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 65
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
able dealing, stands high in the estimation of the people of St. Clair county.
Valentine Ries, the elder brother, of whom mention is made above, has been a resident of Belleville since 1872. In 1853 he married Josephine Abafaeld, a native of Poland, but a resident of St. Louis at the time of her marriage. Eight children have been born to them.
LOUIS GRANER.
GEORGE F. GRANER, the father of the subject of the present sketch, was a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany. He emigrated to America in 1848, and settled in Belleville, in St. Clair county, Illinois, where he resided until his death, in 1875. He was a civil engineer, and followed that profession in his native country and after he came to America. In 1856 he was elected County Sur- veyor, and held the office for two terms. The Belleville and Mascoutah, and Belleville and Westfield plank-roads were laid out by him. He married Louisa Joerg, a native of Saxony. She died in July, 1880. Her father, Johan Godfrey Joerg, came to America prior to Mr. Graner. Louis Graner is the only offspring of that marriage. He was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, Feb. 12th, 1853. He received his education in the public schools of Belleville, and studied surveying and civil engineering under his father. His first work was as rodman, on the Cairo short line railroad during the time of its construction. Then next on the O'Fallon road, and next as assistant engineer on the Cairo and Vincennes. He had charge of the Illinois and St. Louis road as engineer. From there he went to Kansas, where he surveyed the route for the contemplated Mill Creek and Council Grove railroad. In 1872 he returned to Belleville, and was appointed city engineer. In 1877 he was elected county surveyor, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. F. Hilgard, and in 1879 he was nominated and elected for the full term.
On the 28th of May, 1876, he married Miss Augusta Meyer, of St. Louis, Mo., but a resident of Waubansie, Kansas, at the time of her marriage. This marriage has been productive of three children. Politically Mr. Graner is an unswerving democrat. His first vote for president was cast for Tilden, in 1876. He is a mem- ber of the beneficiary order of Knights of Honor, and also of some of the German societies of Belleville, which are organized for social, musical and other purposes.
H. A. HEINEMAN
WAS born in Oldenberg, Germany, November 12, 1837. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to the butcher business, and served a full apprenticeship. In 1859 he left home and came to America, landing in New York in August of the same year, where he remained working at his trade until 1861, when the war broke out. He then enlisted under the first call of 300,000 troops for three years of service. He entered Co. " F " of the 54th Regiment New York Vols. He was in the service nearly one year when he was discharged from physical disability. He returned to New York and remained there until August, 1864, when he came west in search of a location. He finally settled in Belleville, and in December following opened a butcher shop, and has carried on the business to the present time. On the 11th of December, 1864, he married Miss Caroline Huber, a native of Germany, on the river Rhine. Her father, Philip Huber, came here when she was but seven years of age. There are six children by this marriage. Mr.
FARM RESIDENCE OF M.M STOOKEY, SEC,32, T.I. R. 8. ( BELLEVILLE PRECINCT, ST. CLAIR CO. ILL.
....
FARM RESIDENCE OF J.D. STOOKEY, Sec.32, T.I.N.R.8.W. (BELLEVILLE PRECINCT,) ST.CLAIR CO.ILL.
239
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Heineman has been very successful as a butcher. He also takes an active interest in the improvement of stock. In the Fat Stock Shows of Chicago he has taken a prominent part, and has several times been judge and awarded premiums, and has also been on the committee as an expert. He is one of the successful butchers and good citizens of Belleville.
FRED. E. SCHEEL.
