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 41
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It was in 1851 that Mr. Decker was united in marriage with Miss Mary Anna Brentzel, daughter of Mathias Brentzel, a blacksmith of this city, with whom our subject had worked for four years. In 1850, he went to Belleville, and in company with William Lutz established a blacksmith shop, where he worked for about two years, when the partner- ship was dissolved and Mr. Decker built a smithy of his own on East Main Street in Belleville, where he remained for about six weeks. During that time, his father-in-law died, and Mrs. Brentzel requested him to remove to Mascoutah and take charge of the shop of her deceased husband, so in 1852 he rented his shop in Belleville, and in July of that year removed to Mascoutah. lle then worked at his trade from 1850 until 1863. when
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he sold his shop and bought the Mascoutah House, continuing in the hotel business ever since. In con- nection with the hotel. he also runs a livery stable and saloon.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deeker have been born ten children, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: George, who is married and is agent at Belleville, Ill., for the Adams Express Company, in whose employ he has been for almost a quarter of a cen- tury; JJacob is married and is a dealer in farm im- plements and machinery in Mascoutah; Eliza and Emma are at home; lIenry is married and carries on the hotel; Philip is engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Chicago, and Ottilie completes the family.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Decker is a Re- publican; he voted for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has supported cach Presidential candidate of the Republican party since that time. In 1881, he was elected Commissioner of St. Clair, which office he held for one term. In 1876, he was candidate for County Commissioner, and in 1886 he was nominated for the office of County Treasurer. Socially, he is a member of the Odd Fellows' society Mr. Decker is widely known throughout the county, where for forty-six years he has made his home Ile is now doing a good business and has prospered, having a handsome competence.
P ETER SCHNEIDER. An excellent ex- ample of the sturdy enterprise, thrifty habits and persistent industry, character- istic of so many of our farmers, may be found in the life of Mr. Schneider, who is now living in Lenzburg Township. He owns nine hundred acres of valuable land, whose possession attests his success in worldly affairs, and whose im- proved condition and orderly appearance furnish equally good evidence of his intelligent eoncep- tion of the details of his voeation and his progres- sive spirit in all that pertains thereto.
A native of Germany, our subjeet was born in Bavaria, January 9, 1821, and was the son of Peter
and Barbara (Kempf) Schneider, also natives of the Fatherland,; the former having been born in 1799, and the latter a couple of years later. Peter Schneider Sr., received an excellent education in the model seliools of his native country, and, being reared to farm pursuits, followed that occupation his entire life. On coming to America in October, 1838, he was accompanied hither by his entire family, and in February of the following year came to Dutch Hill Prairie. this county. Being a man of means, he at once purchased five hundred and fifty acres of Government land, which he cultivated in the best possible manner. Ile was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was always found ready to take part in every good work promul- gated in that religious society. He was in the best sense of the term a publie-spirited man and a pro- gressive citizen, and in politics voted with the Democratic party.
Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schneider all are deceased with the exception of our subject, who was the fourth in order of birth. The others bore the respective names of Catherine, Mary, Rosena, John and Ilenry. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Andrew Schneider, was a native of Germany, where he followed the occu- pation of a fermer.
Young Schneider received a thorough training by his excellent parents and from early boyhood bore a part in farm work, thus becoming thoroughly versed in its details. He received a good eduea- tion in the public schools, adding to the practical knowledge he already possessed and strengthening the foundation on which he has reared a super- structure of general information since reaching maturity. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, and in 1848 was married to Miss Johanna, daughter of Sebastian and Margaret Dressel. Mrs. Schneider was carefully reared by Christian par- ents and was well qualified to take upon herself the duties of wifehood when united to our subject. She has been an efficient aid to him, not only making his home cozy and attractive, but by prud- ent management and good counsel assisting him in the accumulation of property. Their happy marriage has been blessed by the birth of nine
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children, three of whom died young in years. Those who grew to mature years were: Caroline, who married Henry Knecht, and left at her de- cease one son; Johanna, who is the wife of George Perschbacher; llenry, who married Miss Caupert; Mary C., who married Henry Knecht; Charles II., who became the husband of Miss Arena Schaller; and Regina, who married Harmon Echert.
