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 30
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DOLPH ANDEL, the genial host of the popular National Hotel, of which he is the proprietor and owner, has been in- terested in operating this same house since 1880, and has owned it since 1881. This hotel is favorably situated on the corner of Main Street and Public Square, and is a brick building of four stories, 60x80 feet, with a two-story addi- tion, giving thirty-six good rooms, with office on the main floor. Here Mr. Andel conducts a flour- ishing business, being patronized by the best people of Belleville.
Mr. Andel is a German by birth, having been born in Ilesse-Darmstadt May 3, 1843, and is a son of Johan and Catherine ( Maus) Andel, natives of the same place. Mr. Andel was reared and re- ceived a thorough German education in his native province, but. being dissatisfied with the Old World, he resolved to seek employment in the New, so in 1860 he came to the I'nited States, set- tling in St. Joe. Mo., where he remained for fif- teen years engaged as a book-keeper in a hardware store. At the expiration of that time, he came to Belleville and engaged as a book-keeper with the firm of C. W. Andel & Co., wholesale liquor dealers, remaining with them until 1880, when he leased the National Hotel for one year and began oper- ating it. At the end of the year, he was able to purchase it, and since then has been the sole pro- prietor of this flourishing hostelry.
Mr. Andel is a member of the Knights of Pythias,
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of the Liederkranz, and of the Turnverein Ger- man societies. In both of these societies he is m honored and respected member. It was in Missouri that Mr. Andel won and married his charming wife, Lizzie Klippel, she being a native of that State, and the ceremony occurred in St. Joe June 24, 1869. Two bright, interesting chil- dren have blessed this union. Carl W. and Mamic M. In Mr. Andel we behold one of the influen- tial men of Belleville, and one that enjoys the respect and esteem of everyone who knows him. and, as he is in a position to become acquainted with all the people, his eircle of friends is ex- tremely large.
b ON. JOHN T. M.CASLAND. There is in the development of every successful life a prineiple which is a lesson to every man following in its footsteps, a lesson which leads to higher and more honorable positions than the ordinary. Let a man be industriously ambi- tious. and honorable in his ambitions, and he will rise. whether having the prestige of family or the obscurity of poverty. These reflections are called forth by the study of the life of Mr. John T. Mc- Casland, who is not only the "real-estate king" of Fast St. Louis, but one of the city's most active and publie-spirited citizens, promoting her best interests in every way. He is a man of unusually good judgment and has any amount of push and energy.
Mr. McCasland was born near Murrayville, Mor- gan County, Il., April 2, 1856, and is a son of J. M. MeCasland (see sketch). His childhood days were spent on a farm, where he had the ad- vantages of the common schools, and he remained under the parental roof until over twenty-one years of age. Ile then went West to Colorado, at the time of the Pueblo excitement, and drove overland with team and wagon to that place, where he sold the outfit and engaged in pros- prefing for gokl. continuing this for about a
year. Returning to Morgan County, IN., he soon after entered the employ of the Equitable Life Insurance Company and traveled for this company all over the Union, going to the largest cities in the different States. Ile met with wonderful success, and in his travels, while stopping at St. Louis, he saw the future of East St. Louis at a glance. lle purchased property in that city, gave up his position with the insurance company, and in June, 1889, he stepped right into the real-estate market with such spirit and confidence that the whole community was aroused, and property advanced in value so rapidly that hundreds of citizens made snug fortunes in a few months. He was the original mover in the great Denverside addition, and is the man who induced the Denver capitalists to buy that large tract and plat it for an addition to the city. His personal investments soon made him rich. lle is enter- prising to the fullest extent, is shrewd, quick and reliable.
Mr. McCasland believes in the future of the eity and is doing as much as any one man can to advance it. He is spending here the money he so quickly earned, and is proud of the progress and development of the city. He has laid out Me- C'asland & Guynon's Addition, Claremont Addi- tion, Peean Addition, J. T. MeCasland Addition, Claremont Annex Addition, Denverside Addition, Alta Sita Addition. Beacon Heights Addition, and is interested in Landsdowne Heights and Rose Lake; he sold the part known as the "Wedge" to an Eng- lish syndicate. The MeCastand Opera House, the finest building in the county and equal to the opera houses of St. Louis and Chicago, being finished in the finest style and with the latest conveniences, was built by him. It is four stories in height, and is large and commodious. In this his office is lo- cated, as is also that of numerous other real-estate and professional men, and it is almost the geograph- ical centre of the city.
