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 45
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The mother of our subject was Christina Karls- kind, daughter of Sebastian Karlskind. a farmer of this county. Michael Miller had six children and all are living, as follows: Magdalena, wife of N. J. Biebel, who lives in this county; Peter, who also lives in this county; Joseph E. and D. F., who live here; Mary, Mrs. Eckert; and W. J. The father, a wealthy man, was a great reader and took an interest in all educational matters.
Our subject was born October 30, 1850, at the old
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homestead, was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools, supplemented with a course of instruction at the school of the
Died,
At the family residence, three miles Southeast of East St. Louis, on the Centreville Road on Sunday, June 11th. 1893, at 5 o'clock P. M.,
ROSALIE PFEIFFER,
Mother of Anthony and Alexander F. Pfeiffer. aged 63 years, 5 months and 6 days.
Funeral will take place from the family residence. on Wednesday, June 14th, at 8:30 o'clock .I. M., to French Village Cemetery.
Friends of the family invited to attend.
an orphan at the age of eight years, but was reared to a farm life in his native land; npon attain- ing a suitable age, he entered the French army and
saw seven years of cavalry service. After receiv- ing his discharge, he began working at the shoe- maker's trade, and in 1847, while still unmarried, nme to St. Clair County, Ill., and located in ner, where he worked at his trade and also bed. In 1852, he was married. and located at treville Station, purchasing a farm of eighty four miles from the Mississippi River, which Quecessfully tilled until his death in 1875, at nge of sixty-four years. He was well educated spoke with equal flueney French, German and lish. The maiden name of his wife was Ehza- Pfifer; she was born in Alsace, France, her nts having been born in Lorraine. IIer father a farmer in his native land, but after coming America in 1836 was a resident of Birkner, Il., re he was called from life. Mrs. Isch died in 4, at the age of forty years, having become the her of nine children, seven of whom grew to urity and six are now living: Kate ( Mrs. Yoch) des in California; Joseph is a merehant of allon ; Rose also resides there; Alex resides in Louis; Niek is a grocer of ('Fallon; Lizzie, de- ed, and Anthony.
'he last-mentioned son was first an attendant the public schools of Centreville Station, and :873 entered Bryant & Stratton's Business Col- p. from which he was graduated. When his her died, he was the eldest child at home and on his shoulders he took the burden of educat- the younger members of the family. He de- ed the farm of eighty acres to the raising of etables and made daily trips to St. Louis to sell produce. Through his efforts, the family was It together, but, when just about to graduate his Per Lizzie was burned in the Belleville Convent , which was a sad blow to the entire family. two younger brothers were graduated from the ne Institute. In 1885. one of his brothers took burden of the farm from his shoulders and s freed, he came to the city as Assistant Cashier the Workingmen's Banking Company, but in ember of the same year he was made Cashier. suis establishment was organized in 1870 with a capital of $50,000, which has since been increased to $150,000. He is one of the largest stockholders and also a Director, He is a stockholder in the
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and operated until 1866, when he came to St. Louis. Ilere he lived retired until his death in 1873. Ile was a quiet, easy-going man, and a Democrat in politics, often serving in township offices. was a member of the Presbyterian Church. mother of our subject was Amanda Frezelle. was born in North Carolina, and died at her 1 in 1865. She was the mother of twelve child and all grew to maturity and ten are now liv Three brothers of our subjeet, John, Newman George, were in the Civil War in the Confede army.
The original of this sketch was reared on farm until he was seventeen years of age and given the rudiments of knowledge in the littk schoolhouse of the district. His birth took 1 at Farmington, Mo., December 14. 1849, he ing the third youngest. He was reared on farm until he was tired of its duties, and as t was no school during the war, he learned littl books in those disastrous years. In 1866, he can St. Louis and obtained employment with the cago & Alton Railroad Transfer Company in St. Louis, and remained there until the spring 1871, when he began with the Wiggins F Company as a deck hand on the "Ed C. Wigg for Capt. Pernoe, and then for Capt. Trendle! the same boat. He worked his way until he came pilot on the old "Simon C. Christy." and five or six years he remained as pilot, but in 1 he became Captain of the old "Springfield" and it for four years. He then became Captain on tug "Samuel C. ('lubb," and for three years he that noisy little boat and had charge of var other boats until in 1890 he was made Assis Superintendent under Capt. Il. Sackmann and important post, requiring a man of energy and perience, he has held ever since.
Our subject was married in East St. Louis 1873, to Charlotte Miller, a native of Buf N. Y. They have five children living: Har Floyd. Lotta, Pearl and Freddie. The Captai a member of the Knights of Honor and the l'nif Rank of the Knights of Honor, and in politics is a Democrat, but lives too busy a life to care for office. lle has clung to the faith of his ancestors and attends the Presbyterian Church.
