Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 139

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 139

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Mr. Emery was born in Taunton, Massachu- setts, November 10, 1850, and was in his fifth year when brought to Quiney by his parents, Rev. Dr. S. H. and Julia R. Emery. Spending the days of his boyhood and youth in Quiney, he was a student in the public schools until having advanced through successive grades he was grad- uated from the high school.

Mr. Emery entered upon his business career as an employe in the banking house of L. & C. H. Bull, and was afterward a member of the bank- ing firm of E. J. Parker & Company, who sue- ceeded to the commercial department of their business. Later the commercial and savings de- partments were consolidated and Mr. Emery was made cashier. This was one of the largest pri- vate banking institutions in the west outside of Chicago and the greater cities and the duties which devolved upon Mr. Emery in this connec- tion were of a multiform and responsible ehar- acter. In 1881 he joined William V. Channon in organizing the stove manufacturing business, of which he is now the head. The firm name of Channon, Emery & Company was assumed and upon the incorporation under the name of Chan- non-Emery Stove Company, Mr. Emery was chosen vice president. Later he became president and treasurer of the company and with these official titles he has since dirceted the large and important business of the house, making it one of the leading productive industries of the state, furnishing employment to a large forre of work- men.

He is a director of the State Savings, Loan and Trust Company and has been president of the Western Association of Stove Manufacturers.

J. W. EMERY

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Ile has likewise been president of the Chamber of Commerce of Quiney and in this connection has put forth effective effort in advancing the busi- ness interests of the city. Ile is a trustee of Blessing Hospital, a trustee of "Funds and Property of the diocese of Quiney" and a mem- ber of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Socially he is connected with the Quincy Country Club and has been honored with its presidency.

In 1879 Mr. Emery was first married to Miss Effie B. Stillwell, of Hannibal, Missouri, who died in 1887. In 1893 Mr. Emery was married to Miss May F. Newcomb, a daughter of the late R. F. Newcomb, of Quincy, and they have two chil- dren, Katharine and Joseph W.

DANIEL O. DUNN.

Daniel O. Dunn, who since 1868 has made his home in Adams county, where throughout the entire period he has followed farming, now lives on section 24, Fall Creek township. IIe was born December 4, 1844, in Grant county, Kentucky, upon a farm near Williamstown. He is a son of Christopher and Celicia (Marxbury) Dunn. The father was born near the city of Dublin, Ireland, and for many generations his ancestors had lived on the Emerald Isle. With his brother John he crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in Grant county, Kentucky, where he worked at farm labor for a time. Later he engaged in operating rented land. There he met and married Miss Marxbury, who was born and reared in that state. They became the parents of four children. John, who was a resident of Adams county, was a member of the Fourth Kentucky Infantry and was wounded in Stone- man's Raid at Atlanta. He was captured but was left by the roadside for dead and some girls found him and took care of him and when he had sufficiently recovered to be moved, they took him inside the Union lines. He died in this county. Susan, living in Quiney, is the widow of Charles Gillham, who was a farmer. Daniel O., is the third of the family. Mollie became the wife of Mr. Finton and lived in Jackson county, Iowa. By a former marriage she had one child. Mrs. Finton is now deceased.

Daniel 0. Dunn was reared upon the home farm in Kentucky, and when only seventeen years of age he responded to the country's eall for aid, his patriotic spirit having been aroused by the attempt to overthrow the Union. He joined the Eighteenth Kentucky Volunteer In- fantry, November 22. 1861, and was with the Third Division. Third Brigade, Third Army Corps. He participated in the engagements at Richmond. Tullahoma, Atlanta, Chicamanga,

Chattanooga and the Atlanta campaign, Buz- zard's Roost, Ringgold, Kenesaw Mountain and the march to the sea, spending Christmas day in Savannah, Georgia. after which he marched into North Carolina, where Johnston surrendered to Sherman. He then marched on to Richmond and thence to Washington, participating in the Grand Review, and was mustered out at Louis- ville, Kentucky, July 18, 1865. Ile had done his full duty as a soldier, faithfully defending the old flag and the cause it represented, whether it led him to the lonely picket line or to the firing line.

Mr. Dunn returned to his home in Kentucky and in 1868 came to Adams county. He is a stone-mason by trade, but since coming to 1Ili- nois has followed farming and is now a practical and progressive agriculturist of Payson town- ship.

