USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 26
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H. H. WILLOUGHBY.
The legal profession is most creditably represented at Staunton by H. H. Willoughby who has engaged in practice in Illinois for fourteen years and has gained a splendid reputation as a safe counselor and successful advocate. He is a native of this state and was born in St. Clair county on a farm four miles north of Summerfield, February 10, 1868, a son of A. L. and Mary (Ensminger) Wil- loughby. The father was born at Felton, Kent county, Delaware, in 1821 and came west in 1834. He lived for a while at Springfield, Illinois, and later engaged in farming near Caseyville and also near Troy. In 1875 he moved to Montgomery county where he continued until his death, in 1886. The mother was born in Madison county, Illinois, and was married to Mr. Willoughby in that county. She is now living with her daughter at Piasa. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby were five children : Lester, a farmer of St. Paul, Nebraska ; Millard, of Alton, Kansas ; H. H., of this review ; Charles, a barber of Edwardsville; and Alice, who married Elbert Wagoner, of Piasa, Illinois.
H. H. Willoughby possessed advantages of education in the public schools, but at eighteen years of age, on account of the death of his father, was thrown upon his own resources. Being determined to carry his studies further, he worked for his board and continued his attendance at school. His uncle finally advanced the money necessary for paying his expenses for a three years' course at the Central Normal College, of Danville, Indiana. After leaving college Mr. Willough- by taught school for two years at Nokomis, Montgomery county, Illinois, and had entered upon his third year as a teacher when he resigned in order to accept
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a position as deputy sheriff of Hillsboro, in which office he continued for four years. While teaching school he began the study of law under Thomas Jett, of Nokomis. Mr. Jett moved to Hillsboro and Mr. Willoughby there continued his studies under the same preceptorship, being admitted to the bar in 1897. He practiced at Hillsboro for one year and then went to Granite City, being the first lawyer to open an office in that place. After twelve years in Granite City, feeling the importance of larger opportunities, he took up his residence in Staunton where he has been actively engaged in practice since 1910. He has shown marked capacity for his profession and is accorded an extensive clientage. Professionally he is identified with the Illinois Bar Association. He owns one of the finest resi- dences in the city and is also extensively interested in real estate.
In 1897 Mr. Willoughby was married to Miss Ruth Sharp and to this union one son, Harold S., was born. The mother died in 1901 and in 1907 Mr. Wil- loughby was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Hattie Bird of Staunton.
In politics he is a stanch adherent of the republican party. He has never served in any office except that of corporation counsel of Granite City, a position which he filled most acceptably for four years. His religious belief is indicated by membership in the Baptist church and he is also a valued member of the Knights of Pythias of Granite City. His life has been directed along constructive and optimistic lines and the success he has achieved is the result of an inborn energy and perseverance which have enabled him to overcome many difficulties. Progressive, tolerant and receptive to the truth from whatsoever source it may come, he is always to be depended upon to assist in movements aiming to pro- mote the best interests of the community. His life has been replete with good deeds.and kind acts and although he is still comparatively a young man, he has won the confidence and approbation of his fellows and may look forward to many years of increasing responsibility.
FRED G. DROSTE.
Fred G. Droste, secretary of the Keiser-Niemeyer Mercantile Company of Mount Olive and one of the best known business men of Macoupin county, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 1, 1859. He is a son of Frederick J. and Charlotte (Kroger) Droste, both of whom were born in Hanover. The mother died in the old country about 1897, but the father is still living at the age of eighty-six years, being remarkably well preserved for one so far advanced in life. He devoted his attention to farming during his active years and his son Ernest now is in charge of the old home place.