Capt. McFarland, like all the other captains in the employ of the Wiggins Ferry Campany, is a whole- souled man and is also a thorough business man.
uve nere; Mary. Mrs. mekert; and w. J. the father, a wealthy man, was a great reader and took an interest in all educational matters.
Our subject was born October 30, 1850, at the old
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homestead, was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools, supplemented with a course of instruction at the school of the Christian Brothers in St. Louis. In November, 1876, he married Miss Jenny Terrell, daughter of Isaac Terrell, a farmer of this county, and an old settler from Kentucky, who came here with his parents in the year 1829. Our subject has had three children: C'ora, Wilner T. and Don K., all at home. Ile has a fine farm of two hundred acres under cultiva- tion, and also a mine of wealth in his Percheron and French Coach horses, his Short-horn cattle and Berkshire hogs. All of these are registered, and first premiums have been taken at St. Louis at different times upon various animals of his breed- ing, besides many other premiums at various other fairs. Mr. Miller is preparing for a sale of blooded stock to take place soon.
Our subject is one of those progressive farmers who have left the old methods behind and adopted such improvements in farming, drain- age and stock-raising as will make St. Clair County the garden of the State. if his example is generally followed. He is a valued member of the Grange, holding the office of Treasurer, and be- longs to the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Miller and estimable wife have a high standing in the neighborhood, and the suc- cess which has crowned the efforts of our subject has earned for him the good opinion of all.
NTHONY ISCH, Cashier of the Working- men's Banking Company, has beld his po- sition since December, 1885, and has proved himself the right man in the right place. He was born at C'entreville Station, III., February 24, 1856, his father, J. N. Isch, being a native of Alsace. France. His grandfather was a soldier in Napoleon Bonaparte's army and made the march to Moscow, Russia. J. N. Isch was left an orphan at the age of eight years, but was reared to a farm life in his native land; upon attain- ing a suitable age, he entered the French army and
saw seven years of cavalry service. After receiv- ing his discharge, he began working at the shoe- maker's trade, and in 1847, while still unmarried, he came to St. Clair County. Ill., and located in Birkner, where he worked at his trade and also farmed. In 1852, he was married, and located at Centreville Station, purchasing a farm of eighty acres four miles from the Mississippi River, which he successfully tilled until his death in 1875, at the age of sixty-four years. He was well educated and spoke with equal fluency French, German and English. The maiden name of his wife was Ehza- beth Pfifer; she was born in Alsace, France, her parents having been born in Lorraine. Her father was a farmer in his native land, but after coming to America in 1836 was a resident of Birkner, Ill., where he was called from life. Mrs. Isch died in 1874, at the age of forty years, having become the mother of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity and six are now living: Kate ( Mrs. Yoch) resides in California; Joseph is a merchant of ()'Fallon; Rose also resides there; Alex resides in St. Louis; Nick is a grocer of O'Fallon; Lizzie, de- ceased, and Anthony.
The last-mentioned son was first an attendant of the public schools of Centreville Station, and in 1873 entered Bryant & Stratton's Business Col- lege, from which he was graduated. When his father died. he was the eldest child at home and upon his shoulders he took the burden of educat- ing the younger members of the family. He de- voted the farm of eighty acres to the raising of vegetables and made daily trips to St. Louis to sell his produce. Through his efforts, the family was kept together, but, when just about to graduate his sister Lizzie was burned in the Belleville Convent fire, which was a sad blow to the entire family. Ilis two younger brothers were graduated from the Home Institute. In 1885, one of his brothers took the burden of the farm from his shoulders and thus freed, he came to the city as Assistant Cashier in the Workingmen's Banking Company, but in December of the same year he was made Cashier. This establishment was organized in 1870 with a capital of $50,000, which has since been increased to $150,000. Ile is one of the largest stockholders and also a Director. He is a stockholder in the
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First Mutual Loan Association, the Etna Building & Loan Association and the Missouri Guarantee Building & Loan Association.
Our subject was married in St. Mary's, Mo., De- vember 29, 1890, to Miss Mary Kreilich, who was born in Belleville, IHl., a daughter of Frank Krei- lich, of Lorraine, France. Mr. Iseh is a wide-awake, whole-souled young business man, is shrewd and practical, and gives every promise of becoming wealthy. Ile is, politically, a Republican and is a strong worker in the ranks of his party. While at Centreville Station, he served in the capacity of Township Clerk one year. lle belongs to St. Pat- rick's Catholic Church.