On the 27th day of July, 1881. Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Anna Edmonds, a daughter of Anderson and Cordelia (Jackson) Edmonds, whose ancestors removed from Tennessee to Illi- nios. Both the Jackson and Edmonds families were of Scotch-Irish descent, and Mrs. Edmonds was born on the farm which is now the home of Mr. Dunn. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have been born five children : Madge, born July 29, 1883; Ernest J., November 12, 1885; Forrest Edmonds, June 2, 1889; Mildred Marie, May 29, 1895; Elmo La Vere, September 14, 1899. The elder daughter attended the Payson high school and for a year tanght school. The wife and mother died April 22, 1902, and her remains were in- terred in Fall Creek cemetery. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church of Payson and was held in warm regard by many friends.

Mr. Dunn gives his political support to the republican party, but has never sought or de- sired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. In matters of citizenship, however, he is never remiss and is as true and loyal to his country today as when he followed the stars and stripes on southern battle- fields.

REV. WILLIAM SCHLINKMANN.

Rev. William Schlinkmann, pastor of St. Peter's Evangeliel English Lutheran church at Quincy, was born in Westphalia. Germany, in 1858, and has been a resident of America since 1879. His early education was acquired in his native country, and when about twenty-one years of age, thinking that he might enjoy better op- portunities in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic and made his way to St. Louis, Missouri, where he secured employment as a draughtsman

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and bookkeeper with a millwright firm. Hle con- istry in Elmhurst College, in Du Page county, tinned in that employ for a year, and then, hav- ing determined to devote his life to the work of the ministry he entered the Missouri Evangelical Seminary, located near Marthasville, Missouri. Hle devoted three years to preparation for the ministry and was graduated in 1883, being ordained on the 1st of luly of the same year, at St. Charles, Missouri.

Ilis first fiekl of labor was at Fort Madison, lowa, where he was pastor of St. John's Evan- gelical church for four years and four months. In 1887 he came to Quiney, and entered upon the work as pastor of St. Peter's Evangelical Luth- eran church, located at York and Ninth streets. IFere he has since remained, giving his undivided attention to the upbuikling of the church and the promotion of its work along varions lines. This church was founded in 1857, by the Rev. Quehl, who remained as pastor for two and a half years. The church was located at No. 11 Vermont street, and the services were held in both English and German. Later Rev. Simon Liese became pastor, taking charge in March, 1860. and continuing as pastor until 1885. The present house of worship was ereeted in 1875, during his pastorate, and as the result of his un- tiring efforts for that end. Ile was also instru- mental in seenring the building of the parochial school at No. 318 South Ninth street. In 1885 Rev. George Eisele became pastor and so con- tinued until his death, which occurred November 8, 1886. He was succeeded by Rev. William Schlinkmann, who took charge in November, 1887. The membership represents one hundred and twenty families and altogether includes he- tween five and six hundred people. There is an attendance of fifty-seven pupils at the school and the various branches of the church work are in flourishing condition. The church property is valued at twenty thousand dollars and is free from debt, all financial onemmbrance having been removed during the pastorate of Rey Sehlink- mann. During his pastorate a fine brick par- sonage has also been erected With untiring zeal Mr. Schlinkman labors for the development of the church and the extension of its influence, and he has the love and confidence of his people whom he has served for eighteen years, enjoying as well the esteem of those whom he has met out- side the church.

Rev. Seblinkmann was married October 23, 1883. to Miss Sophia Wehner. a daughter of Ilenry Wehner, of Westphalia, Germany, the marriage being celebrated in St. Charles, Mis- souri. Ten children have been born of this union, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Fred, who is studying for the ministry at Eden College, in St. Louis, Missouri ; Mary, at home: William, who is studying for the min-

Illinois; Reinhard, a student in the Franklin school; Adele and John, who are in school; and Theodore and Daniel at home. It must be grat- ifying to the parents that their two eldest sons have announced their intention of becoming min- isters of the gospel and thus carry forward the work of the father. The influence of the family has been a most potent one for good in the com- munity where they reside, and under the guid- ance of Rev. Schlinkmann the church has made substantial progress, growing in healthful man- ner along many lines that have been a permeat- ing influence in the reclamation of the world to righteousness.

