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 78
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Mr. and Mrs. Paden are the happy parents of one child-Freddie L., who was born in Nilwood Township, November 13, 1883. This child they are rearing with faithful attention to his needs and to his physical, moral and intellectual existence, and he will no doubt become such a citizen as will do them honor. The old Paden homestead is the residence of this family, and with it there is a fine farm of some eighty acres, well improved and supplied with convenient and commodious build- ings.
AMES G. RUMBOLZ, Supervisor of Bunker Hill Township, and Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, is one of the promi- nent citizens of Woodburn. He at present represents a business of insurance, real estate and loans. Ile was born in Bunker Hill Township, January 23, 1845, and was reared and educated here, attending the public schools of the county until he was nearly seventeen years old, when he enlisted, July 21, 1861, in the First Missouri Cav- alry. Hle belonged to Company B, Capt. Clinton commanding, and his Colonel was C. A. Ellis. His legiment was placed in the Seventh Corps and was assigned to the Western Army. It left St. Louis in September, and went directly into the field of war. Our young hero fought at the battles of Black River, Mo., Sugar Creek, Ark., and Pea Ridge, Ky., where his regiment was placed in the forefront and sustained heavy losses. Later he was in the conflict of Prairie Grove and in the cap- ture of Little Rock, and assisted all through the campaigns west of the Mississippi River, up to the
close of the war. Ile served in all four years and three months, and his discharge dates from Little Rock, Ark., September 20, 1865. Strange to say, he escaped without a wound, and was never cap- tured by the enemy. He was most of the time on special detail duty, and for a large portion of the time served as Clerk of the Trans-Mississippi De- partment.
On being discharged at Little Rock, the young soldier returned to Woodburn, this county, and has since resided here. He has engaged in various kinds of business, but during the last six years has been doing a loan and real estate business, com- bined with insurance. Ile is the son of Gottlob Rumbolz, a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and of pure German blood. The father was yet a young man when he came to the United States with an older brother. They settled in the mining regions of Virginia, and engaged in mining in the Lewis gold mines until 1838. Gottlieb, a brother of our subject's father, crossed the plains to California, and as far as known carried on mining operations until his death. It was not long before the family learned that he had died there in comfortable cir- cumstances. The father of our subject came to this county in 1838 and entered land, and alter it was proved up he engaged in blacksmithing.
The mother of our subject was known in her maidenhood days as Susan Tompkins, a native of Virginia. She came of Southern and Scottish blood, and was a young woman when she emigrated to Illinois. She married the father of our subject in Virginia, and shortly after came to this county. After his death she became the wife of Thomas Ilay- ton, whom she has survived. She is still living at the advanced age of eighty. five years, and makes her home with our subject. She is bright and active in her church membership and belongs to the Con- gregational Church, which was also the religious home of her last husband.
Mr. Rumbolz is one of the three surviving chil- dren of his parents. His brother William resides with him, and his sister Elizabeth, wife of Frank Andrews, resides in Lincoln, Neb. Both of the brothers fought through the war on the Union side, and are both Democrats in their political views. William joined the army in April, 1861, in the
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same regiment with James, and was not discharged till February, 1866. He saw many engagements, and much hard fighting and narrow escapes. Our subject. is considered as a young man of ability and character. lle has intellectual keenness and bal- ance. He is looked upon by the men of his party as one of the most sagacious leaders among the younger men, and he will no doubt be pushed to the front in coming campaigns. On the 17th of June, 1891, Mr. Rumbolz wedded one of Ken- tueky's fair daughters, known as Fannie W. Tomp- kins, a daughter of Robert R. Tompkins, one of the prominent families of Kentucky.
ACOB P. KLEIN. This well-known resi- dent of Carlinville, who is one of the ex. tensive landowners of the county, is a native of Bavaria, where his birth took place No- vember 7, 1830. His father was George Michael Klein, and he was born in the same country, as were also his parents, who spent their entire lives there.
