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 46

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 46

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Henry Wieghard was born in the kingdom of Hanover, now in the empire of Germany, on the 28th day Jan., 1823. He was reared in Brunswick, learning at first the brewer's trade, and after- wards conducting a wholesale manufac- turing business, for another party, for about seven years. His father died when he was about 8 years old, and his mother the year following. About two years before Mr. Wieghard came to America, the partner of the gentleman by whom he was employed had come to

this country, and had been persuading him to come also. Accordingly, in 1851, he took passage in a sailing vessel, and after a voyage of nine weeks, which was the time then required to cross the ocean, he landed at New Orleans. The water in the Mississippi river was then very low, so that he had to stay there until the following spring before he could come up to St. Louis. He went from there to Marinetown, where his friend was staying, and after remaining there a little over a year, he went to Edwardsville, where he engaged in farming for two years. He then came to Fieldon, Jersey county, in the fall of 1856; remained there nearly three years, and then bought 80 acres of land on section 23, in Richwoods township, on which he moved. By enterprise and good management, he has been enabled to add to it from time to time, so that now he has a farm of 320 acres. He was married in Edwardsville, on the 25th day of July, 1853, to Margaret Kroeder, a native of Germany. They have had six children, five of whom are now living-J. K., married Charlotte Siemers, lives in Fieldon; William, married Emma Meyer, April 17, 1884, lives on his father's place; Henry, Jr., Albert and Otilda, at home. Edward died Dec. 25, 1883, aged 21 years. He was very intelligent, bright boy, and his loss was keenly felt by his parents. He was self-educated to quite a high degree. Mr. and Mrs. Wieghard are members of the Lutheran church. He has held the office of school director several terms. The farm and its sur- roundings show him to be an indus- trious, thoughtful farmer, who has by so being, succeeded well.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Thomas Johnson was born on the 24th of July, 1847, in Richwoods township, Jersey county, IN. His parents were John and Sarah Johnson. Ilis father was a native of Kentucky, but removed from that state to Missouri, where he was married. Thomas was the third in a family of eight children. When he was two years old, they moved to Wright county, Mo., and lived there two years. They then moved to Richwoods town- ship, this county, where our subject has since resided, and where his father died, Jan. 14, 1871. His mother died there also in the month of Nov., 1869. Thomas was married. July 25, 1869, to Sarah Cannon. She died in March, 1873. He was again married, March 18, 1879, to Leviea Callahan, daughter of George and Harriet Callahan. Two children have been born to them-George Henry and Hattie Jane. Mr. Johnson is a res- ident of section 28, and has been identi- fied with this county for over a third of a century. He is now holding the office of school director.

John Fulks, a prosperous farmer of this township, was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., en the 10th day of July, 1810. He is a son of Samuel and Levia (Tennyson) Fulks, who lived in Tennes- see up to the time of their death. Our subject spent all of his youth in that state, but in 1839 he left there and came to Illinois, locating in Greene county near White Hall. He remained there six years and then removed to the place where he now resides, in Richwoods township, Jersey county. While living in Tennessee, in 1831, he was married to Zona Pace. She died at his resi- dence in this county. Four of the children that were born to this union

are now living-Martha, married Wil- liam Pritchard, now living in Kansas; Elihu Samuel, married Laura Harvel, (now dead), resides in Greene county; Eliza, married William Edwards, and lives in Richwoods township; Lizzie. married Joseph Clark, and resides at Carrollton; Zerilda, who married Will- iam Davis, died in 1884. On the 8th day of Jan., 1873, Mr. Fulks was again mar- ried to Lydia Cole, widow of William Cole, and daughter of William and Charity Wiseman He has 240 acres of land and it is among the finest on Ma- coupin ereek. It is very choice rolling and undulating land, there being none better for raising wheat, to be found in the state. It is all of the best quality for either wheat or eorn, or for stock range. About 150 acres is under culti- vation and about 40 more can be easily cleared. It is well drained by small branches of the Macoupin creek, and no baekwater stands on the place at any time even during the wettest season. The water supply is good, and when neighboring farmers are without it, they can always obtain it there. There are two apple orehards, one being of winter apples. Any one in search of a fine piece of farm property could not do better than at Mr. Fulk's.

