USA > Illinois > Washington County > History of Washington County, Illinois > Part 16
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date for the office of sheriff, and at the ensuing election was declared sheriff by eight hundred and forty-three majority. In 1876 he was re-elected, and held the office until the fall of 1878. Since that time he has been busily engaged in cultivating his land, of which he has over one thousand acres in Washing- ton county, besides valuable property in Nashville, the county-seat. He now is extensively engaged in stock raising and breeding fine cattle. He has a fine blooded lot of short-horned Durham, Devonshire and Ayrs hire stock on his farm, and is one of the most successful breeders in this part of the State. In politics he is Republican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for President in 1856. He is the father of twelve children. Six of whom are living-four boys and two girls. Both he and his estimable lady are mem- bers of the Evangelical Church. It is with pleasure that we append this sketch of Captain Jacob May, the brave soldier, the faithful officer and ad- ministrator of the public trusts, and one, of whom, all speak in words of praise as being a man in every way worthy of public confidence and pri- vate esteem.
WILLIAM LANE,
THE present sheriff of Washington county, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on the 12th of October, 1839. He came to America when he was but a child, and first settled in the city of Baltimore, Md., where he re- mained until he was eighteen years of age, when he came west, and after traveling around for some time finally located in Nashville, Washington coun- ty, where he has resided ever since. Soon after his arrival here the war broke out, and in the spring of 1861 he enlisted with the 11th Regiment Illinois Vol- unteers, under the three months' call. After the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned home and re-enlisted for three years in the 10th Regi- ment Missouri Volunteers, Col. Holmes commanding During the service and while in the regiment, he was promoted to the.first lieutenancy of company G. The 10th Missouri regiment was for the greater part of the time attached to the army of the Tennessee under the command of Gen. McPherson, and was a part of the 15th and 17th army corps. The regiment participated in all the hard- fought battles of Jackson, Champion Hills, Turner Hill, and took an active part in the siege of Vicksburg; in short; it participated in all the battles in which the above-named corps were engaged. At the expiration of his time of service in the 10th Missouri he returned home and again enlisted for one year in the 42d Illinois Volunteers, Col. Swain commanding. He remained in the service from the time the first call was made until the war was prac- tically over. He and his company were in some of the most desperate battles that took place during the war. This is notably so of the battle of Turner Hill, where he entered the fight with fifty-six good and true men, and after it was over stacked arms with but seven remaining-the others had died upon the battle-field with their face to the foe. In the battle of Franklin he was seriously wounded and lay upon the field for five long hours, between the contending forces, exposed to the bullets of both friends and foes.
After the close of the war he returned home and engaged in business, and remained employed until he was elected constable, a position he held for eleven years, always discharging the duties of his office in such a manner as to reflect credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of his friends. In the summer of 1878 he received the republican nomination for the office of sheriff of Washington county, and after one of the most intensely bitter partisan campaigns ever known in the county, was triumphantly elected by a majority that was in excess of his party vote. On the 28th of December, 1865, he married Rebecca Beckham, a daughter of one of the oldest resi- dents of the county. This union has been blessed by five children, two boys and three girls. In politics he has always been a republican. He cast his first vote for the martyr Lincoln. He carly espoused the cause of the party of freedom and human rights, and up to the present knows of no reason why he should desert the party of his first choice. Mr. Lane is not attached to any church organization, but his estimable wife is a member of the Presby- terian church, and he very naturally gives that organization his preference. It is with pleasure that we present this brief biographical sketch of one of Washington county's best and honored citizens.
LEWIS M. PHILLIPS
WAS born August 6th, 1833, on the farm now owned and occupied by D. R. Spencer, near Du Bois, in Washington county, Illinois. When about three years of age, his father, Abraham Phillips, moved to his farm about three
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
miles south-east of Nashville, in said county, where he lived and worked on the farm, and attended the district schools in winter, till grown. He entered McKendree College in 1853, and graduated in 1857. Before entering college, and in vacations, and after graduating, he taught school for money to pay his expenses at college.
He began the study of law in 1857, and was licensed to practice in the Supreme Court, November 12th, 1858. He entered the Law Department of Harvard University at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1860, and graduated in 1861.
