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 68
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
During the winter of 1878-9 he attended lectures at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, and graduated ; so that he now holds diplomas from three leading medical colleges. Two years ago he also undertook farming, and now resides on a farm a mile north of Caseyville.
JOHN T. HOELTMANN.
MR. HOELTMANN, now the oldest business man at Caseyville, is a native of Werne, Westphalia, Prussia, and was born on the 6th day of July, 1826. His father was also named John T. Hoeltmann, and his mother's name before marriage was Catherine Jagetho. The subject of this sketch was the next to the youngest of a family of seven children. He was raised in the same town where occurred his birth. As is the custom in that country, he went to school from the age of seven to fourteen, and secured the elements of a practical business education. After leaving school he learned the tailor's trade, following an apprenticeship of three years. On the 1st of October, 1850, he married Magdalena Ermann, who was born at Seuden, Prussia. After his marriage he established a shop of his own and followed the tailoring business, till he concluded to emni- grate to America. Disposing of his shop in March, 1855, the fol- lowing May he left his native country. Landing at Baltimore, from that place he proceeded at once to St. Louis. He only re- mained two mon hs in that city.
Finding that there was an opening for a small business at Casey- ville, he came to that town in August, 1855, and bought out an old store which had been carried on by John Roy and Charles Borkey. The store was small, and contained nothing very valuable. He pur- chased the whole stock for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. He began business in a modest and unpretentious way, but suc- ceeded from the start, and was soon able to purchase a larger stock of goods and increase his business. The second year after coming to Caseyville he built, at a cost of nine hundred dollars, a building which he used for a store and residence, and in which he lived and did business till he erected his present store and dwelling in 1870. He has given his whole attention to business matters, and enjoys the reputation of being an excellent business man.
The death of his first wife took place in 1869. By her he had seven children, whose names are Lena, Frank, Lizzie, Josephine, Phine, Amelia, and Frank William. Of these Frank, Phine, and Frank William are dead. Lena is the wife of Charles A. Singletary, of Collinsville. His second marriage was on the 10th of November, 1870, to Louisa H. C. Peters, who was born in Hanover, Germany. He has five children by this marriage-Auna, Ferdinand, Rosa, Louis, and Louisa. The two last are twins.
Ever since his residence in America Mr. Hoeltmann has been an active member of the republican party. His first vote for presi- dent was cast in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln, and he has been a member of the republican organization from that time to the pres- ent and has voted the republican ticket at every general election. At nearly every election since his residence in St. Clair county he has served as judge of election. In 1860 the citizens of Caseyville precinct had hard work to bring the total vote up to one hundred, but Mr. Hoeltmann has seen the place increase in population, until now three hundred votes are polled. From the time Caseyville was organized as a town, he has been a member of the Board of Trus- tees, and for about ten years was president of the board. A view of his store and residence appears on another page. He has always been regarded as a useful citizen and a man of great uprightness
252
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in his business dealings. He came to Caseyville without means, and has now reached a position among the substantial business men of St. Clair county. His career is a good example of what may be ac- complished by due attention to business and fair and honorable dealing.
LOUIS EVERSMANN,
A RESIDENT of Caseyville precinct, was born at the little settle- ment of Bunkum, on the 28th of August, 1846. His father, John Matthias Eversmann, was a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born on the 2d of February, 1816. He was married in Hanover to Elizabeth Obernuefemann. In 1842 he emigrated to America and arrived in St. Clair county in June of that year. He settled on section nineteen, of township two north, range eight west. He brought with him to this country about two hundred dollars. He leased land for several years, and in 1846 or '47 purchased the farm of eighty-eight acres on which he lived till his death, on the 11th of February, 1873. When he died he owned one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land. He was a man of enterprise, and gave
his children good opportunities for securing an education, sending e ach cne to St. Louis to school. His first wife died in 1853, and he then married Katharina Obernuefemann, her sister. He had nine children, of whom five are now living. Mary, the oldest, is the wife of Herman Hannibal, of St. Louis. The next is Louis Evers- mann. Louisa married Louis Thomas. Anna is the wife of John Berthesmann. The youngest, Lizzie Eversmann, is still unmarried. He was a man of industrious habits and a good citizen. He died in the communion of the Catholic church, and was buried at French Village.