William B. Edwards was born in Monmouth county, N. J., on the 21st of April, in the year 1824. His parents were Benjamin and. Ann (Bailey) Ed- wards. They were both born and raised in New Jersey. His great grand- father, William Bailey, was the well- known General Bailey, of the Revolu- tionary war; while his grandfather, whose name was also William Bailey, was a captain of the patriot army that

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

fought to give freedom to America. William B. spent the first part of his life in his native state, engaging in farming and in buying and selling horses and mules on the New York market. In the year 1854, he removed from New Jersey to Warren county, O., where he remained six months and then came to Jerseyville. IIe resided there ten years, engaging in teaming between there and Alton. He removed from there to his present location, on section 35, in the northern part of Richwoods township. He was married in Mereer county, N. J., on the 14th of March, 1848, to Mary Emer Allen, a native of New York state, and daughter of John Allen. They have had 13 children, eight of whom are living-William II., married Eliza Fultz, and lives in Greene county; Mary Ann, married William R. Mulligan, and lives in Richwoods township; John Edward married Atlanta Cage, and lives in Crawford county, Kan .; Charles; Ellen married Jules King, and now lives in this township; George married Annie Devling, and lives in this township; Katie and Lewis. Five are dead-Eddie, Emeline, and three others that died in infancy. Mr. Edwards' father died ten years after his son came out here. There are 80 acres of land in the farm, all in a prosperous condition.

Bernhardt Wiist was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 11th day of May, 1826, his parents being Crispin and Mary ( Meyer) Wiist. His mother died on the 24th of June, 1845. At the age of 14 he commenced learning the mason's trade, at which he worked about six years, and then served in the army about five years. After

learning his trade, he traveled through Germany and France, working in the latter country five summers. After com- pleting his service in the army, he took passage at Havre, on a vessel bound for New Orleans, and after being on the ocean nine weeks, arrived at the Cres- cent city on the 15th day of April, 1854. He proceeded up the Mississippi river at once, stopping at Alton, where he remained a year, working at his trade. He then went to Grafton and worked at his trade nine years, then came to Rich- wood township, living one year at the Catholic parsonage near Fieldon, when he bought 80 acres of land on section 14. HIe cleared this land, at the same time working at his trade, which he continued doing until about 1869, when he gave it up altogether, and has ever since given his attention to farming. An industrious and thrifty farmer, Mr. Wiist has aecu- mulated, until he now has a farm of 240 acres, and it is a fine piece of property, surrounded with all good improvements. He not only raises grain, but also some stock. Ile was married on the 22d of June, 1857, to Johanna Hartman, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, and daughter of Ambrose Hartman. There has been 11 children born to them, but only four are now living-Bernhard, married Sophia Walter, lives in this township; Michael, Josephine and Wil- liam. Those dead are-an infant, that died in Germany; Joseph, Peter, Charles, Mary, Mary and Kate. Mr. Wiist and family are members of the Catholic church.

Zeddock Reddish is a native of Ken- tucky, being born Sept. 14, 1817. His father, Joseph Reddish, was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Kentucky.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Joseph died, and his widow removed to Richwoods township, Jersey county, Ill., in 1827. Zed. is now a resident of the township. His wife's father, John Medford, was one of the early settlers of the county.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school in Richwoods town- ship was taught by John Darneille in Aug., 1821, at a log cabin which stood in the hollow above the present resi- dence of Allen Cope, on section 8. This cabin was erected for school purposes, and was in close proximity to a living spring of water. It had a dirt floor, bark-seated benches, constructed on legs, etc. Among the first scholars were: Moses Ward, four children of John Medford, named James, Garrison, Ed- ward and Sophia (the latter now the wife of Zeddock Reddish); Harriet, Eunice, Phoebe and Susan Gates, chil- dren of Samuel Gates; Samuel Wads- worth, an adopted child; John and Effie McFain, children of Daniel McFain; Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith; Elizabeth M., daughter of John Gunter- man, Sr .; and Chesley, Jonathan, Uriah and Lucinda Borruff. Moses Ward and Mrs. Sophia Reddish are probably the only surviving scholars of this school.

District No. 1 .- The building in this district was erected in 1873, at a cost of about $2,000. M. E. Ellenwood taught the first term of school therein.

District No. 3 .- The school house in this district was built by Alfred Childs and William Goshorn, at a cost of $600.

District No. 4 .- In 1879, a new school house was erected in this district at a cost of $670.

District No. 5 .- This school house

was erected in 1876 at a cost of $700. The first term of school in this building was taught by Henry Dunham. The lot in this district, which consists of half an acre, was donated by Henry Wieg- hard. The present directors are John Bland, William Goshorn and Nicholas Heiderscheid.

District No. 6 .- A new school build- ing was erected in this district in 1879, at a cost of about $500.

