Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 140

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 140

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

where he remained for several years and abont 1877 he returned to Quiney, where he secured a position in the Comstock-Cassel foundry. There he learned the nickel-plating business and was employed in that way for several years. Later he seenred a position in the grocery house of C. R. Oliver, where he was employed for two years, after which he was taken ill and returned to the farm in order to recuperate his health. In 1891 he once more located in Quincy and entered the brick business in connection with Carl Prante, whose daughter he married the same year and with whom he was associated for two years, after which he engaged in farming alone for three years. On the expiration of that period he ae- cepted a position as stationary engineer and in 1899 he bought ont Gerhard Sanders, proprietor of the brickyard, and organized the firm of Ium- mert & Abbott. The yard was originally opened by Carl Prante in 1872 and building, sidewalk and hand made brick are manufactured. Em- ployment is furnished throughont the year to ten or twelve men and at times sixteen employes are required to meet the demand for the output. Mr. Abbott is now in control of a profitable bnsi- ness, which is steadily growing and his career is a. successful one, for which he deserves much credit, as he started out in life empty-handed and has gradually worked his way upward through persistent purpose, close application and straightforward dealing.

On the 18th day of April, 1891, Mr. Abbott was united in marriage to Miss Ida Angusta Prante, a daughter of Carl Prante, one of the early brick manufacturers of Quiney, having engaged in the business here for forty-five years. He then retired from active industrial life and is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. Six children have been born anto Mr. and Mrs. Abbott: Earl William, born June 20. 1892; Carl Louis, November 20, 1893; Char- lotte, February 10, 1895; Lyman Eugene. No- vember 7. 1899; Margaret. February 1, 1901; and Isabel, January 23, 1904. The elder child- ren are attending school.

Mr. Abbott is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and his wife belongs to the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is an earnest democrat, somewhat prominent in local political circles and on the 4th of April, 1903, he was elected to represent his ward for two years on the board of city aldermen, receiy- ing a plurality of forty-two in a ward which usnally gives a republican majority of one hund- red and sixty. His election, therefore, was a personal tribute to his superior worth and pop- ularity. He was also elected to the same office in 1898 by a majority of fifty-seven. His public service has been characterized by all that stands for good citizenship and for devotion to the gen-

992

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

eral welfare. Ile is now chairman of the city hall committee and a member of the fire commission- ers, the ordinance and the railroad committees. llis public and private life are alike above re- proach and in his business career as well as in official cireles he has commanded the esteem and trust of those with whom he has been associated.

MICILAEL STEINER.

Michael Steiner, one of the honored pioncers and representative farmers of Adams county, was born in Germany, on the 30th of January, 1810, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land. He served in the Ger- man army for a time, his captain being the fath- er of Prince Albert. Desiring to avoid further military service he came to the new world in 1836, and on landing in New York proceeded to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he found em- ployment on a coal boat. He next went to Vieks- burg, Mississippi, and in 1837 landed in Quiney, Illinois. For some time he worked in Mr. Whip- ple's sawmill and while there sawed the ash flooring for O. 11. Browning's house.

Turning his attention to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Steiner located on a farm on the northern line of Adams county in 1842 and as time passed he accumulated a fine property, becoming the owner of three hundred acres of good land and also gave his sons one hundred and sixty aeres. In early days he raised and sold wheat for twen- ty-five cents per bushel and had to pay as high as four dollars per bushel for salt. In 1845 he made his way across the country to Macomb be- fore there were any roads in that part of the state and he experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer times.

In 1839 Mr. Steiner was united in marriage to Miss Ann Catherine Gable, who was also born in Germany, on the 20th of February, 1820, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom fonr sons and two daughters are still liv- ing. After a useful and well spent life Mr. Steiner died in May, 1892, and his wife passed away in May, 1898. Politically he was a sup- porter of the democratic party and fraternally was connected with the Masonic order.

PATRICK B. HYNES.

Patrick B. IIynes, whose advancement in busi- ness has come through consecutive stages, and who at each forward step has found a broader

outlook and greater opportunity for continued progress, is the founder of the Hynes Buggy Company and is now acting as superintendent and general manager. Persisteney of purpose, enterprise and thorough understanding of the trade have formed the foundation upon which he has builded his success.

