Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 85

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 85

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He erected the first brick building in Keokuk. lowa, but continued to make his home in War- ren county, Illinois, where he remained until his death. He was a prominent and influential man of his day, ever active in his business life and at the same time gave hearty co-operation to many measures that tended to its public prog- ress and improvement. He was married in War- ren county to Miss Louisa Shellenberger.

George Wells Burch entered the public schools at the usual age and step by step passed through the consecutive grades until he had completed the high school course. lle also attended Mon- mouth College, pursuing a preparatory course to the junior year. When twenty-one years of age he entered the Keokuk Medical College and was graduated with the class of 1887. He after- ward went to New York city, where he pursued a three years' post-graduate course, making a specialty of the treatment of skin and venereal diseases during the last year there spent. In 1889 he attended the Bellevue Hospital Medical College and then, returning to the west. located for practice in Burlington. Towa, where he re- mained for six years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Dakota, where for two years he suffered from ill health, and in 1892 he came to Quiney. IIere he has since practiced with constantly growing success and makes a specialty of skin and venereal diseases. He keeps thoroughly informed concerning the latest de- velopments in the medical science and thus is continually promoting his efficiency and inereas- ing his ability to handle important cases in- trusted to his care. He belongs to the Ameri- can Medical Association, the Illinois State Medi- cal Society and the Adams County Medical Society.

Dr. Burch was married to Miss Cora Blanche Pease, a daughter of Robert and Sarah Pease. her father being at one time a retired capitalist of Kirkwood. Illinois. They are now residing in Quincy and have one son. Elmer J., born April 8. 1864. Dr. and Mrs. Burch were mar- ried December 23. 1590, and they have one child. Arthur Glenn, who was born in Burlington. Iowa. June 30, 1896, and is now attending the Webster publie school of Quiney. The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church and are prominent socially. the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city being cordial- ly extended to them.

Dr. Burch is a republican in his political views. He has never had any aspiration for office. preferring to give his undivided attention to his professional duties, which are constantly increasing in volume and importance. He was particularly well qualified for practice by ex- tensive study ere he entered upon the work of

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the profession and has since kept in touch with advanced thought through reading and investi- gation. lle is never dilatory in the performance of any professional duty and has conscientious regard for the obligations which rest upon the members of the medical fraternity and the eon- sensus of public opinion places him beyond the ranks of mediocrity and among the foremost practitioners in Quincy.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM SOMERVILLE.

William Somerville, who in civic and mili- tary life has manifested a loyalty to his country that is above question and who as the superin- tendent of the Soldiers and Sailors Ilome of Quincy has become a popular resident of that city. was born in Pennsylvania, August 15, 1837. Ilis ancestral history is one of long and close connection with American interests and through successive generations the same spirit of loyalty and devotion to the general good has been shown. James Somerville. emigrating from Scotland to the new world in 1735, established his home at Holidaysburg. Pennsylvania, and became the progenitor of that branch of the family in this country. He was accompanied to America by three brothers, his brother David also settling in Pennsylvania, while John and William Somer- ville became residents of Virginia. His descend- ants resided in Pennsylvania until 1841. James Somerville, the grandfather of Captain Somer- ville, at the time of the Revolutionary War espoused the cause of the colonists and fought for independenee until the republic was an established faet. ITe long lived to enjoy the fruits of his military service, reaching the vener- able age of ninety years and passing away in 1840. ITis son, who also bore the name of James Somerville, was born in Holidaysburg, Pennsyl- vania, in 1800, and married Miss Susan Stover, a native of Maryland and of Dutch ancestry, her father, Michael Stover, being from Holland. They continued to reside in Pennsylvania until 1841, when removing westward they settled in Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1851 came to Hancock county, Illinois. At the time of the gold excitement in California Mr. Somerville made his way to the mines, but after a short time spent on the Pacific coast he returned to Car- thage, Illinois. Ile died in 1871 at the age of seventy-one years, and his wife who was born in 1809, passed away in 1856.

