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 72
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Mr. Keplinger lost by death the wife of his youth August 30, 1887. His second marriage took place March 1, 1888, when he was united with Mrs. Par- thena (Clark ) Crowder. She was born in Randolph County, N. C., June 3, 1826, and is a daugh- ter of Joseph and Sarah (Johnson) Clark. Mrs. Keplinger's paternal grandfather, Robert .John- son, was a farmer and carpenter who removed from North Carolina to Tennessee and there pur- chased a farm upon which he spent his last years. Mr. Clark died in 1827, leaving his widow with a family of small children. She removed to Knox County, Tenn., and died there in 1839. These doubly orphaned children bravely kept together until all were grown, when they secured for them- selves homes of their own and entered successfully upon life's duties. Mrs. Keplinger early learned to spin and weave flax. cotton tow and wool, and for many years all the cloth used in the family was made by herself and her sisters. In 1850 the fam- ily removed to Ilinois and settled in Macoupin County, where she resided with her brothers until her marriage in 1854 to Mr. Mark Crowder.
That gentleman was one of the thoroughly self- made men of Carlinville, who at the age of nine- teen started out in life for himself, determined to have a thorough education. After attending thie common schools he entered Shurtleff College at Upper Alton. He attended here for four years, maintaining himself by working at the coopers' trade during vacations. For years he followed the
profession of teaching and was afterward Assessor of Macoupin County. He was a private in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi- nois Regiment. He was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Parker's Cross Road, and being disabled from further anty, was discharged February 3, 1864. After returning home he en- gaged in mercantile business and was then eleeted City Marshal. Parthena C. Clark was his second wife and she bore him four children, all of whom have passed away.
Peter Koplinger has two children living: James T. and Sarah Ellen. The son married Sarah Entri- can and has seven children : Effie, William, Peter, Luther, Clara, Mabel and Millie. The daughter is the wife of Luther J. Wilder, and has five children : Meldrum, Newton, Ethel, Earl, and Pearl, the last two being twins. James T. was a soldier in the Thirtieth Illinois Infantry and was with Sherman in his celebrated march "from Atlanta to the Sea". Another son, John, served in the First Marine Brigade of Illinois Volunteers. After one year's service he was taken down with the consumption. Ilis father brought him home from the hospital and sent him to Minnesota hoping that this would re- store his health, but all was in vain. While Mr. and Mrs. Keplinger were living in Morgan County they became connected with the Methodist Church and now belong to the church in Carlinville. The main elements that have entered into Mr. Keplin- ger's suceess are untiring energy and industry. His character has never been tarnished by any acts of dishonesty and lie bears a reputation of striet in- tegrity. lle has contributed largely to the progress and growth of the county, and as such a man we are pleased to record his name and present his por- trait to our readers.
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G EORGE KLAUS. The name that heads this sketch is that of an estimable, German- American townsman who, though deceased, still lives in the deeds that redound to his honor and credit. At the time of his death he was the proprietor of a farm located in Nilwood Township.
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Since his decease his son and namesake, George Klaus, has operated the farm in the interest of the widow, and so well has the young man sustained the methods employed by his father in the manage- ment and arrangement of their agricultural inter- ests that there is no perceptible difference in the productions thereof.
Our subject was a native of Alsace, Germany. He came to America about 1853 and first located in Louisville, Ky., where he remained about two years and then came to Springfield, Ill., where he followed his trade, which was that of a shoemaker. This trade he had learned in the old country and until the time of his emigration hither had em- ployed it there to gain his daily bread. He was mar- ried in Springfield to Theresa Netz, in 1855. The lady is a native of Baden, Germany. After their marriage they settled in Auburn, this State, where our subject worked at his trade two years and then came to Nilwood again following his trade for five years. He then turned his attention to farming, which calling he pursued until the time of his death, which occurred in Nilwood Township in 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. Klaus were the parents of nine children whose names are as follows: Charles; George was married February 22, 1891, to Miss Lena Bheme and lives in Nilwood Township; Emma, Kate, Mary, Frank, William, Walter and Albert. The father with characteristic German thrift, built a comfortable and cozy home upon his farm, which comprised at the time of his death two hundred and sixty acres. Most of the children have arrived at years of maturity and have gone out into the world to battle for themselves. Charles took to wife Miss Emma Keune and is a resident of Nilwood Township; Emma is the wife of Fer- nando Winter, a son of Fernando Winter, of Car- linville Township and is a resident of South Otter Township; Mary is the wife of William S. Talley, and is also a resident of Nilwood Township.
