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 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
Born February 10, 1805, in Botetourt County, Va., our subject is the son of Henry and Patience (Reynolds) Hypes, also natives of the old Domin- ion. The paternal grandparents were from Ger- many and the maternal grandfather came from England. Our subject's parents were married in Virginia, where his father followed farming. In 1811 they moved to Ohio, and settled near Xenia, where they made their home as long as they lived. The father died in his eightieth year, and the mother was taken away when fifty-six. Our sub- ject was one of eight children, as follows: Nancy, who married Nathan Horner; JJoseph, who died in Lebanon and left two children; Washington, who
left St. Louis and joined the United States Navy in 1835, and has never been heard from since; Sarah, who died young; Davison, who departed this life in 1822; J. W. Wesley, who is still living in Lebanon, and Asbury, deceased.
In 1828, Mr. Hypes started Westward, coming down the Ohio in a steamboat, and, landing in St. Louis, for a time he prospected and afterward set- tled in Lebanon. In his boyhood, he had no edu- cational advantages, as there were then no common schools in Virginia or Ohio. After reaching Leh- anon, he attended the seminary there during the winter of 1828, and by careful reading and close observation was enabled to overcome the lack of early advantages. At Lebanon, he went into the milling business with Nathan Horner, with whom he continued in that connection for about two years. At that time, Mr. Horner was proprietor of a store in which Mr. Hypes bought a half interest and assisted in carrying it on until 1840, when he sold out to his partner. In 1842 he went into business for himself and continued until 1863, when he sold his stock. Having bought two hun- dred and fifty-one acres, one and a-half miles north of Lebanon, he gave his attention to its cultivation for several years and then retired from active business.
At Lebanon in 1834, Mr. Hypes married Miss Caroline, daughter of Daniel and Rachel Murry, natives of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Murry was a salt merchant in that eity, where he was residing at the time of the War of 1812. With his wife he eame to Illinois in 1817 and settled in Belleville. Seven children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hypes, a record of whom we give: Cornelia died in November, 1891; Adeline married Thomas Essex, a resident of St. Louis, and a Land Com- missioner for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad. They have one daughter. Carrie. William died in November, 1889, at the age of thirty-four, leaving a widow and one daughter. He had served as Postmaster of Leb- anon, also as I'nited States Internal Revenue Col- lector. James died in boyhood. Julia married A. S. McGuire, and lives in Chicago. Benjamin. a physician, resides in St. Louis and is Professor in a college and one of the physicians in the City
164
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hospital. Caroline Virginia married W. F. Swallow and resides in Greencastle, Ind. Mr. Swallow was for three years President of MeKendree College, at Lebanon, Ill., and is now Professor of Greek in DePauw (Ind.) College. Our subject and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in November, 1884. and both still survive, in fair health notwith- standing their advanced years.
Mr. Ilypes is the only living member of the Charter Trustees of MeKendree College. Politi- eally, he was first an old-line Whig and later be- came a Republican. lle is a faithful member of the Methodist Church. A well-preserved man, his courteous manner and tall, well-built frame give one the idea of an old-school gentleman.
ALENTINE REIS, one of the popular and prosperous citizens of the county of St. Clair, is the senior member of the firm of Valentine Reis & Sons, contractors, builders, and dealers in all kinds of wood work. Mr. Reis is one of the old settlers of the county, having come here in 1846. Ile is a native of Germany, having been born in Hesse-Darmstadt, December 3, 1825.
The parents of our subject. Valentine and Cath- erine (Freihaut) Reis, were also natives of Ger- many. The family came to America in 1846 and settled in St. Louis, where the father engaged in the lumber business, and his son, our subjeet, learned the business under him, remaining until 1855, when his young spirit of adventure led him to emigrate to Seott County, Minn., where he en- gaged in milling and in the lumber business until 1871. At this latter date, Mr. Reis came back to St. Clair County and started a building and contraet- ing. business, in which he has been exceedingly successful.
Among the prominent buildings that bear tes- timony to his skill are the following: the Orphan Asylum, the Sisters' Hospital, County Jail, Con- vent for Sisters and Priest's house, and the Cen- tral Schoolhouse, all of which are large brick structures, costing from $18,000 to $30,000 each.
