USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > Portrait and biographical record of Macoupin County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 107
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traveling by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to St Louis, and then following the Illinois River to the mouth of Apple Creek in Greene County. He found employment among the farmers near Rood house at $8 a month, and was soon enabled to rent land, upon which he resided in Greene County until 1846. During August of that year he re- turned to his Eastern home to secure a bride and in the spring of 1847 returned to Greene County and spent a short time, and then went back to Marcy, where he managed the old farm until Sep- tember. 1848. He then returned to Greene ('ounty, but in the fall of 1849 came to this county and en- tered three hundred and twenty acres on seetion 5, of what is now North Otter Township. This was prairie land and he bought it on Mexican land warrants, so that it cost him only 8226. He built a frame house at once and prepared ten aeres for culture.
In those days there was no railroad here and Alton was the nearest market, as there was no house where Virden now stands, the greater part of the surrounding country being still owned by the Government and the resort of wild deer. Our subject resided on this land until 1881, and dur- ing that time had improved the easteru part of it and sold the other half, and bought another one hundred and twenty acres, upon which he built his home. In 1881 he rented the farm and went to California, where he spent one year in Sonoma County, after which he returned to Virden, but in the fall of 1882 went again to California, but re- turned to Litchfield in the fall of 1884, where he engaged in the grocery business for a year and a half and then sold out and came to Virden in No- vember, 1890.
Ilere Mr. Chamberlin bought an interest in the hardware and furniture business and also handles agricultural implements, carriages and wagons. Hle married Loretta Twitchell, who was born in the town of Waybridge, Addison County. Vt., and a sister of S. L. Twitchell, of whom more will be seen elsewhere in this volume. To this excellent couple have been horn five children, namely: Leo- nora, Anna J., Ella, Minnie and Carrie. Anna is now the wife of T. J. Turner and has three chil- dren-Mary, George and Lena. Carrie married
John T. Ryan and has two children -- Alma Louth and Henry Nathan. Our subject was bereaved by the death of his wife on October 18, 1880. He is a Democrat m his political affiliations and served for seven years as School Director, two years as Assessor, and five years as Collector in North Otter Township.
The subject of this sketch is well known. not only in his township, but also throughout this part of the county. for his sturdy integrity, industry and enterprise, and for the good success which has attended his efforts. He enjoys the unfailing confidence of the community and the social es- teem of his neighbors.
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ERDINAND WINTER. farmer and sheep- raiser is located on section 1, where he tork up his residence in 1864. His early life was passed in Brunswick, Germany, which place records the date of his birth, this important event occurring February 28. 1816. There is much in the life of Mr. Winter to awaken the interest of the biographical reader, for though he has seen the tide of fortune turn against him at, times, he has also gained many signal vietories in a band to hand struggle with the world. His father. Frederick Winter, who died in Germany, was a prominent sheep-raiser there. Ferdinand was decidedly a precocious boy developing unusual activity, vigor and strength of mind. Until fourteen years of age he assisted his father and grandfather in the care of sheep and was then engaged by others until he reached his majority, at which time, obedient to the laws of the Fatherland, he enrolled his name as a member of the German Army, serving five years, a steady, faithful soldier ever at the post of duty.
Just after his release from army service our sub- ject married Miss Elizabeth Korson, a woman both energetie and ambitious and together they launched into that branch of business with which they were most familiar, investing their money, over $1,500 in the purchase and care of sheep, carrying this enterprise successfully forward.
Inspired with the idea of seeing the New World
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they disposed of their interests and came to Amer- ica, landing in New Orleans on July 4, 1845. From here they proceeded to St. Louis where they lived seven years. During this time Mr. Winter vigor- onsly prosecuted the business of butchering but success refusing to smile upon bim be closed his market. Nothing dannted by this turn of affairs, be commenced the buying and driving of stock to the St. Louis markets. His success and increased finanees led him into a plan by which he thought to still further enhance his wealth and in an evil moment he placed his capital in an enterprise which left his resources in an impoverished con- dition. This loss fell heavily upon him but he went bravely to work at whatever he could find to do, being engaged principally on a steamer plying be- tween St. Louis and New Orleans. In 1849 his wife fell a victim to cholera and sank into the grave, leaving her husband and two children, Fred and Anstema, to weep over her loss. One child born to these parents died in infancy.
