USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 68
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After receiving the rudiments of a common-school education F. E. Weissen- born entered the coal mines and has ever since been actively connected with min- ing interests. He received his introduction to this industry when he was only ten years old and after seven years, feeling the need of more education, he went
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to St. Louis and pursued advanced studies in the night schools, maintaining him- self by working at wages in the daytime. A young man of this caliber is not likely to remain long in a subordinate position and, having qualified himself for responsibility, he was advanced through various offices in connection with min- ing until in 1892 he was made superintendent of the Consolidated Coal Com- pany's mines a position which he has ever since filled to the general satisfaction of the stockholders and officers of the company. He lived for three years at Gillespie but in 1895 removed to Staunton, where he has since made his home. The company is among the most important of the kind in this part of the state, being one of the large and steady producers of coal. The output of No. 7 shaft is now one thousand tons per day and the mine gives employment to about two hundred and ten men. No. 14 shaft, which was sunk in 1903, produces three thousand tons per day and this mine employs five hundred men. Mr. Weissen- born is an excellent executive officer and possesses in an unusual degree the re- spect and confidence of the employes under his charge.
In 1882 he was married to Miss Tillie Erndorfer, a native of St. Louis, and they have two children, Pearl and Nannie, both of whom are at home. He is prominently connected with the Masonic order and is a member of the blue lodge and chapter at Staunton, the commandery at Litchfield and the consistory at Chicago. He and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and he is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern American, all of which are at Staunton. He can claim many friends in the various orders with which he is connected and also through- out this part of the state, where he has been favorably known during his entire active life. Eminently just and fair as an employer, he has contributed very materially toward the mineral resources of the state of Illinois and is, therefore, entitled to a place among the real benefactors of the country.
HORACE EBERT RUTHERFORD.
Horace Ebert Rutherford, a successful representative of the agricultural inter- ests of Macoupin county and the owner of one of the productive farms of Nilwood township, is a native of this county, born in Girard township, December 9, 1851. He is a son of Julius and Melissa (Landon) Rutherford, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Vermont. The family on the paternal side has been traced to North Carolina, where Joseph Rutherford, the grandfather of our subject, was born. Horace Landon, the grandfather on the maternal side was a native of Vermont. The father of our subject came to Illinois in the pioneer days and took up three hundred and twenty acres of land in Nilwood township, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Mr. Rutherford, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, attended the district schools and pursued his education further at the Illinois State Normal. After leaving this institution he went with his sister to Texas and taught school, but returned in 1872 to Kirksville, Missouri, where he became a student of the normal school. In 1873 he took up his residence on the home farm, where he has
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ever since continued. He has greatly improved the place until it now possesses all the accessories and conveniences of a twentieth century farm. He practices rota- tion of crops and has shown in business affairs an excellency of judgment which has been productive of highly satisfactory returns. In addition to the ownership of valuable farm property he is a stockholder in the Nilwood State Bank.
On the 31st of August, 1876, Mr. Rutherford was married to Miss Jemima King, a native of Palmyra township and a daughter of Wesley and Ellen (Steidly) King. To this union eight children were born: Cecil, who married Bessie Turner, of Nilwood township; Daisy, who became the wife of William Eckels, of Staun- ton, and has three children; Wesley, who is at home; Alta, who married William Debold, of Springfield, Illinois ; and Edgar, Ruth, May, and Percy, all of whom are at home. The children were given good advantages of education and engaged in school teaching, several of them being now actively identified with that occupa- tion. Mrs. Rutherford died in May, 1906, and on June 4, 1908, Mr. Rutherford was married to Miss Marion Morrison, a native of this state and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Crowder) Morrison, the former of whom was born in Ire- land and the latter in Illinois. By his second marriage Mr. Rutherford has two children, Marion Elizabeth and Horace E., Jr.