Our subject like his venerable father, is a liberal supporter of the Lutheran Church, of which de- nomination he is an active member. His wife, who was held in high esteem for her Christian character, departed this life January 18. 1876, and was fol- lowed to her last resting-place by numerous friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Schneider always takes an interest in politi- cal affairs, voting the straight Republiean ticket. lle is intimately connected with the financial af- fairs of the township and, indeed, of the county, and his opinions are considered valuable. 1Fe is a man of progressive ideas, of more than ordinary intelligence, and possesses a nature which for geni- ality and kindliness is unexcelled. 1le has made his property by his own efforts, and by dint of his personal qualities is now one of the leading and wealthy farmers of St. Clair County.
2 ICHOLAS E. AMMEL. The subject of this sketeh is one of the young, energetie and progressive farmers of St. Clair County. The faithful and acceptable discharge of his duties as Collector, and the business-like manner in which he manages his farm, prove him to be a man of considerable executive ability and give promise of a prosperous and successful future.
Onr subject was born February 18, 1858, ten miles north of Belleville, near Falling Springs, and is the son of Martin and Frances (Faust) Ammel. His father was born in France, six miles from Strasburg, August 26, 1830, and was brought by his parents to America in 1833. They landed in New Orleans, and there took passage on the steamboat "George Collie" for St. Louis, where
they arrived about a week before Christmas. They remained in that city for two weeks, and then came to St. Clair County and settled four miles north of Centreville on the C. & St. L. Railroad. Here they passed the remainder of their lives. The paternal grandfather, George Ammel, was born in 1798, and died in the fall of 1844. The paternal grandmother, Dorothea (Kist) Am- mel. was born in 1803, and died in 1886.
The father of our subject remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Belleville and learned the trade of a black- smith under Wamey Williams. He worked at his trade until 1856, when he bought a farm at Fall- ing Springs, eleven miles from Belleville, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits for nine years. ITe next went to East St. Louis, and eon- ducted an hotel for about a year, and later bought a house and lot in Millstadt, where he lived a year. Ile next bought a farm of sixty acres one mile north of Belleville, where he now resides. lle is the inventor and patentee of a slide-road grader and a wheel-road grader patented luly 4, 1880. These graders are now in general use and the patentee enjoys a royalty income from them.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm. Ile enjoyed the advantages of a common- school education such as a farmer lad usually ob- tains. In order, however, to better qualify him- self for life's work, he went to Milwaukee, Wis., and there attended St. Francis College for seven months. June 14, 1881, he married Lena C., the daughter of llenry and Mary Ann (Karlskind) Louis, who were farmers on an adjoining estate. On that place the bride was born and reared. Her parents have both passed away, the father as long as thirty-one years ago and the mother May 9, 1882. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ammel, namely: Alvina, born April 4, 1883; Matilda, July 29, 1885; Irene, February 1, 1888; Viola, March 13, 1889; Corinne M., December 7, 1890, and Estella, April 30, 1892. All are spared to their parents, with the exception of Irene, who died June 5, 1889.
Our subject has lived at his present place of residence ever sinee his marriage. The farm con- sists of one hundred and twenty-five acres and is
ELLEN.5268
MAUD 664/1.
DICK GOOS
RESIDENCE OF NICK E. AMMEL, . 3% MILES . NORTH WEST OF BELLEVILLE,. ILL
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devoted to general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Ammel. is a breeder of registered Chester White hogs, and at all times has some very fine stock on his place. In public affairs he is interested and well-informed, and has been ealled by his fellow- citizens to numerous positions of trust and re- sponsibility, Among the offices which he has tilled is that of Township Collector, to which he was first elected in 1886. lle is now serving his fourth term, having been re-elected in April, 1892. Ile is also School Trustee, to which office he was elected in 1890. He was chosen Director and Secretary of St. Peter's Institute at Belleville. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is as earnest in that as in other relations of life. He and his fam- ily belong to the Catholic Church.
