History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 83

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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David M. Hall spent his boyhood days in the city of his nativity and continued his education until he had passed through successive grades and completed the high-school course. He was with the Rock Island Railroad Company from 1866 until October, 1882, serving in various capaci- ties, including freight clerk and operator at Peru for a year. Later he entered the Ottawa office, where he was agent from 1876 until October, 1882, having charge of both freight and ticket de- departments. He also spent about one year as ticket agent near Peoria, but during the greater part of his railroad service was in Ottawa. In 1859 he accepted a position as second assistant postmaster at Ottawa and at the time of the out- break of the Civil war was assistant postmaster under C. B. King, with whom he served until after the close of hostilities, practically having charge of the office during the later years of his connection therewith.

Following his retirement from the railroad service Mr. Hall entered H. S. Gilbert's board of trade office, acting as bookkeeper and tele- grapher for about a year. In April. 1886, he located at his present home on section 6, Otta- wa township, selling his city property and pur- chasing his present residence. He conducted a dairy for a number of years and still handles a

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number of cows. He also raises asparagus, hav- ing large beds of this vegetable, which finds a ready sale on the market and brings to him a very gratifying annual income.

In Ottawa township on the 13th of June, 1876, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Kibby, who was born in Kane county, February 3. 1848, her parents being early settlers and farm- ing people of that section of the state. They were A. J. and Caroline E. Kibby, who removed from Cortland county, New York, in the early '30s and became identified with the pioneer de- velopment of Kane county. Mrs. Hall was reared at Huntley, where for many years her father con- ducted a store. His wife died in December, 1864, and he afterward removed to Boone, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1871. Mrs. Hall was one of a family of five children, but only two are now living. her brother being Theodore A. Kibby, who resides near Berthoud, Colorado, be- ing a prominent farmer and business man of that community. Mr. Hall has erected a fine modern residence upon his farm, supplied with every con- venience and the home is a most attractive one, while his warm-hearted hospitality is greatly en- joyed by many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Hall. They attend the Congregational church and both are representatives of prominent pioneer fam- ilies of the county. Mr. Hall has seen Ottawa grow from a tiny hamlet to a city of metropolitan proportions, in which many industrial and com- mercial enterprises flourish. He has also seen the wild lands converted into productive farms and is familiar with many of the events which marked the county's progress and development.

GEORGE A. SCHMID.

While the development or upbuilding of a city does not depend upon any one line of busi- ness or an individual there is perhaps no other agency which contributes in greater degree both directly and indirectly to the welfare and im- provement of a city than its building interests and Mr. Schmid is a representative of this line of activity in Streator. He stands foremost among the followers of this line of business, a position to which he has attained by superior ability, close application and unassailable integrity.

Mr. Schmid is among those who have left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions. who have pushed their way to the front and who are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adop- tion. His life record began on the 23d of August, 1856, at the family home near Beyreuth,

Bavaria, Germany, his parents being John and Eva M. (Insbruker) Schmid, who resided throughout their entire lives in Bavaria. The father once visited the United States and was favorably impressed with the people and country, but circumstances prevented his removal to the new world, although he oftened expressed a desire to do so and it was his opinions regarding the United States that largely influenced his son George to come to America a few years later.

At the usual age George A. Schmid entered the public schools of his native country and completed an excellent high-school education, after which he entered upon an apprenticeship to the cabinet-maker's and carpenter's trade when fifteen years of age. The term of indenture was to cover three years, but before the expiration of this period his father purchased his time of his employer and not long afterward George A. Schmid embarked for the United States.

