USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 72
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At the age of ten months B. J. Schoen was brought by his parents to Ma- coupin county and during all the time that has since passed he has lived upon the home place. He received his education in the public schools and the Luth- eran parochial school of Mount Olive and during the periods of vacation as- sisted his father upon the farm. As he approached manhood he assumed charge of the place and after his marriage his father gave him eighty acres which he cultivated to such excellent advantage that he was enabled to purchase more land and now owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres in his homestead, being also the owner of forty-six acres of valuable land adjoining Mount Olive on the west and a farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Montgomery county, making his total land holdings amount to three hundred and seventy acres in one of the most productive regions of the state. He is also the owner of a handsome residence property in Mount Olive and each year witnesses an increase in his material prosperity.
On the 10th of August, 1879, Mr. Schoen was married to Miss Eleanore Husman, a native of Mount Olive township and a daughter of Henry Husman
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who was born in Germany. The latter came to the new world after arriving at maturity and made his home for a time near Bunker Hill, Macoupin county. Later he settled on a farm near Mount Olive where he continued for many years. He died in Montgomery county about six months after his removal to that section. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schoen, four of whom survive, namely: Anna, who married Otto Eaglehoff, of Montgomery county ; and Eleanore, Sophia and John, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Schoen is a patriotic and progressive citizen and no man in the town- ship is more ready to lend his assistance in promoting the general welfare. Politically he adheres to the republican party. At the age of twenty-six he was elected highway commissioner and served several terms in that office, using a judgment in its administration which gave general satisfaction to taxpayers. He and his estimable wife are valued members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and can claim many friends in a community with which they have been prominently identified for nearly a third of a century.
HENRY G. FAUSLER.
Henry G. Fausler, who has for many years been interested in farming in Barr township and also served ably as cashier of the Bank of Hettick, is a na- tive of this township. He was born on April 4, 1859, a son of E. and Amanda (Ring) Fausler, both of whom were natives of Sullivan county, Tennessee, the former having been born October 12, 1828. The original ancestors of the family in America came from Germany and his son, the grandfather of our subject, was killed by a horse, leaving a widow with several children, the eldest of whom was the father of our subject. As he grew toward manhood he assisted his mother in providing for the younger members of the family. He served in the Mexican war, receiving his honorable discharge before he was twenty years of age. In 1848 he came to Macoupin county, Illinois, and took up his residence upon land on which his son Henry G. now lives. In 1864 Mr. Fausler purchased land in this county, upon which he moved in 1873, having previously cultivated rented property. He was very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser and ac- quired five hundred acres of good land in Macoupin county. He was a large feeder of cattle and also devoted special attention to raising Poland China hogs. He died at the old homestead April 27, 1896, having arrived at the age of sixty- eight years. Politically, he adhered to the democratic party ; religiously, he was a stanch supporter of the Methodist faith. He took an active interest in town- ship affairs and served as highway commissioner. Socially he was identified with Scottville Lodge, No. 426, A. F. & A. M.
The fifth in order of birth in a family of ten children, Henry G. Fausler grew to maturity in the parental home. He received a good education in the public schools of Palmyra and for three years taught school in this county. His prin- cipal interest, however, has been centered upon agriculture and stock-raising and as a young man he concentrated his energy along those lines, becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, upon which he moved in 1895.
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On October I, 1907, he was elected cashier of the Bank of Hettick and took up his residence there, where he continued for three years in the discharge of his duties in connection with the bank. In 1910 he returned to his farm and is giv- ing his attention to general farming, making a specialty of Polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. He feeds about a carload of cattle for the market each year and his business yields a handsome annual revenue.
On September 23, 1883, Mr. Fausler was married to Miss Hattie A. Bell, a daughter of Stephen and Mary (Dalby) Bell. On the paternal side the family has been traced to Virginia, where the name is well known. The Dalbys were among the old settlers of Macoupin county. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Fausler five are now living: Edith, who was educated at the high school of Palmyra and is now living at home; and Lloyd, Harold, Lelia and Stephen, all of whom are at home.
