USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Portrait and biographical record of St. Clair County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
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Mr. Rafter was married in Cairo, III., August 30, 1877, to Miss Bibbie M. Crowley, who was born in Pennsylvania, but was reared in Cairo. She was removed by death in 1887, and left two interest- ing children, Rose and Gerald, both of whom are at the academy at Grand Forks, N. Dak. Our subject is a member of the order of the National Union and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and he supports the Catholic Church, of which he has long been a communicant.
P IIILIP L. WEBER, a prominent insurance agent of Belleville, with his office at No. 6 Iligh Street, has been a resident of Belle- ville since 1871. He was born in Bremen, Germany, July 7, 1854, and is the son of George and Sophia (Bruns) Weber. Our subject received his early education at his birthplace; then learning the mercantile business, working in a wholesale office, and beginning first as an apprentice, in which capacity he served for four years before he was pro- moted to the position of book-keeper.
Mr. Weber remained with this house until he came to America in 1871, engaging first in St. Louis in the dry-goods business, where he re- mained one year. Ile then came to Belleville and engaged in the sewing-machine business here. The position of book-keeper for William Ekhart, Ir .. next claimed his attention, after which, in 1883, he engaged in the insurance business. In this departure
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he built up a prominent and successful business with a partner, under the firm name of Weber & Sikkama, and their office is headquarters for the Germans of Freeport. They do business in ten ad- joining counties, and they have about seventy agencies under them.
Mr. Weber has been President of the Germania Turnverein, and was Secretary of the Liederkranz, which is the leading song society here, four years. Our subject was married to Miss Delia Enwright. of St. Charles, Mo., where she was born. She is the daughter of James Enwright, a prominent rail- road contractor of that place. The marriage oc- curred December 1, 1886, and they have three chil- dren: Oscar, Jolm and Ella. Mr. Weber had been previously married to Miss Rosa Honer, of this city, who at her death left five children: Arthur, Emil, Irwin, Walter and Louise. Our subject bought a pleasant place for a residence, which he has remod- eled, and he has in front of the house a large and beautifully kept lawn.
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B ENJAMIN J. VAN COURT, who is now living retired on section 29, ()'Fallon Town- ship, is one of the prominent and honored pioneers of this county. Ile comes of a family of Dutch origin, his grandfather, Job Van Court, having been born in Holland. Hle em- igrated to America with the Van Stuyvesants, and settled in New Jersey and engaged in farming. Ilis death occurred in 1820, at the age of eighty-five. HIe had previously removed to Bradford with the Holland Company, consisting of large land-owners, and died leaving a valuable estate. Ile left four children, John, Benjamin, Lucy and Hannah, all of whom married and had families.
The father of our subject, Benjamin Van Court, was born in New Jersey, in 1782. After acquir- ing a common-school education, he learned the cabinet-maker's trade and later became a house and boat builder, He wedded Mary, daughter of Dr. James Lindsey, and remoyed to MeVeytown
on the .Juniata River in Pennsylvania, where he became a large grain dealer and extensive mer chant. He made several trips to the West pros- pecting, and finally removed to Illinois, loeating first on a farm in Prophetstown, Whiteside County. He spent his declining years in St. Louis, and at a good old age, January 5, 1850, passed away at his residence on Collins Street. Ilis wife survived him only a few years and died May 14, 1855. at the age of seventy-one.
In the Van Court family were five children: Eliza, born December 14, 1810, died at the home of our subject August 18, 1881. Alexander, born February 27, 1812, was married in 1852 to Miss Chamberlain, who died in June, 1862, on their farm near Litchfield, leaving two children; Mary, who is now the wife of William Kelley, of Texas; and Benjamin, who is married and makes his home in Texas. In 1819, Alexander started across the plains to California, where our subject joined him in 1853. They spent about five years engaged in cattle-raising and in the sawmill business. Re- turning to Illinois, Alexander bought a farm in Maconpin County, where he remained ten years. In 1865, he went to Texas, locating near San An- tonio, where he engaged in farming and cattle- raising until his death, which occurred February 19, 1881. Maria, the third child of the family, was born November 19, 1816, and in 1847, at St. Louis, married John Cormack, a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi. She died August 28, 1884, at the age of sixty-eight, leaving one son, Alexander, Ma- hala, born June 18, 1818, died at St. Louis, in 1854.
