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 37
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Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Conrad and Cath- erine (Deitz) Spitz, became the wife of our sub- ject in 1881. To them have been born four chil- dren, only two of whom, Lena and Gustav. are living. In his political relations, Mr. Ruester is a staneh Republican, and socially, is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Belleville. Ilis name is among the members of the Lutheran Church, in which body he is an active worker.
h ARTMANN KOCII. Biographies of suc- cessful, and especially of good, men are most useful as incentives to others, teach- ing noble thinking and energetie action for their own and the world's good. He who gives others an example of industry, sobriety and consistent honesty of purpose in life, has a present
as well as a future influence upon the well-being of his community. for his life and character affects. unconsciously though it may be, the lives and characters of others, and thus the influence is un- ending until time itself shall cease. Too much praise eannot, therefore, be given to those who by their worthy lives are entitled to more than pass- ing mention.
The subject of this biographical review was born in Germany in 1883, and is the son of Justus and Catherine (Selineider) Koch. His parents were also born in the Fatherland, the father in 1811, and the mother in 1818. Justus Koch re- ceived his education in the common sehools of his native land, where in his youth he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and was thus occupied, in connection with the business of a wagon man- ufacturer, throughout his entire life. ITis death oc- eurred in the prime of life, when our subject was only two years of age. After his death, a posthum- ous son was born to the mother of our subject, who was named Henry Philip and is now deceased. Mrs. Catherine Koch came to the United States many years afterward and died at the home of her son Hartmann, in Darmstadt.
The early years of Hartmann Koch were un- eventfully passed in his native land, where he at- tended the common schools and learned the trade of a blacksmith with an unele. In 1854, he left the Fatherland, and, crossing the Atlantie, for a few months after landing made his home in the city of Baltimore. Later, he removed to St. Louis, where for seven years he worked steadily at his trade. Coming thenee to the village of Darmstadt, he opened a shop, where he has since been engaged at his trade. In connection with this occupation, he is the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, whereon he conducts farming operations with skill and success.
At the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Koch was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph and Clara (Aple) Dierburger, and they have become the parents of nine children, three of whom died in infaney and George and Clara in their youth. The surviving children are Mary, Elizabeth, Amelia and Matheas, In his relig- ious connections, Mr. Koch is a member of the
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Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a Catholic. His political preferences have brought him into sympathy with the Republican party, and he is one of the publie-spirited and progressive members of that party in the county.
Mr. Koch is a man who stands high in the esteem of all who know him, and his honorable life and uniform kindness of heart endear him to his acquaintances. In writing of him, one is re- minded of the picture drawn by the poet Long- fellow, of the village blacksmith:
Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear his bellows blow; You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, With measured beat and slow, Like a sexton ringing the village bell When the evening sun is low.
Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing, On ward through life he goes; Each morning sees some task begun, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose.
Thanks, thanks, to thee, my worthy friend, For the lesson thou has taught; Thus at the flaming forge of life Our fortunes must be wrought. Thus on its sounding anvil shaped Each burning deed and thought.
E MILE REBHAN, a prosperous farmer of section 5, Shiloh Valley Township, is a na- tive of Germany, his birth having occurred in Coburg, in 1817. He is a son of Louis and Lou- isa Rebhan, the father's birth occurring in France and the mother's in Meiningen, Germany. Louis Rebhan grew to manhood in a city, received a good education, and was reared in the Catholic religion. Ile was an attorney-at-law, and occupied a position in the official department of the coun- try, He was sent as a minister to Coburg, Ger- many, which position he occupied until his death. When a young man he left France, and
sion of the King, the spelling of the name was changed to Rebhan, which his descendants have since adopted. IIc and his wife reared a family of four children: Louis, deccased; Emile; Adelina L., now deceased, who was the wife of Gadlop Muld- rop; and John, who still lives in the Old Country. Of this family our subject is the only one who came to the United States.
