USA > Illinois > Washington County > History of Washington County, Illinois > Part 17
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.BOUCHER FAMILY.
JOHN BOUCHER, the grandfather of the present Boucher family of Wash- ington county, was born in Kentucky in 1782. His family on the parental side came originally from France. Jolin Boucher left his native state when at the age of nineteen years, and came to the then territory of Illinois, arriv- ing here in 1801. He married Margaret Shuck in September, 1817. She was a native of Hardy county, West Virginia. Her parents came to Illi- nois in 1797, and settled at New Design. Her parents were of German ancestry. She died in Monticello, Iowa, October 4th, 1866, aged seventy-five years. John Boucher was truly one of the pioneers of the great west. He was also one of the rangers of the war of 1812. In 1814 he was slightly wounded in a battle at the place where Greenville now stands in Bond county, Illinois. Many anecdotes and startling incidents are told of his early adventures in the pioneer history of Southern Illinois. He was a man of great physical strength and activity, and endowed with powers of endu- vance and courage far beyond ordinary men. He made no permanent
settlement until 1836 or '37, but ranged through what is now known as Marion, Clinton, St. Clair, and Washington counties. In 1851 he removed to Jones county, Iowa, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1854, at the age of seventy-two years. There were six children born to John and Margaret Boucher, four boys and two girls, and three of whom have survived the parents. The surviving members of his family are: Thomas Boucher, who still resides on the old homestead originally entered by his father, Jolin Vincent Boucher, the father of the present family. He was born September 27th, 1818. He married Polly B., daughter of Allen Rountree, March 5th, 1844. Six children were born to them, of which there were five boys and one girl. All of the children have survived the parents. Soon after the breaking out of the late war, John V., imbued with a patriotic ardor, offered himself as a sacrifice upon the altar of his country. He enlisted for three years in company E. 10th Regiment Missouri Volunteers. He was elected orderly sergeant of his company. The history of the regiment and its participation in numerous battles is well known to the country. While in the service and in the line of his duty he contracted disease and died at Richview in this county August 30th, 1863, while on his way home. George O. Boucher, his eldest son, although but seventeen years of age, entered the service and enlisted for three years in company I, 80th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. It will thus be scen that the Boucher family, through whose veins courses the blood of both French and German ancestry, must needs be patriots. The sire and head of the family never hesitated, but cast himself into the deadly breach, and gave his life freely to the cause of freedom, human rights, and the perpetuation of the Union. Nor was the son less patriotic than the father. Though young in years he donned the blue, marched under the stars and stripes, and kept step to the music of the Union.
All honor to the gallant living and the heroic dead. May their memories ever be green in the hearts of a grateful people. The members of the family are engaged at present in professional and mercantile business. Hiram and John in Nashville, in merchandising, and George O., a trader in Joplin, Missouri, and P. H. and Lyman T., in the profession of law at Boulder, Colorado, and Mr. Goodner at New Minden in this county. If space would permit it would be our pleasure to recount some of the incidents and trials in the life of John Boucher, the grandfather of the family, to tell of his hair- breadth escapes from the Indians while he was a ranger and pioneer, and of the hardships he endured at a time when it tried men's souls, but lack of space forbids. The descendants from the old pioneer are all men of sterling worth and of high standing in the community.