Captain Somerville, reared under the parental roof. acquired a public school education. His birth had occurred at Holidayshurg, Pennsyl- vania, August 15, 1837, and when twenty-three years of age he responded to President Lincoln's

call for troops to aid in erushing out the rebellion in its incipieney. Enlisting on the 9th of May, 1861, he became a private of Company D, Six- teenth Illinois Infantry, a regiment famous in its service with the Western Army and one which made a splendid record because of the valor and loyalty of its members. Captain Somerville participated in many important en- gagements, including the battle of New Madrid, the operations before Island No. 10, the siege of Corinth, the two engagements at Farmington and the many important contests of the Atlanta campaign. Brave and fearless in the discharge of every duty, his meritorious conduet won him successive promotions from time to time and also gained him the deserved commendation of superior officers. Gradually he arose until he at- tained the rank of captain. Ile was with Sher- man on the march to the sea and through the Carolina campaign, his regiment constituting a part of the division under command of General James D. Morgan, which was some distance from the main army at Bentonville, North Carolina, and was there attacked by a greatly superior force of the enemy. All day long the battle raged, and at length the Confederates were repulsed through the gallant efforts of the Union troops. It was in this battle, on the 19th of March, 1865, that Captain Somerville was wounded by a minie ball, and ere he had recovered from the injury the war was brought to a close.

No longer needed in the military service of his country, Captain Somerville then entered upon civic duties in connection with the govern- ment, being appointed on the 1st of May, 1865, to a position in the internal revenue service, with which he was identified for twenty-eight years. Hle attained national distinction in that connec- tion and was instrumental in the apprehension of many moonshine distillers and crooked em- ployes of the goverment. An officer of tireless energy and utterly fearless, he penetrated the mountain fastnesses of the south, the favorite habitat of the moonshiners, and so successful was he in the pursuit of illicit distillers that the moonshiners plaeed a price upon his head and vowed to shoot him if they ever got the chance. But Captain Somerville only laughed at their threats, which, however, were in deadly earnest. and there is little doubt but that they would have sought vengeance in his death had he given them the opportunity.

Resigning his position in the internal revenue department in 1893, Captain Somerville was afterward engaged in various business pursuits, being for a time insurance agent and also a sales- man. In 1897 he accepted the superintendency of the Soldiers & Sailors' Ilome at Quiney through appointment of Governor Tanner. and in 1901 was reappointed by Governor Yates, so

CAPTAIN WILLIAM SOMERVILLE

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that he is still the ineumbent in the office. His administration of the affairs of the institution has been commendable, demonstrating executive ability of the highest order. His interest in the veterans of the war is deep and sincere, and while capably managing the affairs of the home as a business man he is also continually alert to the best interest of the "boys in blue."

Captain Somerville is himself identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and also with the Loyal Legion, and his membership relations extend to other fraternal organizations. He was made a Mason on the 4th of July, 1869, in Hancock lodge, No. 20, and afterwards became a member of Lambert lodge, No. 659, A. F. & A. M .. and he has attained the Knight Templar degree.

In 1864 Captain Somerville was united in marriage to Miss Helen Alexander, who died in 1870, and in 1871 he married his present wife, Mary J. Thompson. They have a son and daugh- ter, the former. James Somerville, being now freight terminal agent of the Chicago. Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad at Keokuk, Iowa. while the daughter, Carrie, is with her parents in Quincy. where the family home was established in 1870 and has since been maintained. the mem- bers of the household occupying an enviable posi- tion in social circles. As has been intimated. Captain Somerville has always been an inflexible adherent of republican principles and has been three times chairman of the Adams county re- publican eentral committee. 'Inis county is re- garded as one of the strongest democratic centers of the state, but in 1896. the year of his selection for the chairmanship, it gave a majority for the republican presidential candidate and elected the whole republican tieket for the first time in its history. Captain Somerville is a man of fine social traits and receives that warm personal re- gard which arises from geniality, a kindly spirit and deference for the opinions of others.

JOSEPH KNITTEL.

