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 12
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After his marriage, our subject continued teach- ing in the district where he resides, and only left it from 1873 to 1877 when he was the Principal of the public schools of Freeburg. He tanght until 1890, making a period of twenty-five years in the school-room. Our subject has been blessed with the following children: E. Clara, who is the wife of N. O. Phillips; John J., who died in 1891; Matilda C., Hallie M., Adelaide and David, all living at home except the first named. Our subject has one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, all well improved, and raises on it a great deal of grain, besides an abundance of berries, which have yielded a good income; also a fine peach orchard of budded fruit. perhaps the finest in the county. All of the im- provements are of the very best and every part of the farm is in the best order and finely cultivated.
Our subject is a member of the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 418. of Freeburg,
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and of Belleville Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; has been Master of the lodge, and has filled the office of Junior Warden. Justice Tate also be- longs to the Patrons of Husbandry, and has been a member of the Grange for twenty years and of its State executive committee for six years. In his political opinions, Mr. Tate is a Prohibitionist and has been put forward by the appreciative citizens of his county as a candidate for Probate Judge. He has served acceptably two terms as Justiee of the Peace, and has the satisfaction of knowing that there is no man in Smithton Township who stands higher socially than himself.
LBERT. E. WILDERMAN. It is not given to many to see the wilderness blossom like the rose, as has been the lot of the gentle- man whose name appears at the opening of this sketch. From a wild prairie, where savage beasts, and Indians, a thousand times more danger- ous than any animal, roamed. he has seen this vast State develop into the great commonwealth of to-day.
Our subject was the son of George Wilderman, a native of the Keystone State, who came to Illi- nois in the early part of this century, thus becom- ing one of the early pioneers of this county. Here his four children were born, namely: Alfred, Cal- vin, Albert and Margaret, all living. The last- named child is now the wife of William Sebert, a prominent musician. George Wilderman was a very large land-owner in the county, and defended it from the eneroaehments of the Indians during the Black Hawk and minor wars with the savage tribes of red men. Ile was a very prominent man and worthy citizen of the county where he lived, taking an active part in all affairs of public eoneern.
Our subject ean elaim the honor of being a na- tive son of section 6, Freeburg Township, St. Clair County, where he still resides. His birth occurred October 25, 1828, and he has lived on the home place during the sixty-four years of his life. Mr. Wilderman ean relate many interesting incidents
which took place in the early days of the county, and these stories are told in a most entertaining manner. and one that wins for him many hearers. After growing to manhood, he was united in mar- riage to Sophronia, daughter of Elijah and Mary Hill, by whom he had the following children: George R., who resides in this township; Ada, wife of Louis Sheetz, of New Athens Township; and Mary, wife of Julius Wilderman, residing in Free- burg Township.
Mr. Wilderman married again, this union being with Miss Melissa Thompson, daughter of Abel Thompson, of Twelve Mile Prairie. This lady bore him five children, all of whom are living, as follows: Luella, Hallie R., Calvin, Carrie B. and Leroy A. Mr. Wilderman is the owner of seven hun- dred aeres of land at present, although he has owned much more at different periods, which he disposed of at good figures. On this land he carries on gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and has one of the finest farms in the county. Mrs. Wilderman and daughter are members of the Grange, playing an important part in the doings of that body. Our subject is a strong Demoerat in politics, and holds the important office of School Director in his dis- triet.
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b ENRY HUBER. The gentleman whose name opens this sketch is the senior member of the firm of Iluber & Son, dealers in general merchandise in the town of Freeburg, Ill. The father of our subject was Valentine Huber, who was born in Germany, and came to America about the year 1837. He located in Twelve Mile Prairie, but soon after made a change and going to Tamaroa, on the edge of Twelve Mile Prairie, en- gaged in farming until the time of his demise. Ile had a family of six children, all spared to their parents until maturity, and four are yet liv- ing. Mary is the wife of George Gareyher; Mar- garetta, first married George Klos, who died; later she married Mr. Wagner, who is also dead; after his death she married for a third time, but is now a widow.