ST. FRANCIS SOLANUS COLLEGE.

St. Francis Solanus College is one of the oldest private educational institutions of Quincy, hav- ing been founded in 1859 and opened in 1860, while in 1873 it was chartered. The school was first vondueted on Maine street, between Seventh and Eighth streets, but in 1860 was removed to No. 1800 Vine street. At that time a church and monastery were founded by the Franciscan Fathers of the German Province of the Holy Cross. The educational institution was first con- dueted as a common and high school and for a short time was taught in the monastery. In the meantime an orphan asylum was built and was used as a school building until 1864 or 1865. In the latter year a school building was erected next to the elnirch, used both for parochial and high

school purposes. In 1870 it was decided to open a boarding college and this was completed in September, 1871, what is now known as the east- ern wing being used for college purposes. The work of constructing the present building was begun in 1894, first adding an annex to the east of the original building. In 1895 the west wing was erected and in 1898 the center portion of the structure, thus connecting both ends; the entire building covering at present three hundred and fifty feet by a depth of one hundred and sixty feet, and containing four stories and a basement.

The organizers of the school came from Ger- many in 1859 and built the church and founded the school. The Very Rev. P. Anselm Mueller, O. F. M., came from Germany in 1862 and the following year took charge of the college, con- tinning at its head until January, 1893. Then after an interval of nine years, he returned to the school in January, 1902, and has since remained in charge. All of the additions to the college building were made by Rev. Father Nicholas Leonard, who in 1901, was accidentally injured

Of. Durchmus Theeller, Q.F.h. Rector Fr. Frances Lol. College .

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at Omaha, Nebraska, and died in St. Louis, Mis- line of deseent to our subject is traced down souri, in 1903. There are now twelve fathers con- through Rufus Bixby, who was born April 3, 1798, at Worcester, Massachusetts, and was mar- ried December 13, 1821, to Lucy Smith. He removed to Columbus, Ohio, and died October 2, 1865, while his wife died in that eity July 28, 1835. They were the grandparents of Walter Albert Bixby. The parents were Edwin and Elizabeth (Wilson) Bixby. The father was born at St. Albans, Vermont, July 11, 1829, and was married November 22, 1855. Ile left Vermont when a boy and removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a silversmith at a time when silver spoons and other table utensils were hammered out. He continued to work at his trade for some time and in 1854 removed to Ironton, Ohio, where he opened up a business of his own in the jewelry trade. nected with the college, three secular teachers and one assistant musie teacher and there is an average attendance of two hundred pupils. Boys are not admitted under ten years of age. The purpose of the school is to give Catholic train- ing to the young in addition to which the boys are educated for commercial or higher pursuits. The school is splendidly equipped, in fact is a model in many particulars, special attention be- ing given to lighting and heating the building and to its sanitary conditions. The course of instruction is thorough and in addition to the common branches and scientific studies, instruc- tion is given in various branches of music. The school has done most creditable work for the in- tellectual and moral development of its pupils and has been a strengthening influence to the church.

WALTER ALBERT BIXBY.

Walter Albert Bixby, general manager of the Quincy Gas & Electric Company, was born in Ironton, Ohio, April 28, 1861. It is definitely known that the Bixby family is of Danish origin, but the more immediate ancestors lived in Eng- land, being residents of Bixford, Suffolk county. There they mingled with the English until the Danish element in the blood and also in the characteristics of the family was almost lost. The progenitor of the family in America was Joseph Bixby, who came from England to the new world in 1636 and settled in Ispwich, Massa- chusetts, in 1647, while in 1660 he became a resi- dent of what is now Bixford, that state. The Bixbys were remarkable for their piety and patriotism. The early members of the family had to struggle with the Indians for the posses- sion of the forests and there were many difficult circumstances attendant upon the establishment of their homes in pioneer districts. It is a well known fact that not one criminal has ever been found in any one branch of the family and the name has ever been an untarnished one. There were ten commissioned officers in the late war from New England alone and many private sol- diers who belonged to this family. The eighth

son of Joseph Bixby was Benjamin Bixby, who in turn was the father of Samuel Bixby, born in ITopsfield. Massachusetts. January 2, 1689. The next in the line of descent was Solomon Bixby, also a native of Massachusetts and he was the father of Joel Bixby, who was born Novem- ber 15, 1768, at Barr, Massachusetts, and died May 13, 1820, at Worcester, Massachusetts. The