JACOB L. RUNK
WAS born in Berkley county, Virginia, on the 29th of April, 1825. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German ancestry. He removed to Virginia, and subsequently to Ohio, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. During his life, he worked at and carried on the business of blacksmithing and wagon-making. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was present when Gen. Winfield Scott received his first commission as general in the army. He married Elizabeth Miller, who was a native of Maryland. Nine children were born to them, all of whom are living. Mrs. Runk, the mother of the present sketch, lived in the stirring times of the revolutionary war, and well remembered the visits Gen. Washington made to the house of her parents. She died in Clinton, Ohio, at the great age of ninety-four years. The subject of our sketch learned the blacksmith trade in his youth, while yet at home. At the age of twenty-one years he left, to seek his fortune in the great West. His first stopping point was in Monroe county, Illinois, where he remained but a short time, after which he went to. Bellville in St. Clair county. Soon after he removed to Washington county, arriving in Nashville, May 17th, 1849, where he has since resided. Soon after coming here he opened a blacksmith shop, and soon after added wagon-making, in all of which he has been very successful. On the 25th of December, he was married to Miss Martha N. Patterson, a native of Washington county, Illinois, by whom he had two children, both of whom are dead. His wife, Martha N., died August 3d, 1853. In 1854 he married Miss Pauline W. Teel, his present wife. She was also a native of the same county. Ten children are the fruits of this latter union, seven of whom are living, and all yet remain beneath the parental roof. In politics Mr. Runk believes in the principles as enunciated by the Democratic party. Although his first vote was cast for
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THE RESIDENCE OF PH. H. REITHER, NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS.
THE RESIDENCE OF HON. T.B. NEEDLES, NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Zachary Taylor in 1848, since that time in all national elections he has adhered to the party above named. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church-Mr. Runk being an active and consistent member since he was nineteen years of age. He has been a citizen of Nashville for thirty years, and in that time has made himself universally respected. In the line of his business he is a skillful workman. As an evidence of this, it may be mentioned to his credit that he is the first successful inventor of the Gang Sulky Plow, in the state; and further as evidence of that, we find that as early as 1863, he took the first prize and medal for Runk's Gang and Sulky Plow at the State Fair, held at Decatur, Ills., in September of the year above mentioned. Owing to the mismanagement of those whom he thought were his friends, the invention of his brain and the skill of his hands proved to be comparatively valueless to him in a financial point of view. In the brief biographical sketch we present in Mr. Runk one of Nashville's best citizens. As a man he is respected for his honesty and probity of character, for his attachment to his church and for his standing in society as an upright citizen.
LIEUT. JAMES ADAMS.
THE subject of our sketch was born in Washington county, Illinois, Jan- uary 4th, 1837. He is the eldest son in a family of five boys and three girls. His father, David Adams, was a native of Ireland. He emigrated to Amer- ica while yet in his boyhood. In 1836, he came west and settled in Washing- ton county at a point six miles south of Nashville. Here he remained cultivating his farm and dealing in stock for the remainder of his life. His death occurred from yellow fever at New Orleans, in August, 1847, where he was temporarily on business. He married Miss Catherine McCrossen, a native and resident of Philadelphia, Pa. She was also of Irish ancestry. James Adams after the death of his father lived with his uncle, Hugh Adams. When he arrived at the age of fifteen, he in connection with his uncle, en- gaged in stock dealing and trading, and that has been his principal business and occupation since that time. On the 25th of February, 1858, he married Miss Mary Hill, by whom he had three children, two of whom are at present living. She died July 26th, 1867. On February 21st, 1872, he married Sarah Unglesbe, by whom he has one child. At the breaking out of the late war, James Adams promptly and patriotically took sides with the union, and assisted in raising a company of men, and was elected First Lieutenant. The company entered the service and was attached to the 80th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, as Company I. The regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and then became a part of the army corps under General Buell, and soon after was changed to the command under Gen. Geo. H. Thomas. The first battle the regiment participated in was at Perrysville. Soon after this, Gen. Quringht was ordered to make a raid and strike at Atlanta, Georgia. He had in his command the 80th Illinois, 51st and 73d Indiana, and the 103d Ohio regiments.