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Our subject made his home with his good mother until his marriage with Miss Susanna Jaimet, who was the daughter of Charles Jaimet. Her life was short, and after her death Mr. Huber married her sister, Catherine. After this event he located in Tamaroa and lived there twenty-four years, en- gaged in farming; he then went to Freeburg and worked at the trade of cooper for about five years, when an opening for good mercantile trade pre- sented itself. Ile has had seven children, five of whom are living: Gustavus, junior member of the firm; Jacob, who follows the excellent trade of a tinner; Louisa, who is the wife of Philip Wolf, a cooper of this place: Peter Pitts and Mary, both at home.
When the Adams Express Company desired to obtain some reliable representative in Freeburg, Mr. Huber was selected as its agent, and has man- aged its affairs here to the general satisfaction since 1879. The religious connection of the family is with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and they are members much esteemed in that relationship. In political matters, Mr. Huber is and has always been an ardent Republican, and has held the of- fice of Supervisor. Our subject owned one hun- dred and forty-five acres of land in this county, but recently sold it, as his large and inereasing business demands all of his attention. Socially, the family of Mr. Huber is highly regarded, and their home is one of the pleasantest in Freeburg.
years upon landing on American shores, leaving old home faces and old ways behind him.
The lad came poor, as so many of his country- men did, and scarcely knew what first to under- take in this strange land. However, a willing pair of hands served him well, and he had not been 'long in St. Louis before some one desired their aid. Mr. Pfaff engaged as a painter, at the muni- ficent wages of $4 per month, and worked away diligently for some time, eventually learning enough of the trade to be considered an artist of the paint brush, if his eanvas happened to be a house, barn or building of any kind. In 1859, he came to Illinois, located at Turkey Hill in St. Clair County, and there worked at his trade until the country of his adoption was convulsed by the Civil War, when he was among the first to spring to her defense.
Our subject enlisted in Company B, Ninth Illinois Infantry, and on the 19th of April, 1861, the com- pany was sent to Camp Butler. After serving the three months for which he had enlisted, he came back and worked at his trade until August, 1861, when he re-enlisted in the Forty-third Illinois In- fantry, took part in the battle of Shiloh, and for bravery on that bloody field was raised from the rank of Corporal to that of Second Lieutenant. Ilis term of service having expired in October, 1864, he was honorably discharged, and returned to Mascoutah, where he worked at his trade for a space of two years. August 1, 1881, our subject entered into partnership with Mr. George Draser, Sr., in the lumber business, and he has continued in that ever since. Having had practical experience in some departments of the business, and his present partner, George Draser, Jr., understanding other departments in the same way, together they make a strong firm, as theory is all right, but experience is the best assurance of success.
DAM PFAFF. The gentleman whose name opens this article is well known in the city of Mascoutah, where he has done an honorable business for many years, and is Lieut. Pfaff was married on the 25th of July, 1865, to Miss Margaret Heberer, daughter of George H. Heberer, an old settler of the county. An in- teresting family of nine children has grown up about them, who are as follows: Mary, who married Carl Montag, and has a home of her now the senior member of the old established firm of Draser & Pfaff, dealers in lumber, shingles, lath, nails and all furnishings for the trade. Our sub- ject first saw the light in a country far from this, and no doubt he still has fond memories of the Fatherland. Born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, ! own; Anna, Amelia, Henry J., George, Charles, September 18, 1836, he was a boy of seventeen Adam, Ernest and Irwin, who are still at home.
Bishop J. Janken
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The children with whom our subject and his wife had to part were two little ones, Katie and Lena, and Belle, who was taken away at the age of fif- teen years. Our subject is a very prominent man in the Grand Army of the Republic, holding the position of Quartermaster of the post. Politi- cally, he is a stanch Republican, and believes in upholding the principles for which he fought. Hle has served his district on the Board of Education for a term of twelve years.
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R T. REV. JOHN JANSSEN, Bishop of Belle- ville, was born in Keppeln, Rhenish Prussia, March 3, 1835. He was educated in the Bish- op's college at Gaesdonck and at Munster, and took a theological course at the latter place. The bishoprie of Alton, III., had been erected in 1857,with Bishop Henry D. Juncker, presiding, and while this gentleman was looking for material to use, he visited the University of Munster and arranged with several priests and theological stu- dents to come to his diocese, John Janssen being one of the number. Upon completing his course of study in 1858, he at once joined Bishop Juncker at Alton, and on the 19th of November of that year he was ordained priest. Immediately after his ordination, he was placed in charge of the Ger- man Catholic Church at Springfield, and also had charge of the German Catholies in Sangamon, Morgan and Menard Counties. At that time there was one English priest at Springfield and one at Jacksonville.
