History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 32

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 32

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Mo., where he followed farming one season, returning in the fall to Jersey county and again engaged in threshing. Soon after he sold his outfit and em- barked in mercantile trade, in company with W. W. Gilham, at East Newbern. In March, 1870, he moved his stock of goods to Louisiana, Mo., where the fol- lowing May he closed out his goods and engaged in farming in Audrain county. He returned to Jersey county in July, 1871, having disposed of his interests in Missouri, and purchased a portion of the old homestead on Round Prairie, where he resided till March, 1873. At that date he moved to Elsah and engaged in merchandising. In Dec., 1874, he shipped his stock of goods to Aberdeen, Miss., and spent 1875 and a part of 1876 in that state. He engaged while there in farming, milling, ginning cotton, mer- chandising and trading. November 8, 1876, he returned to Elsah, Jersey Co., and, in partnership with his brother, E. C. Giberson, engaged in mercantile trade. In the spring of 1877 another brother, J. J. Giberson, was admitted into the firm. In August, 1878, James M. Giberson purchased his partners' in- terests and has since that time carried on business alone. He has an extensive trade and is highly prosperous. He is the owner of the store building which he occupies, four dwelling houses, a stock farm located one-half mile from Elsah, and real estate in Kansas. Sept. 4, 1870, Mr. Giberson was married to Irene Collins, a native of Keokuk, Iowa. They have two children-Herbert G. and James A., the former born at East Newbern, April 29, 1872, and the latter at Elsah, March 3, 1882. Mr. Giberson is a member of the I. O.O. F.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

The general merchandise store of A.H. Stephany was established by his father, M. Stephany, deceased, in 1870, who purchased the building of Richard Fuller,at that time. Mr. Stephany car- ries a complete stock of general mer- chandise and groceries, and is doing a good business.

A. H. Stephany is a son of Martin Stephany, a native of Germany, who was born June 24, 1824. Martin was the third of a family of five children, and in his youth learned the tailor's trade. He then went to Switzerland, where he remained until 1849. In that year he immigrated to America, and proceeded immediately to the city of St. Louis, where he arrived May 11th of that year. On the 28th day of the same month he was married to Elizabeth Steinman, a native of Switzerland. Five children were born to them, three of whom are now living. They continued to reside in St. Louis until October, 1855, at which time they removed to Elsah, then known as Jersey Landing- Here, in 1860, he engaged in mercantile business, which he carried on success- fully until the time of his death, July 12, 1879. The subject of this sketch, A. H. Stephany, was born in St. Louis, Oct. 23, 1852. He came with his par- ents to Elsah, where he has since re- sided, being here reared to a mercantile life. He is unmarried, and now resides with his widowed mother. He is suc- cessful in business, and a prominent and honored citizen. He is a member . of the Masonic lodge of Grafton, the I.O. O. F., and the K. of P., of Elsah. He has held the office of village clerk four years and collector two years, and is a consistent Lutheran.

The building now occupied by B. L. Mott as a drug and variety store, was purchased by him in 1862, of James Semple. It is a one story stone affair, 20x30 feet in size, with basement, and was erected in 1856 by James G. Swan.

Mrs. C. Haas is engaged in the sale of groceries and provisions, in a build- ing which she rents of her daughter Effie. She commenced business in 1862.

The grocery and provision business is also represented at Elsah by L. H. Vanderslice.

J. O. Richie is the proprietor of the only meat market in the place at present.

John G. Brown operates a wagon and blacksmith shop combined, which he rebuilt in 1884. It was formerly owned and used by D. T. Tonkinson as a blacksmith shop. The business is valued at present at $600.

John G. Brown, blacksmith. of Elsah, is the seventh of a"family of nine children. At the age of 17 years he left home and went to work for himself at blacksmithing, having previously served an apprenticeship of three years with Theodore Burnett, in Girard, Ma- coupin county, Ill. He first opened a shop in Raymond, Montgomery county, Ill , where he continued one year; then went to Ohio and worked one year in a shocing shop at Middletown; thence to Dayton, O .; and, about one year later, to Missouri, where he was employed for six months in building trestle work on a railroad. He then went to Louisi- ana, in the same state, and there fol- lowed horse shoeing a few months, after which he returned to Illinois, and worked at his trade in Greene Co.,

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

where he carried on a general repairing establishment. During his residence there he was married to Vina Pennell, Nov. 20, 1877. He removed to Elsah, Jersey county. He is a skilled work- man at his trade. In addition to black- smithing he runs a general repairing establishment for wagons, buggies, &c. He is also an experienced veterinary surgeon, and practices that profession in connection with his other business. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had three children born to them-Nellie, Emma and Amanda.