Reaching New York city, he spent a year in the eastern metropolis, working at the car- penter's trade, after which he sought and ob- tained employment in a small Pennsylvania town. He was afterward in the carpenter's department of the car construction works at Irwin, Penn- sylvania, and since 1879 has been a resident of Streator, his first employment here being in the car repairing shops of the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad. Later he was employed for three years by the firm of Sipe & Miller, contractors and builders, and with the capital he acquired through his own labors he then pur- chased an interest in the business, continuing as a partner with his former employers until 1894, when, purchasing their interests, he became sole proprietor. He stands today as one of the most prominent contractors and builders of the city and many of the finest structures here stand as monuments to his enterprise and skill. He also deals in lumber, lime and cement and is the owner of a planing mill and sash, door and blind factory, which is thoroughly modern in all of its equipments and in its processes of work. A specialty is made of material for fine interior work of stores, banks and churches and all kinds of mouldings and finished lumber are fur- nished to the trade. Mr. Schmid furnishes em- ployment annually to a very large number of workmen, increasing the number materially dur- ing the summer seasons. He is ever fair and just in his treatment of his employes, recogniz- ing and rewarding faithful service and those who are in his employ entertain for him the highest respect and regard. It is only necessary to mention a number of the buildings which have been erected under contract by Mr. Schmid to indicate the character of his work and his stand-

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ing in the foremost ranks in building circles in Streator. He erected St. Anthony's church and in 1904 rebuilt the St. Anthony's German Catho- lic school building. He completed the interior work as well as the rest of the structure on the church and he erected a substantial church at Budd, Livingston county, Illinois. He was the builder of St. Mary's church at Pontiac, Illinois, and St. Thomas church at Philo, Illinois; St. Mary's church at El Paso, this state; and the convents and Sisters' homes at Eagle and Campus, Illinois; and the Spaulding Lyceum at Streator. In 1897 he built of concrete the fine Roman Catholic church at Cabery and in 1900 and 1901 erected the brick and stone clubhouse for the Streator Club. In 1901 he built the Greeley schoolhouse in Streator and the same year an addition to the Bruce township high school. He also built in 1901 a fine home for C. C. Barr, president of the Barr Clay Company. . In 1903 he secured the contract for the fine brick business block owned by Mrs. C. P. Smith and the same year built in Peoria the St. Ber- nard Roman Catholic church for the Rt. Rev. F. J. O'Riley, chancellor of the Peoria diocese, doing as well all the fine inside work, including the altars. In 1905 he erected the Central church of Christ, which is the finest church in the county judged from the architectural design and from the interior decorations. He expects soon to complete the new Masonic temple in Streator, which is being built of stone and brick and is a very fine building. His business interests also extend to active connection with the Streator German Building & Loan Association, in which he has been associated from its inception, while at the present time he is vice president.

On the 25th day of July, 1882, an important event in the life record of Mr. Schmid occurred, for on that day was celebrated his marriage to Miss Lucy C. Wachter, a daughted of Michael Wachter, who was born in Germany and who married a Miss Held, whose birth occurred at Baden, Bavaria. He came to the United States at an early day and resided in St. Louis during the Civil war. He had learned both the butcher's and miller's trades and following the period of the war he came to La Salle county. Here he hauled stone to build some of the first houses erected in Streator. He is now living retired upon his farm in Otter Creek township in the enjoy- ment of a well earned rest. In his family were six children: George, Conrad, Mrs. Schmid, John, Theresa and Mary. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schmid has been blessed with three children: Theresa, who was graduated from Professor Morse's conservatory of music in Streator in 1903, is now engaged in teaching

music. Lucy is a graduate of the Streator high school and Eva is a high-school student. The family are communicants of St. Anthony's Catho- lic church and have a wide acquaintance in this city, where their circle of friends is extensive.

In community affairs Mr. Schmid is interested and has given active and helpful co-operation to many measures for the general good. In 1888 he was elected alderman of Streator and served for four years, exercising his official prerogatives in support of various measures which have proved of direct and immediate serviceableness. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and he also belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters. Mr. Schmid has certainly made a notable record in business, working his way steadily upward through de- termined purpose and unfaltering energy until his position today in trade circles is a most enviable one, while his name is honored on commercial paper. He is, moreover, a public-spirited and representative citizen, for everything connected with the city's progress and advancement in what- soever lines of industrial enterprise or improve- ment, its municipal government, its educational system, and in short in all things which effect the permanent welfare, receive his earnest atten- tion and elicit his zealous interest.