FIRST ITEMS.

John Gunterman, Jr., and Druzilla Smith were the first couple married in what is now Richwoods township. Their marriage occurred in 1820, 'Squire Mitchell, of Greene county, officiating. The second was that of John Medford, Jr., and Rachel Little, which took place Sept. 6, 1821.

John Gunterman. Jr., plowed the first ground, in 1820, and also planted the first corn that year.

The first religious services in the township were held at the house of John Medford, Sr., on section 8, in 1821, by Rey. Isaac N. Pickett.

VILLAGE OF FIELDON.

This place is surrounded by a fine scope of farming country, and although it has no railroad outlet, enjoys consid- erable trade.

The town was laid out by Robert Terry on the 14th of Aug., 1837, and the plat filed for record just one week later. The town is, therefore, an old one, comparatively speaking.

The town site is level, varied by slightly swelling land, and the town presents a quiet neat appearance. .

In the line of manufactures, there

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

are two well equipped flouring mills, only one of which, however, is running at present. There is a harness shop, tailor shop, wood-working establish- ment, blacksmith and wagon shops, several good general stores, a drug store, bank, and, in fact, every trade and facility necessary to supply the or- dinary wants and conveniences of the people of the surrounding country, is found in Fieldon. The spiritual wants of the inhabitants are also well supplied by churches.

Pollard Kirkland was the first mer- chant in Fieldon, engaging in business just east of where Hagen's harness shop now stands about the year 1835. He carried a small stock of groceries at first, but afterward added a general stock. He came from Pennsylvania, and about the time of the commence- ment of the Mexican war, sold out to William Felter and removed to Texas. Felter ran the store, until it was des- troyed by fire a few years afterward.

The next merchant was John L. Terry, who opened a store just across the street south from Kronsbin's store. He was a tailor by trade, and first started a tailor shop, but soon afterward put in a stock of dry goods and groceries. When the gold excitement began to rage in California he went to that state, where he remained until the winter of 1881-2, when he returned to Fieldon. The following spring, accompanied by his eldest son, he went to Leadville, Col., where he subsequently died.

Guy Spencer was the next merchant. IIe erected the building now occupied by Mr. Johnessec, and started a gen- eral store, about 1858

James A. Eads put in a general stock

in June, 1858, in a building now owned by Mr. S. W. Sexton and which was erected by Mr. Eads.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.

C. S. Olney, dealer in general mer- chandise, commenced business in 1871, under the firm name of C. S. Olney & Co., the "Co." consisting of H. N. and J. H. Belt. During that year the build- ing now used by Olney was erected. It is a frame structure 24x60 fect, two sto- ries high. May 1, 1874, Mr. Olney pur- chased the entire business, and has since continued the same alone. He carries a complete stock of dry goods, clothing, groceries, queensware, etc.

C. S. Olney, born on the 13th of April, 1832, is a native of Washington county, Ohio. His parents were Cogswell and Matilda P. (Smith) Olney, the former a native of Nova Scotia, and the latter of Ohio. C. S. received his education in the vicinity of his birthplace, where he lived until coming to Jersey county, in the year 1859. He first located in Jersey township, and engaged in teaching school there, but the following year he removed to Fieldon, where he taught school, and afterwards taught in Jersey- ville. He was engaged in that occupa- tion until 1864, when he commenced as a clerk in the store of James A. Eads, with whom he was employed about two years. He was engaged in various occu- pations for several years, when he was appointed deputy sheriff, in the fall of 1868, and was honored with that position two years. The firm of C. S. Olney & Co. was then established, in 1871, of which Mr. Olney afterwards assumed the entire control, May 1, 1874, and has since conducted the_business Zalone.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

He was married in Fieldon, Sept. 10, 1868, to Virginia F. Belt, daughter of Horatio N. and Mary J. Belt. They have three children-Clara E., Mark P. and Lee S. Mr. Oiney is a prominent man of Fieldon, and is honored and respected by his numerous friends.

The general merchandise business of August J. Kronsbin was established by Z. Reddish, who was succeeded by Ter- ry & Buzby. Terry & Goetten were the next proprietors, and were succeeded by Goetten & Wieghard. Mr. Goetten afterward died, after which Mr. Wieg- hard ran the business until June, 1883, when Mr. Kronsbin bought the store and has sinee continued the business. The building is 30x90; constructed of brick and two stories high. . He carries a full stock of dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, coffins, machinery, etc., the coffin department occupying the second floor. There is a machinery warehouse in the rear of the store building, 30x50 feet in size.