While out upon the raid the entire command was captured at Rome, Georgia, on the 3d of May, 1863. The subject of our sketch was among the number. He with other officers were taken to Libby prison where he re- mained for one year, then he was transferred to Macon, Ga., then to Charleston and Columbia, S. C., and then to Wilmington, where he was paroled in April, 1865, having been a prisoner of war for two years, lacking one month. After his release he returned home, the war being practically over. While a pris- oner at Columbia; S. C., he and five other soldiers made their escape. After fifteen days of privation and hardships, and after traveling a distance of three hundred miles on foot, after night, they were overtaken and recaptured, and marched back to prison, where they remained until paroled. On the 11th of July, 1865, Mr. Adams commenced the butchering business and dealing in stock, and has continued so engaged to the present. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for the martyr Lincoln in 1860. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his estimable wife of the M. E. Church. Mr. Adams as a man and a citizen stands high in the community. Those who have known him best, as man and boy for forty odd years, speak of him as an honest, upright citizen whose word is his bond, which when once pledged is held sacred and never broken. He started in life unaided except by strong willing hands and an abundance of energy, and with this he has carved out for himself a comfortable competency, and at the same time made and maintained for himself a name for strict honesty and probity of character, which after all is the best heritage to leave to posterity.
TIMOTHY BALDERSTON
WAS born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 14th of January, 18 -. His father, John Balderston, was a native of Maryland, but removed to Ohio in 1803. The family on the paternal side were of English origin, and on the maternal German. The subject of our sketch is the only child of John and Catherine Balderston. After the death of his father, which occurred in the year 18- he remained with his mother in the same county until April 3d, 1830, when the family removed to St. Louis, Mo., and the same day came into Illinois and settled near Bellville in St. Clair county. They remained there four years when Mr. Balderston removed to Tazewell county in this state. He remained there one year and a half, and then returned to St. Clair. This was in the fall of 1835. He continued in the latter county un- til 1849, when be removed to Washington county, and settled six miles south- west of Nashville, where he remained until 1863, when he settled permanently in Nashville, where he still resides. Prior to his removal here he has been engaged in farming. In 1856 he was elected Justice of the Peace. He held the office for four years. In 1862 he was elected to the same position, and filled an unexpired term from 1862 to 1864. In December of the latter year he was again re-elected to the office, and has held the position from that time to the present. On the 8th of October, 1846, he married Mary A. Smith, who was a native of Pennsylvania but a resident of St. Clair county, Illinois. Seven children were born to them, three of whom have survived the parents. Mary Balderston died October 10th, 1873. Robert, the eldest son, died at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was a member of the 13th Illinois Cavalry, Col. Alden commanding. He died in the hospital from disease con- tracted in service while in the line of his duty. He is a member of the Re- publican party, and cast his first vote for Wm. H. Harrison, in 1840. He is a member of the M. E. Church. In his youth Mr. Balderston was from various causes deprived of the advantages of an education. Six months would fill the measure of his school days. When he arrived at the age of twenty he could neither read nor write, but he then realized fully the advan- tages of an education. He therefore commenced educating himself. By hard and patient industry he succeeded, and now he conducts the multitu- dinous business contingent upon the office of a Justice of the Peace to the entire satisfaction of his many friends.
JOHN S. TINDALE
WAS born in New Castle, Delaware, October 11th, 1832. The greater part of his early life was spent in the schools of his native place. At the age of twelve years he entered the academy at Newark, where he fitted himself to enter college. At the age of nineteen he entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he remained for nearly two years, after which he taught school, for a short time. He then returned to New- castle and engaged in general merchandising, at which he continued for seven years. In 1866, he came west and settled in Okawville, Washington county, Ills. While at the latter place he taught school until 1869, when he removed to Nashville and engaged in the compilation of the records and abstract business. He was the first man in the county to write up and com- pile a full set of abstract books. He adopted the Warren & Durfee system of abstracting, which is expensive in its compilation, but when complete the best and superior to all others in use. He also at that time, 1869, engaged in the fire insurance business, and has represented from that time to the present, some of the oldest and best companies in the United States; companies that are known throughout the land as prompt paying and entirely reliable and responsible in case of loss. By their aid it can be readily ascertained at a glance where defects exist in titles. In days gone by when land was cheap titles were not looked after so closely, but with increased values came the necessity of a more perfect title. These abstracts of Mr. Tindale's have been compiled at considerable cost of both time and money, and they are regarded by business and professional men as entirely correct and reliable as it is possible to make them.