D. VAN BLARCOM is a gentleman of thorough experience in real estate, both as a means of speculation and permanent in- vestment. For soundness of judgment and keen appreciation of high-grade real-estate values, he has not his superior in the county; and, being prompt, energetic and thoroughly reliable in all his deal- ings, and honorable in carrying out his undertak- ings, he has secured the confidence and favor of the public, and numbers among his most regular clients leading citizens in all walks of life. He was born in Paterson, N. J., November 28, 1845, to the Hon. J. V. R. Van Blarcom, also a native of Pat- erson, through whom he traees his ancestry back thirteen generations to the first settlers of IIobo- ken, N. J., who came from llolland in 1640, The paternal grandfather, Brant Van Blareom, was born in New Jersey and was a land-owner and agricul- turist of that State. The father of the subject of this sketch was a merchant, but later became known throughout the State as a leading politician, and for some time was a member of the Legisla- ture of New Jersey, elected on the Democratic ticket. lle died in 1857, when just in the meridian of his political career, at the age of thirty-nine years. His wife was Euphemia Dixon, who was born in Paterson, N. J., a daughter of William Dixon, whose grandfather was a member of a
wealthy family of Steelville, England. The mother died in 1850, and three of her six children survive her: Gertrude, wife of J. D. Mereelis; J. C., Cashier of the National Bank of Commerce, of St. Louis; and W. D., the subject of this sketch,
W. D. Van Blarcom was reared in Paterson and was educated in the common and High Schools and in time became a good classical scholar. In April, 1861. he enlisted in the State militia of New Jer- sey and went to Trenton to enter the serviee, but an unele, who was Quartermaster at that point, informed the authorities of his age, and his services were refused. In 1863, he entered St. George's College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., but one year later left that institution to enter Rutger's College at New Brunswick, N. J. In the fall of 1865, he turned his footsteps Westward, and in October of that year reached St. Louis, where he became a salesman for Ford, Dixon & Co., saddlery and hardware merchants, and remained in their employ until 1868, when he engaged in the insurance business. He was sent to Louisville, Ky., to open a branch department for the St. Louis Local Life Insurance Company, and at the end of six months went to St. Joseph and Kansas City, opening branch houses in both these places. At the end of one year, he returned to St. Louis and retired from the life insurance business to engage in the fire insurance and brokerage business, and was made a Director in the Excelsior Fire In- surance Company of St. Louis, which continued until 1872, when it was wiped out of existence by the Chicago fire. Mr. Van Blarcom then became manager for several Eastern insurance companies, and had the largest agency of anyone in St. Louis, Ile was a Director in the Commercial Insurance Company of St. Louis, and did a very extensive business.
In 1875, our subject was taken ill with typhoid fever, but upon his recovery he again became man- ager for some Eastern companies, continuing until about 1885, when he went to Durango, Mexico, at the solicitation of a mining company in St. Louis, and remained there as Superintendent and Busi- ness Manager for three years. While there, he learned to speak the Spanish language and acquired some interest in mining stock. which he worked
John Seibert
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for some time and then sold out. Ile returned North in 1889, and, after some thought, decided to locate in East St. Louis, for he believed that the town had a brilliant future before it, and has been a resident of the place since January, 1890. Ile first opened a real-estate office on Broadway, but in 1891 located at the corner of Broadway and Collinsville Avenue. Ile makes a specialty of high- grade business and investment property and has made more sales than any other real-estate agent in the city. He sold at one time seven hundred acres of land near the stock-yards, which was the largest single acreage sale made in the county, and which required the most comprehensive judgment and finest financial ability. His sagacity, skill and in variable success have made his name a mascot to any real-estate enterprise.
Mr. Van Blarcom was married in Troy, N. Y., in 1869, to Miss Fannie Conant, a native of that city and a daughter of A. J. Conant, the celebrated artist, who is now a resident of New York City, and is considered one of the best, if not the foremost, male artists in the U'nited States. He was a resi- dent of St. Louis for about a quarter of a century. Mrs. Van Blarcom was reared in St. Louis and is finely educated. She has borne her husband six children : W. D., Jr .; Howell, Blanche, Carrie, Dixon and Conant. Mr. Van Blarcom is a Knight Templar, A. F. & A. M; belongs to the order of Elks, and, politically, is a Republican of the most pronounced type.
OHN SEIBERT, one of the most extensive land-owners of St. Clair County and a highly respected citizen, residing on section 34. Shiloh Valley Township, claims Germany as the land of his nativity. He was born March 27. 1819, and is a son of John and Catherine Sei- bert, both of whom were natives of Olmstadt, Germany. The father was reared in the city, but was a farmer by occupation, When a young man, He was married, and by the union were born three
sons: Balth, George A. and John. The father died when our subject was only about six years of age. In religious belief, he was a Lutheran. His widow afterward came to this country, crossing the Atlantic in 1832, and at onee located in St. Clair County, IN., where she spent the remainder of her life, dying in 1852.