The father of our subjeet was reared on a farm, and resided in his Bavarian home until 1839, when, accompanied by his wife and their nine children, he came to America. They set sail from Ilavre, and after a voyage of about six weeks landed at New Orleans, from there going directly to St. Louis, where they resided a few months, and then settled in Monroe County, where they were pio- neers. Mr. Klein bought Government land three miles from Waterloo, and also purchased an eighty- aere tract. On the latter there was a log cabin, the roof of which was covered by boards rived by hand, and held in place by weight poles. The floor and door were also of boards split by hand, and the latter was supplied with wooden hinges. Not a nail was used in the building. At that time there were no railways, and but few wagon roads. The country was very thinly inhabited, and the people took the nearest route when they traveled. regardless of roads. St. Louis, twenty- five miles distant, was the nearest market for grain, stock and general produce, and for some time the father of
our subject did all his farm work and marketing with oxen. lle improved his land, and resided on his homestead for many years. A short time be- fore his death he came to Carlinville to live with his son JJacob, and died in his home in 1870, full of years. Ilis wife had died on the home farm many years before, her death occurring in 1854. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Peter, Wilhelmina, Louis, Sibilla, Christina, Mar- garette, Barbara, Jacob P., George J. and Christina Barbara. One died in infancy. Peter served in the Mexican War, and also in the Civil War, as did George.
The subject of this sketch was in his ninth year when his parents brought him to America. The rest of his boyhood was passed in Monroe County, this State, and when quite young he had to assist in the duties of the farm. In the meantime he im- proved every opportunity to obtain an education, the first school that he attended being the distriet school that was taught in his father's house. IIe resided with his parents until he attained his ma- jority, and then married and established a home of his own, settling on a tract of timber land which his father had previously given bim. He built a log house, riving the boards for the roof by hand, and in that rude structure he and his wife com- menced housekeeping. They lived there three years. and then Mr. Klein sold that place and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land elose to Waterloo. That was bis home until 1865, when he again sold, and coming to Carlinville, purchased a house on West Main Street, and kept a hotel for two years. During that time he bought the place where he now resides, and also three hundred acres in Brushy Mound Township, which he still owns. lle has besides eighty five acres of timber land in Gillespie and Brushy Mound Townships, and four hundred acres consisting mostly of bottom land in those townships.
Mr. Klein married in Monroe County, July 20, 1851, Miss Elizabeth Rick. Mrs. Klein was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to Amer- iea with her parents. Of this union three children have been born, of whom two survive: Mary, the wife of W. O. Steinmeyer, of Carlinville; and llenry, who married Mary Steinmeyer, and lives
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at Ft. Madison, Iowa. Catherine the first child, lied at the age of two years.
Both Mr. Klein and his estimable wife are con- nected with the Evangelical Church. Politically he was for many years identified with the Republi- can party, but sinee 1872 has affiliated with the Democrats in national elections, while in local poli- tics he is independent, aiming to support the best man. irrespective of party.
AMES K. FURBER. As manager of the ('. Il. C. Anderson Bank, of Carlinville, with which institution he has been connected for a period of more than twenty years, Mr. Furber has displayed marked ability as a financier. and he has been a potent agent in establishing this county on a firm momentary basis. He is of New England birth and aucestry, born in the town of Rochester, N. Il., January 31. 1831. The Furbers originated in England, and the first members of the family to come to America were three brothers, who landed on these shores in Colonial times, and set- tled in Newington, N. H.
William Furber, grandfather of our subject, was born at Newington, April 20, 1778. The maiden name of his wife was Alice Furber. She was a native of Newington, N. Il.
The father of our subject was reared on a farm, but as he had a taste for mechanics he learned the trade of a carpenter in his youth. He removed from Rochester to Portsmouth, N. H., in 1836, and resided there until 1846, when he went to Pem- broke,in which place he dwelt until November. 1848, and he then left his native State for Illinois, as he rightly thought that in a young and growing State men of his calling would be in demand. His wife and children accompanied him to the new home, and they eame by the most expeditious route at that time, which was by rail from Portsmouth to Buffalo, thence by Lake Erie to Cleveland, from there by rail to Cincinnati, from that city by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Alton, and thence by team to Bunker Hill, in this county, having been fourteen days on the way from Worcester, Mass.
At that time Bunker Ilill was a small but flourish- ing village, with one church and two or three stores. The prairies of Macoupin County were but sparsely settled, and deer and other kinds of game still abounded.
