USA > Illinois > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 59
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In the year 1814, William Moore married Margaret Alexander,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
daughter of David Alexander, who was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of September, 1794. The Alexander family, from which Mr. Moore's mother was descended, was of Scotch origin. Members of the Alexander family fled from Scot- land to the North of Ireland on account of the religious persecu- tions in the former country. Hugh Alexander, the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, came to America with his father in 1736, then about twelve years of age. He made an early settle- ment in Sherman's Valley, Perry county, Pennsylvania, from which he and his family were often driven back by the Indians to their former home in Cecil county, Maryland, east of the Susquehanna. Hugh Alexander was a member of the conference of deputies from the different counties of Pennsylvania which met in Philadelphia, on the 18th of June, 1776, a short time before the Declaration of Independence was made. He there represented in part the large Scotch-Irish population of the Cumberland valley which was en- thusiastically on the side of independence, and which did its full share toward securing the freedom of the thirteen colonies. He was also a member of the first free legislature, or assembly, of Pennsylvania, which met at Carpenters' Hall, in the city of Phila- delphia, on the 28th of November, 1776. He was one of the three representatives from Cumberland county. He died in Philadelphia while attending the sessions of the body, in February, 1777.
David Alexander, son of Hugh Alexander, was born about 1760, in Sherman's Valley, Cumberland, (now Perry) county, Pennsyl- vania. At Tioga, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, he married Margaret Miller. About the year 1810, he moved to St. Clair county, and settled first a short distance west of Shiloh, and after- ward moved to a location east of that place. He was killed in the year 1822 by lightning, while walking behind a wagon during a thunder storm. The blade of a knife which at that time he held in his hand was completely melted away.
William Moore took part in the Winnebago war and the Black Hawk war. He was captain of a company raised in St. Clair county. For several years he served as county commissioner. He also filled the office of county surveyor, and for two years was asses- sor of the county. He represented St. Clair county in the legisla- ture two terms. He was a member of the Methodist Church and a local preacher in that denomination. His death occurred in the year 1849.
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Risdon A. Moore, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was the second of a family of nine children, and the oldest son. Seven of these children, four sons and three daughters, are now living. He was raised east of Belleville, in the neighborhood in which his father settled. His education was obtained in the sub- scription schools, which then offered the only educational opportuni- ties. These schools were usually held three months during the winter season in log school-houses. Slabs were used for benches, and the floors were made of puncheons. Greased paper pasted over an aperture in the side of the building, made by leaving out a log, furnished the only excuse for a window. St. Louis, in his boyhood, was a place of comparatively small size and importance, resembling a village in its size and proportions. Mr. Moore frequently hauled corn there, for which he was paid ten cents a bushel. His father was a blacksmith, and before his marriage, Mr. Moore's time was mostly employed in the blacksmith shop. His first marriage took place on the 26th of November, 1835, to Ann Middlecoff, who was born on the 6th of August, 1818. Her father, John Middlecoff, emigrated from Virginia to Illinois in 1818. After his marriage he settled on his present farm in Section 19, of township 1 north, range 7 west. His place was at that time unimproved. Where his dwelling-house now stands was a thicket of hazel brush. He cleared a farnı, of
which he has been the owner ever since, now forty-six years. His first wife died on the twenty-fifth of November, 1843.
In the spring of 1845, he joined Gen Fremont on bis exploring expedition to California. He was under the army regulations, though not regularly enlisted as a soldier. He marched overland with Fremont by way of the present town of Pueblo, Colorado; thence up the Arkansas river; across the Rocky mountains, and so on to the Pacific coast by Salt Lake, at which the Mormons had not at that time, yet made a settlement. On this journey the expedi- tion experienced considerable privation. From Salt Lake to California game was scant, and the men were compelled to live on the flesh of mules and anything that could be found to satisfy their hunger. He was in California in 1846, on the breaking out of the Mexican war. When the Spaniards ordered the Americans to leave the country, he, with the other Americans, gathered at Sonoma, and raised a flag on which was a lone star and a grizzly bear. On the arrival of Commodore Stockton, who hoisted the American flag at Monterey, he, with Fremont, joined Stockton. Here his knowledge of blacksmithing came into play. The re- sources of the American troops were limited, and Mr. Moore mounted the eight guns which composed the entire American artil- lery. For this work he has not yet received his whole pay, though he held vouchers signed by both the quarter-master and Gen. Fre- mont. He held two vouchers; and the commissioners to settle the accounts incurred by the army in California held, though unjustly, that when the latter voucher was given, the first was merged into it, and that only the latter could be paid.
