USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 59
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Until he was thirteen years old, Frank W. Roerig attended the pub- lic schools, then began working on a farm, so continuing for three years. He then started to learn the harnessmaking trade. and two years later took np carriage-trimming work. For the succeeding three vears he worked as a carriage trimmer, and then started in business as a harness maker, but sold his business December 23, 1903. He has always been interested in farming and still enjoys looking after his 160-acre farm in Jersey Township, and in addition to it owns business and residential property in Jerseyville.
On April 19, 1897, Mr. Roerig was married to Anna M. Dreesbach, born at Arenzville, Ill., a daughter of William and Caroline (Kutten- kuchler) Dreesbach, born in Siegburg, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Roerig have no children. Mr. Roerig served two terms as alderman, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He belongs to the Odd Fellows. A man of excellent principles and high moral character, he stands well in his community and is a very desirable citizen.
ROWDEN, Frank, one of the leading business men of Fieldon, and a substantial citizen of Jersey County, has borne an important part in the development of this section. He was born in Rosedale Township, February 18, 1876, a son of Miles F. and Lydia (Maltimore) Rowden, natives of Jersey County. The paternal grandparents were natives of Virginia. The maternal grandfather, John Maltimore, was born in Ohio, and they all came to Jerscy County at an early day, and bought land. John Maltimore became the largest landowner in the western part of Jersey County, and was a leading Democrat and very prominent
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inan. After their marriage, Miles F. Rowden and his wife settled in Rosedale Township, where he was thereafter engaged in farming.
When he was eleven years old, Frank Rowden went to live with Freeman Sweet, of Shipman, Ill., and attended school at that place and at Hooperston, Ill. In 1895 he returned to Jersey County, and for five years he was engaged in teaching school in the township of Richwoods. He then formed a partnership with F. C. Heitzig and the firm con- ducted a mercantile business for three years, when Mr. Rowden bought his partner's interest and continued the business alone until 1907. In that year he sold, and became cashier for the Belt Bank at Bunker Hill, Ill. On November 19, 1910, he helped to organize the State Bank of Fieldon, of which William Wieghard is president : L. J. Krueger is vice president ; and Frank Rowden is cashier. Mr. Rowden is commissioner of the Nutwood Drainage District, and he served for four years on the Board of Review, and for the same number of years as supervisor. For one term he was mayor of Fieldon, and he is one of the live men of this section. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds his member- ship. Fraternally he belongs to Jerseyville Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Jerseyville Chapter, R. A. M., and Fieldon Camp No. 1683, M. W. A.
On June 7, 1897, Mr. Rowden was married to Mary Heitzig, born in English Township, a daughter of Fred and Anna (Wahle) Heitzig, natives of Jersey County, Ill., and Germany, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Rowden have three children, namely : Cornelia, Fred F. and Rob- ert C.
RYAN, Richardson, one of the substantial farmers of Ruyle Town- ship, owns and operates 242 acres of very valuable land on section 35. He was born in Ruyle Township November 7, 1855, a son of Richard- son and Angeline (Richey) Ryan, he born at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1818, and she in Pope County, Ill., in 1822. He was a son of John and Jane (Wilcox) Ryan, natives of Philadelphia, Pa., and New London, Canada. They were married at Janesville, Ohio, and later came by boat on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Alton, Ill., and located about three miles south of Jerseyville, on a farm. While he was away working at his trade of a millwright, one of his children was taken ill, and the brave wife hitched up a yoke of oxen and started off on a ride of twenty-five miles to Carrollton to reach the nearest physician. After she had gone some distance, her motherly heart would not rest for fear some acci- dent would befall the children left at home, so she turned back, secured the other children, took them to a neighbor, and then resumed her journey to the doctor. It is interesting to know that the child re- covered and later became Dr. Charles Ryan of Springfield, Ill., who died in January, 1883. After several years on the farm, the grand- father sold and went to Greene County, Ill., locating southwest of Carrollton, where he remained twelve years. Once more he sold and returned to Jersey County, locating in what is now Ruyle Township, buying about 1,400 acres of land in Ruyle Township. There he died January 8, 1863, and the grandmother died also on the homestead.