Bishop Janssen continued his connection with Springfield and the above-mentioned counties until 1863, when he was selected as Secretary to the Bishop, a position he accepted and ably filled for five years, or until 1868, when Bishop Juncker died. He was also made Chancellor of the diocese and so acted until Bishop Baltes was consecrated, in Jannary. 1870. He was then made Vicar- General to Bishop Baltes and as such continued for sixteen years, or until the latter was called
from life in 1886, serving, however as rector of St. Boniface's Church at Quincy, III., through 1878-79. When Bishop Baltes realized the approach of dis- solution, he appointed Father Janssen his admin- istrator, and our subject conducted the affairs of the diocese until its divison in January, 1887. Ilis appointment as Bishop of the Belleville Dio- eese, comprising twenty-eight counties, was received February 28, 1888. He continued to administer the affairs of the diocese until the appointment of Father James Ryan as Bishop of Alton, and on the 23d of April, 1888, he surrendered the office.
On the 25th of the same month, Bishop Janssen was consecrated in the Belleville Cathedral by Arch- bisop Feehan, assisted by Bishop Ilogan, of Kansas City; Bishop Fink, of Leavenworth; Bishop Spaul- ding, of Peoria; Bishop Chatard, of Vincennes; Bishop Bonacum, of Lincoln; and Bishop Ryan; of Alton. The diocese of which he has control contains twenty-cight counties, and he has under him seventy-one priests, eighty-seven churches, one orphan asylum at Belleville, and a hospital in each of the following cities: Belleville, East St. Louis, Cairo and Aviston.
RANK SCHMISSEUR. The subject of this sketch was born August 10, 1843, in a log cabin which stood in the front yard of his present residence, being the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Chenot) Schmisseur. The father was born May 6, 1810, in Lorraine, France, and the mother November 19, 1817, at the same place. They came to America in 1830, landed in New York, and then went to Zanesville, Ohio, where they lived for a time, going thence to St. Louis. The father conducted a restaurant in the latter city in connection with his father-in-law, Joseph ('henot, at the old market. The parents remained in St. Louis until September, 1841, when they set- tled on this place, which contained one hundred and four acres. Some of the land has been sold since. The father died November 25, 1880, the mother having preceded him by four years. This
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couple were good and kind parents to the follow- ing children: Louise, who married Dominick Dekum (see sketch); John J. married Rosa Dekum, and is a carpenter in Belleville, with three chil- dren; Charles was married to Emily Phillips, and is proprietor of the West Belleville Custom Flour- ing Mill: Eugene, a farmer living near Richland, married Lizzie Battre.
Our subject was reared on the home place, at- tended the common schools, and afterward went to St. Louis, where he took a course in the excel- lent Catholic college of the Christian .Brothers. Ile was married September 15, 1874, to Madeline Russell, daughter of Nicholas and Rosa Russell. Iler parents were natives of France and came to America when she was three years old. Five liv- ing children have been born them and make a merry household. They are Mary, Clara, Russell, Walter and Harrison.
The gentlemen of whom we write has followed general farming, and derives a good revenue from the coal which is beneath his land. In his opin- ion Ins underground farm does better than that upon the surface. Mr. Schmisseur has held no public position except that of School Director, as he is no office-seeker, but a business man, and withal a very pleasant gentleman, highly esteemed by all who know him.
E RNEST R. HAGIST. The union of families in their business enterprises has often proven the truth of the old saying that "In union is strength," and in this case; where the tastes of both father and son have been in the same direc- tion, the formation of the mercantile firm of E. lagist & Son caused no surprise. The subject of our sketch is the younger member of the above- named firm, which does business in the flourishing little city of Mascoutah, in St. Clair County, Ili. Ile is the son of Ernest Ilagist, whose birth occurred in a land far removed and very different from this, his adopted country.
