Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 98

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 98

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Following his discharge from the army Mr. Castle entered a private school, in which he con- tinned his studies until 1865, when he became connected with the stove manufacturing business as a shipping clerk, being thus employed for a few months, when he took general charge of the manufacturing department of his father's fac- tory, at which time employment was furnished to eighty men. Mr. Castle remained in charge for about a year and a half, when he was sent to Keokuk, Iowa, to take charge of a stove factory that the company had acquired at that place. Ile there continued for about a year, when he was recalled to Quincy to assume the manage- ment of the factory here and has been continu- ously connected with the business since that time. He had charge of the factory while S. H. Emery managed the office affairs of the business. Mr. Castle continued his supervision of the factory until 1884, when the business was incorporated under the name of the Comstock- Castle Stove Company, at which time Mr. Castle was elected president. Ile has since served in that capacity and is therefore the head of one of

the great productive industries of Quincy, em- ploying about two hundred and fifty men. Their business extends through the eastern and western states and also into Canada and Mexico and the house is represented on the road by ten traveling salesmen. A high grade of stoves is manufac- tured and the latest improvements are continu- ally introduced so that the product of the house commends itself to publie sale and the business is constantly growing.

Mr. Castle is also well known in business circles in Quincy because of his connection with other lines of activity. Ile is a director of the State Savings. Loan & Trust Company, is vice presi- dent and director of the Neweomb Hotel Com- pany, is president of the Mulliner Box & Planing Company, with factory at the corner of Second street and Broadway, and for a good many years was a director of the American Strawhoard Com- pany. For nine years he has been the president of the Stove Founders National Defense Associa- tion with headquarters at Chicago, embracing in its membership the principal stove manufac- turers of the United States.

On the 18th of June. 1868. Mr. Castle was married to Miss Mary E. Parker. of Galesburg. Illinois, a daughter of the Rey. Lucius Parker, now deceased, but at one time the pastor of the Congregational church and a pioneer evangelist in the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Castle were born nine children, of which two died in infancy. Julia A. is living at home. Ella G. is the wife of Dr. F. L. Reder, of St. Louis, and they have three children. Timothy P. married Miss Edith Berry, a daughter of the late Colonel W. W. Berry, and is secretary and treasurer of the Comstock-Castle Stove Company. Alfred L., who is connected with the Comstock-t'astle Stove Com- pany as a traveling salesman on the Pacific coast, was a member of the Fifth Illinois Regiment in the Spanish-American war in Cuba and later was a first lieutenant of the Forty-fifth Regiment of United States Volunteers in the Philippines. Elizabeth II. was married on the 5th of Oeto- ber. 1904. to Fred H. Williams. Mary E. is at home. Clara E. is attending school in Andover, Massachusetts.

Mr. Castle is a member of Bodley lodge. No. 1. A. F. & A. M., and of El Aksa commandery, with which he became identified on its organization. Ile attends the Congregational church and in his political views he is a stanch republican and was elected a member of the board of supervisors about 1890. Becoming a resident of Quiney when but fourteen years of age. he has since made the city his home and has found in its splendid busi- ness conditions the opportunities which he sought for advancement and business progress. Ile is to-day one of the representative men of Quincy and his success excites the admiration and com-

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mands the respect of his contemporaries. He has had the power to recognize and utilize opportuni- ties and has placed his dependence upon the substantial qualities of unremitting diligence and keen judgment.

REV. HORATIO FOOTE.

Rev. Horatio Foote, deceased, was for many years one of the best known clergyman of Illi- nois. He was born in Bernardston, Massachusetts. February 10. 1796, and in early life removed with his parents to Burlington, New York. He was educated at Union College, New York, where he was graduated with high honors in 1820. and among his classmates were sneh distinguished men as William II. Seward: John Q. Qnitman. of Mississippi: Professor William (. Griswohl; Mr. Breckenridge, the eminent divine and states- man of Kentucky: Professor Blatchford, at one time a resident of Quiney ; and many others who afterward became distinguished. Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton frequently visited the college while Mr. Foote was a student there and lectured before the class of which he was a mem- ber. He completed both the classical and law courses at that institution. but after his gradu- ation he became converted and decided to enter the ministry. For two years he was then a stu- dent at Anburn Theological Seminary and im- mediately after his graduation he entered the ministry of the Congregational church. ITis first service was in Canada, where he organized churches of that denomination at Montreal and Kingston, and also at Champlain, Buffalo and Rochester. New York, and Hartford, Connecti- cut. In those places and many others he con- dneted some of the most noted revivals of that time.