Many of the finest residences are also his work. Mr. Reis employs about forty men, and carries on about the largest contracting business in the place. In March, 1889, he admitted his sons into the business with him, and the firm name is now Valen- tine Reis & Sons.
Mr. Reis was married at St. Louis in 1853 to Jos- ephine Apselt, of German ancestry, and the follow- ing children have been born to them: Anna, wife of Carl Knetzyer; Barbara; Henry, living in St. Louis; Joseph, of the firm of Reis & Sons; Elizabeth, wife of llenry Rapp; Charles, who has a planing- mill in Carondelet; and Josephine. The family resides in a fine brick residence on Second Street, which Mr. Reis erected in 1879. Ile is a mem- ber of st. Peter's Roman Catholic Cathedral, in which he is very influential. Mr. Reis is a gentleman who has an enviable reputation among his fellow-townsmen for his honesty, in- dustry, and thrift. He has reared a fine family that adds honor to the family name, and gives promise of much in the future.
P HIILIP RIIEIN, the efficient and pleasant County Clerk of St. Clair County, has been in office continuously since 1882, having been elected in November, 1882, 1886 and 1890, on the Democratie ticket. So popular is he, that the second time no opposing ticket was set up, and he is now declared by his friends to be one of the best officials the county has ever had.
Mr. Rhein is a native of Rhenish Bavaria, hav- ing been born Inne 17, 1842, and is the son of Philip and Elizabeth ( Rothley) Rhein, natives of Bavaria. The parents came to America in 1857, settling in Madison County. IN., on a farm, where they remained worthy and respected citizens un- til death.
Mr. Rhein received the greater part of his educa- tion in the excellent schools of his native land, but also attended the public schools of Madison County a short time and then engaged in farming. Our
165
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
subject continued a tiller of the soil until 1866, working with his father. Like many other young men. he tired of the uneventful farm life, so came to the pretty little city of Belleville and engaged in the wholesale liquor business for some time, but in 1873 was appointed to fill the position of Deputy County Clerk. holding that office until he was elected County Clerk in 1882, having been in office nine- teen years, and during all that time has discharged his duties with satisfaction to all parties.
Our subject was married to Miss Wilhelmina Oster, who was a native of the Grand Duchy of Nassau. the ceremony occurring December 10, 1871. Ten children have been added to their family, namely: Charles, Frieda, Tillie, Lula, Walter, Louis, Ferdi- nand, Herman, Hannah and Otto, all bright, inter- esting children, who reflect credit upon their parents.
Our subject is a member of the Liederkranz, Liedertafel Philharmonic Society and the Turner Association, in all of which he is highly esteemed and respected. He has been reared in the Lutheran faith and is a liberal supporter of the church of this denomination. Mr. Rhein is a good repre- sentative of the German citizens who have made this their country by adoption, and who, by in- dustry and thrift, have taken their places among the well-to-do and most prominent of the Ameri- can people.
C. WILDERMAN. Among the prominent agriculturists of Lebanon Township, St. Clair County, who have helped to give this county its proud position in the State, is the gentleman whose name appears at the opening of this paragraph. Turkey Hill, St. Clair County, III., is the native place of Mr. Wilderman, he being born there .June 22, 1827. Ilis father, George Wild- erman, was born August 17, 1786, and died June 28, 1866, and his mother, Nancy (Ilill) Wilderman, was born November 7, 1788, and died August 15. 1866. They were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Illinois in 1806.