The widow of our subject was the loving help- mate and co-worker of her husband, gifted with a strong physical constitution and having clear and bright perceptions. Her opinions and estimates were seldom in error, and she has been by her economy and prudence one of the main sources of
Mr. Klaus' success in life. She is, as she should be. still the head of the family, and her sons and daughters, who have a sincere affection and pride in their mother, may well look back upon the paren- tal care that she has bestowed upon them and call her blessed.
R EV. LEBIN L. HARLAN is one of the pioneers of 1840, at which date he emi- grated from the Blue Grass State and lo- cated at Carlinville. He was born in Barron County, Ky., now Monroe, March 19, 1812, being a son of the Rev. George B. and Mary Ann (Kelly) Harlan. The parents were natives of Vir- ginia. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Harlan, whose carly life was spent in Maryland, and who, after some years' residence in Virginia, became one of the early settlers in Kentucky.
The subject of these paragraphs was reared on a farm and obtained such an education as the schools of the neighborhood afforded opportunity for. In 1830 he married Elizabeth Smith, a na- tive of Kentucky, who shared his fortunes until 1866, when she bade adieu to the scenes of time and sense and entered into rest. She had had ten children, three born in Kentucky and the others in this State. Eight of the sons and daughters lived to years of maturity, and of them we note the following: George died in Chesterfield; Margaret Huldah married Samuel Cramer and now resides at Taylorville; William died near Chesterfield; Mary, who was a teacher for many years, breathed her last in this neighborhood; Sarah married Jo- siah Harlin and died in this county; Harriet, who became the wife of .James Marshall, died in Ohio; John F. lives on a farm in Chesterfield Town- ship; Alice married James II. Christopher and lives near Morrisville. Mr. Harlan was a second time married in 1869, his bride being Mrs. Sarah Nix, nee Smith, who died ten years after their union.
When Mr. Harlan came to this county he lo- cated in Carlinville and for a time sold goods, but
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later engaged in farming. At a still later period he was engaged in the sale of merchandise at Ches- terfield, but for a short time only. He bought a farm in Chesterfield Township and made all the improvements. It consisted of two hundred acres, and Mr. Harlan still owns one hundred and twenty, on which his son John resides. Ile also has prop. erty in the village of Chesterfield, and, having re- tired from active life, he makes his home in the village.
Like his father before him, the Rev. L. L. Har- lan is an earnest Methodist, and since 1840 be has preached the Gospel. His labors have chiefly been as a local preacher, but for a few years he was an itinerant in Christian County. All the members of the family belong to the same church as bimself. Ile is a faithful publisher of Gospel Tidings and by bis example as well as his pre- cepts he inculcates a faith in Christianity that has an important bearing on society. Ile was reared to believe in the principles of the Whig party and cast his first ballot for Henry Clay. When there seemed no further use for the old element, new issues having arisen, he was one of the organizers of the Republican party in that sec- tion of the country in which he lived. He is a friend of prohibition and a strong advocate of temperance principles. His upright and active life entitles him to respect, and his usefulness dur- ing half a century in this county is unquestioned by its people.
b ENRY D. O'NEIL, Sheriff of Macoupin County, is an able and trustworthy official, well-adapted in every respect for his pres- ent position. He is a native of Carlinville, born April 6, 1856, and is the son of the late John ()'Neil. a former respected citizen of this county. The father is a native of the Southern part of Ire- land, and was a son of Thomas and Rose O'Neil who were both born in the same county as himself, and spent their entire lives there.