Walter Albert Bixby was a student in the public schools of his native town and completed the high school course by graduation in 1878, when seventeen years of age. He entered upon his business career as a bookkeeper in connec- tion with the pig iron furnace and was thus employed for five years. In 1883 he removed to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where he accepted the position of superintendent of the gas plant, but remained there for only three months, when on the 1st of July, 1883, he went to Galena, Illinois, as superintendent of the gas works there. In 1889 he removed to Little Roek, Arkansas, to accept the management of the water works and two years later he went to Wichita, Kansas, aet- ing as manager of the water works there for two years. From 1893 until 1894 he was manager of the gas works at Sherman, Texas. and in 1894 he removed to Lorain, Ohio, becoming superin- tendent of construction of the water department of the Johnson Company rail mills, acting in that capacity until 1896. The next removed to Champaign, Illinois, where he served as super- intendent of the gas company until 1900. when he went to Decatur as general manager of the Decatur Gas & Electric Company. On the 1st of January, 1904, he arrived in Quincy to accept the management for the gas and electric com- pany of this city and is now occupying that responsible position.

Mr. Bixby is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and also belongs to the lodge of Elks at Quincy. In his political views he is independent. He was married October 8, 1885, to Miss Eliza (LeCompte) Hohes at Galena, Illinois, a daughter of Daniel A. Ilolmes, who was a dry goods merchant and died in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Bixby are the parents of two children : Isabella, who was born in Galena, Illinois, October 27, 1888, and is now a student in the high school of Quincy; and Walter Edwin, born August 20, 1896, and now attending the public schools. Mr.

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Bixby is a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife belongs to the Episcopal church, and although their residence in Quincy has been of short duration they have already gained a number of warm friends.

ANDREW WETZEL.

Andrew Wetzel, whose birth occurred in Fred- ericksburg, Virginia, September 23, 1831, was the second son of William and Elizabeth Wetzel. The father, a native of Bremen, Germany, came to America in 1829 and located in Fredericks- burg, while later he removed to Wheeling, West Virginia. Andrew Wetzel left the parental home at the age of twelve years and became a cabin boy on one of the packets then running on the Ohio river. Later he held the positions of stew- ard and clerk on the boats running between St. Louis and New Orleans and also between St. Lonis and Keokuk, and upon his retirement front the river in 1856 he went to Kankakee, Ilinois, where he formed a partnership with Captain Stiles and entered the grocery business, remain- ing in Kankakee until 1861, when he came to Quincy and entered into partnership with John Whitbread, Jr., his brother-in-law. They con- dueted a wholesale and retail grocery business on Hampshire street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, the former property of John Whitbread, Sr., who died in 1861. Later Andrew Wetzel purchased the interest of his partner and re- moved the store to Hampshire street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, in the rooms under the Occidental Hotel, where he conducted a wholesale and retail business until 1873, when he sold out to William Osborn and removed to North Thirtieth street. After living there for two years, he returned to the city and was first in the store of B. L. Avers and later of John Putnam. In 1880 he again went into business for himself, but on account of ill health, caused by a sunstroke. was obliged to retire in 1885. ITis death occurred December 8, 1894, and the community mourned the loss of one whom it had respected as a busi- ness man and citizen.

At the Boatman's church in St. Louis Andrew Wetzel was married, September 10, 1853, to Miss Imey J. Whitbread. a daughter of John and Elizabeth Whitbread, natives of London, Eng- land. Mrs. Wetzel was born in that city. March 9, 1835, and was brought to America by her par- ents in 1840 on a sailing vessel, which was six weeks in crossing the ocean. They located in New York, but a year later removed to Quincy, Illinois, where Mrs. Wetzel has since made her home, with the exception of the period from the time of her marriage in 1853 until 1861. She

is now living at No. 807 State street with her son Charles. Her father built one of the first brick houses of Quiney, in the year 1844. and it is still standing-a three-story building on the north side of Oak, between Fourth and Fifth streets, which at the time of its erection stood at the edge of the forest. Mrs. Wetzel has been a life-long member of the Episcopal church. having been baptized in her infancy in St. Paul's Cathe- dral in London, and confirmed in St. John Cathe- dral in Quincy in 1861.