Our subject received a good common-school ed- ucation, and in addition took a collegiate course. Ile then continued his studies and commenced the reading of law. Ile next learned the trade of an architect in the Government department. In 1849, Mr. Rebhan was united in marriage with Louisa Fensline. Some time afterward, on account of the Revolution, he came to America, his wife having died just before his departure, leaving three chil- dren: John, deceased; Edward, who has since come to the United States; and Anna, also deceased. After arriving in the New World, our subject first settled at New Orleans, where he worked at his trade for a period of about two years. He then came to Belleville, and has lived in this county since that time. Ile has been a civil engineer, and surveyed all of the plank roads of the county. Ile also followed agricultural pursuits quite exten- sively. At the breaking out of the late war, Mr. Rebhan raised Company F, Second Missouri In- fantry, which was under Gen. Lyons. He partic- ipated in the battles of Wilson Creek and Bearge. On account of sickness, he returned home at the end of the first year, and located at Shiloh, where he has sinee resided.
In Belleville, Mr. Rebhan was united in marriage with Catherine Miller, daughter of George Chris- tian and Elizabeth Miller. To this worthy couple four children have been born: George C., an at- torney of Belleville, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work; Edward; Amelia, the wife of Louis Shmisour, who is now de- ecased; and Louisa.
Our subject is a Protestant and a member of the Lutheran Church. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but has his pass from each, He takes an active part in all local political affairs, and is a at that time spelled his name Rohn, By permis- , supporter of the Republican party, He is a man of
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good education, and well informed on all the lead- ing questions of the day. For over forty years he has been a resident of this county, and is accounted one of its most publie-spirited and representative citizens. As a farmer, he is considered a man of enterprise and ability, and has acquired a compe- tence through years of industry and hard labor.
C HRISTIAN ETTLING. The subject of this sketch resides on survey 607, Prairie du Long Township, St. Clair County, Ill. His father, Conrad Ettling, was born in Hamburg, Germany, in the year 1809, on the 21st of October. The early part of the latter's life was spent in his native village, where he learned and afterward plied the vocation of a stone- mason. His wife was a Miss Caroline Inck, a native of the same place. In the year 1837, Con- rad Ettling emigrated with his family to the United States, and on his arrival in this country located at Detroit, where he lived but a short time, moving from there to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade for several months, and then moved to St. Clair County, Ill. He rented a farm three miles south of Belleville, and lived there about six years, afterward renting several other places, on which he spent about four years, when he bought what was then known as the old Reding House place, on which he resided for over twenty-two years. He had been in this country over thirty years when he moved to Freeburg, this county, where he still lives. His eash possessions on his ar- rival in America consisted of $5, and his life is one of the best exemplifieations of thrift, industry, and perseverance, the biographer can possibly depict. In his family were six children.
Christian Ettling, with whose name we introduce this sketch, was born in Hamburg, Germany, on the 4th of December, 1836. He was only one year old when his parents came to America, and his whole life has been spent on a farm. He re- ceived a fair education in the common schools of St. Clair County, and upon arriving at manhood's
estate, received from his father fifty acres of land with which to start the life of a farmer, which he had chosen as his life pursuit.
On the 29th of February, 1860, our subject mar- ried Miss Catherine Moeser, daughter of Henry Moeser, one of the pioneer settlers in this part of the State. After his marriage, he located at Prairie du Long, where he lived two years on his own farm. After his two years' residence at Prairie du Long, he went back to his father's farm, where he stayed six months and then located on the fifty acres which his father had given him, and which was situated in Smithton Township. After a period of eighteen years, Mr. Ettling sold the last-mentioned farm, and bought the place on which he now lives.
Catherine ( Moeser) Ettling, the first wife of our subject, died August 21, 1882. She was a wo- man of most estimable traits of character, and her loss was mourned by a large circle of friends. Some time after thus bereavement, Mr. Ettling married his second wife, Miss Catherine Bretsch, a daugh- ter of Philip Bretsch, who was a resident of New Athens Township. The first Mrs Ettling was the mother of twelve children, and the second wife has borne our subject five, making a family of sev- enteen children, fourteen of whom are still living, and are as follows: Peter, who follows the trade of a carpenter at Freeburg; Mary, who lives in Montgomery County, and is the wife of Jacob Klein, a farmer; Jacob, who lives in Monroe County; Willie, a resident of Freeburg; George, Katie, Lizzie, Christopher and Emma, who all live at home. One of the saddest incidents in this family's history was the drowning of one son, Philip, a boy who gave most excellent promises for future manhood. In addition to the children above mentioned are: Bertie, Hilda, Gustav, Johnnie and Elsa. Three members of this family died in infancy.