He returned home by a more northern route, by way of Fort Hall and Fort Laramie. The winter after his return, that of 1847-8, he spent at Washington, where he was a witness in the trial by court- martial of Gen. Fremont, against whom charges had been preferred by Gen. Kearney. While there, on the 16th of March, 1848, his second marriage took place, to Sarah Ann Duncan, danghter of William Duncan. In the spring of 1848, he returned to his farm in St. Clair county. His second wife died on the 14th of February, 1856.
He was married.again on the 30th of November, 1856, to Sarah Ann Wilderman, who is a native of St. Clair county, and was born two miles north of Freeburg, on the 1st day of February, 1821. Her parents were Dorsey and Phoebe Wilderman. Her mother was a daughter of Joseph Carr, who emigrated from Virginia to Illinois about the year 1797. He had been a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. He first came to Kaskaskia, and then settled at New Design, in the present county of Monroe, and was there during the great sickness which in one summer carried off half the entire popu- lation. He lost two children at New Design. About the year 1802. he settled at Turkey Hill. George Wilderman, Mrs. Moore's grandfather, was born in Maryland, was married in that state, and then moved to Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in 1806 or 1807. His wife was named Patience Dorsey.
From 1871 to 1873, Mr. Moore resided in Boone county, Mis- souri, but becoming convinced that there was no place like Illinois, he returned to his native county. For a few years he. resided in Belleville, and in February, 1880, moved back to the old farm where he now resides. By his first marriage he had four children : Nancy. M., Margaret Ann, John M., and Emily A., all deceased except the first. Naucy M. married Samuel B. Scott, and now lives in Crawford county, Kansas. By his second marriage he had four children : Martha, William D., Ilelen and Charles D., of whom the latter two are living. Helen, now Mrs. William Alexander, resides in Monroe county, Missouri, and Charles D. still has his home with his father. He has one child, Sarah Anu, by his last marriage.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Mr. Moore is a gentleman of enterprise, and has carried on agricul- ture in an intelligent and practical manner, and has always sought to take advantage of the most improved methods of farming, and to bring his land to a high state of cultivation. He early directed his attention to under-draining, and demonstrated the great utility of that system. He was the first in the county to begin to raise potatoes under straw-a custom which is now universally followed. His home farm consists of three hundred and thirteen acres. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty seven acres east of Lebanon, and is the owner beside of fifty acres of timber, and a quarter sec- tion of land in Crawford county, Kansas. In his political opinions he was first a Whig, and cast his first vote for President for Gen. Harrison in 1840. Since the dissolution of the Whig party he has been a Democrat. In 1857, he was president of the St. Clair county agricultural society. He became connected with the Bap- tist church in 1866. Through the many long years he has resided in St. Clair county, he has sustained the reputation of a useful citizen and a valuable member of the community.