C HARLES RUNKWITZ, engaged in generai farming on section 35, O'Failon Township, is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of the county. He was born on the old homestead where he yet resides, January 3, 1841. His father, Karl Runkwitz, was born on the 27th of September. 1800, in Altenburg, Duchy of Saxony, Germany, and was a book- binder by trade. In his native land, he was mar- ried in 1828 to Dorothea Fredericka Drescher. who was born February 21, 1806. In the spring of 1834, they sailed for America, landing at Balti- more. With a party of their countrymen, they went across the Alleghany Mountains to Wheeling, Ohio, where the colony separated and Mr. Runk- witz and his wife made their way down the Ohio River to St. Louis. They subsequently came to this State, where Mr. Runkwitz entered forty acres of land from the Government. This is still a part of the homestead of the family. lle engaged in farming until his death, which occurred October 17, 1849, of cholera. The grandparents both died in the Fatherland.
The Runkwitz family numbered nine children: Henrietta, who was born in Germany in 1829. came to America with her parents and was married
in this county to Emil Lummer, who died near O'Fallon about 1872. She now makes her home in Milwaukee, Wis. By their union were born nine children, of whom four are yet living. Gus- tave died in infancy. Charlotte, born in Ger- many in 1831, was married in 1847 to John P. Trautwein, and they became the parents of four children, as follows: Herman, who is married and is a farmer of Missouri; Matilda, who died in 1869; Dorothea, who became the wife of William Weil, of Shiloh Valley, and died in 1884, leaving three children; and Julius, who is married and follows farming in Franklin County, Mo. Mr. Trautwein died in 1861, and she was again married, this time to August Lummer, and they have one child, Charles, who is married and lives in Franklin County, Mo. Thekla, born in Germany in 1833, is the wife of Ernst Gilauf, a farmer of Franklin County, Mo., by whom she had seven children, as follows: ('harles, who married Dorelia Robertson and lives in Sullivan, Mo .; Otto wedded Jennie Parks and is a farmer of Franklin County, Mo .; Lotta died at the age of twenty-five years; Benjamin died at the age of nine years; Louisa resides with her father; Ernst died in 1887; and Richard is at home. The mother of this family died in October, 1891, in Franklin County, Mo., at the age of fifty- seven years. Richard, born March 27, 1838, mar- ried Julianne Jænich and resides on a farm in ('Fallon Township. They had five children: Al- vina, born in 1864, is married and has four chil- dren; Emilia was born in 1866, is married and has three children; William, born August 30, 1868; Josephine, November 20, 1872; and Ida, January 12, 1874, are still at home with their mother. Rich- ard Runkwitz died on the home farm in O'Fallon Township, January 21. 1877.
Charles Runkwitz, whose name heads this sketch, is the next younger and he is associated in business with his brother, Herman, who was born March 24, 1843, in O'Fallon Township. In 1867, he married Aurelia Budnie, and unto them were born five children: Minna, twenty-three years of age; Erwin, twenty years of age; Johannalı, who died in 1880 at the age of six years; Richard, a lad of thirteen years; and Fannie, who is twelve years of age. The youngest of the Runkwitz family is Sophia,
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who was born in 1815, in this county, and in May, 1862, became the wife of Otto Doeswetler. They soon afterward removed to Wisconsin, where he is engaged in business as a veterinary surgeon. They have twelve children.
Ilerman Runkwitz was a soldier in the late war. He enlisted in 1863, as a member of the Forty- third Illinois Infantry, and was in the service until 1865. being stationed at Little Rock during the greater part of the time. After leaving the army, he took up his residence on the old home- stead, where he and his brother Charles have since engaged in farming. In connection with the heirs of their brother Richard, they own one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. They are enterprising and progressive farmers, widely and favorably known in the community where they have so long resided. Charles Runk witz served as Highway Commissioner for one term and Iler- man held the office of School Director for two terms.