A native of Ireland, Mr. Hynes was born en the 13th of March, 1841, his parents being Bartholomew and Bridget (Flaherty) Hynes. The father came from Ireland in 1845, settling at Springfield, Ohio, and there he was in the railroad service until his death, which occurred in 1853. Ilis wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1894. They were the parents of five children.

In his youth Patrick B. Ilynes attended the parochial schools and at the age of twelve years became a student in the Wesleyan Seminary, where he continued his studies for four years. lle left school at the age of sixteen and has since been a factor in business life, dependent upon his own resources, so that whatever suc- cess he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labor. Ile first began clerking in a gro- cery store and afterward learned the trade of buggy and carriage making, turning his atten- tion to that pursuit in 1858. In 1861 he went to Indiana but later returned to his old home and accepted the position of foreman for the E. & J. Driscoll Carriage Company, acting in that capacity for a year and a half. At the end of that time he purchased an interest in the business and was a partner for a similar period, but eventually sold out and in 1869 came to Quincy, where he founded the Hynes & Moore Carriage Works, on Sixth, between Hampshire and Vermont streets. This afterward became the IIynes Carriage Company and in 1892 was incorporated under the name of the Hynes Buggy Company. The factory is located at the southeast corner of Fifth and Jersey streets, where the business has been carried on for a quarter of a century. From a small beginning the trade has grown steadily until now in the conduct of the enterprise sixty workmen are employed and the product is shipped not only to many parts of this country but also to South Africa, Cuba and Mexico. Mr. Hynes, as super- intendent and general manager, has oversight over the entire business, and under his capable control the business has been developed until it is now one of the leading industrial concerns of the city. In this enterprise Mr. Hynes is asso- ciated with II. F. J. Ricker, Jr., who is presi- dent of the company, and B. Awerkamp, who is treasurer.

Mr. Hynes was married in 1868 to Miss Mary C. Riordan, whose mother died in Quincy, in 1904, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.

MR. AND MRS. MICHAEL STEINER

995

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ilynes have been born five children : Aliee E., who is living in Los Angeles, California; Olive Franees, who is also in Cali- fornia ; Maude, a resident of Quincy; Edith, of this eity; and Herbert R., who makes his home in Quiney and travels for the Hynes Buggy Company. The family are members of St. Peter's Catholic church and in his political views Mr. Hynes is independent, nor has he ever sought office. In duties of citizenship, however, he is not remiss, and his aid can ever be counted upon to further public progress along practical lines, resulting in general good to the city. In his business career, with a real- ization of the fact that "there is no excellence without labor," he carefully prepared himself for his trade by thorough preparation and has since by close attention to the details of his business, and capable control of all of its greater departments, made steady progress and gained a place among the substantial citizens of Quiney.

BENJAMIN G. VASEN.

Benjamin G. Vasen, whose connection with various business interests in Quiney ranks him with its representative citizens of marked en- terprise and keen discernment, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of July, 1857. The first ten years of his life were spent in the city of his nativity, after which he ae- companied his parents on their removal to the middle west, the family home being established in Quincy. llis public school education was supplemented by a full course in bookkeeping and mathematics in a commercial college.

Tle has been dependent upon his own re- sources from the age of thirteen years, at which time he entered upon his active business career as an employe of the firm of Hirsch & Vasen. Later he was bookkeeper and cashier at St. Joseph, Missouri, for the branch house of J. Jonas & Company, but in January, 1875, re- turned to Quincy to accept a position with Morton & Nichols, taking charge of the bnikdl- ing association and loan departments of their business, to which he succeeded. He has for thirty years been a leading representative of the building association interests of Quincy. and in this regard his labors have been of the utmost value to the city and its residents, being a direet factor in the material improvement and progress of Quincy. In 1881 he opened an in- surance, real estate and loan office and soon succeeded in seeuring a large clientage, which has placed him among the prominent represen- tatives of this department of business activity in Quiney. In 1893 he removed to the corner

of Fifth and Maine streets, occupying the rooms for many years constituting the quarters of the banking house of L. & C. II. Bull. In 1903 he erected a building at No. 517 Maine street, in which he now maintains his office, having there a well equipped suite of rooms.