THE present efficient Master in Chancery was born in Mascoutah, St. Clair county, Illinois, April 14, 1843. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Engelman) Scheel, who were natives of Rheinish Bavaria, and who emigrated to America in June, 1833. He re- ceived private instruction until he was thirteen years of age, when he entered the Wyman High School of St. Louis. He then went to Germany, where he received private tuition for one year and a half; then returned to St. Louis, where he entered the Washington University, and was in his sophomore year when the war broke out. He promptly laid aside his books, and with patriotic devotion ell- listed for three years, in Co. " A," of the famous 9th regiment Illinois Vols., one of the historic regiments of the war. He re- mained with the regiment, and participated with it in the various battles and skirmishes until the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April, 1862, when he was wounded in the right ankle, the ball shattering the joint. He returned home, and remained here until the wound healed. At the time of the battle he was second lieutenant of Co. "D," having passed through all the grades to that position. He resigned his lieutenancy when he came home. After he was convalescent he returned to the army, and was assigned to duty on the staff of Col. Morton, of the 81st Ohio, who was in command of the Brigade. The service, however, was too severe for his en- feebled condition, and he quit the service and returned to Belleville in May, 1863. He entered the office of the Circuit Clerk and was made deputy, and remained in this office three years. During that time he read law under the direction of Governor Koerner, and later under Hon. John B. Hay. At the October term of the Supreme Court, (1866), at Mount Vernon, he was admitted to the bar. In 1867 he was appointed by Governor Oglesby a member of the newly-established State Board of Equalization, representing the counties of St. Clair and Madison. He also was appointed Deputy Assessor of Internal Revenue, under General Kueffner. In 1871 he opened an office and commenced the practice of law. In 1872 he became identified with the Liberal Republican move- ment, and the same time commenced the publication of the Stern des Westens, a German newspaper; to the influence of which, in a measure, the remarkable change in the political condition of St. Clair county is due. He continued the publication until 1877, when he went back to the practice of law. At the September term of the Circuit Court (1879) he was appointed Master in Chancery by Judge W. H Snyder, a position he still holds. He was a republican until 1872, since which time he has, in all na- tional and state elections, voted for the nominees of the demo- cratic party.
On the 14th of September, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine A. Kircher, a native of Cass county, Illinois. Her father, Joseph Kircher, is a native of Germany, and emigrated to Illinois in 1832, and came to Belleville in 1849, where he engaged in business, and where he still continues to reside. By the mar- riage of Fred. E. and Josephine A. Scheel, there are three daughters.
Personally and socially Mr. Scheel has most excellent qualities, generous to a fault; a genial and entertaining friend, a most excel- lent companion, loyal in his friendships ; he is a fair representative of the true German character.
JAMES W. MCCULLOUGH
Is a native of Lincoln county, Missouri, born September 4th, 1843. His grandfather was a native of Scotland. He emigrated to America, and settled in Pennsylvania, where George McCul- lough, the father of James W., was boru. He went south, to Mis- sissippi, where he married Louisa Pepper. He afterward removed to St. Louis, Mo., then to Troy, Lincoln county, where our subject was born. He subsequently located in Florrissant, in St Louis county, where he remained until his death, in 1849. His wife still survives him, and is a resident of Belleville. There are two chil- dren living by this union, a daughter, Louisa, who is the wife of Dr. R. D. Valentine, a resident physician of Canton, Ill., and James W., of whom we write. The mother removed to Belleville in March, 1852. James W. received his education in the public schools of Belleville, and iu the Christian Brothers' Academy, in St. Louis. He spent two years in the latter. He then commenced the express business in the office of J. P. Majors, who was operating a line from Belleville to St Louis, via the Cairo Short Line. Iu 1867 he bought a half interest in the line, and, soon after, other parties bought Majors' remaining interest, and, together, Mr. Mc- Cullough and his partner operated the line until the railroad was finished to Du Quoin, when they sold out to Adams Express Com- pany. Mr. Mccullough was then appointed agent for the company, and he has retained that position until the present, with the excep- tion of a short time when engaged in other business. From 1873 to 1876 he was book-keeper in the Belleville Nail Mills, but also had charge of the office. On the 25th of December, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Callie E. Lorch, of Springfield, Illinois, By this union there are five children living. The eldest, Amy, dicd in November, 1877, in her ninth year. His estimable wife is a inember of the Episcopal church. He is a member of the bene- ficiary order of A. O. U. W., and, at present, is Master Workman. Politically, he is a democrat. In 1879 he was elected City Clerk, and re-elected in 1881, and, is now attending to the duties of the office in a manner that gives complete satisfaction to the citizens of Belleville. Mr. Mccullough is a thorough business man, and entirely reliable and trustworthy, and possesses the confidence of his employers and the entire community.
ROBERT D. W. HOLDER
WAS born in Jefferson county, Illinois, February 22d, 1847. His. parents were natives of Tenneesee, but emigrated to Illinois at an early day, and settled in Jefferson county. His father was a soldier in the Mexican war, and was Second Lieutenant of a com- pany. He contracted camp fever, and died while in the service, in 1848. Mr. Holder's mother's maiden name was Cook. Her parents came to Illinois in 1822, and settled in Jefferson county.