G EORGE CROSBY, a prominent and highly- esteemed farmer of ()'Fallon Township, re- siding on section 27, was born in Ponte- fract, England, May 12, 1833. His father, Thomas Crosby, was born in Yorkshire, in 1802, and was a gardener for the Duke of Cleveland, learning his trade of gardening at llammersmith. Subse- ¿quently, he had charge of the Duke's plate. In 1844, he crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York, whence he made his way to Nashville, Tenn., and took charge of the establishment of John Bell, being overseer of the house and garden. His wife had charge of the education of Mr. Yeatman's fam- ily of St. Louis. In 1852, he and his wife came to St. Clair County, and located on what is still known as the Crosby Farm. Here he successfully carried on the nursery business until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1880. In politics he was a Demoerat until the late war, when he became a liberal Republican. In early life he was a mem-
ber of the Episcopal Church but afterward joined the Baptist Church, as there was no organization of the former denomination in the community where he lived. He was buried in the old Rock Spring Cemetery, he having selected this place be- fore his death. Mr. Crosby was twice married. He first wedded Mrs. Faith Wood, of Appleton, York- shire, England. By her former marriage was born a son, in 1817, William Wood, who came to Amer- ica about 1840, and died in Athens, Ga., in 1866. Ile landed at Alexandria, Va., where he made the cabinet casings for the exhibition of bric-a-brac collected by Commodore Perry on his trip around the world, which cabinet is still in Washington. William Wood removed from Washington to Nash- ville, Tenn., thence to Athens, Ga., and later to Atlanta, Ga. He had a large undertaking business in Atlanta and furniture business in Athens, where he owned an extensive factory. He died leaving a large estate. Ile had a son and daughter, and the latter, Annie, became the wife of William A. Ilemp- hill, the owner of the Atlanta Constitution. She died two years after her marriage in 1856. Mrs. Crosby had by her second marriage two sons: George and Thomas.
Thomas Crosby died in Athens, Ga., in 1858. Ile was born in Pontefract in 1836, and came with his parents to this country in 1844. Ile removed from Nashville, Tenn., to Athens, with his half-brother, William Wood, and carried on a steam planing- mill and furniture factory until his death. At the age of twenty he was married, and his widow, who has been a second time married, is still living in Athens, Ga. The mother of our subject died in Pontefract, England, in 1840, and Mr. Crosby afterward married Mary Ann Hall, of Yorkshire.
We now take up the personal history of our subject, George Crosby, who attended the common schools of his native land until coming to America with his parents. From New York he went to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a florist in the employ of Jacob Iloffner, a wealthy and re- tired merchant. He remained with that gentleman for five years, and then joined his father's family in Nashville. Tenn. lle afterward became con- nected with his half-brother, William Wood, in the furniture business, which he followed until 1854,
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when he came to this county to visit his father, who had previously located in O'Fallon Township. lle determined to make his home in this commun- ity and has since been one of its leading farmers and nurserymen.
In 1861, Mr. Crosby married Auna, daughter of lolın Rader. a farmer and I nd-owner. Ile took charge of the home farm and nursery, which he still occupies and operates. Their union was blessed with four children. Sarah Ann. born in 1862, was mar- ried m 1880 to Edward E. Rebhahn, who is interested in the Crosby Nursery. They have three children: Bertha Stella, eight years of age; George Emil, six years old; and Ella Louisa, a maiden of four sum- mers. Thomas died in January, 1885, at the age of twenty years. William Rader, born in March, 1865, is living on the home farm, and has gained a national reputation as a marksman and expert shot. In 1890, he won the State champion- ship of Colorado, Montana and Idaho, a diamond medal, and in 1887 won the State champion medal of Southern Illinois at East St. Louis and again at Mt. Vernon. George Edward, born July 18, 1870, is attending Mckendree College at Leb- anon, taking the regular course of study, and for two years was a student at Normal, Ill. The mother of this family died on the home farm in 1874, and her remains were interred in Oak Ilill Cemetery. Mr. Crosby was again married, July 13, 1880, this time to Miss Elvira Koehler, who was born September 10, 1843, in O'Fallon Township. They have a daughter, Mary Viola, who was born April 28, 1881.
