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 75
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PETER HERMANN, SR.
PETER HERMANN, SR., was born in Meiningen, a village in Saxony, Germany, August 1st, 1820. His father, Nicholas Her- mann, was the owner of a water power mill at that place, which he ran for many years. Peter attended school from the age of seven to fourteen, then worked with his father in the mill until he was eighteen, when he was allowed the privilege of six months' travel before reporting for muster duty, which he had to do under the
WHEAT FARM (320 ACRES) & RESIDENCE OF JOHN LORTZ, SURVEY 386, T.2, R.7, FAYETTEVILLE PRECINCT ST. CLAIRCO., ILL.
FARM RESIDENCE OF PETER HERMANN, SEC, 18, T.2, S.R.7, W. (FAYETTEVILLE PRECINCT) ST.CLAIR CO., ILL.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
laws of Germany. He concluded to come to America. Once here he neglected to return to his native land, for which his father had a penalty to pay, or hire a substitute for muster service which he did at a cost of about-$250. In 1843 his father followed him to this country. Peter, whilst traveling from New York westward, got out of funds at Pittsburg, Penn'a, and worked on a canal, wheeling a wheelbarrow for four months. With the start thus gained he went to St. Louis, Mo, thence to Randolph county, Ill., where he had friends, who had written to him while yet in Germany. These letters induced him to come to America. Here he worked as a farm hand to gain a living for some time, when he went to Belleville, where he learned the turner's trade, remaining with his employer a year and ten months. His father reached Belleville in 1843, and at once bought 552 acres of land on Twelve Mile Prairie, where Peter still lives. Here it was his parents died and
are buried. His father died August 14, 1844, and his mother November 17, 1860 Peter Hermann was married to Elizabeth Lortz, March 13, 1844. By this union they have twelve children, eleven of whom are living. The following is a list of their names, with dates of their births : Ph. Hermann, December 22, 1844; Christina B., October 24, 1846 ; Peter, July 24, 1848; Catharine A., November 17, 1850; Anna E., February 14, 1853; Edward N., November 13, 1854; Louis, February 2, 1856; Emma Mary, Feb- ruary 10, 1859 ; Julia C., November 10, 1861; Frederick W., Sep- tember 12, 1863; and Louisa Lenora, December 7, 1865. Politi- cally Mr. Hermann is a liberal democrat; he does not believe in draw- ing party lines too tight in local affairs. He is a member of the Lu- theran church. His wife, a most estimable woman, died December 14, 1876. Mr. Hermann has been fortunate in the acquisition of pro- perty, and is a liberal, and respectable citizen.
O'FALLON PRECINCT.
HE greater part of this precinct includes what has been known, from the earliest settlement, as Ridge Prairie. It is high rolling land, with a sufficient amount of timber and water to make it desirable for agricultural pursuits ; and it early attracted the pioneer within its borders. It is irregular in form, and contains forty sections, or about 25,600 acres of rich productive land, nearly all of which is sus- ceptible of cultivation. Situated in the northern part of the county, it is bounded as follows: On the north by Madison county, on the east by Lebanon, on the south by Shiloh and Lebanon, and on the west by French Village and Caseyville. The Ohio and Mississippi railroad enters the precinct on section 22, T. 2 N., R. 8 W., and traversing an eastern direction, it passes out on section 28, T 2 N., R. 7 W. There is also a short road, from O'Fallon to Belleville, which is a great convenience to shippers.
EARLY SETTLERS.
As near as we can determine at this writing, the first settlement, in what constitutes O'Fallon precinct, was made by the Ogle family in 1802.
Captain Joseph Ogle, of English ancestry, was born in Virginia in 1744. He served in the Revolutionary war, where he was com- missioned captain by Governor Patrick Henry, in June, 1777, and commanded a company of Virginia troops. He was married in Virginia to Drusilla Biggs, and had five children, viz .: Nancy, Catherine, Prudence, Benjamin and Joseph. After the death of his first wife, he married Jemima Meiggs, by whom he had four children-Drusilla, Polly, Jacob and Jemima, all born in Vir-
ginia. In 1785 he brought his family to Illinois, and first settled in what is now Monroe county, from whence, in 1802, he moved to Ridge Prairie, and located two miles west of the present village of O'Fallon. He was engaged in several Indian fights in this state. At one time he (and six other white men) attacked a party of nine Indians, who were on the war path, and killed seven of their number, only one white man being wounded. This occurred in Monroe county. He was a zealous member of the Methodist church. Though a man of but little book learning, he possessed a large practical knowledge, and was a brave and skillful leader in early Illinois. He owned several slaves when he came to Illinois, and liberated them. The Captain died on his farm Feb., 1821.