On his return home in August, 1861, the civil war was raging, and he at once enlisted as a private soldier in company E, 10th Missouri Infantry Vol- unteers, and was elected First Sergeant, and in a few days after, appointed Sergeant Major. In July, 1862, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant of company D in said regiment, and was engaged in seven battles as follows;
Assault on rebel fortifications at Corinth, Miss., May 29th, 1862. At Iuka, Miss., September 19th, 1862. At Corinth, Miss., October 3d and 4th, 1862. At Raymond, Miss., May 12th, 1863. At Jackson, Miss., May 14th, 1863. At Champion Hills, Miss., May 16th, 1863. Assault on rebel fortifications at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22d, 1863.
He was naturally very timid, but very decided in time of trial. Ile was the first man of our army to reach the guns of one of our batteries recaptured from the enemy in the battle at Corinth, the 4th of October, 1862, and was wounded in the left arm in the battle at Iuka. Since the war he has been engaged in practicing law. He was married to Miss Mary A. Buck on the 10th of April, 1864, and ever since 1851, has been a member of the M. E. Church.
JAMES J. ANDERSON
WAS born in Nottoway county, Virginia, December 13th, 1848. His father, Samuel J. P. Anderson, D.D., was in his life a distinguished Presbyterian minister. He was a graduate of the Theological College of Princeton, New Jersey. After his graduation he entered the ministry, and was stationed at Norfolk, and afterwards at Danville, Virginia. In 1849 he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and accepted the position of pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of that city. He held the pastorate of that congregation for eighteen years, when he was compelled to resign ou account of a partial failure of his voice. He then removed to Richview in Washington County, Illinois, where he purchased the Washington Seminary, and conducted it as an institution of learning for a number of years, after which he retired from active life, but remained in Richview until his death, which occurred in 1874. He married Lucy Ann Jones, who was also a native of Nottoway county, Vir- ginin. By this union there were eight children, six of whom have survived the parents. James J., the subject of our sketch, spent his youth in the schools of St. Louis. When he arrived at the age of fifteen, he engaged in commercial life. In 1870 he followed his father to Richview, where he learned telegraphing, but subsequently abandoned it, and took up the study of law. He was admitted to practice in the courts of Missouri. IIe then removed to Glascow, Howard county, in the above-named state, and com- meneed the practice of his profession. In November of 1876 he came to Nashville, and purchased the Nashville Democrat, the publication of which journal he has since continued. On the 1st of February, 1879, he purchased the Zeitung, a German newspaper, and at present conducts both papers in such a manner as to give complete satisfaction to both his American and German constituents. As a newspaper manager and editor, Mr. Anderson is a man of consummate tact and ability. In mounting the editorial tripod he has evidently chosen a profession which he is eminently qualified by educa- tion and inclination to fill and adorn. Although comparatively young in years and but a novice in the art of journalism, yet his articles upon all important subjects show research and an innate knowledge of men and things that would do credit to some of those who have grown hoary-headed in their labors in the journalistic field.
On the 17th of October, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Corcoran. She is a native of County Mayo, Ireland, but was a resident of St. Louis at the time of her marriage. Her parents emigrated to America in 1850, and settled in the above-named city. In politics it is hardly neces- sary to say that Mr. Anderson is a member of the Democratic party, as the tone of his papers would unerringly indicate. He is in full communion and sympathy with his party, and most soundly indoctrinated in its political creed, and has steadily followed its varied fortunes, and proposes to remain
faithful to the end. He is a man of exemplary life and temperate habits, a warm friend, a genial companion and a worthy citizen.
CHARLES D. WASSELL
Is a native of the State of Illinois. He was born in Chester, Randolph county on the 28th of February, 1852. His father, Charles Wassell, is a native of England. He emigrated to America when he was about the age of eighteen. After traveling over the country, and stopping at different places, he finally settled in Chester in 1844, where he still resides. He is a tailor by trade, and followed the occupation all his life. He married Nancy Ward, who was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She, in company with her parents, emigrated to Illinois and settled in Randolph county at a very carly period in the history of the State. She was married to Mr. Wassell while a resident in the above-named county. There were eleven children in the family, six of whom are at present living. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days in the common schools of his native county until he arrived at the age of fifteen years, when he entered the office of the Randolph County Democrat at Chester, and learned the printing business. He served an apprenticeship of two years, after which he worked in the printing offices of St. Louis and in the Clarion office in Chester, his native town. He also traveled over the country, and was for a time engaged upon papers in Kansas and the Daily Whig of Quincy, Illinois. He was also for a number of years assistant foreman in the office of the Bellville Ad- vocate, published at Bellville, Illinois.