Mr. Wilderman, Sr., held no offiees, although he took a very great interest in politics, hav- ing been a Whig in the early days and a Re- publican later. The business of his life was farm- ing, and he died a Deacon in the Baptist Church. which position he had held for more than fifty years. Nine children were theirs, as follows: Francis, Patience E., Celon, George W., A. J., Margaret A., Alfred C., J. C. and Albert E. The eldest son was killed by being thrown from a horse. lle had married Miss Nancy Howell, and at his deccase left three daughters and five sons, namely: Elizabeth, who is the wife of George Stookey. and lives near Freeburg; Mary, who was married to Joseph Scott, and resides in Shiloh Vailey; Nancy; George married Miss Nancy Short, and lives in Texas; David, who is married and resides in Barton County, Mo. ; James, a graduate of Shurtleff College, at Alton, INI., is unmarried, and makes his home in this county; John and Francis. Patience E., the eldest sister of our subject, married John T. Lemen, and both are deceased. her death occurring March 28, 1866. They left one child, Robert W., who is engaged in farming pursuits south of the village of Freeburg. Celon, who was unmarried, died April 12, 1840. George W. died June 27, 1866, and is survived by his wife, whose maiden name was Isabella Hill, and who still resides m Freeburg. Their four sons are: Hamilton, who resides on the old homestead; Francis and Thaddeus, living near Marysville, Mo .; and George, who makes his home in Chicago. Andrew J. married Eliza Weis and died May 17, 1850, the year following his marriage. Margaret A. became the wife of William Seabut, a music teacher, November 22, 1849, and their four children are: Karl, who is a lawyer by profession; George, who is a steamboat clerk; Annie, the wife of Dr. McGuire; and Willie, a practicing physician. Alfred C., who is follow- ing the occupation of a farmer on his place south of Freeburg, was married March 12, 1850, to Miss Rachel Tate, and they have five surviving children ; Albert E. married Sophronia Hill February 19, 1857. and they reside on the old homestead.
On the homestead where he was born, the sub- ject of this sketeh was reared to manhood, and early gained a practical knowledge of agriculture.
166
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
As there were no common schools at that early day, he attended the subscription schools held three months in the year. During 1852 he was a student at Shurtleff College, in Alton. III., for three months, and in that brief time made rapid advancement in his literary studies. Until he was of age he remained under the parental roof, but in 1851 purchased a farm consisting of two hun- dred and forty acres, which was located one and one-half miles south of Freeburg. Removing to the new place, he engaged in its improvement and made it his home until 1858. Mr. Wilderman was married April 22, 1856, to Miss M. McBride, dangh- ter of William J. and Dovey (Harrison) McBride. She was born in Belleville June 10, 1835. Mrs. McBride was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Harri- son, a Methodist minister, who was born December 31, 1779,and died August 27, 1867, and of Margaret (Gilbreth) Harrison, who was born July 10, 1782. and died in February, 1850. Mr. McBride was born in Virginia March 15, 1808, and died March 16,1873. His wife was born in Illinois April 30, 1814, and is still living on a farm south of the old home place. They had the following children, brothers and sisters of Mrs. Wilderman: John Il., a commercial traveler, residing in Des Moines, Iowa; Dr. T. H., deceased; and W. E., who resides on the home place, and is a farmer and stock-raiser. The grand- parents of Mrs. Wilderman were John and Sarah (Watkins) McBride. The former was born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1766. Ilis wife, who was born about the same time, died September 20. 1840.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilderman have the following children: 1Ingh II., who lives in Belleville, mar- ried Rosella Moore: William Norris, who lives on a farm south of Freeburg. married Mattie McGuire; Adiel L. died March 22. 1872: Julius, who lives on the home place, married Miss Ella Belle Frazier; Dovey and Olive are at home. Mr. Wilderman came to Lebanon for the purpose of educating his daughters. They have attended MeKendree Col- lege, and are very accomplished young ladies, the walls of their beautiful home being decorated with specimens of their skill as artists. Our subject has held no oflices, although he has been a good Whig and Republican all his life. He is an influential
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A pleasant, genial man, he enjoys the respect of his host of friends, to whom his nobility of character has endeared him.
ILLIAM SIEBERT, one of the most pop- ular farmers of Smithton Township, St. Clair County, is the owner of a valuable estate on section 7, survey 8, this township. He is the son of Franeis Siebert, who came from Ger- many, where he was born and reared. Mr. Siebert, Sr., married Miss Mary Null in his native land, and the subject of this sketch was six years old when the journey was made across the great ocean. The family found land suitable for their purposes one mile south of the present home of our subject. in Smithton Township, where Mrs. Siebert, his mother, now resides. The father only enjoyed his new home one year before he was removed by death. The five children of this family are as fol- low: Conrad, William, George, Dorothea and Ilenry.
William Siebert, our subject, was born June 6, 1840, in Germany, and ean remember very little of his native country, as he left it at such an im- mature age. He grew up on his father's farm and attended the rough prairie schools of that day, held in the little primitive log cabins. January 12, 1868, Mr. Siebert married Miss Magdalena Runtz. the daughter of Adam Runtz, a resident of Smith- ton Township. A home had been prepared for the bride and Mr. Siebert received her on the place where they have since resided. The family has been blessed with an interesting family of fifteen children, of whom eleven are yet living, namely: Henry, Willie, Theodore, Walter, Martha, Adeline, Otto, Leonard, Daniel, Katherine and Elnice.