JAMES WAUGH
Is one of the prominent business men of Belleville, and stands at the head of the leading manufacturing establishment in St. Clair county. He was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and is of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side. His father, William Waugh, was a farmer and land-owner, and possessed of considerable means. He married Jane Crowl, a native of the county above-mentioned. By that union there were ten children ; James Waugh is the eldest. He was born February 12, 1817. He was reared in the family of his uncle, where he received private instruction and tuition. In 1833 he left Ireland and emigrated to America, landing in New York in July of the same year. He went to Philadelphia, where he remained three years. During that time he was employed as a clerk in the dry goods business. In 1836 he came west to St. Louis, and engaged as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods house of Isaac Burnett & Co. He remained with that firm until 1841, when he embarked in business for himself in the same line, and continued until 1845, at which time he retired from active pursuits until 1850, when he received the appointment of assistant-auditor and book-keeper in the auditor's office of St. Louis. He continued in this capacity until 1856, when he was elected auditor. He retired from the office in 1858, at the expiration of his term. He then purchased a flouring mill in St. Louis, and operated it until the close of 1859. From that date until 1868 he was engaged in general trading and management of his private business. In 1868 he pur- chased the Bogy nail mills, and operated them until 1869, when he came to Belleville, Illinois, and here formed a corporation and re- moved the works and machinery to this place. Here he made large additions to the machinery, and also added various improve- ments. The corporation was known as the Belleville Nail Mill Company, of which Mr. Waugh was elected president. He re- mained as the principal officer of the company until 1873, when he was succeeded by C. Bormann, who conducted the management until 1876; when the company failed. The works were sold, and purchased by the bondholders, and the company reformed under the name and title of the Belleville Nail Co. Mr. Waugh was again elected president, and has continued in that capacity to the present time.
The company has also remained substantially the same with the exception of a few slight changes. The nail works is the largest
manufacturing establishment in the county. They have a capacity for manufacturing 120,000 kegs of nails annually, and employ an average daily force of two hundred men. To operate these vast works successfully, requires large capital, administrative ability, and good business management.
· On the 7th of December, 1843, Mr. Waugh was united in mar- riage to Miss Emily L. Papin, a native of St. Louis and a descend- ant of an old and influential French family, who were among the first settlers of St. Louis. She died in 1849. By this marriage there are three sons. The eldest, James C., is one of Belleville's enter- prising business men. He is largely engaged in the grocery and provision trade, and is also secretary of the Nail Mill Company. William is a graduate in medicine, and is at present prac: ising his profession in Minnesota. Robert F, the youngest son, is engaged in the manufacturing of kegs, and assistant-manager with his father in the nail mill; he is also treasurer of the company. Politically, Mr. Waugh was originally an old line. whig and frce-soiler. He was elected auditor in 1856 on the first free-soil ticket ever run in the State of Missouri. In 1860 he joined the democratic party, and voted for Stephen A. Douglas for President, since which time he has acted with that organization. He, however, is not entirely in harmony with its principles and traditions, as he is a believer and advocate of protection for home manufactures. In the matter of religion, he comes from the old Presbyterian stock, and was reared in that religious belief; but of late years he is inclined to liberal- ism. Since his residence in Belleville, Mr. Waugh has done much to build up the town, particularly its manufacturing interests, and add to its material wealth, and is regarded by all as an enterpris- ing and useful citizen.