Mr. Droste of this review was reared under the parental roof and secured his preliminary education in the schools of his native land. In 1880, after pass- ing his twentieth year, he emigrated to the United States with his brother H. H. They landed in New York city and from that place traveled west to St. Louis, which they reached on the 21st of April. There they met a brother, Henry, who had preceded them to this country about ten years and was well established
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in business. The two young men took up their residence with their elder brother, and became students of the Mound City Commercial College, from which they were graduated in April, 1881. After leaving this institution Mr. Droste of this review entered the employ of the Mount Olive Coal Company in St. Louis, of which C. J. Keiser of Mount Olive was president. After a short time Mr. Droste was offered a position in the Keiser-Niemeyer Company's store at Mount Olive, which he accepted, and has ever since been a resident of this place. He served for two years as bookkeeper and then, in 1883, associated with F. H. Reuter and purchased the mercantile business of F. W. Hartke, which they con- ducted for two years under the firm name of Droste & Reuter. In 1885 they disposed of their business to the Keiser-Niemeyer Company, after which this company was reorganized and incorporated as the Keiser-Niemeyer Mercantile Company, of which Mr. Droste was a stockholder, being also elected secretary of the new organization. He has ever since served in this capacity. It is the largest mercantile establishment in Macoupin county and a goodly share of its success may be attributed to the zeal and ability of Mr. Droste. In addition to his interest in the mercantile business he owns a beautiful farm of two hundred and twenty acres, adjoining the town, upon which he makes his home. He specializes in raising pure-bred Berkshire hogs and has just reason to take pride in his herd, as it is one of the finest of the kind in this part of the state. He also owns various properties in Mount Olive, among them being the first house that was built in the town.
In 1883 Mr. Droste was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Arkebauer, a native of Mount Olive and a daughter of Meint Arkebauer, who was one of the pioneers of Mount Olive. He laid out one of the first additions to the town and about eighty acres of his original farm is now included within the limits of Mount Olive. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Droste, eight of whom survive, namely : Hedwick, who is the wife of Rev. H. Marting, of Downs, Kansas; Anna, who is a graduate of the Mount Olive high school; Frieda and Otto, who also graduated from the Mount Olive high school ; Clara ; Irwin ; Alma, and Frederick. All of the children are home except the eldest daughter. The mother of these children died May 24, 1908, and on the 7th of November, 1909, Mr. Droste was married to Miss Sophia Remmert, a daughter of Henry Rem- mert. The father was among the pioneers of Mount Olive and laid out an addi- tion of forty acres to the town. Politically Mr. Droste gives his adherence to the republican party. He and his wife are valued members of the Lutheran church, of which he is one of the trustees. He is greatly interested in education and is giving all of his children the advantage of a high-school training. He has just reason to be proud of the attainments of his daughter Clara, who stood highest in examination of eighth grade pupils in the county. The test was taken by two hundred and sixty pupils from all parts of the county, her average being ninety-five and one-tenth per cent. She was born March 26, 1896, and attended the parochial school of the German Evangelical church in Mount Olive until about two years ago. She then entered the seventh grade in the city school, and showed remarkable aptitude during the remainder of her attendance at the public schools, which covered eighteen months. A local paper said of her : "Miss Droste is an accomplished little lady, a great reader, popular and highly
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esteemed among all her friends and schoolmates, and modestly bears the honor she has brought to Mount Olive as being the first from that place to make the highest grade at the eighth-grade examination in Macoupin county."
PROFESSOR JOHN DYKEMAN CONLEY.
Professor John Dykeman Conley, after devoting many years to educational work, in which field he proved particularly successful as an instructor of the sciences, is now living quietly at Carlinville, where he is engaged in the breeding and raising of fine chickens. His life history had its beginning in Brockport, Monroe county, New York, September 14, 1843, his parents being John Ward and Pamelia E. (Johnson) Conley, natives of Springfield, Massachusetts, and of Madison county, New York, respectively. The former was a son of John Conley, who lived in Springfield, Massachusetts. He died in early manhood, leaving a widow and only child, John. Mrs. Conley, who in her maidenhood had been Miss Warner was married again and had children by the second union. The maternal grandfather of Professor Conley was William F. Johnson, a native of Saratoga county, New York, and a son of a soldier of the war of 1812. He married Miss Lucy Hamlin, whose ancestry can be traced back to James Ham- lin in the year 1639. James Hamlin came from London, England, and located in Barnstable, Massachusetts, in the spring of that year. William F. Johnson made farming his life work and passed away in Madison county, New York. Unto him and his wife were born five children, Pamelia, Jane, Mariette, Darius H. and William Henry Harrison Johnson. Of these Pamelia E. became the wife of John Ward Conley. In his youthful days John W. Conley became a boatman on the Erie canal and afterward engaged in the grocery business in Canastota, New York. He was also at one time vice president of a boatmen's organization of New York. He died in Canastota in 1903, at the age of eighty- eight years and nine months, having for sixteen years survived his wife, who passed away October 17, 1887, at the age of sixty-six years and six months.