Mr. Rutherford early perceived the benefits of education and has throughout his active life been one of the stanch supporters of the public schools. He has also been thoroughly wide-awake to the possibilities of the great state of Illinois and has demonstrated his practical knowledge of agriculture and stock-raising, heing recognized as one of the most efficient and progressive farmers of the township. Politically he is allied with the democratic party and religiously is affiliated with the Baptist church. He is a stanch believer in fraternal organiza- tions and for many years has held membership in the Odd Fellows, being also iden- tfiied with the Mutual Protective League.
NAPOLEON B. UTT.
Napoleon B. Utt, who is living retired in Shipman, Macoupin county, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred at Portsmouth on the 22d of May, 1826. His parents were Henry and Sarah (Hibbs) Utt, both natives of the Buckeye state, where for many years the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. During the pioneer days he removed to Alton, Illinois, and there entered gov- ernment land, that he disposed of later and moved to Christian county, this state. There he again entered land upon which he resided for a time, then came to Macoupin county, where he was living at the time of his death in 1861. The mother survived for some time thereafter, her demise also occurring in this county. Henry Utt was a veteran of the war of 1812, while his father partici- pated in the Revolution. To Mr. and Mrs. Utt were born six sons and six daughters, all of whom are deceased with the exception of William Utt of Car- linville and our subject.
Napoleon B. Utt was only a small lad when his parents brought him to Illi- nois and he attended the schools of Jersey county, this state, in the acquirement
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of his education. Much of his time, even during his very early boyhood, was devoted to the work on the fields, as in common with all settlers in a new coun- try they met with many hardships and misfortunes. When the war broke out in 1861 he was living at Springfield and was one of the first to volunteer his services, going to the front as a private in the First Illinois Cavalry. He partici- pated in a number of important battles, seeing much active service, and re- ceived his discharge at Springfield at the close of the war. He proceeded to Christian county, where his family were living at that time, and once more undertook farming. Later he came to Carlinville but soon thereafter removed to Joplin, Missouri, where for thirty years he engaged in contracting and build- ing. When ready to retire from active life he returned to Macoupin county, locating in Shipman, where he is now residing.
At Virden, Illinois, on the 22d of April, 1877, Mr. Utt and Mrs. Mattie Black Crooks, the widow of Henry Crooks, were united in marriage. Mrs. Utt is a daughter of James and Flora (McNabb) Black, and was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 19th of April, 1848. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of Glasgow, Scotland, but they resided for many years in St. Louis, Missouri, where the father was a contractor. They removed from there to Godfrey, Illinois, but subsequently became residents of Carlinville, where they lived until Mr. Black's death. The mother survived until 1907, her demise oc- curring at Peoria, Illinois. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Black, the two sons, John of Bloomington, and Simeon of Carrollton, besides Mis. Utt, are the only ones now living. In 1869 Miss Mattie Black was married to Henry Crooks, a native of Rushville, Illinois, and a contracting painter. Four children were born to them, two of whom are now living: Flora, now Mrs. Zellers, of Joplin, Missouri, and William Crooks, who is also a resident of that city. Mr. Crooks, who was a veteran of the Civil war, died at Virden. Illi- nois, in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Utt are the parents of three children, two of whom are deceased, the third member of their family, Mrs. Julia Smith, is now a resident of Los Angeles, California.
Mr. and Mrs. Utt hold membership in the Baptist church. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, being identified with the Joplin Missouri - post. Despite the long period of their absence from Macoupin county Mr. and Mrs. Utt have resumed many of the acquaintances and friendships of their earlier days, and are enjoying life's evening spent amid the associations of long ago.
CHARLES KLAUS.
