History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 40

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

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During his long connection with the business interests, and association with the people of Macoupin county, he has proved himself a man entitled to the confidence of the community. Like most men who have gained posi- tions of influence in the West, he is self-made. In his youth he was disci- plined in a hard school, but it taught him habits of self-reliance which have been of service to him in every subsequent step in life.

HON. WILLIAM C. SHIRLEY.

AMONG the men who have been conspicuously identified with the interests of Macoupin county, is William C. Shirley, of Staunton. He was born in White county, Tennessee, November 20th, 1823. The family from whom he descended is of English origin. His ancestors came to America, and settled in Massachusetts about twenty years before the Revolutionary war. After the Revolution was over, and the independence of the colonies secured, his grandfather, Thomas Shirley, moved to Virginia, and after residing in that state a few years, moved on to Tennessee, where he was one of the pioneer settlers. His father, James Shirley, was born in Virginia, and was a boy when the family made their home in Tennessee. In White county of that state, he married Jerusha Snodgrass. Mr. Shirley's mother was born in Virginia, from which state her father emigrated to Tennessee. The oldest of the two sons by this marriage, was William C. Shirley.

At that time the Cherokee Indians, who afterward were removed west of the Mississippi, occupied a portion of Tennessee and Georgia, and Mr. Shirley's father was engaged in trading with them in the vicinity of where, the town of Chattanooga now stands. He moved his family from White county in 1828, when Mr. Shirley was five years old, to what is now Hamil- ton county, Tennessee, where he sold goods to the Indians till his death, in 1829. Mr. Shirley's mother married again, and continued to live there till her death, in 1842. A considerable number of white settlers had moved into the Indian country, and a few schools had been established. Mr. Shirley for a time attended a missionary school at Brainerd, and also went to school in the neighboring state of Georgia.

At the age of seventeen, he determined to begin life on his own account, and accordingly accompanied A. M. Rollins to Council Bluffs, Iowa, then one of the principal Indian trading posts on the Missouri river. This was in the year 1840. Mr. Rollins had been appointed the government agent to superintend the removal of the Indians out of Iowa into Kansas and Ne- braska, and was the proprietor of a store at Council Bluffs. Mr. Shirley had gained a good knowledge of the Indian language while among the Cherokee Indians in Georgia and Tennessee, and was employed for two years in the store at Council Bluffs; his accomplishments in the Indian tongue enabling him to discharge the duties of his position in a very satis- factory manner. He concluded, however, to settle in a more civilized country, and in 1842 came to Illinois, and made his home in the neighbor- hood of Hillsboro, in Montgomery county. He undertook the business of trading in cattle, horses and mules. He bought them in Montgomery and adjoining counties; in the summer, drove them north, to Wisconsin, which state was then rapidly filling up with settlers, who became ready purchasers ; and in the winter, shipped them down the Mississippi, and disposed of them to the planters in Mississippi and Louisiana. On the 4th of December, 1845, he was married to Mary J. Hoxsey, daughter of Dr. Archibald Hox- sey, of Madison county. Her father emigrated from Christian county, Kentucky and settled on Silver Creek, in Madison county, in the year 1817. He was a large farmer, a skillful physician and a leading citizen of Madi- son county. He died in Staunton township, Macoupin county, in the year 1867. Mrs. Shirley was born August 17th, 1825, on Silver Creek, in Madi- son county. Of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley, Harriet J., is now the wife of H. S. Dorsey, of Gillespie township ; Robert A., died in 1849 ; Robert B., is practicing law at Carlinville, and the others are Mary E., William A., Rufus and Virginia.