In 1851 Mr. Winter went to Sangamon County where he was employed by Charles S. Hoppin as shepherd. The most important event of the five years of his engagement with that gentleman, was his marriage in 1854, in St. Louis, to Sophia Burg- (loff, who die'l ten years later. The story of hier death is a sad one. Possessing an affectionate heart. she was sincerely attached to Fred Winter, her step-son. On the outbreak of the Rebeltion, Fred entered the army, enlisting in the Third Ilinois Cavalry and passed three years in the service. At Memphis, Tenn., he received a wound from which he never rallied but died in the hospital at that place, in 1864. Mrs. Winters, in her anxiety for his welfare, betook herself to Memphis to care for the wounded boy. While there an attack of swamp fever resulted in her death which took place a few weeks after her return to her home in Carlinville Township. She was the mother of two children, one of whom died while an infant; the other, Ernest F., is a farmer in South Otter Township and inherits his father's propensity for sheep-rais- ing.
Upon severing his connection with Mr. H., our subject rented a tract of land, occupying it until 1864, when he removed to Macoupin County and
purchased an extensive farm in Carlinville Town . ship. Being a prudent man of frugal habits and living always within his income, he gained the re- spect and confidence of some of the Springfield bankers and they gave him such financial aid as enabled him to go to Michigan and make large purchases of sheep; and the ample competence which he now enjoys, shows that their faith in his integrity and executive ability was not misplaced. Be commands the returns from seven hundred and thirty acres of land and is known to have some of the very best blood in his large flock of over six hundred sheep among them being pure Mer- inos and other high grades. During the years 1863-64, his profits amounted to over $32,000; 828,000 of this lie nsed in buying land in Macoupin County.
Mı. Winter's third marriage occurred in St. Louis, January 11, 1866, when he was wedded to Caroline Lutger, a native of Germany, born Octo- ber 22, 1840. Two children have graced this union, one ot whom lived but a short time; the other, llenry H., remains under the parental roof. Mr. Winter and his estimable wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. His first vote was cast for Zachary Taylor, at which time he warmly advocated the measures of the Democratic party but upon the nomination of Abraham Lincoln who had befriended and advised him while in Spring- field, and for whom he had a strong attachment, he connected himself with the Republican party to the principles of which he is strongly devoted. .
ILLIAM QUADE, one of the enterprising business men of Staunton who has been prominently identified with the upbuilding of the city, now carries on a hotel in a fine business block which he recently ereeted. He was born in Westphalen, Prussia, on June 23, 1833, and is the fourth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, numbering five sons and six daughters. whose parents were Henry and Sophia (Bocherman) Quade. The father, also a native of Prussia, was a shoemaker by trade and followed that business
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throughout his entire life. He died at the age of fifty-five years, and his wife, who survived him many years, departed this life in the seventy .fifth year of her age. They were consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
Only three of the family ever came to America. Mrs. Anna Steinman was the first to cross the At- lantic, coming in 1853, and she and her husband now live on a farm in Madison County, Ill. Ernest sailed across the Atlantic in 1867 and he is engag- ed in agricultural pursuits in Madison County. Next came our subject, who bade adieu to his nat- ive land in September, 1867, boarding a steamer in Bremen and landing at New York. Hence he made his way to St. Louis and a year later came to Staunton.