Professor John Dykeman Conley, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Canastota, New York, and was graduated from the State Normal School at Albany in 1863. He afterward devoted many years to the profession of teaching, serving as principal of a school at Roslyn, Long Island, the home of William Cullen Bryant, from 1863 until 1865. Desirous of promoting his own education, he then matriculated in Hamilton College, of New York, and was graduated A. B. in 1869. During his college days he became a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon. Later his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree and Blackburn University, of Carlinville, the Ph. D. degree. In 1869 he supplied the professorship of natural sciences in Blackburn University, holding that chair until 1887, when he became professor of chemistry and geology and vice president of the State University of Wyoming at Laramie, where he re- mained until 1896, acting as president during a portion of that time. Since this Professor Conley has been teaching chemistry and geology in Blackburn Univer- sity. His educational work has been of a superior order; the geological charts
SAMUEL T. MAYO
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which he has published are among the best that have appeared on that subject, and he possessed one of the most complete geological cabinets of the country. On the Ist of January, 1909, he donated this geological collection to Hamilton College of New York, of whose board of trustees Elihu Root is now president.
In the raising of fine chickens Professor Conley is meeting with the same success which he won in his professional connection. He is now proprietor of the Evergreen Hill Poultry Farm. From his boyhood he has been an admirer of pure bred chickens and more than thirty years ago won first prize on Brown Leghorns at a Macoupin county fair. During the last five years he has made a specialty of Barred Rocks and Single Comb Rhode Island Reds, but is now de- voting his attention largely to the Rhode Island Reds for he believes their lay- ing qualities are better than the other breeds. His scientific knowledge has en- abled him to test many theories in practice and he produces results which have made him the winner of many premiums in strong competitions. Upon his place he has various prize-winning birds and his fame as a raiser of high grade poultry has spread far and wide.
On the 20th of March, 1873, Professor Conley was married to Miss Vir- ginia C. Mayo, a native of Carlinville and a daughter of Samuel T. and Eliza- beth (Palmer) Mayo. Her paternal grandfather was Lewis Mayo, a native of Virginia, who made farming his life occupation and died March 25, 1866. Her father was born in the Old Dominion and after arriving at years of maturity wedded Elizabeth Palmer, a native of Kentucky and a sister of Governor John M. Palmer. Her father, Louis D. Palmer, was born in Northumberland county, Virginia, June 3, 1781, and married Ann Hansford Tutt, a native of Culpeper county, Virginia, where her parents, Louis and Isabella (Yancey) Tutt, were born about 1750. Their ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, the Tutts coming from England and the Yanceys from Wales. Louis D. Palmer and his first wife, Ann Hansford Tutt Palmer, had seven sons and one daughter, Elihu, John M., Winfield Scott, LeRoy A., Louis Frank, Charles J., George and Eliza- beth Ann. After losing his first wife Louis D. Palmer married again and had three children, Julia, Henry and Quincy. Of the first marriage Elizabeth Palmer became the wife of Samuel T. Mayo. They were early settlers of Carlinville, where in 1849 they erected a fine residence which is now one of the well known landmarks of the city. Mr. Mayo became the possessor of large landed interests and was a man of prominence and influence in the community. At the old home which he built in 1849 he passed away, November 20, 1906, at the age of eighty- eight years, while his wife died in June, 1899, at the age of seventy-four years. They were the parents of seven children, one who died in infancy ; Virginia C .; Florence E., the deceased wife of James M. Towey; Elizabeth, who has also passed away; Louisa M., the wife of Edward A. Gilbert, former lieutenant governor of Nebraska; Carrie Palmer, who married Samuel Rinaker, a lawyer of Beatrice, Nebraska ; and Walter S., residing in Holtville, California.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Conley was blessed with two children, John Mayo and Florence Elizabeth. The former is now a practicing physician of ยท Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He married Beatrice Mary Roche and they had two chil- dren, Virginia Mayo and Richard Palmer. Florence Elizabeth Conley is now
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the wife of George Vincent Learned, of Seattle, Washington, and they have one son. John Hamlin Learned.