On the 1st of July, 1876, he purchased of James B. Matlack a half interest in the Nashville Journal. He, in connection with Matlack, continued the publication of the Journal until the 1st of December, 1876, when he pur- chased the entire office, and at the same time formed a partnership with his brother, James F. Wassell. Together they have continued the publication of the Journal up to the present. In June, 1876, C. D. Wassell was united in marriage to Miss P. M. Thompson. She is also a native of Randolph county, and was a resident of Ellis Grove at the time of her marriage. Two children have been born to bless and hallow this union. Mr. Wassell is a member of the Episcopal Church, and his estimable wife is a member of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Wassell is an ardent Republican, as the tone of his journal would indicate. He cast his first vote in 1872 for U. S. Grant.
The subject of our sketch is yet young in years, but old in experience, as the success of the Journal under his management will attest. He is temper- ate in his habits, quiet and gentlemanly in his manners, a genial companion, and has a great many warm, personal friends.
DR. H. D. SCHMIDT
WAS born in the Dukedom of Nassau, now a part of Prussia, on the 6th of November, 1832. His father, Jost Schmidt, was also a native of the same place. He was prominent in the law-making councils of the Dukedom, and at the time of his death, which occurred March 25th, 1863, was president of the Staendekammer, the legislative body of the provence. Dr. Schmidt was a student in the High School of his native country until he reached his seven- teenth year, when he emigrated to America, and came direct to St. Louis, where he taught school for some time, after which he entered the ministry. He also studied medicine, and kept thus employed until 1856, when he visited his native land. After remaining there for nearly a year, he again returned to the land of his adoption. He continued in the ministry until the breaking out of the war, when he received the appointment as Chaplain to the 43d regiment Illinois Volunteers. He remained in the service for nearly two years. He afterward finished his studies in medicine and entered the Mis- souri Medical College, ( Homeopathic,) and graduated from that institution in 1865. He afterward practiced his profession in Peru, Illinois, Chicago and Muscoutah, and in 1870, came to Nashville, and has continued the practice here ever since. In 1874, he in connection with W. S. Forman, editor and proprietor of the Nashville Democrat, confmenced the publication of the Zei- tung, a German newspaper of which Mr. Schmidt was editor. They continued the publication for two years, when his brother, Emil Schmidt, established the Volksblat, at which time Dr. Schmidt severed his connection with the Zeitung, and engaged with his brother as editor of the Volksblat, and with whom he has remained up to the present time. To him as editor of both German papers, first of the Zeitung, and at present of the Volksblat, is largely due the
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THE RESIDENCE, STOCK & GRAIN FARM (4/5 ACRES) OF HENRY F. W. HOFFMAN, SEC. 27, T.2, R.3, WASHINGTON CO. ILL.
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RESIDENCE & FARM OF THE HON. F. E.W. BRINK, SEC.26, T.I, R.2, WASHINGTON CO. ILL.
STOCK FARM & RESIDENCE OF LEONARD MERKER , SEC. 28, T.2, R.2, WASHINGTON CO. ILL.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
influence and character that they have acquired since their first publication. As a writer of political leaders, Dr. Schmidt is clear and cogent. He is a vigorous and forcible writer and his writings show a thorough and intricate knowledge of the political questions of the day.
On the 19th of September, 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Justine Matern, who was a resident of St. Louis at the time of her marriage. This union has been blessed with three children all living.
Dr. Schmidt carly espoused the cause of freedom and human rights, and therefore attached himself to the Republican party, as he believed that po- litical organization came the nearest to representing his views. He became a member of the Republican party in 1856, and remained faithful to his first choice until 1872, when he joined the liberal movement. Since that time he may be regarded as a conservative Republican. As a man, Dr. Schmidt is universally respected. He is quiet and unostentatious in his manners, yet dignified withal. As a citizen he is public-spirited, and has always taken an active part in enterprises that had for their object the material advancement of the town or county.
