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 44
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P HILIP LAUCK, who is engaged in busi- ness as a dealer in all kinds of fresh, dressed and cured meats on Main Street in Brighton was born in the Province of Nassau, Ger- many, December 4, 1845, and is the eldest child of Conrad and Hannah (Wenn) Lauek, natives of the same province, where they were reared and married. Several years later in September, 1857, they started for America, taking passage at- IIarvre, France upon a vessel which after some weeks landed in New Or- leans. The family came up the Mississippi River to Illinois and settled upon a farm near Brighton. Mr. Lauck was a shoemaker by trade but in this country engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1875, at the age of sixty years. His wife died two years previous at about the age of fifty years. They were members of the Lutheran Church and people of sterling worth.
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Coming to this country with his parents, the sub- ject of this sketch aided his father in the develop- ment of a farm. His educational advantages were such as the common schools afforded and by read. ing and observation be has made himself a well-in- formed man. He was married in St. Louis, to Miss Ileurietta Schneider, also a native of Germany, born in Saxony, in January, 1847. She was only seven years old when her father, Gotleib Schneider, brought his family to America. After crossing the broad ocean they settled in Ohio, and about two years later came on to Illinois, traveling with teams and wagons overland to Springfield, where they remained until 1858, which year witnessed their ar- rival in Brighton, where the parents both died. The mother and her son Heury were both killed while driving over a railroad crossing, by a fast-running passenger train, their death occurred instantly. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were life-long members of the Lutheran Church and were people whose lives entitled them to universal esteem.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lanek have been born seven children but they have lost three-an infant, Ilarry and Lonisa. Ada, Edward C., Albert and Frank are still with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lauek are both members of the Lutheran Church and he is one of the prominent citizens of Brighton. Ilis fellow-townsmen recognizing his worth and ability have frequently called upon him to serve in posi- tions of publie trust and for the long period of thirteen years he has filled the office of Councilman, a fact which indicated his faithfulness and efficiency. A stanch advocate of the Republican party he ex- ercises his right of franchise in its behalf and exerts every honorable means in his power to promote its interests. Mr. Lanek is also regarded as one of the leading business men of Brighton. IIe began op- erations in his present line as a partner of the Shuf- fle Bros., and for twenty years has been alone. He is supplied with all the best apparatus for dressing and preparing meats, has one of the finest establish- ments in the place and is enjoying a well-deserved patronage.
Our subject served as a soldier in the late war, enlisting in March, 1864, in Company D, Twenty- seventh Illinois Infantry. He was in the army of the Cumberland under Gen. Sherman, and was in all
the principal engagements of that campaign and was honorably discharged at Springfield Ill., in August 1865. Our subject belongs to the Odd Fel- lows of Brighton, the Knights of Honor, the Grand Army of the Republic and the O. I. H. all of Brighton.
R HULIFF DEY, one of the prominent far- mers of Ililyard Township, resides upon section 24, where he operates a good farm of two hundred acres. all of which is thor- ouglily cultivated and well stocked. It is now twenty one years since he took charge of this place and he has lived in this township since 1854, that being the year when the family removed from Jer- sey County to this county.
Jerseyville, Jersey County, Ill., is the birthplace of our subject, whose natal day was February 18, 1841. Ile is a son of Cornelius Dey, a native of Somerset County, N. J., who was born there Au- gust 26, 1817. Ilis father, Enoch, a New Jersey farmer, died at the age of fifty years. llis wife, Rebecca Shaw, who with her husband was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died when she was fifty-five years old.