On the 15th of February, 1826, Mr. Foote was imited in marriage to Miss Abigail Kirkland. of Bridgewater, New York. with whom he lived for more than fifty-seven years, she having passed away at the home of their son. Thomas W. Foote in Ellington township, Adams county, Illi- nois, on the 5th of June, 1883. Unto them were born five children, four sons and one daughter. but three of the sons and only daughter died in childhood.

It was in 1836 that Mr. Foote brought his fam- ily to Illinois and located in Rockford, when that city was a mere village. Ile assisted in or- ganizing the town and organized the first Con- gregational church at that place, remaining as its pastor for two years. Ile next removed to

Galesburg and was soon elected one of the trus- tees of Knox College, which position he filled for many years and when he resigned named Colonel S. R. Chittenden, of Mendon, as his successor. Leaving Galesburg in 1840, he came to Quiney as pastor of the First Congregational church. Later he resigned and organized the Center church, of which he was pastor until the outbreak of the Civil war, at which time he resigned his pastorate to accept a chaplain's commission in the army, a position tendered him at the personal request of President Lincoln, who was a warm friend of Mr. Foote. From the commencement of the war he was chaplain of the hospitals in Quincy and was beloved by all the old soldiers whom he cheered in their hours of suffering from sickness and wounds.

At the close of the war Mr. Foote and his son bought a farm in Ellington township, known as The Pines, and there he spent his remaining years in peace and quiet. Ilis death occurred on the 18th of May, 1886. During his residence in Oniney he was an intimate friend and associate of many of the noted men of Illinois, some of whom lived in the city and others who were often here in attendance at court. Among the num- ber were O. IL. Browning, S. A. Douglas, Gover- nor Wood. Judge Archie Williams, Governor Carlin, Judge Skinner, Ilon. N. Bushnell, Judge Snow. Mr. Lincoln and Judge Purple. In poli- ties he was a republican after the formation of that party. Ile was a strong abolitionist and an active worker for the cause, being a delegate to the national convention of the anti-slavery party in 1844 which nominated JJames G. Birney for president and also a delegate to the national con- vention of the Free Soil party which met in Buf- falo in 1848. Aside from Peter Cartwright, Mr. Foote was as well known as any divine in the west. The part which he took in politics made him acquainted with many men from all parts of the United States and his service in the hospitals of Quiney during the war brought him in contact with thousands of others. During his early ea- reer as a minister he also became widely known throughout the east and he commanded the re- speet and confidence of all. Although over nine- ty years of age at the time of his death, he was still a remarkably rugged man and retained his mental faculties to the last.

THOMAS WHITESIDE FOOTE.

Among the honored pioneers of Adams conn- ty was numbered the gentleman whose name in- trodnees this sketch. He was born in Bridge- water, New York, on the 23d of May, 1831, and was only five years oldl when brought to Illinois

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by his parents, Rev. Ttoratio and Abigail ( Kirk- land) Foote who are represented elsewhere in this volume. He grew to manhood in this state and made his home in Adams county from 1840 until ealled to the world beyond on the 6th of June, 1900. For twenty-eight years he lived at The Pines on North Twenty-fourth street, where he owned a good farm of forty aeres, just a mile and a half north of the city limits. One-half of the tract was devoted to fruit and as a horticul- turist he met with excellent success.

On the 25th of September, 1850, Mr. Foote married Miss Catherine Kahelenbrink, who was born in Prussia, Germany, April 15, 1830, and is a danghter of Frum and Mary ( Whitbuilt) Kahelenbrink, also natives of Prussia. lIer father, who was a pork merchant, eame to the United States with his family in 1847. Landing at New Orleans, he came up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he was engaged in the pork business until 1850, and then removed to Quincy, where he was similarly engaged for a time. Later he turned his attention to the grocery busi- ness and on disposing of that he purchased a farm in Melrose township, where he set ont one of the first vineyards in Adams county. He died in this county in 1883. Those of his children who are still living are Mrs. Minnie Steigmill, of Belleville, Illinois: Mrs. Richard Janson, of Chi- eago: and Mrs. Catherine Foote. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Foote were born eight children but Frank H. and B. B. are now deceased. The surviving members of the family are lloratio K. : Paul K. ; Thomas M .: Mrs. C. A. E. Gantert, of Quincy : Mrs. Il. F. Weingartner, of Belleville : and May, at home. The sons now carry on the farm.

