USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 27
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There were nine children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. George Klaus, namely : Charles and George, both of whom are engaged in farming in Nilwood town- ship; Emma, who is the wife of Ferdinand Winters, president of the Nilwood State Bank; Katie, the wife of August Schoope, a farmer of Nilwood township; Mary, who married William S. Talley, who is also engaged in farming in Nil- wood township; William, of this review; Frank, a farmer of Carlinville town- ship; and Walter and Albert, twins, the former of whom is engaged in farming in Nilwood township and the latter a ranchman living on the Circle ranch in Montana.
During his boyhood William Klaus attended the district schools and per- formed his part in assisting about the house and on the home farm as a mem- ber of a large and growing family. After the death of his father he continued on the home place and did not begin farming on his own account until twenty- six years of age. He then rented a place for one year near Fairville, at the end of which time he moved to Nilwood township and continued renting for three years. In 1899 he took up his residence on sections 6 and 7 of Honey Point township, where he acquired one hundred and sixty acres from Charles L. Moore. He has since increased his landholdings by eighty acres and is now the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres. He engages in gen- eral farming and raises good grades of cattle, hogs and sheep, all of the heads of his herds being registered stock. He disposes of his stock to the shippers and generally receives a fair price for what he has to sell. His farm is well improved, has a good orchard and all of the land is capable of cultivation.
On the 26th of October, 1896, Mr. Klaus was married, at Carlinville, to Miss Dena M. Hacke, a daughter of Henry and Dena (Keune) Hacke. The parents were both born in Germany but were married in the United States, and Mr. Hacke engaged in farming east of Carlinville. Subsequently he purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Carlinville township, one and one-fourth miles east of town, and made his home upon this place until his death, which occurred in 1880. Mrs. Hacke is now living in Carlinville. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Klaus, namely : Laurine, Harold, Herbert, Mildred, Russell and Theresa, all of whom are at home. The four eldest of the children are attending the Oak- land district school of Honey Point township.
In politics Mr. Klaus is a supporter of the republican party. He has never aspired to public office but has served for twelve years past as school director of the Oakland district school. He is not identified with any religious denomina- tion but his wife is a member of the German Evangelical church at Carlinville.
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Fraternally he is connected with Womac Lodge of the Court of Honor, his wife being also a member of this organization. He is a public-spirited man and takes a helpful interest in measures for advancing the general good. His success may be attributed to his industry and progressiveness-two qualities that are almost invariably characteristic of all who accomplish worthy objects in life.
JOSEPH WATERMEIER.
Joseph Watermeier, who was born May 2, 1877, on the farm where he now lives, is one of the active and progressive inen of Brushy Mound township. He owns the old family homestead, which also includes thirty acres of valuable tim- ber land, and has made such excellent use of his opportunities that each year witnesses marked increase in his prosperity. He is a son of Lawrence and Annie ( Mehl) Watermeier, the former of whom was born in the duchy of Prussia, Ger- . many, and the latter in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany. He emigrated to America in 1864 and made his home at Belleville, Illinois, where he rented a farm of one hundred acres. In 1876 he came to Macoupin county and purchased sev- enty acres on section 2 of Brushy Mound township, upon which he established his homestead. A few years later he acquired one hundred and thirty-seven acres lying across the road east of his original purchase, and he also became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Dorchester township, which was a few years ago sold by his heirs. He died January 29, 1904, having gained a po- sition as one of the most substantial farmers in this part of the county. Mrs. Watermeier is still living and makes her home with two of her daughters in Car- linville. In the family were six children: Joseph, of this review; Anton, who is now living with his brother Joseph; Mary, who resides at Edgewood, Illinois ; Christina, who died at the age of eighteen years ; and Annie and Catharine, twins, who are living with their mother.
Joseph Watermeier attended the district schools of the township and also possessed the advantage of two years' study in the German schools at Carlinville. He remained on the homestead and after the death of his father took charge of the farm, which comprises upwards of two hundred acres. He raises the grains adapted to the soil and climate of this region and has proved himself to be a good agriculturist, his crops comparing favorably with the best in the neighborhood. He also feeds stock for the market with highly satisfactory results, his early experiences having thoroughly qualified him for all departments of farm man- agement.