Louis Eversmann was raised in the county and obtained his edu- cation principally in St. Louis, at a school connected with St. Joseph's church and the St. Louis university. He was married in October, 1871 to Louisa Gansmann, who was born at Collinsville, August 10th, 1854, daughter of Nicholas Gansmann and Clara Seitz. In 1878 he bought out the interest of the other heirs in his father's old farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, which he now owns. He has five children : John Matthias, Anna, Lizzie, Nicholas, and Louisa. He is a democrat in politics, and one of the enterprising young men of the county.
CENTERVILLE PRECINCT.
HIS is an irregularly shaped precinct, in the western part of the county, bounded on the north by Prairie du Pont, Cahokia and Belle- ville; on the east by Belleville and Richland ; on the south by Richland precinct and Monroe county, and on the west by Monroe county and Prairie du Pont precinct. It contains 51₴ square miles, or 33,120 acres. Agriculturally it is an excellent body of land, especially well adapted to the raising of wheat. From its centre, water flows to every point of the com pass. Ross' creek rises in sections 16 and 17, T. 1 S. R. 9 W., flows a south-easterly course, emptying its waters into West Fork, on section 36. West Fork of Richland, takes its rise in sections 23 and 24, flows a southerly course, leaving the township on section 36. Spring creek takes its rise in a perennial spring, on section 31, flows a southerly course, leaving on section 33. Prairie du Pont creek is fed by numerous springs in sections 18, 9 and 3, the tributaries from which leave the precinct along its northern boundary. It is well watered and well drained. Along its north- western boundary are the bluffs which overlook a part of the Great American bottoms. At the foot of these bluffs on an old military claim is Hill Lake, a resort for fishermen. Not alone are the water courses followed by strips of timber, but here and there, are fine natural groves, which seem to beautify the landscape.
Centerville had, according to the census of 1880, 2471 inhabi- tants, nearly ninety per cent. of whom are German, or German descent.
Not only is this precinct well adapted to the raising of grain, but underneath the surface lie great mines of wealth. Coal of ex- cellent quality abounds, in places cropping out at the surface. The first ever taken out was by a blacksmith, Joshua Hughes, as early as 1830, from a hill-side, about a half mile south-east of Centerville. Stone, both lime and sand, is quarried in sections 31 and 32, T. 1 N. R. 9 W. It is claimed to be of very superior quality. The quarries of Wm. Lark were the first opened, in 1835.
Vague rumors are circulated, too, about silver having been once mined near Centerville. Two Mexicans, years ago, no one knows when, directed by divining rods, staked a claim, built a cabin in the solitudes of a vast wilderness, and every now and then visited the settlements with pockets well lined with silver. At last they disappeared. A visit to their hut led to the discovery of an earthen oven, of perhaps eighteen inches in thickness, which bore traces of having been used in the reduction of silver ore. It is also affirmed that a tanner living in Monroe county knew the location of the mine. Now and then he would mysteriously appear from the sur- rounding woodlands, carrying sacks of crude ore, which he ex- changed in St. Louis for provisions. Before his death he told his wife the location of the silver quite accurately, describing the
253
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
vicinity of the deserted hut of the Mexicans. Search was insti- tuted and quite vigorously prosecuted without avail, yet many citizens firmly believe silver to be among the undeveloped re- sources which will yet contribute to the wealth of this community.
This precinct was formed by order of the county court, June 5th, 1839, The first election was held at the house of Lewis Pulse. Isaac S. Reed, Robert Gooding and Philip Creamer acted as Judges of the election. At present there are three voting places in the precinct.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES.
The first land entries in T. 1 S. R. 9 W., were by Thomas Har- rison, of 320 acres, being the West } of section 1, Sept. 7th, 1814; by Sinil Lacey, of 340 acres, being the N. E. { and the S. W. } sect. 2, Aug. 15, 1815; by Daniel Whitesides, 160 acres, being the N. W. # sect. 2, Dec. 16, 1814; by James Johnson, 320 acres, South half sect. 3, Dec. 16, 1814; by Martin Randleman, 160 acres, being the S. E. } sect. 9, Aug. 16th, 1814; by Mathew Langford, 160 acres, being the N. E. } sect. 23, Sept 6th, 1814 ; by Cornelius Gocding, 160 acres, being the S. W. } sect. 10, Sept. 10th, 1816; by William Morrison, 160 acres, being the N. E. } sect. 1, April 10th, 1815. In that part of T. 1 S. R. 10 W., which lies in this precinct, first entries were by Absalom Bradshaw, 160 acres, being the N. E. & sect. 24, Sept. 17th, 1814; by Samuel Hill, 12260 acres in sect. 4, Jan. 24th, 1817. Before government lands had been surveyed, some claims had been made, and confirmed as fol- lows : Claim 1800, survey 429, to George Lunceford ; claim 1054 survey 782, to Thomas Marrs; claim 339, survey 430, to George Lunceford ; claim 598, survey 557, to widow of Jacob Groot. All these lands were first claimed in payment of military services ren- dered in 1790, although some of the claims had been transferred. Representatives of the Lunceford family yet own and live on claim made by George Lunceford. Lunceford had been a soldier under Clark in the service of Virginia, in the conquest of Illinois. He settled first near Kaskaskia. In 1796 he and Samuel Judy opened a farm on Sugar Loaf, on claim above-mentioned, which, in 1800, became the sole property of Lunceford, Samuel Judy saying he desired more elbow-room than this tract furnished. George Lunce- ford died there in 1809. His son William was born here in 1796, the first birth in the precinct.
