USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 18
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
who makes his home on the old homestead near Brighton ; Charles, who also lives upon the home place; John, who is engaged in farming near Plainview ; Louise, who married James Cummings and makes her home in Missouri ; and Rose, who is the wife of Charles Pillsbury, of Alton, Illinois.
During his boyhood Tony H. Schuetz assisted upon the home farm, perform- ing his share in the work about the house and in the fields. He received his pre- liminary education in the district schools of the neighborhood and after arriving at maturity began farming upon his own account. He is now well established on a good productive place in Hilyard township. He has made mány excellent im- provements upon his farm and as he is progressive in his methods and applies, good judgment his efforts each year meet with deserved recompense. He raises cereals and also devotes considerable attention to cattle and hogs of good grade, which he delivers to the market in condition to command a fair price.
On the 16th of September, 1892, Mr. Schuetz was married, in this county, to Miss Laura Howerton, who was born in Macoupin county in 1872. She is a daughter of Robert and Sophia (King) Howerton, who settled in this county, where Mr. Howerton engaged in farming. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schuetz, all of whom are now living. Their names are Edna, Carl, Gladys, Myrtle, Arthur, Harold, Gilbert, Emma, Nellie and Reba.
As the head of a large family Mr. Schuetz has set an example of courage and steadfastness in all worthy undertakings, which is so essential in the accomplish- ment of any important work. He has been true to every obligation and straight- forward in his dealings, thus acquiring a reputation for integrity which is of more value than great riches gained by questionable means. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and also with Shipman Camp, No. 212, M. W. A., and the Royal Neighbors. In politics he is a stanch adherent of the demo- cratic party.
JOHN O'NEIL.
John O'Neil, for the past four years superintendent of the Macoupin county poor farm, was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of October, 1842, a son of John and Nancy (Klingman) O'Neil, natives of Ireland and Pennsyl- vania respectively. The father emigrated from the Emerald isle to the United States in his early manhood, locating in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1832. There he engaged in railroad and canal contracting for eighteen years. In 1851, with his wife and family, he came to Illinois and during the first six months of his residence in this state resided in Peoria. At the expiration of that period he came to Carlinville to take a position on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which was being put through here at that time. Upon its completion he became sec- tion foreman, continuing in that capacity until 1860, when he bought a farm north of Shipman, this county. He subsequently settled upon that place, con- tinuing its operation until his demise on the 30th of June, 1879. His wife sur- vived him until the 3rd of July, 1881.
JOHN O'NEIL
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A lad of nine years when he left his native state, John O'Neil had already begun his education, which was further pursued in the common schools of Car- linville until he had attained the age of sixteen years. In 1858 he laid aside his studies and apprenticed himself to a blacksmith, in whose service he re- mained for three years. When the call came for troops in 1861 it aroused all of the young man's patriotism and loyalty to his native land, and he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, remaining at the front for three years and four months, at the expiration of which period he was honorably discharged. When mustered out he returned to Carlinville, where he followed his trade until 1868. He then removed to Pittsfield, Pike county, this state, where he established a blacksmith, wagon and carriage shop, that he conducted for twenty-one years. In 1889 he disposed of his business and entered political life, continuing to be identified with this for the ensuing six years. He subse- quently opened a shop, following his trade there until 1901, when he removed to Girard, Macoupin county, and there followed the same business until De- cember, 1902, when he again entered public life for four years, receiving his present appointment as superintendent of the poor farm in March, 1907.
On the 20th of October, 1866, Mr. O'Neil was united in marriage to Miss Kate Ford, a daughter of James and Nancy (Kerigan) Ford. Her parents were both natives of Ireland, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1850. They first located in St. Louis, Missouri, where the father followed various occupations, later settling in Carlinville in 1859. He was janitor of the court- house for several years, continuing to make this his home until his death in 1893, at the venerable age of ninety-three years. His wife survived until 1897, being eighty-four when she passed away.