When a young man John ('Neil came to Amer- ica in search of fortune's favors denied him at
home. The father of our subject located in Penn- sylvania after his arrival in this country, and was employed in the construction of the Reading Rail- road. At C'atawissa he met and married Miss Nancy Klingeman, a native of Columbia County, Pa., and a daughter of John and Lucy Klingeman, who were born in the Keystone State, and were of Ger- man antecedents. In 1852 he came to Carlinville, and was the first section foreman here on the Chi. cago & Alton Railway. He was a man of very in- dustrious habits, and as he was ambitious to secure a home, he carefully saved his money, and in 1861 had enough to buy a tract of wild land near Ship- man, upon which he built, and he developed a good farm in the busy years that ensued. Ile re- sided there until death closed his useful life June 30, 1879. Ilis good wife survived him until July 2, 1881, when she too passed away. They were the parents of eight children, named as follows: Mary, John, James, Annie, Ilugh, Owen, Henry D. and Stephen A. D. The family was well represented in the late war by John and James, the former serv- ing in the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry and the latter in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ill- inois Infantry.
The subject of this sketch remained an inmate of the parental home until he was twenty-one years old, and then took up his residence at Shipman where he remained until the fall of 1890. During the last ten years that he lived there he was pros- perously engaged in the livery business. In his official position he has shown himself eminently worthy of the trust imposed upon him by his fel- low-citizens when they selected him for this impor- tant place, as he discharges its duties promptly, without fear or favor, and is potent in preserving law and order within his jurisdiction.
To the lady who presides over his hospitable home Mr. O'Neil was married February 24, 1879. Mrs. ('Neil was formerly Miss Mary A. Garvey. She is a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and a danghter of Patrick and Bridget Garvey, natives of Ireland. Iler pleasant wedded life with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of these three chil- dren-Maggie, John and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are members in high standing of the Catho- lie Church at Shipman. They stand well in social
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circles, and have many warm friends, as they pos- sess in a full degree those traits of character that indicate true natures and command regard and con- lidence.
RANK E. WEIDNER, a successful and gen- eral farmer on section 30, of Gillespie Township, owns one hundred acres and operates an additional one hundred. He has lived on this farm since the spring of 1884 and has in it one of the most substantial places in this section of the country. He has lived in this county since 1872, coming here at that time from Jersey County, where he was born Augus: 12, 1857.
John G. Weidner, the father of our subject, came as a single man from his Fatherland, Germany, to the United States in 1852. He settled in Jersey County, this State, and there married Miss Chris- mothy Lippoldt, who came from Germany when she was a young woman. After John G. Weidner and his wife had improved a large farm in Jersey County, they removed to this county and here purchased a large tract of improved land, where they now live. For further particulars in regard to the family history the reader will please consult the sketch of John G. Weidner which appears upon another page. Our subject grew up on a farm and has always been successful in this line of work be- ing thoroughly alive and energetic, and devoting himself largely to the breeding of thoroughbred swine.
Anna C. Keiser is the maiden name of the lady who became united with our subject in marriage in Montgomery County, this State, in February, 1884. She was born in that county August 16, 1264, and is a daughter of Hiram and Mary Keiser. Mr. and Mrs. Keiser are now Iving in Montgomery County, which has been their home for many years. They have been and still are, successful in agricultural pursuits and are now in middle life.
Mrs. Weidner is a lady of more than ordinary capabilities and her reputation as a genial and true- hearted neighbor has gained for her the good will of every neighbor. She was reared and well edu-
cated in her native county and has brought to her vocation as a wife and mother, well trained facul- ties and a thoroughly good and sound judgment. HIer three children, Mary C., Clara H. L. and Henry HI., are being brought up to understand and apply thorough and common sense plans of domes- tic and farm life. They are also reared and nur- tured in the Christian faith their parents being devout and earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Weidner takes an intelli- gent interest in public affairs and his political views are in accordance with the doctrines of the Republican party.
R. ICHARD R. RAGAN, a prominent resident of Palmyra Township, first saw the light in Sevier County, Tenn., September 3, 1828. His father, Joshua Ragan, was a native of the Old Dominion, but went to Tennes- see when still a young man, and was there married. Ile was by trade a gunsmith and wood turner, and found occupation in this calling. Ile resided in Sevier County until 1831, when he removed to Missouri, and made his home there until the winter of 1835-36, when he removed to Illinois, He re- mained a few months in St. Clair County, and in June of 1836 he came to Macoupin County and bought a claim in what is now Bird Township.