Benjamin Jackson Van Court, whose name heads this record, was born December 20, 1820, in Me- Veytown, Pa., and acquired his education in the common schools, assisting his father when not in the school room. Ile went into business with his brother Alexander, and at the age of nineteen came West with the family, the father having preceded them. Ile and his brother built a boat called the "A. and B. JJ. Van Court," and, embarking at Johnstown, floated it down the canal to Pitts- burgh, thence down the Ohio to the Mississippi. There the boat was attached to the steamer "Smelter," which was to tow it to St, Louis, but
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before getting fairly started the boat sank, in con- sequence of the strong current. They lost all of their possessions and barely escaped with their lives.
With his brother, our subject went to Rock Island and leased the Rock Island House, con- ducting the same with excellent success for about two years. In the fall of 1841, they sold, and went to Portsmouth, Ohio, where they were pro- prietors of the American House for about two years. They then went to St. Louis, where, in connection with T. V. Cannon, they leased the National Hotel on the southwest corner of Third and Market Streets, successfully conducting the same until July, 1846. They then leased the old Missouri Hotel, which they had charge of until 1850. Our subject then engaged in real-estate dealing until his marriage on the 17th of January, 1853, to Miss Amelia Mittnacht, of Baltimore, daughter of George Mittnacht, a native of Ger- many. She was born December 6, 1829, and the wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. Spring.
The wedding journey of Mr. and Mrs. Van Conrt was a trip to California. where he remained until the spring of 1854, engaged in ranching and in the sawmill business. Ile raised the first erop of wheat in the neighborhood of Sacramento and cut the same with a McCormick reaper. He employed ten Indians in the harvest field, for the labor of white men was worth from $8 to $10 per day. Selling his property on the Pacific Slope, he returned to St. Louis, where he remained until 1856. While there, he was identified with the public affairs of the city, was a member of the City Council, and at one time was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for City Treasurer. On the 12th of July, 1856, he came to ()'Fallon, bought a farm of one hun- dred and thirty-seven acres and built his present residence. In 1865, he sank a coal shaft upon his farm, and the mine is still in operation, supplying all the coal for the electrical plants, as well as the ('ity Light Company of St. Louis. The mine is now leased to the Consumers' Coal Company of St. Louis.
Into Mr. and Mrs. Van Court have been born nine children: Benjamin J, died in California in
infancy; Hallie, born March 26, 1856, is the wife of Edwin Poindexter, manufacturer of varnishes, of Chicago; Kate Eliza, born March 6, 1858, died in infancy; Amelia MI., horn September 11, 1860, is the wife of Dr. D. K. Reinhold, of New York, by whom she has three children, Carrie, Edgar and Bessie, aged six, three and one year, respectively; Carrie Virginia, born July 29, 1865, is the wife of II. G. Finley, a merchant of St. Louis, and they have two children, Benjamin and Ilallie; Benja- min J., born September 29, 1862, died at the age of seven years; George, born May 25, 1867, died in infancy; and Belle, born August 10, 1869, also died in infancy.
Mr. Van Court is a member of the Congrega- tional Church. He has been connected with the Masonie fraternity since 1842, becoming a mem- ber of Aurora Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., at Portsmouth, Ohio. He is a charter member of St. Louis Commandery No. 1, K. T., and one of the founders of ()'Fallon Lodge No. 576, A. F. & A. M. Ile was first Master of the latter lodge, and filled that position for about fifteen years altogether. Ile is a Democrat and takes an active interest in the success of his party, but has never been an office- seeker. In his business, he has been very snecess- ful and won a handsome property. Ile is now a wealthy citizen, living retired, and is highly re- spected by all who know him.
ASHINGTON WEST, M. D. To attain distinction in any of the learned profes- sions is the proud ambition of many a struggling man, who looks forward to the prize to be gained toward the end of the race, and which when gained is accounted as having been worth the struggle. We occasionally know of an instance when a man still young has attained to a high po- sition, and his success is certainly worthy of ap- plause and emulation. Gratifying has been the results of the life of the subject of this sketch in his practice of surgery and medicine in the
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beautiful eity of Belleville, where he is one of the prominent physicians.
