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 42
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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 infancy and George and Clara in their youth. The surviving children are Mary, Elizabeth, Amelia and Matheas. In hus relig- ious connections, Mr. Koch is a member of the 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 public-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
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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 ont, 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, Onward through life he goes; Each morning sees some task begun, Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done, Ilas 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 MIL J. FINKE. The original of this notice carries on the largest and best-equipped confectionery establishment in the city. His grandfather, who was a merchant in Germany, was the first of the family to come to America, and here he followed the luerative business of a black- smith in the State of Maine. He finally located in Belleville and there ended his life. Our subjeet's father bore the name of Adolph, and was born in the llartz Mountains, in Germany. Ile was but a young man when he reached America; he went at once to Alton, Ill., and there engaged as a elerk in the Hopkin-Willow drug store. Later, he bought it and conducted it until 1873, when he came to East St. Louis and started a drug store, becoming so successful that he was enabled to build the Finke Block in 1873. Ile was the owner of other property, but in 1881 he sold his store, although be retained the ownership of the block, and re- turned to Alton and resumed his drug business. He owns the block there and conducts a flourish- ing drug business, The mother of our subject
was named Ernestine Bradfish, and was born in Saxony, Germany, and was the daughter of Chris- topher Bradfish, also born in Saxony, who came to America and settled in Alton and went into the shoe business.
Our subjeet is the eldest of a family of seven children, six of whom are living. He was born in Alton, Ill., August 27, 1864, and was reared in Ahon until his ninth year, then remained in this city with his parents until his seventeenth year. lle attended the publie schools here, but when his father returned to Alton, he went with him for two years and then returned to St. Louis. He de- cided to become a confectioner and served an apprenticeship for about three years, after which in 1886, he started in the business for himself. He went to Wichita, Kan., and opened a store for sweets, and for three years made a success of it. also dabbling a little in real-estate. Ile desired a larger field and in 1889 he sold his business there and came to East St. Louis, and began what has been a very successful venture sinee. Ile is located on Collinsville Avenue, where he has his manufactory which is 25x50 feet in dimensions. Hle has every convenience for his business, and keeps all his supplies in the best condition. Ile has parlors for the accommodation of the public for ice cream, and has much patronage on account of the manner in which it is made and served. He is very enterprising, and manages the business him- self. Mr. Finke is a Republican in his politieal opinions, and is regarded as a rising young man.
R ATHER JOHN HARKINS, A. B. and A. M., pastor of St. Mary's Church, at East St. Louis, Ill., is a native of the green isle of Erin, where he first saw the light of day Decem- ber 1, 1862. Ilis father, John Harkins, was a ship contractor in Ireland, but in 1864 came with his family to America and settled in Carlinville, Ma- coupin County, Ill., where he engaged in general contracting, a calling he followed until his death,
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which occurred in 1887, at the age of forty-nine years. His wife was Elizabeth Kelley, a daughter of Patrick Kelley, a farmer who came to Carlin- ville and died at that place at the age of eighty- three years. Mrs. Harkins still resides in that place; she became the mother of seven children, and with the exception of their father's death there has been no break in the family circle.
Father Ilarkins' first recollections are of Carlin- ville, and in the parochial schools of the Catholic Church of that place he obtained his early training. At the age of seventeen years, or in 1879, he entered the University of St. Louis, Mo., which was taught by Jesuit Fathers, where he con- tinned successfully pursuing his studies until 1883, graduating in June of that year from the classical course with the highest honors of his class, for which he received a handsome gold medal. Three years later, he received the degree of A. M. from his alma mater. In the fall of 1883, he entered the Benedictine Monastery of Spencer County, Ind., where he pursued a thorough theological course, completing his studies in June, 1866, and being or- dained Priest. lle celebrated the first mass in Carlinville on the 29th of June, and after one month spent there in rest he was sent to Mound City, Pulaski County, to take charge of St. Mary's Church, which remained under his care for three years. He also had charge of missions at Burnside, Johnson County; Stone Fort, Saline County; and Metropolis, Massac County.