Mr. Holder received his early educational training in the com- mon schools of his native county. His opportunities were none of the best. After he could master the intricacies of the three " R's," he resorted to teaching, in order to obtain means and enable him to educate himself. At an early age he had determined to adopt the profession of law, as the business of his life, and therefore it was necessary to obtain a good educational foundation whereupon to build the future legal structure. By teaching and studying, he managed to prepare himself for entrance to McKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois, where he remained one year. His meaus having been exhausted he resumed teaching, and continued in that profes- sion for three years. During vacation in the summer months, he read the standard text books on law ; first in the office with Judge
240
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
White, and afterward in the office and under the direction of Hon. F. A. Lietzel of Carlyle, Illinois. In the fall of 1872, he entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and remained there two terms, and was graduated from that insti- tution in the spring of 1874. By his diploma from the University he was entitled to practice in the courts of Michigan. He came here, and upon motion was admitted to the bar in the courts of Illinois. In July, 1875, he opened an office and commenced the practice in Mascoutab, St. Clair county, where he remained until February, 1877, when he came to Belleville, and here he has con- tinued in the profession until the present time. In the summer of 1880, he received the nomination of State's Attorney, at the hands of the democratic party in convention assembled, and November following was elected by a majority in excess of his party vote. As a public prosecutor, Mr. Holder lacks only experience, which will come, and of which he will have sufficient before his term of office expires ; when we predict for him a brilliant reputation as a vigilant and able prosecutor.
Politically, he has always voted the democratic ticket, and bas taken an active part in furthering the interests of that political organization.
On the 23d of August, 1877, he was happily united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Barth, a native of St. Clair county, and daughter of John Barth. This union has been blessed by one child, named Jessie May Holder.
Mr. Holder is comparatively a new citizen of Belleville, but since his residence here he has established a reputation as a strictly honorable man, in all the relations of business life. Socially and personally he has many friends.
SEBASTIAN FIETSAM
Is a native of the province of Nassau, Prussia. He was born Dec. 29, 1818. He was in his younger ycars engaged in clerking and mercantile pursuits until 1845, when he emigrated to America, and settled in Huntingdon county, Pa., and afterwards lived in Mercer county. He then went into the cooper business, and remained so engaged until 1849, when he came to St. Clair county, Ill., where he lived to the present time. Here he first engaged in farming, in which he continued for a few years; then went to Fayetteville, in this county, and embarked in general merchandizing, in which he re- mained two-and-a half years, when a fire destroyed his house and all his goods. lle then came to Belleville, and here clerked and kept books until 1861, when he was appointed deputy clerk in the county clerk's office. He remained in that capacity for four years, when he opened a book and stationery store, and carried on that business until 1867, when he was called back to take the position of deputy in the clerk's office. He filled the position until 1869, when he was nominated by the republican party for the office of county clerk and elected, and served until 1873. In the same year Mr. Rupp, owner of the Belleville Zeitung, died. Mr. Fietsam bought the office and fixtures, and soon afterwards sold a half interest to
Mr. Semmelroth, and together they continued the publication of the paper until June, 1880, when he sold out to Mr. Hienfelden. In 1874 he commenced the compilation of a set of abstract records un- der the Walton system, which were, when completed, the most complete set of records in the county. Since he quit the newspaper he has given all of his time to the abstract business. Politically, he was originally a democrat, but, when the republican party was formed, he joined its ranks, and has acted with it to the present time. On the 26th of November, 1857, he married Sophia Dauth, who was of German parentage, but a native of St. Clair county. She died, leaving three children. On the 8th of September, 1864, he married Louisa Dauth, by which union there are two children. All of them are yet beneath the parental roof. Mr. Fietsam's father came to America in 1850, and died here. In the family there were eleven sons and one daughter. Sebastian is the eldest and smallest in physical frame in the family ; the others were large-framed men. Five of his brothers went to Texas, where four of them died from yellow fever.
HARTMANN BROTHERS.
THE enterprising firm of Hartmann Bros. deserve mention among the prominent citizens of Belleville. They are natives of Hanover, Germany. Hubert Hartmann emigrated to America in 1847. Soon after he came to Belleville, and engaged in the drug business. In 1868 he embarked in the brewing business, and in 1871 his brother was taken into partnership in the business. Bernhard Hartmann came.to this country, and direct to Belleville, in 1867. He engaged in the grocery and provision trade. He was a wide- awake, enterprising German, and introduced a new system into the business, and soon built up a large trade.