After his marriage he was engaged at farming, in Montgomery county, till 1849, and then removed to Madison county, twelve miles north-east of Edwardsville. In 1852 he settled in Staunton and began the business of selling goods, and also improved the farm adjoining the town of Staunton, on which he has since resided. Disposing of his interest in the mercantile business, in 1861, during the four years which followed, a period which em- braced the war of the Rebellion, he was mostly occupied as a government contractor, furnishing the war department with mules and horses. After the war, he saw that a railroad was necessary to the development of the south eastern part of Macoupin county, and the neighboring counties of Madison and Montgomery, and accordingly directed his energies toward the accomplishment of that object. He had already been a member of the State Legislature, in 1858-9, and was a candidate again in 1866, with the principal purpose of securing a charter for building this much needed road. He was sent to the legislature, and in 1867, secured the charter for the De- catur and East St. Louis railroad. An organization under the charter was effected the same year at Litchfield, and Mr. Shirley was chosen President of the new company. He went to New York, and succeeded in getting the Toledo, Wabash and Western railroad company interested in the project. He consummated all the arrangements with the Wabash company, for building the road, and then, after the consolidation of the two companies, resigned his position as president, in 1869. The road was successfully com- pleted in June, 1870. He has since been engaged in farming at Staunton. In 1870 as contractor, he completed part of the Indianapolis and St. Louis railroad, between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, and in 1872 was similarly employed in building the Helena and Iron Mountain road in Arkansas.

His political record has been marked by a consistent support of the principles of the Democratic party. From 1848, when he cast his vote for president for Lewis Cass, till the present time, he has never failed to advo- cate the election of the general Democratic ticket. He was a staunch Douglas man in the exciting political campaigns in Illinois, previous to the war. In the great contest between Lincoln and Douglas in 1858, he was a candidate for the legislature on the issue of electing Douglas to the United States senate, and in the ensuing session, he had the pleasure of recording his vote in favor of the great champion of the principles of Democracy. While a member of the house in 1867, the bill was passed authorizing Ma- coupin county to borrow fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of building a court-house. The original bill was introduced by John A. Woodson, then state senator, and authorized the borrowing of one hundred thousand dollars, but, through the exertions of Mr. Shirley, the amount was cut down to half that sum. His record in this matter is one of commendable economy. The subsequent acts legalizing further appropriations were passed in 1869, after Mr. Shirley ceased to be a member of the legislature.

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MOUNT OLIVE COAL MINE COMPANY'S PROPERTY ON THE LAND OF JOHN C. NIEMAN , MOUNT OLIVE, ILLINOIS .

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FARM RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. NIEMAN , MOUNT OLIVE , ILLINOIS

OLD SHAFT.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

John B. Niemeno.

MACOUPIN county now contains an enterprising German population who have contributed greatly to the material growth and prosperity of this part of the state. One of these pioneer German settlers was John C. Nieman, of Staunton township, who became a resident of the county in 1841. He was born at the village of Borgholzhausen Amt Ravensburg, B. B. Minden, Halle, Prussia, April 12th, 1817. Casper Nieman, his father, was a farmer. Mr. Nieman was the oldest of seven children. According to the German custom, he attended school from the age of seven to fourteen, and afterward worked on a farm until twenty-one years old. Seeing small opportunity for a poor man to make any advancement in that country, he resolved on coming to America. He sailed from Bremen, and after a voy- age of seven weeks, landed at Baltimore on the 13th of May, 1839. When he reached Baltimore five thalers in Prussian money, worth, in American coin, about three dollars and eighty cents, comprised his whole fortune. He had no friends and acquaintances, was ignorant of the English language, and had no definite plan by which he expected to make a living.