September 13, 1889, he was appointed to St. Mary's Church, East St. Louis, which congrega- tion he organized on the 13th of October, 1889. the first services being held in the old Franklin Building at the corner of Fourth and Converse Streets, with about one hundred families. Im- mediately after taking charge, he began the erec- tion of St. Mary's Church, the corner stone being laid July 1, 1890, by Right Rev. J. Janssen, Bishop of Belleville. It is a handsome briek edifice, and the first services were held in it in January, 1892. It was erected at a cost of $35.000, and is a monu- ment to the religious zeal of the members of that church, as well as to the enterprise and earnestness of Father Harkins. It now has an attendance of two hundred and twenty-five families, and St.
Mary's parochial school, which is under the man- agement of four competent instructors, has an average attendance of about two hundred and twenty.
Father Ilarkins belongs to the Catholic Knights of Illinois, as well as to several other worthy organ- izations, and, not being at all old-fashioned or be- hind the times in his views. he believes in voting and is himself a Democrat. Hle is very agreeable in manners, and by all who have had the pleasure of hearing him preach he is considered an eloquent and interesting speaker.
ERMAN VOLKENING. This gentleman is one of the leading business men of Lenz- burg, where he is engaged in the drug busi- ness, carrying a full line of pure mnedi- cines, together with a variety of fine toilet articles. He has done much toward advancing the prosper- ity of the village by embarking in this enterprise, and by his unceasing application to business has secured a competency, and his unwavering lion- esty and true nobility of character have won him the high regard of his fellow-men.
Like many of the best citizens of St. Clair County, our subject was born across the waters in Prussia, the year of his birth being 1829. He is a son of Lud- wig and Louisa (Tieman) Volkening, also natives of the Fatherland, where the former was engaged in the hotel business and also served as a soldier. Our subject was the third in order of birth in the parental family of five children, and received an excellent education in his native land, completing his studies in one of the best colleges in Prussia.
At the early age of fourteen years, young Vol- kening began to learn the drug business in Ger- many, and in 1854, thinking to better his condi- tion in the I'nited States, emigrated hither and established in the grocery business in the city of New York. He was there successfully engaged for a period of thirteen years, and at the expiration of that time came to Lenzburg and engaged in the general mercantile business in this village before it
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was platted. Later in life, he turned his attention to the drug business, which he has since continued to follow with marked success.
Mr. Volkening finds time in the midst of his personal interest to bear an active part in the po- litical affairs of his neighborhood, and during elec- tions votes a straight Democratic ticket. He is also interested in educational matters and in all movements which tend to the general welfare of the village. Ile is strictly honorable in his deal- ings and is therefore kindly regarded by all with whom he has to do.
While residing in New York City, he of whom we write was married to Miss Ilelena L. Volken- ing, the date thereof being 1855. The lady was a distant relative of our subjeet, and a daughter of Charles and Augusta Volkening, natives of Prus- sia. Their family comprised the following-named four children: Johanna, Fritz, Helena and Henry.
G ERHARD KNEWITZ. Among the early settlers of Dutch Hill Prairie, St. Clair County, Ill., no family has made for itself a better record, and one upon which their descen- dants may justly look with pride, than the Knewitz family. They have always been looked upon in this community as people of correct habits and sound principles and as progressive in their ideas.
Fifty-five years ago, Gerhard Knewitz. then twen- ty-seven years old, left his native land, Germany, to seek that better fortune which he felt assured awaited him in the New World. He had received a good education in the Fatherland, and his robust constitution and fine physical endowments had cost him six years' service as a private in the Ger- man army, which duty he filled with honor to himself and his country, being honorably exempted after his apprenticeship until his country's needs demanded her well-trained soldiers to light earnest battles.