Ernest Hagist. Sr., was born in Baden, Germany,
in the year 1828, was reared there and received his education in the excellent schools which offer learn- ing in Germany, and then compel her children, if the gift is disregarded, to attend. Ile came to this country in 1851, and located on a farm near Belle- ville, Ill., where he remained about one year; he then came to a fine piece of land near Mascontah, and bought a farm one mile west of this. There he continued and carried on the business of farming, but his mind was too acute, and demanded a bus- ier life, so in 1860 he moved into Mascontah, and engaged in the general merchandise business, but did not part with his land, as he rented it ad- vantageously, and still carries on his agricultural pursuits in connection with his business here.
The marriage of Mr. Hagist, Sr., took place in 1853, when he was united to Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of Mr. J. F. Frey, a native of Ger- many, who came to America, and settled in St. Clair County in 1852. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hagist, Sr .: our subject, and Minnie, the wife of II. Sauter, who has her home in Mascon- tah. The birth of our subject took place August 17, 1857, on the old home farm of his father, west of Mascoutah. He was sent to the best schools in the county, and when he had completed the course there he was taken by his father as a clerk in the store, and was taught the immense difference be- tween debit and credit; he was an apt pupil, and his father could not desire one more faithful in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Ilagist soon gave such evidence of the true spirit of the mer- chant that his father took him into partnership with him in 1880, and now the firm stands E. Ila- gist & Son.
Our subject showed his affection for his native city in the selection of the presiding genius of his household, for it was a resident of Mascoutah who became his bride in 1880. She was Miss Mary Rich- ter, the daughter of Fred E. Richter, who lives in this city, being a retired farmer of the county, and one of the first settlers in the township. Our subject has five children, and their names are ()s- car, Alma, Arthur, Ilerman and Theodore. They are all bright, happy children, and have the prom- ise of a successful future before them. Mr. Ilagist, of this notice, has always been interested in the
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educational affairs of his town, and now is serving a term on the Board of Education. The business carried on by the firm of Hlagist & Son is a very prosperous one, and the members of this firm are wide-awake men, who not only work for their own advancement. but also for the advantage of the beautiful little city of their hom . Such eit- izens make the success of a town.
MECHIN & SON. The firm which this name represents is made up of John Meehin and his talented son, Armand J. Mechin, A. B. They do the largest and most sue- cessful trade in fine jewelry in the city. The fam- ily of our subject is an old and highly connected one in France, and in the city of Tours Jean Mechin, the father of John Mechin, was born. Hle became a farmer, was with the French army under Napoleon in 1812 and passed his last days in sunny France.
Our subject was born in Tours, France, Feb- ruary 14, 1822. When fourteen years of age, he was apprenticed to a jeweler m Paris for three years, then traveled through France and crossed the Channel three times. He was in the Revolution of 1848, and then went to London, where lie worked at his trade for eighteen years, and was foreman for Sir John Bennett's jewelry establish- ment, which is one of the largest in that metropolis. In 1873, Mr. Mechin took the family to London and there embarked on the steamer "Canada," of the White Star Line. In fourteen days he arrived in New York and then came on to St. Louis. Our sub- ject carried on a jeweler's business on Third Street in St. Louis, and in 1876 located in East St. Louis, in the Workingmen's Bank Block, continuing there until 1891, when he took the fine location now ocenpied by the firm at No. 315 Broadway, carry- ing a regular line of jewelry, regulating and re- pairing all time-pieces, having a valuable stock and keeping all the novelties of the most delicate pattern and finest workmanship. Mr. Mechin is also inspector of watches for the Chicago, Cleve-
land, Cincinnati & St. Louis, Cairo Short Line, Louisville & Nashville, Mobile & Ohio, and Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads.
Our subject was married in France to Mademoi- selle Valentine Mardell, who was born in France and was the daughter of M. Valentine, a fine pastry baker and conductor of a restaurant. Our subject's wife was a devout member of the Catholic Church, and died under its ministrations, March 8. 1892. Mr. Mechin was left with the comfort of four children, as follows: Gus. V. R., Secretary of eight different building and loan associations and Publie Administrator, is located in St. Louis; Jane, now Mde. Darenberg, resides in France; Juliette, now Mrs. Kelly, and Armand, Jr., reside in East St. Louis. The record of the firm would not be complete without a short sketch of the life of this latter most promising young man, who was born in London, England, May 15th, 1870, and was reared in St. Louis, first attending the public schools there; he then entered the St. Louis University at the unusual age of twelve years, where he was a student for two years, and then attended St. Mary's Col- lege, in Kansas, for two years. Afterward, he went to the St. Vincent's College, at Cape Girardeau, Mo., graduating from there in 1889 with the degree of A. B.