His son, Joseph Ogle, was born June 11, 1777, and came with his parents to this state. Married Lucinda Pulliam, July 12, 1804, soon after he located in this precinct. He had no chil- dren. Was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He was a good farmer, and a man of considerable information and influence. Died at his residence, September 14, 1846, aged sixty-nine years. His wife, the daughter of John and Margaret Pulliam, came from near Richmond, Va., and settled in Illinois in 1795, was a devoted wife and Christian-a member of the Methodist church. She died at their farm near O'Fallon, January 15, 1862, seventy- eight years of age.
Jacob Ogle, son of Captain Ogle, also came with his parents to Illinois in 1785, and married Elizabeth Teter, and settled about two miles west of O'Fallon at an early date. He was a member of the Methodist church, a Justice of the Peace for many years, and a man of considerable knowledge, and very popular in the community. His principal occupation was that of a farmer, in which he acquired a good competence. In company with Rev.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
James Lemen, he built and operated a water-mill on Ogle's creek, three miles north of O Fallon. This was a rude affair, and an in- sufficiency of water prevented much success in this enterprise. Mr. Ogle built a horse-mill on his place, with which he ground most of the flour for the settlement for several years. He was an enterprising and valuable man in his day, and much esteemed by all who knew him. He died at his residence. Two of his sons, George and Jacob Ogle, farmers, now living near O'Fallon, are among the esteemed and useful citizens of the county.
Some of the daughters of Capt. Joseph Ogle were married in Virginia, and the others who came to Illinois with him were mar- ried here. Nancy married L. Rutherford, in Virginia, and came to this state with her husband and the Ogle family in 1785. She died without issue. Catharine became the wife of Rev. James Lemen, Sr., in Virginia, and emigrated to Illinois, in 1786, and reared a large family. Prudence married Peter Casterline, in Illi- nois ; Drusilla married William Porter, in this state, and raised a family ; Polly, the wife of Gen. James Moore, married in this state, but left no children ; Jemima married Charles Matheny, who was an early resident of St. Clair county, and a pioneer Methodist min- ister in Illinois. She died in Springfield, Illinois, in 1858. Her husband moved to Springfield at an early day, where he filled some responsible positions, and died, much respected, before reaching a very old age. His son, James Matheny, of Springfield, who by mar- riage is related to Abraham Lincoln, is a prominent and able attorney-at-law. All of Mr. Ogle's daughters were members of the Methodist church.
Rev. David Badgley, a pioneer Baptist minister, was born in New Jersey in 1786, came in company with his brother, Anthony Badgley, to Illinois in 1796, and settled at New Design. In the spring of 1804 they settled in St. Clair county. Rev. David Badgley located on a three hundred acre "head right," occupying a part of Sec. 3, Tp. 1 N., R. 8 W., just south of the southern line of this precinct. With the assistance of Rev. Joseph Chance, he organized the first Protestant church in the territory of Illinois. He aided in forming a number of churches in the West, and died De- cember 16, 1824. His descendants are numerous in this county. His children were-David, Ichabod, Job, Abraham, Rachel, Mary and Elizabeth, all of whom left large families. His brother An- thony settled on Sec. 34, Tp. 2 N., R. 8 W. in this precinct. He had a family of eight children when he came here, viz .: Hiram, Butler, Diademia, who married David Aikman ; Nancy married Joseph Beer, an old settler ; Elizabeth became the wife of Thomas Beer, a brother of Joseph Beer. He moved to Iowa in 1830. Adelina married William Abbott. These are dead, but all left descendants, many of whom are residing in this county. Eliza, re- sides with her husband, G W. Dixon, on Sec. 33, Tp. 2 N., R. 8 W. They have in their possession a powder-horn carried by An- thony Badgley, the father of Rev. David and Anthony Badgley, in the Revolutionary war. It has been in the family more than a hundred years, and is greatly prized by them. Simeon, the only son of Anthony Badgley now living, was born in this county in 1805, and resides on the old homestead. He is possessed of a good memory, and delights in telling stories of the olden times. Having seen this country develop from a wilderness into one of the wealthiest and most influential states in the Union, he is naturally well-informed on its history, and has materially aided us in the preparation of this work.
The first settlements in what is now O'Fallon precinct were known as the Ogle settlement, the Badgley settlement and the Lemen settlement.