Mr. Furber bought a tract of wild land one mile northeast of the village at $10 an acre, and he erected suitable buildings and located on the place. He carried on his trade as a carpenter the greater part of the time, while his sons improved the land. He resided on his homestead until 1880, when he sold it, and coming to Carlinville, made his home with his son of whom we write, until death closed his life at a ripe age in October, 1884. Ilis wife. whose maiden name was Tryphena Downing, pre- ceeded him in death, dying in 1868. They reared seven children, namely : Charles W., James K., John L .. George D., Simeon S , Mary S. and Tryphena. The mother of our subject was a native of Roches- ter, N. 11., and a daughter of Benjamin and Try- phenq (Knowles) Downing.
James K. Furber laid the foundations of liberal education in the public schools of Portsmouth, N. II., and he subsequently became a student at Pem- broke Academy, which he attended two years. Hle was fourteen years old when the family came to Illinois, and he remained an inmate of the parental home until 1860, assisting his father in the manage- ment of the farm. In that year he entered the mercantile business at Gillespie, remaining there two years. In 1862 he came to Carlinville as Dep- nty Sheriff, which position he held two years. He then became Clerk in the office of the County Clerk, and acted in that capacity until December, 1869, when he entered the bank of C. H. C. Anderson, with which institution he has been prominently identified ever since. He rapidly rose in the con- fidence of his employer, who early recognized his talents, and came to place great reliance in his un- erring judgment in regard to money matters, and to refer to him in important monetary transactions. Under his watchful eare in the responsible position of Manager of the Bank it has increased in useful- ness and popularity, and its business has been ex- tended.
Our subjeet and his amiable wife have been happy in their married life, upon which they en-
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERS .... ..
A . ADAMS.
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tered in June, 1864. Mrs. Furber was formerly Mary E. Allard, a daughter of Samuel Allard, and she is a native of Woodburn, this county. Of the nine children born to her and our subject, these four are living :- James D., William A., Ella and Carrie B.
A gentleman of honor, always courteous and cos- siderate in his intercourse with others, Mr. Furber enjoys in a rare degree the regard and trust of an extensive acquaintance among whom he has many warm, personal friends. Since his residence in this eity he has lent his influence to all things tending to its elevation, whether in a material, moral, edu- cational or political sense. He has been a conspic- uous figure in its public life in the highest eivic ollices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, being at one time Mayor of Carlinville, and for four years he was President of the School Board. Ilis social relations are with Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M. In his political sentiments, he is a sound Democrat. In his religious views he is a believer in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which both he and his wife are members.
USTIN ADAMS. This gentleman who was an important factor in the development and improvement of Bird Township, and whose portrait is shown on the opposite page passed from the busy scenes of earth June 4, 1891. At one time he was numbered among the largest landowners in the county but before his demise he disposed of the greater part of his large estate to his children. In this he bas shown the wisdom of the keen men of to-day who are learn- ing to be their own executors and no longer trust to the uncertain processes of the Probate Courts.
The father of our subject, Horatio Adams, was born in Kentucky in 1799, and his wife, Siotha Menar was also a native of Kentucky, born there in 1802. The father of Horatio was Andrew Ad- ams, who was born in Germany, and emigrated to America when a small child. He engaged exten- sively in farming and died in Henry County, Ky.,
at the extreme age of one hundred and two years. Horatio Adams was reared to manhood in Henry County, Ky. Ile was an active and enterprising man of broad views and keen intelligence, and was active up to the time of his death which was caused by a paralytic stroke when he was seventy- four years old. The father of his wife, Siotha Meuar, was Jeremiah Meuar, who was born in Vir- ginia, of Scotch parentage. His father was a far- mer in the land of Burns and emigrated to Amer- iea at a very early day. He made his first home in Virginia and afterward removed to Kentucky where he died at the venerable age of almost one hundred years. Ile was highly honored by all who knew him for his character and patriotism, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Horatio Adams emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois in September, 1828, and made his home in Clay County and afterward in Green County of this State. After a residence in the latter place of some five or six years, he came to Macoupin County and made his final home in Bird Town- ship, where he continued to reside till his death in August. 1874. Ile had been bereaved of his wife about six months previous to his own death. Both are buried in Bird Township. Their memory is blessed and cherished not only by their children and grandchildren but by the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church with whom they were in the bonds of fellowship, and by all who enjoyed The pleasure of their acquaintance.