The history of Mr. Vasen in detail would show largely the record of building and loan operations in Quincy, and also of the state of Illinois. He was the organizer and the first secretary of the People's Savings Loan & Building Association, which was formed in No- vember, 1883, and in December, 1885, he was chosen secretary of the Quiney Buikling & Homestead Association, occupying both posi- tions to the present time. In the latter he had acted as assistant secretary from January, 1875. ITe has handled for the two associations of which he is secretary more than five million dollars without any loss and at a considerable profit to the stoekholders. He is an expert accountant and an experienced insurance man, and while financing the affairs of the companies with which he has been connected he has at the same time contributed to the city's welfare and ma- terial upbuilding by enabling many of the men of moderate means to secure homes through the loans obtained from the corporations with which he is connected. He possesses excellent business sagacity and keen discernment, his judgment being rarely if ever at fault. He is capable, prompt and reliable, and his energy has been one of the dominant characteristies in his successful career marked by consecutive advancement.

A man of resourceful business ability, he has not eonfined his efforts entirely to one line, for he was one of the promoters of the Modern Tron Works, is vice-president of the Sheridan Stove Manufacturing Company, and identified with a number of industrial corporations in Quincy : has for the past twenty years been secretary of the State League Building & Loan Associations and was one of the organizers of the United States League of Building & Loan Associations and its first secretary, also the Insurance Com- pany of the State of Illinois and served in its directory. The welfare of the rity aside from his business operations is a matter of deep eon- eern and interest to him and he has co-operated in many improvements for the general good. Ile is now one of the members of the Blessing Hospital Association.

In January, 1883, oeeurred the marriage of Mr. Vasen and Miss Julia Eshner of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, who died October 2, 1901, leaving four children: Freda J., Maurice E .. George B., and Beulah. In his fraternal rela- tions Mr. Vasen is connected with the I. O. B. B., the Mutual Aid, the Loyal Americans, the

996

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Royal Arcamun, the Benevolent Protective Or- der of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of Ameri- ca. ITe has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the city where he has so long made his home and where he has so directed his labors as to win for himself an honorable name and desirable competence.

MRS. DOROTHY E. K. SPINDLER.

Mrs. Dorothy E. K. Spindler, who owns and conduets a book store at No. 611 Ilampshire street, deserves to be elassed with the leading rep- resentatives of commercial interests in Quiney, for, in the management of her store, she dis- plays excellent business and executive force and keen discernment. She was born in Germany, December 12, 1853, and her parents, Henry F. and Elizabeth (Schultz) Ritz, were natives of the province of Hanover. The father was owner of a wagon factory, which he conducted up to the time of his death, on the 5th of December, 1853. Hle was a representative of a worthy and prominent family of that country, his ancestors being among the landed people.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ritz were born a large fam- ily. IFeinrich, the eldest son, was a tailor by trade and gave up his birthright to his younger brother because of ill health. Christian, the sec- ond of the family, served for some time as a soldier of the German army and afterward started for America, from which time no news was ever received from him. August came to Quiney about 1850 and was married hore. He was a fine wood carver, and for a number of years he carried on a carpenter shop in this city, but is now living in Chicago. Frederick took charge of the home estate upon the death of his father and managed it until the younger chil- dren were grown, after which he came to Amer- ica and was engaged in farming in Minnesota until his retirement from business life, being still a resident of that state. George, who was a member of the king of Hanover's staff for twen- ty-five years, or until the kingdom became a part of Prussia, died a few years ago. Ernst, named in honor of King Ernst of Hanover-a privilege granted to the eighth child of a family-assisted his brother George until he came to America about the time of President Grant's election. He died in Quiney in 1902, leaving his widow and two daughters in very comfortable financial circumstances. Maria lived and died in Ger- many. Mrs. Spindler is the next of the family. William, coming to Quincy, spent three or four years here and then went to St. Louis. Ludwig came to Quiney in 1868 and died about 1895.