There are two cooper-shops in the village of Elsah, owned and operated respectively by X. Schneider and Louis Keller.

Michael Huss is engaged in making boots and shoes, and also the repairing of the same. He also keeps a stock for retail purposes.

McNair Bros. established their pres- ent business in the spring of 1884. They have a machine shop for repairing of all kinds, and have also a feed mill in connection. The machinery is operated by a ten-horse power engine. Their building is 22x30 feet in size, with a wing 16×32.

J. B. Reintges, wheelright, erected his present building, and commenced busi- ness in 1878. He does all kinds of woodwork, carriage and wagon making and repairing, and is also engaged in the sale of farm machinery. His busi- ness structure is 20x34 feet in ground area, and is three stories in height.

John B. Reintges, the first white child born in the village of Elsah, is the son of Peter Reintges, who came to Elsah township in 1852. Peter Reintges was born in Dollendorf, Germany, Jan. 13,

1813. He was a stone mason by trade. In 1852 he immigrated to Ameriea, and went first to Wisconsin, where he re- mained a short time, then to Elsah, as before stated. He died here in 1863. His widow, Mrs. Eva M. Reintges, was married, in 1864, to Christian A. Loehr, a prominent citizen of Elsah. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Reintges had six chil- dren born to them, three of whom are now living-John B., Louisa A. E. and Jacob. Theresa, wife of D. J. Murphy, no 12 1896 is deceased and two died in infancy. John B. Reintges, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native township, and in his youth learned the trade of wheelwright, which he still follows. He was married Nov. 19, 1878, to Annie O'Hare. They have two children, Lizzeta and Eva. Mr. Reintges is a public-spirited citizen. He has held the office of constable four years, has been school direetor three years, and is at present serving as as- sessor of Elsah township. He is a member of the Catholic church. He was, in honor of having been the first first white child born in Elsah, pre- sented by Hon. James Semple with a lot 50x75 feet in dimensions, located in the village of Elsah.

Christian A. Loehr, mentioned above, was born in Hanover, Germany, April 14, 1832, and came to Jersey county in 1857. He was first married to Christine Schrier, in September, 1861. She died in January, 1864. Three chil- dren were born to them, one of whom is now living-Lizzeta. Mr. Loehr has been engaged in mercantile trade, but is now retired. He has been a member of the village board three terms, and is at the present time school director. He

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the Catholic church.

The tonsorial business is represented by Louis Bapst, who is located here, and established his shop, in 1885.

There are two saloons in the village, operated respectively by Cosmos Keller and William H. McDowell.

HOTELS.

The first building on the present site of the Riverside hotel was a log cabin built by Addison Greene, sin 1847. It was afterward remodeled and a frame addition erected, and about the year 1853 purchased by Brock and Onetto. In 1866, Cosmos Keller, Sr., purchased the building, adding a frame structure, two stories high. At the time of his death, April 9, 1880, the property passed into the hands of his children, Cosmos and Emina, who still operate it as a hotel.

Cosmos Keller, proprietor of a hotel and saloon at Elsah, was born near Elsah, Jersey county, Ill., Sept. 27, 1859. He is a son of Cosmos,, Sr., and Dorothea Keller. Cosmos Keller, Sr .. was born March 11, 1832, in Alsace, then a province of France, and resided in his native country until 1856, when he came to America, and located, in March, 1857, at Elsah, Jersey county, Ill. In 1856 he was married to Dorothea Behrens, who died Jan. 12, 1877. In July of the same year, he was married to Mrs. Bertha Feurherd. He has had three children, two of whom are living -Cosmos and Emma, the latter, born in 1863. The family are believers in the Roman Catholic religion. Cosmos, Jr., is at present, township collector, which office he has held for five succes-

sive years. He has also held the office of village clerk, one term. Heis a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 269, of Elsah, in which he holds the office of P. G. He belongs, also, to the K. P. lodge, No. 106, of Elsah. In the latter organization he has served three terms as secretary.

A hotel is also run by Isaac N. Pig- gott, which is first-class in all its ap- pointments. Neatness and cleanliness are the mottoes of the house, and a fair patronage is the result. The building is a large, two story frame structure, with a store in the first floor.

STILL HOUSE AND GRIST MILL.

