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 108
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
Soon after our subjeet's settlement in this coun- try he was married to his sweetheart, who had
8.83
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
come to this country with her brother six months before our subject. They were deterred from marrying in their own country because of their circumstances. The lady's name was Cristmoody Leippoldt. She was born in Saxe. Weimar. Ger- many, December 25, 1830, and after being there reared and educated came with her brother to this country in the spring of 1852, and here her pa- rents joined them later. Her father, Gustoph Leip . poldt, died at the age of fifty-eight years. The mother survived him two years.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of twelve children, five of whom are now deceased, all of whom died young. The living are Charles F .. Frank E., Emma, William, Mary. Louisa and Lewis.
C HARLES C. CAMPBELL. who for years has been one of the prominent business men of Bunker Hill, is now living a retired life in the enjoyment of a well-earned competenee. In his beautiful home, surrounded by all of the com forts of life. he will probably spend the remainder of his days in the midst of friends who esteem him highly for his sterling worth. No man in this community is more worthy of a representation in this volume than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
Mr. Campbell was born in U'pper Alton, Ill., Mareli 11, 1835. and is of Scotch descent. Ilis paternal great grandfather, Andrew Campbell, be- longed to the clan of Campbell, which was driven out of Scotland at the time of the religious troubles in that country. He and a brother emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War and es- pousing the cause of the Colonies, he served in the American army for eight years, three months and thirteen days. He died in 1833 at the advanced age of eighty-six. having been born in 1747. John R. Campbell, the grandfather of our subject, spent his entire life in New Jersey, dying in Trenton, when in the prime of life. He was a manufacturer of stoneware and was connected with some of the leading potteries of that city. Ilis son, Jolın A., father of Charles was also a native of New Jersey
and followed the trade of a potter. He married Eliza T. Cook, who was born in New Jersey of American parents who were of French extraction, and immedi- ately thereafter the young couple started westward.
They traveled by way of the canals. and the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and landed in Alton in 1834. It was Mr. Campbell's intention to go to St. Louis and engage in the pottery business but friends in Alton persuaded him to locate in that vicinity, as Alton was then the larger city of the two. He here abandoned his trade and embarked in farming, transforming from the wild and un- broken prairie an excellent farm which he made his home lor a half century. Such was the unsettled condition of the country at the time of his arrival, that wolves were still seen roaming over the prai- ries and the deer frequently appeared in such large numbers that they would destroy a corn crop. Mr. Campbell lived to see the wonderful growth and progress, witnessed the establishment and upbuild- ing of Bunker Hill and saw St. Louis transformed from a village into one of the leading eities of the West. He was born June 14, 1812 and died March 15. 1885, respeeted by all who knew him. lle was a local Methodist minister and his upright life proved oftentimes as potent as his preaching. In politics, he was a stanch Democrat, taking a leading part in political affairs. A man of strong convictions, he fearlessly expressed his views and his outspoken and upright manner won him the confidence of all. His wife survived him three years and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Younger in Bunker Hill Township, October 19, 1887, at the age of seventy-three years. She was also a consistent Methodist and a most estima- ble lady whose many graces and excellencies of character won for her many friends.
The family of this worthy couple numbered nine children, six of whom grew to mature years. Our subject was carefully and tenderly reared and early manifested a love of learning, and by extensive reading has informed himself on all subjects of general interest. In his youth, he gained a thor- ough knowledge of the machinist's trade, having mastered the business at the age of nineteen years, but since he has attained his majority, he has fol- lowed other pursuits. He began clerking in a
.