Professor Conley belongs to the Episcopal church and his wife holds mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He also affiliates with Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., and is in sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the craft. His political views find expression in the support which he gives to the democratic party at the polls and he has been more or less active in local political circles, serving from 1880 until 1886 as alderman of Carlinville, and again from 1906 until 1909, in which connection he has done effective work for the substantial development and improvement of the city. He is usually found where the intelligent men of the community are gathered in the discussion of the vital and important problems that affect the political, economic and sociologi- cal interests of the country, and his cooperation can always be counted upon for the support of projects which involve the welfare, stability and progress of the community.
WILLIAM G. BARTELS.
Business interests of Carlinville find no more worthy representative than William G. Bartels, president of the Carlinville Coal Company, one of the impor- tant enterprises of this section, which has been developed through his energy and practical judgment. He was born at Carlinville, March 2, 1858, a son of Henry and Minnie (Lereke) Bartels, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Ger- many. In their family were eight children, two sons and six daughters, two of whom lived to maturity : Dora, who married John Stadler and is now deceased ; and William G. The father of our subject was born and reared in Germany and became a millwright. He emigrated to America in 1854 and settled at Carlin- ville, Illinois, where he followed carpentering until 1869. He then opened a coal mine south of town which he operated successfully, retiring from active labor in 1883. He died in 1895, at the age of seventy-nine years, his wife having pre- ceded him six months at the age of seventy-three. They were both consistent members of the German Evangelical church. The paternal grandfather of our subject spent his entire life in Germany. He was a carpenter by trade and served in the army in the war of 1848. The grandfather on the maternal side came to America and died at Carlinville, at the age of eighty-three years, his wife also passing away at an advanced age. They had three children : Frederick, a farmer in the American Bottom near Venice, who was murdered by negroes ; Minnie, the mother of our subject ; and a son who died in Germany.
William G. Bartels received his preliminary education in the public schools and later attended Blackburn University. At sixteen years of age he began working as a coal miner. He also mined coal at Virden for one year. He had charge of his father's business until 1883 and in September of that year began business on his own account. He sank a shaft five blocks south of the public square, which he operated until 1891, when he entered into partnership with John C. Anderson and W. L. Mounts and purchased the Consolidated Coal Company's mine at the north end of town. W. H. Behrens bought Mr. Mount's interest and the mine
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is now conducted as the Carlinville Coal Company, Inc., with W. G. Bartels as president and general manager ; W. H. Behrens, secretary, and John C. Anderson, treasurer. The company employs one hundred and fifty men when the mine is in full operation and is one of the highly flourishing concerns of the city. Mr. Bar- tels also owns a well improved farm of four hundred acres in Bird township, which he has been conducting for sixteen years, and is a stockholder in the Car- linville National Bank.
On the 13th of September. 1883. he was married to Miss Emma Singelmann, a native of Carlinville and a daughter of Henry and Louise Singelmann. To this union four children have been born: Ida, who married Louis Braun and died January 25, 1910, leaving a little daughter who died soon after birth ; Leonora, who became the wife of Dr. Motley, of Virden, and has one son, Ernest G .; Lelia, who possesses unusual musical talent and is a fine violinist, performing most acceptably before large audiences; and Henry, who is now a student in the high school. The parents of Mrs. Bartels were born in Hanover, Germany, and were early settlers of Carlinville. The father died in 1900, at the age of sixty- six, and the mother is also deceased. They had four children. Augusta, Amalia. Emma and Bernhard.
Mr. Bartels and his wife are members of the German Evangelical church and he is a liberal contributor to religious and all other worthy causes. In politics he is a republican and has served as a member of the city council three terms, school director two years and township collector one term. He is numbered among the prominent men of Macoupin county and in business affairs has shown a fair- ness and reliability that have gained for him the confidence of all with whom he has come into contact. On account of his genuine personal worth he is greatly esteemed and no history of Macoupin county would be complete without a record of his life.