By his wonderful business acumen and excel- lent judgment, Mr. MeCasland has brought East St. Louis to the front and has advanced her inter- ests in a wonderful manner. While thus engaged, he has made a snug fortune for himself, as well as for many others in East St. Louis, and has reached
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
bis present standing as a business man by striet attention to the interests of patrons, and by in all eases endeavoring to give the limit of satisfae- tion.
Mr. McCasland selected his life companion in the person of Miss Julia E. Lusk, a native of Iowa, and their marriage was celebrated at Cheyenne, Wyo., in 1887. She is the daughter of David C. Lusk, now a resident of East St. Louis. The latter was a delegate to the National Convention at Minneap- olis and assisted in the nomination of llarrison. Mr. McCasland is one of the county's most prom- inent citizens, and is universally liked and re- speeted. He is liberal and open-hearted and no worthy movement is allowed to fail for want of support on his part. He is pleasant, affable and courteous and has many warm friends.
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S YLVESTER FOURNIE. The sunny land of France, the home of La Fayette, has con- tributed to the upbuilding of this State from the early days of its settlement, when the most of the traders on the river were brave Frenehmen, to the present time, when some of the most skilled workmen from that land come to this older Republic and find a home in the busy cities where their ancestors only found the savage Indian.
The father of our subject was born in Lorraine, France, where he lived until the age of twelve years. Ilis parents came to this country at an early day and settled in Illinois in this locality, and here Louis Fonrme was married to Felissa Adlebrook, who was born in Lorraine, France, and came to this country when a young lady.
After marriage, Lonis Fournie and his bride set- tłed in "Dutch Hollow," on a farm near Belleville. The former made a trip to California, and then came back and bought a farm a mile north of Belleville, upon which he lived until the time of his death, being a consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church. He had seven children. Joseph, Andrew, Sylvester and Louis are still living.
Our subject was born September 24, 1851, on the old homestead in this county. He was reared here and sent to the distriet schools. The lady who became his wife was Miss Elizabeth Cully, the young daughter of Nicholas Cully, a farmer of this county. This interesting ceremony took place in September, 1878. After marriage, our subject located north of Belleville, where the smelting works now are, and remained there until he came to the farm hé now lives upon. This was in 1886, and on his one hundred aeres of land on seetion 12, Smithton Township, he raises wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. Ile also has a valuable piece of timber land of ten aeres, where he had previously lived. Seven children make him welcome at home: Katie, Tony, Louis, Ida, Syl- vester, Tillie, and Charlie, the seven-month-old baby. In his political belief, Mr. Fournie is a Dem- ocrat. He belongs to the Roman Catholic faith and receives comfort from the ministrations of her priests. He and his capable wife and charming children make up a happy, peaceful household among the green fields and meadows that the pass- ing traveler loves to see and meditate upon.
ENRY ELLIOT, President of the Elliot Frog and Switch Company, which was in- corporated in 1887, was born in Jedburgh Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1827, to the un- ion of Henry and Mary (Shortreed) Elliot, both na- tives of Jedburgh. The paternal grandfather, Henry Elliot, Sr., was also a native of Jedburgh. The father was an iron worker and machinist and made his home in his native town until 1834, when he removed to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and was in the employ of George Stevenson, the first locomotive builder. Later, he took charge as sup- erintendent of the locomotive works of Coulthard & Sons, and continued there until 1851, when he brought his family to America, settling in Cincin- nati, where he was employed in the Little Miami Railroad shops. From there he went to Vincennes, Ind., where his death occurred in 1863, when
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sixty-three years of age. Mrs. Elliot died in C'in- einnati, Ohio, in 1857. She was the daughter of George Shortreed, a native of Scotland and a shoe- maker by trade. When young, the latter enlisted in the English army as private, serving in France and other places. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elliot, three of whom survive.