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The maternal grandparents, James and Julia (Robinett ) Ritchie. were natives of North Carolina, who were married in Pope County, Ill., and the grandfather conducted a ferry at Cape Girardeau. He was noted for his sound judgment, and for many years was a justice of the peace. Buying considerable land in Jersey Township, he became one of the leading men of that locality.
After his marriage, the father of Richardson Ryan, Jr., settled on section 35, Ruyle Township, and at the time of his death owned 580 acres of land. In 1849, with his brother, Dr. Charles Ryan, he took the overland trip to the California gold fields, walking all the way from St. Joseph, Mo., and enduring many hardships. On one occasion. after going without water for two days, the little company came to a water hole, but none save he would drink, as there were five dead mules lying about it. After traveling a considerable distance farther, how- ever, and finding no other water, they decided that the contaminated water was better than none, and Richardson Ryan, being the most powerful man in the company, returned on foot with two pails, and carried back some to his companions, as far as known all surviving the unpleasant experience. After arriving in California, the two brothers spent a season digging for gold, and then he and Dr. Charles Ryan went into a commission business in Sacramento, where they remained for two years. They then returned home by way of Central America to New York City, and thence overland to the Ohio River and by boat to Alton. From there he took a team to his old home and afterward was engaged in farming until his death. Hle and his wife had three chil- dren, namely: Alice, who is Mrs. George Drake, of Ruyle Township: Leonard, who died at the age of sixty-four years; and Richardson.
There are some interesting stories preserved in the family regard- ing pioneer days. One of them tells of an occasion when the family. possessing of course no matches, and being unable to strike fire with the flint and steel, went a long distance to the nearest neighbor, and brought back sufficient coals to start a fire.
As long as the elder Richardson Ryan lived, his son lived with him. and then he inherited the 242 acres of land which he continues to operate, although from 1887 to 1888, he lived at Jerseyville in order that Mrs. Ryan have expert medical attendance. In 1888 he returned to his farm and has since been engaged in general farming. He has remodeled the residence and barns, and has a very valuable property. The farm is known as the Oakland Stock Farm. On January 24, 1883, Mr. Ryan was married to Lillie May Flatt, born in Jersey Township December 31, 1865, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Bryant) Flatt, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have two children, namely : Agnes, who is Mrs. Richard Chism, of Macoupin County, Ill .: and Walter, who is at home. Mr. Ryan attended the Oakland district school and has served it as a school director for many years, and he has also served as assessor for three years. In politics he is a Democrat. Few men are better known than he, and he is held in very high esteem as a fine type of American citizen.
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SANDERS, Clarence F., owner and operator of the famous Elm- hurst Stock Farm of Ruyle Township, has one of the finest rural prop- erties in Jersey County, and has brought it to its present condition through his own efforts. He was born in Ruyle Township, October 17, 1876, a son of Charles and Laura (Brown) Sanders, he born in Ruyle Township, and she in Chesterfield, Macoupin County, Ill. IIe was born November 10, 1845, and died April 12, 1878, while she was born March 24, 1847, and survives, residing at Greenfield, Ill.
The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Sanders, born January 24, 1802, in Vermont, died January 22, 1882, while his wife who bore the maiden name of Deborah Woodman, was born February 21, 1806, in Greene County, Ill. In 1820, Benjamin Sanders came west, stopping in Ohio for two and one-half years, where he worked for eight dollars per month on a farm. After leaving Ohio, he came to what is now Ruyle Township, and entered a tract of government land, adding to it by purchase until he had 680 acres of upland, and 920 acres of bottom land. After settling on his farm, he conducted a steamboat on the Mississippi River. At one time he owned a fine running horse that would outclass almost any other animal. At one time he was giving his horse a workout, when two men came along in a buggy and asked where they could find Benjamin Sanders as they wished to sec his celebrated horsc. Seeing that neither he nor his horse werc rec- ognized, Mr. Sanders offered to put up $300 that he could beat them with his horse, and his offer being accepted, easily outdistanced them and won the money. As they were leaving he disclosed his identity. In later life lc moved to Virden, Ill., where he had previously bought about 500 acres of land, and there he died. After their marriage, Charles Sanders and Laura Brown settled on the Sanders home- stead of 1,600 acres, and there he continued to farm the remainder of his life with the exception of the winters during his later life, when he and his wife lived at Greenfield, Ill. Becoming ill, he went to St. Louis, Mo., for treatment, and died there in a hospital. His children were as follows : Platt and Stanley, who with Clarence F. all live in Ruyle Township ; and Pearl.