Charles Klaus, a member of the board of directors of the Nilwood State Bank and one of the prosperous farmers of Macoupin county, can claim descent from Teutonic ancestry on both sides of the house and much of his success las been due to those habits of thrift and perseverance which are prominent traits of the German people. He is a native of Illinois, born at Nilwood June 6, 1858, a son of George and Theresa (Metz) Klaus, both of whom were born in Alsace- Vol. II-34
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Lorraine, Germany. The father, seeking to improve his condition, came to America and located at Nilwood, where he ran a shoe shop and also operated a boarding house for a number of years. In 1865 he removed to a farm in Nil- wood township and devoted his attention to agriculture and stockraising there until 1880 when he took up his residence on a place nearer the village, where he died four years later. He possessed many sterling personal qualities and pre -. sented an example of industry and fidelity to worthy objects well deserving of imitation by old and young.
In the public schools of Nilwood Charles Klaus secured good advantages of education and continued at his studies until seventeen years of age. He then began devoting his entire attention to farm work under his father and remained upon the home farm until 1885, when he purchased one hundred and forty acres in Nilwood township, south of Nilwood, upon which he established his per- manent home. He has been in possession of his farm for more than twenty-five years and by diligent and persistent cultivation of the fields and careful rota- tion of crops he produced a liberal annual income. He has made many excel- lent improvements, including the erection of buildings, fences, and the putting in of tile for drainage, and can claim one of the most attractive farms in this part of the county. He possesses an intimate knowledge of agriculture and stock-raising as he has been closely identified with this branch ever since his earliest recollection. He is also a stockholder and director of the Nilwood State Bank.
On March 6, 1884, in Girard township, Mr. Klaus was married to Miss Emma S. Kune, who was born in Shaws Point township, a daughter of Chris- tian and Louisa (Kasten) Kune, both of the parents being natives of Germany.
Ever since casting his first ballot Mr. Klaus has supported the principles and candidates of the republican party. He has taken an active interest in elections and has served as highway commissioner and state game warden, displaying an ability that met the hearty approval of the people irrespective of their political affiliation. He is a strong believer in the Bible and a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. His life has been characterized by diligence, enterprise and perseverance, and no man in Nilwood township possesses in a higher degree the confidence of the people than the one whose record is here- with briefly presented.
DAVID M. THOMPSON.
Dorchester, Macoupin county, has always been the home of David M. Thomp- son, who has been prominently identified with local politics for more than a decade. His birth here occurred on the 14th of February, 1867, and he is the only surviving child born to William P. and Nancy F. (Grant) Thompson. The father was a native of Vermont and there he was reared and educated, later learning the carpentry trade. In his early manhood he moved to the west, settling in the vicinity of Staunton, Macoupin county, in 1854. After several years residence there he removed to Dorchester, where he continued to make his
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home until his death. His energies were always devoted to contracting and building in which vocation he met with good success, being one of the able rep- resentatives of this trade in the country. For his wife and helpmate Mr. Thompson chose Miss Nancy F. Grant, who was born and reared in Macoupin county, and to them were born three sons and one daughter, in the following order of birth: Edward and Wesley, both of whom are deceased; David M., our subject; and Mary, who is also deceased. The mother still survives and makes her home in Witt, Illinois.
David M. Thompson was reared at home, attending the public schools until he was ten years of age. Terminating his studies he began his business career, entering the store of Ferdinand Meyers of Dorchester. He continued to clerk there until 1886, when Mr. Meyers turned over to him the management of his elevator and grain business in Dorchester, which position he has ever since re- tained. Mr. Thompson has always been a thrifty, steady employee and in ad- dition to his other interests now owns a very comfortable residence.
On the 12th of April, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thompson and Miss Clara B. Vanatta, and they are the parents of one son, Ira M., born in 1891. He has not yet completed his education, and is attending school.