HENRY HUHN,
EDITOR of Der Stern, was born at Landau, in the Palatinate, Ger- many, on March 3d, 1830. In his youth he received a common school education, and learned the trade of book-binding. In the years 1848-49 he participated in the republican uprising of the people in southern Germany against the royal power, and in conse- quence thereof came to the United States in the summer of 1849. Landing in New York, without any means, he was compelled to remain in the great metropolis, where he soon became connected with the German press. In 1851 he visited his native country, from whence he returned to the U. S. in 1852. landing at New Or- leans, and from there he came to St. Louis. In 1853 he married, and first came to Belleville in 1854. He afterward removed to Chicago, and from there to Cincinnati, and at the outbreak of the war he entered the service of the U. S., as a private soldier. After- wards he was promoted to au officership and appoint. d regimental adjutant. He was taken prisoner hy the rebel forces shortly before the battle of Stone River, and afterward resigned his commission. He then came to St. Louis, and took a position on the editorial staff of the Westliche Post. In 1864 he re-entered the service of the U. S. as adjutant of the 41st Mo. regiment, and when the war was over he removed to Washington, Mo, where he started the Wash- ington Freie Presse In 1866 he was elected a member of the legis- lature of the state of Missouri. In 1868 he came back to Belle- ville, and took the editorial management of the Stern des Westens, which he held until 1872, when the paper was sold to Mr. F. E. Scheel. In 1871 he was appointed deputy collector of the United States, which position he held till 1876. In 1878 he took control of the editorial department of the Stern, which he still holds.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
M s
Is a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, born February 9th, 1841. His father, John Halbert, was a native of Virginia, and of English ancestry. He emigrated west at an early day, and settled in St. Clair county, where he followed farming, teaching school, and subsequently engaged in merchandising, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death. He fell a victim to the cholera in 1849. He married Clarissa, daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Cox) Carr. Jacob was the son of Joseph Carr, who was a native of Virginia, but left that state and settled in what is now St. Clair county as early as 1793. The subject of this sketch is the only offspring of the union of John and Clarissa Halbert. His mother died in 1841, soon after his birth. He was taken into the home and reared by his maternal grandparents. He received a fair English education in the schools of his neighborhood. At the age of sixteen he entered McKendrec College, at Lebanon, Illinois, and remained there three years; then left and entered the I linois College, at Jacksonville, and there completed his education, and graduated from that institution in 1861. After his return from school he engaged in teaching, taught six months, then culisted as a private for three years. Upon the organization of the 117th regiment Illinois Volunteers, he was elected captain of company "H," a position he held during his entire term of service. The regiment, of which he was a member was, for the greater portion of the time a part of the 16th Army Corps, under command of Major General A. J. Smith, and participated in many of the bat- tles in which the corps was engaged. The regiment also formed a part of the command under General Banks, and was in the dis- astrous Red River campaign, also in what is known as the " Meridian Raid;" afterwards assisted in the capture of Mobile, the reduction of Fort Blakley and Spanish Forts. At the close
of the war he was mustered out of the service the date of which was August 5th, 1865. After his return to Belleville he entered the law office of Hon. W. H. Underwood, and commenced reading law. At the fall term (1866) of the Supreme Court held at Ottawa, Illinois, he applied for admission to the bar. He passed a creditable examination and was admitted. He commenced the practice in Belleville, and has continued here to the present. In 1868 he was nominated by the Republican party for the office of State's Attorney for the Judicial District, which was composed of the counties of St. Clair, Bond and Madison ; and in November of the same year was elected. He held the office for four years, and retired, in 1872, at the end of his term, having earned the reputa- tion of an able, efficient and vigilant public prosecutor. In 1875, after the death of Judge Underwood, Captain Halbert formed a partnership with C. F. Noetling, Underwood's law partner, and to- gether they have continued the practice to the present time. They have a very large and lucrative business, and as lawyers take front rank at the bar of St. Clair county. As a lawyer, Capt. Halbert is recognized as possessing a clear, logical mind. In the courts of this and surrounding counties he has secured for himself a most excellent and enviable reputation as a sound lawyer. His practice while State's Attorney was confined to the criminal, but afterwards embraced all branches of the law, both before the courts of the county and in the intricate litigation before the Supreme and Federal courts. Before all these courts he has proven himself a man of sound legal learning, successful in the management of his cases, ready in resources, possessing much tact, and especially able in the presentation of a case to the court and jury. He has earned the well-merited reputation of being one of the most successful lawyers in this Judicial District. Politically Captain Halbert is a
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RESIDENCE OF R. A. HALBERT. BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
stauch Republican, and most soundly indoctrinated in the princi- ples of that political organization. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln for president in 1864, and from that time to the present he has not swerved from his allegiance to the party of his first choice.
On the 4th of April, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Underwood, of Belleville. Her father, Judge W H. Underwood, was a native of Schoharie county, New York, and was born in 1818, and came west to Belleville in 1840. He became prominent in the profession of law, ably filled the offices of State's Attorney, Judge of the Circuit Court, and represented St. Clair county in the State Legislature, and two terms in the Senate, and was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869. He was a man of marked ability, and his reputation as a lawyer was known throughout the State. He married Miss M. E. Smith, in 1841, and died September 23d, 1875.