At that time Macoupin County was very sparsely settled and deer were plentiful. The settlers were familiar with this animal, who often browsed on the hazel brush near the door of the cabin. There was no railroad in that part of the country, and Al- ton was the nearest market for some years. It was difficult to obtain first-class agricultural imple- ments and they used shovel and wooden moldboard plows. Only a few acres of his land was under cultivation, and there were no buildings upon it. Hle hastily constructed a small cabin which served to shelter them from the weather, and the next year built another adjoining it, thus furnishing comfortable accommodations for the household.
Five years later Mr. Ragan sold the farm which he first took, and went to what is now North Pal-
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myra an'l rented land for three years, and in 1844 bought eighty acres of land in Barr Township. Upon this was a log cabin, and a few acres of it were improved and he resided there until 1856, when he made his home in Missouri, settling in Phelps County. There he remained until after the death of his wife, after which sad event he made his home with his children for the remainder of his earthly career. The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Ragan was Jane Huskey; she was the daughter of James and Jane Huskey who were natives of Vir- ginia and Tennessee. Mrs. Ragan is supposed by her children, to have been born in Virginia, and she died on the home farm in Phelps County. Mo. Ten children constituted ber family, nine of whom she reared with careful and watchful solicitude to years of maturity.
The subject of this sketch was but three years old when his parents removed to Missouri, and was in his eighth year when they came to Macoupin County. Ile remembers with lively interest many incidents of pioneer life in Illinois, and tells how in those days before reapers were known the grain was cut with a cradle, and loves to recount the good day's work which his father could do with this primitive reaping machine. He resided with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two, af- ter which he undertook the profession of a teacher, and presided at the desk for some eight years. Af- ter marriage he bought his father's farm in Barr Township, where he carried on farming until 1865.
The military career of Mr. Ragan began in 1865, when he enlisted February 8, in Company B, Sixty- second Illinois Infantry, joining the regiment at Pine Bluff, Ark., and serving for one year in that State and the Indian Territory. With the other members of his regiment he was honorably dis- charged in February, 1866. After returning home he sold his farm in Barr Township, and purchased another in South Palmyra Township, and there farmed until 1877.
About that time this gentleman decided to re- move to the village of Palmyra, and in 1878 he opened up the hardware business in which he is now engaged. Ilis marriage in 1853, united him with Sarah E. Patterson, who was born in Morgan County, Ill., and died in 1857. Ilis second mar-
riage in 1858 was with Margaret (Simpson) Patter- son, a native of Sangamon County, IN. By his first marriage Mr. Ragan has one child, John, who mar- ried Emily Story, and is the father of four chil- dren, namely: Ollie, William R., Reuben and Mar- garet. Ilis second marriage gave him one daughter, Rosa Bell, now the wife of C. P. Angelo, and the mother of four children -Florence J., Bird Ella, Margaret and Ina. The political convictions of Mr Ragan are in accordance with the tenets of the Democratic party, and his religious belief has brought him in connection with the Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. In their church relations they are earnest and active helpers in every good work, and are most valuable citizens.
HARLES HOFFMANN. Our subject is one of the successful men of Dorchester; his business is that of a practical blacksmith and a breeder of horses and mules. lle came to this village October 1, 1860, establishing here a business as a blacksmith to which he has devoted most of his time and attention, only varying it with that of a breeder of horses and mules, which he has engaged in for the past four years. In this last mentioned occupation Mr. Hoffmann has brought to bear a knowledge of the physical needs and con- stitution of the noble animals that have led to an improvement of the stock which has been bred under his charge.