In the spring of 1856, Knapp, Good- rich & Co., of Jerseyville, built a large stone building, 40x200 feet in ground area and three and a half stories high, which they operated as a distillery and a flouring mill. It was equipped with the necessary machinery and had five run of buhrs, the distilling department having a capacity of 1,200 bushels per day. The mill and distillery was in operation until May 5, 1870, when the institution was destroyed by fire. The walls are still standing and at present are the property of the W., St. L. & P. railroad company. It was erected at a cost of $65,000, and from the date of its completion the town began to improve and expand.

ELSAH FISHERY.

One of the leading industries of the town of Elsah, and, indeed, of this whole section of the country, is the fishery of Isaac Houpt. This gentle- man commenced the business as early as 1866, in a comparatively small way,

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

and has, by attention to it, developed it to an extraordinary dimension. He has some sixty or seventy nets, and two large seines and five fishing boats, which he uses in the business, and finds employment for quite a number of hands. All kinds of edible fish, among which are white, black and calico bass, pike, pickerel, catfish, perch, buffalo and red-horse, are gathered from the bosom of the mighty "father of waters" and prepared for the market. Tons of the finny tribe are gathered in and for- warded to St. Louis and other points, and disposed of to the benefit and profit of the enterprising proprietor of this industry, who is the largest and most successful fishery operator in this county, or, in fact, in all this region. Ile is able, honest and industrious, and deserves the good fortune brought about by his ability and enterprise.

SPRINGS.

Two fine springs of living water are among the attractions of Elsah. One of them is known as Fountain Square spring. They were noticed at the time of the first settlement of the town, and since then have never, at any time, ceased to flow. Quite a' respectable sized stream of water flows from each one, and the water is used by the people of their vicinity in preference to well water.

OTHER PROMINENT CITIZENS.

James E. Starr was born in New York, Sept. 21, 1813. When about 16 years of age he was taken by a maternal uncle to Georgia, as an assistant in a store. He remained with him until Sept., 1833, when, learning of the death of his father, at Alton, Ill., he returned home, reach-

ing Alton in November of that year. Here he pursued his avocation as clerk and merchant for several years. In 1843 and 1844 he was employed as clerk on the river in the Alton and St. Louis trade, leaving it to take the position of United States deputy marshal. In 1845 he took command of a steamer, and finally quit the river in 1847. In Oct., 1846, he was married to Sabra B. Ellis, at Burlington, Iowa. On the opening of the Alton and Sangamon railroad (now Chicago and Alton) he was appointed general ticket agent of the road, which position he held for several years. On the breaking out of the war he was residing in Alton with his family, but in the spring of 1862 he moved to Jersey county, where he has since resided. The farm is located on Secs. 21 and 22, T. 6 n., R. 11 w., and has been largely devoted to horticulture. Mr. Starr was one of the founders of the State Horticultural Society, of which he was at one time president. He was one of the first admitted to membership in the I. O. O. F., Aug. 11, 1836, and has filled the positions of treasurer, secre- tary, grand master, and grand represent- ative.

Rev. Luther E. Cole, of Elsah, was born in Halliston, Massachusetts, Oct. 9, 1847. In 1855 he came to the state of Illinois, where he grew to manhood, fitting himself for a ministerial career. He was licensed to preach May 19, 1881, by the Alton District Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which met at Brighton, Ill., Aug. 31, of the same year, he joined the Southern Illinois Conference, held at Greenville, Bond county, Bishop J. F. Hurst officiating, and was appointed to the Elsah circuit. He was ordained and

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

ordered deacon by Bishop Thomas Bow- man, of Belleville, Ill., Sept. 24, 1883. At the session of conference held at Fairfield, Ill., Sept. 24, 1884, he was returned to the Elsah circuit. At that session the circuits of Elsah, Grafton, and all of the territory in Jersey county lying south of a line from Delhi to Fulton, were united, forming one circuit, of which he was appointed pas- tor in charge, and which field he at present occupies. Rev. Luther Cole is a man of much zeal and ability and is an earnest and faithful worker in the cause of the Master. .

R. C. Chidister, son of William and Amanda (Willbanks) Chidister, was born in Elsah township, Jersey county, June 29, 1858. William Chidister was born in Licking county, O., Oct. 14, 1818, and died in this county, Feb. 14, 1881. Amanda Chidister was born in Ken- tucky, in Aug., 1843, and died here, Feb. 12, 1883. Both are buried in the Salem cemetery. The subject of this sketch is the second of a family of six children, and resided with his parents until 24 years of age. Ile then engaged in farming for himself in Elsah town- ship, where he still lives. He is a republican in politics.

