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 13
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The father of our subject was a contractor and
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builder, who, after working at different places, re- turned to the home of his father, and died in Morrow, Warren County, in the year 1850, at the age of thirty-five years. The mother of our subject was Phoebe Green, born in New Haven, Conn,, her mother being a typical New England woman from Martha's Vineyard. Mrs. Shawhan lived in Maineville, Ohio, where she died in 1890. Our subject was one of two children, his brother, J. W., living in Morrow. This brother was in the same regiment and company as himself during the war.
Mr. Shawhan was reared about eight miles from the Shaker settlement, and was educated in the com- mon schools of the district. When fourteen years of age the call came resounding through the land, for defenders of the country, and among the first to respond was this young lad, who ran away from home and made his way to Camp Chase, where he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth Ohio In- fantry. was mustered in June 3, 1862, and was sent to Virginia. Ile was at the battle of Buchan- nan, Va .; was then sent to guard railroad tracks at Parkersburg; was then put on detail duty to photograph maps, going through from Memphis to Corinth under Rosecrans, and afterwards was at Shiloh, Inka, Tuscumbia, Vicksburg and up the Black River, thence to Memphis and back to Camp Dennison. At the close of the war, Mr. Shawhan, still a youth, was mustered out at Delaware, Ohio, in June, 1865. being only seventeen years old, and yet a veteran solcher.
After his return from the life of a soldier, Mr. Shawhan went right to work at photography in co-partnership with the man he had been associa- ted with in the army, the partnership being for one year in Cincinnati, when he opened a gallery of his own. The young man remained at his busi- ness there for two years and then tried Ins fuck two years in Newport, Ky., thence back to Cin- cinnati. In the meantime, Mr. Shawhan opened a gallery at Lebanon, and took views of the Shaker buildings. Remaining in Ohio until 1890, he came to East St. Louis and located, winning the reputation of turning out the best work ever done in this city, Our subject is a man of means, owning real-estate in Cincinnati, and is a
Repubhean of no uncertain kind, believing in the righteousness of his favorite party, whether it be victorious or defeated.
Mr. Shawhan was married at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1874, to Miss Naney Thompson, who was born in Warren County, but died at Piqua, Ohio, where she went for her health. She departed this life May 30, 1888, leaving one son, C. B., who lives with his grandfather at Madison, Ind. Our subject is very popular, and probably the youngest member of Alexander Post, G. A. R., of Piqua. Mr. Shawhan is an indefatigable worker, and a conscientious, painstaking and artistic photographer.
ACOB GUNDLACHI, JR., a farmer who re- sides on the northwest corner of section 3, Smithton Township, St. Clair County, the subject of the present sketch, is the eldest son of Philip John Gundlach, who resides in St. Clair Township. The later was born in Nassau, Ger- many, in October, 1820, and came to this country in 1842. Ile first located on the land where he is now living, and married Margaret Biebel, daughter of John Biebel, by whom he had eight children, all of whom grew to maturity and five of whom are now living.
Our subjeet was born December 13, 1854, on the old homestead in St. Clair Township, in this county. was reared on the home place and educated in the public and private schools of Belleville and St. Louis. Taught in both the German and English languages, he was fortunate in receiving efficient instructions. After finishing his schooling, he re- turned to his father's farm and remained there until his marriage. This important event occurred December 28, 1880, when he was twenty-five years of age. The young lady who consented to share his fortunes was Miss Minie Herr, daughter of Philip llerr, of Stookey Township, now living in Belleville the life of a retired farmer. Mr. Herr came to this country from Germany in 1843, mak- ing his home at once in St. Clair,
After marriage, Mr, Gundlach came to this place
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and has lived here ever since, upon a fine farm of two hundred acres in a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Gundlach have three left of their tive children, who are as follows: Peter J., born October 9. 1881; Louisa, born May 6, 1883, and Clemens, born July 20, 1891. Those who died were, Jolin Linus, five years old, who died of diphtheria in 1890, and Rosa, only three years old, succumbed to that dreadful disease at the same time. Politically, Mr. Gundlach is a Democrat and believes in the principles of that party. In his religious relations, he belongs to the Catholic Church and is a member of St. Peter's Cathedral, of Belleville. The home of this worthy family is a very pleasant one, and no cloud has come to it with the exception of the deaths of the children mentioned above.