On the voyage Mr. Quade was accompanied by his wife. Her maiden name was Mary Vogelsang, and their union was celebrated in Germany. The lady was born and reared near the childhood home of her husband and came of Prussian parents who lived and died in Westphalen. Unto Mr. Quade and his estimable wife have been born six children, four of whom are yet living-Otto E. R. H., who aids his father in the management of his business; William G. H., who is at home; Hannah, the wife of Rudolph Dreibholz, who is, employed as bar. tender in Mr. Quade's hotel and is a genial, jovial man; and Caroline who is still under the parental root. Mary and Carrie died in childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Quade are members of the Evan- gelical Church and in politics he is a Republican. Hle is numbered among the public-spirited citizens of the community and is found in the front rank of every enterprise calculated to upbuild Staunton. For a number of years he carried on a saloon in that place, and in 1890, he erected one of the finest blocks in that city, which is known as the Quade Block. It is an elegant structure built of brick and stone with one hundred feet frontage and a depth of sixty-five feet. It is two stories in height with a basement and is occupied as an hotel and bar-room managed by Mr. Quade, the dry-goods house of H. A. Jones, and the banking establish- ment of E. Freidman & Co. Mr. Quade carries on a good hotel, furnished with all modern improve- ments and conveniences, and supplied with every-
thing necessary for the comfort of his guests. Ile is a genial host who has won favor with the travel- ing public and has made many warm friends among those with whom he has come in contact. Full of push and energy he has made everything he pos- sesses and the competence which he has acquired is sufficient for his declining years.
ILLIAM II. CROMWELL, an intelligent and well-educated gentleman who takes a true interest in all public affairs, resides upon his farm at Honey Point Township. IIe was born a few miles east of Dayton, Ohio, November 11, 1836. Ilis father Richard Cromwell was a native of Hagerstown, M.i., and was of English descent, and his father was a fariner who worked his tand by the help of slave labor, and ched near Hagerstown. The father of our subject was quite young when he was orphaned by his father's death and he continued to live in Maryland with his mother until the family removed to Ohio, where the mother bought land in Greene County, near Xenia, and resided there until her death, complet- ing nearly a century of honorable and virtuous life.
In 1842 the parents of our subject came to Illi- nois moving with a team and then by the way of steamer on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and made their first stopping place in Alton. They soon rented a farm in Ililyard Township, and later bought a tract of land here. Their first home was in a log house but afterward they put up a good farm residence and made their home there for a number of years, after which they lived for awhile at Bunker Hill. Ile was a hard worker and had excellent judgment and thus gained a good prop- erty, having at one time four farms at Hilyard Township, besides his home in Bunker Ilill where he died June 5, 1889.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Caroline Eichelberger and she was a native of Hagerstown, Md., and now resides in Bunker Hill. Her nine children are our subject, Susan, Margaret, Comfort, Cynthia, Catherine, Mary. Joseph and
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William. Our subject was in his sixth year when he came to this county and in those days the country was very new, as there was no railroad and the near- est market was at Alton twenty miles away. Ile received his education on the farm and in the dis- trict school and as soon as old enough to assist in the farm work be became an efficient helper an this way.
Upon attaining his majority Mr. Cromwell leased a tract of land in Hilyard Township, and farmed it for nine years and during that time por- chased one hundred and twenty acres of fine timber land in Honey Point Township. In the year 1865 he settled on this place and has added to it until he now has two hundred and eighty acres all under cultivation. lle was married on the 3rd of May, 1868, to Mary (. Hutton, who was born in North- ern Illinois and is a daughter of Daniel and Mary Hutton who were natives of Maryland.
Our subject is a member of Charter Oak Lodge No. 536, F. & A. M. of Litchfield and in his political views is a stanch Democrat having cast his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan. He served for two years as County Coroner and has been the Supervisor of Honey Point Township, besides serv . ing as delegate in many county, district and sena- torial conventions.
ASPER J. JACOBY, a successful dealer in all kinds of furniture and undertaking goods. as well as in pianos and organs, sewing- machines and wall paper, established himself in business in October, 1883, in what is known as the Johnson Block, on the west side of Washington Street in Bunker Hill, and has proven himself a practical and successful dealer. He had come to this place from Brighton, where he had received his early education and training and where he he- gan life as a teacher, and later as a commercial traveler for a St. Louis house, which business he gave up before coming to Bunker Hill.