HENRY F. W. HOFFMAN
WAS born in Westphalia, Prusia, the 16th of July, 1842. Ernst H. Hoff- man, his father, emigrated with his family to America, and arrived here in Washington county in 1852. He settled on Sec. 27, T. 2. R. 3. W., which he improved. He remained upon the section until his death, which occurred in 1857. He married Christina Iseman in his native country. She died on the section above named in 1863. Eight children were born to then, four of whom have survived the parents. The subject of our sketch is the young- est of the family. He remained at home assisting upon the farm and going to school until after the death of his parents, when he took charge of the farm, and has been industriously engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. On the 5th of February, 18-, he married Miss Mary Catherine Schwoppe, only daughter of William and Margaret Schwoppe. She was born in Wash- ington county March 3d, 1843. Her parents, both of whom reside with Mr. Hoffman, are natives of Hanover, Germany. They emigrated to America and settled in Washington county in 1838. Four children have been born to H. F. W. and Mary C. Hoffman, three of whom are girls and one boy. Both parents are members of the Evangelical Church in Nash- ville, Illinois. Politically Mr. Hoffman is not a partizan. He prefers a well cultivated farm and fine stock to the uncertainties of politics. He how- ever is not indifferent to what he believes to be the best policy of the govern- ment, and upon questions of great moment he is always found exercising his prerogative as an American citizen, and he is of that independent cast of mind that he steps outside of parties and votes for the best measures and the best men. Mr. Hoffman, though comparatively young in years, is already regarded as one of the most enterprising and best farmers of Washington county. His farm, a view of which accompanies this sketch, is under a high state of cultivation, and the improvements are second to none in the county. In his daily life he is quiet and industrious, and in his neighborhood, where he is best known, is universally respected for his honesty and strict probity of character. It is with pleasure that we present this short biographical sketch of one of Washington county's primitive citizens to our many eaders.
JOHN C. BURNS
WAS born in Williamson county, Tennessee, on the 10th of February, 1825. James Burns, his father, was a native of Virginia, and was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He emigrated from his native state to Kentucky at an early date in the history of that state. He was by trade a blacksmith. He also en- gaged in farming. In 1839 he removed to Illinois, and settled in Washing- ton county at a point five miles south-east of Nashville, where he erected a blacksmith shop and carried on the trade in connection with farming. Later in life he removed to a place nearer Nashville, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1864. He married Miss Mary H. Gualt, a native of South Carolina, but a resident of Williamson county, Tennessee, at the time of her marriage. She was of Irish ancestry. James Burns in his life was the hero of three wars. In the war of 1812 he was a soldier under Gen. Jackson, and participated in the memorable battle of New Orleans. In the Black Hawk war of 1832 he raised a company of soldiers and was elected captain. He served under "Old Hickory" also in that war. In the war with Mexico in 1845 he raised a company of soldiers in Washington county
and entered the service as captain of Co. H. 6th Reg't. Ills. Vol., Col. James Collins commanding. The command was attached to the army under General Scott. He was also prominent for many years in the local affairs of the county. He was twice elected to the office of circuit clerk of the county, and was many years justice of the peace. There were ten children in the family, six of whom have survived the parents. The subject of our sketch is the third. He remained beneath the parental roof until 1855, when on the 10th of January of that year he married Miss Sarah U. Mitchell. She was a uative of Tennessee, and a resident of this state at the time of her marriage. Five children hallow and cement this union, four of whom are living. In his early lite Squire Burns followed an agricultural life, and remained so occupied until 1852, when he was elected constable, a position he held for ten years, after which he was elected justice of the peace. He served four years, after which he went back to farming, and continued at it until 1872, when he was again elected justice of the peace, and after serving four years was re-elected, and now holds the office. During the progress of the Mexican war in 1845, being fired by a patriotic ardor to serve his country, he enlisted in his father's, Capt. James Burns', company, and joined the army under Gen. Scott. In politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat, and believes in the principles of their party as enunciated by the old hero of New Orleans, and he gives it his undivided support. He is a member of the M. E. Church. As a man Squire Burns stands high in the community. He is regarded as an honorable, upright man, a kind husband and neighbor, and a good citi- zen.
LEONARD MERKER.
AMONG the many foreign-born citizens of Washington county, none deserve more favorable mention in a work of this character than he whose name heads this article. He was born in the village of Groszbieberau, twelve miles south of the city of Darmstadt, in Hesse Darmstadt, on the 31st day of March, 1819. His father, Philip Merker, emigrated with his family to America in 1831. He stopped in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, for one year, and then took up his line of March to the "great west." His goods were hauled over the mountains to Pittsburg, and from there he made his way down the Mississippi river, and landed at St. Louis, and from there came direct to Bellville, in St. Clair county, Illinois. One year later he removed eight miles eust of the latter place, where he entered land and where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1837. Catherine Merker, his wife, survived him, and died near the same place in 1858. Five children were born to them, three of whom have survived the parents. The subject of our sketch is the second in the family. At the age of fifteen he learned the cooper trade, at which occupation he continued until some time after he was married. In the year 1842 he was united in wedlock to Miss Catherine Lortz. She died in 1844. Two years later he married Margaret Lortz, sis- ter of his former wife. They were also natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, but residents of St. Clair county at the time of their marriage. By the lat- ter marriage there have been eleven children, all living, and six yet unmarried and yet beneath the parental roof.