After staying a few days in Baltimore, he started on foot on the turnpike for Cumberland, Maryland, with the intention of working His way west. The canal along the Potomac was then being built, and at Cumberland he found employment as a laborer, and worked part of a year at digging this canal at a dollar and a quarter a day. His purpose was to go to farming as soon as he could secure enough money to buy a little land. Early in the year 1840 he went to Hermann, Missouri, where there were some German settlers from the same neighborhood in the old country as himself. He found it difficult to find profitable employment there, and after a short

stay went to Louisville, Kentucky. He worked on a farm near Louisville for a couple of months without getting any pay, and was then taken serious- ly sick. His illness lasted for five months, and for half that time he was unable to leave his bed. His situation was very unfortunate and distress- ing. He was entirely without money ; with no claim on any one for their assistance; and it was only by the help of some good friends who providen- tially came to his aid that he was enabled to pull through. After recover- ing in the fall of 1840, the succeeding winter he found employment on the farm of William Edwards, near Louisville. In the spring of 1841 Mr. Edwards moved from Kentucky to Macoupin county, and settled near Car- linville. Mr. Nieman came to Illinois with him, and was in his employment on his farm near Carlinville for three years. At the end of that time he had saved about two hundred and fifty dollars and concluded he would go to farming for himself on some government land in Township 7, Range 6.

He began operations here in a small way. He had little money, and he was obliged to get along as best he could. The first wagon he used was a "truck wagon " of his own make. He worked hard and constantly, and was determined to get along in the world if it was in any way possible. In 1846 he bought forty acres of the land on which he had already settled, and which, up to that time, had belonged to the government. This land he still owns. As soon as he had saved sufficient money he forwarded it to Germany and brought his younger brother to this country. As he was able he bought more land, and soon began to find his circumstances growing better. Think- ing that a store in that vicinity would prove a profitable investment, in 1859 he put up a building and engaged in the merchandizing business, where

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Mt. Olive now stands and thus began the growth of that town. 'He has since become one of the leading citizens of Staunton township. He has owned con- siderable quantities of land, some of which he has sold. His home farm is composed of three hundred acres. Part of the mines of the Mt. Olive coal company extend under his land, and he is also one of the stock holders in that company.

His first wife was Margaret Stulken, who was a native of Oldenburg, Germany. He married her in 1847, and she died in September, 1854. He married his second wife (formerly Anna Stulken, born in Oldenburg, Ger- many) in April, 1858. His oldest daughter, Mary Catharine, is the wife of C. J. Keiser, of Mt. Olive. The next daughter, Sophia, married William Niemeyer. The oldest son, Henry Nieman, died in January, 1876, in the twenty-fifth year of his age. These were children by his first wife. The others, Matilda, Lydia, Louisa, Edward, William and Anna, are by his second marriage. He was a democrat till 1859, and then becoming con- vinced that the position of the democratic party was wrong on the slavery question he became a republican. He has been an earnest, hard-working man, who has gained his present position in life by means of his own energy and industry. Wherever he is known he has the reputation of a plain and honest man, and is respected for his good heart and his sterling integrity. When he first came to Macoupin county he was the only German living be- tween Edwardsville and Carlinville, and has lived to see the county de. velop far beyond his expectations ; to see it become wealthy and well-im- proved, and the home of a large number of his countrymen. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and might appropriately be called the " father " of the German colony at Mt. Olive.

COBUS J. KEISER,

WHO is largely interested in the business affairs of Mt. Olive, is a native of Germany, and was born at Holtland der Neucke, Hanover, September 4th, 1841. His father was John H. Keiser, and his mother's maiden name was Geske Wilms Heien. His father was a farmer, who had five children, four sons and one daughter, and Cobus J. Keiser was the second. In 1854 the family emigrated from Germany to America. The winter after their arrival here was spent in Madison county, and in the spring of 1855 they settled in Staunton township, one mile south of Mt. Olive. His father had owned land in Germany, but emigrated to America with the view of benefiting his family and giving his children homes of their own. He bought one hundred and twenty acres of land south of Mt. Olive. A few months after settling there, he died (on the 6th of September, 1855), leaving a widow and five children, the oldest of whom was sixteen years of age. Mr. Keiser's father was a man of industry and many excellent traits of character. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and brought up his children to industrious and sober habits.