Coming to America in 1838, Gerhard Knewitz. Sr., owned as his worldly possessions twenty-five cents in money and a somewhat scanty supply of
clothes. This limited possession of earthly effects compelled him to begin working by the day or month. The true German thrift, economy, patience and perseverance are well illustrated in his charac- ter, for in almost an incredibly short time we find that by his own industry he had accumulated enough to purchase forty acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre. To say that this honest German pioneer made a success of life would be but fait praise for so sterling a character, whose ambition was to achieve success, and whose pros- peets at the beginning of his career in a strange country seemed so limited.
Soon after the acquisition of the land referred to. Mr. Knewitz, Sr., married, and as the result of his union five children were born to him. Two of his children died young in life; the others were Henry; Gerhard, Jr., of this sketch; and Barbara, who he- came the wife of Joseph Ebner. We find the same habit of accumulating practiced all along the years, and the forty acres of land first purchased by Mr. Knewitz, Sr., have been added to by four hundred acres, until at the time of his death he was recog- nized as the owner of one of the finest farms in his township, as well as the maker of a pleasant home for himself and family. Ile and his wife will always be remembered as honored and re- speeted members of the Lutheran Church. In the year 1855. Mrs. Knewitz passed away, leaving a void in the happy household, and twenty-two years after, in the year 1877, her husband sought the rest of the faithful in the realms of the eternal.
Gerhard Knewitz, of this sketch, was born in 1843 on Dutch Hill Prairie, St. Clair County. His mother dying when he was twelve years old, and he being the second youngest of the family, it would not have been strange had the boyish ten- deney to elude study prohibited him from aequir- ing the knowledge and education which are ever the foundation of success in life. An excellent stu- dent. however, we find him qualifying himself for broader fields by a thorough course in the common schools of his township. After leaving school, he followed the life of a farmer and remained with his father on the old homestead. In 1866, he mar- ried Miss Caroline Hager, a daughter of Peter and Louisa lager, and to them were born five
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children, namely: Frederick, Peter, Rosa, Barbara, and Etta, deceased.
After the death of our subject's first wife, he again married, his second wife being Miss Eizabeth, daughter of Michel and Elizabeth (Oelshich) Nold. This second union was blessed by four children, three of whom are living: Otto, Gerhard, Jr., and Louis. Mr. Knewitz and wife are working members of the Lutheran Church, noted for their charity and kind and unostentatious manner of performing Christian and neighborly deeds. Mr. Knewitz votes the straight Republican ticket, and has officially represented his Township, as well as filling the office of Trustee for two years. He now owns five hundred and fifty acres of as fine land as can be seen in this part of the State.
L EMUEL TODD. The gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch has wit- nessed and materially assisted in the growth and development of St. Clair County, and more especially Prairie du Long Township. Ile belongs to that class of pioneer residents to whom so large a debt of gratitude is due from the present genera- tion, owing, as it does, all its advantages for a more easy life and a higher degree of culture to the noble hearts who endured privation and hard- ship, and opened the way for civilization through the trackless prairie.
The father of Lemnel Todd was Mr. John Todd. a native of Virginia, in which State he spent many of his boyhood days. When quite a young boy he moved to North Carolina, and from there to Tennessee. Ile was first married to Miss Allen, of Tennessee, who bore him fourteen children, the subject of our sketch being the thirteenth child in the family group. A short time after the birth of her fourteenth child, Mrs. Todd died, leaving a mournful houseful of bereaved little ones. Dr. Todd's second wife was a Miss Aurrington, who died after giving birth to one child. After residing in Tennessee for a num-
ber of years, Mr. Todd, Sr., removed to Johnson County, Ill., where he remained for eleven years, leaving that location for Washington County, and removing thence to St. Clair County, III. About the year 1836, he located at New Athens, in which village his sons rented and cultivated a farm, while their father worked as a carpenter. During this period of his career he married Mrs. Sarah Otter, of Belleville, from whom he obtained a divorce, and then married Miss Nixon. In company with his last-mentioned wife he removed to Waterloo, Monroe County, Ill., where he lived until her death, after which event he married Mrs. Ilill. From Waterloo he removed to a farm in New Athens Township, where he remained until the time of his death.