884
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mercantile store in 1855 and two years later, form- ing a partnership with W. H. Clark, one of the pio- neers of the city, he embarked in business as a dealer in dry goods and millinery under the firm name of Clark & Campbell, which connection was continned until July, 1862, when our subject be- came sole proprietor. continuing alone until 1865, when W. Il. Meldrum was admitted to the busi- ness. After eight months, the style was again changed to C. C. Campbell & Co. and the store was run under that name until 1867 when it became known as Davis, Johnston & Co., Mr. Campbell be- ing the silent partner. He continued his connection with the business until 1870, when he retired, and the firm was merged into that of Johnston & Burt- on. The store is now the property of David Joh'- ston and is the oldest and has always been the lead- ing establishment of the kind in Bunker Hill. Mr. Campbell possesss the qualities of a successful merchant, being pleasant and genial in manner, thrifty and enterprising and straightforward and honest in all his dealings. On quitting the store lie engaged in the real-estate business for some years but is now practically living a retired life. He has been very successful in all his undertakings, having done business to the amount of $100,000 annually. About 1866, with a number of the lead- ing citizens of Bunker Hill, a publie library scheme was put on foot as the result of a suggestion on the part of Mr. Campbell. For the purpose of organ- izing a meeting was called and he was made its secretary. As the result Bunker Hill has now an excellent public library and of the association he has served as trustee and treasurer during almost its entire existenee.
On the 22nd of October, 1862. in the city where he makes his home, Mr. Campbell and Miss Henri- etta Williams were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. The lady was born in Covington, Ind., February 11. 1843, and is a daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Luke, Williams, who were born, reared and married in Kentucky, and afterward removed to Indiana, from whence they came with their family to Illinois in 1850, locating in Alton, where the father died the following year. Mrs. Willliams afterward came to Bunker Hill. where she died October 12, 1870, at the age of 1
seventy years. in the faith of the Methodist Church of which she had long been a member. Mrs. Camp- bell received liberal educational advantages, having pursued her studies in the academy of Lower Alton and the Bunker Hill Academy, and is an intelligent, refined and cultured lady who moves in the best cireles of society and is held in high esteem. She remained at home until her marriage, which has been graced hy three children-Roena Catherine, a graduate of Almira College, and wife of R. E. Dorsey, an attorney of Staunton; Charles Edward, a student of Shurtleff College and now connected with the Colorado Packing Co. of Denver, Col .: and llenrietta Maude who is a graduate of the Con- servatory and literary course of Shurtleff in Upper Alton. Mr. Campbell, his wife and children are members of the Baptist Church, in which he holds the position of Deacon and in the Sunday-school he has served as Superintendent for thirteen years.
His life has been a busy and useful one, yet he has found time to devote to public interests, having served as Township Treasurer for some years and as cily Councilman for two terms. Ile has taken an active part in local political affairs and is a stanch advocate of Republican principles. Ilis business associates speak of Mr. Campbell as an upright and progressive man but we learn of a different phase of his character from the poor and needy who number him among their best friends and his associates in the church know him to be a consistent Christian gentleman.
BRAHAM G. KABLE. The owner of the pleasant farm located on section 15, North Otter Township, is he whose name is at the head of this sketch. Ile is the son of James and Susan (Garver) Kable, of whom a history may be found under the sketch of James Kable, in another part of this RECORD. Our subject was the second son and fourth child born to his parents and his advent into the world was made December 16, 1844, in Ohio. He there grew to manhood, receiving the educational advantages to be acquired in the district schools of the vicinity
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and in March 1864, came to Macoupin County with his parents.
Our subject continued to make his home under the parental roof, helping his father with the de- velopment of the new farm until he was married, going back to the Buckeye State to get his bride. Their nuptials were solemnized in Troy, Ohio, Feb- rnary 8, 1866, the lady being Miss Mattie ('. Staf- ford, a daughter of George l'. and Elizabeth (Pum phrey ) Stafford. They were early settlers in Miami County, Ohio, going there from Pennsylvania and there the decease of the mother took place, August. 14, 1846, when only twenty-six years of age; the father still survives. That union was blest by the advent of three children of whom Mis. Kable is the youngest. She was born in Miami County, Ohio, October 18. 1845.
Immediately after the marriage of the young people they proceeded to this State and settled in North Otter Township where they have ever since been residents. Our subject has always been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, his place being de- voted to general farming, although paying a good deal of attention to stock-raising. lle is the owner of a fine farm comprising between four hundred and five hundred acres. Ilis residence is commo- dious and comfortable. llis barns are weatherproof and his granaries and outbuildings capacious.