This was not education enough for this ambi- tious young man, who then took a trip to Europe, via New York to Paris, to attend the World's Ex- position, and remained there for three months, breathing the air of the home of his ancestors. When he returned, with his polish of manner and superior education, he had no difficulty in secur- ing a position with a large firm, but left it in 1891 to become a partner with his father. With natural aptitude, the young man has already be- come proficient in the business, and will no doubt stamp his name indelibly on the commercial circles of East St. Louis. Armand is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Knights of Pythias; American Legion of Honor; and Knights and Ladies of Honor; and is also a member of St. Patrick's Church. While at C'ape Girardeau, he took quite a prominent part in the literary exercises of the college, belonged to a dramatic society, in which he took leading parts,
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and was manager of the base-ball club. Politically, he has affiliated with the Democratic party, but is no radical in his views. Mr. Mechin takes great pride in this talented young son and feels that the business so carefully built up will be entirely safe in Armand's hands.
G' EORGE C. REBIIAN. The brilliant legal gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, is one of the most enterprising and successful lawyers of the city of Belleville, is No- tary Publie, and employed in the Abstract Office as manager, but his main business is in chancery and the administration and settling up of es- tates.
Mr. Rebhan was born in Jefferson City, Mo .. July 25, 1856, and was the son of Emil and Cath- erine (Miller) Rebhan. The father of our subject was a native of Germany and was born in Saxony, that country. Coming to this country in 1848, he first settled in Missouri, and there married into the family of a near neighbor and intimate friend. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Rebhan raised Company F, Second Missouri United States Troops, and was Captain of the com- pany. After the war was over he came here and built the Mascoutah Plank Road, being a civil en- gineer hy profession; he continued in that employ- ment, then settled in Shiloh, and was given the postoffice, in connection with which he kept a store, and also did some farming. Captain Reb- han has been very prominent in local affairs, is a Republican, has been Supervisor of Roads, and took the census of Shiloh in 1870-80-90. The mother of our subject still lives.
The subject of this sketch was sent to school in Shiloh, where he improved his opportunities, and then went to St. Louis, where he acted as clerk in a drug store during the day and went to school at night. Returning home in 1872, he engaged in farming until 1880, when he decided to make a change in his life. Therefore he went to Belle- ville and was fortunate in being able to read law-
with Gen. Kueffner, and had the satisfaction of being admitted to the Bar by the Appellate Court at Mt. Vernon, May 1, 1885, and after reading for five years passed at the head of his elass. Ile then returned to the office of Gen. Kueffner as clerk, and also practiced with him.
The gentleman of whom we write was married February 22. 1889, to Miss Lizzie Gundlach, daughter of Jacob Gundlach, Sr., and they have one daughter, Estelle. Mr. Rebhan has been a Di- rector in the Belleville Pump Works for some years. and has stock in different business enterprises. Our subject left Gen. Kueffner in the fall of 1889, and bought out the Abstract Office of S. Fietsam, but in April, 1890, sold it to the Donavan-Guignon Land Title Company, still retaining an interest and managing the company at Belleville. Since then he has given his attention to the buying and selling of real estate in East St. Louis, and owns a great deal of valuable property. As he has the confidence of the people, he is very much oeeu- pied in the settling of estates in this vicinity, and has proven his ability and honesty in many cases. Ile is a prominent member of the Sons of Veterans and at present is Lieutenant-Colonel of the Illi- nois Division. Mr. Rebhan is a consistent mem- ber of St. Peter's Catholic Cathedral.
15 UCHI'S C. SHAWHAN. The art studio, where nature is not only faithfully pie- tured, but often improved upon, to the satisfaction of those who do not wish to be too truthfully mirrored, is conducted on Missouri Ave- nue under the artistic eye of the original of our sketch. Mr. Shawhan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2, 1848. The father was Harvey Shawhan, a native of Harrison County, Ky., who was very proud of his father, David, an old Indian fighter of Kentucky. The latter located in later years in Warren County, Ohio, and was one of the earliest settlers there, where he passed the remainder of his life.
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