To him should be accredited the honor of being the first settler in this precinct. For many years it was occupied as a common hunting ground. The breaks in the bluffs which arose from the Mississippi bottoms afforded excellent harborage for panthers, wild cats, wolves and bears, whilst the prairie stretches, dotted here and there by groves, ofttimes with a spring of living water, laughing under their shade, invited deer in great numbers to luxuriate upon their fatness. It was indeed a hunter's paradise. An old man, yet living in the precinct, told the writer that he had counted forty- one deer in one gang, and was met in his pathway by a panther the same night.
Old settlers speak of a deserted house-site on the bluffs, about two miles south of Falling Springs, and just within the limits of this precinct. Occupied by whom or when deserted no one knows. It perhaps was built by one of the parties that attempted making a settlement in this vicinity in 1796, including such pioneers as Short, Griffen, Gibbons, Roberts and Valentine, which was soon after abandoned. A grave-yard to the south-west, in Monroe county, marks the location.
In the north-eastern part, some of the parties who came from Hardy county, Virginia, and the vicinity of Hagerstown, Mary- land, settled in 1800. . For bistory of this immigration, including
the Stookeys, Eymans, Millers, Randlemans and others, see the chapter on Pioneers. Of their number Randleman and Teter stopped in this precinct.
Among other carly settlers might be mentioned Cornelius Good- ing, (1816), James Glass, Robert Gooding, (1816), John Mauzy, Charles Jones, Matthew Roach, (1815), the Laceys, John Primm, of Cabokia, at an earlier date, and Goodner, the Baileys, John Little, Simon Stookey, 1822.
John Little selected a home on section 4, and exercised the pre- caution of setting out a small cedar tree as a guide when he should return with his family, which he shortly afterwards did. The tree is yet standing.
In early times these settlers were compelled to repair to White- side's station, in Monroe county, for safety from marauding bands of Indians.
Reynolds, in his history refers to John Primm as follows : "In 1803 John Primm emigrated from Virginia, and settled first in the New Design-made a crop there, and settled at the foot of the Mis- ssisippi bluff, south-east of Cahokia ; remained there several years, and moved to his plantation, a few miles south-west of Belleville. Here he died in 1836, aged almost eighty-seven years. Mr. Primm was born in Stafford county, Virginia ; served in the Revolutionary war, immediately under General Washington, and assisted in the glorious capture of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown, in the year 1781. This was the crowning battle for the freedom of the colonies, and Primm enjoyed the honor of aiding in this great and glorious victory. He had a large family-seventeen children-four girls and thirteen sons. He lived the even, temperate life of an agri- culturist, and performed all his duties to the Creator, and to man, in a moral and correct manner."
It is believed that within the limits of this precinct, or its ex- treme western boundary, was enacted a tragedy which resulted in the death of Vallis and capture of Biggs, in 1788. The old trail from Bellefontaine to Cahokia passed through here, and at the point where it begins its descent into the valley is a fit place for such scenes. The account, as given by Reynolds in his history of Illinois, is as follows: "In the spring of 1788 Lieutenant Biggs had been out hunting, and had got some beaver fur, which he was desirous of selling at Cahokia. He then resided in Bellefontaine, and started in company with Vallis for Cahokia. Early in the morning of March 28th, whilst riding on the road to his trading post, they heard the report of two guns. Biggs supposed them to be hunters; but soon after he saw sixteen Indians with their guns presented. He and Vallis whipped their horses, but in vain-all the Indians fired their pieces at him and his comrade. The bullets riddled the horse of Biggs, killed him, and shot four holes through Biggs' overcoat, but did not hit him. A ball entered the thigh of Vallis, of which wound he died six weeks afterwards. The horse of Vallis carried him to the Fort. Biggs, his furs, saddle and all fell off his horse; and, after running some distance, the Indians caught him and made him a prisoner. He was taken to an Indian town on the Wabash river, traveling the three bun- dred miles in ten days. He was ransomed, by agreeing to pay a Spaniard, Bazedone, two hundred and sixty dollars ransom, and thirty-seven more for other necessaries with which to enable him to reach home. He descended the Wabash and the Ohio to the Mississippi-up that river to the Kaskaskia, and on home to Bellefontaine. In 1790 he was appointed by Gov- ernor St. Clair Sheriff of St. Clair county, which office be held for many years.