In politics Mr. Fausler adheres to the democratic party. He has served as township assessor three terms and also for several terms as township clerk. He is a member of the Methodist church and also of the lodge of Modern Woodmen of America at Barr. For more than fifty years he has made his home in this section and during that time has witnessed many steps of the great change through which the wilderness has been conquered and the comforts and conveniences of modern life have been introduced. His attention has been mainly given to farm- ing and in his business he has met with the success that is the deserved result of good judgment and earnest application.
CHARLES WALKINGTON.
Charles Walkington, who owns and operates an eighty acre tract on section I, North Otter township, was born in Macoupin county on the Ist of September, 1867, and is a son of the late William M. and Ellis (Leak) Walkington. The parents were both natives of England, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1851, and two years thereafter settled in Macoupin county. Here the father engaged in farming in which he met with excellent success having acquired at the time of his demise five hundred and thirty-six acres of well improved and cultivated land. To Mr. and Mrs. Walkington were born eleven children: Fan- nie, the wife of William Clack, of Edgar, Nebraska; David, who is a resident of Greene county ; William, who is deceased; Newton H., a farmer of Macoupin county ; Clara, the wife of Robert S. Olderson, of Virden; Edward, who is also a resident of this county; Charles, our subject; and Nathan, who is living in Virden. The second, third and fourth child in order of birth died in infancy. The mother passed away on the 22d of March, 1872, and Mr. Walkington was married again to Miss Clara Beason, and they became the parents of three chil- dren : Albert, who is living in Modesto; Elsworth, a resident of Macoupin county ; and Nellie, the wife of John Hamner, of Macoupin county. The father is also deceased, having died on the 9th of February, 19II.
Charles Walkington continued to be a member of the paternal household until he was twenty-nine years of age. He attended the district schools in the
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acquirement of his education, at the same time giving such assistance in the cul- tivation of the home farm. Leaving his studies he gave his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits, assisting first in working the home farm but later renting land from his father. After his marriage he rented his present homestead, to which he now holds the title, having inherited it upon the death of his father. Here he has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising for the past fif- teen years, and has met with good success in both.
In 1898 Mr. Walkington established a home for himself by his marriage, on the 4th of September, to Miss Julia Coyle, a daughter of Peter L. and Amanda (Page) Coyle, residents of Bond county, Illinois. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coyle: Sarah, the wife of Marion Runfelt, of Missouri; Mary and Henry, both of whom are deceased ; Julia, now Mrs. Walkington ; Lucy, who married A. C. Dewey, of Bond county ; Jerry and John, both living in Bond county ; Nancy, the wife of Rufus Cruthes, also of this county ; Mike and Pur- ley, living in Bond county ; Dolly and Etta, who are at home; Simon, who is deceased ; and Clarence, also at home. Mr. and Mrs. Walkington have become the parents of four children: Everett, who was born on the 2d of June, 1899; Estell, born on the 5th of January, 1903; Glenn, whose birth occurred on the 9th of September, 1906; and Wilberta, born on the IIth of July, 1908.
Both hold membership in the Presbyterian church in the faith of which de- nomination they are bringing up their children. Politically Mr. Walkington is a democrat.
A. E. FISCHER.
A. E. Fischer, a successful pharmacist of Mount Olive where he has been in business on his own account for six years past, was born in Elkhorn, Illinois, August 23, 1875, a son of August and Sophia (Lathrop) Fischer. The father was a native of Germany and came to America with his parents in his childhood. The mother was born at Elkhorn and was married there to Mr. Fischer. He engaged in the general mercantile business for a number of years and in the '8os removed to Nashville, Illinois, where he became prominently identified with the agricultural implement business. While thus employed he made the acquaintance of officers of the McCormick Reaper company who were impressed with his ability and offered him a position as a traveling salesman at a lucrative salary, which he accepted, disposing of the business he had conducted in his own name. He died in 1904 but Mrs. Fischer is still living and resides with a daughter at Columbia, Missouri. She is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Mr. Fischer gave his po- litical support to the republican party and was an influential factor in its councils although he never sought public office. Fraternally he was identified with the Odd Fellows.