WILLIAM B. SHOWALTER.
Ex-soldiers of the Civil war are still to be met with as honored members of every community of any importance in the land, although nearly half a cen- tury has elapsed since the close of the great conflict in which they participated. Among this number is William B. Showalter, of Hilyard township, who is now in his seventy-ninth year but still continues upon his farm and is in the enjoy- ment of health and strength to a remarkable degree for one of his age. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 1, 1832, a son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Blue) Showalter. The father was born in the Alleghany mountains in Pennsylvania and the mother in Virginia. He removed to Wayne county, Ohio, with his parents and there engaged in farming until 1839, when he came with his family to Lawrence county, Illinois. He moved to Alton in 1844 but finally took up his residence in Macoupin county in 1860. Here he passed the re- mainder of his days. He died in 1881, his wife having been called away at Alton in 1858. The father and two of his sons responded to the call of Presi- dent Lincoln for soldiers at the time of the Civil war and valiantly defended a cause in which they believed with all their hearts. Samuel Showalter enlisted
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at Alton, Illinois, and served for three years. In his family were five sons and three daughters, three of whom are now living, namely: William B., of this review ; Thomas, who makes his home with his brother William B .; and David, of Springfield, Illinois, who served in the Thirty-second Illinois Infantry throughout the entire war.
At the age of seven years William B. Showalter arrived in Illinois with his parents and in the public schools of this state he received his preliminary edu- cation. He has been a resident of Macoupin county since 1860 except while serving in behalf of the Union. He enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, and on the very first day of his enlistment was assigned to the secret service department and continued in this duty during the war. He proved remarkably active and efficient as a representative of one of the highly important departments of the government and arrested one hundred and thirty-three persons, all but two of whom were found guilty of the charges which were brought against them. He was honorably mustered out of service at Springfield, Illinois, and returned to Macoupin county, where he has ever since engaged in farming. He is the owner of a well improved place of one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased in 1877, and is recognized as one of the substantial men of the township.
On the 9th of April, 1854, at Godfrey, Madison county, Illinois, Mr. Sho- walter was married to Miss Charlotte Wilkins. She was born in England in 1835 and came with her parents to America, the father locating on a farm in Madi- son county, Illinois. Mrs. Showalter died January 15, 1899. There were no children born to this union but Mr. and Mrs. Showalter reared six orphans, who were given every desirable opportunity of education and training, thus making them useful and honorable members of the community. Mr. Showalter was again married in March, 1900, his second union being with Mrs. Emma J. Atkins, who was born in Wisconsin. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and were among the early settlers of Illinois.
Mr. Showalter has for many years been identified with the Methodist church and in politics is in hearty accord with the republican party, the principles of which he espoused at the time of the Civil war. As a soldier for the Union he proved his patriotism, and his love for the flag has never wavered. He can look back on a long life of activity and usefulness and now in his declining days he enjoys the friendship and confidence of his neighbors and the satisfaction of feeling that he has been instrumental to the extent of his ability in promoting happiness and good will among men.
WILLIAM KLAUS.
William Klaus, a prominent farmer of Honey Point township, who has gained high standing through the application of ability and energy that would have won success for him in any honorable calling, is a native of Nilwood town- ship and was born March 23, 1870. He is a son of George and Theresa (Netz) Klaus, the former of whom was born in France and the latter in Germany.
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The father learned the shoemaker's trade in his native country, but, desiring to spend his life under more favorable conditions for advancement than he per- ceived in an old and long settled country, emigrated to America in the latter part of the '50s and opened a shoe shop at Auburn, Illinois. A few years later he came to Macoupin county .and conducted a shop at Nilwood. After accu- mulating the necessary money he purchased eighty acres of land in Nilwood township, upon which he established his home, and here continued until his death in 1884. The mother arrived in America in her girlhood and was married to Mr. Klaus at Auburn, Illinois. She survived her husband until 1903, having in the meantime continued to live upon the old homestead.
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