Cornelius Dey was the fifth in a large family of children and was reared to farming pursuits in Somerset County, N. J., and there was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Rodgers who was born in that county January 4, 1819. Her parents, William and Ann (Perrine) Rodgers were both na- tives of that county and came of Scotch ancestry. This worthy couple emigrated to the West with their children, including Mrs. Dey and her husband, in April, 1838, coming by lake, canal and river, reaching Jerseyville, which was then a hamlet in a new country. Wolves and wild animals of all kinds then abounded and here Mr. and Mrs. Rod- gers took up a new life in this new country. In 1852 they came to this county and took property which had been slightly improved in Hilyard Township. After living upon it for some years they retired from active life and making their home in Bunker Hill there spent the remainder of their days. They both passed the line of four-score years, and after
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a quiet season of retirement died during the decade of the '50s. For many years they had been con- nected with the Presbyterian Church, but at the time of their death were members of the Congre- gational Church. Mr. Rodgers ever remained a strong Whig in politics.
The year following their marriage, Cornelius Dey and wife emigrated with Mrs. Dey's parents to Jerseyville and there Cornelius found employment at his trade of a mason and plasterer. In 1854 he came to Macoupin County and taking land in llil- yard Township followed the avocation of a farmer. Mr. Dey's death occurred October 30, 1874. He had made a success of his farming and had acquired a handsome property. He had been an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church and had been exceedingly helpful in religious move- ments in this new country. His political convie- tions had allied him with the Republican party in whose future he had great faith. His widow, who still survives him, is in the enjoyment of excellent health, and with faculties unimpaired pursues a life of usefulness, spending most of her time with her son Rhuliff. She is an earnest member of the Metli- odist Episcopal Church.
The gentleman of whom we write is one of a family of four sons and two danghters, and with one sister constitutes the remnant of the family. His brother, William H., who was a farmer in this township, departed this life March 8, 1891. His sister, Mrs. Mary Ferguson, is the wife of David Ferguson, a retired farmer of Staunton, Ill.
Having reached his majority Rhuliff Dey began work on his own account and before long was mar- ried in Ililyard Township to Miss Catherine M. Snedeker, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, October 13, 1845. Her father, Jacob, and her mother, Eleanor (Jay) Snedeker, were natives of New Jersey, the former coming of Jersey Dutch ancestry. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Snedeker removed to New York State and some years later to Champaign, Ohio and there a part of their family were born. In the fall of 1850 they emi- grated with the family to Jerseyville, this State, and one year later came to this county, making their home in Hilyard Township. They settled on one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and here
the father is still living at the age of eighty-five; the mother died, March 21, 1891, aged seventy-eight years. In their retirement they enjoyed the com- panionship of a large circle of friends who truly esteemed them for their excellent qualities of heart and mind.
Mr. and Mrs. Dey are the parents of six chil- dren, one of them, Edward, died in infancy ; Charles R. is at home with his parents; Orval A. and Nellie C. are attending the Normal School at Bushnell, preparatory to teaching, and Frank C. and Ilattie L. are at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dey are earn- est and consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which Mr. Dey acts as a faithful and efficient Trustee. His political views lead him to vote and work with the Republican party. This happy couple are among that thrifty class of resi- dents who go to make up a truly prosperous and desirable community.
G EORGE W. DUNCAN, who resides on sec- tion 3, Cahokia Township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the county, his father, Dr. Nathan Duncan, having here settled at an early day. lle was born in North Carolina as were the grandparents of our subject and the family is of English origin. The Doctor married a North Carolina lady, Miss E. Lavina Linebarger, whose parents, natives of Penn- sylvania, were of German descent. Two children were born unto them, Mary and Absalom, but be- fore they left North Carolina the daughter died. The Doctor with his wife and son and her parents came to the North, locating first in Indiana and after a year the Duncan family came to Illinois, locating first on the farm which is now occupied by our subject. This land the Doctor entered from the Government and in true pioneer style he began life, being one of the first settlers of the township. The nearest postoffice was in Carlin- ville, fifteen miles away and their markets were St. Louis and Alton, where they journeyed with ox- teams, five days being required to make the trip.
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Some years later Dr. and Mrs. Duncan went to Montgomery County, Ill., where the lady, who was a consistent member and active worker in the Methodist Church, died at the age of seventy-five. The Doctor survived his wife some years and passed away in Sherman, Tex. He became a prominent man in every community in which he resided and was for many years Class-Leader in the Methodist Church. Ile was not a graduated physi. eian but won his title on account of his home practice, he doctoring with herbs which he gathered from the woods.