The Lemens are as prominent and well known to the citizens of
St. Clair county as any family that ever settled within its borders. Rev. James Lemen, Sr., who emigrated from Virginia to Illinois in 1786, settled and always resided in Monroe county, where he died. An extended sketch of his life is given in the Baptist Church His- tory in this volume. His three eldest sons, Robert, Joseph and James, who settled here at an early day, were the founders of the Leinen families now residing in St. Clair county.
Robert Lemen, the eldest son, was born in Berkeley county, Vir- ginia, September 25, 1783, and was brought with his parents to this state in 1786. He came near being drowned the second night after leaving Wheeling by flat-boat, down the Ohio river. Having tied up for the night, the water fell, and the boat being tipped by a stump, they lost most of their provisions and chattels. He was saved by a floating bed-tick upon which he was sleeping. The loss of nearly all their goods caused much inconvenience, but they pur- sued their journey regardless of the hardships and dangers incident to emigration in that early day, and landed at Kaskaskia July 10, 1786. They remained here a short time and moved to New Design, where they were among the first American settlers. Here Robert grew to manhood and married Hester Tolin, in 1805, and the same year moved and settled on Sec. 1, Tp. 2 N., R. 8 W., where he re- sided until his death, August 24, 1860, aged seventy-seven years. He lived in the genuine pioneer days, and experienced the trials and privations of a pioneer life. He was a man possessed of an undaunted will, honest, active hands, clear judgment, an unceasing energy, and was regarded as a good citizen and firm Christian. His principal occupation was that of farming, though for many years he was a justice of the peace, and under the administration of John Quincy Adams, was appointed U. S. Marshal of Illinois; was a faithful officer and deservedly popular. He united with the Baptist church in early life, and was clerk of the Richland Baptist church for some time. When the Bethel Church, of which he was a constituent member, was organized in 1809, he was made Clerk, and served until 1845. He and his estimable wife were buried side by side in the Bethel cemetery. They had a family of fifteen chil- dren, only three of whom are now living, viz :- Gideon, Hester Bowler, and Emma Beedle. Gideon Lemen is a successful farmer, and resides just over the line, in Madison county, three miles south- east of Collinsville. Hester is the widow of B. F. Bowler, and lives near Alma. Emma is the wife of Joseph Beedle, a farmer, in Christian county, Illinois.
Rev. Joseph Lemen, son of Rev. James Lemen, Sen., was born in Berkeley county, Va., September 8th, 1785, and came with his father to this state, and grew up under the parental roof at New Design. He received a liberal education, for that early period. He united with the Baptist church in early life, and subsequently became a minister of that faith. Was married to Mary Kinney, and settled at an early period on section one, T. 2, R. 8 W., in this preciuct, where he purchased and made a fine farm. He had a family of fourteen children, all of whom, that reached maturity, became members of the Baptist church. Rev. Joseph Lemen was a devoted and active minister of the gospel. He preached for nearly a half century, and his field of labor extended from Iowa to Ken- tucky. In this loug career he organized many churches, and won thousands to the cause of Christ. He was an able and vigorous pioneer-preacher, and did much to advance the cause of religion in Illinois. His death occurred at his residence, June 29th, 1861, aged nearly 76 years, and his well-worn frame was interred in the family cemetery, near their residence. A few years later his faith- ful and loving wife, Polly K. Lemen, was laid beside him.
Six of their children are yet living. James resides in Bond county, Illinois ; Joseph, who was a captain in the Mexican war,
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HISTOR YOF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
and a Major in the late rebellion, is living at Odin, Illinois; Isaac W., in this precinct ; Robert, in Collinsville; William, residing in this precinct, and Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Leslie, resides in Kansas.
Rev. James Lemen, son of Rev. James Lemen, Sen., was born at New Design, October 8th, 1787, and it is related from good au- thority, that he was the second white child born of American pa- rents in the territory of Illinois; Enoch Moore, being the first. He grew to manhood on a farm, a portion of the time, being applied to study under the instruction of Rev. John Clark, who was a liberal scholar. Mathematics and the higher sciences, including a course in theology, composed the curriculum. He professed religion in early life, and was ordained a Baptist minister about the time he arrived at manhood. He was the first ordained native preacher in Illinois. December 8th, 1813, he married Mary Pulliam, and the same year settled on section one, T. 2 N., R. 8 W., in this precinct. They had a family of eleven children born to them. For a little more than half a century he devoted himself to the ministry, and during that time he and his brother, Rev. Joseph Lemen, supplied Bethel church with pastoral services. He also traveled considera. bly, and organized several early churches in the west, and assisted in ordaining his father, and many others as ministers. He was a very liberal man, and besides gratuitous labor for the church, he gave of his own means fifty dollars annually, to religious and char- itable purposes. Rev. James Lemen occupied several public positions, with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people. He was a member of the legislature under the territorial government, when it met at Kaskaskia, and in the state legislature when the seat of government was at Vandalia, and state senator for two terms after the capital was removed to Springfield. He also served as a member of the constitutional convention, which framed the state constitution of 1818; and at a later day was chosen by informal ballot for United States Senator, but declined. In poli- tics he was a Whig. As it was his desire to devote his time largely to the ministry, he finally withdrew from politics. He accumu- lated a fine property, on Ridge Prairie, where he died February 8th, 1870, aged 82 years, and was buried in Bethel cemetery, where five years later his wife, Mary, was laid by his side. Of his chil- dren now living are James Lemen and Mary Stebbins, residing at Hastings, Minn., Robert, at Cairo, Ill., and Joseph B., on the old homestead in this precinct.