WILLIAM A. SCHMOEGER.

The business interests of Peru find a worthy representative in William A. Schmoeger, who is conducting a plumbing and sheet metal estab- lishment in his native city, where he has made a most creditable record as a merchant and active business man. He was born in 1869, a son of Sebastian Schmoeger, whose birth occurred in Saxony, Germany. He came to America in 1866, after having learned the blacksmith's trade in his native country. Here he continued work along that line and carried on blacksmithing in Peru for many years, or until his death, which occurred in 1897, when he was fifty-one years of age. He was greatly respected as a thorough, reliable business man and enterprising citizen. He wedded Amalia Zacher, a native of Germany, the wedding being celebrated in Peru. Mrs. Schmoeger is still living and the four children of the marriage also survive. All were born in

Peru, namely : William A., of this review ; Louis A., who resides in Los Angeles, California. and who married Louisa Oltmans, of Sterling, Illinois ; Charles F., who is in the employ of his brother William in the plumbing and sheet metal

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business in Peru; and Louisa, who is with her mother.

William A. Schmoeger spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native city, attended the public schools and afterward learned the plumber's and tinsmith's trade, which he followed as a journeyman in La Salle until 1898, when he engaged in business for himself in Peru. His success has even more than met his anticipations, for a liberal patronage has been accorded him and he has prospered from the beginning. He is an energetic business man, doing good and faithful work and his success is therefore well merited.

Mr. Schmoeger was married in Peru, in 1895, to Miss Paulina Amsler, a daughter of Charles A. Amsler, who was well known here as a butcher. They have three children, Arthur, Esther and Helen, all born in Peru. Mr. Schmoeger is in- dependent in politics and without aspiration for office, yet he is always loyal to his duties of citi- zenship and co-operates in measures for the gen- eral welfare. He belongs to the Woodman camp and to the Mystic Workers and wherever known is held in high regard.

CONRAD AUGUST BRANDNER.

Conrad August Brandner has led a most active business life. A period of unceasing toil through many years, however, now enables him to take life somewhat easier and he is today in possession of an excellent farm in Freedom township. Born in Germany on the 6th of January, 1844, he is a son of Lorenz and Elizabeth ( Morsch) Brand- ner, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was born in 1802 and died in 1866. while his wife, whose birth occurred in 1810, passed away in 1858. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are living. Of this number Jacob resides in Staten Island, New York. Charles in Freedom township, La Salle county, and Henry in Kansas. The father was a farmer by occupation but lived in the village, his farm adjoining the corporation limits thereof.

Conrad A. Brandner was reared to farm life, remaining with his parents to the age of fourteen years, when he started out on his own account, working as an apprentice at the blacksmith's trade. At the end of three years he completed his term of indenture and had become a good work- man. He then traveled for seven and a half years in Switzerland and France, working as a journeyman, after which he returned to the fa- therland, but favorable reports which he had heard concerning the United States and its business conditions led him to seek a home beyond the

water, and in 1873 he took passage for America, landing at New York city after a voyage of ten days. He spent three months in the eastern me- tropolis and then came to Ottawa, where for three years he was employed in the shop of Schmid & Siebel in the line of his chosen trade. He

afterward engaged to work on a farm for Joseph Morsch, who later became his father-in-law. Subsequently Mr. Brandner engaged in farming on his own account, operating rented land for four years, during which time his labors brought to him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred and twenty acres of land in Freedom township, upon which he has since resided. He paid forty-eight dollars per acre for the property. making at first a payment of one thousand dol- lars. He built barns and other buildings and added to the house and laid many rods of tiling. In fact he has his farm now in good shape and has added to his possessions until at this writing, in June. 1906, he is the owner of two hundred and sixty-five acres of productive and valuable land. He has also cleared away the indebtedness from his property and his farm is an indication of a life well spent in active and honorable toil.