Joseph Knittel, whose utilization and mastery of the opportunities of the business workl have placed him at the head of one of the most im- portant productive industries of Quiney, eon- trolling an extensive business conducted under the name of the Joseph Knittel Show Case Com- pany, was born in Colmar, Alsace. December 23. 1854. his parents being Jean and Elizabeth (Mantman) Knittel. The father, who was en- gaged in the wine business. lived retired for a number of years prior to his demise, which oc- eurred in Colmar. Alsace. in 1902, when he was seventy-nine years of age. His widow, still liv-

ing in Alsace, is now seventy-four years of age. Jean Knittel twice visited America but retained his permanent residence in his native country. In the family were four sons and three dangh- ters, but two of the daughters died in infancy. One of the sons, Emil Knittel, came to America about 1874 and after spending about four years in New York removed to Quiney, since which time he has been connected with the Knittel Show Case Company. He was married about 1882 and has three daughters. Jean Knittel, the eldest son of the family, served in the French Army at the time of the Franco-Prussian war, and following the close of hostilities came to America in 1871. He resides in St. Louis. Mis- souri, is married and has two daughters. Louis Knittel came to America about 1882 and also re- sides in St. Louis.

Joseph Knittel pursued his education in paro- ehial schools of his native country, completing his more specifically literary education when fourteen years of age. although later he attended the Conservatory of Music at Colmar. Alsace. Ile was graduated therefrom and in earlier years was engaged in musical work. He is still a fine musician. especially skilled with the flute, and he has deep interest in the musical develop- ment of the city in which he makes his home. After leaving school he learned the trade of wood and stone carving, gaining considerable ability in that line, and was thus engaged until he came to America.

Desirons of profiting by the superior business opportunities which he believed the new world offered and also opposed to living under German rule, which followed the Franco-Prussian war. he ran away from home at the age of eighteen years and on the 20th of September, 1872, land- ed at New York. He remained there for a long time and then went to Syracuse, New York. where he worked in an organ factory, doing the designing for the ornamental work on organs. Hle occupied that position for three years and at the age of twenty-one he went to Indianapolis. Indiana, where he was employed as a carver for a year. In 1876 he went to Philadelphia. and the following year he came to Quincy. In the previous winter he had devoted his attention to musical interests, and subsequent to his removal to Quiney he embarked in his present business, the manufacture and sale of show cases with a shop on the third floor at No. 520 Hampshire street. under the firm style of Widolf & Knit- tel. The partners at first did all the work them- selves but gradually as their trade increased they began to employ others. As the business became too large for the original quarters it was re- moved. in 1878. to South Fourth street. About that time Mr. Widolf died and Mr. Knittel be-

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came sole owner. He was then employing about ten men. In 1880 or 1881 he removed to Third street, adjoining the Aldo Sommers Drug Com- pany, and when three or four years had passed he again found that his quarters were too limited and erected a plant at Nos. 313 to 339 North Third street. One-third of this property only was then occupied by the business. At the time of the removal to the present location employ- ment was furnished to from twenty-five to thirty men and later the force numbered almost seven- ty. On the Ist of February, 1904, the entire plant was wiped out by fire, but undiscouraged by this catastrophe, the partners at once rebuilt npon the same site and now have a splendidly equipped plant, extending over two hundred fert on Third street, with a depth of one hun- dred feet, while the yard extends back to See- ond street. The building is four stories in height, ineluding basement. At the present time employment is furnished to one hundred and twenty-five men. The factory is one of the largest, if not the largest .. in the United States, and is one of the best equipped, having the most modern machinery and every facility for earry- ing on the work. In 1896 the Joseph Knittel Show Case Company was incorporated with Joseph Knittel as president; Henry Jenter, secretary and C. Knittel, treasurer. They manufacture show cases, wall eases, counters, desks, drug, bank, store and office fixtures. Their goods are sold by catalog and Mr. Knittel frequently goes mpon the road introducing the product of the plant. The house has a wide and enviable repu- tation and its goods are sold throughout the country.

Mr. Knittel was married on the 27th of Au- gust, 1878, to Miss Emma Steingrebe, a daughter of Carl Steingrebe, of Syraense, New York, who died in 1896. He came to Quiney in 1884 aud his last days were spent here. Mr. and Mrs. Knittel have but one child, Carl, who was born in 1880, and is a graduate of the Qniney high school and the Gem City Business College. After leaving school he spent three years in Chicago and then, returning to Quiney, joined his father in business and is now treasurer of the com- pany. Ile was married in 1904 to Miss Carrie Ilallet, of Bloomington, Illinois.