On the 28th of June, 1904, Mr. Watermeier was married to Miss Annie Schaefer, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Becker) Schaefer, and to this union two children were born : Charles, who died in infancy ; and Mary Rosalia, whose natal day was April 25, 1911. Mr. Schaefer, the father of Mrs. Watermeier, engaged for many years in farming in Carlinville township. He retired from active labors in 1910 and is now living with his wife in Carlinville. They are the parents of three children: Annie, now Mrs. Joseph Watermeier; Adam, who
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married Miss Gertie Bomcamp, of Carlinville, and is now in charge of the old home place ; and Rosalia, who is at home.
In politics Mr. Watermeier is a stanch adherent of the principles of the demo- cratic party but has never sought political office. He is an ardent friend of edu- cation and is now serving for the sixth year as member of the school board of district No. 105 of Brushy Mound township. He and his wife were reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic church and are active members of the church at Carlinville. He is also identified with the Western Catholic Union at Quincy. Illinois, while his wife is a member of the Ladies' Sodality of St. Joseph's Catho- lic church. In his business dealings Mr. Watermeier has always been strictly upright and honorable. He is happy in his work and has earned the respect of all with whom he comes into contact either in business or social relations.
GEORGE BAUER.
George Bauer, who ranks as one of the successful farmers of Macoupin county and is now serving as a member of the board of county supervisors, is a native of Western Mound township. He was born September 9, 1863, a son of Ludwick and Mary ( Weber) Bauer, the former of whom was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, September 16, 1818. The father was married in the old country and came with his family to the United States after three of his children were born. He arrived in Macoupin county in the pioneer days and located in Western Mound township, purchasing thirty acres of brush land which he improved and developed into a productive farm. As the years passed he acquired more land and became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres in this county. He was a self-made man and won his way to a prominent place in the community by in- defatigable perseverance and industry. Religiously he was identified with the Lutheran church and politically he affiliated with the democratic party. He died February 22, 1896, being then in his seventy-eighth year. The mother of our subject was born in Germany, August 6, 1821. She died in 1877, at the age of about fifty-six years, and is buried beside her husband at Asbury chapel. In their family were seven children: Leonard, who is now engaged in farming in the southwestern part of Missouri; Elizabeth, the wife of Robert Adams, of Green- field, Illinois; Jacob, a farmer of Western Mound township; Lewis W., also of Western Mound township ; Philip, deceased : Mary, who married A. J. Smith, of St. Louis, Missouri; and George, of this review.
Mr. Bauer, whose name introduces this sketch, received his early education in the district schools of Western Mound township and later carried his studies further at Shurtliff College. He assisted his father upon the home farm until twenty-one years of age and then took charge of the place which he cultivated to good advantage for six years. At the end of the time named he purchased two hundred and sixty acres on sections 10 and 15 of Western Mound township, upon which he has made all the improvements. The appearance of his farm indi- cates that he understands his business thoroughly and is one of the highly success- ful farmers of this section. He pays special attention to feeding live stock for the
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markets at St. Louis and Chicago and is one of the reliable shippers from the township. In addition to his farming interests he is a stockholder in the First National Bank at Greenfield.
On the 9th of February, 1888, Mr. Bauer was married to Miss Bridget Red- dington, who was born in Western Mound township July 4, 1863, a daughter of John and Bridget (Conners) Reddington. The father was born in County Galway, Ireland, February 2, 1831, and the mother in County Tipperary, Novem- ber 12, 1843. The father died March 14, 1903, and the mother was called away February 9, 1909. They were among the settlers of Western Mound township and gained many friends by their genial social qualities. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer are the parents of seven children, namely : Maurice M., who was born September 6, 1889; Amelia B., born December 14, 1890; M. Loretta, born March 6, 1893; Florence, born March 9, 1895; Mabel, born November 17, 1899; Clara, born October 19, 1901 ; and Veronica P., born December 21, 1903.