The religious affiliation of Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil is with the Roman Catholic church, of which they are both communicants. Politically he is a democrat and has always taken an active interest in all public affairs. While living in Pike county he served for four years as deputy county sheriff, following which he ran for county sheriff but was defeated, and for two years he was city marshal of Pittsfield. Upon his return to this county he entered political life, again serving for four years as sheriff's deputy. In 1906 he was a candidate for the office of sheriff but was defeated by one hundred and twenty-eight votes by his republican opponent. Mr. O'Neil is well qualified for his present duties, in the discharge of which he is meeting with general approval.
GEORGE A. PERRINGS.
There is no doubt that George A. Perrings, of Carlinville, has fighting blood in his veins. He is a son of a Civil war veteran and was a soldier himself in the Spanish-American war. He never shirks anything which he regards as his duty and thus he has developed a steadfastness of character which is one of the most important qualities any human being can possess.
He was born in Polk township March 19, 1870, a son of Charles and Ruby (Snell) Perrings, both of whom are natives of Jersey county, Illinois. The
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father continued with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age and then enlisted in Company D, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry. He went to the front with his regiment and took part in many of the great battles and important en- gagenients of the war. He was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg, but not seriously and continued in the army until the close of the Rebellion. He was married in his native county and engaged in farming on his own account there for one year, after which he came to Macoupin county and located on land in Polk township which he cleared and improved. He has been very successful in his calling and now owns two hundred acres, a large part of which is under a high state of cultivation. In his family were four children, three of whom sur- vive.
George A. Perrings, the eldest of the living children of his parents, was reared in Macoupin county and attended the district schools until 1888, when he entered the public schools of Carlinville. Subsequently he attended the Western Normal College at Bushnell, Illinois, and after completing his studies at this institution returned home and assisted his father in various operations on the home place. In 1898 he offered his services to the government and was accepted as a member of Company I, Fifth Illinois Infantry, which was recruited for the Spanish- American war. He served for four months and seventeen days and proved an efficient and reliable soldier. After peace was declared he received an honorable discharge and engaged in farming in his native county.
He has from the time of reaching manhood been actively interested in public affairs and served for two years as township clerk of Polk township. He became a candidate for county coroner and made a spirited canvass, but was defeated by a narrow margin of five votes. In 1909 he gave up farming and engaged as a carpenter and bridge builder, a trade which he had learned earlier in life. In 1910 he was appointed deputy sheriff of the county, a position which he now holds. He is unmarried and makes his home at the Central Hotel. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., of Springfield, and also with the Court of Honor. In politics he gives his support to the democratic party and his religious faith is indicated by membership in the Methodist church. Being a man of courage, energy and persistence, he has made a host of friends in the county, who have perfect faith in his ability to discharge most creditably any duty he undertakes to perform.
FRANKLIN S. SHULTZ.
Franklin S. Shultz, a well known and respected citizen of Shipman, has been successfully engaged for a number of years in the grain and elevator business. He is also identified with farming and banking interests and has shown an enter- prise and ability which have produced substantial and gratifying returns. He was born at Petersburg, now known as Addison, in Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, January 16, 1860, and is a descendant of one of the old and highly re- spected families of the Keystone state. His parents were Meshach and Charlotte
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(Augustine) Shultz, both of whom were natives of Somerset county, the former of whom was born May 28, 1831, and the latter April 30, 1835.