Mr. Iloffman came to the county in 1858 and lo- cated first at Staunton where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. Soon after this the first call was made for three hundred thousand volunteers to fight for their country's flag and freedom. Our sub- ject soon enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry of Company L, whose captain was E. R. Sparks. The regiment was mustered into the service at Spring- field and our subject who had enlisted August 2, 1861, was with the regiment at their first meeting of the enemy in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. He was a participant in many skirmishes and engage-
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ments that continued until the close of the war. During his service his regiment was confined to the Western Division of the army. For a time Mr. Hoffmann served as a detailed blacksmith and later as brigade blacksmith, having at the same time fought at the Yazoo River, where the Union forces were defeated, hut later whipped the enemy at Ar- kansas Post. Our subject escaped unhurt from this battle and, except from the exposure incidental to army life, he carried away no evil effects of his ex- perience, although his mind was full of incidents of military life. He received an honorable discharge at Springfield, IN., September 5, 1864. He returned to Staunton, Macoupin County, and engaged at his trade as a blacksmith. Later he went to Mont- gomery County.
July 3, 1865, Mr. Hoffmann was married to Miss Elizabeth Houseman. The lady was born in Staun- ton, August 2, 1849. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Leonard) Houseman, both natives of Byron, Germany, where they were reared and edu- cated and after their marriage and the birth of one child, they came, early in the '40s, to the United States, settling at Staunton, where Mr. Houseman opened up a smithy, which was the first of its kind in the community. Ile also has the distinction of having been the first German settler in the place. Mrs. Hlouseman there died at the age of sixty-five. Her husband passed away in Madison County, live miles south of Staunton, in 1857. He was born in 1810 and with his wife had been a member many years before his death of the German Evangelical Church.
Our subject was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1842. His natal day being September 26. He is of pure German blood and is the son of Christian and Mary Hoffmann, who were born and reared and ended their days in Hesse-Cassel. The father's death occurred before the birth of our subject and the widow was left with live small children to care for. She was a second time married, her husband having the same name as that of her first husband. Charles Hoffmann and our subject's mother both lived and died in their native land.
The original of this sketch did not leave home until he was sixteen years of age when he set out for the United States to make his fame and for-
tune. He took passage nt Bremen on a sailing vessel, the "Warsotta," and after a long voyage of seven weeks and two days he landed in New York City, coming thence to Staunton and afterward re- moved to this county where he has ever since re- sided with the exception of one year.
Mr. Hoffmann and his wife are the parents of six children, they are: William 11., Charles A., Mamie M., Theodore 1)., Minnie JJ. and George E. The eldest son has learned his father's trade and is of great assistance to him in his business. Charles A. also assists his father in his smithy. The other children are at home and are respected as estima- ble members of society.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann are amiable, warm- hearted people who have made many friends in the county. By their energy and ambition they have acquired a competency and have made themselves a recognized position in the social life of their community. Mr. Hoffmann is a member of the Odd Fellows, Travelers' Rest Lodge No. 220, of Litchfield. Ile is a member also of the James Rob- Inson Post No. 621, G. A. R., of Gillespie Town- ship, also a member of the Modern Woodmen. For the past two years he has been Township Collector and is Mayor of this place. For one year he has held a position in the Town Council. In political life Mr. Hoffmann has a preference for the Demo- cratie party.
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OHN HUBER. The name above is that of the father of one of the industrious, ener- getic and intelligent young men of the county who operates the farm which the father originally owned on section 7, Nilwood Township. The parental history is here chronicled because it lives in the heart of the son who thinks of his father most dutifully as the author of his being, and the kind friend and counselor of his young life. F. B. Huber who rents the farm that his father originally owned, of his mother, has the same admirable characteristics that distinguished his father as one of the most generous, open hearted townsmen in the township in which be lived.
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John Huber was born in Pa., September 9, 1833. When but a mere lad his parents removed to Clark County, Ohio, where he remained until he had arrived at the years of manhood. He was reared on a farm and was untainted hy influences that unhappily are so often found in the village life. He received a common school education that litted him for the practical duties of life.
January 11, 1859, Mr. Huber entered into the marital relations, taking to wife for better or worse, Miss Anna Snell of Clarke County, Ohio. Her natal day was December 23, 1811. After mar- - riage the young couple settled in Clarke County, where they remained until the spring of 1075 . when they removed to Macvapin County, settling in Nilwood Township. There our subject passed out of this life July 23. 1883. He was a man of exemplary habits, strong personal attractions, and was greatly mourned not only in his own family but by the friends and acquaintances that he had formed in business life.
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