Mr. Ettling is the owner of one hundred and thirty-eight and one-half acres of land, well im- proved and in a good state of cultivation. He raises wheat, corn and oats, but his principal crop is wheat. He is a well-known and active member of the Lutheran Church, to which body he has always given hearty support, and both he and his
Thompson
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wife are among the sincere workers and stanch members of that organization.
Mr. Ettling's political sympathies extend to the Democratic party, and he is a firm believer in the strength of its principles and the efficacy of its platform. He has held the office of Trustee in his township for the past six years. and has served as School Director for three terms. With an intelli- gent conception of his duties as a citizen, a feeling of good-will toward mankind, and a deep regard for his own family, the subject of this sketch en- deavors to honorably fulfill all the duties which devolve upon him, and in so doing he has gained the respect of alt with whom he comes in contact.
MOS THOMPSON, a well-known and prominent citizen of Belleville, is now retired from the active duties of life and is enjoying the fruits of his early labors. He was born fifteen miles northeast of Portland, Me., April 26, 1807, a son of Abel Thompson. ITis grandfather, Amos Thompson, Sr., was born in 1749. and, with his brother JJonathan, accom- panied Col. Arnold and his army through the wilderness from Maine to Quebec in the fall of 1775, and participated in the battle of Quebec, where Gen. Montgomery was killed and Col. Arn- old wounded.
Abel Thompson, the eldest child of Abel Thomp- son, Sr., was born in the spring of 1775. It is said he was the second child born in Lincoln (now Sagadahoc) County, Me. In the war with England in 1812-13, he was a Lieutenant in a military company, and was called into active ser- . viee in that war. He was a ship carpenter, mill- wright and farmer. He married Mary Haynes in 1796, or 1797, and had nine children, two of whom died in infancy; the remaining seven were Elizabeth, Hannah, Mehetabel, Amos, Eleanor, Haynes and Abel. When he left Maine for the West, the two eldest children, Elizabeth and Han- nah, did not accompany him, they having mar- ried and settled in Maine, In 1815, he drove
across the country from Maine to Cincinnati, but was unfortunate in having his horse stolen by Indians. While absent on his trip to the Far West, his mill was burned, and on his return East he determined to take advantage of the larger opportunities which the Far West afforded. In the fall of 1816, he commenced his long jour- ney Westward, and at the head of the Allegheny River, built a flat-boat, on which he floated down to Cincinnati. Then he embarked on a keel-boat for Kaskaskia. Ill. It was his intention to start a mill six miles south of Belleville, where he located with that object in view.
However, before his plans were completed, Mr. Thompson was taken ill with malarial fever and died September 17, 1818. his wife's death oe- curring two days before his own. Mehetabel became the wife of Samuel Phillips and died at an advanced age. One of her sons, Daniel T. Philips, resides in Cornelius, Ore., and another in St. Clair County. Eleanor married John Alexander, of St. Clair County, and both are deceased, her death occurring at the age of forty- two years. Abel married and became the father of a large family of children and died at the age of sixty-eight.
The memory of our subject carries him back many years, and he well remembers the earthquake of 1811, although at that time he was only four years old. He also reealls the naval battle between the "Boxer" and the "Enterprise" in September, 1813, when he could hear the noise of the conflict, although some fifteen miles distant. Both the commanders, Boyle and Brocke, were killed in the battle, and Mr. Thompson has since visited their graves at Portland, Me. Our subject visited Maine in 1829, and after an absence of fifty-three years again returned to Maine in 1882, and vis- ited his aged sister llannah, who was then living at the age of eighty-six years, but is since de- ceased.
