USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
James F. Mains has always lived on his present farm where he was reared, and he attended the Sherman district school. On January 23, 1901, he was married to Stella May Davis, who was born at Litchfield, Ill., June 23, 1883, a daughter of Charles Augustus and Eliza (Felter) Davis. Charles Augustus Davis was a son of Jolin W. and Eliza A. (Fitzgerald) Davis, he born in North Carolina, September 19, 1819, a son of James and Elizabeth (Morrow) Davis, natives of North Carolina.
After his marriage, James F. Mains took up his residence on a por- tion of the homestead, and he and his father farmed the property in partnership until the latter's death, after which the son bought a part of the property, and since then has carried on general grain farming and raises horses, cattle and hogs. He and his wife have had the fol- lowing children born to them : Robert W., born August 23, 1902; Ken- neth Davis, born December 10, 1904; Edith Pearl, born April 20, 1906; Ruth Easter, born April 4, 1908, and James F., born October 27, 1917. Since 1905 Mr. Mains has been a school director and he is also a mem- ber of the drainage commission of his district. In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, attending the local lodge at Kane, Ill .; and Jerseyville Lodge No. 954, B. P. O. E.
MAINS, William Truman, a general farmer and stockraiser of Jersey Township, is one of the substantial men of Jersey County. and
592
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
one who is widely and favorably known. He was born in Jersey Township, June 24, 1867, a son of Freeman and Elizabeth (Stevens) Mains, he born in Benton County, Mo., and she in Greene County, Ill. The grandparents, James Mains and Isaiah Stevens, were early settlers of Jersey County, the former coming up the Mississippi River to St. Louis in 1838, and crossing it into Illinois where only a shack of a barn marked the present site of East St. Louis. He located on a farm in Jersey County. Isaiah Stevens was born in Illinois, and his wife was born in Kentucky, but her parents brought her during her child- hood to Greene County, they making the trip with oxen and on horse- back, and after their arrival, her parents secured land from the govern- ment in Greene County.
After their marriage Freeman and Elizabeth (Stevens) Mains, located in the northeastern part of Jersey County, where he subse- quently owned about 2,000 acres of land. He was a prominent man, being a justice of the peace, and for twenty-four years was supervisor of his township. His death occurred in September, 1907. His wife died in 1883.
William Truman Mains grew up on the farm and attended the district schools of Jersey Township, and lived on the homestead until he was thirty-five years old, at which time he moved to a farm of 160 acres in Jersey Township that his father owned. This farm is very highly improved, and on it he carries on general farming and stockraising.
On February 17, 1897, William Truman Mains was married to Eliza Ann Halbert, born in Greene County, Ill., March 5, 1878, a daughter of Wilson and Naomi (Close) Halbert, natives of Greene County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Mains have the following children : Lucile May, born October 23, 1899; Ralph H., born May 12, 1904; and Jessie Roberta, born November 24, 1906. The family belongs to the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Mains is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World, and the Masons, in which he has attained to the Royal Arch degree. Mrs. Mains belongs to the order of Eastern Star.
MARSTON, Joseph Goodspeed, one of the retired business men of Jerseyville, was at one time very prominent in commercial circles here and at other points. He was born at Philadelphia, Pa., April 15, 1837, a son of Oliver and Elizabeth (Porter) Marston, he born at Marston Mills, Mass., on Cape Cod, and she at Philadelphia, Pa. The grand- parents were Prince and Lydia (Goodspeed) Marston, natives of Massa- chusetts, and William and Ann (McCloud) Porter, he a sailor and she a native of New Jersey. Oliver Marston left home when fifteen years old to go to sca, shipping on a sailing vessel, and he rose until he was master of a merchantman, named Archer. IIe followed the sea from 1814 to 1841, when he came to Jersey County, and bought some land. He built a residence with lumber he brought with him from Cincinnati, Ohio, down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi River to Alton, Ill.,
593
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
from whence he hauled it by teams to his land. He was here engaged in farming until his death which occurred in 1856, when he was fifty- three years old, having been born in 1803. His wife, who was born in 1801, died in 1879. Their children were as follows: William, Oliver, Harvey, Oliver II, all of whom are deceased; Joseph Goodspeed ; Lydia, who was Mrs. Donald Robertson, is deceased; IIoward, who is de- ceased ; and Samuel, who lives at Bunker Hill, Ill.