John Porter, a native of Ireland, came to Illinois late in the last century, and first settled at Cahokia. He afterwards located in the Ogle settlement, where he resided until death. William, David, Andrew and John were sons of his, and left a large pos- terity. He also had daughters, who married and had families. Dr. Joseph Oglesby was a Methodist preacher, and settled near the Badgleys in 1805. He was a man of vigorous mind, and a successful laborer in the cause. He subsequently moved to In- diana. Rev. Charles R. Matheny, who married a daughter of Captain Joseph Ogle, settled near his father-in-law in 1806. He was also a Methodist minister, a lawyer and politician. He moved to Springfield, and was appointed clerk of Sangamon county. Rev. Matheny was a faithful and devout Christian, and died at Spring- field several years ago. Henry Mace was another prominent and well-known pioneer. He was born in Shanandoah Valley, Vir- ginia, in 1776, and came at a very early date to Illinois, and located at Kaskaskia. He was a tailor, and followed his trade in that place. He married Drucilla Andrews, a daughter of James Andrews, who, with all his family, except Drucilla, were killed by the Indians. She was taken captive, and remained with them for over two years, when she was ransomed by the French at Kaskas-
kia. By this union there was one child, Elizabeth. She was married to James Tolly. After the death of his first wife, he was again married and had nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity. They are as follows: Susan, who married William Hilt, a patriot of the war of 1812, and an old settler in the county; James, John; Catherine married John Stites; Sarah, the wife of Andrew Umbarger; Lucy, who became the wife of George Hart ; Christena, the widow of J. B. Needles, a soldier of the Black Hawk war. Susan, Catherine, Sarah and Christena are all of this family now living, but they were all married and have left descendants.
Mr. Mace was also a soldier in the war of 1812. He lived for a time at Whiteside's Station, in Monroe county, and settled as early as 1810 in this precinct, on section 19, T. 2 N. R. 7 W., where he resided until a few years before his death. He died in O'Fallon. The Simpson family were also very early settlers. Rev. John Simpson was born near London, England, where he grew to man- hood, and married Nancy Ann Ryder. He was educated a Baptist minister, and came as a missionary to America in 1780, and settled in Kentucky. At a later period he moved, and located in Monroe county, Illinois, where he engaged in the ministry. He reared a family, some of whom became residents of St. Clair county. Mrs. Nancy Hogan, who resided near Bethel church in this precinct, was a daughter of Rev. John Simpson. She was twice married. The first time to John Best, an old settler in the county. After his death she became the wife of Patrick Hogan, and raised a family. She died a few years ago at her residence, where she had lived for more than half a century. Rev. Gideon Simpson, a son of Rev. John Simpson, settled about three miles north of Alma, at a very early date, and raised a large family. He was a Baptist minister, and served as captain in the Black Hawk war. Rev. Joseph Chance, another Baptist minister, settled in the northern part of the precinct in 1807. He was born in Delaware in 1765. He married Jemima Morris and moved to Kentucky, where he professed religion and began preaching. He moved his family to Illinois, and located at New Design, in 1794, and then he came to this county. He raised a large family.
William Penn was another early settler in the vicinity of the village of O'Fallon. Some of his descendants are living, at this writing, in the county. David Sparks, David McFarland and Isaac Forman were also early settlers. Samuel Redman located on sec- tion 35 of T. 2 N. R. 8 W., where he resided until his death, and left a large posterity. Abraham Clark, who served in the war of 1812, settled the William Forquer place, very early. He after- wards removed to New Design. Samuel Dorris and Samuel Caru- thers came in 1811. John Hendricks located in the south-western corner of T. 2-8 in 1812. The Stites family were early settlers in the vicinity of Alma.