Mr. and Mrs. Kable are the parents of four children whose names are George J., Mary E., Carrie M. and Eva M. Mary E. is now the wife of William Wallace; Carrie M. married William Alde- son. Mr. Kable has been the incumbent of various minor offices in the township. He and his wife and their family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
ENRY BAKER is one of the leading and most successful English-American farmers and stock raisers of Brighton Township. where he owns a very beautiful farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is highly improved, and where he has a beautiful residence that is conspicuous for its completeness of finish
and detail. There are also line barns and outbuild- ings. which have been erected by himself, for this has been his home since 1860. Ile has besides some good land in Bunker Hill Township. Mr. Baker's advent to this county was made in 1856. Hle lived for one year in Chesterfield Township and three years in Woodburn. and then came into Brighton Township and purchased the place where he now resides. He came from England to this country in 1855.
Mr. Baker was born in Somersetshire, England, at South Petthering. May 27. 1839. Ile comes of a good English family of pure stock. His father was Joseph Baker, a native of Somersetshire, and our subject's grandparents were natives of the same shire, being farmers, and there spending all their lives. His grandfather died when a very old man, upwards of four-score years. Our subject's grandmother was in her maiden days Miss Mary Pittman, a daughter of William Pittman, an Eng- lish farmer, who lived and died in his native shire. Ile was a carpenter by trade, and having been four times married outlived all his wives.
Mrs. Baker, mother of our subject, survived her husband Joseph Baker, and died a very old lady. Our subject is the youngest of the family born to his parents and one of three to emigrate to this country. His brother John is now in Texas and a sister, who is Mrs. Job Keirl, lives in Bunker Hill Township. The orginal of our sketch grew up in his native shire, and there received a good English education, after which he learned the baker's trade and worked at it until he came to this country, being eighteen years of age when he made the momentous decision to leave his home. Ile left Liverpool on a steamer, and landing at New York City, came thence to Illinois and im- mediately proceeded to Chesterfield Township, Ma- coupin County.
In 1875 Mr. Baker returned to his old home in England and there enjoyed a delightful visit of six months' duration with the friends and relatives of his childhood. His marriage took place in Ma- coupin County and his bride was Mrs. Emma Lockyer, nee Barnstable. She was born in Somer- setshire, England, about 1826. Her parents lived and died in their native land, where our subject's
886
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
wife was first married to Richard Lockgar, after which they at once came to the United States and located in Woodburn, this county, and there was born one child, a daughter, who is now Mrs. Will- jam Ileal, of whom a fuller sketch may be found in her biography in another portion of this REC. ORD. Mr. Loekyer died in the prime of life, and some time after the death of her first husband she was united to our subject, and she was to him until death a dutiful and loving wife. Iler de- cease occurred at their home in this township Jan- mary 27, 1835. She was well and favorably known here, and those who knew her the best were as- sured of her nobllity of character. Mr. and Mrs. Baker were the parents of one son, William .J.
William J. Baker took to wife Miss Minnie Wayman, of this county. They now live in Ches- terfield Township, and are there prominent agri- culturists, Mr. Baker is a prominent member of the Congregational Church of Woodburn, this State, as was his wife during her lifetime. Our subject has been one of the Trustees for many years. A Republican in politics, the original of our sketch is not in any sense an office-seeker.
HIEO. L. SPANGENBERG. This gentleman is entitled to be called an old resident of Bunker Hill, as he took up his abode here in 1859. For some years he was engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, but in 1866 he established an office for the Milwaukee Mechanies Insurance Company, which he still represents. After some years as a local agent he took the State agency and for fifteen years past his work has extended over the State and into Indiana and Missonri. He acts as adjus- ter of claims for the company, and his continnance in their service is proof of his faithfulness, and his wisdom in regulating matters that come within his province.
Mr. Spangenberg traces his descent from highly respectable German families. His father, Col. An- ton Spangenberger. a native of Hesse-Cassel, was in the employ of the German goverment, bav- ing control of the building of houses and making
plans for the same in a large territory. His posi- tion was an important one, and he had a large corps of subordinates. Ile lived to an advanced age. dying in his native land when eighty five years old. Ile was a finely educated man, having received his instruction in the noted town of Jena. His father in turn was a prominent minister of the German Reformed Church, and the name of the Rev. Mr. Spangenberg is recalled by the dwellers of llesse- ('assel as that of one who did much for the people with whom he labored. Anton Spangenberg mar- ried Wilhelmina Ileuser, a native of the same Duehy as himself and one who possessed the estim- able traits of ancestors of good blood. She died some ten years before her husband, when sixty- seven years old. She was a life-long member of the Reformed Church.