In this precinct it was that Thomas Harrison built the first cot- . ton gin ever established in Illinois, which was erected in 1813.
254
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Frank Roach built the first mill more than sixty years ago, a primitive corn mill, erected on section 12, T. 1 S. R. 9 W. Sub- sequently Samuel and Matthew Roach built a mill on Forbes' Fork, which was washed away the same year. Frank Roach lived to the great age of 106 years. When 102 years old he went with a grandson to the store kept by William McClintock, in Belleville, and challenged him to a wrestle.
The first cemetery was that near the Union Meeting House, on sect. 11, T. 1 S. R. 9 W. John Ross was the first person interred, October 1st, 1823. Thomas Jarrott, the second, October 16th, 1823. Union Meeting House was the first house for worship built, which was in 1819.
A man named Gallop taught the first school. Taught in the Union Meeting House, about two miles north-east of Millstadt, in 1824.
Dr. W. C. Goforth, alias " old pills," was the first physician to practice in the precinct. He lived in Columbia and Cahokia, afterwards in Belleville, where he died.
Joshua Hughes was the first blacksmith, as well as the first coal operator. His smithy was opened in 1829. He took out coal from a hill-side, about a half mile south-east of Centerville, in 1830. This bank was afterwards transferred to, and operated by Benjamin Goodner. It has long since been abandoned.
Among the earlier marriages were Isaac Gooding, to Polly Cox, March 28th, 1820, and Nathan Cox, to Elizabeth R. Gooding, September 13th, 1826, by Cornelius Gooding, J. P.
Coal Mines .- George Grossman has a mine on section 25, T. 1 S. R. 9 W., which was first opened by Andrew Pfeiffer, in 1842. It is entered from a hill-side, thus becoming what is known as a coal bank. The vein of coal is about 6} feet in thickness, and is of very superior quality. It is not worked to its full capacity, only sufficiently to meet local demands.
Teuerhahn, Muskopf & Co. operate a shaft about fifty feet deep within the corporate limits of Millstadt. Vein six to seven feet thick, local trade.
In early times Simon Stookey and Daniel Eastwood ran for Justice of the Peace. Eastwood was elected. The first case brought before him was for assault and battery. He fined the victor in the fight three dollars, which he promptly handed to the vanquished party, saying, "You got licked and are entitled to the fine." The squire's ideas of justice were more consistent with equity than with law, as many of his decision prove.
In 1825, a dollar of paper money passed current for twenty-five cents, cut in two; each half would pass for twelve and a half cents, or a " bit," as it was termed. Bits being popular change, half bills were common.
Jacob Randleman brought the first clock to the precinct, an old- fashioned wooden one, about six feet high. His brother Michael was a blacksmith. One day he proposed to Jacob the feasibility of their making a duplicate clock so that each could have a time-piece. Jacob, being a carpenter, agreed, saying, "I can make the wood- work, if you can iron it," says Michael ; " I know I can iron it.' So at it they went, taking the old clock apart, using its wheels by which to mark out patterns for the second edition. Having all their patterns completed, they concluded to put the old clock together, which they attempted. A sorry job it was. After it was together, and when they couldn't see another place to put a wheel, they had material enough left for another clock. They wound it up, the hands refused to move, not so the striking weight. It went lustily to work, and without ceasing rung out a full week's striking. The brothers thought the thing bewitched, and after repeated trials to replace
the old-fashioned clock, they confessed their ignorance of clock, making and burned up the unruly machinery.
We have phrases peculiar to states, to districts of country, and why not one peculiar to a precinct ? Of such a character is the ex- pression, "a Bornman trip." Its origin is this. About 1840, Da- niel Bornman started for St. Louis on horseback, with two baskets of eggs slung across his horse. On his way the rope broke, and as a consequence the eggs also were broken. He returned home rather crestfallen at his ill luck, and ever after a disastrous trip is called by the neighbors " a Bornman trip."