The subject of this sketch first opened his eyes to the light of day on the farm which is still his home, February 13, 1834, and there his childhood and youth were passed. It has been his home con- tinuously since yet he has traveled extensively over the country. He has been engaged in the stoek business both in Illinois and Kansas on his own account and for other parties and in this way has come in contact with many people. His trav- els have made him familiar with the ways of the world and he has gained thereby a knowledge of men and their customs which he could not have acquired from text books.
In Montgomery County, Ill., Mr. Duncan led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah O. Johnston, who was born in Plainfield, Will County, Ill., in 1843, and when young removed to Montgomery County with her parents, Andrew and Laura ( Malthy) Johnston, who located in Litchfield, where the hus- band engaged in railroad contracting. Subsequently they removed to a farm but finally went to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where Mr. Jolin- ston's death occurred. His widow is yet living in that State, at the age of three-seore and ten. Six children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, of whom four are yet living: Edgar, who married Alice Simmons, is engaged in farming and stock raising in Dickinson County, Kan .; Laura B., O. Leroy and Myrtie are at home; Minnie is now de- ceased; and the sixth ehild died in infaney.
In politics Mr. Duncan is a Republican and a stalwart advocate of the party principles. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, in which he has served as Steward and Trustee. He is charitable and benevolent, a friend
to the poor and needy and has lead a useful and upright life. With the history of this county he has been identified for fifty-seven years, having witnessed almost its entire growth and develop- ment and in all possible ways he has aided in its upbuilding, proving himself a worthy citizen who has the best interests of the community at heart.
RS. MARGARET HOCHREITNER. It is unusual that a lady develops a business enterprise and taet enough to go ahead and independently make her own fortune. A century ago such a thing was almost unheard of. Now it is more common, but the traditions of womanly dependence are still strong upon the sex and when one steps out and makes a success of busi- ness life she really becomes a notable personage, The lady whose name heads this sketeh owns a fine farm on section 18, North Otter Township, and has so ably managed it that it is one of the most desir- able places in the township.
The lady of whom we write is a native of Ger- many, where she was born Jannary 8, 1824. Iler father was Christopher Sturm and her mother was Christin (Braznar) Sturm, both natives of Ger- many. Both of our subject's parents died in their native land. Margaret grew to womanhood in Germany and continued to live there until she was twenty-one years of age when she went to Switzer- land. There she worked as a domestic until her marriage, which took place April 17, 1848, when she took up the duties of life for better or worse with Jacob Hoebreitner, who was a native of Swit- erland, being there born August 25, 1799. After their marriage they lived in Switzerland for three years and then they emigrated to America in 1851.
Our subject and her husband on coming to this country settled first in Knoxville, Tenn., where the head of the family plied his trade which was that of a blacksmith. They remained in Knoxville un- til early in January, 1852, when they removed to St. Louis, but being unable to find employment there they came to Macoupin County and purchased a tract of land in North Otter Township. Here
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they settled and the home they erected was soon after saddened by the death of the husband. Mr. Hochreitner died June 17, 1868.
The original of this sketch has since carried on the farm herself and now owns one hundred and thirty-eight acres, five acres of which she rents. She has made valuable improvements upon the farm, having erected a nice home and built several outbuiklings. She is the mother of the following children: the eldest, William, is a farmer in North Otter Township; George died at the early age of one and one-half years; and Mary E. is the wife of Charles Hagler. Two are deceased.
Mrs. Hochreiter, who is a member of the Luth- eran Church, is an intelligent woman who knows how to attend to her own affairs without interfer- ing with the business of others. Kind and gener- ous in her natural impulses, she is liked and re- speeted by all who know her.
G EORGE Q. GORDY, a well-known business man of Carlinville, is a dealer in agricul- tural implements. carriages, wagons, etc. He is a native of Maryland, born in that State, in the town of Salisbury, Worcester County, January 31, 1844. Ilis father, Leonard Gordy, was born near that town on a farm, and was a son of William Gordy, a native of the same place, who was derived from early English ancestry, and passed his entire life in Worcester County, where he was engaged both as a farmer and as a Methodist preacher.