Dorothy Ritz attended the schools of Hanover and. when a young lady of sixteen years, came to America with her brothers in 1869, their home being established in Quincy, where, in 1870, she gave her hand in marriage to Michael Spindler, who was well known in business circles here, be- ing engaged in the shoe business on Hampshire street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. He was also engaged in the manufacture of shoes for a number of years, but eventually withdrew from that department of his work. His death oceurred in 1895, when he was sixty years of age. He was an enterprising merchant, progressive in his methods and straightforward in his dealings, and his business record enabled him to leave an un- tarnished name to his family.

By his first marriage Mr. Spindler had seven children, of whom two are yet living. The chil- dren born unto Michael and Dorothy Spindler are: Albert II., who has charge of a wholesale liquor business in Seattle, Washington; and Lewis, who is engaged in the grocery business in Chicago.

Mrs. Spindler has been identified with com- mercial interests in Quincy for a number of years and now owns and manages a book store at No. 611 Ilampshire street, under the name of the Spindler News Company. She has been at this location for nine years and has a gratifying patronage, carrying a stock of goods that is pleas- ing to the general public and, therefore, wins a good trade. Mrs. Spindler belongs to the Daugh- ters of Rebekah and Daughters of Pocahontas and is also a member of the Episcopal church. She certainly deserves much credit for the sue- cessful manner in which she has conducted her mercantile enterprise.

HENRY SCHNERING.

Henry Schnering, who earries on general farming on section 5, Melrose township, was born September 28, 1853, in the township where he yet resides. His father, Anton Schnering, was born in Germany, September 24, 1823, and on the 1st of May, 1848, was united in marriage to Miss Christina Frinling. Ile learned the weaver's trade in his native country and fol- lowed that pursuit in Germany until 1846, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, set- tling first in Quincy. Not long afterward he secured employment as a farm hand and later he rented land, continuing its cultivation until his labors had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm of his own. In 1856 he became the owner of forty-three and a half aeres in Melrose township, on section 5, and with characteristic energy he began its develop-

MRS. D. E. K. SPINDLER

999

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ment and cultivation. Later he purchased an- other tract of eighteen acres on State street and twenty aeres in Melrose township. Throughout the period of his residence in Adams county he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits. Ile was one of the pioneer farmers of the com- munity and commanded the respeet of his fel- low men by reason of what he accomplished in the business world. Ile died January 10, 1883, and his wife passed away May 26, 1900, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty years. They were members of the Catholic church and in his political views Mr. Schnering was a democrat. In their family were the fol- lowing named: Christina E., who became the wife of William Fessler of Missouri; Catherine S., who is living in Quiney : Mary A. ; Henry, of this review: Joseph, who resides in South Da- kota: Anton, deceased: Ilerman; Alomis and Frank, both deceased.

llenry Schnering and his sister Mary reside upon the home farm which he is now operating. Ele carries on general agricultural pursuits and in connection with the cultivation of the fields he raises some stock. He was reared to farm life and has always followed this ocenpation, being now recognized as one of the leading and progressive agrienlturists of his community. He has likewise followed in his father's polit- ical footsteps, his judgment sanctioning the policy and principles of the democratic party. Ilis religious faith is in harmony with the teach- ings of Catholicism.

A. M. LACKEY.

A. M. Lackey, who is now living a retired life in Clayton, was for a number of years an active business man of the town. His birth occurred in Bond county, Ilinois, April 10, 1834. His father, Thomas Lackey, was born in Ohio in 1800 and was there reared. After attaining his majority he married Betsy Mer- ritt, a native of Ohio, and he followed farming in that state until his removal to Ilinois in 1823. He was indeed one of its first settlers for only five years before had the state been admitted to the Union and there were great sections that had not yet been claimed by the white settlers. He lived near the Illinois river among the Indians until the fall of 1833, when he removed to Brown county and there opened up a farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land. Upon that farm he reared his family and he spent his last days in the home of his son, A. M. Lackey, in Clayton, passing away in 1884, at the ripe old age of eighty-three

years and six months. His wife had died sev- eral years previous. A. M. Lackey was one of a family of four sons and three daughters, who reached manhood and womanhood but only two are now living, the sister being Ellen, the wife of John Hayes, of Boulder, Colorado.

