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 88
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The first steam flouring mill was erected in the north-east corner of the place, in 1832, by Capt. Elbridge Potter & Sons. There was also a distillery built in connection with the mill.
From the Illinois Gazeteer, published by Rev. John M. Peck in 1837, we copy the following: "Lebanon has a steam-mill for manufacturing grain, and an ox-mill for flouring, on an inclined plane ; a post-office, two public houses, seven stores, one grocery ; three physicians; mechanics' shops of various kinds, and about sixty families. The Methodist college is located in the immediate vicinity." From this the town has grown, and now contains a population of about two thousand, with fine residences, handsome business blocks, good schools, churches, and various manufacturing institutions.
Incorporation .- Lebanon was incorporated as a town, under spe- cial charter, in May, 1857. The first officers were : Joseph Hypes, president; Charles Blanck, register ; Samuel Hypes, Treasurer ; H. H. Horner, assessor ; Adam H. Wise, constable ; J. L. Sargent, street inspector. Town Trustees were: Hugo Wangelin, R. F. Cunningham, James Radon and Thomas Jordan.
It was organized as a city, under the general law, August 18, 1874, and the following were elected the first officers: H. H. Horner, Mayor; Louis Zerweck, clerk ; D. R. Lasley, treasurer ; J. F. Webb, attorney ; A. Pyle, street commissioner and city mar- shal. The council is composed of nine aldermen, three elected in each of the three city wards,
43
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The present city officers are : J. Rankin, mayor; Louis Zerweck, clerk ; C. H. Sager, treasurer ; J. Eckert, attorney ; Peter Brue- cher, city marshal; George Riddle commissioner of streets.
Schools .- The first school was taught in a log cabin about 18x20 feet, that was erected just south-east of the square as early as 1818. In this building Rev. John M. Peck organized the first Sunday- school, in the summer of 1821. School was held in this cabin for a period of three or four years, when a small frame school-house was erected by the public, which was also used for religious meet- ings by all denominations. The public schools were mostly held in churches and halls, rented for that purpose, until 1866, when a fine brick school-house was erected, that cost upwards of $40,000. It stood on the same lot occupied by the present beautiful struc- ture. February 28, 1873, this building was burned, and in the same year the new one was completed, at about the same cost. It is constructed of brick, three stories high, and contains ten rooms, all furnished with the latest improved school furniture. The school is graded and employs eight teachers.
McKendree College was founded as an institution of learning February 20, 1828. It received its first charter from the state in 1834. and a new charter was granted June 26, 1839. It is a Methodist institution, and has always been largely patronized by the Missouri and Illinois Conferences. On the roll of Alumni there are the names of nearly four hundred persons, many of whom are in high offices of trust both in church and state .*
Illinois Literary and Commercial Institute and School of Art was founded September 20, 1880, by Prof. J. W. Whittlesey. This is a new school, and judging from the patronage it has received, it will be a successful one. Prof. Whittlesey is an energetic, enterprising gentleman, and has an able faculty associated with him.
Churches .- There are eight churches in the city, all neat and comfortable buildings .- Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, German Methodist, and Colored Methodist, German Lutheran, Baptist and Roman Catholic.
Manufacturing Industries-The Veranda Flouring Mill was erected in 1856. It is built of brick, 50x60 feet, and four stories high. It contains six run of burrs, with a capacity of 200 barrels per day, and is now owned by Joseph Mueller & Co. It manu- factures several brands of excellent flour, most of which is shipped to eastern markets. The mill is valued at $50,000, and employs thirteen men.
The St. Clair Flouring Mill was built by W. V. Keese & Son, in 1880, at a cost of about $10,000. It is a frame building, three stories high, and contains three run of burrs, with a capacity of 50 barrels per day. The Star Fancy brand of flour of their manufac- ture is equal to that made by any of the larger mills, and finds ready market at home and in St. Louis.
Hoyt's Steam Saw and Grist mill, has one set of burrs and a circular saw.
The Carriage, Wagon and Agricultural Implement Manufactory of J. H. Lehman's, was established in 1861. He has large and commodious buildings, steam power, and all the modern improved machinery for making the best class of work. Employs about ten men.
The Lebanon Brewery was purchased by J. Hammel, in 1860, who remodeled the building, and enlarged the capacity. This brewery has all the most modern improvements for brewing, and manufactures about six thousand barrels a year. It is sold at home and in all the neighboring towns. Hammel's bottle beer is a good article, and is gaining reputation. Mr. Hammel has a vineyard of several acres, and manufactures considerable wine. He is also engaged in the ice business.