The first German settlers here were Daniel Wagner, Theobald and Jacob Miller, who crossed the sea together in 1834. They landed at New Orleans, thence proceeded to St. Louis and Centerville, where they bought land the same year. This was the nucleus of a settlement that continued to grow until now the German population occupy the territory included in this precinct almost exclusively. There are but seven families of English descent in the congressional town- ship in which the town of Millstadt is situated. They are an in- dustrious, frugal, and energetic people. Thoroughly awake to every improvement which promises additional comfort or added wealth, they suffer no idlers among them, believing that " by the sweat of the brow man should earn his bread." They perpetuate their social societies for purposes of mutual improvement, and are loath to give up the customs they brought with them as an inheritance from the " Vaterland."
TOWN OF MILLSTADT.
In 1836, Simon Stookey was having a barn built on section four. Several men were lending a helping hand, among them Joseph Abend, a bachelor saddler, and Henry Randleman. It was there proposed to Randleman that this would be a most eligible town- site. The matter was talked over. Abend said it was seven miles to Belleville, seven to Columbia, and seven to the lake, and he pro- posed the name of Centerville for the embryo city. Randleman acted on the suggestion, and on March 13th, 1837, Centerville was platted, forty lots being set apart in section 9, T. 1 S. R. 9 W. To the original site four additions were made, respectively July 15, 1837, sixty lots ; October 27, 1842, eleven lots; October 28, 1842, fifty lots, and October 15, 1845, two hundred lots; all in the S. W. # section 9. August 27, 1847, George Henckler made an addition of seventy-nine lots on W. ¿ S. E. +, same section, followed by another addition, same party, of sixty-nine lots, November 25, 1848. Cornelius Gooding made an addition, north of town, of forty lots, August 1, 1850; James Glass, one of thirty-six lots, August 1, 1850. James Glass et al. addition of twenty blocks, March 25, 1852 : George Henckler, addition on the W. ¿ N. E. }, section 16, and Joseph Kopp, addition, August 21, 1860, of thirty lots. Thus, from time to time, ample provision was made to accommodate the growth of the town. The name Centerville was retained until the year 1880, when the Board of Trustees, after giving thirty days' notice wherein to offer any remonstrance, changed the name to that of the post-office Millstadt.
It was incorporated by the unanimous vote of her citizens, Oct. 26th, 1867. The first board of trustees were elected Nov. 2d, 1867. George W. Seiber, Adam Hoffmann, John Olinger, Henry Schul- theis, and Nicholas Theobald, Trustees.
Population-census of 1880-1274.
Dr. W. S. Van Cleve, now a resident of Belleville, was the first physician to locate in Centerville. Located here in 1845. His practice extended for fifteen miles.
George Kuntz was the first postmaster, appointed in 1841. The mail was carried on horseback once a week.
0
WAREHOUSE
BACKER & STERN'S MILL, ELEVATOR & WAREHOUSE, MILLSTADT, ST. CLAIR CO . IL.
255
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Henry Randleman, and William Davis, opened the first grocery store in a log building, 16x18 feet, in 1837.
Loyat Brater kept the first general store in 1849. Cummings opened the first house for public entertainment, on the site now occupied by Brenfleck's Hotel in 1843. The original building was a two-story frame. Leonard Daub built a brewery in 1846. Con- tinued in operation until 1874. In 1842 Conrad Schmidt had erected a brewery on section 16, south of Centerville, which was abandoned in 1849. All traces of its location are gone.
Valentine Brenfleck built a brewery in 1849, at a cost, including improvements made since, of $31,000. Operated it until 1878, since which time it has stood-idle. After it was first built, he stored his beer in a coal bank, west of Centerville, paying for the privilege two kegs of beer per annum.
The Lutheran church (Zion) was first built in 1844; since a new church has been erected. The Catholic (St. Jacob's), in 1847.
Prominent among the enterprises of Millstadt, in fact the most important in the town, are two extensive merchant mills. That now owned by Becker and Sterns was first built in 1857-8, by Franz Baur. The present proprietors have added to its original capacity, by putting in a new Corliss engine, and erecting an ele- vator attachment, with a capacity of storing 40,000 bushels. The mill is provided with five run of stone, and can turn out 325 bar- rels of flour per day. Edward Schoening is Manager, and Chas. Jacobs, Clerk.
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.