In the public schools of Nashville A. E. Fischer received his preliminary education. Having decided to devote his attention to pharmacy he began study- ing in a drug store at Nashville and in the spring of 1897 passed the examination of the state board of examiners and received a certificate as a pharmacist. He .Vol. II-36
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secured employment in St. Louis and later at Pana, Illinois, where he continued until 1900. He then came to Mount Olive and was made manager for C. J. Keiser & Company, pharmacists. After holding this position four years he purchased the store which he has since operated with marked success.
On February 3, 1904, Mr. Fischer was married to Miss Julia Niemeyer, a daughter of William Niemeyer, a pioneer business man of Mount Olive. To this union one child, Marguerite L., has been born. Mr. Fischer is not identified with any religious denomination but his wife is a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Like his father he adheres to the republican party and is ac- tively interested in its success although in no sense an office seeker. Fraternally he is identified with Litchfield Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, of the same city, being also a member of the Mount Olive Merchants Association. He early became aware of the fact that there is no royal road to wealth, and by his industry and persistence he has acquired a com- petence and also gained the good will of his fellow men.
JAMES HURT YOWELL.
James Hurt Yowell, now deceased, will be remembered as one of the success- ful farmers of Macoupin county-a man of unusual energy and decision of char- acter who inherited from pioneer ancestry the courage and perseverance that en- abled him to overcome many obstacles and establish himself as one of the honored citizens of the county. He was born in Morgan county, Illinois, November 7, 1829, being a son of John and Sophia (Butler) Yowell, both of whom were na- tives of Kentucky. His grandfather on the paternal side was James H. Yowell, of Virginia. The parents of our subject came to Illinois in 1830 and the father was one of the prominent men in the state in the early days. He served as lieu- tenant in the Black Hawk war and was afterward made captain of his company. The people had great confidence in his integrity and judgment and in 1864 he was elected associate justice of Macoupin county.
Mr. Yowell of this sketch attended the pioneer schools and as he grew to man- hood assisted his father in various operations upon the home farm. Later he became a general farmer and spared no pains or labor in securing the best results from his work. He was remarkably thorough in everything he undertook and brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, transferring the raw prairie into rich and fertile fields. He displayed good judgment in the erection of buildings and the purchase of machinery and other accessories so necessary in facilitating farm work. The keynote of his prosperity was economy, industry and persever- ance. He continued actively on his farm until 1900, when he retired and took up his residence at McVey.
In 1853 Mr. Yowell was married to Miss Edith Ann Husband, of Macoupin county, and they had four sons, John E., George S., James A. and Lincoln. The mother of these children died in 1866 and Mr. Yowell was married on May 16, 1867, in Shaws Point township, to Miss Mary C. Brown, who was born in Jer- sey county, Illinois. She is a daughter of Captain Joseph W. and Harriet (Dow-
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ney) Brown, both of whom were born in Illinois, and a granddaughter of Charles Brown, of Kentucky, and James Downey, who was a native of Vermont. By his second marriage Mr. Yowell became the father of six children. Charles E., the eldest, is now living in Arkansas. He married Anna Smith, and they have two sons, Edgar and Coy. Edith May married Lorin Torrly and they live at Jacksonville, Illinois. In their family are three children, two sons and one daugh- ter. Ada Maud is the wife of N. A. Johnson, of Macoupin county, and they have six children, four sons and two daughters. Joseph Hurt, the fourth member of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Yowell, married Kathryn Behme and their home is at Litchfield. They have three sons, Carl Brown, Calvin Ray and Joseph Harold. Mary C. is now living at home with her mother and Logan, the youngest of the children, lives at Girard.