Early orphaned by the death of his parents, Amos Thompson found a home with a neighbor. named Fowler, with whom he remained one year. During the summer of the ensuing year, he cooked for Mr. Fowler, who was at that time build- ing a mill. After several severe spells of sickness,
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he was bound as an apprentice to John Stuntz. a tanner and furrier, whose father was one of the Ilessian soldiers sent here to fight for George III of England, but who deserted in the first engage- ment and joined the Americans and fought for them during the American War. Mr. Stuntz agreed to send the lad to school, a promise which he faithfully kept. With this noble old German our subject remained until he was twenty- one years of age, and until he was twenty attended the district schools during the winter months. Hle then began learning the carpenter's trade with Mr. Fowler, and worked at that trade for about twenty years. In 1829, he assisted Mr. Fowler in building the County Court House in Belleville.
In 1830, Mr. Thompson made his first purchase of real estate, one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he resided for a period of thirty years. and, as he had hardly enough money to pay for it, he borrowed $50 for forty days through the influence of a good friend, Edward Tate. The loan of 850 which he made fell due on a Sunday, and he promptly paid it that day, thus relieving to some extent his obligation to his warm friend, Ed- ward Tate; that was the first money borrowed for which he had to give security, and since then he has been enabled with only his own name to get what money he has needed. Early in life he learned the important lesson that a punctual man com- mands his neighbors' purse strings.
May 15, 1831, our subject was married to Miss Irene Moore, a descendant of Shields Moore, who settled at Baltimore, Md., in 1732. After his mar- riage, Mr. Thompson settled on his farm, and here resided until about eight years after the death of his wife, which occurred in 1852. While living on the farm, he dealt largely in stock, and after his removal to Belleville in 1860 he became an extensive property-holder. In connection with his son Alonzo, he at one time owned seven thou- sand acres in Barton County, Mo., where he still owns twelve hundred aeres. As this land was pur- chased some thirty years ago, it has since greatly inereased in value.
In company with his son Alonzo and his son- in-law, Mr. Harrison, our subject has purchased large tracts of land in Missouri, all of which have
proved good investments, and with them he has speculated extensively in Illinois land. He was a Democrat up to 1856. and was elected a member of the Legislature in the sessions of 1842-44, 1844-46. also 1866-68, including two called sessions, and proved an able and incorruptible Legislator. Since 1856, he has been a Republican. Ile is a man of exceptionally fine mental powers and possesses business instincts of a high order. His good judg- ment and honor are thoroughly appreciated, and he has been administrator of a great many estates.
The children boru to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were as follows: Alonzo, a real-estate agent of Omaha. Neb .; Mary Eleanor, wife of T. Harrison, of Colorado Springs, Colo .; Josephine (Mrs. J. D. Truett), who died in Indiana in 1882; Cyrus, a manufacturer of Belleville; Eugene, who died at the age of nine years; and Charles Il., a money broker of Portland, Ore.
In taking a retrospective view of past events in this world of changes during his long life, it is with pleasure that our subject calls to mind the many wise admonitions and kind treat- ment received from John Stuntz and his wife, Elizabeth (Hill) Stuntz. during the eight years and seven months in which he was a member of their family. Our subject now resides with his son, Cyrus Thompson, in Belleville, 111.