Joseph Goodspeed Marston spent his boyhood days on the farm with his parents, but when he was fifteen years old he went to Alton, Ill., and learned the harnessmaking trade and worked at making sad- dles and harness until 1856, when he returned to Philadelphia and at- tended a grammar school for two years. Ile then clerked in a drug store at Jerseyville for Dr. J. O. Hamilton for a year, when he took a similar position in a general store at Alton. In 1867 he returned to Jerseyville and with C. M. Hamilton engaged in a grocery and hard- ware business until 1872, in which year the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Marston then formed new connections with II. T. Nail, and after a year formed a partnership with Levi Halliday to handle seeds, 110- tions, crockery and groceries. In 1904 Mr. Marston bought his part- ner's interest, and continued the business alone until 1909 wlien he sold. and since then has been living in retirement.
On February 12, 1868, he was married to Adaline Cadwallader, born in Fulton County, Ill., a daughter of John and Nancy (Branson) Cadwallader, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. There were no children. Mrs. Marston died May 11, 1908. Mr. Marston is a Republican, and served as city clerk two terms, and alderman from the First Ward for two terins. Ile is a Mason, having attained to the Knight Templar degree. A man of high principles, he has lived up to his ideals and is held in great esteem.
MEYSENBURG, E., president of the Stafford Mercantile Company, and a banker of note, is one of the leading business men of Grafton, where he has been instrumental in securing much of the present mate- rial prosperity of the place. IIe was born February 7, 1842, on a feudal estate in Flanders, Germany, a son of Frederick Meysenburg, who was born in 1802, at Essen, Germany. He was a schoolmate of the elder Krupp, and studied civil engineering with him. The maiden name of the wife of Frederick Meysenburg was Johanna Somitz, and she was born at Cologne, Germany. For a time he was in the employ of the government, and then took charge of the feudal estate where his son was born, managing it until 1857, when he came to the United States, locating at St. Louis, Mo. Being a highly educated man, he found employment as a private tutor, and his children received their educational training under him. These children were as follows : Matildie, who was married to Edward Nixdorff, is a widow residing in New York state; E. Meysenburg; Theodore Aug; O. W., and several who died in infancy. O. W. Mysenburg, the youngest living brother, became prominent as president of the Wells French Car Company, which constructs street railroads both at Chicago and St. Louis, Mo.
38
1
59-
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Theodore Aug Meysenburg, another brother of E. Meysenburg, en- listed as a soldier for service during the Civil War, in the Third Vol- unteer Infantry from Missouri, under Col. Franz Sigel, and soon there- after participated in the battles of Carthage and Wilson's Creek, Mo., the most important engagements fought in the state, and was chosen as first lieutenant of the company known as the "Benton Hussars," and soon thereafter was assigned to duty on the staff of Colonel Sigel, so serving at the battle of Pea Ridge. When Colonel Sigel was pro- moted to be brigadier-general, Lieutenant Meysenburg .was appointed by President Lincoln, assistant adjutant general, with the rank of cap- tain, in accordance with the recommendation of General Sigel. Captain Meysenburg was transferred with General Sigel's command to the Shenandoah Valley. After their arrival, Captain Meysenburg was assigned to General Fremont's command, and he took part in the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, when the troops were under the direction of General Pope. Captain Meysenburg also took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, while serving in the Army of the Potomac, and won promotion to the rank of lieutenant- colonel. After the battle of Gettysburg, he was transferred to the Army of the West, and took part in the battle of Chattanooga, and later tendered his resignation in order to enter business activities at St. Louis, Mo.
E. Meysenburg came to St. Louis, Mo., to join his uncle Theodore Krunswick, who had located at St. Louis in 1833, and had developed into a very prosperous merchant. In 1849 Mr. Krunswick retired to the suburb of St. Louis that bears his name. After two years of experience in a wholesale dry goods house at St. Louis, Mr. Mey- senburg, in 1859, took charge of his uncle's mercantile establishment at Krunswick, and assisted his uncle in discharging the duties of post- master. Ilis active young spirit was not satisfied however, and in a short time he returned to St. Louis, where he spent a brief period with a hat house, and then went to Sulphur Springs, Mo., where he was agent for the Iron Mountain Railroad. Having been in the South, his sympathies naturally were with that section in the conflict between the North and the South and he enlisted in Company E, First Missouri Cavalry, and on January 1, 1862, re-enlisted in the Confederate service in Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry. He was paroled May 1, 1865, at Columbus, Miss. After his return, he secured temporary employ- ment in collecting taxes in the Fifth Ward of St. Louis, and on Sep- tember 1, 1865, he entered a wholesale hat house as bookkeeper. In 1867 Mr. Meysenburg formed a partnership with Harry Eastman, of Grafton, Ill., and this connection continued until 1871, when Mr. Meysenburg bought out his partner, and founded the firm of Mey- senburg & Smith. Mr. Meysenburg bought the business of Brook Staf- ford in 1876, and with the latter's son, Christopher E. Stafford, formed the mercantile house of Stafford & Co., from which Mr. Smith retired in 1879. In 1883 Mr. Meysenburg bought the banking business of William II. Allen of Grafton, which he has since continued. In 1896
,
595
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
he and Mr. Stafford incorporated the Stafford Mercantile Company, of which Mr. Meysenburg is president. Although Mr. Meysenburg suf- fered a heavy loss from fire in 1912, he immediately rebuilt his mer- cantile establishment and bank, and both are now in a flourishing con- dition. The bank is fire and burglar proof and modern in every respect.
