning to assume the position of linotype operator and pressman at the Columbia Star Office. He was an Illinois State Trooper under Governor Emmerson for about four years. After prohibition he operated a tavern known as the Old Mill Buffet at Locust and Rapp. In 1941, after the death of Charles Kern in an auto acci- dent, he became Chief of Police of Columbia, which posi- tion he now holds.
The Volkert family were pioneers of Columbia, Chris- tian Volkert and his wife coming from Germany from Mai Kommen in the Rhine River region. They were vintners in the old country. The Strassner family came from Rheinpfalz, Germany, St. Martin-an der-Hardt. The two families met on the ship coming to America.
"Mr. Dips's brother, Ralph, has served two terms as sheriff of Monroe County and now is assistant warden at Pontiac; his brother, Joseph J., is the City Clerk for Colum- bia and for a number of years was assessor and treasurer of Monroe county. His brother Elmer is foreman on the "Rip" track at Dupo and his brother August is the genial host of Monnie's Sportsman's Inn.
Mr. Volkert served for two years with the A E F in World War I, being stationed at LeMans, France in the railroad yards for the duration and after the war. He holds a continuous 40 year membership in the American Legion serving as Commander several times. He is a member of Columbia Lodge No. 474 A. F. and A. M.
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