AMES WILDERMAN. One of the wealth- iest and most influential men in the county of St. Clair is the gentleman who resides on section 8, Freeburg Township. George Wilderman, the grandfather of our subject, was of German ancestry, and was born in Washington County, Md., whence he came West in 1805, and set- tled in the Territory of Indiana, which now is the State of Illinois, locating in Freeburg Township. where our subject now lives, remaining there until the time of his death, a few years later. He had ten sons: John, Jacob, Francis, James, Dorsey, Henry, Joseph. William, Levi and George. Jacob. George and James served as soldiers in the Black Hawk War.
The father of our subject James Wilderman. born in Pennsylvania, July 19, 1790, was about sixteen years old when his father came to this county. He married Sarah Jarvis, who died February 29. 1856. (See sketch of Amos Thompson for further history of the Wilderman family.) James, Sr., died Ang- ust 3, 1847, and was the father of seventeen chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity with one ex- ception. The children of this remarkable family were as follows: Elizabeth, wife of De Witt Drew, of
Golden City, Mo .; Nancy, Franklin, Cyrena, Lu- cinda, William, Mary Ann and John, all deceased; Sarah, wife of Reuben Holcomb, of Green County, Wis .; Delilah, widow of Henry Heberer, of Belle- ville, died May 21, 1892; Thomas, Elinor, Amanda. and an infant, have all been deceased upward of forty years; Maria, the widow of John McGuire; and George W., deceased.
Our subject was born September 29, 1824, at the old home place on section 7, Freeburg Township. lle grew to manhood there, and attended school in Freeburg, and has continued to live on the old place where he now resides ever since his birth. In 1862, he built his present residence. Together with the heirs of Jolm H. and Thomas, he has about one thousand acres of land, and all of this vast extent is well improved and finely cultivated. As for location, there is not a farm in the county which can excel it. The situation of his residence is most charming, being placed upon a hill, com- manding a view of the picturesque surrounding country.
Mr. Wilderman has studied scientific farming. and, judging by the result, has made a success of it. He carries on general farming and the raising of much grain, but gives some attention to stock. Our subject has many advanced ideas about farming, and puts them to a practical test. Politically, he is a Republican, and beginning with Fremont, has voted for every Republican candidate. He has served as School Director, and is a man of great influence in his community. his advice being much sought after, and his character being highly esteemed by all who know him.
R RANZ SCHWARZ. The subject of the present writing is a prominent grain farmer of section 21. Smithton Township, St. Clair County. Ile was the son of John Schwarz, a shoe- maker by trade, who was born in Germany and there married Miss Mary Moore, and by that mar- riage had six children. Our subject was born in Germany in 1830, on the 8th of July, was reared
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there and came to America in 1853. Ne first landed at New Orleans, then came up to St. Louis, where he worked for two months at the black- smith trade; then went to Minnesota for two months. Coming back to St. Louis, he remained four or five months, and then went to Belleville, where be resided ten years, during seven of which he conducted a shop for himself. At that time our subject went to the farm, where he lived for two years, and then went to another, where he lived for some time, but finally settled down on the place where he now lives, and which has been his home ever since.
Mr. Schwarz was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Pleish, by whom he has had nine children, eight of whom are yet living. They are: Rettie, Marten, Frank, Mattie, Lizzie, Jacob, Mary, and Joe. Mary is deceased. Mr. Schwarz has one hundred and sixty acres of land where he lives, besides cighty-five acres on section 10, raising grain prin- cipally. His political convictions are in accordance with the doctrines of the Democratic party. Our subject has held the otlice of School Director to the satisfaction of his constituents. Ile is connected with the Roman Catholic Church, and is a man of habits and character above reproach.
b ENRY GANTER, M. D. It is our pleas- ure to call the attention of our readers to a disciple of Esculapius, who resides in the township of Millstadt, St. Clair County, and dispenses pills and medicaments to the sur- rounding country. This illustrious gentleman is a native of Germany (that land of learning which sends us so many of its great men in science and politics), born in Baden, Angust 18, 1849.