The Doctor is a son of Benjamin Hilleary West. and first saw the light on the West farm near Belle- ville, February 9, 1817. He was well fitted by na- ture and education for his chosen life work, as he attended the eity schools, finishing his literary course at the eity university at St. Louis; from there he entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated in 1868. He was then Acting Assistant Surgeon in the army for two years, being with Maj .- Gen. William S. Harney in the Sioux Indian District, in Dakota, remaining at the front during those two years of his service, and being located at the Cheyenne River Agency.
Dr. West was married on the 30th of June, 1870, to Miss Mary Agnes Wolfe, of St. Louis, daughter of Thomas Wolfe, one of the leading stoekmen in the St. Louis Pacifie Stockyards. Dr. and Mrs. West are the happy parents of six children, namely: Basmath Ariadne, Mary Agnes, Washington, Maria Catherine, Way and Ruth Wolfe. The children are all single, and at home, except Basmath Ariadne, who was married the 30th of June, 1892, to David Stainrook Booth, a physician of St. Louis, Mo., and a Professor of Barnes Medical College of St. Louis. They have an elegant home at No. 1622 Page Avenue.
After his marriage, Dr. West settled in Belle- ville, where he has since been in active practice, with the exeeption of six months spent in Phila- delphia at the time of the Centennial, when he was correspondent for a number of papers, and also attended the clinic at the University of Penn- sylvania. With this exception, he has been in active practice here ever since, and now enjoys so large a patronage that it is difficult for him to an- swer all the demands made upon his time and skill.
Dr. West is a member of the St. Clair County and State Medical Societies and American Medical Association; he also was Assistant Surgeon at the County Farm for twelve years. In addition to his other duties, he served as President of the Eagle Foundry for some years. Mrs. West, an in- telligent, refined lady, is a member of Dr. Brook's Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, and is a descen- dant of the great Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. Dr.
West belongs to no political party, preferring to cast his vote for the man his judgment pronounces to be the best, regardless of party distinctions. So- cially, he is connected with no orders, the duties of his profession being too heavy to admit of any such relaxation.
ULIU'S J. HEIDINGER. The gentleman whose name appears upon this page is one of the representative railroad men of this section, holding the responsible position of agent for the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Rail- road and attending to the freight and ticket busi- ness of this road, which does more business than all the other lines entering the city.
.Julius lleidinger is the son of Jacob and Magda- lena (Schmidt) Heidinger, and was born in this eity September 18, 1853. His parents were of German ancestry, and were natives of Rastadt, Ba- den, Germany, where the father was born June 19, 1807, and the mother in 1811. These honest peo- ple came to this country in 1848, and, after a long and tiresome journey, located at Belleville. Here the father worked at his trade of machinist, faith- fully following it through life. The five children who were born to them were as follows: Ilugo, now at Collinsville; Rudolph, who here conducts a tin and hardware store; Hermine, wife of Il. Mason, of Paducah, Ky., now deceased; and Quido B., a conductor on the Air-line Accommodation.
After our subject had received his education in the public schools of this city, he learned the har- ness-making trade, and later entered a nail mill; later he became agent for the old Illinois & St. Louis Railroad for five years, having previously learned telegraphy. Mr. Icidinger then kept a set of books for the B. F. Switzer & Co. flouring mill for two years. Then he took the Short Line agency, and has given such satisfaction that there is no prospect of any change unless for a still higher position. Ile has made this line highly re- spected, and his services are appreciated. Ile is interested in other matters besides railroad busi-
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ness, and has found time to invest largely and wisely in real estate in this city and in St. Louis.
Mr. Heidinger gave up single blessedness May 9. 1882. when occurred his marriage to Miss Cath- erine Holdner, daughter of Fred Holdner, of this city, who was born December 7, 1857. Four bright children have blessed this home, but the Deatlı Angel took the eldest, little .Julius, when only three months old. The living are Roy Reu- ben, Milo Drew and Magdalena. Mr. and Mrs. Ileidinger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are most highly valued as neighbors and friends. Mr. Heidinger possesses those quali- ties which go to make a leader, and manages the twelve men under his charge without any frietion and to the interest of his employers.