He was very temperate, used tobacco in no shape, and regulated his life by the strictest principles of sobriety. He had a strong natural love for music, and took much delight and comfort in the indulgence of his musical tastes. He was particularly fond of the flute, and played upon it with great skill. He was the leader of the musical services in the church, and his assistance in this direction was important. He was thirty-nine years of age at the time of his decease. After her husband's death, Mr. Keiser's mother took charge of the family. She is a woman of superior strength of mind and business management, and was more than usually successful in raising her children. She is still living, comfortably situated in this life, as far as this world's goods and comforts are concerned, with the satisfaction of know- ing that her sons have grown up to become useful citizens and men of mark and influence.

Mr. Keiser was thirteen years old when he left Germany. He had ac- quired a good a elementary education in his native country, and went to school but little after coming to Illinois, till 1863, when he became a student at the state university at Springfield. He attended the university two years, when his health became bad, and he returned home. He was living on the farm, and was employed in its management till 1866. On November 9th of

that year he married Mary C. Nieman, the oldest daughter of John C. Nie- man, one of the earliest German settlers of Macoupin county. Mrs. Keiser was born January 21st, 1848. She was brought up in the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran church, with an earnest desire to lead the life of a true Christian, and during her married life has exhibited all the excellent traits of character which make a good wife and kind mother.

During the year 1866, in partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Nieman, Mr. Keiser erected the store which he still occupies, and in the spring of 1867 began a general merchandizing business. The same spring he was appointed postmaster, and has held that position ever since. On the open- ing of the Toledo, Wabash and Western railway in 1870, he received the appointment of general ticket and freight agent at Mt. Olive (the station was then called Drummond), and performed the duties of that office till 1877, when he was obliged to resign from the press of his other business engagements.

The history of Mr. Keiser is principally a record of the business enter- prises of Mt. Olive; for he has been the active spirit which has set in motion the various movements which have benefited and built up the town. He was one of those principally instrumental in opening the coal shaft, which has been the chief source of the prosperity of the place. The enterprise was first started in 1874. On the organization of the company, he was elected superintendent, and assumed the active business management. The mines were successfully opened in 1875, and since then the works have been en- larged and perfected. The second shaft was completed in the spring of 1879. A superior quality of coal is obtained, and the working of the mines has been an important factor in the growth and development of Mt. Olive. Mr. Keiser is one of the twelve original stockholders, who have owned the works since the beginning of the undertaking, and his business habits and executive ability have principally contributed to the success of the enter- prise.

In his efforts to build up the town of Mt. Olive, Mr. Keiser saw that a flouring mill was much needed, and accordingly in 1876, in partnership with Henry Prange, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars, he built the Anchor Mills. These mills have been operated successfully, and produce a grade of flour which enjoys an excellent demand in the market. The firm under which the mercantile business has been carried on has, since January 1st, 1878, been known as Keiser, Niemeyer & Co., composed of Mr. Keiser, William Niemeyer and William Wellenbrink.

Mr. and Mrs. Keiser have been the parents of four children ; three, named Lydia, Emma and Ida, are now dead ; Paulina, the only one now living, is about two years of age.

From the time he was old enough to take any interest in political affairs, his sentiments have inclined him to support the principles of the Republican party, whose candidates and measures he has supported from 1864, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln for President. He is not, however, a partisan, but a man of much liberality of mind. He carries no prejudice into politics, and has always felt himself free to vote for the best men for office when only local issues were involved. Since 1865 he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the town of Mt. Olive, and also from the same date has acted as President of the board and Mayor of the city. The lot on which stands the town hall and library was donated by Mr. Keiser, and is one of the most valuable building sites in Mt. Olive. The upper part of the build- ing is used as a library and reading-room, and the lower part as a town hall. He has been intimately connected with the business-interests of Mt. Olive in other capacities, and has held various positions of trust and honor, perform- ing the duties of all of them in a manner which has won the regard of the community, both for his business-ability and strict integrity. With the Evangelical Lutheran church he has been connected from boyhood. He was chosen superintendent of the Sunday-schools connected with that church at Mt. Olive when only eighteen years of age, and so acted for about four years. He has taken an active part in advancing the interests of the Mt. Olive congregation, and assisted materially in building the present church- edifice. It may be said in justice, that to him, more than any one else, is due the present prosperity of Mt. Olive.