DR. WILLIAM D. CARTER
Is a native of Illinois. He was born in Washington county, January 12th, 1838. Livesay Carter, his father, was a native of Virginia. He emi- grated to Tennessee in 1807, where he remained until 1818, when he removed to Illinois and settled in what is now known as Clinton County. He remained there four years and then removed to Nashville, Illinois, where he
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
remained until his death in 1875. In his life he was for the greater part of his time engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married Mrs. Mary Hoke, who was a native of Jefferson county, Kentucky. There were born to them eight children, five boys and three girls. The subject of our sketch is the seventh. He remained at home working upon the farm and going to school until he reached the age of twenty years, when he commenced the study of medicine in the office of his brother, S. M. Carter, of Pinckney- ville, Illinois. After a sufficient time was spent in the office he entered the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and graduated from that institution on the 4th of February, 1862. In 1866 he entered the Chicago Medical College, and also graduated from that college the 10th of March, in the year above named. Previous to this, however, the war of the rebellion was in progress. He volunteered his services, and entered the army, and was appointed assistant surgeon of the 44th Regiment, Illinois Vols. He remained in the service for over three years, or until the close of the war. He was for the greater part of the time on detached service, and a consider- able portion of the time on the Division Operating Staff in the Atlantic campaign. While in that capacity he had ample opportunities for practicing surgery, and the treatment of diseases incident to physical life upon the battle-field and in the bivouac. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in the practice of his profession in Nashville, Illinois, where he has remained ever since. On the 28th of December, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura A. Lecompte, a native of Nashville. The Lecompte family were of French ancestry. They came to America with the illustrious Marquis De Lafayette during the time of the revolution, and after the war remained here. There have been three children born to W. D. and Laura A. Carter, two of whom are living. Both Dr. Carter and his estimable wife are members of the M. E. Church. In politics the doctor is a Republican. As a physician he has been eminently successful. All accord him a front rank in the profession. His extensive practice, studious and temperate habits have all tended to place him where he belongs, namely, at the head of his profession in southern Illinois.
CHARLES GERSTKEMPER
Is a native of Mindon, in the Province of Westphalia, Prussia. He was born September 9th, 1840. He is the fifth in a family of eight children. His father emigrated to this country in 1857, and settled on the North Prairie, now known as New Mindon. He died in 1859. The mother is still living on the place where she first settled on her arrival in this country. After the subject of our sketch reached his fourteenth year he was apprenticed to the trade of wood-turning. He continued so engaged until his twentieth year, when the war broke out. He promptly enlisted on the 8th of August, 1861, for three years in the 10th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry. His regiment participated in all the hard-fought battles of the siege of Corinth, Iuka, Second Corinth battle, Jackson, Mississippi, Grenada, and others. He was severely wounded at the battle of Jackson, and was taken prisoner while in the hospital. After his release he rejoined his regiment at Bridgeport, Ala- bama. His time expiring soon afterward, he returned to St. Louis and worked at his trade for one year, when he purchased a farm near Hoyleton, and removed to it and commenced its cultivation, and at which he continued until the 2d of December, 1876, when he removed to Nashville to take the position of deputy under Sheriff May. After the expiration of Sheriff May's term of office he accepted the same position under Sheriff Lane. On the 23d of November, 1867, he married Miss Minnie Rabenneek, a native of Germa- ny, but a resident of St. Louis at the time of her marriage. Five children have been born to them, three of whom are living. He is a republican in politics, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and has voted that ticket to the present. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Lutheran church. In 1870 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and re- elected in 1874, and in 1876 resigned the office to accept the office of deputy sheriff, which he now holds and fills to the acceptance of his numerous friends.