* Amore extended history may be seen in the chapter on Schools.
Lebanon Soda and Mineral Water Factory was erected by Charles J. Reuter, in 1868. It is a frame building ; steam power. Soda and all the various kinds of mineral waters are made and sold at home and in all the adjacent towns. Mr. Reuter has been very successful in this enterprise.
The Great American Cigar Manufactory was established by Julius Hoffmann in 1866. He employs about fifteen men in the manufacture of cigars. They are fine brands, and he has a large trade.
There are also two brick-yards-the Sager Brothers,-is located in the east side of the city, and that of William Boyce's in the northern part, both of which burn a good quality of brick.
Concord Park-is situated in the southern suburbs, and is the property of F. Keitel. It contains several acres, with nicely ar- ranged walks, well shaded with forest and ornamental trees. There are music and speakers' stands, dancing hall and bar, on the grounds. This is quite a popular resort for summer excursions from St. Louis.
The Lebanon Journal is a weekly newspaper edited and published by Jones & Metzgar, and is the only one in the city.
Bank .- The Banking House of Baker & Schaefer was commenced in 1873, by Seiter & Ramsay. In 1876 it was changed to H. Sei- ter & Co., and September 1st, 1880, to the present firm name. The capital is upwards of $200,000, and it is considered a safe and re- liable institution.
Lodges .- The secret societies are as follows :
Adelphic Lodge, No. 1509, Knights of Honor ; Lebanon Lodge, No. 108, I. O. M. A. ; Lebanon Lodge, No. 127, A. O. U. W. Lebanon Lodge, No. 110, A. F. and A. M. ; Lebanon Chapter, No. 62, R. A. M. ; St. Clair, No. 119, I. O. O. F. ; Lebanon Division of the Sons of Temperance, No. 262.
BUSINESS HOUSES, TRADE OF 1881.
General Stores .- Atwood & Chamberlain, Louis Niemeyer. Dry Goods and Groceries .- H. J. Blanck, H. W. Blanck, L. Gerne, John W. Weigle, Mrs. Krause.
Groceries .- John Meinhardt.
Hardware, Stoves and Agricultural Implements .- C. H. Sager, Henry Baum.
Drugs .- Lindley & Bridges, C. Fehringer, J. B. Benson.
Clothing and Tailoring .- Charles Reinhardt, Thomas Wolf, Ja- cob Schaefer, Jacob Buhr.
Jewelry .- F. Pesold, Gus. Hoffmann.
Confectionery and Bakery .- August Deitz, August Kassebaum, F. Campe.
Shoe Stores and Shops .- C. Haenel, George Breiding, Paul Der- leth, J. Hausmann.
Furniture .- Henry Bachmann, Louis Reichenbecher, Jr.
Books and News .- Miss Frank Risley.
Harness Store .- J. W. Hypes, William Scheibe.
Segar Stores .- J. Hoffmann, Adam Traband.
Millinery and Dress Making .- E. Haase and M. Zerweck, Miss Lizzie Parker.
Hotels -Bishop House, Edward Ganunn, proprietor; Lebanon House, Henry Heuer, proprietor ; City Hotel, Mrs. T. Williams, proprietress ; St. James House, Mrs. Smith, proprietress.
Livery Stables .-- S. R. Morris, John Wallace.
Blacksmith and Wagon Shops .- Adam Blume, Robert Blume, Martin Baum, F. Thome.
Barber Shops .- C. Graul, A. Doll, E. Graul & Son, Noblitt & Coffee.
Lumber Yard .- Gustave Weisberger.
Marble Works .- August Kassebaum.
Physicians .- F. A. Hamilton, R. F. Cunningham, F. W. Lytle,
A. Berger, C. N. Andrews, A. S. Griffith. Dentists. - R. H. Mace, L. Ottofey.
Insurance Agents .- W. H. Hypes, Lewis Zerweck, A. Sanspeur,
J. N. Lindley, D. Hightower. Photographer .- John Lupton.
Real Estate Agent .- M. A. Shepard.