The parental family consisted of five sons and daughters, and but two died before reaching matu- rity. Six are still living, all in their native land, except our subject. Another son, Charles, came to the l'nited States, but died in Milwaukee, Wis., after his marriage. Another brother, George. a promising young man, had just received a Gov- ernment appointment as architect when he was killed by falling from a sugar refinery he had in process of erection. His death at the early age of twenty-three years, was the most severe blow that ever befell the parents. The father, while actively engaged in the Prussian army, participated in the first French War, from 1812 to 1817, and fought against Napoleon's forces on several hotly contested fields.
The subject of this notice was born in Eschwege, Ilesse-Cassel, Germany, July 1. 1833, and was care- fully reared and highly educated. He took an advanced course of study in the University -of Hanover at Goettingen, and after his graduation set out for America. He took passage at Bremer- Haven in March, 1852, and after a voyage of some two months on a sailing vessel, landed in New York City. He went directly to Ohio where he visited an old friend of his father's, who was an cx-minister from Hesse. Thence he came West to Milwaukee, Wis., and after some years made his home in this county. He has traveled quite exten- sively, especially over this State, and is very obser-
887
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ving of manners and customs wherever he goes. lle is an excellent business man, a good citizen and one whose life is upright and character excellent.
In the town of Shelbyville, Ill .. the marriage of Mr. Spangenberg and Miss Theresa Ilhardt was solemnized. The bride was born in Prussia, Sep- tember 30. 1839, and was about seventeen years old when she came to America. Her parents were Ernest and Fredericka ( Meister) Ilhardt, the lat- ter of whom died in the Fatherland. The father, after his emigration, made his home in Milwaukee, Wis., and spent his last years in retirement there. In his early days he had been a man of prominence where he lived, and he and his wife were honored members of the Reformed Church. He was eighty- six years old when called hence. His daughter, Mrs. Spangenberg was the recipient of good privi- leges and careful home training, and is a bright, intelligent lady, refined and agreeable,and possess- ing all the housewifely ability of the race from which she sprang. She has two children-William E., now book-keeper for the Milwaukee Mechanics and German Insurance Companies, in Chicago, and Lulu M., an accomplished young lady, who bright- ens her parents' home. Both were educated in Bunker llill, and the son completed the academte course.
The first Presidential vote cast by Mr. Spangen- berg was for Gen. Fremont, and he has generally thrown his influence with the Republican party. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Charter Oak Lodge. No. 258, of Bunker Ilill.
RANK MERRILL. Among the energetic young citizens of Brighton prominent mention belongs to this gentleman, who is well known as a member of the firin of Chapin & Merrill, editors and proprietors of the Brighton News of Brighton. III. Mr. Chapin, the senior member, resides in St. Louis and is district organ- izer of the fraternity of Financial Co-operation. Mr. Merrill as local manager and editor, is largely responsible for the success of the paper, and since his first connection with it, in 1891, he has made
some valuable improvements and infused new ideas in it. The Brighton Voirs is a five-column folio and having a good circulation, justly ranks among the most prominent local papers of the county.
Mr. Merrill is a practical newspaper man and a printer, and while yet a minor has evinced the possession of considerable executive ability and good judgment. Prior to coming to this place to enter upon his present enterprise he was employed on The Latest, a Chicago paper published in the interests of the printers' trade. Young and ener- getic, a close observer, quick in formulating plans and prompt in executing them, he has a bright fu- ture awaiting him in the field of journalism. His political belief coincides with the principles pro- mulgated by the Democratic party. but his paper is independent.