Henry Elliot, the original of this notice, was the third in order of birth of the above-mentioned children. From the age of seven, he was reared in Newcastle and was edueated in the common schools. At the age of twelve, he began working in a grocery store and was thus employed until fourteen, when he was apprenticed with Coulthard & Sons, locomotive builders and machinists, as machinist for the period of five years. At the ex- piration of this time, in 1846, he went to the Louca Iron Works, near Whitehaven, but later went to Liverpool, where he was in the employ of the larg- est manufacturing works there, and assisted in building the large steamer "Sarah Sands," one of the first propellers that ever crossed the ocean to America. From there he went to Leith, Scotland, and was in the employ of Hawthorne & Co., man- ufacturers of locomotives.
Returning to his home, he was then put in charge of the erecting shops where he had learned his trade. He came to America in 1849, and was the first of his family to touch American soil. Ile took passage on the sailing-vessel "Isaac Wright" in May of that year, and after a thirty-five days' voyage landed in New York City. He went from there to Philadelphia, Pa .. , and worked for the Baldwin Locomotive Works, remained there for a time and then went to Richmond, Va., and worked in rail- road shops there for some time. From there he came to Cincinnati and was employed by the Lit- tle Miami Railroad Company. Subsequently, he was transferred to Columbus and took charge of the maelune shops there until 1857, when he came to Vincennes, Ind., and was master mechanic on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad until 1863. In 1864, he was in the Government employ as master mechanie with headquarters at Nashville, Tenn., and he had charge of fourteen hundred men. He remained there until the close of the war and disposed of the machinery. In the latter
part of 1865, he went to Leavenworth, Kan., to put up some machinery for the Government, but finally concluded not to do so. Returning to his home, was again employed by the Ohio & Miss- issippi Railroad Company as master mechanic at East St. Louis, and continued with this company until 1873. when he went into business at this place with his brother George.
They started the Frog and Switch works under the firm name of Elliot & Bro., on a small scale, but as George died soon after, his son Harry was taken in and the business was continued as II. & Il. Elliot, with a capital of $5,000. They leased the ground and shops. Their business gradually increased. and as they were the first frog and switch manufacturers in the United States out of railroad companies, this opened up a new era of manufacture. They do all kinds of general rail- road iron work and tools and have several im- proved frogs etc. This firm became incorporated as the Elliot Frog and Switch Company with a cap- ital stock of $100,000 in 1887, with our subject as President, H. Elliot Jr., Vice-president and Secre- tary, and W. II. Elliot as Treasurer. This is one of the oldest manufacturing establishments in the eity. Ile resided in East St. Louis, Mo., until 1879, when, on account of his health, he moved to St. Louis, Mo. He owns several houses in the former place and the firm own much valuable real estate in the city. Mr. Elliot is Director in the First National Bank and is a stockholder in the Build- ing and Loan Association.
Mr. Elliot was first married in Cincinnati to Miss Mary A. Barry, a native of County Armagh, Ireland. She died in Vincennes. Ind. Six chil- dren were born to them, with three living and married: Susan, married and resides in East St. Louis; James employed in a shop; May is married and resides in Detroit, Mich. Mr. Elliot's second marriage was with Miss Hessie Roach, a native of Virginia, and they have three children, viz .: Will- iam IT., Treasurer of the Company; Attie B., at home, and Vesta F. Mr. Elliot and family reside at No. 3631 Washington Avenue, St. Louis.
Mr. Elliot assisted in drawing up the charter for East St. Louis, and while in Vincennes was a member of the city council. Ile is a Royal Arch
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Mason, and in politics is a Republican. In 1882, he made a trip to Europe and has visited that country twice since, the last time in 1891. He had a very pleasant visit back to his old home and has been all over Scotland, England, Ireland, Ger- many, France and Switzerland. The second time he took his family along. Mr. Elliot is a member of the National Master Mechanics' Association and is one of the oldest members.
OHN HENRY FRIESS, who resides on sec- tion 26, Shiloh Valley Township, is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has fur- nished to St. Clair County. Hle was born in Darmstadt in 1825, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth M. (Ople) Friess, both of whom were also natives of Darmstadt. The father was reared in the village and in his youth learned the shoe- maker's trade, which he followed until his mar- riage. In accordance with the laws of his native land, he also served a few years in the German army.