Early evineing a great taste for medical studies, he resolved to make this profession his life work. He accordingly began the study of this branch of science in his native country and graduated at Wurzburg, Germany, in 1875, from one of the institutions of learning in that famous city. The
following year, feeling that Germany did not af- ford him a broad enonghi field, he resolved to try his fortune across the broad ocean. On his arrival in the New World, our subject immediately located at Waterloo, Monroe County, Ill., and began the practice of his profession. This loca- tion did not suit him, so in about six months Dr. Ganter changed his place of residence and went to the pretty little village of Floraville, in Millstadt Township, St. Clair County, where he has remained ever since, engaged in soothing the pains and ailments of a people, sincerely attached to the kind-hearted physician.
Dr. Ganter is the only physician in Floraville, hence his hands are kept very full with all the sick, being called upon not only to administer to those in the village and township, but so renowned has he become that in all serious cases Dr. Ganter is the physician upon whom call is made from all parts of St. Clair County. There are some disadvantages in being popular, as the good Doctor realizes when roused out on a cold winter night to make a visit eight or ten miles off, but the sympathetic healer never refuses to respond to any call that is made for his services, whether the patient be rich or poor. Would there were more as just and chari- table as this German-American physician of Flora- ville.
Dr. Ganter in 1878, married Miss Caroline Kaemper, the accomplished daughter of Ernst Kaemper, an early settler of St. Clair County. Six children have been sent to bless and make happier the parents' lives. These bright young people are: Alexander, Emma, Lulu, Ida and Lena. One little one, Annie, was taken away, and the parents still mourn her loss. Onr subject is very prominent in the Monroe Medical Society, where his views on various matters pertaining to the profession are listened to by his brother phy- sicians with respect and great interest, as they recognize his superior knowledge and skill. This society meets at Waterloo and the meetings are of great benefit to all concerned.
The people testified their appreciation of the Doc- tor's knowledge in educational matters by electing lim School Director, a position he still retains. Dr. Ganter was President of the Floraville Creamery
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Company for some time, and very efficiently dis- charged his duties in that connection. Ile is Sec- etary of the Reading Society of the eity and also a member of the Helvetia Lodge, Millstadt. Dr. Ganter is a devoted Republican, never allowing anything to interfere with his loyalty to that party, and always casts his vote for its candidates and exerts his influence for their success. In re- ligious matters, this good man is a Catholic and a man of whom all speak words of praise and com- mendation. His acts of charity are many, of which the world knows nothing, and in every way he seeks to live up to the teachings of the Divine Master.
ENRY T. SCHMIDT. Among the honored and esteemed young farmers of Smithton Township, St. Clair County, Ill., we find the subject of this sketeh, who is a promi- nent School Director and Township Commissioner. Ile was the son of Philip Schmidt, an honest German emigrant, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, in 1810, and came to this country in 1832, first locating in St. Louis, where he remained for three years, a portion of which time he was employed as a salesman for the Goodyear Rubber Company. Thence he came to St. Clair County and en- tered Government land, living on the farm his efforts redeemed from the prairie until his death, in 1878. He married Miss Regina Seibert, who emigrated to this country in 1833. She was the eldest of a family of ten children, of whom only four survive, among whom is Mrs. Schmidt. She bore him a family of seven children, four of whom are still living: August, residing in Smithton Town- ship; John C., residing in Millstadt Township; George W. and our subject. The father was a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and lived a worthy, Christian life.
Our subject was born March 13, 1853, on the okl home place, in Smithton Township, where he still remains, Here he received his primary education in the public schools of the district, supplementing
this by a course of study at Warrenton, Mo. Mr. Schmidt was married March 30, 1879, to Miss Katie Forcade, the daughter of Francis and Barbara (Drugenbrod) Forcade, natives of Ba- varia and. carly settlers of this county. After his marriage, Mr. Schmidt took his young bride to the home they now occupy, where they have spent many happy years. To this union five bright, intelligent children have been given: Amanda, aged eleven; Oscar, aged ten; Elsie, aged nine; Hilda, aged six; and Josie, aged three.