By the union of Captain Halbert and Emma L. Underwood there are three children. His estimable wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Captain Halbert, in his manners, is a plain, unassuming gentle- man, of fine social qualities, broad, liberal views, and most generous impulses.
DR. LYMAN P. STOOKEY.
THE Stookey family is an old one in the history of St. Clair county. Daniel Stookey, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Virginia. He removed with his family to the territory of Illinois in 1805, and settled near Belleville in St. Clair county, and there remained until his death. He married Barbara Whetstone, who was also a native of Virginia. Of this union was Moses Stookey, the father of Dr Stookey. He was born in Virginia in January of 1789. He grew to manhood in St. Clair county, and died in 1857, on the farm were his father settled in 1805. He married Elizabeth Anderson, who was a native of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, and was born in 1807. Her parents came to St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1812. Her marriage took place in 1824, and her death occurred March 9th, 1869. By this union there were eleven children. Four sons and three daughters have survived the parents. Lyman P. is the youngest of the family. He was born in St. Clair county, Feb 13th, 1845.
He was reared upon the farm, and attended the district schools, where he prepared himself for entrance to Shurtleff College at Upper Alton ; here he spent two years, after which he returne.l home and commenced the study of medicine. After careful read- ing and several years of study, he went to St. Louis and entered the Medical College, and took one full term. His health failing, he was compelled to suspend his studies, which he took up again in 1869. In the fall of the same year, he for the second time en- tered the St. Louis Medical College, completing the course, and graduating from that institution with the degree of M D. Imme- diately thereafter he commenced the practice in Belleville, where he has continued to the present time. In the practice of medicine Dr. Stookey has been eminently successful, and is in the possession of a large and lucrative business. He belongs to the progressive school of medicine, and keeps fully posted and abreast with the many new discoveries that are constantly being made in medical science. He is an active member of the State Medical, Southern Illinois, and St. Clair County Medical Societies.
On the 25th of October, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss A. M. L. Brumbaugh, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. The marriage has been blessed with three children, one of whom is living, who is named Lyman B. Stookey, now in his third year. Dr. Stookey is a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife was reared in the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
He is also a member of the ancient order of Freemasonry, and belongs to St. Clair Lodge, No. 24, of Belleville, Illinois. Some years ago he became a member of the I. O. O. F., and in that order has passed the different Chairs, as Past Grand, and also Past Grand Patriarch in the Encampment. Politically, he is a democrat. He simply votes and exercises his rights as a citizen, and further takes no active part in politics.
Few young men in the profession of medicine have attained the reputation and large practice now enjoyed by Dr. Stookey, which is in part attributable to his success in the treatment of diseases incident to this climate and locality; and secondly, to the close attention which he gives to his business. Genuine love for the pro- fession makes him a student, united with which, is industrious habits. The union of both are necessary to make the successful practitioner. In 1879 he opened a drug store in connection with his practice. His object was to have pure drugs, and that he might have his own prescriptions carefully compounded and prepared. Dr. Stookey is of pleasing and easy address conversational powers.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
THE present county clerk of St. Clair county is a native of Prague, Bohemia, Austria, born Sept. 1st, 1839. His parents emigrated to America in 1850, and first settled in Ohio. Louis C. was educated in the schools of his native country and Ohio. He read medicine and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, and in 1861 came west to St. Clair county, Illinois, and commenced the practice, in which he continued until December, 1869, when failing health compelled him to abandon the profession. Ile then entered the county clerk's office as deputy, and remained in that position until 1873, when he was elected county clerk. In 1877 he became his own successor, and at present is discharging the duties therein imposed in a manner alike creditable to himself and those who honored him with their suffrages. In 1880 he was honored by being nominated for the office of State auditor, by the Democratic State Convention, but suffered defeat with the balance of the ticket. He is active and prominent in Masonic circles. He belongs to all
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