After his marriage, Mr. Friess turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, owning a farm in the Fatherland. At length, he determined to seek a home in the New World, and bidding good-bye to the scenes of his youth, accompanied by his fam- ily, he crossed the broad Atlantic to the United States. lle came directly to the West, and, locat- ing in St. Clair County, Ill., entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government. The wild and unimproved tract he transformed into an excellent farm, upon which he made his home until his death. He was reared in the Luth- eran Church. Ilis death occurred about 1877, and his wife survived him four years. To this worthy couple were born eight children, of whom only four are now living: George, John H., Frederick, and Mary, wife of Louis Fisher. Those deceased are Michael. Peter, Adam, and Margaret, who was the wife of Stephen Piecebanker.
Mr. Friess, whose name heads this record, spent
the 'first eleven years of his life in his native land and then accompanied his parents on their emi- gration to America. The days of his boyhood were spent under the parental roof and he gave his father the benefit of his labors upon the home farm until twenty-eight years of age, when an important event occurred in his life, his marriage with Miss Catherine Funk. The lady is a native . of this county, and a daughter of George and Catherine (Froot) Funk, both of whom were na- tives of Germany, and came to this country in an early day. Six children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Friess, three sons and three daughters: Philip, Ilenry, George; Katie, wife of Martin Emerick; Matilda, wife of Gustave Schrader; and Mary, wife of Frank Moser.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Friess purchased the land on which he now resides. By his indus- try and perseverance, he has become the owner of a highly improved farm, comprising one hundred and eighty acres of rich land, which yields to him a golden tribute. Ile is an enterprising and successful farmer, and his well-directed ef- forts have brought to him a comfortable compe- tence, which places him among the substantial citizens of the community. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in political sentiment is a supporter of Democratic principles. The county regards him as among its valued citizens, for he has ever borne his part in the promotion of all public enterprises of worth.
OHN EBINGER. This gentleman is one of the oldest German-Americans at Belleville, having come here April 1, 1850. He was born in Baden, Germany, April 3, 1823, and was the son of Xavier and Maria ( Wengla) Ehinger, who spent their entire lives in their native land. Our subject obtained his education in Ger- many, and was there taught the carpenter's trade. For five and one half years he was a soldier. After the Revolution of 1848, he resolved to go to Amer- ica. On reaching this country, he followed the trade
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of carpenter, working for eleven months as jour- neyman. lle then engaged in business for himself, and began taking contraets and building from that time on. lle has put up a large number of build- ings, good houses and stores, in this town, as he is the oldest contractor here. He kept on improving, and finally began to contract for bridge building, · requiring the assistance of sixteen men. In 1886, the weight of business became irksome to him, and he turned it over to his sons, they having been well trained under him. The sons now have a building 50x115 feet, with power and everything well arranged for their line of business, and constantly give employment to twenty-five men.
Our subject married Miss Caroline Suttler, in 1851, the marriage taking place in this city. She was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1826. Their children were: Charles, deceased; William and Emil, who form the firm of Ehinger Bros .; Anna; and Bertha, who is the widow of Conrad Stoll.
Mr. Ehinger built a fine home on the corner of Clay Avenue and Lebanon Road, where he has lived for over forty years. He has had an active life, and takes great pleasure in seeing the busi- ness carried on so successfully in the family.
P ETER SCHWINN, who is the owner of a fine farm of six hundred acres on section 2, | thrift and enterprise of the owner, who ranks Stookey Township, was born in Germany, in 1822, and is a son of Leonard and Margaret Schwinn, both likewise natives of the Fatherland. The father was born in 1782, and the mother's birth occurred the following year. Leonard Schwinn grew to manhood on a farm, receiving his education in the schools of a neighboring vil- lage. Ile followed agricultural pursuits as an oe- eupation, and in addition to the regular duties of the farm owned a large vineyard, from which he made wine quite extensively.
In 1833, when our subjeet was a lad of eleven years, his father left Germany and brought hus fam- ily to the United States, coming at onee to St. Clair
County, Ill. Here he purchased eighty-seven acres of the farm where Ins son now lives. Ilis means being limited. he bought his property on long payments. After this he entered forty acres of Government land and again added to his possessions seventy- three acres, making in all a farm of two hundred acres. Ilis whole life and attention were strietly devoted to the tilling of the soil and kindred pur- suits.