Mr. Yowell died at McVey in 1903, having passed the Psalmist's span of three score and ten years of age. He gave his support politically to the republican party, of which he was an earnest advocate, and served several terms as high- way commissioner and also as member of the school board. He was a man of progressive ideas and possessed the faculty in an eminent degree of making and retaining friends. Entirely straightforward and upright in his life, public and private, he merited the deep respect in which he was held and his name will ever be identified with the development of Macoupin county during the period covering the last half of the nineteenth century. His success in his chosen calling was in an important degree due to his persistent efforts and well directed energy and he was rightly regarded as one of the foremost representatives of agricultural interests in this section.
H. J. TROEGER.
The editor is one of the moving forces in modern life. The newspapers have in many respects taken the place of the pulpit and as the number of their readers is constantly increasing their influence is correspondingly growing. Especially is this true when the editor is a man of unquestioned integrity, a clear thinker and writer, and one who subordinates personal ambition to his desire to promote the general welfare of the community. H. J. Troeger, editor of the Mount Olive Herald, may be designated as a man of this character. He was born at Mount Olive October 12, 1876, and has spent practically his entire life in Macoupin county. A descendant of good Teutonic ancestry, he is a son of Edward and Wil- helmina (Zimmerman) Troeger. The parents were both born in Germany and are now living in Mount Olive.
Mr. Troeger of this sketch grew to manhood under the paternal roof and re- ceived his preliminary education in the public schools of Mount Olive. He has been an extensive reader and, being a man of fine powers of observation has added largely to the fund of knowledge which he acquired in the schoolroom. Being attracted to the editorial field, he purchased the Mount Olive Herald in January, 1900, and for more than eleven years has occupied the responsible position of edi- tor and proprietor of the paper. The Herald is issued weekly and under compe- tent management has become one of the valuable publications of the county, faith-
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fully reflecting public sentiment on all questions pertaining to the interests of this section. The paper is independent politically. The aim of Mr. Troeger has been from the start to treat all questions without prejudice and to promote to the extent of his ability the permanent welfare of the region throughout which the circula- tion of the Herald extends. That he has admirably succeeded is the verdict of his patrons. He also maintains a first class printing plant and the work turned out from this office compares favorably with that of similar establishments in any other part of the county. Mr. Troeger is to be congratulated on the excellent serv- ice he has rendered the county in making its resources known and also in keeping the people informed as to the progress of events in this part of the state. Frater- nally he is identified with the Masonic order whose beneficent principles have had a marked effect in shaping his life. He is recognized by those who know him best as one who is controlled by a worthy ambition to make an honorable name for himself and at the same time advance the prosperity and happiness of his fellow men.
SUMMIT WILLIAM BARNES.
Among the farmers of Macoupin county there are few who occupy a higher position in the estimation of the community than the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this review. He has been engaged in farming and stock- raising ever since his boyhood and is also very prominent in political, religious and fraternal affairs, being one of the most active and efficient workers in the county along those lines. A native of Carlinville township, he was born on a farm north of Carlinville, March 31, 1863, a son of Andrew J. and Mary Barnes, the former of whom was born in Ohio. The grandfather of our subject was Elias Barnes, a native of Pennsylvania. Andrew J. Barnes came to Macoupin county, from the Keystone state early in the '60s and engaged in farming in Carlinville township until 1868. He then moved to South Otter township, where he continued until his death in 1877, his wife having been called away about twelve years previously.
Summit W. Barnes attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when his father died and the family was broken up. He then took up his resi- dence with an uncle in Montgomery county and carried his studies further in the public schools of that section. In 1879 he returned to South Otter town- ship and secured employment as a farm hand under William Huson at nine dol- lars per month. He worked for wages until 1884, when he began farming for himself in South Otter and later in Nilwood township. In 1888 he moved to Wichita, Kansas, but after one year's experience in the Sunflower state came to the conclusion that conditions were more favorable east of the Mississippi river. Accordingly, he returned to Macoupin county and again worked for wages until 1897, when he resumed farming upon a small place in Nilwood township. In 1900 he enlarged his operations and since 1904 has been cultivating the D. C. Enslow farm, which comprises three hundred and forty acres. He raises the cereals upon an extensive scale and is also a large cattle feeder and shipper. He takes great interest in the development of the agricultural and live stock re-
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sources of the state and is a stockholder of the Macoupin County Fair Associa- tion.