Mr. Lackey of this review was reared upon the old family homestead in Brown county and is not only a self-educated but also a self-made man for the school privileges of his youth were very limited. His training at farm labor, how- ever, was not meagre and the lessons of indus- try and integrity which were early impressed upon his mind have borne rich fruit in later years. He sought a companion and helpmate on life's journey and was married on the 17th of May, 1855, to Miss Rhoda E. Ausmus, a na- tive of Brown county, her father's farm being five miles from the farm upon which her hus- band was reared. Her parents were Frederick and Margaret (Saddler) Ausmus, natives of Tennessee and early settlers of Brown county, where they remained for many years and reared their family.

Following his marriage Mr. Lackey began farming in Brown county, where he had a small house and a tract of land. his home being a log cabin. There he experienced many of the hardships and difficulties incident to frontier life but as the years passed he overcame many obstacles and later bought more land, which he improved and cultivated. Ile owned one hundred and forty acres, on which he placed good improvements, and in his farming opera- tions he eventually met with success. Later he sold that farm and purchased the old Lackey homestead, which he operated for three years. Ife then sold out and removed to Clayton, estab- lishing his home here on the 1st of February, 1876, in a good residence which he erected. He was engaged in business for ten or twelve years and then retired from commercial life and has since enjoyed a well merited rest.

Mr. Lackey responded to his country's eall for aid in 1862, enlisting in the month of Au- gust in Brown county as a member of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. With his command he went south and partici- pated in many important engagements that led to the preservation of the Union. He was in the Red river campaign, where they were with. in sound of battle for forty days. He was also in the engagement at Nashville and Yellow Bayon, receiving a gunshot wound at the lat- ter place and also a sunstroke. He was then taken on board a hospital boat. and finally received an honorable discharge at Springfield. Illinois, in Angust, 1865, after which he re- . turned to his home with a most ereditable mili- tary record. He belongs to the Grand Army

1000

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Post at Clayton and enjoys full confidence and friendship of many who were among his fellow- soldiers upon the battle-fields of the south.

llis early political support was given to the whig party and his first presidential ballot was east for Millard Fillmore. Since the organiza- tion of the republican party he has always voted that ticket. le has never been an office seeker nor taken any active part in politics, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lackey were born six children : Susan M. is the wife of Henry Bart- lett, a baker of Clayton. John C. died at the age of thirty-three years, leaving a wife. Charles F. died in infancy. Grant is an engineer on the Wabash Railroad, living at Springfield, Illinois. Adelle N. is engaged in teaching musie in Quincy. A. M. Lackey, Jr., died in infancy. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and are highly esteemed in Clayton, where they have now lived for more than a quarter of a century.

EDMOND CRAWFORD.

Edmond Crawford, manager for the North Star Egg Case Company, of Quincy, is a native of Adams county, his birth having occurred at La Prairie, May 18, 1866. Ilis paternal grand- father, William Crawford, a native of New York, removed from Geneva, that state, with his family about 1858, and settled upon a farm in Adams county, Ilinois, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. He had one hundred and sixty aeres of land, which he placed under a high state of enltivation and was actively connected with farming interests until his removal to Quincy, where he lived re- tired until his death, which ovenrred in Feb- rnary, 1904, when he had reached the advanced age of ninety-one years. Ilis wife died in 1880.

George B. Crawford, son of William Craw- ford, came with the family to the west and, leaving the old homestead, turned his attention to railroading in 1867, making his home in Clay- ton, Illinois. The following year he removed to Springfield, this state, and subsequently he came to Quiney, where he was employed in the office of the Wabash Railroad Company until 1872. Ile then went to Labelle, Missouri, as agent for the Quiney, Missouri & Pacific Rail- road Company, continuing there until 1876, when he accepted a position at Hannibal, in the office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. There he remained until 1897, when retiring from railroad service he returned to Quiney and is now employed by the North Star

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 140

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