ENRY ARKEBAUER, a successful and thrifty German of the village of Mt. Olive and doing business as a dealer in wines and liquors, is located on the corner of Main and Oak Streets, at which place he built up his house and started in business in 1878 and has since remained at this stand. Ile is a thorough- going business man and has made of his calling a respectable one of the kind. Ou: subject has spent most of his life in this town and vicinity. lle was born in Alion, Ill., March 1, 1852.
Mr. Arkebauer's parents were born in Hanover, Germany. Mr. Arkebaner, Sr., was born of Ger- man parents, who lived and died in the Kingdom of Ilanover and when he was a young man just of age he set out for the United States, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel. and in 1846 landed in New Orleans. Thence he went up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and from that point to Alton, where he was married to Miss Anna G. Gusthouse, who was a native of the same province as was her husband. She was the only member of her family who ventured to the I'nited States, coming here in the '40s when quite young.
After their marriage our subject's parents moved to Jerseyville, where the mother died in 1852, be-
888
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing then still quite young, only twenty-two years of age. . She left two children-he of whom we write and a brother .J. II., who died in 1851 while still a child. The husband was a second time mar- ried, his choice being Miss Anna C. Shaupff, a German lady who resided in Jerseyville. There she died about a year later, in 1854, while yet a young woman. She left one child who is now Mrs. Mary Sehutt of Ramsey. 111. Mr. Arkebauer, Sr., died in 1858 at Jerseyville, being then only thirty- two or three years of age.
The original of our sketeh when six years of age having lost his mother and step-mother was brought to Mt. Olive Township, this county, and reared by kinsmen until he was fourteen years of age, when he set out on his own account and since that time has made his own livelihood. He was mar- ried in Montgomery County to Miss Minnie Milier, who was born in Madison County, but was reared for the most part in Montgomery County, where her parents now live and are engaged as farmers, being now aged respectively sixty-eight and lifty four years. They were formerly members of the Lutheran Church but are now communicants of the Baptist faith. Our subject and his wife attend the Lutheran Church and are prominent young people who stand well in society at this place. Mr. Arkebauer is an active member of the Republican party. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children-George B. and Annie G.
ASHACK CROUCH. The calling of a farmer has been considered hororable from the earliest days, and it was perhaps a mit- igation of the punishment by which our first parents were ejected from the garden that the tilling of the soil and the making of the land pro- ductive should be theirs, for surely there is no way of coming nearer to the great Creator than in watching the development of the small as well as the great things in Nature. A blade of wheat unfolding under the summer sun is a promise of the goodness and greatness of the Father. It is indeed a divine trust and he who discharges the
trust faithfully and well is as great as he who gov- erns nations. Our subject is one of the favored class, being the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of fine farm land on seetions 23, 26 and 27, South Otter Township, which tract he has devel- oped until it is in a high state of cultivation.
Our subject is a native of East Tennessee where he was born November 5, 1833. There he re- mained until he had attained to years of manhood. In 1850 he felt that a change of location would be beneficial in a pecuniary way, and came to Macou- pin County, where he has ever since resided with the exception of four years passed in Fayette and Macon Counties. As a lad our subject was reared on a farm and brought up with more perfect knowledge of this pursnit than of any other. Nat- urally bright and intelligent he was quick to see what Nature made advantage of, and therein lies the secret of his success.
Since coming to this State Mr. Crouch has bought and sold several different tracts of land. These he has successively improved and disposed of, and his present fine farm which is the site of a good residence and outbuildings in the best of con- ditions, is one of the most desirable in the town- ship. Before coming to this State Mr. Crouch was united in marriage with Malinda Rice, by whom he had one child, a son, named James H. who married Miss Martha Moore. Mr. Crouch's wife, Malinda, died in Macoupin County, and he has a second time united to a lady whose name was Lucretia J. Hart. By her he had five sons and four daugli- ters. Their names are respectively: William N., Rebecca, Mary, John M., Albert M., Millard, Sarah M., Minda, Mashack. The eldest sou was early married to a lady whose maiden name was Alice New. Rebecca became the wife of William Conley; Mary is the wife of Edward Clarady ; John and Albert M. married respectively; Jane Laeoek, and Jane Layer. Millard took to wife Lena Wiz- zard; Sarah M., is the wife of A. Butler; Minda was united in marriage to Henry Campbell.
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.