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 52
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After coming here Mr. Heinz found employment with a farmer in Chesterfield Township, and con- tinned thus engaged until 1854, when he suffered so from chilts and fever that he was obliged to give up work. For thirteen months he was unable to do anything and had to spend all his hard earned savings to pay his expenses during that long ill- ness. lle therefore bad to begin life anew, and coming to Carlinville in 1855 he commenced work at the trade of a carpenter. and was employed by one man a year and a half. llere he met with fur. ther discouragement in his attempts to become in- dependent, as he lost all his wages. His next move was to establish himself as a contractor in Spring- field, and from that time his affairs flourished and everything went well with him. Ile staid in Springfield but a few months and then returned to Carlinville. He took a contract to erect three build- ings in this town, and continued buisness in that line fo a year At the expiration of that time he began the manufacture of furniture, commencing in a small frame shop, and as his business increased he added to the building, and finally erected in 1872. the commodious brick structure now occupied by his sons. It is located on West Main Street, is two stories high, and is 30x100 feet in dimensions. Mr. Heinz continued actively engaged in the man- ufacture and sale of furniture until 1883, when, well satisfied with the competence he had secured, he turned the business over to his sons who are still carrying it on successfully.
Our subject was married in 1856 to Miss Johanna Knapner, a native of Bavaria, and a daughter of Karl Knapper, and in her he has a true and de- voted wife. They have four sons and one daughter, as follows: Fredericka, wife of John Kistner; Charles, Henry, Albert A. and Gustav.
'The fine business and financial qualities displayed by our subject in the management of his own af- fairs have brought him into prominence in public life, and he has held many important civic offices, in all cases showing himself to be animated with true public spirit and an honest desire to promote the best interests of city and county. He was a member of the City Council in 1866-68-69; he was Collector in 1871-72; and in 1876, 1882 and 1883 was Mayor of Carlinville. In 1885 he was elected to the responsible office of County Treasurer, and managed the finances of the county with character- istic sagacity and honesty, holding the office until 1890. Our subject is still identified with the mon- etary interests of Maconpin County, as he is Vice- President of the Carlinville National Bank, to which office he was elected when that institution was or- ganized in 1890. Politically, our subject has always been in sympathy with the Democrats. Religiously, be was reared in the Lutheran faith, and has always remained true to the religion of his forefathers. He helped to erect the first Lutheran Church in this city as one of its organizers, and has always been one of the most ardent and devoted members.
RIEDRICK REINEKE, a prosperous farmer who makes his home on section 31, Bird Township, was born in Brunswick, Ger- many, November 11, 1838. His father was Chris- toph Reineke, and his mother bore the maiden name of Anna D. Schroeder, both being natives of Brunswick, Germany. They emigrated to America in January, 1848, and landed in New. Or- leans. From there they came to St. Louis, where they resided for a short time and where the father's days were ended. The mother is still living at an advanced age, and is tenderly cherished by her children. She and her departed husband were the parents of six children, of whom our subject was the second. Ile was a young man when he came with his parents to this country, and until the death of his father he remained with them. He
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then came to Macoupin County, where he worked out by the month for farmers for about two years.
The subject of this sketch finally engaged in farming on his own account in Polk Township, this county, and after four years purchased one hundred and sixty-five aeres in Bird Township, where he now resides, and where he has made his home from that day to this, with the exception of about a year and a half when he lived in Dubuque County, lowa. He is one of the most energetic and industrious farmers in the township, and with German thrift and frugality he improved his farm and makes every acre pay for itself. Ile has erected a pleasant and commodious residence and excellent farm buildings. Ilis farm of three hun- dred and thirty-five acres is a valuable and attract- ive piece of property.
The union of Mr. Reineke with Miss Mary A. Rafferty was solemnized in Polk Township, June 4, 1852. ITis bride is a daughter of James and Nancy (Booth) Rafferty. The parents were of Southern birth, Mr. Rafferty being born in Virginia, and his wife in Kentucky. They came from the latter State to Macoupin County in 1834, and spent the remainder of their days in Polk Township. Mrs. Reineke is the youngest in a large family of ten children. Davis County, Ky., is the place of her birth, and November 7, 1833, was her natal day. Her education and training in domestic duties were in Polk Township, where she resided until her mar- riage.