An interesting family of five sons and five daugh- ters gathered about this worthy and venerable couple. The oldest daughter, Phoebe, was the wife of Brookings Chatman, and died in Bird Township, August 14, 1849. Next came the sons, Jefferson and Austin. The second daughter, Eliza, was the wife of John Kessinger and died Noven- ber 20, 1878. The next two children were sons, Andrew and William. The daughter Martha, be- came the wife of William Rice, and died in 1851. Nancy, wbo was the wife of Rev. Adam Wag- goner, died in Carlinville, Ill., in 1860. Agnes, Mrs. George Bates, died in 1868. The youngest child was John Q.
Austin Adams was the third child in his father's family and was born March 7, 1826, in Henry
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County, Ky. He was a child of only three years when he came with his parents to this State, and was educated in the district schools and trained in the practical details of farm life. He remained with his parents until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he took to himself a wife at Anderson's Point in Carlinville Township, Decem- ber 29, 1847.
The lady who thus became Mrs. Adams was Miss Maria C. Anderson, a sister of the late C. II. C. Anderson whose biography will be found elsewhere in this volume, and a daughter of the late James C. and Aun R. ( Harris) Anderson. She was born in Christian County, Ky., June 4, 1821, and died January 6, 1890, in Bird Township. She was the happy mother of seven children. The eldest, a son, died in early infancy. The second is James II; Leonora and Lodusca both died in infancy; Rejena M. is the wife of E. F. Wood- man; Leonora S. is the wife of W. V. McCann; Austin E. took to wife Miss Eva A. Robinson.
The subject of this notice followed the occupa. tions of farming and stock-raising. When he was first married he rented land for one year in Carlin - ville and after that purchased a farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres in Bird Township, where he passed the remainder of his life. He increased his possessions until he was the prosperous owner of about one thousand acres. He erected excellent buildings upon his land and made extensive and permanent improvements. As before stated he gave to his children most of the land which he had ac- cumulated, thus acting the wise part of executing the provisions of his will while alive.
In his early days Mr. Adams was of the Whig persuasion politically, but after the organization of the Republican party he espoused its principles and casts his vote for its candidates. For forty years his first wife was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for some forty-five years Mr. Adams was a devoted member of that church and contributed liberally of his means toward the erection of churches and the support of the Gospel.
On March 16, 1891, Mr. Adams was married a second time, choosing as his wife Miss Mattie L. Black, the daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Chiles) Black, natives respectively of Kentucky and Illi-
nois. The wedded life of our subject and his es- timable wife was of brief duration and was termin- ated by the death of Mr. Adams a few months later. flis loss is sadly felt, by his sorrowing wife, his bereaved children and his many friends. A publie-spirited citizen, he richly deserved the honor and esteem freely granted him by his neigh- bors, and his memory will be held in loving re- membrance for many years yet to come.
"We mourn for him whose life has flown Out from its fragile shell of clay Into the nightless perfect day, To reap the fruit that here was sown."
OIN WESLEY THACKER. We are pleased to present here a brief biographical sketch of one of the well-known and highly re- spected agriculturists of Girard Township, whose social standing is such as to give him promi- nene in the community. He was born on his father's home farm in Nilwood Township, this county, July 24, 1854. His father, Zachariah and his mother, Naney ( Walker) Thacker, were the par- ents of seven children, and he was the third son. An extended sketch of Zachariah Thacker appears elsewhere in this volume, and we are gratified to to have a double opportunity of calling attention to this interesting family.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon the home farm and soon as he was old enough attended school he began going to the district school, while at the same time making himself useful upon the farm. He grew up into a sturdy and healthy far- mer's boy and became of great assistance to his father. lle remained with his parents until his marriage which occurred just before he reached his majority.