Clarence F. Sanders attended the district schools, and after the second marriage of his mother, he remained with her and his step- father at Greenfield where they took up their residence. After two years, however, he came to his 400 acre farm his father left him. · This property had no improvements, and only 125 acres were under culti- vation, the balance being in timber. He went to work immediately and during the years that followed erected a fine residence and other buildings, and has everything including the latest improved machinery. IIe has been a heavy raiser of cattle, buying, feeding and selling them. and raiscs and feeds hogs. The products of his farm have a wide and. deserved popularity.
On October 27, 1898, Mr. Sanders was married to Nellie Bates, born in Macoupin Connty, Ill., a daughter of Frank and Rocetta (Brown) Bates, he born in Greene County, and she in Maconpin County,
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IIISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Ill. The grandparents William and Martha (Maze) Bates were born in Tennessee, while John Henry and Martha (Husky) Brown were born in Macoupin County. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have had the fol -. lowing children born to them: George E., Jene V., and Mellnotte and Francis who died when four and one-half months old. Mrs. Sanders attended the schools of her district and one term at the Carlinville Iligh school. Mr. Sanders is a Baptist and is a deacon in his church. He served as a school director and trustee, and is a Republican in politics. Fraternally he belongs to Kemper Camp, M. W. A.
SAUVAGE, Conrad, a retired farmer of Grafton who formerly was extensively engaged in farming in Jersey County, comes of an old and honored family in this country. His parents, Conrad and Ann Sauvage, were of French birth, who came to the United States in 1854, locating in Meigs County, Ohio, where he died in 1866. They had eleven children, all of whom are deceased except Conrad Sauvage. He was a child when his parents immigrated, and he was reared at Chester, Ohio, where he attended school.
When he was eighteen years old, Conrad Sauvage went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and spent a year, being engaged in farming in that vicinity. The next seven years were spent by him at Alton, Ill., where he was employed in railroad work, and he then came to Jersey County and for a time was employed in the quarries, becoming head drill man. Ile then bought a farm in Jersey County, and conducted it successfully until his retirement. During the Civil War, although only thirteen years old, he was made a mail carrier for the government. and probably was the youngest carrier ever employed by the United States government. Being captured on one occasion by General Mor- gan, of the Confederacy, he was forced to act as a guide for the enemy over the territory with which he was well acquainted.
After coming to Jersey County, Mr. Sauvage was married to Mary Simpson, of Irish-Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Sauvage have had the following children born to them: Anna Amberg, who lives at Wood River, Ill .; and Mary, who died in infancy. Mr. Sauvage be- longs to the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican. A man widely and favorably known, he deserves the confidence he inspires.
SCHWARZ, John G., manager of the Jerseyville Telephone Com- pany, and ex-alderman of the city, is one of the thoroughly representa- tive men of Jersey County. He was born at Jerseyville, in September, 1869, a son of John G. and Catherine (Fritz) Schwarz, natives of Ger- many, who came as young people to Jerseyville, where they were mar- ried. He was a stage driver on the route between Jerseyville, Alton and Jacksonville, and also had a large vineyard, and made wine and distilled liquors, including apple and peach brandy, his plant being an extensive one for that day. In addition he operated a livery busi- ness for many years. Later on in life he was one of the organizers of the Electric Light Company, and held offices in it, and he was one
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· of the four men who organized the Jerseyville Telephone Company. and was one of its direetors as long as he lived. For several years prior to his death he lived retired from active participation in public life, but never lost his interest in eivie affairs. Jerseyville owes much to him and his name is held in high regard to this day. IIis death occurred in November, 1895. The mother of John G. Sehwarz died in January. 1910. Their children were as follows: Mary, who is the widow of George C. Vosburgh of St. Louis, Mo .; Rosa C., who is the widow of Bert Hyatt ; and John G.