As intimated above, he joined his brother in the brewing business in 1871, and infused the same life and vigor into that business as he had in the one that he had abandoned. The business kept in- creasing, and calls were made for "Star " beer to such an extent that in 1877, in order to place it in reach of more customers, they commenced to bottle it. Their " Star Beer Bottling " establish- ment is now one of the institutions of Belleville. They ship each day as much as 200 cases, and it is sold largely throughout south- ern Illinois and Missouri. Messrs. Wulfing, Diekreide & Co., of St. Louis, one of the largest grocery houses in that city, are the sole agents, and take all that the Hartmann Bros. can manufac- ture.
The names of the officers are: Hubert and Bernhardt Hartmann, proprietors ; Adolph Reidiger, superintendent ; Robert Bethmann, general agent; H. Moller, superintendent of office; Hermann Schneidwind, superintendent of bottling establishment. When the Hartmann Bros. first took hold of the brewery they sold from five to six thousand barrels; now their sales reach thirty thousand bar- rels annually. This is the best evidence of the popularity of their beer over other manufacturers, and it also shows that they are go- ahead business men.
RESIDENCE FROM THE NORTH
LAKE IN
FARM RESIDENCE OF DAVID OGLE, Sec. I . T. I. N, R.
: IN PASTURE.
TENANT HOUSE.
, R.9, (BELLEV : LLE PRECINCT ST. CLAIR CO. ILLINOIS.
SHILOH PRECINCT.
HIS Precinct is located in the northern part of Tp. 1 N., R. 7 W., and contains fifteen whole and three fractional sections, on the east side. It is bounded on the north by O'Fallon and Lebanon, on the east by Lebanon and Mascou- tah, on the south by Mascoutah and Belleville, and on the west by Belleville Precinct. Silver creek, which forms the eastern boundary line, and its affluents, drain the lands and furnish an abundant supply of water for stock purposes. There is considerable good timber along the borders of the various streams, much of which is annually sawed into lumber by local mills. The surface is generally rolling, but along the streams it is broken and in many places quite rugged. The most of the prairie land in this precinct is included in what has been known for a number of years as Shiloh valley. This valley contains some of the finest improved farms in the county, and the soil is famous for its fertility. The principal product is wheat, which yields large crops annually.
Shiloh was a very early settled portion of the county. There were, no doubt, families here a short time prior to 1800, but at this late date we are able to give only the parties who became perma- nent settlers. Many of those old pioneers located in various parts of the country, but so soon as others began settling around them, they would sell out their claims and move farther into the wilder- ness. It would, indeed, be a difficult matter to determine who was the first settler. No doubt, the Scotts were the first permanent settlers, as they located here in 1802. They were sons of William Scott, who located on Turkey Hill in the fall of 1797, and were among the very first American families in what is.now St. Clair county. They were all natives of the " old dominion," and all came to this state with their father. He had six sous and one daughter, viz. : James, born August 15, 1772; William, born October 26, 1774; Samuel, born August 2, 1777 ; Elizabeth, born July 7, 1778; Joseph, born Sep- tember 14, 1781; John, born January 10, 1784, and Alexander, born November 25, 1786. Elizabeth was married to John Jarvis, who came with the family in wagons to Illinois. They floated down the Ohio river to Fort Massacre, and from there traveled overland through southern Illinois, and located first at New Design. They remained there, however, but a few months, when in the fall of 1797 they settled on Turkey Hill in this county, where Mr. Scott, with the assistance of his sons, made a large farm. A more extended sketch of Mr. Scott may be seen in the Pioneer chapter of this work, as in this precinct only those who settled here can be mentioned.
James Scott married Sarah Teter soon after he came to Illinois, and in 1802 settled in what is now Shiloh precinct, just south of the village of Shiloh, on the place now owned by his youngest son, Philip. Here he erected a log cabin and began farming, which occupation he always followed, and where he always continued to reside. He was a natural mechanic, and adopted the trade of a cabinet maker, which he learned without any instruction, and fol- lowed together with farming. His children were: Mary, William, Franklin, Sarah, Madison, Zeno and Philip. They were all mar-
31
ried and have descendants living. Zeno and Madison, who resided in Lebanon, and Philip, who lives on the old homestead, are all of the family now living.