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ughter of John C. Nie n county. Mrs. Keiser in the doctrine of the . to lead the life of a ibited all the excellent mother.

r-in-law, Mr. Nieman, and in the spring of same spring he was since. On the open- 870, he received the It. Olive (the station es of that ofice till f his other business

' the business enter- ich has set in motion up the town. He e coal shaft, which The enterprise was iny, he was elected ement. The mines rks have been en. ! in the spring of rking of the mines nent of Mt. Olive. ) have owned the isiness habits and ces of the enter-

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1; three, named : now living, is

olitical affairs, he Republican 1864, when he 'er, a partisan, e into politics, r office when ember of the ame date has lot on which and is one of of the build- a town hall. Mt. Olive in or, perform- gard of the With the hood. He hat church about four of the ML at church- ne else, is

PAULINA C. KEISER.

B. J Reiser

Mary & Heiser

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RESIDENCE OF HARBERT J. KEISER, MOUNT OLIVE, MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILL.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

barbert f. Kaiser

RESIDENCE OF HARBERT J. KEISER. MOUNT OLIVE, MACOUPIN COUNTY

WAS born September 1st, 1833, in the village of Siebestock, Holtland, East Friesland, Hanover. At the time of his birth Hanover belonged to the English crown, and accordingly he was born as a subject of England. After the death of the English king, George IV., Hanover became a part of Ger- many, and Esquire Keiser became a German subject. He was the oldest of a family of six children. His father was John Harbert Keiser, and his mother's name before marriage was Jane Juergena. He attended school in his native village till fourteen years old, and then entered the normal school at Hesel, with the purpose of fitting himself as a teacher. At Hesel he studied the Latin, the French, and the English languages, the last of which he learned to read with ease, though he was never able to employ it in con- versation till after coming to America. After qualifying himself as a teacher, he took charge in 1849 of a school at Siebestock, where he was born.

His father's position during the rebellion of 1848 was the cause of the emigration of the family to this country. The rebellion had not extended to the Kingdom of Hanover, and his father took no active part in the struggle, though his sympathies were strongly on the side of those whom he believed to be fighting for free government and human liberty. He did nothing to render himself liable to any penalty at the hands of the govern- ment authorities, still, after the suppression of the insurrection in other parts of Prussia, he concluded his wisest course would be to emigrate to a land whose atmosphere would be more congenial to his liberty-loving spirit. Leaving their native country the last of August, 1851, after a voyage which lasted seven weeks and two days, the family reached New Orleans the fol- lowing October, and from there came up the Mississippi to Alton. They first found a house in Madison county seven miles from Bunker Hill, and in 1853 purchased land in Staunton township, in section ten, near Mount Olive.

Mr. Keiser's father was a man whose memory is well worthy of preserva- tion. He was born at Firrel, in Hanover, in 1806. He was well educated, and was a teacher by profession, having taught in the German schools from 1824, when he was eighteen years old, till the time of his coming to America. He was a man of decided convictions and force of character. He was of liberal and progressive mind, and possessed a strong love for freedom. During the progress of the agitation in Germany which led up to the rebel-

lion of '48, he made several speeches throughout the province against the encroachments of the government on the natural rights and liberties of the people. On coming to America he took a warm interest in political ques- tions, and on its organization became a strong supporter of the republican party. He was one of the original charter members of the Union League organized at Mount Olive during the late war of the rebellion, and was an able and intelligent speaker on the questions of the day. He was one of the most worthy citizens of Staunton township till his death in 1865.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 40

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440