Soon after Mr. Merker's first marriage he abandoned the cooper trade, and commenced farming, and has continued in that occupation down to the pre- sent. On the 3d of December, 1855, he removed to Washington county, Illinois, and purchased land in Sec. 6, T. 3-3, where he remained until 1869, when he removed to Sec. 27, T. 2-2, and bought a farm, and where he at present resides. Mr. Merker is one of the solid farmers of the county. He has a large body of finely improved land under the best cultivation. In politics he is a conservative Democrat. He cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840, and has voted the same ticket ever since with the single ex- ception of in 1856, when he voted for John C. Fremont. In local elections he usually votes for the best man regardless of politics. He is not a member of any religious body, but prefers to live by the golden rule : " As you would have others do unto you, do you so even unto them." Mr. Merker has been a resident of Washington county for nearly a quarter of a century, and of the state for nearly fifty years. In that time he has acquired, by patient industry and the most rigid economy, a comfortable competency. In his youth, while yet in his native land, he acquired a good German education. After his arrival here he was compelled to help support the family, and was by that means deprived of receiving an English education ; but yet his habits of observation and his great love of reading soon enabled him to master the language, and to-day he is as well informed upon general topics as many of those who make far greater pretensions. In 1873 he was honored by the
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
citizens of the county by being elected to the honorable position of county commissioner. Two years later he was re-elected, and held the office until 1878, discharging the onerous duties of the same to the entire satisfaction of his numerous friends and constituents.
In conclusion, it is with pleasure that we present this brief biographical sketch of Mr. Merker. He is a man who is universally respected for his sterling worth as a man, and for his honorable career as a public officer and citizen. All accord to him the honor of being an upright, honest and intelli- gent gentleman.
DR. WILLIAM H. PITCHER
WAS born in Trenton, New Jersey, on the 5th of April, 1852. William F. Piteher, his father, was a native of Bristol, Pennsylvania. He married Je- mima Paulison, a native and resident of Bergen county, New Jersey. In 1869 his father removed to Cairo in this state, where he is at present engaged in the hardware and agricultural trade. The boyhood days of the subject of our sketch were spent in going to the common schools of his native state until he arrived at the age of fourteen years, when he entered the State Model School at Trenton, and remained there as a student for nearly five years. After graduating from the Model School, he entered his father's store, and remained with him one year, at the end of which time he com- menced the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. Austin of Cairo. He re- mained in the office and practiced with the doctor for three years. He after this practiced and carried on the dental business in Bloomfield, Dexter City, Mo., and Old Troy, Tenn., and then came back to Cairo. On the 8th of January, 1878, he removed to Nashville, Illinois, where he has since remained. He also has a branch office in Fairfield, Wayne county, Illinois, in charge of his partner, Dr. P. H. Chambers. For the purpose of fitting himself more thoroughly for dental work, he in 1877 entered the Missouri Dental College, and after a complete course, graduated from that institution with the degree of D.D.S. On the 25th of July, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Octavia P. Reese, daughter of Hon. W. Reese of Selma, Alabama. She is a native of that state, and was a resident of Montgomery at the time of her marriage. Mr. Reese, her father, was a prominent man in the local and state politics of Alabama, having represented his district several times in the state legislature and senate, and at the time of his death was mayor of the city of Selma. One child, a daughter, has been born to W. H. and Octavia Pitcher. The doctor has concluded to make Nashville his permanent resi- dence, and with this in view has fitted up elegant dental rooms in the new business block of Adams Bros., on Main Street. He is also well supplied with all the modern machinery, tools and instruments necessary to carry on dental surgery in all the latest improved methods. He makes gold filling a speciality, and in this branch of the business, perhaps, has more skill than the average men in his profession. The doctor is yet a young man, and he starts out in life with excellent prospects. He has so far formed no bad vices, that will be hindrances to him in making his way through life. Pos- sessed of a fine physical frame, temperate habits, and master of his profession, there is no reason why he should not succeed in life's struggle, and in the end come out victor. Courteous and polite in his intercourse with men, pos- sessed of a liberal education, and with sufficient industry and love of his profession, he will and must succeed.
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