On the 7th of September, 1848, Leonard Schwinn was foully murdered by a farm hand who had pre- viously worked for him. At the time, with his son, Mr. Sehwinn was living alone on his farm, his wife having died several years before. Our sub- ject was at a neighbor's when the dreadful crime was committed. The cowardly assassin followed Mr. Schwinn from the house, and shot him in the back. The motive of the deed was always sup- posed to be robbery, as the victim had a large sum of money in his possession at the time. The mur- derer was soon captured and received his just punishment for the awful crime.
At the time of his father's death, Peter Schwinn was twenty-eight years of age. Ile was the young- est of a family of four children, and, like his father, his attention was early turned to farming. He has now six hundred acres of the best farm land, which he has improved and brought under a high state of cultivation, His farm is considered one of the best in the neighborhood, and his fine residence, barns and other outbuildings, the latest improved machinery and well-tilled fields, all indieate the among the leading agriculturists of the county, where he has lived for nearly sixty years. Ile is an intelligent and successful business man, iden- tified with the best interests of the community and ever ready to aid in the promotion of such enter- prises as will advance the general welfare.
The marriage of Mr. Schwinn was celebrated April 23, 1848, when Miss Christina Mosser became his wife. To them were born seven children: Mary, the wife of James Mitchell; Peter, Frederick; Min- nie, the wife of Charles Hoff; Elizabeth, wife of Louis Rhine; Leonard; and Rosa, who is now de ceased. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Schwinn was married to Mrs. Josephine Droit, the ceremony
RESIDENCE OF PETER SCHWINN, SEC. 2., STOOKEY TP., ST. CLAIR. CO., ILL.
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being performed in 1877. She is the daughter of Louis and Mary (Merselle) Dupont. By her union with Mr. Droit were born six children: Louisa, wife of Joseph Ettienne; C'amiela, Tolma, Colbert (deceased), Walter and Oliver.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Schwinn is allied with the Republican party, and is much interested in the political issues of the day. llis fellow-citi- zens, appreciating his worth and ability, have fre- quently called upon him to serve in local positions, the duties of which he has ever performed with fidelity, and to the sati-faction of all.
NTON J. MUELLER is one of the sub- stantial and influential farmers of St. Clair Township, living on a fine farm one and a-half miles from Belleville. ITis parents were Joseph D. and Annie Mary (Fisher) Mueller, natives of Germany. These estimable people made the long and dangerous voyage across the seas in 1818, landing in New York in the same year. From that city, they went to Ohio and Indiana, where the father engaged in sawmilling, but, not feeling satisfied with the country, they in 1852 came to Illinois and settled on a farm about eight miles from the present home of our subject, re- moving in 1853 to his present home. The grand- parents of our subject lived and died in their na- tive land-Germany. Anton was one of six chil- dren, who were as follows: Jolm F., a farmer of Franklin Township; Stephen, a single man, who is making his home with his brother .John; Helena, now the wife of J. II. Germain, a resident of George- town Road, where he has a fine farm; May, single, who is residing with her brother Anton ; and ,Joseph, who is also single and resides with Anton. Mr. Mueller, Sr., died in 1883, and his faithful wife only survived him six years, when she, too, passed unto the better life, in 1889. They had been good, worthy people and their loss was felt throughout the township.
Mr. Mueller was reared on the fine farm he now
occupies and attended the common schools of the neighborhood, but in addition to the education received there he learned to speak fluently the lan- gnage of his father's native land. He is yet a young man, only twenty-eight years of age, having been born April 28, 1864, but is one of the best farmers in his section and promises to be one of the weighty men of the county. Ilis farm is a fine one of eighty-five acres, which he has well im- proved and furnished with all the necessary farm buildings. lle was united in marriage .January 21; 1892, to Miss Agnes Krans, a native of Missouri, the accomplished and charming daughter of Philip Krans.
Our subject is one of the leading Democrats of the township and is an ardent supporter of the principles of Democracy. In his religious views, he is a Catholic, and lives according to the pre- cepts taught by his church. With such young blood as this in Illinois' veins, is it any wonder that she bids fair to outstrip her sister States in influence and wealth?
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