E DWAARD FRANK SCHOENING. Promi- nent among the industries of St. Clair County are its milling enterprises, and the men who have worked in that line have contribu- ted effectively to the advancement of their commu- nities. The firm of Hirsch & Schoening, merchant millers at Millstadt, has established and success- fully condneted a flourishing business, which has gained a reputation for progressive methods and reliable dealings. The junior member of this firm is the subject of our sketch, a young gentleman of enterprise and perseverance, and a worthy repre- sentative of a thrifty German family.
John Schoening, father of our subject, as his name indicates, was a German, and was born in Holstein, where he was reared to manhood. Farm- ing was his occupation, his entire life being thus spent in his native country. lle married M. Braluns, and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom seven are now living. The fa- ther was a man of honor and industrious habits, highly esteemed by his neighbors and acquaint- ances until death.
In Holstein, Germany, the subject of this sketeh was born November 11, 1853, where he passed his
childhood years, receiving excellent educational advantages in the common schools of that prov- inee. Having resolved upon emigrating to Amer- ica. he left his parental home in 1866, when about thirteen years old, in company with the family. Landing in New York City. they proceeded to Buffalo, where our subjeet learned the trade of a miller. From there he removed to Rock Island County, Ill., to follow milling for about one year. Afterward Mr. Schoening took the long trip across the plains to California, where he followed his trade in the Sacramento Mills for nine months. Thence the journey was made to Washington, and through that State and Oregon to Laramie City, Wyo.
By this time, tired of traveling, our subject went to St. Louis, Mo., to engage with the East St. Louis Milling Company. He was suited here, and his work gave satisfaction, and he remained until the fall of 1876, when he came to Millstadt. Ill., and started Frank Bowers' mill, and kept on here until the summer of 1877, when he went to the mill of Baker & Stern. Mr. Schoening remained here un- til 1884, when he went to Columbia, Ill., and became head miller in the mill there. With sneh a wide ex- perience, he thought the time had come to make a permanent business, so in 1885 the present partner- ship was formed, which has existed ever since. The lady whom our subject selected as his bride was Miss Lena Brucker, the accomplished daughter of George Brucker, a prominent coal dealer of the city of Belleville, Ill. Five children, two sons and three daughters, have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Shoening; they bear the names of Lena. George, Arthur. Olga and Minna.
Our subject is one of the important members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is Mas- ter of the lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at this place, and has represented that or- der in the Grand Lodge of the State. Politically, Mr. Schoening is a Republican and upholds the banner of a protective tariff. Mr. Schoening has taken an active interest in educational matters, and hence has been called upon to serve the dis- triet on the School Board for the past seven years. Ile was one of the principal agitators in the build- ing of the new school building in Millstadt, and
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has aided all the efforts of the Board to obtain the best of instructors. His is a progressive township, and he has done much to push on the car of pro- gress. Socially, Mr. Schoening and family are among the first people in Millstadt, and his admir- able wife assists in dispensing the hospitalities of their pleasant home.
ON. M. M. STEPHENS. Many of the men connected with the city government of East St. Louis in various capacities have achieved distinction in the higher ranks of official life, but none more so than Ion. M. M. Steph- ens, the capable and enterprising Mayor of East St. Lonis. He stands in the front rank of her busi- ness intellect; is a man of publie spirit, fine ex- ecutive ability, and correctness in fulfilling any duties intrusted to him, and is well known for a high degree of integrity in his general relations. As the Mayor of East St. Louis, he is praised by every one, for he has done more for the city than any other man.
Mr. Stephens was elected to his present respon- sible position in April, 1877, with a reform city council. Upon assuming the office, he found a lamentable, complicated and embarrassed condition of affairs. By mal-administration and corruption, the city had been plunged into an indebtedness of 8850,000, with nothing to show for the greater part of it. The city had no credit. The only cur- rency it had been for years dealing out for labor, material, etc., was worthless " script," and the city was flooded with that. The revenue had been col- lected for months in advance and squandered. In fact, everything was in a chaotic state. But Mayor Stephens had assumed office with a well-defined policy. With the assistance of those with whom he had associated and labored for the regeneration of the city, he determined to enforce and carry out that pohey. He courageously addressed him- self to the task. He appointed good men to the official positions. A majority of the city council voted with and sustained him. They restored law
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and order; abolished " seript " and instituted the payment of cash for what the city procured; in- stalled a good police force under courageous and competent officers; organized an effective fire de- partment, and accomplished numerous other pre- liminary reforms and changes before undertaking the gigantic improvements which have made East St. Louis a city of wonderful progress and magic growth and thrift.