Mr. Meysenburg was married to Miss Mary H. Frichnor, born at Wheeling, W. Va., January 27, 1849, and they became the parents of the following children: Fannie, who was married to a Mr. Eastoff ; Natalie, who married a Mr. Lawrence, resides at Springfield, Ill .; Edith and Clara, who are at home ; and Robert L., who is now cashier of the bank, his father being its president. Mr. Meysenburg has served as mayor of Grafton several times, and he has been supervisor of his township. During the early days, he served for four years as captain of the militia, and has never been found lacking in public spirit or interest in the furtherance of the welfare of his community.
MILLER, John D., one of the substantial farmers of Mississippi Township, is a well known and respected citizen of Jersey County, and one who stands high in his own community. He was born in his pres- ent township, in August, 1875, a son of John D. and Christina (Schaffer) Miller, natives of Wuerttemberg, Germany. In 1870 the parents located in Mississippi Township, there buying a farm, and there the father died in 1902. After his death, the mother lived on the farm until her death in 1915.
John D. Miller was reared in his native township and attended its schools. Remaining at home he inherited the homestead of 140 acres of land on section 25, when his mother died, but later sold fifty-five acres of it, and now operates eighty acres of the remainder as a gen- eral farmer. Five acres of his farm is a valuable apple orchard. Mr. Miller's religious connections are with the German Evangelical Church. In politics he is a Democrat, but he has never desired to enter public life, devoting himself to his agricultural duties. Having spent his life in farming. Mr. Miller understands its every detail, and is well fitted for his calling, which recent public events is making one of the most important in the world. In war, unless the armies are fed, vic- tory cannot be reasonably expected, and upon the shoulders of the farmers of a country also rest the responsibilities of raising the food- stuffs for the sustenance of men, women and children who cannot thus provide for themselves.
MINER, William Kendall, now deceased, was one of the leading men of Jersey County, and during his lifetime owned the largest farm in that part of the state, his homestead being pointed out as a show place to travelers. He was born in Addison County, Vt., February 7, 1803. a son of Nathaniel and Rebecca (Kendall) Miner.
Although he had but few educational advantages, William Kendall Miner was a fine business man, and very well informed person. While
.
596
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
still a very young man, he was married to Hannah Drury, and after their marriage, they drove overland to Jersey County, where he en- tered a large traet of raw prairie land in Fidelity Township. He broke and improved his land, and kept on adding to his holdings until he had many aeres. Until a short time prior to his death, when he moved to Fidelity, he resided on this farm, with the exception of one year he spent in Vermont. By his first marriage, he had the following children : Rebecca, who is Mrs. William H. Frost; Elizabeth, who is Mrs. G. R. Garretson ; Abbie, who is Mrs. William Campbell; William P., who is married to Jane Armstrong; Henry Clay, who lives at Sunnyside, Wash. : and IIannah. All these ehildren but Henry Clay are now deceased. In December, 1839, William K. Miner was married to Mary Anne Solly, born at Philadelphia, Pa., December 7, 1815, a daughter of Robert and Ann (Hoffman) Solly, he born in England, and she at Philadelphia, Pa. By his second marriage, Mr. Miner beeame the father of the following children: James, who died at the age of four years ; Charles Frederiek, who is deeeased; Mary L., who is Mrs. Richard IIolden of Alton, Ill .; Margaret, who is the widow of E. A. Dodge, lives at Jerseyville; Harriet, who died in infancy ; Adelia E., who is Mrs. A. F. Ely of Fidelity Township; and Martha Alma, who lives at Alton, Ill. Mr. Miner died March 2, 1870, and his widow died January 29, 1878.