Saloons and Billiard Halls .- John Rahner, Charles Neuman, Gus. Hoffmann, Cyrus Culver, Jule Gorla, Thomas Wakemann, E. Krause, John Meinhardt, John Michel.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
så
. N. Horner
WHO is now one of the oldest members of the St. Clair county bar, is a native of the county, and was born at Lebanon on the 22d of February, 1821. His great-grandfather emigrated from England, and settled near Baltimore. His grandfather, Nicholas Horner, in the year 1812 removed from the neighborhood of Baltimore to the State of Ohio, and, after living five years near Cincinnati, he came to Illinois, and settled two miles north of Lebanon, where he made a purchase of five hundred acres of land. For the improved part he paid ten dollars an acre, a price which was made high by the cost of labor and material. On this farm Nicholas Horner lived till his death.
Nathan Horner, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland in the year 1790 He was united in marriage in Ohio to Nancy Hypes, who was born near the James river, in Bottetourt county, Virginia, within seven miles of Fincastle, the county seat.
Her father was Henry Hypes. She was a woman of much intelli- gence and remarkable energy. After coming to Illinois Nathan Horner engaged in farming, and in 1818 or 1819 undertook the mercantile business, and opened the first store in the town of Le- banon He carried on the mercantile business for many years, till prevented from following it by the infirmities of old age. For a long time he was in partnership with Benjamin Hypes. He died in 1867. He had enjoyed only ordinary advantages for obtaining an education, but was fond of reading, and by this means acquired much valuable information. He was a warm friend of education, and was one of those interested in establishing the seminary which was the foundation of the present MeKendrce college. At a time when this institution was involved in serious difficulties he expended considerable means in assisting to place the college on a sound finan- cial basis. He was one of the leading members and supporters of
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the Methodist church. His views coincided with those of the Whig party, and he was especially a warm admirer of Henry Clay, but he took no active or conspicnous part in politics. The subject of this sketch was the oldest son and second child. He was brought up in his native town of Lebanon, and obtained his education in McKen- dree college, from which he graduated in 1841. Having designed to enter the legal profession, he studied law in the office of Judge William H. Underwood at Belleville, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Illinois in 1847. He began practice at Belleville, but, after residing a short time in that place, returned, on account of his private interests, to Lebanon, where he has since been occupied in the active practice of his profession. Few mem- bers of the legal profession have been longer connected with the St. Clair county bar, and he has lived in the county longer than any other lawyer. Mr. Horner succeeded ex-governor A. C. French in 1865 as dean of the law department of McKendree college, which position he now holds. He was married on the 19th of November, 1857, to Helen M. Danforth, who was born at St. Albans, Vermont. By this marriage he has had six children, of whom four are now living. Of these the oldest, Henry Roland Horner, now resides in Colorado. Wilbur N. is fitting himself for the legal profession. The two daughters are named Hattie H. and Bertha A. Horner. In his political views he was in early life connected with the demo- cratic party. Like many in that organization, he was, however, op- posed to slavery ; and, when the question of the extension of slavery into the territories came to be conspicuously agitated, in common with the free-soil democrats, he assisted to form the republican party, cast his vote for president for Fremont in 1856, and has been a republican from that date to the present. His time has been de- voted to his profession and the management of his private business affairs. He was the first mayor of Lebanon, on its organization under a city charter, and held that office two terms. His portrait appears at the head of this sketch.
HERMANN J. BLANCK.
THIS gentleman was born at Malehow, Mecklenburg Schwerin, Germany, November 24th, 1835. The names of his parents were Henry and Elizabeth Blanck. He was the second of a family of six children, of whom four are now living. His father was a wca- ver and manufacturer of cloths. In 1847 the family cinigrated to America, and after stopping a few weeks came to Lebanon Jate in the fall of that year. His father purchased the woolen mill at Leba- non, which had been standing idle for some time, and which he ran successfully for twelve or thirteen years. He died at Lebanon in 1876. Hermann J Blanck, when about twenty, became clerk in his brother's store. On the 17th of April, 1861, he enlisted for ser- vice in the war of the rebellion, in Co. B, of the Ninth Illinois regiment. During the greater part of his three months' service he was stationed at Cairo, and from there his regiment made some ex- cursions into Missouri. He was mustered out July 25th, 1861. Shortly after his return he embarked in business on his own ac- count. He now has the largest store in Lebanon, and carries on a general merchandizing business. He was married on the 23d of November, 1865, to Mary E. Rankin. He has one child, Katie H Blanck. In his political opinions he is a democrat, and has always voted that ticket, except in 1864, during the war of the rebellion, when he supported Lincoln for the presidency. His time has been closely devoted to his business, and he has filled no public position with the exception of acting as alderman. He is a member of Lebanon Masonic Lodge, No. 110, and of St. Clair Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 119.