In polities Mr. Knittel is a staneh republican, deeply interested in the growth and success of the party but without personal politieal aspirations. He belongs to Lambert lodge, No. 659, A. F. & A. M .. also to the chapter and consistory, and thus has a wide acquaintance in Masonie circles in Quincy. His residence in the city covers more than a quarter of a century, during which time he has steadily advanced on the road to sueeess. until, in control of one of the leading manufae- turing and commercial interests of Quiney, he is

accounted to-day a foremost business man. Real- izing that labor and efficiency constitute the key which opens the portals of prosperity, he has by consecutive effort and concentration of purpose made for himself an honorable name in trade circles and at the same time won the success which is the goal of all business endeavor.

CHARLES TARR.

Charles Tarr, who follows general farming on section 33, Mendon township, was born Sep- tember 22, 1550, in Adams county. His father, William Tarr, was born in Bourbon, Kentucky, January 14, 1810, and came to Adams county, in 1829, when a young man of nineteen years, living with his parents in Ursa township. On the 23d of April, 1832, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary M. Adair, who was born in Kentucky. December 10. 1813. The young cou- ple began their domestic life on a farm on sec- tion 33, Lima township, their home being one of the pioneer cabins in that district. Mr. Tarr secured a tract of land, which was largely wild and unimproved, but he at once began its de- velopment and soon his plow turned the fur- rows, later the seed was planted and eventually erops were harvested. Year by year he contin- ned his farm work until he has a valuable prop- erty, his land being very productive. He eon- tinued to reside upon his farm until three years prior to his death, when he removed to Mendon, where he passed away December 10, 1878, his wife, surviving him for a number of years, died in October, 1892. They left six children : Charles, who resides on part of the old home place: James F., who resides at the Soldiers' Home in Quincy: Mrs. Martha E. Barnett, of Marcelline, Kansas ; Mrs. Mary J. Shields, of El- dorado, Missouri: Mrs. Lucinda MeGibbons, of Sioux City, Iowa, and M. Alice Tarr, of Peoria, Illinois. They also lost five children.

Charles Tarr supplemented his early educa- tion, which was secured in the common schools, by attending the Gem City Business College of Quiney, and afterward engaged in teaching school for a year. He then turned his attention to merchandising, which he followed for two years and since that time has carried on farming. Eventually he purchased a farm in Ursa township but later sold the prop- erty and bought his present farm on section 33, Mendon township. Here he owns eighty acres of land about four and a half miles northwest of the town of Mendon. Ilis attention is devoted to general farming and the methods which he follows are in keeping with the advanced ideas

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concerning agriculture. He is diligent and en- terprising and his prosperity is due to his well- directed labors.

On the 7th of December, 1871, Mr. Tarr was married to Rosa Clark, daughter of Constantine and Cynthia (Fields) Clark, the former a na- tive of Ireland and the latter of Alabama. Her father was a farmer and for many years fol- lowed agricultural pursuits in Lima township. but he and his wife are now both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tarr have two children : Eleanora. who was born December 3, 1872. and is the wife of August Stockecke, a resident of Mendon town- ship : and Alta May, who was born November 17, 1879. and makes her home with her parents. She is engaged in teaching school.

Mr. Tarr belongs to Mendon camp, No. 751. M. W. A., and gives his political support to the republican party, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. llis wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have a wide and favorable ao- quaintance in Adams county and enjoy the friendship of many with whom they have been brought in contact.

EDMUND B. MONTGOMERY, M. D.

Dr. Edmund B. Montgomery, physician, sur- geon and author, whose skill in practice and ability as a writer of many valuable treatises on medieal and surgical subjects have gained him national fame among the representatives of the profession, has practiced continuously in Quin- ey since 1878. He was born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, May 11, 1858. His father. Robert Mont- gomery, was a well known business man of that city. Soon after the birth of his son Edmund. however, he removed with his family to Shelbi- na. Missouri, becoming one of the founders of the town and erecting there its first brick build- ing. He carried on a drug store there until 1864, when he located permanently in Quincy, where he still resides. He married Elizabeth Wis- hart, who was a great-granddaughter of Dr. James Wishart, of Cromarthy, Scotland, a prom- inent physician of his day. One of his dangh- ters married the celebrated Dr. Abernethy, of Edinburg, Scotland. His son. Dr. David Wis- hart, and second in line of descent, was born in the parish of Kincardine. Perthshire, Scotland, and came to America in 1796, loeating first in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. later in Washington, that state, and finally in Bedford county. Ohio, where he died at an advanced age. He was a very successful and prominent physi- cian and he had four sons who became repre-