William and Samuel Scott, sons of William Scott, settled about a half mile west of Shiloh village, at a very early date. William married Mississippi, a daughter of Judge William Biggs, by whom he had a large family : Nancy ; George, who was wounded in the hand and crippled for life in the Black Hawk war; William, de- ceased; Margaret, deceased ; Whitfield, who resided in O'Fallon precinct, and Washington, who died on the way to California, were all of their children that grew up. William Scott died in 1835 ; Samuel married Nancy, also a daughter of Judge William Biggs, and reared a family. His son Benjamin had his head cut off by the Indians in 1832, in the Black Hawk war; William died in Missouri; John Milton, who is now Supreme Judge in this state, resides at Bloomington ; Harrison, deceased; James resides at Belleville ; his daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Margaret are dead.
Joseph, also son of grandfather William Scott, married Nancy Har- rison, a niece of Gen. Harrison, of Ohio. She came to Illinois with her parents about 1800, and located at New Design. Mr. Scott settled two miles south of the village of Shiloh, on Sec. 17, about 1805. In 1809 he erected a small grist and powder mill on a branch of Silver creek, running through his place. It was a log building, and was pro- pelled by an undershot water-wheel. For a number of years he con- tinued the manufacture of a fine quality of powder. He procured the nitre in the caves on the Gasconade river, in Missouri, in the winter months, with but one companion, Joseph Dixon, when the whole country was filled with hostile Indians. This was undoubt- edly the first powder mill in the state. Mr. Scott furnished the rangers, and hunters and sporting men of St. Louis with powder, but never sold it to the Indians. In 1828 he erected a wool carding machine in Belleville, the first in the place, which he suc- cessfully operated for several years. He became a resident of Belleville in 1838, and in this place served as justice of the peace for over twelve years. Iu his latter days he lived on the old home- stead in Shiloh, where he died, about 1866, mourned by a large family and a host of friends. He was a man possessed of excellent judgment and good business qualities; honest and fair in all his dealings. Few men in his day were more enterprising and indus- trious than Mr. Scott. In politics he was a whig, and a zealous anti-slavery advocate. He raised quite a large family : Mary, married James Park, died, and left two children ; Felix married Nicey, a daughter of Gen. James B. Moore ; he was born and grew to man- hood on his father's place, where he continued to reside until 1878. He is now a resident, of Belleville, in the 74th year of his age. Mr. Scott has lived an active and industrious life, and is among the aged and respected citizens of St. Clair county .. Thomas died while young ; Isaac died a few years ago, leaving a small family ; Joseph lives in Arkansas, and Elizabeth, Sarah and Elias are also deceased; William died in 1840.
Alexander and John, sons of William Scott, always lived in Belle- ville precinct, where they died and left large families.
A family of Jourdens settled the widow James Pierce's place
241
242
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
at a very early date, and built a fort. It was a strong block- house, enclosed with a palisade. They afterwards sold out to Silas Bankson, aud he in turn sold to Daniel Pierce.
Joseph Dixon settled near the village of Shiloh as early as 1806. Dixon was a great hunter, and frequently made long trips, and re- turned laden with peltries. On one of these trips, in northern Missouri, he was robbed of his furs by a band of Indians. He subsequently moved to Sangamon county in this state. William Adams settled in this precinct as early as 1806. He was a black- smith, and had a shop here at a very early day. A number of his descendants are now residing in the county. Hugh and Wil- liam Alexander settled a little south-west of the village of Shiloh in 1811, and several of their descendants are among the respected citizens of the county. About the same time David Everett settled the place where Ira Manville now resides. He subsequently moved to Ottawa, in this state. Matthew Cox came about the same date. He was a son-in-law of Judge William Biggs; he remained here but a short time. The Calbreaths' two cousins, both named Wil- liam, and John Middlecoff, settled on Silver creek. Joseph Griffen, Sen., purchased the Calbreath place, and it is now owned by his son, Joseph Griffen. James McCann, Henry Isballs, Josiah Haw- kins, with a large family ; the Prentices, with a large family of sons ; Deacon Crocker, William Moore, Benjamin Watts, whose descendants are numerous in southern Illinois, and Walter West- field, who had a large family, some of whom are living in this vicinity, were all early settlers in this neighborhood. Daniel Fierce, a native of Pennsylvania, located on Sec. 8 in the spring of 1814. He had a family of seven children, only two of whom are now living in this county, viz. : Juliette A. Pierce and Hiram A., who resides on the old homestead and is one of the prominent farmers of the community. Daniel Pierce died in 1846.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.