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 22
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Chanute. Kan. The three children of the first un- ion, were: James, who now is in Denver, Colo .; William, who resides in Chanute, Kan., and is a farmer there; and the subject of our sketeh. His two step-brothers are Edward, and George, who is a Police Judge at Oklahoma.
Mr. Flannigen was born in Galena, Ill., De- cember 8, 1853. Fle was reared on a farm near Nashville, Ill., and began early to display his pro- fessional tendencies. He commenced teaching school before he had reached his seventeenth year. lle first taught at Bridgeport, Ill., and then at Nash- ville, Ill. He then taught three years at Ogle Sta- tion, and in 1874 he became first assistant in the Franklin School. Here he taught for three years, and then began the study of law in the office of William G. Kase. It required some "grit " to teach all day and then study nearly all night, but this young man did not have his persevering Scotch-Irish blood for naught. In June, 1876, he was rewarded by being admitted to the Bar, and November 12, 1877, he entered into partnership with Benjamin II. Canby, who is Judge of the City Court. This partnership lasted until the election of Mr. Canby, in 1886. Since then Mr. Flannigen has practiced alone. Ile is interested in much real estate, and has a very extensive busi- ness. Ile held the office of City Attorney for three years and was City Treasurer for one year. While holding the latter office, he secured a con- fessed judgment against the eity for $80,000 of the money belonging to the schools, which had been improperly used by the city, and with this sum two schoolhouses were built. He is a man of very independent views and has never permitted himself to join any order, as he wishes to be an unpre- judiced attorney. He is a decided Agnostic in his belief, although the teaching of his youth was the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Late years have also shown him that his political views are not the same, and now he is a Democrat when once he was a Republican.
Mr. Flannigen was married here November 30, 1882, to Miss Dora, the accomplished youngest daughter of Mitchell Marsh, the proprietor of Summit Avenue Hotel, who was a native of Italy; . her mother, Elizabeth Goodwin, though born
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in St. Clair County, was of French descent. Walter A. and Nellie are the fairies of Mr. Flan- nigen's home, and with the mixture of Scotch-Irish- Italian-French blood in their veins, they ought to be well equipped for almost any emergency of life.
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R A. TWITCHELL, M. D. The subject of the following sketch represents an old pio- neer family of Illinois. Hle is one of the most successful of the physicians of East St. Louis, and is located at No. 426 Fourth Street.
The grandfather of our subjeet was born in Maine, and came to Illinois as one of the first settlers of Hardin County. He came down the Ohio from C'ineinnati on a flat-boat which he had constructed, and located three miles north of the river, on Government land, which was then Pope County, and here he built a mill and operated it until his death. He was the pioneer miller in that section, and a very good friend he was to the farmers who had to come so many miles to get their grain ground. All these things form whole histories by themselves, but in a brief sketch, sneh as the present RECORD permits. these things can only be mentioned. The father of our subject was born in Hardin. then Pope County, in 1829. His name was La Fayette, and in his love of adven- ture he resembled his illustrious namesake. In 1849, when only twenty years of age, he started overland, with a number of companions, to Cali- fornia. It was a five-months walk and many were the adventures on the way. He remained for three years in the mines, and was very sueeess- ful, and returned via the Isthmus of Panama and New York. He then bought a tract of land on the banks of the Ohio near Elizabethtown. The farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and here he engaged in farming. Later, he built a mill on Big Creek, one-half mile from the Ohio, and oper- ated it until it burned. He then went back to farming and continued there until 1859, when he was seized with the prevailing l'ike's Peak fever, and went overland again, He remained two
years this time, but did not find mining as profit- able as formerly. Upon his return, in the fall of 1861, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty- first Illinois Infantry as a private, and later was appointed to be Acting-Adjutant. Ile served two years, then came home and made up a company, with which he returned to the field as one hun- dred-day men. He was the Captain of this eom- pany, which was consolidated with the Twenty- ninth Illinois. He served until the close of the war, was in the siege of Vicksburg, and never re- ceived a serateh. Ile returned to the peaceful life his sword had helped to procure, and spent the next five years in the sawmill business. Ile was then called upon by his fellow-citizens to fill the office of Cireuit Clerk, which he acceptably did for four years. During the present administration, he has been serving as Postmaster of Elizabethtown. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Republican party.