In addition to his Jersey County property, Mr. Miner owned 800 acres of fine timberland near La Crosse, Wis., 320 acres in Clay County, Ill., and 160 aeres near Pawnee, Christian County, Ill. Miss Martha Alma Miner inherited a portion of the home farmn, but for many years she has lived at Alton, renting her farm. The family is one of the most honored in Jersey and other counties, and the name of Miner stands for integrity and uprightness, and a high standard of morality.
MITZEL, August F., one of the enterprising business men of Jersey- ville, is profitably engaged in the manufacture of soda water, and has built up a very large trade. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., June 22, 1868, a son of Gustave and Walbruga (Sehneider) Mitzel, natives of Baden, Germany, who eame to the United States by way of New Or- leans, and settled at St. Louis, Mo., about 1847. The father died during the winter of 1869-70, and his family continued to live at St. Louis. The mother died in 1913, at Festus, Mo., when she was eighty-five years old.
August F. Mitzel attended a parochial school in St. Louis, and began to be self supporting when only twelve years old, working in a brick vard for two years. Ile then went into the steel mills in South St. Louis, and remained there until he left for Festus, Mo., where he learned the soda water manufacturing business. In 1894 he came to Jerseyville, and with his brother-in-law, Fred Sehafer, embarked in the manufacture of soda water and all kinds of soft drinks. Two years later he bought out his brother-in-law, and has condueted the business
597
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
alone ever since. He has a large trade at Fidelity, Kane, Nutwood, Rosedale, Otterville, McClusky, Dow, Medora, and supplies all of Jer- seyville. The quality of his product is of so superior character that it commands excellent prices.
On October 16, 1895, Mr. Mitzel was married to Sarah M. Boyer, born at Bloomsdale, St. Genevieve County, Mo., August 23, 1874, a daughter of Jacob L. and Martha (Boyer) Boyer, born in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Mitzel became the parents of the following children : Francis, who lives at Detroit, Mich. ; and Blanche, Marie, Irene, Agnes, Harold, Leona, Pauline, Raymond and Mildred. all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Mitzel are Catholics. Politically he is a Demo- crat and served as an oil inspector of Jerseyville for three years. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Elks, the Western Catholic Union and the Owls.
MORGAN, Alfred, who, for many years was a prosperous farmer of Jersey County, owning and operating eighty acres of land, is now a resident of Jerseyville. He was born in England, in June, 1842, a son of George and Elizabeth (Morgan) Morgan, both of whom died in England. In 1865 Alfred Morgan came to the United States, having been educated in the excellent public schools of his native land, and spent his two first years in America in Clinton County, Ohio. In 1867 he came to Kane, Ill., where he engaged in farming, and for about five years worked as a farmer by the month, and then assumed charge of the farm owned by a widow named Green. In 1890 Mr. Morgan came to English Township, and bought his present farm of eighty acres of improved land. There he carried on general farming until the spring of 1918, when he had a public sale and moved to Jerseyville, where he bought the E. C. Jewsbury property on West Pearl Street where he now lives. He rented his farm to his son-in- law, who now rents 440 acres of land.
In 1877 Mr. Morgan was married to Anna Huitt, born in Greene County, a daughter of Roland and Meddie Huitt, natives of Greene County. One child, Anna, now Mrs. Sidney Jenkins, of Colorado, was born to this marriage. Mrs. Morgan died in 1878. In 1884 Mr. Morgan was married (second) to Eliza Illger, born at Boston, Lincoln- shire, England, a daughter of Robert and Eliza (Illger) Illger. After the death of Mr. Illger, Mrs. Illger was married to William Evi- son. In 1868 Mrs. Morgan, then a girl, joined her mother at Kane, Ill., and remained with her until her marriage to Mr. Morgan. By his second marriage, Mr. Morgan became the father of the following children : Sarah Matilda, who married Asa Beckner, of English Town- ship; Bertha May, who is at home; Jessie Agnes, who is a clerk in the Smith & Irvin dry goods store at Kane, Ill., and Amy Alberta, who is a teacher in the public school. The family all belong to the Baptist Church. Mr. Morgan is a Democrat and has served as a school director for about fifteen years. He is a man widely and favorably known and stands very high in public confidence.