Nine children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Reineke. They are named Lois and Lewis P., deceased; Edgar F .; Annie D., Mrs. Henry Jones; Nora M., and Walter O., deceased; Frederick W., Nancy M. and Adelaide. Edgar F. married Amanda E. Walton; they have four children, namely, Bertha, Addie, Maggie and Palmer. Frederick W. has taken to wife Mary A. Dunn.
Mr. Reineke devotes his entire attention to stock . raising and agricultural pursuits. He is a public- spirited man, and takes a deep interest in all affairs of the community, the county and the State. His interest in educational matters has led him to ac- cept a position on the School Board, where he is
ever active and efficient. Ile is sincerely attached to the doctrines of the Democratic party, and ear- nestly advances its interests with his vote and his voice. Both he and his excellent and intelligent wife are devoted members of the Shiloh Baptist Church. His daughters occupy a leading position in the social life of Bird Township, and with their mother form a nucleus around which gathers many a delightful company.
C HARLES PECK has been a resident of Illi- nois for half a century and more, and thirty of those years have been passed in this county, where he is still identified with its agricul- tural interests as the proprietor of a choice farin, though he is now living in honorable retirement at Carlinville. Born at Alexander, Genesee County, N. Y , March 14, 1821, was the date of his birth. Ile is descended from a sterling Massachusetts an- cestry that settled in that old Commonwealth in Colonial times,
The father of our subject, who bore the same name as himself, was born in Berkshire, Mass., and was a son of Eleazer Peck, who in turn was a son of Dr. Charles Peck, who is also supposed to have been a native of the old Bay State, where he spent his last years. lle was a practicing physician of much local repute, and he was a surgeon in the Continental Army during the French and Indian War. The grandfather of our subject was a farmer and removed from Massachusetts to the Western wilds of the State of New York in 1805, and be- came one of the first settlers of Genesee County, the removal thither being made with teams. He bought a tract of heavily timbered land in Alexan- der Township, six miles south of Batavia. For some years there was no market in that section un- til after the settlement of Rochester, forty miles distant. The grandfather of our subject cleared a farm, upon which he lived many years, but his last days were spent with his son Gaius in Bennington Township, which now lies in Wyoming County, his death occurring at the advanced age of ninety- six years. His wife, a native of Massachusetts,
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whose maiden name was Mary Brooks, lived to be even older than he, lengthening ont a long life of ninety-seven years, dying at the home of their son. They were the parents of these five children, Jabez, Charles, Sarah, Deborah and Gains.
The father of our subject grew to manhood in the state of his nativity, and was there married to Mary, daughter of William and Abigail King, and likewise a native of Berkshire County, Mass. Ile (the father of our subject ) preceeded his father to the State of New York, and bought a tract of for- est-covered land of the Holland Purchase Com- pany. The log house that he built upon it, which was the birthplace of our subject, was his home until 1836. He then sold his possessions in New York with a view of becoming a pioneer once again of a newly settled country, crossing the intervening States with a team until he arrived in Indiana, making the removal with teams, and where to-day the iron horse travels in every direction not a rail- road tract was then crossed in the entire journey. Mr. Peck settled at Sugar Creek Grove in the woods of Benton County, two miles east of the Illi- nois State line, and five miles from any neighbor. lle bought a squatter's claim to a traet of Govern- ment land, and when it came into the market went to the land office to enter it, but found that the section on which it lay formed a part of an Indian reservation. In 1840 he again disposed of his property, and coming to Illinois bought at Con- cord, in Iroquois County, and the ensuing four years kept a hotel. At the expiration of that time he resumed farming, and continued that occupation and his residence in that county until his demise in September, 1852, deprived it of one of its most useful and practical pioneers. His wife had pre- ceeded him in death, dying in Benton County, Ind., in 1838. They reared four children, named as follows: Abigail, Laura, Mary Erasta and Charles.