sentatives of the profession, John. James, Da- vid and Thomas, while his daughter, Jeannette, married James Lane, and became the mother of Dr. Robert Lane, for many years a leading physician of Rockford, Illinois. Dr. John Wis- hart is deceased, but his son Charles is still a prominent physician of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. James Wishart, grandfather of Dr. Mont- gomery, gained a wide reputation as a most skill- ful medical practitioner of St. Louis, Missouri, where he died of Asiatic cholera, in 1849. It was his daughter. Elizabeth, who became the wife of Robert Montgomery. She died November 10, 1894, leaving three sons : Edmund B. ; James P., who for a time was paymaster in the United States Army and is now with the Meyer Brothers Drug Company of St. Louis: and Robert W .. a druggist of Quincy, who died in September, 1900.

In his early boyhood Dr. Montgomery was taken by his parents to Shelbina. Missouri, but the greater part of his youth was passed in Quincy, where he acquired his literary educa- tion and was graduated from the high school. with the class of 1873. He then attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1874. after which he entered Jefferson Medical College, of that city, in 1876, completing his course by graduation with the class of 1878. Descended from an aneestry distinguished in the medical profession, Dr. Montgomery in his professional career has added new laurels to the family rec- ord. developing an ability and knowledge which place him foremost among the practitioners of Quiney and which have won him the favorable attention of representatives of the medical fra- ternity throughout the country. He located for practice in Quincy in 1875. and along original lines he has carried his researches, while his practice has grown to proportions that stand in unmistakable evidence of the position which he holds in the public trust and regard. Careful in the diagnosis of a case, seldom, if ever, at fault, in determining the outcome of disease. and correct in his application of his understand- ing of the principles of the medical science to the needs of the patient, his professional efforts have been attended by results certainly gratify- ing to any professional ambition.

In 1884 Dr. Montgomery was appointed by Dr. John H. Rouch a member of the sanitary coun- «il of the Mississippi Valley. and attended meet- ings at Memphis and New Orleans, after which he prepared for the Illinois Board of Health a sanitary survey of the city of Quincy. From 1888 until 1893 he was physician in charge of Blessing Hospital. and from 1893 until 1897 surgeon-in-charge of the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Home at Quincy, since which time he has been consulting physician on the medical

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staff of Blessing Hospital. In 1893, in prepara- tion for the Pan-American Medical Congress to be held in Washington, he organized the Adams county physicians and served as a delegate to that convention. Ile keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession through its membership in the Adams County Medical So- ciety, the Illinois State Medical Society, the Mississippi Valley Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Tri-state Medical Association and the Military Traet Med- ical Society and he was one of the organizers and afterward vice president of the Quincy Medical Library Association. Dr. Montgomery has been active in medical society work, serving in va- rions official capacities. He has been president and secretary in the local medical organizations, secretary of the Mississippi Valley Medical So- eiety and secretary of the Medical Section of the Illinois State Medical Society.

His contributions to medical literature have been extensive and valuable, showing wide origi- nal research and investigation, resulting in the acquirement of knowledge that has promoted general efficiency among the representatives of the medical fraternity. His writings include a report on therapeutics, published in the Trans- actions of the Illinois State Medical Society in 1884, and one in the Transaction of the same so- ciety in 1894 on Diseases of Old Age. He has also furnished papers on Typhoid Fever in Young Children, read before the Mississippi Val- ley Medieal Society in 1897 and published in the Medical News of the same year : a paper on Pre- ventive Medicine and The Higher Medical Edu- cation, read before the Illinois State Medical So- ciety in 1898 and published in the Virginia Med- ical Monthly of the same year; a paper before the State Medical Society in 1902 on The Gene- ral Practitioner in Relation to Early Surgical Operations, published in the Medical News in 1902; Symphysiotomy in Persistent Mento-pos- terior Face Presentation, published in the Amer- ican Journal of Obstetries for September. 1904: a Report of a Case of Intestinal Obstruetion. Treated by Annotomosis with Murphy Button, published in the Medical Standard for August, 1904; and Report of a Case of Tetanus Treated with Anti-tetanie Serum recovery, published in the Medical Standard for November, 1904.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 85

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