Our subject was born on the Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Louis, while his par- ents were emigrating from their native home and his
birth occurred on Christmas Day, 1855. He is the son of Henry Jacoby, of Nassau, Germany, and comes of pure German stock. The father was ap- prenticed to the trade of a mason and in due time married Catherina Peiter also a native of Nassau, Germany. After the birth of five children, one of whom was called away by death, Henry Jacoby set out with his family for the United States, taking passage on a sailer from Bremen and spending seven weeks upon the water, coming to port in New Orleans. They there took a boat on the Missis- sippi River, with Alton as their destination, and on this trip, as we have said, our subject was born.
The family did not tarry long in Alton, but dur- ing the same year came to Macoupin County set- tling near Brighton. At that time Henry Jacoby was $6 poorer than nothing and bad a wife and five young children to provide for. He worked hard and saved his money and soon had a little estate of ten acres, to which he added from time to time until he owned one hundred and twenty acres, where he lived many years and made great im- provemeuts. Death came to him December 9. 1885, when he was sixty-six years old. Ile was a thor- ough Republican in his political views and in the old country was a Lutheran in religion, but after coming here united with his wife with the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. His faithful companion. who is still living and is now sixty-seven years old, resides at the old homestead at Brighton.
Our subject is one of eleven children of his par- ents. nine of whom are living and eight of them are heads of families. Ile was married to Miss Anna D. Lippoldt, in Bunker Hill. She was born in Jer- sey County, this State, April 15, 1858, and was quite young when her parents, J. G. and Henrietta (Lippoldt) Lippoldt, came to Brighton, in this county. There they lived for some time and then removed to Hilyard Township, where they now re- side on a farm and are now sixty-four and sixty years of age respectively. They came to this coun- try from Saxony, Germany, where they were born and reared.
Mrs. Jacoby received from her parents both careful training and a thorough education, and she was well fitted to take up life's work. She is now the mother of four children; Oscar K. L., Clare H,
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E., Ettie F. and Edwin. Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Steward and has been Sun- day-school Superintendent for eight years. He has two brothers, Revs. P. W. and 11. C. Jacoby, who are in the ministry of this church in Missouri and the former is an elder in the St. Louis Circuit. Our subject is a member of the Blue Lodge. No. 151, of the Masonic order at Bunker Ilill, and is filling the office of City Treasurer, being a man of public spirit and an earnest and zealous member of the Republican party.
HARLES W. SMITH, one of the leading grocers of Gillespie and a wide-awake and enterprising young business man, establish- ed business in this line in the autumn of 1882, as a member of the firm of Ahrens & Smith. This partnership continued for a year, when Mr. Ahrens sold out, our subject becoming sole proprietor and under his able management the business has thrived. He carries a full and complete line of staple and fancy groceries, glass, queensware and provisions and has a good trade, thereby securing an excel- Jent income. He has been a close observer, thuis having learned the wants and wishes of the public. Earnestly desiring to please his customers he sup- plies them with a fine line of goods, in manner is genial and pleasant and all of his business dealings are characterized by fairness.
Mr. Smith has spent his entire life in this coun- ty, his birth having occurred in Gillespie Town- ship, October 13, 1855. lle is the eldest child of Weye G. Schmidt, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Upon his father's farm the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, he aiding in the cultivation of the land during the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the district schools of the neighborhood, where his education was acquired. As a helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Minnie Mohlmann, who was born in Ger. many. in May, 1861, and when a child came with her parents to this country, the family settling in
Macoupin County, HI., where the death of her mother occurred. Mr. Mohlmann subsequently re- moved to Platt County, Neb., where he is now en- gaged in farming.
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, three children have been born but only Annie is now living. Christina and William both died of scar- let fever in 1890. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church, to the support of which they contribute liberally of their means and they are numbered among the leading citizens of Gillespie, where they have a pleasant home, the abode of hospitality, and are surrounded by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem them highly. In politics, Mr. Smith is a Democrat, having sup- ported that party since he attained his majority. lle manifests a commendable interest in all that per- tains to the upbuilding and welfare of the com- munity, identifies himself with its best enterprises and well deserves to be mentioned among the hon- ored pioneers and best citizens of his native coun- ty.