Charles Peck obtained his education in the dis triet schools of his native county, which were con- ducted on the subscription plan. After the removal of the family to Indiana he was of great assistance to his father in clearing his land. He remained an inmate of the parental home until be attained his majority, when he commenced life on his own ac.
count working on a farm in Iroquois County. In 1813 he went to Mellenry County, where he bought a quarter section of land in Algonquin Township, the improvements upon it consisting of twenty acres of the land under cultivation, and an unfin- ished frame house. There were no railways there for a number of years, and Chicago, forty-three miles away, was the nearest market. Deer and wolves were plenty, and betokened the wild state of the country, which was still in the hands of the pioneers.
Mr. Peck resided there until 1858, when he re- moved to Jersey County, whence he came to this county in 1861, and settled in Shipman Township on a tract of one hundred and seventy acres of fine farining land that he purchased, seventy-five acres of which were under cultivation, and the place was provided with frame buildings. Ile devoted him- self to the further improvement of his farm, and resided on it until 1881, when be rented it advan- tageously, and coming to Carlinville bought his present place of residence.
The marriage of Mr. Peck with Miss Hannah Eliza Snook, took place in 1851, and has been as full of contentment and happiness as usually falls to the lot of mortals. They have one son, George. Ile married Ella Sparlding, and they have a daugh- ter named Zoe. Mrs. Peek is a native of Rensse- laer County, N. Y., and a daughter of John T. Snook, who was also a native of that county, as his father. Tunis Snook, is also thought to have been, he being of German antecedents. The latter car- ried on his occupation as a farmer in that part of New York in Sand Lake Township, where in the course of time he died. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Snyder, and she is likewise supposed to have been born in Rensselaer County, where she died.
Mrs. Peck's father was reared on a farm, and continued to live in the county of his nativity un- til 1848. In that year he came to Illinois and set- tled among the pioneers of Algonquin Township, MclIenry County, where he actively entered upon the improvement of a farm, upon which he dwelt until his demise in 1852. in the month of Septem- ber. Mrs. Peck's mother bore the maiden name of Eliza Maria Hulseapple. She was born in Dutchess
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County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Nicholas HIulseapple. a native of the same county, which was also the birthplace of his father, Garret Ilulseapple, so far as known, he being of German antecedents. lle owned and managed a farm, and passed his last years in Greenbush Township. The grandfather of Mrs. Peck removed to Rensselaer County, and located on land that his father gave him in Green . bush Township, and there he was prosperously en- gaged in farming until death elaimed him. Mrs. Peck's mother, who has attained a venerable age, makes her home with her.
OHIN HOECKER is doing a good business at Carlinville as a harness maker. Ile was born on a farm in Prairie Du Long Town- ship, St. Clair County, III., May 1, 1847. His parents were Abraham and Kate ( Ensenauer) lloecker, and they were natives of Germany, as were also their forefathers for many generations back. The paternal grandparents of our subjeet were life-long residents of the German Fatherland. The father of our subject was reared on a farm, and adopted the calling of a farmer when he he- came self-supporting. Ile carried on his vocation in the old country until 1846 when he emigrated to America with his wife and the five children that had been born to them in their old home. Coming to Illinois he bought a partly improved farm in Prairie Du Long Township, and resided there un- til 1865, when he sold his property there and came to this county, where he lived with his oldest son until his death. To him and his wife were born these six children: Kate, Elizabeth, Christina, Peter, Alteser, and .John.
The latter, who forms the subject of this sketch, was the only child of the family born in America. Ile attended school whenever opportunity offered, and also assisted his father on his farm when he was a boy. At the age of fourteen he commenced to learn the trade of a harness maker at Belleville. in St. Clair County. He served an apprenticeship of three years, and at the expiration of that time went
to St. Louis to do journey work, and was thus em- ployed there six months, and then engaged in business in the Southern States. Two years later he returned to St. Louis and worked in that city one year, and then we next hear of him at Boone- ville, Mo., where he was employed as a journey workman six years. After that he established himself as a maker of harness on his own account at Arrow Rock, Mo. lle remained there until 1879, and in that year came to Carlinville to open a harness manufactory here, which he has success- fully managed ever since.