On the 3Ist of August, 1876, Mr. Brandner was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Morsch. who died June 14, 1880. They had become the parents of three children, of whom a daughter died at the age of three months, while Charles is living in Kansas and Henry in Ophir township. After losing his first wife Mr. Brandner married Mrs. Wilhelmina ( Hayes) Bishoff, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1868. There are six chidlren of this marriage: Mrs. Emma Dormond, who is living in Streator ; Louisa. August L., George D., Pauline and Ida. all at home. By her former marraige Mrs. Brandner had five children : Henry, who is now in Alaska ; Fred and Ed, who are living in Min- nesota : William, who resides in Wyoming; and Katie, of Streator.

Mr. Brandner and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has always voted with the republican party and for twelve years he has served as school director. He was township drainage commissioner for three years, acting in that capacity when the big ditch was put through. He believes in all movements that are of practical benefit to the community and is an earnest supporter thereof. For years he was a hard worker, laboring night and day to get his place paid for. He is now out of debt and has a good farm, the work of which now largely de- volves upon his sons, while he is taking life easier, and he well merits the partial rest which he is now enjoying. His life should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing

C. A. BRANDNER.

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what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do. He has known no such word as fail and in the face of difficulties and obstacles such as come to all he has persevered and now has a very valuable farm property.

GABRIEL M. JAMESON.

America can boast of no better, more patriotic citizens than the sons of old Norway, and Illinois and the great northwest recognize them as ex- tremely important factors in the development and progress of this splendid region. Almost with- out exception they are industrious, peaceable, law- abiding citizens, and in these respects few coun- tries can compete with Norway. Prominent among the early settlers of La Salle county were the Jamesons, who for forty years have been num- bered among the enterprising agriculturists of this flourishing section of the state.

The father of the subject of this article was Sivert Jameson, a son of Gudman Jameson, and a native of the island of Skudesness, on the west- ern coast of Norway, born May 16, 1826. When he was twenty-seven years of age he married Rachel Christopherson, and to them were born the following named children : Gabriel M .; Annie, who is the wife of Knute Holt, of Blairs- burg, Iowa; Maggie, who is living with her mother ; Rachel, the wife of Richard Thorger- son, of Chicago; Rastus, who resides in Freedom township; Martha, who is the wife of John Watnem, of Dayton township; Laura, the wife of B. Johnson, a resident of Ottawa ; Olive, who is the wife of H. L. Thornburg, of Chicago; and Nellie, who is with her sister in Chicago. All of these children are still living and with the ex- ception of two were born in Norway, the last two, however, having been born in La Salle coun- ty. Of this family Rastus Jameson is a pros- perous farmer of Freedom township. He was born near Stavanger, Norway, March 9, 1859, and lived at home until twenty-eight years of age, attending the country schools in the win- ter months and working on the farm in the sum- mer. In 1878 he married Carrie Gunderson, of Leland, Illinois, a daughter of George Gunder- son, deceased. They have five children: Verna R., a student in the Ottawa high school ; Ernest, at home; Forrest R., who died at the age of four years ; Roland C. and LeRoy E., both at home. Rastus Jameson has a nice farm of two hundred and sixty acres all in good shape, on which he has made many improvements. He is a republican, is a Lutheran in religious faith, and for fifteen years has been school director.