About 1811, the settlers erected a block house for protection against the Indians, near the present site of Alma. Although there were frequent alarms in this section, the Indians never committed any serious depredations.
The first settlers in this precinct were a noble class of pioneers, and their families have always been among the honored and most respected citizens in this part of the state. The Ogles, the Bad- gleys, the Lemens and many others, brought with them the cheer- ing ceremonies of a pure religion, and with prayer and religious worship they laid the foundation in the fear of God. The privations and hardships of pioneer life are fully detailed in the chapter on old settlers in the first part of this work.
We give below the names of those who entered land in this pre- cinct in 1814, as taken from the county records. In T. 2 N., R. 7
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
W., they are as follows : James Lemen, Jr., S. E. } sec. 7, 160 acres, Dec. 3; Daniel White, S. ¿ , sec. 8, 320 acres, Dec. 3; Charles R. Matheny, 250.87 acres in sec. 19, Sept. 30; Henry Mace, S. E. } sec. 19, 160 acres, Dec. 21; Joseph Dixon, S. E. }, sec. 31, 160 acres, Sept. 16; Joseph Ogle, S. 2, sec. 18, 263.74 acres, March 7. In T. 2 N., R. 8 W .- Robert Lemen, 441.63 acres in sec. 1, Aug. 12; William Phillips, S. E. 4, sec 1, 160 acres, Sept. 29; Samuel Kinney, N. E }, sec. 11, 127 acres, Aug. 23; J. Enochs and J. Waddle, S. E. }, sec. 11, 160 acres, Sept. 29; Jacob Ogle, N. E. ֏, sec. 12, 160 acres, Sept. 29; Joseph Chance, 160 acres, Aug. 2; George Dixon, S. W. }, sec. 22, 160 acres, Aug. 13 ; Charles R. Matheny, N. E. }, sec. 25, 158.38 acres, Sept. 30; Joshua Oglesby, S. E. +, sec. 28, 149 acres, Sept. 13; John Mes- singer, N. W. }, sec. 29, 160 acres, Dec. 24; David Badgley, N. E. ¿ , sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 16 ; Anthony Badgley, S. W. }, sec. 34, 160 acres, Aug. 13 ; Samuel Redman, S. }, sec. 35, 320 acres, Sept. 16.
Among some of the settlers of a later date may be, mentioned Merlin Jones, Sen. He settled on a farm two and a half miles south-west from Bethel church. He was an active member of the Baptist church, a man of liberal education, and became quite a prominent citizen. He subsequently removed to Washington county, where he died in 1868. Benjamin and Harrison Scott, brothers, and John and Paul Kingston, settled very early, just south of the present site of O'Fallon. They all left descendants here. The Be- gole family, residing in this vicinity, are descendants of Josiah Be- gole. He was born of Huguenot parents in Washington county, Maryland, March 25, 1792. In the the year 1805, he emigrated with his father to the state of New York, where he resided until the spring of 1819. In 1820, he came, via Detroit, Cincinnati, and the Ohio river, to this state, and from that year until his death he was a resident of St. Clair county. He died March 2, 1874. He was married March 2, 1824, to Mary Terry. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John M. Peck. Thus the day he would have celebrated as his golden wedding was the day he died. He left a widow and nine children, six sons and three daughters. When he crossed the Ohio river into Illinois, he paid the last piece of money in his possession, a shilling, to ferry him across, but by industry and energy he became independent, gave all his children a good education, and settled them comfortably around him. Isaac Nearen, an old pioneer and soldier of 1812, was born in Maryland, and came to this state about the year 1800. He first resided in Monroe county, for a short time, and then became a resident of Turkey Hill. About 1807, he removed to Ridge Prairie, where he remained until about 1840, when he removed with his family, all but James, to Iowa. James Nearen is in his 77th year, and resides on section 11, T. 2, N., R. 8 W. His wife, Nicene Gaskill, is a daughter of Jonathan Gaskill, a native of Vermont, who settled about seven miles south of Lebanon in 1810. They had three children, married and settled around them. George Pousch, a prominent early German settler in this precinct, is residing on sec- tion 11. He has raised a good-sized family, all of whom have settled around him.
Among the prominent and successful settlers of a later date may be mentioned Peter Bowler, who with his wife and family settled four miles north and one mile east of Q'Fallon. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and it was largely owing to his ef- forts that the Bethel church, in that day a costly one, was erected. He was an industrious and enterprising farmer, and an influential member in society. He died at a ripe old age on his farm on Ridge Prairie, esteemed by all who knew him. His wife, who was a de- voted Christian woman, died a few years previously at the family
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