Abraham Worthey, retired farmer, was born in Franklin county, Ga., Nov. 11, 18IS. When about three years of age he left that state, removing with his par- ents to Smith county, Tenn., where he remained till he was 19 years old. Oct. 20, 1839, he was united in marriage with Sarah Craig, daughter of James and Susanna (Burchett) Craig. Mr. and Mrs. Worthey have had 17 children born to them-Mary Ann, wife of Charles Harland, of Mississippi township; Wil-

liam H., living in Alton, Ill; John W., married to Lucy Finch, living in Mis- souri; Sarah, widow of John Connor; Susanna, wife of Aaron Reed, of Elsah township ; Martha, wife of George Miers, of Macoupin county, Ill .; Eliza- beth, wife of John Reed, also of Macou- pin county; Addie, who resides with her sister, Mrs. Miers; Abraham, Jr., living on section 6, Elsah township, married to Mary Dougherty; Julia, wife of William Johnson; Eva, wife of Wesley Johnson, of Elsah township; James M., Eliza Ann, Thomas B., and Jasper N. are deceased, and three died in infancy. Mr. Worthey owns a valuable farm of 120 acres, located on section 6, Elsah township, which is well improved, also residence property in the village of Elsah, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Worthey are members of the Pres- byterian church. He belongs to the Grafton lodge of the Masonic fraternity, and to the I. O. O. F, lodge, No. 369, of Elsah.

Isaac Newton Piggott, was born in "Piggott's Fort," in Monroe county, Ill., in Nov., 1793. His father, Capt. James Piggott, was a native of the state of Connecticut, and in early life was a sea-faring man. He is reputed to have been one of the party who blew up a British gunboat just preceding the Revolution. The British Crown offered 500 guineas reward for each of the parties concerned, but failed to capture them. He next appears with a commisssion, as captain of a l'ennsylvania company of troops, early in the war. He was at Valley Forge, during that memorable winter, when Gen. George Rogers Clarke was fitting out his western expe- dition to subdue the great Northwestern

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

territory. Capt. Piggott tendered his resignation in the Continental army, giving as reasons therefor, "that his family had then (1778) already gone west, to Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburgh, Penn .; that he wished to join Clark's expedition, and go to the Northwest territory." In accepting his resignation, Gen. Washington received the same for the reasons therein stated. Capt. Pig- gott came west with Clark's expedition and shared in the perils and privations incident thereto. He remained for some years at Kaskaskia, where his family soon joined him. He next built a fort or block-house, in the American Bottom, in Monroe county, which was known as Piggott's Fort, as a protection for the early settlers against the hostile Indians. He established the first ferry at St. Louis, which is now known as the Wiggins ferry. He moved to what is now a part of East St. Louis, Ill., at his ferry, where he died in Dec., 1799. At the time of his decease, he was presiding judge of the court of St. Clair county, Ill., then held at Cahokia, then the county seat of that county. Isaac N. Pig- gott was left an orphan, at seven years of age. In 1803, his mother re-married and moved across the river, to the terri- tory of Upper Louisiana, and settled in St. Louis county, where Isaac N. was principally brought up, on a farm. His opportunity for education was very limited. We find him in the war of 1812, for which service, his widow drew a pension until her decease, in 1881. In 1821, we find him a Methodist minister, stationed at the First M. E. church, in St. Louis. At the western conference of the M. E. church, held in Oct., 1822, at St. Louis, he was sent to the Missis-