The family affiliate with the Church of Christ, and fraternally Mr. Thomp- .son is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a republican and has been honored by being elected to a number of important local offices. In 1900 he was elected to the board of county supervisors, in which capacity he has ever since been retained, now being chairman of the board. He has been town treasurer for the past seven years, while he served a four-year term as collector, and he has been a school director for a period of five years. In addition to his many offi- cial duties Mr. Thompson is one of the directors of the Dorchester Telephone Company. He has always given efficient service in whatever capacity he has been retained, discharging his responsibilities with a rare sense of conscientious obligation. His name has been particularly free from any doubt as to his in- tegrity or trustworthiness, the long period of his service in the various offices to which he has been elected giving substantial proof of the public confidence. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county and is held in high esteem, having, during the period of his public life, won and retained the friend- ship of many of the representative citizens.
EDWARD W. DAY.
A well kept farm of two hundred and forty acres is an indication of the business ability of Edward W. Day, of Virden township, who is also known as one of the enterprising citizens of Macoupin county. He was born in Jersey county, January 7, 1863, a son of Ira T. and Fanny (Purdy) Day, the former of whom was a native of Vermont and the latter of New York state. The father was one of the pioneers of Illinois, arriving in this state in 1835. He traveled by wagon from Vermont, as there were no railroads in the country at that time,
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
and about a month after he had established his home in the wilderness his horses disappeared but were afterwards found on their way back to their old home in the east, having traveled over one hundred miles before they were retaken. Mrs. Day died February 14, 1863, leaving one child, Edward W., the subject of this review, who was then only five weeks old. Mr. Day was again married, selecting as the lady of his choice Miss Catharine Magee, and to this union one child, Flora, was born. She is now the wife of Joseph Ebers, of Virden. The father died in 1906, being then well advanced in years. He was a man of many admirable traits of character and was a worthy type of the brave spirits that founded the great state of Illinois and made possible the prosperous cities and beautiful homes that now dot the country from the great lakes to the gulf.
Edward W. Day attended the public schools and under his father became thoroughly acquainted with the details pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising. He continued on the home farm until twenty-two years of age and then began business on his own account by renting one hundred and twenty acres. Soon afterwards he purchased eighty acres and has since added to his farm as his re- sources permitted until he is now the owner of one of the most valuable places of its size in the township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and through the application of sound judgment he has met with merited prosperity at the same time, through his straightforward business methods, commanding confidence and respect wherever he is known.
On the 14th of April, 1886, Mr. Day was married to Miss Anna Tagg, a daughter of Thomas and Mary A. (Luckman) Tagg. The parents were both born in England and came to America, settling at Virden. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tagg three children were born, namely: Jennie, who is the wife of James Kitner, of Jacksonville, Illinois ; William, deceased; and Anna, now Mrs. Edward W. Day. Mr. and Mrs. Day are the parents of two children: Howard W., a resident of Virden; and Henrietta, who lives at home. Mr. Day has for many years taken an active interest in politics and from the time of reaching manhood has been identified with the republican party. He is a valued member of the Christian church and is connected with the Woodmen and the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He and his wife are greatly interested in all worthy move- ments that aim to advance the permanent welfare of the region and are highly esteemed for their genial and unselfish qualities. He is fully imbued with the progressive ideas that have made Illinois one of the richest states of the Union and is recognized as a man of fine business judgment.
HENRY W. KNEMOELLER.
Henry W. Knemoeller, who for some years has been identified with the official and public life of Carlinville, was born in Staunton, Illinois, on the 15th of August, 1874. He is one of the seven children born to Henry and Charlotte (Buecker) Knemoeller, natives of Westphalia, Germany. The father was reared and married in his native land, where he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed until he emigrated to the United States, locating in Staunton. There
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HISTORY OF, MACOUPIN COUNTY
he worked in the mines and followed brick making until his death in 1880, when about forty years of age. The mother passed away about two years later, thirty- four years old. Both were members of the German Evangelical church, and the father was a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war, there sustaining wounds which eventually caused his death. The paternal grandfather, Herman Knemoeller was a butcher by trade, and the father of four sons: Fred, Rudolph, Henry and Herman. He passed away at the age of eighty-nine years, having survived his wife for several years. The maternal grandfather after the death of his wife emigrated to the United States, settling in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he died nearly ninety years old. During the years of his active career he devoted his energies to the carpentry trade, which he learned in his early youth.
