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 67
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tages and opportunities. In consequence, with his twin brother Claus, a carpenter by trade, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, taking passage on a three masted vessel, which sailed from Hamburg and arrived at New Orleans after a long and tedious voyage of eight weeks. The brothers proceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis in De- eember, 1848, and the following year came to Bunker Hill, arriving on the 9th of June, 1849. They were poor men at that time, but they at once began work, Frederick following his trade of a plasterer for many years. However his opera- tions in that line were interrupted by the break- ing out of the Civil War.
At that time liè began business as a grain dealer and for two years was associated with a Mr. Butterfield. The succeeding year he carried on operations alone, and in 1865 admitted to part- nership J. II. Bauer, which firm continued business until 1880, when the partners turned over the management and care of their interests to their respective sons, Emil F. Bumann and Albert Bauer, but the latter is now deceased, leaving the former in sole charge. Frederick Bumann owns consider- able real estate in Bunker Hill and the surround- ing country, and his possessions have all been acquired through his own efforts. He may truly be called a self-made man, for when he came to this country he had no capital save a young man's bright hope of the future and a determination to succeed. And he has succeeded far beyond his expectations, being numbered among the wealthy citizens of this community.
A marriage ceremony performed in Bunker Hill on the 2d of May, 1851, united the destinies of Frederick Bumann and Miss Dora C. Kuhl, who was born in Holstein, Germany, May 2, 1825, and there resided until after the death of her parents, when, with a sister, she left her native land in 1850, and came to America. Landing in New York City, she made her way to St. Louis, Mo., and soon afterward came to Bunker Hill. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bumann have been born ten children, five of whom are now deceased-Ma- tilda, Emma, George and Fredericka died in in- fancy. F. Segel accidentally broke one of his lower limbs in 1889, and died from the effects twelve
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weeks later. He left a wife and one eliild, who are living in Bunker Ilill. The living members of the family are: Adolph, who married Louisa Spen- cer and is a successful young merchant and busi- ness man of Bunker llill; Theodore, who married Catherine Hentz, of Bunker Hill, where he carries on a hardware business; Emil F., wbo wedded May Morgan and is a grain dealer of Bunker Hill; Anna M., wife of Ilarry Wise, of the firm of Wise, Mercer & Co., millers, of Bunker Hill; and Albert M., Superintendent of a manual training school in Omaha, Neb.
Mr. and Mrs. Bumann attend the Presbyterian Church as do also their children, and the father and sons are stanch supporters of the Republican party. Mr. Bumann has taken an active part in political affairs and bas been honored with a num- ber of positions of public trust, having served as Councilman of the city for several years, and is now the efficient Mayor. The duties of the otlice he faithfully discharges, and thereby has won the confidence and commendation of his po- litical enemies as well as his constituents.
0 WEN WARD. Many of the best citizens of Illinois have come from that excellent stock, the Protestant families of Northern Ireland. Among these we find the citizen whose name ap- pears at the head of this paragraph, who, with bis excellent wife resides on section 30, lilyard Town- ship, where they carry on general farming, upon a well-improved traet of eighty acres. This has been his home for some thirteen years, and he has lived in the State since 1841, coming to this county in 1847, and making it his home bere, with the excep- tion of a few years which he passed in Jersey County.
Mr. Ward was born in Ireland about the year 1816, and grew up in his native country until lie became a young man, when he emigrated to Amer- ica and settling in New York City, learned the trade of a carpenter. He followed ship carpenter- ing in the Navy Yard for some years and later
came West and followed his trade in Alton and other places for some years. His work was mainly in the line of building houses, until he came to this county and settled upon his present farm.
This handsome property belonged to Mrs. Ward, whom our subject married after coming to this county. Iler maiden name was Mary Taggart and she was a native of Ireland, being born about the year 1825, and was still young when she came; with her father, Adam Taggart, to the United States. Her mother, Fannie nee Morrison, had died when a young woman in her native land, leaving four chil- dren to be cared for by her husband. Mrs. Ward is the only one now living. After living one year in Pennsylvania, the father came to Ohio and died there a few years later, while still in the prime of life, and while this daughter was yet a child. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taggart were members of the Protest- ant Church.