Mr. Schmidt has a fine farm of eighty-one aeres of land, all well improved, in a high state of cultiva- tion, on which he raises grain and stoek, giving the preference, however, to grain. Like his father before him, he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Schmidt is also a member of the Smithton Treubund, a German society, in which he is highly esteemed. In politics, our sub- ject is a stanch Republican, and the party has re- warded him with several offices, among which are those of School Director and Township Commis- sioner, the latter office having been held by him for the past four years. Mr. Schmidt is respected throughout the entire county for his honesty of character and uprightness.
P ETER W. LILL. The gentleman whose sketch is now presented is the present Recorder of Deeds of St. Clair County, to which office he was elected in November, 1888, for a four-years term, on the Republican ticket in a Democratic county, showing a personal popularity which must be gratifying to the incum- bent. He was born in Belleville February 8. 1850, and was the son of Peter, and Catherine (Steitz) Lill. Peter Lill, Sr., was born in Germany in March 1816, was there educated, came to America in 1841, and soon made his way to Belleville, where so many of his honest coun- trymen had come. He learned the trade of a wagonmaker and located a manufactory here, where he continued up to 1866, being among the
Joseph Penn
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first to conduct a manufactory at this place. In the year 1866, the family moved to Mascoutah. lle was married in 1845, his wife having come from Germany about the same time that he did. The family have lived in Mascoutah since their settle- ment there, and for the past twelve years the father has lived retired from business. For seven years he held an office in the City Council of Belleville. Mr. and Mrs. Lills' four children are living, namely: our subject, Emma, Julius Z. and Adolph 11.
Our subject obtained his education in the com- mon schools of Belleville, and supplemented it by a course at the Commercial College of Bryant and Stratton, from which he graduated. lle then went into a cigar factory, owning the factory at Mascoutah from 1873 until 1887. Mr. Lill held dif- ferent offices in the gift of his township and eity, and at the time of his election as Recorder, was City Clerk and Township Collector. His residence is still at Mascoutah. The marriage of our subject occurred October 9, 1872, to Miss Anna M. Naab, of St. Louis, a daughter of Martin Naab. The children that have been added to the household are: Lillie E., Alma C., Nettie. Amy, Herbert F., and Anna. Mr. Lill has been a very prominent Republican for many years, and enjoys the confi- dence of his party.
OSEPHI PENN. One who has retired from the active duties of life, having accumulated a comfortable property by which he can spend the latter years of his life in freedom from the petty annoyances of restricted financial standing, our subject now resides at No. 305 North Jackson Street, where he has a comfortable home. lle is a native of St. Clair County, and has devoted himself entirely to its advancement and improve- ment,
Mr, Penn was born five miles north of Belle- ville, Ill,, on the 12th of April, 1828, and is n son of William and Rumah ( Redmond) Penn, natives
of Georgia and Virginia, respectively. The father was born in 1796, and was reared in the Blue Grass State, but when about twenty years of age he came to Illinois with the intention of making a permanent settlement in St. Clair County. After reaching this county he selected his wife in the person of Miss Rumah, daughter of Samuel Red- mond, who came to St. Clair County from Virginia as early as 1818. Ile was one of the pioneers of this county and lived to be eighty-seven years of age. The father of our subject died in St. Clair County in 1851, and the mother departed this life in 1842. They were worthy and much re- spected, honest and upright in all their transactions, and a credit to any community.
Joseph Penn was the fifth in order of birth of twelve children, four of whom are now living. HIe assisted his father on the farm and attended the common schools, thus passing his boyhood and youth. In June, 1846, he enlisted for one year in a company raised in St. Clair County, and com- manded by Col. (later Gov.) Bissell. On the organization of the company he was elected Ser- geant, and in that capacity took part in the battle of Buena Vista. Ile remained in service for thir- teen months and then returned to the farm, where he stayed three months. Afterward he went to Lebanon and attended Mckendree College for one year, from 1847 to 1848, and then returned to the farm, where he remamed until after his father's death. The latter had married Mrs. Hart, whose maiden name was Mary Bell, and who was the mother of our subject's second wife. In 1855, our subject married Miss Arminda R. Martindale, of Lebanon, who died in 1864. Ten years later, Mr. Penn moved to Belleville but continued his farming interests. Ile owns two thousand acres in ten different farms in St. Clair and Sangamon Counties, Ill., and Cooper County, Mo. Besides this, he is the owner of the Penn Building, which is valued at $30,000 and also the Reneller Building. which is valued at $50,000.