The domestic life of Mr. Thacker has been a hap- py and prosperous one. He was married March 24, 1875 to Miss Christiana Garst, who has proved indeed a helpmate and a genial companion. To this excellent couple have been born five children, Della Ann; Cora May; Vernie Ellen; Mary John; and Albert Harvey. These are all being trained
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in domestic duties as well as being given a good school education. They are also brought up in the Christian faith, and Mr. and Mrs. Thacker are conscientious and devoted members of the Baptist | Church. They are leaders in thought in the farm- ing community, being active members of the Un- ion Grange. The Republican party embodies the political principles with which Mr. Thacker finds himself in harmony and while not in any sense an office seeker he is rejoiced to see the prosperity of - his party.
DAM FELTER, a prominent citizen of Girard, is of German birth. Ile was born in Ilesse-Darmstadt, June 4, 1813, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Schneider) Felter, who were also natives of the same place as their son. There they passed their married life and ended their days in peace at the old homestead. The son secured an opportunity to learn the trade of a nail-maker, and having done so at the age of eighteen years he left the parental roof.
This young man now set sail for America, leav- ing Bremen in May and landing in New York after a voyage of sixty-four days. Ile went at once to Mercer, Ohio, where his brother William lived. Be landed in the new home with only tifty cents in his pocket. His first work was on the National road and after thirteen days' labor there he took the ax in hand and began clearing land for his brother. He spent a few months in Mercer, and then went to St. Louis County, Mo., and engaged in farming. lle resided for a time in Adams County, and then came to Macoupin County and rented land for a time.
At the time when our subject first came to this county, there was not a house standing where now the prosperous villages of Girard and Virden are located and most of the land was in possession of the Government. Deer and wolves abounded, and all was like a wilderness. lle took up one hundred and twenty acres of land and after a few years had it in a fine state of cultivation. Later he bought other land until he had twice the amount with
which he began, und all well-improved. Ile erec- ted good frame buildings upon his farm and resided there for seven years.
Mr. Felter decided to sell his farm and go a little farther West, and did so, making his new home for more than two years in Lafayette County, Mo. But after all Illinois was more homelike to him and he disposed of this property and returned to Virden and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres. After residing there some years, he rented out this farm and went to live on a new property which he purchased in Girard Township. He re- sided on this tract of one hundred and twenty- seven acres until 1886, and then purchased property where he now resides. He still owns the two farms above spoken of and another tract of eighty acres in North Otter Township.
The marriage of Mr. Felter in 1844 united him with Cornetia McDaniel, whose father, John MeDaniel, was one of the pioneers of Morgan County. lle made his home there when Jackson- ville was but a hamlet. His daughter was born upon this pioneer farm in 1820, and was very young when her parents died. She was kindly cared for and was taken into the household of Alexander Bell.
Seven children have been given to this worthy coup'e, all of whom have been spared to the pres- ent time and each one has established a home and a household. They are named, Sarah, George, Ilannah, Ellen. Albert, John and David. All who know Mr. Felter unite in saying that he brought with him from the old country those sterling qual- ities which make the best class of German citizens, and his industry, frugality and steadfastness, have combined to give to him a degree of prosperity which he could never have known across the seas.
AVID II. JOHNSTON is proprietor of one of the largest and oldest established busi- ness houses of Bunker Hill. At the age of fifteen he entered the store as a eleik, continuing to serve in that capacity for some time and during that interval by industry and economy
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acquired sufficient capital to establish himself in business. In consequence the firm of Davis, John- ston & Co. was organized and became owner of the store wherein our subject had received his business training. After that several changes occurred in the firm. On the death of Mr. Davis, Edward Bar- ton became a partner of Mr. Johnston, and their connection continued for seven years or until the death of the former in September, 1883, when David II. admitted Charies J. Johnston as a part- ner under the style of Jolinston Bros. They did business together for a few years, and then the con- neetion was discontinued, since which time David Il. has been alone in business. The establishment of which he is now proprietor, is one of the finest and largest in Bunker Ilill. It is located on Wash- ington Street, and his stock of goods, comprising dry goods, clothing, carpets, boots and shoes, oceu- pies rooms covering two thousand feet on the ground floor and two thousand square feet in the second story. Hardly an enterprise of any import- anee has been established in Bunker Hill that Mr. Johnston is not numbered among the prime leaders in the movement or among the stockholders.
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