The father of our subject learned the trade of a carpenter in his youth, and followed it in Mary. land until he went to Missouri, when he was a young man. After a stay there of five years he went back to his native State, married, and spent the rest of his days there, dying in 1849. The maiden name of his wife was Mary E. Mitehell, and she was born on a farm near Salisbury, Md. Her father, William Mitchell, was born on the same farm, and spent his whole life in his native county, devoting himself to his occupation as a farmer. Ile married Mary Hall, a native of the same locality,
and also a life-long resident of Worcester County. She was still a young woman when her husband (lied and left her with three small children to enre for. She continued to live on the farm, and care- fully reared her offspring to good and useful lives. She has attained a venerable age, and now makes her home with her son John B. James A. and George Q. are the names of her other children.
The latter of whom we write was but about five years old when his father died. He grew up much like other farmer boys, early learning to do farm work, attending school only in the winter seasons that he might assist in farming the rest of the year. Ile remained at home with his mother until he was sixteen years old, and then commenced life for himself, working out on a farm by the month in Maryland until 1864. In that year he came to Illi- nois. and in Chicago found employment in driving a vegetable wagon from Tremont Garden. He was thus engaged one year, and at the expiration of that time went to Sangamon County and farmed a year. He next came to this county and learned the trade of a blacksmith at Carlinville. He did jour- ney work at that until 1876, when he opened a shop on his own account. The following year he formed a partnership with J. C. Myer, that continued until March, 1890. In 1888 he became interested in the sale of agricultural implements, succeeding Theo- dore Moore, who had been in the business a num- ber of years. He has a well-fitted-up and well- stocked store, carrying always the best in his line, and deriving a good income from his extensive trade.
One of the most important events in the life of our subject, was his marriage, February 21, 1870, to Miss Sarah E. Baird, whereby he secured one of life's choicest blessings, a good wife. Mrs. Gordy is a native of Alton, this State. Her otherwise happy wedded life with our subject, has been sad- (lened by the death of their two children: Clara E., who died at the age of five years; and Lucy, who died at the age of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Gordy have an adopted child, Jessie M., upon whom they lavish the tenderest care and affection.
Our subject stands high in business circles as an honorable, straightforward man, who deals fairly by all. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episco-
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pal Church, and we find him helping to carry for- ward its every good work for the social and relig- ious elevation of the community. In his political views Mr. Gordy is a stanch Democrat.
E W. HAYES, one of the leading attorneys of the county and one of the prominent mem- bers of the bar, has been a resident of Bun- ker Hill for twenty-four years. Public-spirited and progressive, he has done much for her inter- ests. Mr. Hayes is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Franklin County, Janu- ary 30, 1837. The family is of Irish origin and was founded in America by David Ilayes, who with other brothers emigrated to this country prior to the Revolution. lle settled near Dauphin, Pa., and after some years, with his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Wilson, removed to Franklin County, becoming pioneers of that region, which was then just opening up to civilization. Upon a farm in South Hampton Township they spent the remain- der of their lives and two generations lived there after them. Wilson Hayes was born and reared on that old homestead, of which he afterward became owner and there lived and labored for many years, his death occurring at the age of seventy-two. Ile married Martha Culbertson, who was also of Irish descent, and like her husband was a faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. They became parents of six children, the eldest of whom was Da- vid, the father of our subject. Ile came into pos- session of the old home on the death of his father and there resided for many years, when he sold and removed to Shippensburg, Cumberland County, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-seven years. lle had adhered to the faith of his fathers and was an upright, honored man. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Naney Cowell, is a native of Cumberland County and yet makes her home in Shippensburg, being now eighty years of age, but still hale and hearty She, too, is a Presbyterian and a consistent Christian woman.