Mr. Bauer ascribes his success in life very largely to the fact that ever since his marriage, he has conducted his business on a cash basis. He and his wife agreed never to contract any financial obligations, a resolution to which they have closely adhered. He believes that the habit of asking for credit is detrimental to the progress of any man and that a large proportion of the ills of humanity would vanish if the credit system were entirely eliminated. There are many persons who entirely agree with him in this belief. Politically he supports the demo- cratic party. He has served for two terms as county supervisor, having proved an honest and efficient public servant, and is still holding the office, this being the only public position he has ever occupied. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic church and fraternally he is identified with the camp of Modern Woodmen of America at Hagaman.
HORACE BASCOM WARNER.
One of Macoupin county's thrifty and capable agriculturists, now living re- tired, is Horace Bascom Warner, of Chesterfield township. His birth occurred at Vermontville, Michigan, on the 18th of October, 1842, his parents being William Willis and Harriet Naomi (Bascom) Warner. The father was born at Rutledge, Vermont, on the 19th of April, 1816, a son of William and Nancy (Hall) Warner. The mother was a daughter of Joseph Bascom, of Newport, New Hampshire, her natal day being the 26th of November, 1821. Mr. Bas- com, who was a tanner by trade, spent his last years at Uxbridge, Canada. where he passed away in February, 1875. The paternal grandfather, William Warner, was born in Vermont on the 6th of May, 1769, and there he spent the early years of his life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Hall, died in that state. Subsequently he joined a colony of Vermont people, who removed to Michigan, settling at a place now known as Vermontville. There he entered government land, in the cultivation of which he engaged until his death on the 12th of June, 1842. William W. Warner was married in Vermontville on the 26th of June, 1841, to Miss Bascom, and by this union
HORACE B. WARNER
MRS. H. B. WARNER
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eleven children were born, the son Horace Bascom being the eldest of the family. The others in order of birth are as follows: Joseph Edwin, who died in early youth; Mary Abigail, the deceased wife of James Sackett, of Ver- montville; Emma Jane, the deceased wife of Bradley Willey, of Pewamo, Mich- igan; Asa John, who is living in Vermontville; Charles Joseph, who is cul- tivating the old homestead in Vermontville; Sarah Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Ernest E. Rosekrans, of Auburn, Michigan; Ella Naomi, the deceased wife of Levi Bottomley, of Chester, Michigan; William Willis, a resident of Saginaw, Michigan; Harriet, the second wife of Ernest E. Rosekrans; and Luna A., who married Willey O. Hines, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The early years of Horace Bascom Warner were spent on the Michigan homestead in a manner very similar to those of other youths of the pioneer period. After the completion of his public school course he entered Olivet Col- lege, at Olivet, Michigan. While a student there the Civil war broke out, and in common with many of his patriotic classmates he responded to the nation's call, enlisting in Company H, Fourth Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. His regi- ment reported at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where they were equipped for service, then joined the Army of the Cumberland under General Buell in General Thomas' corps. His first experience as a soldier was obtained at Perryville, Kentucky, and later he participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga and Atlanta. His regiment assisted in driving Hood's army back into Tennes- see and subsequently spent four days in battle at Franklin, that state. They joined Wilson's Cavalry in their famous raid through Georgia and Alabama in 1865, and to Mr. Warner belongs the distinction of having been a member of the corps that captured Jefferson Davis. At Rome, Georgia, he was promoted to corporal and two days later was made quartermaster sergeant. He was mus- tered out at Nashville, receiving his discharge at Detroit.
Immediately following his return home he became a wage earner and for two years worked by the month as a farm hand. At the expiration of that period he went to Ottawa, Kansas, where he pre-empted land that he cultivated for three years. He then came to Illinois to be married and immediately returned to Kansas with his bride, settling in Sedgwick county, in the vicinity of Wichita, where he homesteaded a quarter section. In 1873 he returned to Illinois and operated rented land in Chesterfield township, Macoupin county. This proved sufficiently lucrative to enable him to later purchase a seventy acre tract ad- joining a piece of similar size presented to Mrs. Warner by her father. Here he has since continuously resided, having, until his retirement, devoted his at- tention to general farming and stock-raising. His farm is one of the attractive places of the Challacombe settlement, so called from the family that owns the majority of the land in the vicinity. His house stands on the side of a hill overlooking the Macoupin creek, commanding an extensive view of all the val- ley round with its well tilled fields, green pastures, lanes and neat, substantial residences.