sippi circuit, comprising Pike, Adams, Schuyler, Brown, Scott, Greene, and part of Morgan counties, Ill. In Dec. 1822, he moved with his family to Greene county, and settled near Wood- ville, northwest of Kane, from whence he went around a four week's circuit on horseback, going northwest as far as Quincy. The settlements at that early day were sparse and far between, no bridges, very dim roads, but early set- tlers were proverbial for their hospital- ity to all, and especially to the early itinerant preacher. He virtually estab- lished Methodism in this district, being the first itinerant minister regularly sent to this part of the state. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop MeKendree, at the St. Louis conference, and was afterwards ordained by Bishop R. R. Roberts, at Padfield, in St. Clair county, Ill., in 1824, as evidenced by the parchments signed by the bishop, and now in the hands of one of his daughters, Mary J. Brock, of Jerseyville, Ill. About the year 1825, from failing health, Isaac N. Piggott located from the itinerancy, and sought other occupation. He remained a member of the M. E. church until his decease, in 1874. He was the first post- master in the limits of Jersey county, the office being at Eminence. He after- wards had the postoffice removed to Newbern, where he was again post- master. He removed from Jersey county to St. Louis, Mo., in 1859, where he died Feb. 11, 1874, in his 81st year. He was a fine conversationalist, a fluent speaker, a versatile writer; and a man well posted on almost any subject. He could apparently turn his attention equally well to theology, medicine, or the law, being proficient in each.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Hiram T. Keyser was born in the state of Kentucky, on the 24th of De- cember, in the year of 1826. He lived with his parents until he was 20 years old. In 1852 he came to Illinois, stop- ping at Alton, where he staid four years, working at his trade, which is that of brick and stone mason and plasterer. In the year 1856 he came to Elsah, and has lived there or in that vicinity up to the present time. On the 5th day of September, in the year 1855, he was married to Mary Ann Myers, daughter of Samuel Myers. They have had five children, namely-John H., Charles H., Mary Elizabeth, Victor and Harry. Mr. Keyser has served as trustee of the village of Elsah for four years. He still continues at his trade which he has been working at nearly 40 years. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a democrat.

William G. Onetto, blacksmith and engineer, came to Jersey county in 1836, and for a time followed various occupa- tions to gain a livelihood. In 1853 he moved to the village of Elsah, where he now resides, and which then contained but three houses. He was born April 8, 1825, and married in 1843, to Mary Ann Massey, daughter of William and Magdeline (Metz) Massey. She was born in St. Louis and died in 1870. They had two children-Elizabeth and Anthony, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Onetto was again married to Mrs. Sinclair, widow of William Sinclair. He is a member of Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Pythias. He is a democrat politically, and with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Elsah.

Mr. Onetto is one of the earliest settlers of the village of Elsah, and a highly esteemed citizen.

Leander C. Carrico, a cooper in Elsah, was born on the 10th day of October, in the year 1848, near Kane, Greene county, Ill. He lived with his parents until he was nearly 16 years old, when he enlisted in Co. D, 1st Reg., Missouri cavalry volunteers. He went into ser- vice on the 22d of July, 1864, and was mustered out at Benton Barracks, Mo., on the 18th of September, 1865. He participated in the following battles or skirmishes: At Mount Elba, Ark., and at Mt. Elba Ferry and Princeton, and the second assault at Pine Bluff and Brownsville. On the 3d day of Feb., in the year 1869, he was married to Annie Reynolds. One child was born to them-Ledora C., born on the 9th of Dec., 1869. She is living with her grandparents at Shipman, Ill. On the 1st of Aug., 1878, Mr. Carrico was mar- ried again to Mrs. Mary M. Davis, widow of Haston Davis. They have had two children-Mary E., born June 20, 1880; died Aug. 14, 1880; and Horace G., born Dec. 26, 1881. Mr. Carrico has been in 17 different states and ter- ritories, seeing a great deal of the coun- try. He belongs to the Baptist church, is a member of Rutherford Post, No. 206, G. A. R., of which he is now com- mander, and has been officer of the day two terms previous to this. His parents were both natives of Illinois, but were of French and English descent. Her parents were of French descent. His father, Thomas C. Carrico, was born Dec. 21, 1825, in Greene county, Ill. He enlisted at Virden in Co. G, 122d Il1. Inft., on the 13th of Aug., 1862. He

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died in the hospital at Corinth, Miss., on the 14th of March, 1863, and was brought home to Virden, where he was buried. His mother is still living, and is now the wife of Daniel Bettis, and resides in this county.

POSTOFFICE.

The postoffice at Elsah was established in 1852, and James Semple commis- sioned postmaster. The present incum- bent is James Francis. Prior to this time, however, and about the year 1830 a postoffice was established at a place called Eminence, two miles below Elsah. Newton Piggott was the postmaster.

MUNICIPAL.

Elsah was organized and incorporated as a village in 1872. The following were the first officers : William P. War- ren, president; W. A. McNair, clerk; J. R. Whipple, Christ. Loehr, Isaac Newton Piggott, and Thomas Hansel, trustees. The present officers are the fol- lowing named gentlemen: George F. Lane, president; W. B. Starr, clerk; T. F. Hansel, treasurer; James Fuller, street commissioner; William Tonkin- son, constable; W. P. Warren, X. Schneider, J. G. Brown, R. B. Leak, and E. M. Pinney, trustees.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 32

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150