JOHN T. TAYLOR.

John T. Taylor, who follows farming and stock-raising on section 10, Houston township. was born in Adams county, October 25, 1840, his parents being Joseph B. and Sarah ( Hampton ) Taylor. The father, who was born in Kentucky, in 1814. eame to this county in 1835, about the time he attained his majority and was actively interested in the pioneer development of the county, especially along agricultural lines. The pioneer home, with its pleasures and privations. was similar to that usually found on the fron- tier. Ile owned a few acres in Adams county at one time but in 1850 moved to California, where in due course of time he was enabled to improve his home and farm. transforming the former into an attractive residence and the latter into pro- dnetive fields. He died in 1864, while his wife passed away in 1840.

John T. Taylor was only an infant at the time

of his mother's death. Ile remained with his father until nine years of age and then went to live with his uncle. Albert Hughes, of Ursa, Illi- nois, with whom he remained until twenty-two years of age. Hle began his education in the common schools, continued his studies at Eureka. Illinois, and afterward engaged in teaching for six years, when he began farming. Ile purchased his first tract of land in Adams county in 1867 and is to-day the owner of two hundred acres of rich land on sertion 10, Houston township, seven miles northwest of Golden. This is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and enterprise, for he started out for himself empty-handed and has worked his way steadily upward, overcoming the difficulties and obstacles which have steadily to be met in the business world and thus eventually reaching the plane of affluence. He now carries on general farming and stock-raising and is classed with the leading farmers in his township.

On the 29th of December, 1870, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Celinda Woods, who was born July 21. 1848, in Houston township and is a daughter of Samuel and Amanda ( Morrow) Woods. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, her father horn November 27. 1800, her mother December 9, 1812. Mr. Woods came to Adams county in 1835 and located within sight of his daughter's present residence, there rearing his family and spending the remainder of his life. He died July 24, 1885, while his wife passed away September 21. 1885.

Mrs. Taylor has seven sisters and two broth- ers : Margaret J . the widow of Thomas Willard and a resident of Ilonston township: Martha A .. the wife of John B. Tull, living in Stronghurst, Ilenderson county, Illinois: Mary E., the de- ceased wife of Augustus F. Pierce, of Quincy : Nancy S., wife of Turner Scott, who lives near Ferris, Illinois: America. wife of J. W. Sherriek. of Camp Point : Caroline. the wife of Virgil Tull. of llonston township: Amanda, the wife of Charles Tipton, of Houston township: Samuel, who is living in Quincy; and William J., who died August 26, 1873. Mr. Taylor has a brother. Robert Taylor, who when last heard from was living in Colorado. lle also has a half brother, George W. Taylor, who is living in the Soldiers Ilome at Quincy.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have become the parents of two children. William Albert, horn December 19. 1875. was married to Edda Moore, of Can- ton, Missouri, and they reside upon his father's place. They have three children : Edith L., horn September 26, 1898; Glenn T., horn April 13. 1900: and Ruth M .. horn August 14, 1904. The other son. Floyd Bonaparte, horn June 1. 1886, is at home. The elder son is a minister in the Christian church and is also engaged in teaching.

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Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Christian church and he is a prohibitionist. Their influence is ever on the side of temperance, right, justice and truth, and they are interested in all that pertains to publie progress along ma- terial, intellectual and moral lines.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS MAERTZ.

One of the notable figures in the pioneer his- tory of Quiney was Charles A. Maertz, now de- ceased. Ile was probably one of the best known of the early residents of Quiney, locating in that town in May, 1836. From that time forward he took an active and helpful part in the work of upbuilding and general improvement of the em- bryo city, and his co-operation could always be counted upon to foster any measure for the pub- lie benefit. Displaying as his salient traits of character the qualities of energy, industry, thrift, integrity, humanity, piety and patriotism, he commanded the respect of all who knew him and left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name and a record well worthy of emulation.