Until he was forty years of age, Sivert Jame- son struggled to gain an honest livelihood for himself and family by farming and fishing, as was the custom of the people of his country. Largely through his own persistent efforts he ob- tained a little education, and, having given par- ticular attention to the subject of the United States and its development, its resources and in- dustrial conditions, he at length determined to seek a home in the land which ever has extended a warm welcome to the honest sons of toil. When he landed on these hospitable shores he was bet- ter versed in the politics and duties of citizens here than some of the native-born sons of the country, and he had made up his mind to uphold the laws and do all within his power to promote the prosperity of the nation. On the Ist of June, 1866, with his six children, he stepped from the deck of the sailing vessel which had con- veyed them from Stavanger, Norway, to Quebec, and thence proceeded by railroad to Chicago. There he remained for one month, and then went to Leland, Illinois, where he renced a house, and, having safely installed his family therein, he commenced working by the day, as his scanty funds were in need of replenishnient. In the fol- lowing spring he rented an eighty-acre farm of Charles Wiley, who was so impressed by the in- dustry and spirit of his tenant that he said to him one day that summer, "I want to sell you this farm; and when Mr. Jameson replied, "I am not able to pay for it," Mr. Wiley told him that he would sell the property for two hundred dollars in cash, and the remainder might be paid for on as easy terms as he desired. Mr. Jameson accepted the condition, and in due time the farm was deeded to him. After owning the place for eight years he sold it to Theodore McClure, and pur- chased two hundred and forty acres in Wallace township, making a fine country home there.

Gabriel M. Jameson was born near Stavanger, Norway, March 21, 1852, and was a lad of four- teen when he came to La Salle county. After learning the details of farming on the parental homestead, he worked for three years by the month, and with the carefully saved earnings of this period later bought an eighty-acre tract of land from his father. There he began his in- dependent farm life and resided there until 1898, when he sold that property and bought the Rowe estate in Freedom township. He is improving this farm and is making a success of his business undertakings, as he generally does.

The first wife of Mr. Jameson was Amelia, daughter of Matthias Sawyer. They were mar- ried in February, 1881, and in September, 1884, the wife died, leaving two children: . Raymond, who married Miss Martha Olson and is living on

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a farm in Freedom township; and Merton, yet at home. In January, 1896, Mr. Jameson wedded Miss Mary Thornson, a daughter of Thorn Thornson, and they became the parents of two children, Fremont and Marion, both still at home. The mother passed away in August, 1898, and her loss has been deeply felt by all who had the pleas- ure of her acquaintance. For his third wife Mr. Jameson chose Mrs. Johnson, to whom he was married in 1902.

In his political views Mr. Jameson has always been a stalwart republican since casting his first presidential ballot for Hayes. He belongs to the Lutheran church and is loyal to its teachings. He has never sought or desired public office but has given his time and energies to his general farm- ing interests and is now well-to-do, while his cor- rect business principles and straightforward methods have gained him the esteem and confi- dence of all with whom he has been associated.

JAMES M. PHILLIPS.

James M. Phillips, deceased, is vet remembered by many of the older settlers of Earlville and Earl township as a representative farmer and one who commanded the good will and confidence of those with whom he was associated. He was born in Pennsylvania, December 3, 1797, and died upon a farm in Earl township, October 1, 1882. He spent his youth and early manhood in the east and was married to Miss Ann K. Phillips, who was likewise a native of Pennsylvania, born June 30, 1814.

Thinking to enjoy better business privileges in the new but growing west they made an over- land journey with horse and wagon to Illinois in 1834 and located in Rutland township, La Salle county. The following year they removed to Earl township, where Mr. Phillips secured a claim from the government and made a home, de- veloping there a good farm, upon which he re- sided until his death. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. Only two years before had the Black Hawk war been fought, the white peo- ple thus reclaiming the district from the domain of the savages and placing it in condition where it could be used for purposes of civilization. There were only three log cabins between Paw Paw and Ottawa at the time that Mr. Phillips arrived in the county and his son, John W., was the first white male child born in Earl township. Of all the families now living in Earl township the Phillips family is the oldest in years of con- tinuous connection with the district. The great

majority of the homes in those early days were log cabins and farming was done after the primi- tive manner of the times, the houses were lighted with candles and cooking was done over the old fireplace. The family shared in the hardships and privations incident to frontier life amid pio- neer environments and surroundings. James Phil- lips was a surveyor as well as farmer and his services were of much value in those early days in locating boundary lines and settling disputes concerning property. As the years passed he car- ried on the work of improving his home place and transformed it into a productive property, the fields being highly cultivated, while good build- ings were added and modern accessories intro- duced.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 83

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855 Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286