Mrs. Ward was reared by an uncle, Andrew Taggart, who brought her in her girlhood to Ma- coupin County which has since been her home. She is a true wife and mother and has had four chil- dren, one of whom Mary J., has passed to the other world. James is a farmer in Shipman Town- ship; Thomas is now working on the Mississippi River and Adam is at home and carries on the farm. The Democratic party receives the political allegiance of Mr. Ward. The happy home of this old couple is a pleasant place of resort to all the neighborhood, and their true-hearted kindness and worth make them beloved by all who know them,
NTON HUBER. The business interests of Bunker Ilill have been represented more extensively by the Huber family than by any one family in the city. At the head of the business stood our subject and associated with him were his two sons, but Anton Huber has now retired from active life, having through his own efforts acquired a handsome competency which enables bim to lay aside business cares, while lie rests in the enjoyment of the fruit of former toil.
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The story of his life is as follows. 1le was born in Biden, Germany, June, 9, 1826, and his father, also named Anton, was a native of Baden, where his entire life was spent. By occupation he was a laborer and he died at the age of seventy-six years. In the place of his nativity he wedded Miss Mary Beckley, who lived and died in her native province. She was killed by falling from a cherry tree at the age of fifty-eight years. Both she and her husband were members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Our subject is one of twelve children, three of whom came to this country and are yet living, while two still make their home in the father land. In the common schools Anton acquired his edu- cation and at the age of twenty-eight years started for America, embarking from Havre, France, on the " Maud Livingston," a three-mast sailing vessel, November 5, 1854, and reaching his destination, New Orleans, after forty-seven days. He had only money enough to get his trunk off the boat and thus without means, a stranger in a strange land, he began life in America. It was necessary that he should have occupation to supply his daily wants and so he accepted a position as a wood chopper. For three months he followed that business, working in the swamps of Louisiana, where often times the water was nearly up to his knees. He remained in the vicinity of the Cre- scent City for three months, during which time he had secured money enough to take him up the river to St. Louis, where he worked as a laborer for some time. He was industrious and economical and at length had saved enough money to start in the grocery business, opening a small store in 1863. In August, 1865, be sold out and from St. Louis went to Prairietown, Madison County, Ill., where he bought out the stock of Conrad Cramer, a general merchant of that place. He was very successful in his undertaking and when his financial resources were somewhat increased he came to Macoupin County where he invested his capital.
Not long after his arrival in the United States, Mr. Huber was married to a lady, an old acquaint- ance of his, who on the same vessel with him crossed the Atlantic. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Gebhardt, and she was born September 24, 1831,
in Germany. Her parents lived and died in Baden. Mrs. Iluber has proved a true helpmate to her husband and has done not a little towards securing the competence which they now possess, although her work has been of a less public character. Seven children have been born of their union, six of whom are yet living; Andrew, who married Angusta Fahrenkrog, and he is engaged in business in Bunker Hill; Herman, who wedded Mary Schoeber of Madison County, Ill., and is now a general merchant of Harvel, Ill .; Caroline; Charles who married Ella Heneke, and is now a leading grocer of Bunker Hill; Lousia and Henry. The mother and children are identified with the Luth- eran Church, and Mr. Huber and his sons are stanch Republicans in politics.
In 1882, Anton Huber erected a fine two story, brick business block with a basement and hall, the latter known as the lluber Opera House. The building is located on the corner of Washington and Warren Streets and is 81 x 71 feet. The first floor is occupied by a grocery store, 32 x 48 feet, facing the North, and the remainder of the store, 48 x 48 feet, is occupied by a dry goods store. also a clothing establishment and boot and shoe, hat and cap store. Behind this is a large ware room 20 x 50 feet. The building was erected in 1882, and at the same time Mr. Huber began business in the various lines of trade above mentioned, carrying on a general merchandise store until 1884, when the dry goods and clothing department was placed in charge of his son Andrew, who carried on that branch of the busi- ness. while the father was in charge of the groeery department. This, however, he afterward placed in charge of his son Charles, who has been numbered among the leading grocers of Bunker Hill since 1888. Mr. Huber, our subject, is still the owner of the building and has in his possession one of the fine farms in this vicinity. Andrew Huber also controls one of the elevators of Bunker Hill, with a capacity of five thousand bushels, which he took possession of in 1884, and is doing an exten- tive coopering business and also buys and ships apples. selling in one year as high as six thousand barrels of that fruit. The dry-goods business run by Andrew amounts to upwards of $20,000 annu-
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ally, while the grocery department under the man- agement of Charles takes in about $10,000 annually. As we stated at the beginning of this sketch no family is so largely connected with the business interests of Bunker Hill as the Huber family. Father and sons are enterprising, sagacious and far- sighted and the success which attends their efforts is justly merited.