Since coming to this county, Mr. Crosby has re- sided on the old homestead. Ilis farm comprises one hundred and seventy-nine acres of valuable land, thirty-six of which are used for nursery pur- poses. Ile is well known as a nursery man and is a practical and progressive farmer, whose thrift and enterprise are indicated by the neat appearance of his place. In politics he is a stal wart advocate of Democratic principles, and has served as a delegate to the county and congressional conventions; in 1871, he was a member of the National Convention which convened in Cincinnati, Ohio, and nomin- ated Horace Greeley. Socially, he is a member of Lodge No. 576, A. F. & A. M., of O'Fallon,
and the Chapter of Lebanon, Ill. For many years he has made his home in this community, and is a highly respected citizen whose many friends hold him in warm regard.
0 SCAR F. BRIGHTFIELD, D. D. S., a promi- nent young professional man of Belleville. was born in Pottsville, Pa., May 9, 1857. and is the son of Charles and Carrie ( Walther) Brightfield. Ilis paternal grandfather, whose name was also Charles, was a native of Germany, and with his wife, who was born in England, be- came one of the early settlers in Fayette County, Pa., where Charles, Jr., was born in 1824. An up- right, energetic man, he belonged to that worthy class of pioneers to whom we are so greatly in- debted.
Although employed at various places, Charles Brightfield, Jr., has been a resident of the Key- stone State during his entire life, and has there followed his occupation of a steam and gas fitter. His home at present is at Beaver Falls, Pa., and. although not quite a young man, he retains to a large degree the activity of former years, and is hale and hearty.
The subject of this sketch received the rudiments of his education in the grammar school at Ashland, Pa., and subsequently carried on his literary stud- ies in various places. Leaving school, he learned the trade of a glass-blower at Pittsburgh, and, while following that occupation during the winter monthis, saved his earnings, so that he was able in the summer to study the sciences, especially chem- istry, to which he was partial. For a short time he followed his trade at La Salle, Ill., and also in Milwaukee, Wis., and in 1883 came to Belleville for the purpose of accepting a position at the glass works here. Meanwhile, his leisure hours, which were few however, were industriously devoted to the accumulation of knowledge, and he became a well-informed man, with a broad knowledge of the classies and the sciences.
In September. 1888, our subject went to Chi-
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cago and studied dentistry under Dr. E. J. Perry, Professor in the Northwestern University at Evan- ston, remaining with that gentleman for one year, and afterward entering the Lake Forest University, graduating from the dental department of that in- stitution March 24, 1891. At once after com- pleting his dental studies, he came to Belleville, which he considered his home, and opened an office for the practice of his profession, which he has since followed. Although he has been here but a short time, he is well and favorably known to the citizens, and has built up a large and con- stantly increasing practice.
Dr. Brightfield recently bought an elegant and commodious residence at No. 404 West Main Street, where he and his wife have established a beautiful home. The lady, who on April 7, 1891, became his wife, was Miss Emelia, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Tisch, early settlers of St. Clair County, and widely known throughout this section of country. Mrs. Brightfield was reared in the belief of the German Lutheran Church, to which she has since adhered. They have one child, Oscar F., Jr., who was born June 28, 1892. In his social connections, the Doctor is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, and also holds membership in the Delta Sigma Delta of his college class,
ARTMANN KOCHI. Biographies of suc- cessful, and especially of good, men are most useful as incentives to others, teach- ing noble thinking and energetic 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 cannot, 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 1833, and is the son of Justus and Catherine (Schneider) 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 schools 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. His death oc- curred in the prime of life, when our subject was only two years of age. After his death, a posthum- ons 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 uncle. In 1854, he left the Fatherland, and, crossing the Atlantic, 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 thence 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.
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