Mr. Siebert has eighty acres of valuable land in a high state of cultivation which yields fine crops. Ile is a faithful and active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, while his wife is highly esteemed in her connection with the Roman Catholic Church. Politically, Mr. Siebert is a Republican and does
167
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
all in his power to uphold the principles of the party of Lincoln and Grant. This family is highly respected and no doubt some of the stalwart sons and daughters will be heard from in the future of the State. Mr. Siebert is a gentleman of pleasing manners and his affable disposition has made him many friends in the township which he has ealled home for the greater portion of his useful and busy life.
ILLIAM TOWNSEND. Among the sue- cessful farmers of St. Clair County who have become wealthy and influential and are now retired from active labor, we may call at- tention to the original of this notice. The ances- tors of Mr. Townsend eame originally from Eng- land, and both grandfathers joined in the struggle for American independence. The father of our subject bore the name of Whitefield Townsend, and was born Angust 22, 1782, and died Jannary 3, 1846. The mother of our subject was Sarah Ann Farrar, born in North Carolina April 10, 1796, and died June 7, 1826.
Our subject's parents were married in Tennessee, and came to Illinois in the year 1815, settling about three miles north of Lebanon. There the father engaged in farming, and there was reared a family of eight children, as follows: Al- fred, a farmer on the home place, who died when within two days of being sixty-six years of age, August 8, 1879; Adeline, born December 13, 1814, died November 26, 1850, and was the wife of A. J. Dugger, who died in Madison County; Elizabeth, born April 14, 1816, lives with our subject; John died in mfancy; Edmund, who mar- ried Jane Iliggins, lives in Madison County. Nancy, born April 2, 1821, was married to T. Townsend, who died in 1816; she died April 2, 1880. and had one child, which died prior to her death. Whitefield, boru October 24, 1823, who died January 20, 1887, was married to Jane Bradsby, who died in 1851, when he married Mrs, Anna Copk, who, with four children, survives bịm,
Our subject was the eighth child, and was reared on the home place, remaining there until seven years ago, when he removed into Lebanon. Ile received the advantages of the common schools, and passed his life as do other farmer boys who have grown to be the strength of the nation. Grown to manhood, he became possessed with a desire for a home of his own, and May 16, 1866, married Catherine Stephenson, a native of Greene County, Mo., born April 30, 1847. Iler parents bore the names of Henry and Sarah Ann, respectively. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are Arra, Mary, EHla, Lola, Kate, Jen- nie, and Willie W., who died in infancy. Arra married C. . 1. Hanson, and resides with her three children in Madison County.
Mr. Townsend's original farm contained two hundred and eighty-seven aeres, and to this has been added from time to time until he now has four hundred and sixty-three aeres. He in former years was a Whig, but since the formation of the Repub- lican party has adhered to its principles. No office- seeker in any sense, he yet uses his influence wherever he thinks he ean do good. He holds to the faith of the Second Adventists, has a nice home and surroundings, a family of charming and obedient daughters, and commands the respect and confidence of a wide and extended circle of friends and acquaintances.
ACOB VALERIUS, a grain farmer residing on section 7, Smithton Township, St. Clair County, was the son of Peter Valerius, who passed the whole of his life in Germany. Our subject is one of the men, foreign born, who have come to this country and by honesty and industry, combined with economy and self-denial, have made successful business men, and have earned comfort for their later years,
Mr. Valerius, of this notice, was born November 30, 1813, and came to this country when twenty- | one years old. His first choice of a home was on a
168
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
farm one and one-half miles from the city of Belleville, and there he remained four years, when he found a location which pleased him better, and removed to his present residence. Ile married Miss Mary Catherine Billem in the year 1874. She was the daughter of William Billem, an old settler of St. Clair County, who had come. from Ger- many, and at the time of the marriage of his daughter lived in Smithton Township.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Valerius removed to the place where they now reside and have spent these years m making a pleasant home. They have been blessed with a family of eight children, but only five are living. and these are John, Charles, Annie, William and Lizzie. Our subject has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty aeres, and one hundred and thirty-five of it are under good cultivation, viekling large erops of wheat and corn.