RS. SARAH J. MAXFIELD, a prominent lady among the citizens of Barr Township, is known far and wide as a true-hearted woman of genial nature and charitable dis- position, who willingly takes hier part in every movement for the good of the community, and stands unflinchingly for the right, whenever expe- dieney and principle come in conflict. Her womanly character makes her beloved by all who know her, and hier intelligence gives to her a strong influence with all.
The father of our subject, Jacob Petefish, was born in Rockingham County, Va., as was also her mother, whose name in girlhood was Elizabeth Price. They emigrated from the Old Dominion to the Prairie State in 1834, and settled in what is now Cass County, where they both died. Their daughter Sarah, was like themselves a native of Rockingham County, Va., and as she was born No- vember 9, 1816, she had reached the age of eight. ecn years, when she came with her parents to Illi- nois.
The marriage of Sarah Petefish with Robert H. Maxfield, took place in Cass County, this State, De- cember 17, 1840. Her husband was a son of George and Sarab E. (Thomas) Maxfield, who came from Boone County, Ky., to Illinois, early in the '30s, settling in Greene County. The father died in Barr Township, and the mother passed away while re- siding in Waverly, Ill.
Robert H. Maxfield was born in Boore County, Ky., March 20, 1810, and came to Illinois carly in the '30s. He was a carpenter by trade, which call- ing he followed in connection with farming. Dur- ing the later years of his life he devoted his atten-
tion exclusively to agriculture. After marriage this couple settled upon the homestead in Barr Township, now occupied by the widow. and here this faithful husband died June 15, 1876.
Mrs. Maxfield is the mother of eight children: John W., a farmer in Barr Township, who was thrown from a wagon in Scottville Township, and died October 31, 1887, from these injuries; Sarah Elizabeth, who is the wife of Caleb Capps, of whom our readers will find more under that name; James K., who is a Methodist clergyman in Nebraska; Ella P .; Clarissa A., the wife of John Kissick ; Robert L., a farmer in Nebraska; Martha Belle, the wife of James M. Pulliam; and Edwin G., a farmer in Nebraska.
The husband of our subject was an active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his loss was greatly felt by his pastor and brethren as well as by his bereaved family. His widow is identified with the same church and an active laborer in re- ligious work. Mr. Maxfield owned at one time about eight hundred acres upon which he made sub- stantial improvements, and crected excellent build- Ings.
AMES II. IIAMNER who has been promi- Dent in North Otter Township, both as a suc- cessful agriculturist and as a township of- ficial, resides on section 30, where his finely improved farm is an ornament to the neighborhood. llis father was the late John S. Hamner, and his mother Mary Rohrer still survives. Their home was in Morgan County, Ill., and there the father died. Two of their four children have passed from earth, and our subject is their only son now living. He was born in Morgan County, May 31, 1843, and was left an orphan by the death of his father when he was quite young. After his mother's sec- ond marriage she removed to Macoupin County, and James grew to manhood in North Palmyra Township, where he was reared upon a farın.
The lady to whom James Hamner was united in marriage March 10, 1854, bore the maiden name Nancy E. Nevins. She was a daughter of Austin and Margaret (Stecl) Nevins of North Palmyra
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Township. Mrs. Nevins died in that township and her bereaved husband now resides in Girard. Of their seven children Mrs. Hamner was the fourth, being born August 29, 1843. They settled on see. tion 30, North Otter Township, which they have made their home up the present day.