The mother of our subjeet was Harriet A. Steele, born in Rosielare, Ill., a daughter of James Steele, who was born in Ireland, of Seoteh descent, and came to America when a boy with his parents. They settled in South Carolina and he afterward eame to Illinois, and located in what now is Ilar- din County. The father followed farming until the time of his death. The brothers of our subject are: La Fayette, an attorney in Colorado; Dr. B. E. Twitchell, of Belleville; and .I. W., who is now in Colorado studying medieine.
Dr. Twitchell passed his boyhood upon the farm and was employed in the sawmill until his fifteenth year, when the family moved into Elizabethtown. There he attended the common schools and remained at his home until he was seventeen. Ile then went to Evansville, Ind., and became a elerk in a crockery and queensware house, where he remained for about three years. He then took a commercial course at the Evansville Commercial College and graduated. Afterward he was engaged as book-keeper at Rosiclare, Ill., for four years and then took up the study of medieine, and for tive years was under Dr. R. R. Lacy. He assisted in his practice and in 1888 he entered the Medical College of St. Louis. Ile graduated from
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there in June, 1890, with the degree of M. D. Ile | and unto them were born these children: Eman- then located here and has worked up a fine prae- tice. He does a great deal of surgical work, as he is near the Rolling Mills and the St. Louis Short Line Railroad.
Dr. Twitchell was married April 13, 1882. to Miss Laura L. Simmons, who was born in Salem, Ky., but was reared in Hardin County, HI. They have one bright little daughter, Laura Ouida. The Doetor is socially inclined and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is the Examin- ing Physician for the Commercial Alliance In- surance Company of New York. Although an Ecleetie in his education, he practices with the regular school and belongs to the Eclectic Med- ieal Society of St. Louis. He is a follower of the Republican party, but no office-seeker. Hle was bronght up by a pions mother in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church and to that he clings.
EREMIALI BENNETT, one of the honored pioneers of St. Clair County, residing on section 26, O'Fallon Township, was born near Hillsboro, Guilford County, N. C., January 19, 1819, and is of English descent. Ilis grandfather, Elijah Bennett, was born in England, and having emigrated to this country in Colonial days, served in the War for Independence. partici- pating in many engagements of the Revolution. He was a farmer by occupation and died at his home near Hillsboro, N. C., in 1837, at an advanced age.
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The father of our subject, John Bennett, was also | a native of North Carolina, and in 1825 emigrated to Tennessee with his family. Ile there engaged in farming and operating a distillery until 1833, when he removed to Savannah, Ga. He afterward went to the Cherokee Nation, and his death there oc- curred. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rosanna Lineberry, died at the age of seventy-three years. They were married near Greensboro, N. C.,
ucl and Daniel, who died in infaney. Sarah, who was born near Greensboro in 1812, married John Moreland in Tennessee. In 1836, they removed to Missouri and resided on a farm near Vienna, where Mr. Moreland engaged in business as a stock-dealer and shipper. They had two sons who are now farming and stock-raising in the Cherokee Nation, and a daughter, now Mrs. Eliza John, who resides on the home farm in Missouri. Emily married Elijah Ilathaway and died at the age of seventy-five years. They had five children: James, Eliza, Pleasant, Sarah and Paraleah. Polly was married in Ten- nessee in 1833, to William Moreland and they have four children: John, G. Washington, Sarah and Russell. Our subjeet is the next of the family. John, born in 1821, is deceased. William died in 1854. Eliza was the youngest of the family.
The subject of this sketch removed with his par- ents to Tennessee when six years of age, and in 1835 removed to a farm near Lebanon, St. Clair County, Il., since which time he has resided upon his present farm, a period of more than half a century. The county was then wild and unimproved and from a traet of raw land he developed a good farm. He experienced all the bardships and trials of pio- neer life and sinee has been engaged in agricultural pursuits and in operating a coal mine.