August J. Kronsbin, a son of II. F. and Elizabeth Kronsbin, was born Jan. 14, 1852, in St. Louis, Mo. He was educated in the common schools of St. Louis and in the Washington University. His first occupation after leaving school was on the streets of St. Louis, blaek- ing boots and selling papers, but seek- ing for a higher position, and one of more esteem, he soon secured a situa- tion in a bookstore, and remained in that business some time. Ile after this learned the carpenter trade, with his father, who was a contractor and builder. After a time August entered the employ of a wholesale dry goods firm, where he remained until the house failed, and he was again thrown out of

employment. He persevered and was soon engaged by Hayden & Allen, a hardware firm, as salesman, and by economy and good management, he was soon enabled to start in the grocery business for himself in St. Louis, which he afterwards sold. He then went to Saxton, Mo., where he was engaged in the saw-mill business. He remained there some nine months, and the mill being flooded out by high water and he losing some $3,000, was obliged to re- turn to St. Louis. He was there mar- ried, Oct. 5, 1882, to Julia Wiederhoff, also a native of St. Louis. They were the parents of twins, born in Oct., 1883, and both of whom died Jan. 1, 1884. Mr. Kronsbin was a freight clerk of the 1. & St. L. railroad for a while, and was so employed until coming to Fieldon, where he has since been engaged in business. He is a member of the Red Cross lodge, No. 54, K. ofP., St. Louis. Mr. Kronsbin is one of the go-ahead merchants of Jersey county, and is do- ing a large and lucrative business. By fair and honest dealing, striet integrity of purpose, and efficient management, he is rapidly getting to the front, and bids fair to be numbered among the wealthy men of this section of country.

W. Park & Sons engaged in the drug business in 1875. Mr. Park had laid the foundation for a store building in the fall of 1874, but it was not completed until the following spring. No change has occurred in the firm sinee the busi- ness was established. As Mr. Park is a registered pharmacist, he attends to the prescription case in person. The build- ing was originally 22x40 feet in size, but when the bank was established, an ad- dition 16x22 feet was creeted. Asketch

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

of the doctor will be found in the Medi- cal chapter.

The blacksmith business is repre- sented by S. W. Sexton, who erected his shop and established the business in 1875. Prior to Mr. Sexton the business was carried on by William Miller and N. P. Johnessee for some 15 or 16 years.

Samuel B. Johnessee established his wagon shop in 1860, and has continued the same ever since.

John Hagen, harness-maker, com- menced business in 1874, after erecting his present building, which is a frame structure, 18x32 feet in dimensions. He carries a complete stock of goods usu- ally found in his line, and has the only shop in the place.

John Horn, merchant tailor, com- menced business in April, 1881. He does all kinds of work in his line, and is the only representative of this branch of business in Fieldon.

John Horn was born on the 29th day of January, in 1850, in the Empire of Germany. His parents were Philip and Gerdraud (Myer) Horn, natives of Germany. His father died in Germany at the age of 63. His mother is still living, at Ardon, Madison county, Ill., being now 53 years old. At the age of 13 years John began to learn the tailor's trade with his father, with whom he worked seven years. Ile then started to this country, taking passage on the steamer at Hamburg, and landing at New York after being on the water 14 days. He came from New York, by rail, to St. Louis, and from there went to Sparta, Randolph county, Ill .. where he worked at his trade two months; from there he went to Evansville, Ind., work- ing at his trade about nine months, and

then he went back to St. Louis and worked one year. In the spring of 1872 he went to Salem, Ill., where he worked two years, and from thence went to Evansville, Ind., and went into business for himself. Not being suc- cessful there, he returned to St. Louis, staid there about one year, and in the fall of 1875 went to Atchison, Kan., where he worked several months, and again returned to St. Louis, where he remained six months. In the month of July, 1876, he started for the old coun- try by way of New York, on the steamer Otter, sailing for Bremen. He arrived there about the 1st of August, and re- mained there four years, during all of which time he worked at his trade. In the month of March, 1881, he returned to this country and located at Fieldon, where he has since resided. Mr. Horn has been twice married ; first, to Mar- garet Hagen, a native of Germany, to whom two children were born-Willie, and one that died. His present wife was Matilda Kessler, daughter of George Kessler. By this marriage there is one child-Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Horn has a tailor shop in Fieldon, where he carries on his busi- nees and is doing well.

The meat business is represented by John Hagen, who established the first regular market in Fieldon, in 1880.