Our subject has through life engaged in agricul- tural pursuits and has made many improvements upon his farm, where he is the owner of two hun . hundred and eighty acres. lle and his excellent and amiable wife are the parents of seven children, namely : Mary E., the wife of N. H. Walkington. Amanda J., the wife of William T. Turner; Emma, who is now Mrs. Isaac Drennan ; John, Effie and James H., Jr. A little one named Albert was snatched by death from the arms of the parents when he was only two years old. The offices of Highway Commissioner and School Director have been filled by our subject with credit to himself and advantage to the community which he repre- sented. His political views are embodied in the declarations of the Democratic party and he be- lieves that its doctrines are adapted to increase the prosperity of the country. His wife is an active member of the Christian Church and finds in its fel lowship and activities an abundant field for her religious efforts.
LFRED READER is engaged in general farming on section 2, Brighton Township. England has furnished a number of good citizens to Macoupin County, but none are more worthy a representation in this volume than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Dorsetshire, October 15, 1846, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Rowlins) Reader, who were also natives of Dorsetshire and came of Eng- lislı parents. The father was a farm laborer and died in the county of his nativity about 1856, at the age of fifty-eight years. Some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Reader crossed the At- lantie to America where a number of her children had previously emigrated, and lived with her daughter, Mrs, Gilbert Keirl of Bunker Hill Town-
ship, until her death which occurred August 15, 1891. The Reader family was quite large and most of the children came to the United States and are living in Illinois.
Under the parental roof Alfred Reader grew to manhood and in the public schools acquired a good common school education, such as would fit him for the practical duties of life. Ilaving heard much of America and the advantages here afforded young men, he determined try his fortune in the United States and in 1855 when nineteen years of age, took passage at Liverpool upon a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans, where he arrived after a voyage of nine weeks. Coming up the Mississppi River to Alton he traveled across the country to Macoupin County where he has since made his home. He was then a young man with no capital with which to begin life but possessing plenty of English pluck together with energy and a strong determination to succeed. Through his own efforts he has acquired a bandsome property and is now numbered among the substantial farmers of Brighton Township. Since 1861 he has resided upon his present farm which now comprises one hundred and twenty acres of arable land. In the rear of Ins comfortable and commodious home good barns and other outbuild- ings are seen and these are surrounded by fields of waving grain which speak of the thrift and enter- prise of the owner and yield to him a golden trib- ute as the reward for his care and cultivation.
In this country Mr. Reader was united in marriage with Miss Rhoda Wheeler, a native of Somerset, England, who during her maidenhood days came to America with her parents, the family settling in the northern part of Illinois. Two years later, however, they came to Macoupin County, where her father and mother, Richard and Ann (Eddington) Wheeler, both died when well advanced in years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reader were born six children, as follows: Alice, wife of Henry Eddington a res- ident farmer of Brighton Township; Fred, who married Jennie Eddington and is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in the same township; Joseph, who married Anna Betts and makes his home in Woodburn; Jennie, wife of John Reader who ope- rates the home farm of our subject ; Emma, wife of Richard Loekyar, a fa. mer of Dorchester Township;
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and William who is now working on a farm in Cherokee, Iowa. The mother of this family was called to her final rest July 15, 1890. She was for many years a consistent member of the Congrega- tional Church and in her death the church lost one of its best members, her neighbors a kind friend and her family a loving and tender wife and mother.
Mr. Reader and the children are also members of the Congregational Church, to the support of which he contributes liberally, and in politics he is a Democrat. With the upbuilding and growth of Brighton Township he has been closely connected for a third of a century and as a true citizen has aided in many ways in its progress and develop- ment. The interests of the community he has made his and his upright life and strict integrity has won bim many friends.