On the 29th of October, 1840, Mr. Bennett wed- ded Mary E. Alexander, who was born October 22, 1824, near Lebanon, on the farm of her parents, David and Catherine (Thomas) Alexander. After her mother's death, her father married Naomi Chase. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were born six children : Eliza J., born March 1, 1841, was married in 1859, to John T. Pulliam, a retired farmer of Wichita, Kan., and they have four children : Charles, Caroline, John and an infant. Emily, born October 9, 1844, and Jolm D., August 17, 1847, died in infancy. Daniel S., a prominent engineer of this county, was born October 23, 1849, and on Janu- ary 1, 1872, married Emeline Cooper, by whom he has six children: Jeremiah, Arthur, Ilarry, Lntie, Daniel and Walter. Margaret, born February 10, 1851, was married in 1875 to JJonathan Wright, a native of England, and they have seven children: Hugh, Rosa M., Albert S., Jeremiah B., William.
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Elsie M. and John. William H. was born February 1, 1859, and was the youngest of the family. Mrs. Mary Bennett died September 11, 1880.
Mr. Bennett was a second time married, this union being with Mrs. Amanda Wolford, widow of Peter Wolford. She was born near Knoxville. Tenn., January 31, 1837, and is a daughter of Absalom and Frances (Qualls) Hart, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Tennessee. They were married in 1834, and removed to Perry County, Mo., in 1843. The daughter was there married to Mr. Wolford in 1852, and unto them was born a daughter, Frances Jane, who was mar- ried April 19, 1881. She died leaving four chil- dren. In 1861, Mr. Wolford enlisted in the late war and died in the fall of the same year at Cape Girardeau of congestive chills.
Mr. Bennett became one of the most extensive farmers and wheat-growers of St. Clair County, cultivating at one time five hundred acres of land. In 1871, he sank a coal shaft upon his farm which is still in operation. It is now leased to B. Yoch of Belleville, who has improved it to the extent of $40,000. This mine yields the finest coal in the county. Mr. Bennett has been prominently identi- fied with the history of this community for a half- century. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the vigilance committee for the detection and punishment of horse thieves and other law-breakers. He is a self-made man, who by his well-directed efforts and perseverance has ac- quired a handsome property.
C HARLES D. M.CASLAND. One of the most successful business men of this city is named above. Ile is probably the largest dealer in real estate in East St. Louis, and under- stands the business so thoroughly that he is re- garded as an authority. His business is carried on here, but he resides in St. Louis. The father of our subject was James HI. McCasland (see sketch of J. M. McCasland).
1843, at Woodson, Morgan County, Ill. He passed his boyhood upon the farm and received a com- mon-school education, which was included in eighteen months of attendance. When the call came for soldiers to rise to the defense of the Government, young MeCasland was among the first to respond, and enlisted in September. 1862, in Company II, One Hundred and Ninety-first Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in at Jackson- ville and was sent to the front that fall. He was with the regiment at Holly Springs, where the greater part of it was captured, he, with a few others, being fortunate enough to escape; and also at the siege of Vicksburg, where the rest of the regi- ment was put on the gunboat "Lafayette" to run the blockade, May 16, 1863, and where for two hours and forty minutes they were under the range of two hundred and forty guns.
Later, our subject was in the Army of the Cum- berland, and then was made Hospital Steward of the Twentieth Army Corps, and as such he re- mained until the close of his service. lle was one of the brave men, who, with Sherman, made that historie march to the sea, and then went to Rich- mond and took part in the triumphal review at the close of the long struggle in Washington City. Ile was mustered out in Springfield, in June, 1865, and then returned to the peaceful life which his valor had helped make possible in our fair land. Hle literally changed his sword for a pruning hook, and remained on a farm for three years, when, fond of the life, he went to Missouri and bought a farm in Livingston County, and remained there until 1875. Desiring a more stirring life. he then re- turned to Morgan County and engaged in the stock business. With the good judgment with which he has been endowed, he made a suc- cess of it, and soon was shipping more stock than any other man in the county.