Adam Shultz, grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, was born in Somerset county April 6, 1789. The first representative of the family came to America from Prussia about 1760, during the reign of Frederick the Great, when he was fifteen years of age, having been sent to this country by his parents. He spent the remainder of his life in Pennsylvania and reared a large family. Adam Shultz engaged in farming for a number of years in Somerset county, near the line of the state of Maryland. About 1837 he purchased a tract of one thousand acres or more at Grantsville, Maryland, and took up his home there. He built twelve or fourteen miles of the old National Road between Wheeling and Balti- more, his land lying along this noted highway. He became very prominent in that section, as were also other members of the family. He was twice married and by his first marriage four children were born, namely: Peter, now deceased, who was born July 19, 1812, and made his home in Garrett county, Maryland ; Eliza, who married John Royer, of Garrett county, and died in 1910, being then in her ninety-seventh year; Lydia, who married a Mr. Wagner, of Michigan, and is deceased; and Judith, also deceased. The maiden name of the second wife of Mr. Shultz was Nancy Shockey and she was born in 1801. Fourteen children were born to this union: Matilda, who married Andrew Deahl, of Hick- man, Nebraska, and is now deceased; Perry, who died of cholera in 1866 at St. Louis; Chauncey, now deceased, who was one of the prominent citizens of St. Louis, serving as county judge of St. Louis county about 1870 and also as sub- treasurer of the United States at St. Louis under President Cleveland's first ad- ministration; Bailey, now deceased, whose wife, Catharine (Shockey) Shultz, is now living at Shipman, Illinois, at the age of ninety-two years; Huldah, who married John Kite, of Shipman, and is also deceased; Alexander, who settled at Hutchinson, Kansas, and is now deceased; Meshach, the father of our subject ; Mary Jane, now deceased, who married Andrew Arndt, of Maryland, and died in Shipman ; Amanda, the wife of Rev. Isaac N. Augustine, of Grand Island, Nebraska ; John A. J., now deceased, who was president of the Shultz Belting Company of St. Louis and of the St. Louis Manufacturers' Association; Van Buren, who made his home at Shipman, Illinois, and is also deceased ; Sarah Ann, who became the wife of Samuel Brown, of Lexington, Missouri, and is now de- ceased ; George M. D., now deceased, who was engaged in the real-estate busi- ness at Kansas City, Missouri ; and Upton, who died at Denver, Colorado. .
Nancy (Shockey) Shultz, the grandmother of our subject, was a daughter of Christian and Barbara Shockey and was a member of one of the old Pennsylvania Dutch families of Somerset county. Christian Shockey had six brothers and five sisters. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and participated most credit- ably in behalf of the patriot cause for six years and seven months, thus entitling his female descendants to membership in the Society of Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution. Catharine (Shockey) Shultz, widow of Bailey Shultz, was a niece of Christian Shockey and often conversed with him concerning the war. Notwithstanding her advanced age she is possessed of a mind that is still clear and active.
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Meshach Shultz removed with his parents to Grantsville, Maryland. at the age of six years and as he grew to manhood assisted in his father's tannery and on the home farm. He was married to Charlotte Augustine March 20, 1853, and shortly afterwards began farming on his own account. Two years later he bought land, but disposed of his property shortly afterwards and purchased the tannery at Petersburg, Pennsylvania. He disposed of the tannery about 1861 and moved to Grantsville, Maryland, where he bought about two hundred and eighty acres of the old homestead and also engaged in the general merchandise business. He lived there until 1869 when he sold out and came west with his family, settling in Shipman township, Macoupin county, Illinois. He acquired two hundred and forty acres of good land in sections 23 and 24 and for twenty-two years applied himself with marked success to agriculture and stock-raising. In 1891 he moved to the village of Shipman and continued there until his death which occurred De- cember 3, 1907. He was unusually prosperous as a farmer and business man and invested in farming property in this county, being the owner at one time of about six hundred acres, a large part of which he improved. He served as town- ship supervisor four or five terms and also assisted in the promotion of important business enterprises, being one of the organizers and the first president of the Shipman Banking Company. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shultz : Marshall, who died at the age of four years; Alonzo Meshach, now living at Shipman ; Nancy Jane, the wife of William A. Fischer, of St. Louis, Missouri ; Franklin S., of this review; Cora May, who married Milton Dodson, of Jersey- ville, Illinois ; Herman Jacob, a resident of Shipman; Alice Charlotte, the wife of Chester Miller, of Carlinville; and Chesty Anna, who married Rev. Peter B. Fasold and is now deceased.