His father was one of several sons of a wealthy citizen of Dantzie, an important city of Prussia. Choosing a career of art. he went to St. Peters- burg to pursue his studies, for in that city Cath- erine II was patronizing art and learning with a munificent hand. Leaving St. Petersburg, he settled in Berlin, Prussia, to prosecute his pro- fession of portrait painter. In 1733 he married Catherine Marin, the daughter of a small farmer in a neighboring village. Six children were born to them, of whom the youngest and the subject of this sketch was born in Berlin. May 31, 1811, and was the last of that generation when he died. January 7, 1890. The father of Mr. Maertz died when his little son was only five years old. leaving him and his older sister to the care of a devoted mother, a woman of rare in- telligence and remarkable force of character and to whose memory her son loved to pay the tribute of affection and respect down to the day of his death. Left a widow with slender resources, Mr. Maertz's mother nevertheless procured for her children the best educational advantages that lay in her power, providing them even with the op- portunity of acquiring some of the graceful accomplishments, such as French, drawing, etc. However, knowing that her young son must fight his own way through the world, and realizing the value of an industrial education. she seenred for him an apprenticeship at a trade, a thing very difficult to do in those days, but for which her wisdom and foresight made her willing and anx-

ions to make many sacrifices in order to pay the large premium demanded for such an appren- ticeship.

Mr. Maertz first entered a book bindery, but the business proving detrimental to his health he was obliged to give up that business, and then was apprentieed to a coppersmith. After having completed his trade he traveled through some of the cities of his native land; then, in 1831, went to London, England, where he remained two years. Attracted by the opportunities offered by the new world, he sailed for New York. He stayed but a short time in that city, going from there to New Orleans, where his sojourn was brief, and then to St. Louis, where he located. Finding, however, small demand for brass and copper work in the rude and crude mode of life of those early days, he was obliged to transform himself from an artificer in noble metals into a tinsmith, whose work required far less ability and capital. In 1836 he made a prospecting trip to Quiney, where he found one tinsmith already established in business, and, one being quite suf- ficient to fill all demands of the small population, he decided not to remain and, hearing of a good opening in Warsaw, Illinois, he went up to that village, invested in a lot and then returned to St. Louis for his wife and child. Stopping at Quincy on the return trip and learning from friends of the departure of his competitor, he devided upon this place as his residence and field of future labors. His shop was first located at Fifth and Hampshire street and later at the southwest corner of Sixth and Hampshire streets, where the Maertz building now stands and in which Augustus Jacobs has his jewelry estab- lishment.

The year 1837 was memorable to Mr. Maertz and his family as the epoch of a terrible calamity -- the loss of his left eye. While at his work a scale of iron struck the eye, lodging in the pupil. After horrible suffering through unskillful treat- ment, he lost the eye as well as the sight. Pos- sessing an intense love of the beautiful, Mr. Maertz suffered a life-long pain from a sense of the disfigurement as well as that of physical dis- ability. For some time after the aceident it was doubtful whether he would even be able to see well enough to resume his regular vocation, and friends urgently recommended that he open a grocery, as a saloon was called in those early days. At that time the sentiment of temperance had only a slender development. Mrs. Maertz, however, entered a vigorous protest against such advice, not out of deference for public opinion. for, as we have seen, that was not against the business, but from a conviction of the evil and its degrading influence. She declared herself will- ing to support the family herself by taking in washing rather than that her husband should

CHARLES A. MAERTZ

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maintain her by dealing out ruin to others. HIap- pily, however, she was never obliged to bring this great sacrifice to the altar of her principles, for before their savings were exhausted Mr. Maertz was able to resume business.

While in St. Louis Mr. Maertz formed the ac- quaintance of Miss Ottilia Ohert, to whom he was married on the 27th of October, 1834, by Dr. William Potts, of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Maertz was a daughter of Peter and Mary Obert and was born at Barbach, Grand Duchy of Ba- den, May 16, 1811. She had a sister and several brothers, two of whom, Mathias and Peter, ac- companied her to America in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Maertz were very congenial in their fundamental characteristics, and to his wife he always attrib- uted his success in life. They had eight children, four of whom are now living: Mrs. Dr. Durant, Miss Louise Maertz, Mrs. Captain John M. Cyrus and Mrs. Dora R. M. Lockwood.