Wishing then to deal more widely, Mr. McCas- land went to East St. Louis in 1885, and carried on an extensive stock business until 1889. With the wisdom of a true financier, he then saw that it was time to buy land, and he changed his ocen- pation for that of a dealer in real estate. He first bought tracts of land and sold them, and later
The subject of ont sketch was born June 20, | purchased sixty acres of Dr. Strickler and laid out
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what is known as North Clearmont and the addi- tion to North Clearmont. Since then he has taken the lead in the business in East St. Louis, and has made more money than any other dealer. He has large possessions here, and owns both residence and business property on Missouri Avenue and Broad- way, and is still improving and building.
Mr. McCasland was married October 11, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Todd, the accomplished and charming daughter of Martin Todd, who was born in Morgan County. One bright daughter is the result of the marriage, named Arrettia. Our sub- ject is a genial, companionable man, and is highly valued in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile makes no excuse for his Republican principles. but glories in the future he sees for his favorite party. Mr. McCasland has carved out his own career and, as a self-made man, ean be held up to the present generation as an example of what can be accomplished in this country by pluek and honesty.
C HIRISTIAN ROHM, SR. This pleasant, ac- commodating gentleman is one of the old- est merchants in the city. Ilis place of business is located on Collinsville Avenue, and his residence in East St. Louis has dated from 1857, when it was called Illinois Town. He was born in the province of Nassau, near Ohringen, Germany, May 6, 1838. lle was the son of Philip Rohm, born in Ilesse-Darmstadt, who lived the life of a farmer and died there in 1851. The good mother of our subject, a daughter of Daniel Dauster, a farmer, was given the name of Sophia, and was born in Nassau. Germany. She spent her last years in America, having come here three years after her son, and died at his home in 1883. In her death the Lutheran Church lost a conscien- tious member. She left four children: Christiana Pfeiffer lives in East St. Louis; William is a coal agent in East St. Louis; Wilhelmie is Mrs. Steul, of this place.
The gentleman of whom we write was reared in
Germany until be was seventeen years of age, and received the excellent schooling that is open to all classes there. Ilis first business training was obtained in a grocery store there. Not being satisfied, he concluded to try his fortune across the sea. Ae- cordingly, he made his way to Rotterdam and from there to Liverpool, where he took passage ou the sailing-vessel " Aurora"to New York City, arriv- ing there after a voyage of twenty-eight days. He then made his way to Buffalo, N. Y., and served as clerk in a store there until the fall of 1856, when he came to East St. Louis and learned the butcher- ing business. and on April 1, 1857, located in Illinois Town. This is now a part of East St. Louis, but at that time the village was only a collection of houses for the accommodation of drovers and farmers on their way to the mart across the great Father of Waters, which they reached by ferry. He engaged as clerk for two years, and then' started in the grocery business on Broadway, which he continued until 1866, with the exception of some time spent at St. Paul in the same line. lle started his meat market here in 1866, and has been very successful in his business, as he was the first one in the field. He has been an extensive buyer at the National stock yards, and kills hogs by the car-load, having every modern and sani- tary convenience in his slaughter house on Rock Road, one-half mile out of the city. He has a large and profitable trade and takes pride in hav- ing everything of the best.
Our subject was married in 1859, in East St. Louis, to Miss Anne Newcomb, who was born in Switzerland, of German descent. She was removed by death in 1873, leaving eight children: Sophia, married and living in East St. Louis; William, in business with his father; Anna, at home; Caro- line, now Mrs. Hinze, of this city; Minnie, who is dead; Elizabeth, Mrs. Denes, of this place; Louisa, now Mrs. Conrad, who lives here; and Christian, who is with his father.
Mr. Rohm believes in Protection, and hence is a member of the Republican party, and has been honored by it in various ways. He was an Alder- man of the First Ward one term and then the same time in the Seventh Ward. He has acted on different committees where the interests of the city
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have been at stake, and was on the first reform council of the city that passed the rule for high grades and viaducts and for general improvements. He belongs to the social orders of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Royal Arch Masons of this place, and Knights Templar of Belleville. He is a man very much respected and is one well posted in the interesting past of the city he has seen make such a marvelous growth.
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ENRY VOSS. With the rapid and im- mense growth of East St. Louis, and the ever-increasing demand for residences and manufacturing and commercial buildings, the real-estate interests have naturally come to form one of the chief investments for capital with the well-to-do and thrifty portion of the populace. 'The large trade now done in realty of every de- scription has naturally drawn to this branch of en- terprise many of our leading capitalists and go- ahead citizens, and among this number is Henry C. Voss, who has built up an extensive and influ- ential connection among speculators, investors, and those sceking homes for themselves.