Charlotte (Augustine) Shultz is a daughter of Jacob F. R. and Jusdinah (Null) Augustine and a granddaughter of Frederick and Catharine (Myers) Augustine. The Augustine family has been prominent in Pennsylvania many years, Frederick Augustine having been at one time the owner of most of the land around Petersburg, Pennsylvania. Jacob F. R. Augustine died at the age of forty-one years from injuries received by being kicked by a horse. In his family were ten children: Elizabeth, who married William Starner, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and is now deceased; Isaac, who lives at Grand Island, Nebraska ; Charlotte, who married Meshach Shultz; Rebecca, who became the wife of Michael Hoy, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and is now deceased ; Catharine, the wife of Andrew Kramer, of Somerset county; Joseph, who lives in Wiscon- sin, near St. Paul, Minnesota; Jacob L., of Grantsville, Maryland; Matilda, who married James Arndt, of Litchfield, Illinois, and is now deceased; Diana, the wife of Fred Gorman, who is engaged in the manufacture of tile in Oklahoma ; and Cornelia, who married John Mitchell, of Moberly, Missouri.
Franklin S. Shultz, whose name introduces this sketch, came to Illinois with his parents at the age of nine years. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and later attended Carthage College at Carthage, Illinois. He continued to assist upon the home farm until twenty-three years of age and then began renting land upon his own account. At the age of twenty-five he went to Independence, Missouri, and entered the coal, ice and feed business with an uncle, George Shultz, continuing for four years in that place. He then sold out
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and in December, 1888, went to Yuma, Arizona, and for two years engaged in the general store business. At the close of the time named he returned home and purchased a part of his father's farm which he cultivated from 1891 until 1904, devoting his attention especially to stock-feeding and dairy farming. Seven years ago he rented his farm and took up his residence in Shipman, buying out the grain elevator business of Joseph Dodson, which he conducted with marked success. He added a feed department to his business and built a large warehouse alongside of the elevator. He also purchased the C. H. Adams elevator at Medora in April, 1908, and ever since its incorporation has been a member of the board of directors of the Shipman Banking Company.
In June, 1885, Mr. Shultz was married to Miss Jessie Talley, a daughter of William Talley, of Shipman. Mrs. Shultz died in June, 1894, and in October, 1899, Mr. Shultz was again married, his second union being with Miss Maud Blankenship, a daughter of Charles S. and Sarah Blankenship, of Independence, Missouri. This union has been blessed by the birth of one child, Helen, who is living at home. The Blankenships are of English descent, the first representa- tive of the family in America settling at Marion, Indiana. Charles S. Blanken- ship moved to Missouri in 1884 and engaged in building and contracting. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the call of President Lincoln and served for three years as a member of an Indiana cavalry regiment. In his family were four children: Florence, who married Clarence Davies, of the Chicago Title and Trust Company, and lives at Maywood, Illinois; Ida, who is the wife of Arthur N. Burke, senior member of the Burke-Nelson Engraving Company, of Kansas City, Missouri; Maud, who is now Mrs. Franklin S. Shultz; and Harry, a machinist of Kansas City, Missouri.
Fraternally Mr. Shultz is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and religiously he is connected with the Lutheran church of Shipman. He gives his support to the democratic party and has been an active worker in its behalf, having served as a member of the county central com- mittee. He also very acceptably occupied the office of school director a number of years. He is a firm believer in the importance and efficacy of labor and is known as one of the most diligent business men in the community. His pros- perity is the legitimate result of wisely applied effort and no one grudges him his good fortune as he has never sought to advance his personal interests to the in- jury of others.
ELMO ETTER.
A native of Macoupin county, Elmo Etter who is now serving as sheriff of the county, is well known throughout this section of the state and is recognized as one of its most reliable and progressive citizens. He was born on a farm in Western Mound township, August 21, 1875, a son of George and Mary C. (McCoy) Etter. The father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Missouri. In their family were four children: Elmo; Horace, who is now living on the old home place near Hettick; Myrtle, who is the wife of Otto Cummings, of
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Blytheville, Arkansas; and Herbert, who is now engaged in the hardware busi- ness at Hettick.
The father of our subject has from his boyhood engaged in farming. He was born and reared near Palmyra, Illinois, and after reaching maturity pur- chased a farm in Western Mound township. He is now the owner of two hun- dred and forty acres of well improved land, making one of the valuable farms of the township. He has taken an active interest in local affairs and served as supervisor, assessor and in other township offices. Mrs. Etter died June 26, 1908, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a member of the Christian church and a woman of many estimable traits of character.