John G. Schwarz has spent his life at Jerseyville. Ile attended its grammar and high schools, and the dental department of Washington University of St. Louis, being graduated from the latter in 1904. For the subsequent six years he was engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Jerseyville, but then assumed the duties of general manager of the Jerseyville Telephone Company, which operates both the Bell and Kinloek systems. The officers of the company are as follows: J. M. Page, president; II. A. Shephard, vice president; and John G. Schwarz, secretary and treasurer. In 1916 the company took possession of the handsome modern building it now oeeupies, which is as well equipped as any similar one in the country. He is also vice president of the Jerseyville Building, Loan & Homestead Association.
On June 2, 1897, Mr. Sehwarz was married to Sarah A. White, born in Knox County, Mo., a daughter of John H. and Susan C. (Towson) White, born in Simpson County, Ky., and Harrisburg, Pa., respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Schwarz have two children: Ruth Virginia and George Russell, both of whom are at home. Mr. Sehwarz is a Presbyterian, is a member of the choir, a trustee of the ehureh, and has served as super- intendent of the Sunday school. A Democrat, he served as a member of the eity council from the Second Ward, and while he was in office the first paving was put in, as well as the system of sewers. A prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, he has represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge upon three separate oeeasions. A man of publie-spirit and wide experienee, Mr. Schwarz is giving his company and eom- munity a fine service, and his efforts are appreciated.
SEAGO, James L., one of the most influential men of Jersey County, owns a magnificent farm in English Township, as well as land in Greene County, and is numbered among the leading agriculturalists of this part of the state. He was born in Greene County, Ill., in that portion now ineluded in Jersey County, January 7, 1837, a son of John and Mary Ann (Campbell) Seago, natives of North Carolina who were reared in Tennessee. The paternal grandparents were born in North Carolina. In 1823 they journeyed overland with wagons and horses to Greene County, where they entered government land. The maternal grandparents, James and Elizabeth (Paee) Campbell, were among the very earliest settlers of English Township, where they entered and eleared land. The grandfather rafted lumber down the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
After their marriage, John Seago and wife settled in what is now Richwoods Township, leaving it for English Township in 1844, where they bought cighty acres of land, to which they kept on adding until they owned 185 acres. He was a Democrat and held many local offices. While on a visit to Tennessee, he died in 1869. His widow survived him, passing away in English Township in 1879. Of their ten children, of whom James L. was the eldest, three survive, namely: James L .; George, who lives at St. Louis, Mo .; and Douglas, who lives in Rich- woods Township.
On September 17, 1863, James L. Scago was married to Achsah Carrico, born in English Township, a daughter of John and Winnie Ann (Van Meter) Carrico, natives of St. Louis County, Mo., and southern Illinois. After their marriage they lived on two acres of land in English Township for two years, and then sold and Mr. Seago leased a tract of land which he conducted for three years, when he bought forty acres in English Township. Two years later he traded this farm for cighty acres, and within a couple of years sold it and secured sixty acres of timber land that he cleared, adding to it twenty more acres. He kept on buying timber land, and clearing it. and now has 360 acres of fine stock land, 200 acres of which he cultivates. Hle also owns 500 acres of land in Greene County, Ill., that he rents. While clearing off his land, Mr. Seago sawed lumber used to build the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad bridges, and for many buildings connected with the road.
Mr. and Mrs. Seago have had the following children born to them : Oscar A., a physician, who lives at Springfield, Ill .; Winnie Ann, who is Mrs. J. T. Berry, of Morgan County, Ill .; George M., who lives at Jerseyville, Ill .; and Charles T., who lives at Springfield, Ill. Mr. Seago attended the primitive subscription school, but only to a lim- ited extent. Mrs. Seago went to the Hickory Log district school. A Baptist, Mr. Seago has been a deacon of his church for many years. He is a Democrat and has held a number of township offices.
SEARLS, Thomas, now deceased, was for many years a substantial agriculturalist of Jersey County. He was born in County Cork, Ire- land, and came to the United States in young manhood, making the trip in a sailing vessel which was on the Atlantic Ocean for six weeks. He landed in New York City, and for a time was in the employ of a large wholesale house there. It was during the period of his residence in New York City, that he was married to Mary Beatty, a daughter of Mrs. Sarah Beatty, born in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Searls had the following children: Sarah, who owns the home farm, lives at Jer- seyville; William, who died May 29, 1912; Mary, who is Mrs. William Kennedy of Jersey Township; and Thomas W., who died in Oregon, leaving four children: Chester, who is deceased, was serving in the United States Navy ; Etta, who is a trained nurse, at St. Luke's Hos- pital, St. Louis; Gladys, who lives with her Aunt Sarah; and Ray, who is married and lives on the old homestead owned by Miss Sarah Searls.