Mr. Iloecker and Miss Mary E. Stickmann united their lives and fortunes in 1868. Mrs. Iloecker was born in St. Louis, and is of German parentage. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of these four children: Addie, Louis, Ernest and Nellie. Mrs. Iloecker is in every respect a thoroughly good woman, whom to know is to esteem, and she is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church Mr. Hoecker is a capable, straightforward business man, and his credit is good wherever be is known. Ile takes an intelli- gent interest in politics. and gives his allegiance to the Republican party.
RS. HENRIETTA E. (DYSON) VIRDEN, widow of Archibaldl L. Virden, a pioncer merchant of Virden, has been a resident of this county for many years, and her many fine traits of character mark her as a true woman, whose kindly presence and friendly disposition have won her a warm place in the hearts of all about her. Mrs. Virden is a native of Montgom- mery County, Md., born January 8, 1827. Her father, William Dyson, was born in the same county, and was a son of John Dyson, who is sup- posed to have also been a native of Maryland, and to have been a descendant of an old English fam- ily. Ile was a farmer, and died on his farm in Montgomery County.
Mrs. Virden's father was reared on the old home- stead in Maryland, and he continued to live in his native State until 1842. In that year he left his old
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home, and taking with him his seven children, started for Illinois with teams. After a journey of seven weeks he arrived at his destination in Christ- ian County, and identified himself with its pioneers. buying a tract of land near Taylorville and devot- ing his time to its development until his premature deatlı, in 1845, cut short his busy career, and de- prived that county of a useful citizen, who was doing good service in helping to promote its agri- cultural interests. His wife, the mother of our subject, preceded him in death, dying in their old Maryland home in 1836. She was a native of Montgomery County, that State, and her maiden name was Annie Darnall. She was a danghter of Thomas and Henrietta (Fish) Darnall, who were natives of Delaware.
Mrs. Virden was fifteen years old when she came with her father to Illinois, and she lived with him until her marriage, at the age of seventeen years. Angust 18, 1844, she gave her hand and heart to Archibald L. Virden, in a marriage which was a harmonious and happy union from beginning to end, a period covering nearly thirty-six years, lacking but a few days of the anniversary of the occasion when they were made one.
Archibald Virden was born October 27, 1823, in Ross County, Ohio, of which his father, Isaac Vir- den, was a pioneer. The latter was born JJanuary 10, 1779, and removed from Maryland to Ohio in an early day of its settlement. He was there inar- ried to Amelia Saddler, who was born in Ohio in 1791, June 10, and was a daughter of one of its first pioneer families. In 1839 Mr. Virden's pa- rents also became pioneers, coming to Illinois and locating among the few settlers that bad preceded them in the wilds of Christian County. The father bought land, which he improved into a farm, upon which he made his home until death called him to a higher sphere. He and his good wife reared a family of ten sons and one daughter.
Their son Archibald was sixteen years old when the family came to this State, and he continued to be an inmate of the parental household until his marriage with our subject. They began their wedded life in Christian County, then went to San- gamon County, where they lived two years. Mr. Virden then bought a place near Auburn, in Chris-
tian County. In 1852 he sold his property there, and coming to this county, was one of the leading citizens of Virden from that time until his decease, August 8, 1880. The village had just been laid ont by his brother John. in whose honor it was named. The surrounding country, which was sparsely settled, was still in the hands of the pio- neers, and deer and other wild game had not yet fled before the advaneing steps of civilization, Mr. Virden bought village property, and in the years that followed was active in the commercial inter- ests of Virden, and was potent in promoting its ad- vancement, materially, socially and morally. lle at once opened a grocery store, being one of the first merchants of the village. He managed that successfully a few years, and then entered the drug business, in which he continued until his death. He was a very capable business man, prompt and sys- tematic in carrying on his business, using only the most honorable methods in his dealings, and build- ing up an extensive and lucrative trade. Ile was not many years past the meridian of life, and was at the height of his usefulness, when death closed his career and removed from Virden an honored and valuable citizen, who had always been true to all the obligations imposed upon him in all the re- lations of life that he had held towards others. A loving husband, a tender father, a kind neighbor and a faithful friend was lost to his family and community when he closed his eyes in the dream- less sleep of death, and the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a consistent member, was deprived of one of its most generons supporters.
Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Virden these two are left to comfort their mother's declining years-Annie M. and Ed- gar L. Annie married Otho Williams, and they have three children, named Mariel, Archie Virden and Lamira. Edgar, who married Miss Jennie Piper, is a resident of Cincinnati. William, Mrs. Virden's second child, was born June 28, 1852. He married Sarah Wilcox, and died in December, 1882, leaving three children-Homer W., Henrietta E. and Archie L.
Mrs. Virden is very pleasantly situated in one of the cosiest and most attractive of Virden's homes. She presides over it graciously, and all who cross
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its threshold are welcomed to comfort and true hospitality. Our subjeet is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and carries her religion into her every day life with true Christian spirit.
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ETER W. LORENZ is a representative of the valiant soldiers of the Union Army in the late war, who though of foreign birth displayed true patriotism and unselfish de- votion to the interests of their adopted country such as has scarcely been paralleled in the annals of any other land. Our subject has also shown himself a good citizen in other ways, and he is highly esteemed by the residents of Carlinville, where he is conducting a prosperous grocery busi- ness.
Mr. Lorenz was born in Crampa, Holstein, Ger- many, December 17, 1832. Bernhard Lorenz, his father, who was born near Holstein, was a shoe- In which it took part in Missouri, Arkansas, Ne- 17 maker and tanner by occupation, and gave his at- tention to those trades all his life. Ile always lived in the land of his birth, and his death oe- curred in 1858. Nine of the fourteen children born to him and his good wife grew to maturity, and these six came to America; Annie, Margaret, Bernhard, John, Lucy and Jacob,
Our subjeet was well educated in the excellent schools of his native country, which he attended from the time he was six years old until he was fourteen. When his school days was over he served an apprenticeship of four and one- half years to learn the trade of a harness-maker. While yet in the prime and vigor of early manhood he deter- mined to seek that Eldorado of so many of his countrymen, the United States of America, as he thought his chances of attaining prosperity would be much better here than in the land of his nativ- ity. In accordance with this resolution lie set sail for Hamburg on the first day of March, 1857, in the steamer "Saxonia," and on the 20th of the same month found himself in the leading metropolis of this great country. He not only had no capital with which to begin his new life in a strange land, but he was indebted to his brother to the sum of
$40. He sought work, and was employed at his trade at Tarrytown one month. He then reterned to New York City, but could not find employment there. We next hear of him in this county, in Carlinville, whither he came in March, 1858. Here he worked for his brother until the rebellion broke out.
Our subject was one of the first to respond to respond to the call for troops made by the Gov- ernment when hostilities commenced between the North and South. He enlisted in April, 1861, for three months in Company K, Seventh Illinois Infan- try. He was honorably discharged with his regiment. the following July, and returned home. Two weeks later our subject again entered the service to help defend the stars and stripes, enlisting in the First Missouri Cavalry for a period of three years. Ile furnished his own horse, and went forth to bat- tle well equipped. For three years and two months he did good service in the army, and was with his regiment in all its long marches, and in the battles "braska . amit?'Texas. At the expiration of their term of enlistment he and his fellow-soldiers were discharged at Little Rock, Ark., and mustered out at St. Louis in October, 1864.
After leaving the army Mr. Lorenz returned to Carlinville and worked at his trade until failing eyesight compelled him to abandon that calling, and he subsequently opened a restaurant and gro- cery. Ile managed both together three or four years and then gave up the restaurant, and has since confined himself exclusively to the grocery business. Hle has a fine, well fitted up store, car- ries a choice lot of groceries and a niee line of crockery, glassware. etc. By pursuing strictly hon- est methods and supplying his customers with the best, he has built up a good and profitable trade, and has placed himself among the solid men of the town. Mr. Lorenz is a firm supporter of the Re- publican party, politically ; socially he is a member of the Dan Merrick Post, No. 339, G. A. R.
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