Mr. Lemuel Todd, the subject of this sketch, was born January 3, 1826, in North Carolina. He eame with his father to St. Clair County, when very young. At the age of nine years he was bound out by his father to Archibald Hood, with whom he remained for four years. The life of a bound boy has many sad reminisciences for him, as the treatment received from his employer necessitated his father cancelling the contract and taking the boy home, where he remained until he was seven- teen years old. helping his father on the farm. His next work was that of a farm hand working by the month, after which he went to herding cattle.
At the age of twenty-two, Lemuel Todd married Miss Phoebe Hill, who lived but a short time after their union. She was a daughter of Jonathan Ilill, one of the early settlers of this eounty. Af- ter his marriage, Mr. Todd located on the farm where he now lives. The issue of his first wife was one child. Nancy lane, who died at the age of fourteen years. In 1883, he married his second wife, who was Mrs. Mary Rittenhouse, a daughter of Michael Noldd. She was born in Germany, and came to this country when she was twelve years old, loeating with her parents at Freeling, where she remained until her marriage with Will- iam T. Rittenhouse. She was the mother of two chil- dren, one of whom died when ten months old.
The subject of our sketch now lives on a farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres, all of which is under first-class cultivation, and which he still
Augustus Chenot
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manages and gives his personal supervision. Ile is an authority on all matters pertaining to local history, having watched the growth of this com- munity since 1837. He often entertains his friends with reminiscences of the time when he worked near the site of his present home for the munifi- cent sum of $3 per month, and is amused at the expressions of wonder that flit over the faces of some of his young audiences, who breathlessly in- quire how he lived on it. Few men have the ability to recount the leading ineidents of their life's history with the truth of detail which Mr. Todd's hearers are ever able to discern in his stories of the long ago. He is recognized as a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and is ever ready to place himself at the service of the good cause. He has filled the office of Town Supervisor for six years, and was afterward elected to the office of School Director, in which capacity he served for a term of three years. Few men in their declining years can look back over the vista of years and view a better record than the one en- joyed by our subjeet, who now, in the autumn of his life, is calmly enjoying the fruits of his arduous labors, surrounded by the esteem of his fellow- men and the sincere affection of those who express their gratitude to him as a friend and counselor.
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UGUSTUS CHENOT. The propriety of fire insurance is recognized by all prudent men, but the greatest objection that is generally made to old-line companies of recognized solidity is that the insurance as fur- nished by them is a dear investment, the premium charges being ont of all just proportion to the amount necessary to pay losses and expenses; and an insurance contract combining safety with econ- omy is something that has been much desired by the majority of the insuring public. To fill this want the Belleville St. Clair County Farmers' Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in 1883 and has since enjoyed a steady increase in business. The company has earned the favor of
the business community and the confidence of the public at large by uniform fidelity in the execu- tion of all its contracts, and is now an active factor in the insurance business of the county. The affairs of the company are in the hands of gentle- men of prominent and substantial business stand- ing, Augustus C'henot, the President, being a gentle- man of superior executive ability and a popular and progressive citizen. The company is noted for the promptness and fairness with which it ad- justs and pays losses, and is an excellent medinm for the procuring of safe and reliable insurance. The main office is at Belleville.
Augustus Chenot is a native of France, born in Lorraine October 1, 1828, and is a son of Jolin .J. and Barbara ( Fistner) Chenot, both natives of that country. John J. Chenot was an old soldier and held the rank of Captain under Napoleon. Hle brought his family to the United States in 1830, landing in New York, and after residing in differ- ent States until 1842, made a permanent settlement in St. Clair County, Ill., six miles north of Belle- ville, where he was engaged in keeping a country store. He was always honorable and upright in his dealings, was highly esteemed in the commu- nity, and was a man of true worth. His death oc- eurred in 1863. The mother had passed away in 1849. Their children, seven in number beside our subject, are as follows: our subject; Charles, of St. Louis; Francis, also of St. Louis; Elizabetli (de- ceased); Henry; Joseph, in Texas; Mrs. John De Veaux; and Mrs. Bishop, of Collinsville, III.