2 HIOMAS S. RIGBY, an extensive and suc- cessful dealer in horses at Bunker Hill, claims Ohio as the State of bis nativity. He was born in Ashland, May 12, 1836, and is a son of Will- iam Z. and Temperance (Norris) Rigby, who were also born, reared and married in the Buckeye State and now make their home in Fostoria, Ohio. The Rather has reached the age of seventy-six years and the mother is now seventy-four years of age. He is a prominent attorney in that part of the State, where he has been engaged in the legal profession for forty years, and is the counselor and warm personal friend of ex-Gov. Foster. In politics he is a supporter of Democratic principles and has twice been elected Mayor of the city in which he makes his home. Ile is also a warm advocate of the cause of temperance and his second election was on the Prohibition ticket.
Under the parental roof our subject was reared to manhood and his early life was marked by no event of special importance. When the war broke ont he responded to the call for troops and enlisted for three months' service in the Third Ohio Infan- try. Afterward he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he again enlisted in the Sixth Michigan
Cavalry for three years' service under Gen. Custer. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he particicated in many of the im- portant engagements of the Eastern campaigns, including the battle of Gettysburg. Culpeper, Chancellorsville, the battle of the Wilderness and the raids around Richmond. Later he witnessed the surrender of Gen. Lee and subsequently followed his commander to the West where he served on the frontier until at the expiration of his three years' enlistment he was honorably discharged.
Immediately thereafter Mr. Rigby came to Bun- ker Hill, where he has since made his home, and began business as a dealer in and trainer of horses. On the outskirts of the city he has large and com- modious barns and a fine half-mile track, one of the best in the State, which he uses to develop the speed of his horses and those brought to him for that purpose. From all over Illinois he receives horses which he tits for the race course, and many of those he has trained when put upon the track have won premiums at the fairs in this and Mis- souri. From his youth he has been a lover of horses, having made them his study and is there- fore very successful in the business which be has undertaken.
Mr. Rigby was joined in wedlock November 7, 1867, with Miss Mary V. Payne, who was born in Bunker Hill Township on her father's homestead, June 28, 1849. Iler parents, William and Mary (Ilickley) Payne, were natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively, and during their childhood they both lived for some time in Louisiana, where they were married, coming thenee to Macoupin County. They are numbered among the early set- tlers of Bunker Hill Township, where Mr. Payne developed a good farmi from wild prairie land. After many years, on account of the failing health of his wife he went to Texas, but she rapidly grew worse and died shortly after their arrival. Her remains were interred in the Lone Star State and Mr. Payne then returned to his old home in Bunker Hill, where he is still living at an advanced age. He is a well- known citizen of this community and has taken a prominent part in the upbuilding of the county's best interests.
Mrs. Rigby has spent her entire life in this county
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and has won hosts of friends by her kindness. court- esy and the hospitality which she extends to those who visit her home. Eight children grace the union of our subject and his worthy wife, four sons and four daughters-Wilham J., Charles, Katie, Rosa, Silva, Mary, Frank and Thomas. In politics Mr. Rigby is a Democrat. He is numbered among the leading business men of Bunker Hill and in social circles himself and wife rank high where worth and merit are received as the passports into good society.
A lithographie portrait of Mr. Rigby accom- panies his sketch.
NDREW J. KEISER, of the firm of Keiser Bros., proprietors of the Anchor Rolling Mills, of Mt. Olive, is a native of Germany. The date of Ins birth is September 28, 1845, and the place Prussia. In 1851 he accom- panied his parents to this country, the family mak- ing their first settlement in Mreoupin County. (See sketch of C. J. Keiser for parental history.) Hle acquired a good education in private and pub- lie schools in this county, and in 1869 started out in life for himself. He came into possession of one hundred and eighty acres of land, to the develop- ment of which he gave his undivided attention for several years. In 1875 by purchase he secured an additional two hundred acres, making his farm three hundred and eighty acres in extent. This is situated just across the line in Montgomery County and was brought up to its present high standard of improvement through his own efforts. Supplied with good houses, barns and other buildings, it is accounted one of the best farms in the community. In 1874 Mr. Keiser became connected with his brother C. J. and others in opening up and oper- ating mines under the firm title of the Mt. Olive Coal Company. The brothers had personal con- trol of the mines as long as they were the property of that company. Abont sixty car loads per day were taken out, but afterward the mines were sold, becoming the property of the Consolidated Coal Company. There is now a yield of about one
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