BENJAMIN HYPES.
AMONG those who have been intimately and honorably con- nected with the history of Lebanon is Benjamin Hypes, who was born near Fincastle, Bottetourt county, Virginia, February 10, 1805. His grandfather, Nicholas Hypes, emigrated from Ger- many, lived for a time in Philadelphia, and from there moved to Winchester, in the valley of Virginia, where he purchased seven or eight hundred acres of land, on which the town of Winchester is built. His land was lost t> the heirs of the family by reason of the failure to make the final payment of a few pounds. He then en- gaged in the management of a large iron works in Virginia, and afterward purchased a tract of a couple of thousand acres of land in Bottetourt county. Henry Hypes, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bottetout county, and married Patience, daugh- ter of John Reynolds. In 1811 he removed from Virginia to Xenia, Greene county, Ohio. Part of his farm is now covered by the town of Xenia. He came to Illinois in 1818, with a view of securing a location for settlement in this state, but concluded to remain in Ohio. His first wife died in that state in 1823. He died in Ohio in 1851.
Benjamin Hypes was nearly six years old when the family made their home in Ohio. School advantages were scarce in those days. His mother was his only instructor till he was seventeen, when a school was established at Xenia, which he attended nine months previous to his reaching the age of twenty-one. In 1828 be became a resident of Lebanon. For two years he carried on an ox-mill, which was then the only means at Lebanon for grinding grain. This mill had two run of burrs, and was considered a superior mill, and manufactured considerable quantities of flour. In the fall of 1831 he became a partuer in the mercantile business with Nathan Horner, with whom he was associated till 1840; from 1835 to 1837 H. K. Ashley also being a member of the firm, After farming three years, in 1843 he opened a store of his own, which be carried on till 1863. Soon after the inauguration of President Lincoln he was appointed post-master at Lebanon, and retained that office during Lincoln's administration. He was mar- ried in November, 1834, to Caroline, daughter of Daniel Murray. She was born in Baltimore in 1814. Her father was one of the early settlers of the county, becoming a resident of Belleville in 1812. His children are, Cornelia Maria ; Adelaide Victoria, wife of Thomas Essex, of Little Rock, Arkansas; William Henry ; Mary Julia, wife of A. S. Maguire, a lawyer, of Chicago ; Benjamin Murray, now practicing medicine in St. Louis, and Caroline Vir- ginia, who married the Rev. William F. Swahlen, Professor in McKendree college,
He formerly was a whig in politics, and cast his first vote for president for Henry Clay. He has acted with the republican party since its organization. Since 1831 he has been a member of the Lebanon Methodist Episcopal church. He has been one of the pil- lars of that denomination at Lebanon, and has contributed freely to the support both of the church and the McKendree college. His house has always been the home for the ministers, and nowhere have they met with a heartier welcome or a more generous hospi- tality. He was a class-leader in the church from 1834 to 1879. He was a member in the first lay conference held at Cairo in 1871, and a delegate to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held at Brooklyn in 1872. He is the only one of the charter trustees of McKendree college now living. He was auditor of the college in 1835 and 1836, treasurer from 1836 to 1873; for two years he was president of the joint board of trustees and visitors, and has always been among its warmest friends and wisest supporters.
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
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Nichols
WILLIAM NICHOLS, one of the old residents of St. Clair county, was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, on the 27th of August 1805. His father, George Nichols, came to Kentucky from Georgia. He married Mary Beard, whose birth-place was on the Eastern Shore of Maryland." The subject of this sketch was the next to the oldest of a family of seven children. He was raised in Kentucky. When he was six months old his father moved from Hardin to Christian county, and there Mr. Nichols spent the early years of his life. He had only ordinary advantages for obtaining an education, going to school in the winter season and on rainy days, when it was impossi- ble to do any labor on the farm. At the age of twenty-one he came to this state, and settled in the neighborhood of Lebanon. For several years after coming to St. Clair county he employed part of his time in making rails, and made as many as a hundred thousand at the customary price of fifty cents a hundred. St. Louis was then a place of small size and importance ; and where now is built a portion of East St. Louis, Mr. Nichols when a young man split rails and made hay. By means like these he secured enough money to enter eighty acres of land south-east of Lebanon, on which he lived till he removed to that town. He built on this farm a brick house of small dimensions, which at the time of its erection, was considered one of the handsomest residences in that part of the county. His father had previously given him a quarter section of land, unimproved and covered with brush, which was of no benefit to him for many years. This land is still in his possession. He paid taxes on it for fifty years before it brought him any return.