LEOPOLD MARX
WAS born on the Moselle, in Prussia, on the 16th of September, 1832. Both of his parents are dead. The subject of our sketch had but little advantages in his youth for obtaining such an education as falls to the lot of most boys. At the age of thirteen he was compelled to help the family. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he emigrated to
America, landing in New York in August, 1854. He remained in the city for six months engaged in the manufacturing of cigars, but not finding that business profitable he abandoned it. In fact, the business barely supported him, he being ofttimes compelled to go without sufficient food. He in com- pany with another unfortunate rented a room for one dollar per month, and lived on dry bread, supplemented occasionally by a cup of coffee given them by a kind neighbor. About this time he received fifty dollars from home, and with that amount in his pocket he wisely concluded to go west. He stopped at Cleveland, Ohio, for two weeks, but finding nothing to do, he went still further west until he reached Peoria, Illinois, where he engaged in the peddling business, carrying a heavy pack on his back throughout the coun- try. After one year of the hardest kind of labor possible he saved enough of money to purchase an old horse and wagon, and with this new outfit con- tinued the business until 1859, when he removed to Bellville, and from that point continued the peddling business until 1862, when he commenced pur- chasing mules for the government In 1863 he removed to Nashville, Wash- ington county, Illinois, where he opened a store, and where he has perma- nently resided ever since. He has also stores in Carmi and Red Bud, Ran- dolph county, Illinois.
On the 23d of April, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Strauss, who was a native of Italy, but a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time of her marriage. Five children have been born to them to hallow and bless this union, four of whom are living, and all yet beneath the parental roof. The parents of Mrs. Marx were named Strauss, and were natives of Munich. They emigrated to America in 1852, and settled in Boston, where the father died. Thus is briefly sketched the life of Mr. Marx. He started in life, as will be seen, under adverse circumstances, but by patient toil and the most rigid economy, he has succeeded in gaining for himself and family a comfortable competency. In the community where he has resided for a number of years, and where he is best known, he is regarded as an upright and honorable man and a respected citizen.
DR. JAMES J. TROUTT
WAS born in Todd county, Kentucky, on the 22d of October, 1844. His father emigrated to Illinois in 1863, and settled on a farm one mile west of Nashville, Illinois. James J. remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he commenced tilling the soil, and followed the occupation of a farmer for four years. After which he commenced reading medicine in the office of Dr. Thomas Burgess of Nashville, and at the end of a year en- tered the Medical Department of the University of New York and graduated from that institution in 1872. After graduating he received an appointment as surgeon on board of an emigrant ship. He made a trip in that capacity to England, and while there also visited other parts of Great Britain. After his return to America he came to Elkton in this county, and commenced the practice of medicine. He continued at the latter place for four years, and then went to St. Louis, and for three months was in attendance upon the clinics of Dr. Boeslinier. He then located in St_ Libory in St. Clair county, where he remained for one year and a half, and then removed to Nashville, where he has since resided.
On the 14th of May, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. -. She is a native of Nashville.
The Doctor belongs to the regular school of medicine, and from his stu- dious habits and gentlemanly deportment is fast rising into favor as a physi- cian. He is yet comparatively a young man. but it is safe to predict for him a successful future and a brilliant reputation as a practitioner in the heal- ing art.
Dr. C. BERNREUTER,
WAS born in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the 26th of November, 1826. In the year 1841 Jacob Bernreuter, his father, emigrated to America, and settled in Madison county, Illinois, near Edwardsville. The Doctor's youth was spent in the school of his native county, and after his arrival here he worked upon a farm until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in Co. E., Capt. Wheeler's company, 2d Regt., Illinois Infantry, Col. Bissell commanding. The regiment was attached to General Wool's Division under General Taylor. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista. After his retirement from the army he entered the ministry of the M. E. Church, and traveled as a circuit rider the states of Iowa and Wiscon-
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AJ.M.HASSINGER'S CARRIAGE WORKS
RESIDENCE
J.M.HASSINGER'S CARRIAGE WORKS
J.M.HASSINGER'S
CARRIAGE WORKS
NASHVILLE CARRIAGE WORKS . NASHVILLE , ILL. J. M. HASSINGER, PROPRIETOR. GARRIAGES,BUGGIES,PHATONS, SPRING WAGONS &C. MANUFACTURED TO ORDER AND FOR THETRADE. ALL WORK WARRANTED. SPECIAL ATTENTENTION TO REPAIRING
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