598
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
MOURNING, Thomas D., a general farmer and stockraiser of Eng- lislı Township, and one of the large landowners of Jersey County, is a very highly respected citizen. He was born in Lincoln County, Mo., January 28, 1858, a son of William R. and Sally (Barker) Mourn- ing, he born in Virginia and she in Lincoln County, Mo., to which county William R. Mourning was taken in boyhood by his parents. In 1860, owing to sectional feeling, he moved to Calhoun County, Ill., and a few years later came to Jersey County, settling near Rosedale, but finally located in English Township, where he bought land and later died. Ilis children were as follows: Richard, who lives at Jer- seyville; Euphrasia, who is deceased; Thomas D .; Jasper, who lives in English Township ; Jennie, who is deceased ; and James, William and Sarah, who are living on the homestead.
Thomas D. Mourning never received proper educational advan- tages, but he made the best of his opportunities such as they were. When he was seventeen years old he worked as a farm laborer by the month, and so continued for five years, then rented land and farmed, remaining in English Township for six years. Later he bought eighty acres of land on which were no buildings so he had to erect the necessary ones, and he operates this farm in addition to one of 240 acres owned by Colonel Fulkerson, and on it he carries on general farming and stockraising.
On October 14, 1885, Mr. Mourning was married to Jennie Kelley, born in Greene County, Ill., a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Seago) Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Mourning became the parents of the following children: Lovie, who is Mrs. William Fritz, of English Township; Charles and Lester, who live in Jersey Township; Viola, who is Mrs. George Geier, of Montana; Jesse, who is deceased; Florence, who is Mrs. William Waters, of Jersey Township; Lottie and Vita, who are deceased ; Emigene, who is at home; Edna, who is deceased; Harold, who is deceased; Russell; and Nettie, Hazel, Lois, Melvin, Ruth and Howard, who are at home. Mr. Mourning belongs to Bethany Baptist Church, of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Kane Camp, M. W. A. and the Protective League, also of Kane. A hardworking, thrifty man, he has honorably earned all he possesses, and has also gained the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
NELSON, Theodore A., one of the reliable business men of Jersey County, has built up a valuable connection as a contractor and resides at Jerseyville. He was born at the county seat, January 7, 1875, a son of Conrad and Jennie (McCann) Nelson, natives of Sweden and Jersey County, respectively. Conrad Nelson came to the United States in young manhood, in 1863, and upon his arrival, enlisted in the Union army in the Civil War, being then twenty years old. He and his wife had the following children: Gussie E., Dora E., Theodore A., Edwin, Catherine, Carl, Frank, Charles, Orlan S., Mae. After his discharge from the army, Conrad Nelson began working at his trade of a plas-
599
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
terer which he had learned in Sweden, and was thus engaged for many years. He is still living in Jerscy County, but his wife died April 24, 1914.
Theodore A. Nelson attended the Jerseyville schools until he was sixteen years old, when he began an apprenticeship under his father, and remained with him until 1900, when he went to Lamar, Col., and worked at his trade. Later he returned to Jerseyville, but in a short time went to Springfield and worked at his trade there for five years. Once more he came back to Jerseyville, and has since resided here, being still engaged at working as a plasterer, and now contracting.
Mr. Nelson was married July 3, 1903, to Miss Mabel A. Ballow, who was born in Greene County, Ill., July 6, 1885, and comes of French and German extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have one son, Winifred R., who was born November 23, 1910. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican, and fra- ternally he belongs to the W. O. W. and the Owls.
NEWLAND, Joseph W., mayor of Grafton, and agent of the C. P. & St. Louis Railroad, is one of the sound and reliable men, of Jersey County, and stands high in public esteem. He was born at Crab Or- chard, Ky., July 4, 1880, a son of John A. Newland, born in Kentucky. A civil engineer by profession, he was in the service of the government and stationed at Hot Springs, Ark., and later assisted in locating the route of the L. & N. Railroad in eastern Kentucky. Politically he was a Democrat, while his fraternal relations were with the Masonic order. He was married to Virginia Alice Thomas, who was born at Madison, Ind. Their children were as follows: Frederick Dudley, who is de- ceased ; Anna Martha, who resides at Cincinnati, Ohio ; Joseph W .; and Allie May and Bessie, both of whom are deceased. The father is de- ceased but the mother survives and is agent for the C. P. & St. L. Rail- road at Elsah, Ill., having formerly been agent for the L. & N. Rail- road at Crab Orchard, Ky., for twenty years, and the first agent teleg- rapher employed by the L. & N. Railroad.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.