BEDFORD CASI. This pleasant gentle. man is a member of of the First Christian Church in this city, and is a business rep- resentative of the firm of Evans, Snider, Buel & C'o. The name of Cash is well known through- out Virginia, and from that family came James Cash, the father of our subject, although his birth- place was in Kentucky. Ile was reared on a farm and then learned what was a very important trade-tanning; after he had learned how to prepare leather, he found out the proper way to use it. lle appears to have been skilled in many ways, for he also learned the trades of car- penter and stone mason, He conducted his tan-
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nery in Morgan County, Ky., and also engaged in farming. Ile also gained a reputation as a hun- ter. In 1857, he concluded to remove his family to Audrain County, Mo .. and this change was made with wagons, the place selected for the new home consisting of three hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land. Here Mr. Cash lived until within one year of his death, when he re- moved to C'entralia, Mo., and died there in 1867. The mother of our subjeet was Sally Cree, a Ken- tuckian by birth. Iler death occurred April 1. 1875, at the age of sixty-nine years.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest of eleven children, five of whom are living. Ile was born August 27, 1851, in Morgan County, Ky., and was reared in Missouri from the age of six years. lle had no school advantages at all, as this was a pioneer country, and the " work school " was the only one thought of. In this school he was pretty thoroughly disciplined, as his father died when he was sixteen years of age and he had to think of taking care of himself, which has often been a serious undertaking for those much older in life and experience than a lad of sixteen. However, he soon obtained work at herding cattle at 818 a month, and continued at this until he came to St. Louis, in 1869. Hlere he found em- ployment in the old North Missouri Yards driving cattle, and there he remained until the completion of the Union Stock Yards, when he worked there one year as hog accountant. In 1875, he came to the National Stock Yards, and was employed there for eighteen months, and then began to speculate in hogs for himself, and did much in this line. In 1887, he became hog salesman for the firm of llunter. Evans & Co. until the firm of Snider, Evans & Co. was formed, with which company he has been ever since.
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Mr. Cash is a Democrat of the strongest type, and is highly regarded in his party. Ile is a member in the National Union, and has been the main organizer and pillar of the Christian Church of this city, which he has supported with both purse and influence.
The marriage of Mr. Cash took place in St. Louis, in 1874, with Miss Alice Sutherland. one of the fair daughters of Kentucky, and two children
have blessed this union. The eldest, Ilugh Em- mett, was removed by death, but Walter S, re- mains. He will not be ashamed to read the record of difficulties overcome by his father, for the trials of early life very often form character and make men what they are. Two of the brothers of Mr. Cash took part in the Civil War.
ENRY CLAY ECKERT, an enterprising farmer and prominent member of the Grange, living in Smithton Township, was born November 5, 1850, of German-Amer- ican parentage. lle was the son of Michael Eck- ert, who came to this country with his parents when he was eleven years of age. This was in 1837, and they were among the earliest settlers of St. Clair County. The birthplace of our subject was on the Drumhill Farm, near Fayetteville. lle received a good education, attending the free schools, afterward spending one year at McKendrec College. Ile had better advantages than most of the boys of his age or locality. After the death of his brother, he removed with his parents to Belle- ville, Ill., in 1875. After several years in that city, he married Mary L. Miller, who was the daughter of Michael Miller, one of the earliest settlers of St. Clair County. Our subject lived in Belleville until 1879, when he removed to Richview Farm, situated on the Cairo Short Line, just above Wilderman Station. He has been a farmer all his life, and has followed the business intelligently, using the latest agricultural devices, and buying the best breeds of cattle, sheep and poultry. Ile has at this writing five hundred young chickens of pure blood, and sells poultry for breed- ing purposes; he also manufactures on his place a fine article of gilt-edged butter. The children are Walter E., Eugene A. and Alvin Otis, His only daughter, Amelia, has passed away.
Mr. Eckert has two farms, one containing one hundred and eighteen acres, and another twohun- dred and ten acres, The land where he lives is
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underlaid with coal, which makes it very valua- ble. The large brick residence which Mr. Eckert erected in the course of time, is one of the finest in this part of the county, and cost him 85,400. Ile also has a large poultry house, built after the latest models, which cost him $200. ITis land has all the latest improvements, and is well tiled where that was necessary. Ile firmly believes that farming can be greatly improved by better methods, and that the breeding and raising of bet- ter stock will always pay in the end. He keeps an account of all that he buys and all that he sells, and at the end of the year has as clean a balance sheet as any merchant.
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Mr. Eckert is a Republican, and has always been one, and is a strong believer in the protection of American industries, and an advocate for an hon- est American dollar. He belongs to the Grange, and at one time took an active part in its meet- ings, but lately a hardness of hearing has pre- vented his attendance. He believes in the Grange principles, and is truly one of the most enterpris- ing farmers in the county, and has endeavored to place agriculture upon a proper footing in his county. Men of his stamp will soon give a quietus to those who look at the farming community as a necessary part of a State, but to be regarded as rather out of the rapid march of progress.
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