C. G. Buffington, physician and sur- geon, came to Fieldon in 1882, and com- menced his first practice at this point. In 1883, he was elected county physi- cian. He has a large and lucrative prac- tice in the village aud surrounding country. A sketch of this gentleman will be found in the Medical chapter.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

The first millinery store in Fieldon was established in 1877, by Lydia Arke- bauer. She conducted the business un- til 1883, when Tilla Arkebauer assumed charge. It is now owned by Lydia and Mary Arkebauer.

BANK.

In 1876 W. Park & Sons established a bank at Fieldon. They do a general banking business, dealing largely in loans on personal security. Their safe is of the Mosler, Bakmann & Co's man- ufacture. The Sons part of the firm is composed of George C. and Arthur F. Park.

HOTEL.

The City hotel was built in 1876 by Harvey Alford, at a cost of about $2,200, who ran it a while and then rented it. It changed hands several times, and was finally taken charge of by Mr. Alford, who operated it successfully until the time of his death, which occurred May 19, 1880. William H. H. West then became landlord, and managed the honse about two years, since which time L. C. Million has had charge of it.

MUNICIPAL.

Fieldon was organized in accordance with an act of the legislature for that purpose, which was approved Feb. 7, 1857. At the first election the following trustees were elected: Zeddock Reddish, Asa Briggs, F. A. Wade, J. G. Arke- bauer and William W. Felter. The first meeting of the board occurred March 25, 1858, and was organized with the follow- ing officers: Zeddock Reddish, pres .; William W. Felter, clerk and treas .; H. C. Turner, constable; John Piper. collector; D. M. Tucker, street commis- sioner; John J. Close, assessor. At an

election held June 12, 1883, the question of organizing as a village, under the general law, was voted upon and was carried by a vote of 31 to 1. The follow- ing are the present officers. Z. Reddish, Jacob Strausser, William Lawler, Jacob Reddish, E. F. Brown, and L. T. Belt, trustees; L. C. Million, clerk; E. F. Brown, president.

MILLS.

The Eugenie mills were built by Belt Brothers, about the year 1854. The main building is 24x62, three stories high, and an engine room in addition, 24x62 feet and one story high, with foundations of stone. The engine is 60 horse power and was manufactured by the Western Foundry of St. Louis. The mill is furnished with four run of buhrs, set in an iron frame, and also one set of rolls. It was operated by Belt Brothers under the old process until 1873, when C. C. Buzby purchased the institution. He remodeled it in 1879, putting in new machinery at a cost of between $5,000) and $9,000. The capacity is 150 barrels per 24 hours. On account of the failure of the wheat crop for the past two or three seasons, the mill is idle at pres- ent, but it is finely equipped and is cer- tainly a credit to its owner, Mr. Buzby. Originally, there was a saw-mill con- nected with this mill for several years, which was afterward removed to some land belonging to O. P. Powel, who afterward sold it to William H. H. West. He disposed of it to the present owner, Rollin Clark.

The Union mills were built by the Union Mill Co. The company consisted of Dr. W. Park, T. K. Phipps, J. H. Belt, Peter Dranery, William Krueger, Asa Briggs, Frank Brown, Charles Mc-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Daniels, John Terry, Z. Reddish and others. After completion the mill was leased to J. II. Belt, who operated it one year for the company, and after- wards ran it a year for himself. Stephen Reddish then conducted the business one year, and was succeeded by T. K. Phipps and Leonard Radcliff. William H. H. West then took the mill and ran it two years, when J. H. Belt went into partnership with him. In Nov., 1881, L. T. Belt purchased a half interest in the concern, and the business was con- tinued by Powel & Belt. In May, 1885, Mr. Park purchased Mr. Powel's interest, and it is now owned and oper- ated by Park & Belt. Their business is mostly custom, but their trade extends over a radius of 12 or 15 miles in some directions.

L. T. Belt, one of the firm of the Union Mills, was born in Fieldon, on the 31st of Jan., 1857. He is the son of J. II. and Matilda Belt, both old residents of the county. L. T. was reared in Fieldon, and received a com. mon school education in the schools of that place. His father was engaged in building the Eugenie mills, and L. T. liking the occupation, began the milling business in Nov. 1881, in partnership with W. R. Powel, but is now associ- ated with Mr. Park in that enterprise. Mr. Belt is one of the board of trus- tees in his township, having held that position two terms. Ile was united in marriage with Lizzie Rowden, daughter of James Rowden, on Oct. 2, 1882. They have been blessed with one child -Horace Cleveland, born July 12, 1883.

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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 46

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