Ten children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Wetzel, of whom four are living: Lucy, born November 5. 1856, in St. Louis, was married in Quiney in 1880 to Alfred N. Berry, who is now city agent for the Monon Railroad at Frankfort. Indiana. Kate II., born November 11, 1863. in Quiney, was married in 1886 to Clarence L. By- bee, who was killed in the railroad yards here November 13, 1903, after twenty-six years' ser- vice with the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Rail- road Company. George B. Wetzel, born July 18, 1872, married Sarah Hardman at Cameron, Mis- souri, September 10, 1890, and now lives at Kan- sas City, Missouri. He has been in the employ of the Adams Express Company for the past six- teen years as express messenger, running from St. Lonis to Kansas City.

Charles E. Wetzel, the youngest member of the family. attended the public schools in Quincy un- til twelve years of age, and the following year attended the public schools at Cameron, Missouri. Returning to Quiney, he began working in the Dayton Tablet Factory and, after a year, was employed in the office of Taylor Brothers, flour manufacturers, with whom he remained for four months as offire boy. Hle next attended the Gem City Business College for seven months and at the same time was working for the Journal Print- ing Company as carrier. When fifteen years of age he entered the employ of Harrop & Hack- man, druggists, at Fifth and Cherry streets, con- tinning in that service until twenty years of age. when he became a student in the Indiana School of Pharmacy at Valparaiso, being graduated there with the class of 1896. He then returned to Quiney and entered the employ of P. II. Breer, at Eighth and Jefferson streets, remaining with that house until the death of the proprietor, when he entered the store of Byerly & Tubbesing. at 236 North Fifth street, continuing there as an employe from March 1, 1897, to May 10. 1900. when he purchased the drug stock of F. IT. Tub- besing & Company, who were then proprietors. ITe has since been proprietor of the Courthouse Pharmacy and is now conducting a profitable business, having a well appointed store. favor- ably situated in the business district, and enjoy- ing a liberal patronage. Mr. Wetzel is a member of St. John's Cathedral ( Episcopal) church and

ANDREW WETZEL

CHARLES E. WETZEL

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was a member of its choir between the ages of seven and fourteen years. In polities he is a re- publican, and he manifests a public-spirited in- terest in the welfare and improvement of the city, whether it be along material, political or moral lines.

WILLIAM K. ABBOTT.

William K. Abbott, engaged in the mannfac- ture of brick in Quiney and filling the position of alderman, in which capacity he has given tan- gible proof of his public-spirited citizenship and devotion to the general improvement and sub- stantial upbuilding of the city, was born near London, Ontario, Canada, February 21, 1860. His father, William H. Abbott, emigrated from Barnstable, Devonshire, England, to America when about twenty-five years of age but his grandfather, William Abbott, spent his entire life in England. The father first located in New York but afterward went to New Jersey, where he was married to Miss Annie Kennedy, who was born in Ireland, near Belfast, of Scotch-English- Irish parentage, and came to this country when nineteen years of age. In 1860 they went to Canada, where William K. Abbott was born. The father had been associated with his father in wool carding business in England and in Amer- ica he followed various pursuits, including the trade of bricklaying. He continued in Canada. for about three years and then went to Buffalo, New York, where he remained for a short time. Subsequently he settled in Quiney, establishing his home in this city in the fall of 1864. Ilere he worked at the bricklayer's trade for several years and then turned his attention to farming and fruit-raising, being thus engaged until 1888. when he returned to England, where he spent two or three years. He again came to the United States in 1891 and lived retired, making his home with his children. He was the father of ten children, of whom seven are yet living, two being residents of Adams county and the others of St. Louis, Missouri, with the exception of one daughter, who makes her home in Tiskilwa, Illinois. William II. Abbott is deceased, and his widow now resides in St. Louis with her eldest daughter.

William K. Abbott, whose name introduces this record, was a public school student in Quincy, having been brought to this city when only four years of age. He also attended a paro- (hial school on Eighth and Maine streets and when but fourteen years of age he put aside his text-books and entered the field of business ac- tivity. Ile worked with his father on a farm,

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 139

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228