Our subject is the eldest of six sons and two daughters who were born unto David and Naney
Hayes. All lived to mature years and all were married but one. Five of the family are yet liv- ing. The early life of E. W. passed uneventfully, nothing of special occurrence breaking the usual routine. In the spring of 1861 he donned the blue and became a member of Company A, Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry and the regiment was as signed to the Army of the Potomac, participating in most of the engagements of the East, including the first and second battles at Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and many others. Mr. Hayes saw much hard fighting but was never wounded, how- ever. He was taken sick with typhoid fever, which incapacitated him for duty and he was dis- charged. For some time after his return home he was unable to resume work, but time and good nursing at length brought back his health.
In the meantime, Mr. Hayes had begun the study of law. He had acquired his literary education in Lafayette College, of Easton, Pa., and began fit- ting himself for the legal profession in the law of- fice of R. P. MeClure, of Carlisle, Pa., with whom he remained until he entered the service. When his health was restored he returned to his old pre- ceptor and was admitted to the bar in 1865. lle was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois about two years later and located in Bunker Hill, where he has since made his home. Ile has an en- viable reputation as a practitioner and ranks high, not only among his professional brethren of Ma- coupin County, but throughout the State as well.
In Franklin County, Pa., Mr. Ilayes was joined in wedlock with Miss Margaret F. Hcek, a native of Cumberland County, born in Shippensburg, July 18, 1848, She is a daughter of Jacob and Marga- ret (Sturgeon) Ilecek, and on the paternal side is of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, while the Sturgeons are of Scotch-Irish descent. Her mother died in the Keystone State at the age of seventy years. Her father spent the last twelve years of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Hayes, in Bunker Hill, and died at the age of eighty-eight. They were both life long members of the Presbyterian Church. They had quite a large family, but the wife of our subject is the only one now living. She obtained a good practical education, is a pleasant and intelli- gent lady and is an active and faithful member of the
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Columbus, Wheely
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Congregational Church, to which Mr. Hayes also belongs and in which for years he has been an offi- cer. They have an interesting family of five chil- dren-Margaret G., Bertha, Edgar H., Ralph II. and Joseph A .; they have lost one child, Alma.
Mr. Hayes is a stalwart Republican and was twice nominated for County Judge, hut was defeated, owing to the large preponderance of Democrais in the county. He frequently attends the county and State conventions of his party, where his opinions are received with every degree of respect. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Veteran Union. With the leading interests of Bunker Ilill he has been prominently connected, being now a Director in the Bunker Hill Nail Com- pany, President of the Cemetery Association. ex-President and one of the Directors of the Library Association and President of the School Board. All social, moral and educational interests find in him a warm friend and Bunker Hill has no better citizen.
C OLUMBUS WHEELER. The farming com - munity of Brushy Mound Township recog- nizes in the subject of this notice a repre- sentative citizen and a most successful agriculturist. Ile is the owner of a fine landed estate comprising nearly seven hundred acres. On his home farm he has erected a commodious frame house and barn, and all necessary and adequate buildings, and has improved the land until it presents a very attrac- tive appearance. The attention of the reader is in- vited to his portrait on the opposite page.
The native place of our subjeet is Christian County, Ky., and the date of his birth April 7, 1826. ITis father, James Wheeler, was, it is thought, born in New England, and when a young men he went South, settling in Kentucky, where he engaged in teaching school. In Christian County he married Miss Catherine Harlan, who is thought to have been a native of Kentucky, and was a daughter of Jehu Harlan. In the fall of 1832, ac- companied by his wife, three children, and five of his wife's brothers and sisters, Mr. Wheeler started for Illinois, journeying with teams, and cooking and
camping by the way. He located in Macoupin County, settling in Gillespie Township on land which his father-in-law had purchased for him. At that time there were but a few settlers in the county, and he was thus numbered among its early pio- neers. The greater part of the land was held by the Government, and later was sokl for $1.25 an acre. Where the town of Bunker Hill now stands there was but one building, and that was a log cabin. Deer, wolves, wild turkeys and sand hill cranes were very plentiful.
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