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In 1857, six years after his marriage, Mr. Searls came to Jersey County, and bought eighty acres of land in Jersey Township, forty acres of which was covered with timber. Later, he added two eighty- acre farms, and at the time of his death had 240 acres of land. He con- tinued farming until his death, which occurred November 25, 1906. Mrs. Searls died February 2, 1899. In politics Mr. Searls was a Re- publican. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. A man of high principles, he lived up to his convictions, and was held in universal respect.
Miss Sarah Searls attended the district schools of Jersey Township. She belongs to the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Woman's Relief Corps.
SEIK, George J., agent of the Standard Oil Company, with head- quarters at Grafton, is one of the progressive men of Jersey County. He has held his present position for three years, and is in charge of all the company's business in this locality. He was born at Grafton January 5, 1868, a son of Herman Seik, a native of Germany, who came in young manhood to the United States, and was working as a laborer when the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted in defense of the Union, serving for four years. He had the misfortune to lose the sight of an eye through exposure while in the service. Following the close of the war he came to Grafton. Here he was married to Mrs. Syntha O. (Wheeler) Gibson, a widow with two children, namely: Leona and Morton Gibson. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Seik had the following chil- dren: George J .; Anna Owen, who lives in Oklahoma; Rosa Marshall and Martha Meier, who live at Grafton; Willie; Syntha: Charles; Herman; Harry; and Mabel. Both parents and the five children last named are now deceased.
Until he was seventeen years old, George J. Seik attended the Grafton schools, and then began farming. Later he operated a steam drill in a quarry, and also engaged in fishing, and conducted a motor boat. Going with the Mid-Continent Oil Company of East St. Louis, Ill., he was their agent for three years, and then was an independent agent for a time, finally entering the employ of the Standard Oil Com- pany as agent for the Decatur division, and is regarded as one of the most competent and faithful men in the service.
Mr. Seik was married to Irene Slaten, who is a native of Grafton, and their children are as follows: Mabel, who taught school at Graf- ton for several years, is now the wife of Roscoe Baxter ; Edgar, who is now serving his country in France as a marine; and Harold and Her- man, who are both at home. Mr. Seik is a Republican, and is presi- dent of the school board of trustees and has been a member of the town board. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds his membership. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and Mrs. Seik are members of the Royal Neighbors. They are active in the work of the Red Cross, and Mrs. Seik belongs to the Protec- tive League, and both are ardent supporters of all patriotic measures,
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
and are proud of the faet that they have the right to hang a service card in their window.
SHEA, John S., known as "the apple king of Jersey County," and a man who has taken a very prominent part in the publie life of the county, is an honored resident of Jerseyville. He was born at Grafton, Ill., December 24, 1871, a son of Dennis and Abbie (Van Antrep) Shea. he born in Ireland and she in Jersey County, Ill. The mother died when John S. Shea was an infant. The grandfather, Michael Shea, eame to the United States from Ireland by way of New Orleans. Dennis lived in that eity until the outbreak of the Civil War, when his two brothers entered the Confederate Army, and he came up the Mississippi River to Alton, Ill., where he enlisted in Company D, Second Illinois Cav- alry, as his sympathies were with the North. After his ninety-day period of enlistment expired, he re-enlisted for three years or until the elose of hostilities, and served in all four years and seven months. Following his discharge, he eame to Grafton, Ill., and worked in the stone quarry at this point for seventeen years. He then bought 200 aeres of land in Quarry Township, and was engaged in farming until his death, which oeeurred in 1908. Their children were as follows : Michael E., who lives at Alton, Ill .; Anna, who is Mrs. Michael Bow- man of Chesterfield, Ill .; Katie, who is deeeased; Margaret, who is the wife of Martin Dunn of Jerseyville; Rebeeca, who lives at St. Louis, Mo .; Hannah, who is the wife of Benjamin Matthews of St. Louis : and Agnes, who also lives at St. Louis; and John S.
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