On the 27th of October, 1870, Mr. Warner was married to Miss Isabella Challacombe, who passed away on the 24th of December, 1904. Mrs. Warner was born and reared in this locality, being a daughter of Nicholas Challacombe, who is mentioned at greater length in the sketch of his son John William Chal- Vol. II-14
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lacombe, which appears on another page of this work. Four children were born Mr. and Mrs. Warner: Hervey Edwin, living at Challacombe, who married Florence Hartwell and has four children; Grace Isabella, who died in infancy; Ray Elden, also a resident of Challacombe, who married Harriet Richardson and has one child; and Stella Naomi, who is unmarried and living at home.
Public spirited in matters of citizenship, Mr. Warner always takes an active interest in everything pertaining to his township, his political support being given to the republican party. Although he has never figured prominently in government affairs he has served as township collector and assessor, efficiently discharging his duties. Those days of his early manhood spent on the southern battlefields in the service of his country are vividly remembered, the ties there formed being maintained through the medium of his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic at Piasa, his allegiance to which has ever been faithful. After an honorable youth and manhood he is passing life's evening in the peace and quiet justly merited by his well spent years, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, one son and his family living on a farm adjoining and the other but a short distance away.
S. P. PRESTON.
It would be difficult to find elsewhere than in Macoupin county a publisher or editor who at the age of thirty-seven years can claim to have spent thirty years in a newspaper office. Such, however, has been the experience of S. P. Preston, editor and proprietor of the Gillespie News. He started as a mere lad to learn the printer's trade and there are few men in the state, who have had better opportunities of becoming acquainted with all the details of the publica- tion of a country newspaper. He is now at the head of one of the best printing plants in the state, outside of the large cities, and has no reason to regret estab- lishing himself permanently at Gillespie.
Born at Madisonville, Kentucky, May 17, 1874, he is a son of John D. and Fannie (Hendricks) Preston, both of whom were born in Kentucky. The father engaged in contracting and plastering during the active period of his life. He removed to Sullivan, Illinois, in 1876 and four years later to Litchfield, where he remained until 1902 in the pursuit of his business, then taking up his residence at Mattoon. Here his wife died in December. 1908, and since April, 19II, Mr. Preston has made his home with his son in Gillespie. He is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, and polit- ically gives his support to the democratic party.
Mr. Preston of this sketch was reared at home but acquired his education principally in the printing office, to which he seems naturally to have been attracted. He became connected with the old Litchfield Monitor when he was seven years of age, and after serving an apprenticeship of four years transferred his allegiance to the Litchfield Daily News, which was the first daily issued in that place. At the age of fourteen he had mastered the printing business and was made foreman of the Taylorville Democrat. a position which he held for two
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and one-half years. He then went to Hillsboro and assumed business manage- ment of the Montgomery News, continuing in that position for about seventeen years. In November, 1905, believing that a favorable opening was presented at Gillespie, he came to this city and established the Gillespie News, the first edition of which was published November 25, 1905, on the day the first interur- ban car ran from Gillespie to Staunton. The paper was a success from its very start, and in 1907 Mr. Preston erected a two-story brick building for the pub- lication of the paper ; he also has a job office which is equipped with all modern facilities of a first-class printing plant. Under his management the paper has gained a large and growing circle of readers, and it has become an important factor in the promotion of the best interests of this section of the state.
On the 20th of May, 1891, Mr. Preston was married to Miss Alletta Van Doren, of Hillsboro, Illinois. Politically he is in sympathy with the democratic party, but he conducts the News as an independent publication, believing that in so doing he is best subserving the welfare of its supporters. Fraternally he is identified with Gillespie Lodge, K. P., and commands the highest respect of its members and also of the people of Macoupin county irrespective of religious, political or other affiliations. He can truly claim many friends who are inter- ested in his continued prosperity.