The family residence is a very comfortable one, built in the year 1884, and in it may be found the modern improvements which make the homes of to-day palaces compared with those of a generation ago. In his political convictions. Mr. Valerius is a Republican, and bravely upholds the standard of that party. He belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, and is a supporter of it to the best of his means and ability.
OHNSON C. SINCLAIR. Probably no man in the village of East Carondelet is better known or more public-spirited than the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, now occupying the important position of Post- master and Clerk of the township and also Clerk of the Village Board, besides being a Notary Publie for the past sixteen years.
The father of our subject was named Levi M. Sinclair and was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1819, where he was also reared and educated. He married Elizabeth Myers, daughter of Jacob My- ers, of that place, and followed the trade of a mill- wright, carpenter and cabinet-maker. Mr. Sin-
clair emigrated from his home in Ohio to Oska- loosa, lowa, in 1850, and there worked as a car- penter and builder for some time; he then changed his location to Belmont County, Ohio, where he worked as millwright and carpenter until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he became one of the Nation's defenders. Ile became a mem- ber of Company E. Seventy-seventh Ohio Infantry, and went through the war, taking part in the battle of Shiloh, where so many of our brave and valiant men fell to rise no more. Mr. Sinclair was wounded, and was afterward promoted for bravery to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
After the dawn of peace, Levi Sinclair returned, but with newer ideas and broader views, and de- cided to take his family farther West. Ile came with them to St. Clair County and located near Belleville, following his old trade of carpenter; but later went into Marion County, Ill .. where he farmed land; two years afterward he came to East C'arondelet and located, here remaining until he died, August 24, 1878, having never recovered from the wounds received at the battle of Shiloh. His was a soldier's death just as truly as if it had occurred at the mouth of a cannon. In his early days he had been a Quaker, but in his latter years attended the Presbyterian Church. His six chil- dren were all left to mourn the loss of a kind father. These are: Lucy, living in East Caron- delet with her mother; A. B., following the trade of painter and living in Waterloo; Austin, a carpenter, living in East Carondelet; Roscoe, who makes Los Angeles, Cal., his home; Orville, living in Clinton County, this State, a tailor; and John- son C., the subject of this sketch.
The latter was the second in the family of good and industrious children born to Mr. and Mrs. Levi Sinelair. Ile was born September 7, 1848, in Hanover, Columbiana County, Ohio, and was reared and educated in that place. One of the first to leave the plans and prospects of young manhood and take up his musket in defense of his country, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy- seventh Ohio Infantry, October 20, 1861, and was honorably discharged March 8, 1866, at Browns- ville. Tex., but was taken prisoner at Marks Mills, Ark., and passed thirteen months of his young life
169
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in a rebel prison, being in a wounded condition when he was captured. The true story of those days of suffering can only be learned from his lips. Our subject was in the battles of Shiloh, Falling Timber, Corinth, Jackson ( Miss.), Hollow Springs, Memphis, Ilelena. Camden, Little Rock and Elkins' Ford. After his release from prison, he took part in the battles of Mobile and Whistler, Ala., and during his service he was not only promoted first to be Corporal and then to be Sergeant, but he was also given a special medal for bravery. Toward the close of the war, our subject was on detached duty, carrying the mail from Brazos to Brownsville on the steamer " Tamaulitus."
After the war, our subject came to Harmony, St. Clair County, Ill., where he quietly followed his trade of carpenter, and a year later went into farming for two years: he then went into Monroe County, where he remained farming part of the time and aiso doing some carpenter work. From there he came to East Carondelet, and the fol- lowing year married Miss Emma Schweickhardt, whose father still lives in Monroe County, where he was an early settler. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair: Lillie, Orville, Elmer, Myrtle. Theo, Johnson, Ada and ('larenee.
Mr. Sinclair learned the trade of carpenter in his young days and has been engaged as a builder and contractor in his later years. Our subject has a splendid war record, as had his lamented father, and now occupies a prominent position in the Grand Army and in the Sons of Veterans of St. Louis. In his political opinions, he is an ardent Republican, and has been entrusted with the olliee of Postmaster under a friendly adminis- tration. llis family are all well known in this neighborhood and universally respected.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.