In 1850 he sold out his business at a great sac- rifice for the sole purpose of visiting his aged mother in Berlin. On his return he again en- gaged in business, but. compelled by delicate health to give up the work, he retired from active business life in 1857, devoting himself thence- forth to the care of his property. In 1867, with his entire family. excepting one daughter, he made another trip to Europe, this time to visit his sister, to whom he was very devoted and who was the only descendant beside himself of his grandfather's large family. During this last trip, covering a period of two years, Mr. Maertz, at the age of fifty-seven, took up the study of paint- ing, which proved a most delightful pastime to him until within two years of his death. IFis marked ability for fine execution of details proved the great success he might have achieved in the art of steel engraving, and one must remember that his success in this fine work was greatly hin- dered by his having but one eye.

A devoted husband and father, his sympathies extended beyond that of his immediate family into friendships deep and lasting and whose fra- grant memories were cherished throughout life. One of his early friends was J. M. Booth, founder of the Quincy Herald, whose portrait and that of Mrs. Booth were donated by Mrs. Maertz after her husband's death to the historical room of the Quincy Library. Mr. Maertz took out his natu- ralization papers in 1840. Until 1858 he was a democrat, writing a great deal for the Quiney Herald, and often called upon to make stump speeches in German in the county. Thecity papers were always glad to have his articles. They were awake to the interests of the town, vigorous and original. Abont 1858 Mr. Maertz changed his political views. stanchly supporting the repub- lican party for the remainder of his life. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Maertz felt deep re-

gret for his inability to serve. His deepest sym- pathies were with the government. There was not a more loyal man in American nor a more enthusiastic patriot than he. The death of Lin- coln was a personal loss to him.

In religions matters Mr. Maertz took the deep- est interest from his youth, recognizing man's dependence upon a supreme power. For a short time he was identified with the Salem church. German Lutheran. Later he joined the Congre- gational church, during the pastorate of Rev- erend Foote, but, being convinced that he ought to be immersed he united with the Baptist church, to which his wife belonged and of which he re- mained an active and consistent member to the end of his life, contributing with a large liberal- ity to its support. The poor and suffering found in Mr. Maertz a ready friend and helper. Itis benevolenees were many, his sympathies broad and warm-hearted. Ile had a keen and discrim- inating judgment that enabled him to anticipate the needs and possibilities of the city and as a private citizen he did all in his power to promote substantial growth and improvement. Ile was found trustworthy in all of his business transae- tions, and his life record proves the force of in- dustry, economy, honesty and energy. His name should be carved on the keystone of the pioneer arch of Quiney. Mr. Maertz left his family in very comfortable circumstances, and his three daughters. Miss Lonise Maertz, Mrs. John M. Cyrus and Mrs. Lockwood, reside at the family home. No. 328 Elm street, one of the best resi- dences in that part of the city. They also own other property and are well known in literary cireles and in the charitable work of Quincy. Mr. Maertz died at his home January 7, 1890, after an illness of two weeks. Ile died surrounded by his loving and sorrowing family and trusting in the God whom he had so long and faithfully served.

HENRY RODEFELD, M. D.

Dr. Henry Rodefeld, one of the younger mem- bers of the medieal fraternity, who, however, is making rapid progress in his profession, was born in Quincy, October 30, 1879. his parents being Henry and Louise ( Haubrock) Rodefeld. The paternal grandfather, Herman Rodefeld, was a native of Germany and emigrating to America in 1850 settled in Quincy. He died at the age of seventy-six years. Ile was accompa- nied to America by a brother, who also died in Quincy. Henry Rodefeld, father of Dr. Rode- feld, was born in Germany and was only nine months old when brought by his parents to the

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new world. Reared in Quincy, he learned the molder's trade and subsequently became one of the founders of the Gem City Stove Works. In the later years of his life he was engaged in merchandising in Quincy, but he died at the comparatively early age of forty-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Louise Ulanbroek, is a daughter of Carl Hanbrock, a na- tive of Germany, who settled in Quincy in 1852, and is now living in Adams county, Nebraska. She is the mother of six children : Henry, Daro, Lulu. Herman, Emma and Carl.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 98

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