EDWARD EWIN.
Edward Ewin, who has gained an enviable reputation as a successful breeder of horses and is also a prominent farmer of Macoupin county, was born at "The Heights," in Westmoreland county, England, September II, 1865. He comes of one of the old families of Westmoreland county and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Harrison) Ewin, the former of whom was born on the family home- stead in 1817, and the latter at Soulby, Westmoreland county, in 1831. Thomas Ewin, the grandfather of our subject, was the youngest of seven children and upon the death of his parents came into possession of the family estate known as The Heights. There were four sons in the family, and two of them became prominent in the dry-goods business in London. They died without issue, leav- ing their property to their brothers' families. William Ewin continued upon the ancestral estate until his death, in 1879. The Harrison family has also been long known in Westmoreland county. William Harrison, the grandfather of our sub- ject on the maternal side, was a landowner of Soulby and owned a fine estate called Sandridge. He had two children, William and Elizabeth. Our subject is one of a family of eight children, namely: Mary, the wife of John Birbeck who resides at The Heights; Margaret, who married William Heslop, of Ormside, near Appleby, England; John, who came to America and is now living near Fidelity, Illinois ; Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Ewin, of Flitholm, Westmoreland county, England ; Edward, of this review; Louisa, who married Thomas Bird, of Drybeck ; William, who makes his home at Kirby Stephen, Westmoreland county ; and Thomas, a resident of Ormside.
Mr. Ewin, whose name introduces this sketch, received his early education in the public schools of his native county. At the age of thirteen he went to Lon-
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don and became an apprentice in the dry-goods business under his uncle, Edward Ewin. At nineteen years of age, after completing his apprenticeship, he returned home, where he remained for one year. Having decided to cast his lot with the American republic, he came to Illinois with his brother John in 1886 and engaged in general farming near Jerseyville, in Jersey county. Three years after his arrival he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land and later acquired four hundred acres additional, all of which he brought to an excellent state of improvement. He lived upon his farm until 1904, when he moved to Jersey- ville and directed his attention to the breeding of fancy harness horses, soon gaining recognition as one of the successful men in that line. In 1910 he took up his abode on section 20, Shipman township, east of Piasa, where he owns a valuable farm and an ideal country residence. He devotes his time entirely to breeding and raising fancy horses, especially harness horses. He is the owner of Constanero, No. 30,659, whose trotting record is 2:1614. This animal is the sire of the world's champion trotting gelding, Paderewski, 2:0514, and also of the world's champion pacing stallion, Ross K., 2:0112. These are the two fastest records ever made in a race up to the present time, and are practical evidences of the ability of Mr. Ewin as a horse breeder. He keeps in close touch with the progress of the world, especially along the line to which he devotes his best thought and energies, and is a valued member of the Trotting Horse Association of America.
On November 5, 1889, Mr. Ewin was married to Miss Clara E. Bohn, a daughter of William and Ellen (Hurley) Bohn, of Jerseyville. To this union three children have been born, Ralph Edward, Charles William and Mabel Ellen, all of whom are living at home. Henry Bohn, grandfather of Mrs. Ewin, came to America with his family from Alsace-Lorraine and located in Macoupin county, Illinois, near Brighton. He engaged in farming during the remainder of his life and died at Brighton. William Bohn, the father of Mrs. Ewin, was the eldest of seven children. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine and came to America when he was nine years of age. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and in the district schools secured his education. About 1887 he purchased land in Jersey county, near Jerseyville, which he cultivated until 1893, when he entered the gen- eral mercantile business at Brighton. He disposed of his business in 1908 and retired. He was a soldier in behalf of the Union at the time of the Civil war and is one of the highly respected citizens of Macoupin county. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bohn were seven children: Clara E., now Mrs. Edward Ewin; Martha, who married Harry Cummings, of Jerseyville, and is the mother of one child, William; Dorothy Mildred, who is the wife of Oliver Parsell, of Jerseyville ; William Charles, of Golconda, Illinois ; Virginia A., who married Leslie Waddill, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Joseph, who died at the age of twenty-one; and Letitia E., who married Frank Martin, of Brighton.
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