On the 13th of February, 1884, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Clara S. Davidson, of South Otter township, a daughter of David and Carolina (Graves) Davidson, the former of whom was born in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have no children of their own but have an adopted daughter, Hattie, to whom all desirable advantages of education and training have been extended.
In politics Mr. Barnes adheres to the democratic party. He has served for seven years as central committeeman of Nilwood township, two years as as- sessor and three years as highway commissioner and school director. Religiously he is identified with the Southern Methodist church and is deeply interested in church work, being a local preacher of this denomination. He also serves as trustee and steward of the church and for fifteen years has been superintendent of the Sunday school. For five years past he has represented the denomina- tion at both district and annual conferences, proving one of the most efficient workers of that body. He is also actively connected with fraternal organiza- tions and is a member of Girard Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., of which he is junior warden; Chapter No. 132, R. A. M .; and the council at Sullivan. He also belongs to McVey Camp, No. 3065, M. W. A., having served as manager for nine years. He has the reputation of being a good shot and holds member- ship in the Nilwood Gun Club. Notwithstanding the responsibility involved by the management of a large farm, Mr. Barnes finds time to discharge his va- rious other duties and performs his work so acceptably that his services are in constant demand. His life has in an important degree been devoted to the pro- motion of the comfort and happiness of others and he seeks no reward except the consciousness of following in the footsteps of the great teacher who said : "He that loseth his life shall find it."
ANTON GRUA.
Anton Grua is now serving his second term as mayor of White City, and al- though he has been a resident only since 1906, he has nevertheless in that short period become a leader in the public life of the community. He was born in Italy, on the 26th of December, 1876, a son of Dominick and Margaret (Rudolph) Grua, also natives of that country. The father, a farmer by occupation, is still living but the mother passed away in 1901 or 1902. Under the parental roof Anton Grua spent the period of his boyhood and youth, acquiring an education in the common schools, and remaining at home until nineteen years of age. The opportunities offered by the new world then attracted him and, bidding adieu to home and native country, he sailed for America in 1895. For a time he was located at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal mines and then, in 1900, came to Ma- coupin county, where he followed mining at Staunton for about six years. The year 1906 witnessed his arrival in White City, at which time he established him- self in business and has since been actively engaged therein. He has been very successful in his undertaking.
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In 1906 Mr. Grua was married to Miss Madaline Grua, also a native of Italy, and unto this union were born two children, Anton and Margaret. Since arriving in White City Mr. Grua has become a leader in democratic circles, and the influ- ence which he acquired among his fellow citizens is indicated by the fact that he was elected to the highest office in the power of the community to bestow, and is now serving his second term as mayor of the city. He is giving to the community a business-like administration, his reelection to the office being proof of the ability which he manifested during his first term to successfully conduct the affairs of the community as its chief executive.
WILLIAM T. BIVIN.
A lifelong residence in Macoupin county has given William T. Bivin oppor- tunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the resources of this section of the state and also of acquiring the valuable farm which he owns in North Otter township. He was born at Macoupin, in October, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Martha (Collins) Bivin. The parents were both natives of Kentucky and, like many people south of the Ohio river in the early days of the settlement of Illinois, believed that this state possessed superior advantages. Accordingly they came to Morgan county but early in the '30s settled in Macoupin county, where Mr. Bivin applied himself successfully as a farmer and became the owner of eighty acres of land. He died in August, 1865, the mother passing away about twelve years later. They were the parents of nine children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Jane, who is now deceased ; John, of Neosha county, Kansas ; James, who is also deceased ; Benjamin F., who lives at Palmyra, Illinois ; William T., of this review; Alice, who is the widow of Henry Flinch, of Macou- pin county ; Sarah, the wife of William Marshall, of Amsterdam, Missouri; and Thomas, who is deceased.
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