The original of this notice received a college ed- ncation in St. Louis and was afterward busily en- gaged in the store with his father until his marriage April 14. 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Boul, a sister of Hon. Nicholas Boul, present Representative in the Legislature. The following children were born to them: Augusta, wife of lohn Rink, of Belleville; Albert, William, John, Edward, Benjamin, and Emma. Mrs. Chenot died on the 30th of August, 1886. After his marriage Mr. Chenot decided that farming was the occupation to which he wished to devote his time and attention, and he has fol- lowed that ever since, but in connection therewith has engaged in other enterprises. Ile is one of the most substantial and prominent farmers of this
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country, owning one hundred and forty aeres in the home place, one hundred and ninety in another part of the county, a good farm in Madison County, and considerable city property. In superintending his farm and in attending to the insurance busi- ness our subject has his time fully occupied, but he finds time to discharge his duties as a citizen and public-spirited man. He has been School Di- rector for twenty-four years and was County Com- missioner for two years, in 1874 and 1875. 1Ie be- came a member of the insurance company in 1876 and has been a Director and officer since. He has a residence two miles east of Belleville and is one of the representative men of the county. He is a member of the St. Peter's Catholic Cathedral, in which he has served as Trustee and has been Trea- surer for seven years. He has been connected with the St. Clair County Fair Association for the past twenty years and is now its Vice-president.
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ENRY C. FUNK. Among the enterprising young farmers of Freeburg Township, St. Clair County, is the one who resides on section 11, and it is to his history that the attention of the reader is called.
Mr. Funk is the son of Henry Funk, who was one of the early settlers of this very beautiful county. A traveler through this section of coun- try, as his eyes rest upon the fields of waving grain and nodding corn. does not realize the years of patient effort that were necessary to bring these same fields to their present state of perfection, nor does one to whom farming is a mystery begin to realize the hard labor required to keep this degree of cultivation up. Truly, in this world, " there are no gains without pains." Through all of the hard work attendant upon the breaking of a new country, went the father of our subjeet, and his son endeavors to maintain the same state of excellence on the farm which he is operating for his widowed mother.
Our subject was born on the place where he now resides, December 5, 1856, He received his
early education in the district schools, completing a course at the Central Wesleyan College, at War- rington, Mo. He was married in 1887, to Miss .Julia Stapf, by whom he has two children : Emmett Robert, aged four years; and Alice, aged one year.
Mr. Funk is operating a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres of land, owned by his mother, on which he grows grain, chiefly depending upon wheat for his erop. He is an enterprising young farmer, and understands the work in which he has been engaged all his life. He is a member of the Mascontah Witchland Society. Politically, he is a Democrat, and upholds the principles of that party on every occasion.
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AMES A. WYLIE. An honorable position among the agriculturists of Marissa Town- ship is held by the gentleman above named, who is the fortunate possessor of one hun- died and eighty acres of fine land on section 33. The well-tilled farm is devoted to raising mixed crops and the ordinary amount of stock, both grain and animals being of good quality. A homelike dwelling and various outbuildings indicate to the passer-by that the land is occupied by a family of enterprise and good judgment.
Our subject is the son of Alexander and Nancy (Wilson) Wylie and was born in Randolph County, this State, in 1854, within a few miles of his present home. His father, who was born in Scotland, came to the United States with his parents when quite young, and spent the greater part of his life in Randolph County. James of this sketch was reared on the home farm and received such an education as the common schools of his day af- forded. To that foundation he has added by read- ing and observation, his effort being to keep himself well informed regarding current events and the topics of general interest. When starting out for himself, he rented land and began tilling the soil, gradually accumulating the means with which to purchase his present fine estate,
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