Henry Etter, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Anderson county, Tennessee, May 14, 1820. His father was also named Henry and was born in Wythe county, Virginia, in 1783. He was a hatter by trade and moved to Tennessee, where he engaged in the manufacture and sale of hats. In that state he was married to Elizabeth Parks, a native of Anderson county, and he followed his trade for several years in the county where his wife was born. In 1826 he came to Illinois with his wife and nine children, making the trip with a team of four horses and a wagon. He located in Greene county, eight miles east of Carrollton, where he entered eighty acres of government land at one dollar and a quarter per acre and erected a cabin of hickory logs. In 1836 he sold his place and settled in Macoupin county on a tract of land which he purchased in Western Mound township. Here he died in 1853. He was twice married and by his first marriage was the father of twelve children. The maiden name of his second wife was Betsy Griswold. His son Henry Etter, grand- father of our subject, was five years old when he came to Illinois. He made his home with his parents until his marriage, November 14, 1844, to Miss Asbereen Elizabeth Davidson, after which he purchased a tract of land in Western Mound township upon which there was a log cabin. They began housekeeping with very little furniture and, as they had no stove, his wife cooked for the family according to primitive methods before the fireplace. Subsequently he sold the farm and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in South Palmyra township. He prospered as a farmer and acquired other property, thus being able to assist his children in securing homes. He died after reaching the age of eighty-five years, his wife passing away at the age of eighty-two. In their family were four sons: George, who married Mary C. McCoy; James, who married Julia F. Richie; Smith, who selected as his wife Julia F. Range; and Elijah, who wedded Kate Hulse. Mrs. Etter was born in Barren county, Ken- tucky, May 12, 1824, and was a granddaughter of Rev. John Davidson, a pioneer Baptist minister of Greene county, Illinois. Her father learned the gunsmith's trade which he followed until 1828 when he came to Illinois with his wife, Margaret (Wright) Davidson, and two children, locating in Greene county. The grandfather of our subject on the maternal side was James McCoy. He lived in Christian county, Missouri, and engaged in farming.
Elmo Etter was reared in Western Mound township and attended the district schools, later becoming a student of Blackburn University. He worked on the farm and taught school in the winter for seven years, at the same time continuing actively interested in local affairs. He served as township assessor for one year
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and for six years as member of the board of supervisors, filling the office of chairman of the board for one year. He showed an ability in the discharge of important duties that gained for him an enviable reputation and in the fall of 1906 he was elected county treasurer, an office which he occupied to the general satisfaction of the people for four years. In November, 1910, he was elected by a handsome majority as sheriff of the county, a position which he now fills.
Politically Mr. Etter is an earnest supporter of the principles and candidates of the democratic party. He is well known in fraternal circles and is a valued member of Mount Nebo Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M., the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America. His excellent record as a county officer is proof of his efficiency and of his ability to discharge important trusts. He is a man of strong force of character, good business discrimination, and one who is able to take advantage of opportunities which most men overlook. Mr. Etter is a valued citizen of a county noted for the intelligence and progressive- ness of its people.
CHARLES W. SOAPES.
Charles W. Soapes, a member of the board of county supervisors of Macoupin county and one of the well established business men of Staunton, is a native of this county, his birth having occurred in Dorchester township, October 14, 1866. He is a son of William and Margaret (Cathern) Soapes, the former of whom was born in Kentucky. He came with his parents to Illinois when he was a boy, the family settling in Christian county. There he grew to manhood, after which he moved to Shelby county and in 1862 located in Dorchester township, Macoupin county. He engaged in farming until fifteen years ago, since which time he has resided at Staunton. The mother of our subject was born in Shelby county, Illinois, and was married to Mr. Soapes in her native county. She died at Staunton in 1905 and is buried in the Hand cemetery. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Soapes were six children, two of whom died in in- fancy, the others being: Henry, deceased; Anna, the wife of Thomas Landers, of Staunton; Charles W., of this sketch; and Eva, also deceased.
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