Mr. Penn is not active in politics but usually votes the Republican ticket. He was President of the Fair Association for one year and was also Superintendent, being very active in promoting its interests, The annual reunión of the old set.
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tlers is held under his supervision. Mr. Penn's second marriage occurred on the 28th of February, 1865, when he was united with Mrs. Susan A. (Ilart) Seott, the widow of John Scott, and daugh- ter of his father's second wife. The children born of the first marriage of Mr. Penn are as follows: Georgianna, who married Finley McNulty, of Springfield, Ill .; William C., of Cooper County, Mo. and John, a resident of Belleville. To the second marriage no children were born. By her former marriage Mrs. Penn became the mother of four children: Theodore 11., of South Dakota; Adolphus G., of Chicago, Ill .; Leonora J. (Mrs. John T. Geb- bie) deceased; and John E., a resident of Indian- apolis, Ind. For forty years or more Mr. and Mrs. Penn have been members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and the sincerity of their lives proves better than mere words the depth of their belief.
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E UGENE SCHMISSEUR, one of the leading and enterprising farmers of Smithton Town- ship, St. Clair County, is a son of the soil, having been born, reared, educated, married and always lived in the township that now claims him as a resident. This little township of Smith- ton has been the scenes of his labors, successes and interests.
The ancestors of Mr. Schmisseur were of French birth, his father having been a native of Lorraine. France, who came in his early youth to America and settled first in St. Louis, where he followed the trade of wagon-maker for a short period of time; he then operated a restaurant for some time, but soon left St. Louis, and made his way to St. Clair County, where he purchased land, and con- tinued to reside until his death. When this me- lancholy event occurred, Mr. Schmisseur was the owner of three hundred and sixty-seven aeres of land, all of which had been earned by his own efforts. A prominent man in his locality, he took an active part in public affairs, and served his dis- triet most creditably as School Director, and was universally mourned by all who knew him, The , was married about 1831 to Elizabeth Thrift, P ETER IIILL. The subject of this sketch, who resides on section 30, in Freeburg Township, St. Clair County, Ill., was the son of James Ilill, who was born on the 19th of June, 1811, on Turkey Ilill, and left there in 1832 to live on the place where our subject now resides. The father pre-empted this one hundred and sixty aeres from the Government, and remained there until 1862, when he removed to Freeburg, since which time he has lived the comfortable life of a retired farmer, James Hill
maiden name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth Chenot; she bore her husband nine chil- dren, five of whom grew to maturity.
Eugene Schmisseur, our subject, was born De- cember 6, 1849, on the farm of his father in Smith- ton Township, St. Clair County. After his mar- riage, Mr. Schmisseur began farming on the old home place, continuing there one year, going thence to the American Bottom and from there to Ridge Prairie, where he remained four years, and then to his present home. This farm consists of two hundred and four acres, all well improved and in a high state of cultivation. On this land are raised grain and stock, the latter being of a very fine and superior grade.
Mr. Schmisseur was married to Miss Elizabeth Beatrie, daughter of Nicholas Beatrie, a prominent farmer of St. Clair County. This faithful wife has borne him seven children: Albert, Edward, Eugene, Lizzie, Otto, Nellie and Cora, all of whom are living. These seven children have had the ad- vantage of a good common-school education. Mr. Schmisseur is a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, in which lodge he is Past Grand, having passed all the chairs. In poli- ties, he adheres to the platform laid down by the Farmer's Alliance, and is one of its stanchest sup- porters. Mr. Schmisseur is one of the most promi- nent citizens of his township, where he takes an active part in public affairs.
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daughter of Samuel Thrift. Ile owns three hundred and seventeen acres of land in Free- burg Township, was the son of one of the old- est settlers in St. Clair County, and was himself one of the soldiers of the Black Hawk War. lle has held the office of Justice of the Peace in this township for three terms. His children were as fol- lows: our subject; Samuel, who lives in New Athens; Elizabeth and James, both deceased; Jackson, living at Freeburg; Permelia, living at home; George W., who is managing a mill at St. Louis; Sarah, Anna, Theresa and Albina are all deceased. The father is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church and one of its offieers.
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