In the spring of 1831 he volunteered his services, and was engaged in the Black Hawk war. He enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. William Moore. He went through the campaign without taking part in any engagement with the Indians. He was married on the 25th of March, 1833, to Delilah Moore, daughter of Robert Moore, who was born in St. Clair county. at the old settlement known as Union Grove, three miles south of Lebanon. Her father resided in the county during the war of 1812-14, when many of the inhabitants were obliged to live in forts for protection against the Indians. His first wife died on the 5th of February, 1849. His
second marriage occurred October 1st, 1854, to Caroline Virginia Lingenfelter, who was born at Winchester, Clark county, Kentucky, in 1822. Her father was David Lingenfelter, a Pennsylvania. Her mother was Rebecca Hutchinson. In the ycar 1852 he became a resident of Lebanon, and for some years was employed in the mer- cantile business. After quitting the store he was engaged for a time in land speculations which he made profitable to himself. Various business enterprises at different times occupied his attention. Till within a recent period he has always been engaged, more or less, in handling stock. In 1859 he purchased a saw mill on a tract of land west of the town of Lebanon, and was in the lumber business until the close of the war. Io 1861 he ran a grist mill at
Lebanon. He owned at one time about twenty-two hundred acres of land, a considerable part of which he has given to his children. He had seven children by his first marriage, of whom three are now living : Mary J., now the wife of Thomas Moore, of Lebanon ; Mrs. Nancy C. Hendricksou ; and William Lee Nichols, of Leba- non. Of the four children by his second marriage, three are now living : Orrin Nichols, Julia Belle Nichols, and Louis H. Nichols.
In early life he was a member of the whig party. His first vote for president was cast for Henry Clay, for whom he voted every subsequent time he was a candidate as he did also for Harrison and the other whig nominees. He was an early member of the republican organization, and has been one of its warmest and strongest supporters. He came to this county without any means, and by his activity and industry, became one of the wealthiest men in the vicinity of Lebanon. He was of an energetic and active temperament ; in the early part of his life he worked hard ; and was always a successful business man. His wealth has been secured by economy and wise accumulation, and is not the result of any sudden, successful stroke of speculation. He has always been straightforward and honorable in his business dealings. He has filled no political office with the exception of eight years as con- stable, at a time when he was the only constable in the county east of Silver Creek, and was also in 1849 elected justice of the peace.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNLY, ILLINOIS.
Chruny Heter
MICHAEL SEITER, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Baden, Germany, September 17th, 1809. In 1817 the family emigrated to America, and on the passage across the ocean both his father and mother died, leaving him an orphan at the age of eight years. This voyage was made in a sailing vessel, and oc- cupied three months' time. The masters of the ship were hard- hearted men, and furnished the passengers with insufficient food, so that some of them landed in an almost famished condition. On reaching Pennsylvania, Mr. Seiter went to live with a farmer in Lancaster county, and was raised by him. Though he had an op- portunity to go to school to some extent, it was not nearly as much as had been promised. He would be sent to school one day, and the next two or three kept at home to do some work on the farm. After reaching the age of twenty one, he had better educational advantages, working on a farm during the summer months, and in the winter attending school. He was naturally ready with tools, and learned the carpenter's trade with a man by whom he was em- ployed in Pennsylvania.
Thinking he could get better wages in the west, he came to Illi- nois in the year 1839. At Lebanon he found work with John Stewart, and helped build a house in that town. In the year 1841 he returned to Pennsylvania, and married Elizabeth Knott, daugh- ter of William Knott. She was born on the 22d of September, 1804. In 1846 he purchased eighty acres of land north-east of Lebanon, on which he lived till he removed to the farm on which he died. He was a man of energy and industry, and his indus- trious and economical habits brought him success and enabled him to accumulate a competence. At the time of his death he was the owner of a large body of land, and was one of the wealthiest inen in the north-eastern part of the county. His farm, which was one of the most beautiful locations in the state, consisted of three hun- dred and fifty-three acres, and he owned beside in the county six hundred acres. He was a democrat in politics. He was a man of temperate habits, and in the whole course of his life was never known to be under the influence of intoxicating liquors. He pos- sessed a candid mind, and never hesitated to speak his opinion. His wealth was the result of honest labor, in which he was assisted
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