Mr. Voss was born on the 24th of June, 1863, at the old Prairie House, on the St. Clair Turnpike, now in the city limits of East St. Louis, this being the oldest house in the township. His father, Henry Voss, was born in Prussia, reared on a farm there, and served as a soldier in the German army. Later, he was employed as clerk in a bank, and when he was twenty-six years of age came to America, landing in New Orleans, where he re- mained for some time. He served all through the Mexican War, and subsequently went to St. Paul, but, not liking it there, returned to New Orleans, where he drove a team, transferring cotton bales. There he became familiar with the cattle business, and later he came to St. Louis and engaged as a drover. In the fall of 1848, he came to East St. Louis, and, with only a capital of $300, engaged in buying and shipping eattle to New Orleans by steamboat. The business increased in a wonderful
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way and he employed many men, thus continuing until the breaking out of the war, when he lost considerable.
In the meantime, the father of our subject had purchased twenty acres of land where the old Prairie House stands, and there he made his home, for East St. Louis was his marketing place for cattle at that time. lle added to the original tract of land he had purchased until he owned three hundred and fifty aeres adjoining the city limits, and very valuable property. Here his death oe- curred in 1887, when nearly seventy years of age. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. When thirty-three years of age, he married Miss Margaret Conrade, a native of Alsace, France, who came to St. Louis with her parents, both of whom died of cholera in this city. Mrs. Voss died in 1879. Six children, two sons and four daughters, were born to this union, and Henry C. was third in order of birth.
Our subject was reared on the farm, and supple- mented a district-school education by attending the eity schools. He was early set to work, and as he was passionately fond of horses, he became a driver. lle remained under the parental roof un- til after the death of the father, and two years af- terward superintended the estate. After this, he took possession of his property and remained at the old Prairie House for some time. On the 1st of May. 1889, he married Miss Natalia Gross, a na- tive of East St. Louis and the daughter of Louis Gross (see sketch).
Our subject continued farming until 1891, and then formed a partnership with Mr. Gross and Mr. Bennett, under the firm name of Gross, Voss & Co., which continued until January 1, 1892, when he bought Mr. Bennett out, and continued the bnsi- ness under the firm title of Gross & Voss. Mr. Voss is the owner of twenty acres on Arlington Place, and he is building a fine residence in St. Clair County Turnpike at a cost of from $8,000 to $10,000. Ile is ereeting houses on his addition, which is in one of the most beautiful residence por- tions of the city. Later, he laid out the Voss Ad- dition of forty acres. He is interested in the street railway between East St. Louis and Belle- ville. In the year 1886, when not more than
ELIZABETH BORNMAN.
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twenty-four years of age, he was elected Village Trustee of New Brighton, and served his third term, when it was annexed to East St. Louis. Ile has been a School Director of his district, serving two times as President and two timesas Clerk. In 1889, he was elected Commissioner of Highways on the Democratie ticket, and the last time was elected by one hundred votes more than both his opponents together. lle is now serving his see- ond term. Ile has two or three teams on the road in his division, keeping up roads and bridges. Sinee elected to the office of Director, he has built up the Illinois city school, one of the finest in East St. Lonis, at a cost of $30,000. lle was one of the Commissioners and took an active part.
Our subjeet's marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children, Natalia and Louis IJenry. IIe is a member of St. Henry's Church, in which his father was one of the prominent members, the lat- ter being one of four to build the first church in East St. Louis. In polities, Mr. Voss is Democratie in national affairs, and has been a delegate to county conventions.
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RS. ELIZABETH BORNMAN. The ven- erable lady whose honored name intro- duees this sketch is one of whom the bi- ographer esteems it a privilege to write. A woman who has trod the pathway of life for ninety years with the bravery of true courage in the face of trial, tribulation and hardship, and who has shown the devotion to right and the beautiful traits of Christian character which have distin- guished Mrs. Bornman, deserves more extended praise than the feeble pen of the writer can indite.
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