8 AMUEL COMER. A fine farm on section 22, Bird Township, is the place that Sam- vel Comer calls home. It is a property of which he may well be proud to be the owner, as it consists of a large and fertile tract on which good buildings of various kinds have been erected. The comfort of the occupants and the proper housing of stock and erops have been con- sidered in the erection of the house, barn, grana- ries and sheds, and in every part of the estate order reigns and good judgment is shown. The estate consists of three hundred and sixty-five acres and is the source of a good income.
The father of our subject was Aaron B. Comer, who was born in Virginia, and his mother was Lavina (Bell) Comer, a native of Tennessee. That worthy couple came to this county from the Tur- pentine State in 1844 and settled in Bird Town- ship, this county. Here the wife died November 23, 1873, leaving ten children, of whom our sub- jeet was the second, three of whom are now liv- ing. The father is now living in Carlinville. Ile
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of whom we write was born in Knox County, Tenn., May 9, 1836, and was therefore about eight years old when he came hither. He has since been a resident of Bird Township and he has long been thoroughly identified with its interests and prog- ress. Immediately after his marriage, which took place at the early age of nineteen years, he settled on section 22, where he has remained, building up his finanees and making his home the eenter from which good influences radiate.
The date of the marriage of Mr. Comer was January 28, 1855, and his bride, Caroline Sells, daughter of Michael and Sarah ( Brown) Sells. She was born in Johnson County, Ind., July 9, 1837, and is the eldest in a family consisting of five sons and four daughters. She is a fitting companion for her husband, being well informed on general topics, a good housekeeper, and having a character worthy of esteem. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Comer are seven in number, but only four are liv- ing; these are Edmund, who married Anna Deeds; Mary E., wife of William Woods; Annetta F., wife of II. T. Benson; and Robert L. Clarinda and Lulu died in infancy.
Mr. Comer is Postmaster of the mail station bearing his own name. Hle has been Highway Commissioner and has done much to keep the way open for the traveling public, by working for good roads and convenient bridges. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife belong to Charity Baptist Church and he is a Deacon in the society.
OHN G. WEIDNER. One of the large landowners and extensive farmers, stock- raisers and dairymen of Hilyard Township, is he who resides ou section 35, and whose name is at the head of this sketch. He here owns a large property, which is highly improved and bears fine farin buildings. At one time he was the owner of about five hundred acres of land, a part of which he has since given to his children. Mr. Weiduer came upon his farm in the spring of 1872, and since that time has placed upon it its most valuable improvements. He came lo this
place from Jersey County, where he lived twenty- one years. His place there comprised two hundred acres of fine land, upon which he placed valuable improvements, and which is now owned by his son.
On entering .Jersey County, our subject began life as a farm laborer, spending two years in that way. Ile had but $6 when he went there in 1852, and since that time by prudence and economy has accumulated the comfortable fortune which he has. He has been successful to a wonderful de- gree. Mr. Weidner was born in Saxe-Weimar, Germany, in 1827, on the 20th of February. He is a son of John G. Weidner, Sr., a native of the same province, who there lived and died at the age of seventy-three years. He was a farmer and was fairly successful.
Our subject's mother was a German lady, whose maiden name was Miss Rosena Jacob. She also was born and reared in Saxe-Weimar, and there died in the same week in which her husband's decease took place, her youngest son also passing away at the same time. She was then seventy years of age, the old people having lived together for fifty-three years, their marriage taking place during the rebellion that extended from 1812 to 1815; he was thus released from going into serv- ice. The senior Mr. Weidner and wife were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. They were both representatives of long-lived races.
The orginal of our sketch was the youngest but one of a family of eight children. He has one brother now living in Germany, and one sister in this country, who is living in Brighton, this county. John G. Weidner grew up a farmer boy, and when about of age enlisted in the rebellion between Den- mark and Schleswig-Holstein. He afterward de- cided to come to the United States. August 10, 1852, he left home and took passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen, and after a voyage of thirty- seven days landed at New York City, coming soon after by way of the canal and lakes to the Illinois River, thenee down to Alton, and later to Jersey County, this State. He had practically no monetary resources, but was willing to work.
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