Left an orphan at the age of eight years, Henry W. Knemoeller was reared at Fort Wayne, Indiana, by his mother's brother, Fred Buecker, until he reached his eighteenth year during which time he was a student of the public schools. In 1892 he returned to Staunton where he worked in the mines until appointed chief of police. He resigned this office at the end of four years in order to become chief deputy to Sheriff Etter, in which capacity he continues to serve. Mr. Knemoeller has proven to be a very capable and trustworthy official, discharging his duties with painstaking, conscientious recognition of the responsibilities entailed.
On the 6th of July, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Knemoeller and Mrs. Geneva Woods, the widow of William Woods and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph (Bruce) Gates. Mrs. Knemoeller was born in Staunton, Illinois, and her parents were also natives of this state and here they passed away. The father was a volunteer in the Union army during the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Gates there were born five children: Rosa, the wife of John Berger; William; Geneva, the wife of our subject; Edward, who is deceased; and Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Knemoeller have no children, but she had four children by her former husband, namely: Robert C., Lilly, Irene and Helen.
Mr. Knemoeller affiliates with the Evangelical and his wife with the Baptist church. His fraternal relations are confined to his membership in Parnassus Lodge, No. 581, K. of P., of Staunton. Ever since granted the right of franchise upon attaining his majority he has voted with the democracy; he was constable at Staunton for four years. His record as a public official has been particularly free from any suspicion of unfaithfulness to his responsibilities, his duties al- ways having been discharged with an efficiency that leaves no shadow of a doubt as to his honor and integrity.
WILLIAM J. BEHME.
William J. Behme, who is residing on section 22, Brushy Mound township, where he successfully engages in general farming and stock-raising, was born in Clyde, Cahokie township, Macoupin county, on the Ist of October, 1861. He is the eldest child of William C. and Catharine (Brechencamp) Behme, natives of Germany, the father having been born in Brunswick and the mother in the vicinity
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of Berlin. They emigrated to America in the late forties with their parents, who located in Illinois. During the early years of his active business career William C. Behme engaged in paper hanging in St. Louis, Missouri. He withdrew from occupation aiter his marriage, however, and devoted his energies to farming, lo- cating at Clyde. Two years later he removed to Brushy Mound township, rent- ing sixty acres of land on section 22. The cultivation of this farm proved so suc- cessful that he was subsequently able to buy one hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 4 and 9 in the river bottom. There he resided for sixteen years when he removed to his father's farm, where our subject now lives. Here he passed away on the 12th of September, 1909, having survived his wife three years, her demise occurring on the 17th of March. The paternal grandfather, Julius Behme, was born in Brunswick in 1806 and died in Macoupin county in 1893, on the farm where William J. Behme now lives, his wife died in Clyde. He was a carpenter by trade, but for many years was engaged in farming in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. William C. Behme were born five children, those beside our subject, in order of birth, are: Henry, who is a farmer in Brushy Mound township, where his wife, formerly Jerusialı Emerick, was reared; Amelia, the wife of George Smith, a farmer of Plainview; Matilda, the wife of William Hacke, a farmer of Brushy Mound township; and Charlotta, who died in infancy.
Nearly the entire life of William J. Behme has been spent in Brushy Mound township, whose district schools afforded him a good, practical education, while he was being trained in agricultural methods under the capable supervision of his father. He remained at home with his parents, cultivating the old farm, until he was thirty-one years of age, when he married and began to work for himself. As his father wished to retire, he rented his farm, which he cultivated until the for- mer's death in 1909, when he removed to the place where he now lives, formerly. his grandfather's homestead. He owns eighty acres in the home place and sixty- eight acres adjoining on the west, sixteen acres of his land being natural timber, fine oak and hickory trees. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs for the market.
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