Few men could have succeeded so well in re- deeming the city from the evils which confronted it as Mr. Stephens has done. He was not a man trained for leadership or statesmanship when he undertook the responsible duties of the mayoralty. Ile was a plain man of the people, with no preten- sion not justified by the confidence and compli- ments of his fellow-citizens. From the very in- ception of the reform movement to the present date, Mayor Stephens has displayed the rarest ex- ecutive ability, and has at the same time demon- strated his capacity for public affairs to an extent which marks him as a coming man in the larger sphere of State government; for he is quite apt to be called from the service of his city to the service of his State in the near future. He has not been offensive, dictatorial or presumptuous in dealing with his subordinates, his crities or his friends. During the recent flood (1892) he worked almost night and day to defend the city, and his efforts were rewarded. He is one of the most agreeable of men, has a heart of gold, and is ever ready to extend a helping hand to the needy and suffering.
M. M. Stephens was born in Pennsylvania, near Scranton, Luzerne County, on the 7th of Febru- ary, 1847. ITis father, Ziba Stephens, was also a native of the Keystone State, born in Wyoming County. The grandfather, William Stephens, was born in Pennsylvania, where he followed farming. and passed his entire life. Ziba Stephens was a large contractor and builder on railroads, and built miles of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. For a time he engaged in merchandis- ing and later kept an hotel at Abington Centre, then at Providence, now a part of Scranton. After residing there for many years, he returned to Philadelphia. Hle affiliated with the Democratie party and was a worthy and much respected man.
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Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Mary Travis, was born near Scranton. She came to East St. Louis and made her home with our subject until her death. She was an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Two of the five children born to his parents are living, and our subject was the eldest in order of birth. In 1853, he moved with his parents to Providence and pursued his studies until twelve years of age, when his schooling was terminated. He tilled the position of brakeman on the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and was in the machinery department of the Delaware & Hud- son C'anal Railroad for three years. Ile had one year's experience as lireman, and served as en- gineer three or four years. In the fall of 1864, he offered his services to his country, but was refused. Previous to this, in 1862-63, he was in New York City during the riots in the machine shops, etc. In September, 1866, he came to Murphysborough, Jackson County, Ill., and was in the machine de- partment. Later, he ran an engine on the railroad from Carbondale to Grand Tower, and in 1868 he came to East St. Louis as engineer on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and was thus engaged until 1874. He met with very few accidents and none of a serious nature. lle abandoned that business in 1874, and opened the Fourth Ward House, which he bought after renting four and a-half years. Later, it became known as the Stephens Ilouse, and was located on Collinsville and Sum- mit Avenues.
In 1884, Mr. Stephens was elected Alderman of the Fourth Ward, and held that position for two years. In 1887, he was elected Mayor, and is now serving his third term, which in itself is an eloquent proof of his popularity. In Jan- uary, 1872, he married Mrs, Mary Elizabeth (Tompkins) Beam, a native of France, who came to America with her mother, Three children have been born of the marriage: Lillie, now Mrs. Cud- dington, who resides in East St. Louis; Emma, Mrs. Jackiesch; and Leonora Frances. Mr. Steph- ens is a Knight Templar in the Masonic lodge. Ile is an honorary member of the Local Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers and their Insur- ance Agent for the St. Clair Division No. 49, and |
served as Chief Engineer and First Assistant En- gineer. Ile has served as delegate for the Demo- cratie party to many of the National Conventions and also county and State conventions.
G EORGE R. TATE, J. P. This prominent farmer and public official lives upon sec- tion 19, Smithton Township, and is the son of Edward Tate, who was one of the early settlers, having come here before the Indians had left, in 1818. Our subject was born on the old place, where his brother now lives, on the 30th of Ang- ust, 1840, and was reared there. In 1864, he made a trip overland to Oregon and California and re- turned by way of Panama and New York. The trip from St. Joseph, Mo., clear through to Port- land, Ore., was made in a wagon drawn by four mules. He remained away almost two years and engaged in teaching in the public schools there. After his return, he taught school in this county. llis marriage occurred in 1866 with Sarah C. Smith, daughter of Robert J. Smith, of this county. who was born in Maine, and came here when very small.
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