The subject of this sketch received but meagre educational privileges. He attended the common schools of his native land until thirteen years of age, and then, bidding good-bye to the old home and friends, he came with his mother to America. Ile began life for himself by purchasing two hun- dred and eighty-eight acres of Government land, a wild and unimproved tract, upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. Of his success he may be truly proud. for it is evidence of an industrions and enterprising life. characterized by perseverance and good management. As his finan- cial resources have increased, he has extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises one thousand acres of valuable land.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey. Mr. Seibert chose Miss Dorothea, daughter of Wen- dle and Anna Knobeloch. Her father was a pio- neer of Shiloh Valley, and one of the wealthy and public-spirited citizens of the township. Ten children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Seibert, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: Mary, wife of Henry Fries; George, Charles; Augusta, wife of Henry Gauch; Bertha, wife of George Ruester; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Hebler, and Otto. The mother of this family was called to her final rest on the 28th of September, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Seibert had traveled life's journey to- gether for forty-five years as man and wife, shar- ing with each other the joys and sorrows, adversi- ties and prosperities of life. She was a faithful companion and helpmate to him, a devoted wife, a loving mother and a cherished friend, whose loss was deeply regretted throughout the entire com- munity.
In political sentiment, Mr. Seibert is a Democrat. lle is also a self-made man, whose possessions stand as a monument to his own labor. Overcoming the obstacles in his path, he has steadily mounted the ladder of success and has not only made a good
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home for himself but has also given his children good homes. He is a man of sterling worth and integrity and has the respect and confidence of all who know him.
RANCIS MAULE, Vice-president and See- ; retary of the Manle and the National Coal Companies, is a young man of great natural ability and indefatigable perseverance, whose posi- tion is among the foremost business men of St. Clair County. Possessing the keen insight into affairs which has contributed to the attainment of his present success, his prospects for the future are golden, and he will undoubtedly become the possessor of wealth in the honorable discharge of his business obligations. Among the citizens of Belleville, where he has spent the greater part of his life, he is well and favorably known as a worthy representative of an honored family.
Elsewhere in this volume will be found a sketch of the father of our subjeet, John Maule, as well as a full deseription of the Maule Mine, which was sunk in 1886 and is one of the largest in the county. About one-fourth of a mile west of the Maule is the National Mine, which is located on the line of the Belleville & Carondelet Railroad and contains complete equipments for shaft min- ing. The yards and offices of the Maule Company are located at No. 17 Clark Avenue, St. Louis, aud there is a branch office at East St. Louis. The financial position of the company is assured, and in business circles they have attained prominence and great influence.
The parents of our subject were John and Mar- garet ( Archibald) Maule, natives of Scotland. The mother died in August. 1870, leaving three children beside our subject: Maggie, Mrs. John Doan; Jean- nette, who is the wife of Fairly Neilson; and Rol- ert, who is Superintendent of the Maule Coal Company. Francis, of this sketch, was born at Caseyville, 111., February 28, 1865, and passed his childhood days in mingled play and study. His education was completed at the High School of
Belleville and included the study of the branches usually taught in those institutions of learning. Ilis culture has, however, been principally self- acquired and proves him to be a man of large re- sources.
In connection with his father, our subject learned the practical part of mining, and also was employed for some time as locomotive engineer, remaining in that position until the incorporation of the Manle Coal Company in 1888, two years after the mine was opened. From the time of its inception, he has been identified with the company, and to his energy no little degree of its success is to be attributed. The local affairs of the city of Belleville and all enterprises of a publie nature are sure of his deepest interest and unswerving devo- tion, and, although by no means a partisan, he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.
On the corner of Race and Franklin Streets an elegant two-story brick house is being built, which when completed is to be the home of Mr. Maule and his family. His wife, to whom he was married in September, 1883, was known in maidenhood as Elizabeth Taylor and is an accomplished and cul- tured lady, whose position in social circles is one of prominence. She is the daughter of Jonas and lane (Taylor) Taylor, natives of England, who have for many years resided in Belleville. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maule, who are Sarah, Elizabeth, Beatrice and John T.
REDERICK KOEBERLIN, M. D. The sub- ject of the following sketch, the oldest phy- sician of the town of Freeburg, was born in the village of Griesbach, in the province of Bavaria, Germany, in 1831, and there he remained until the year 1851. His descent was through a line of ministers on both sides of his family, his father being Rev. Christopher Koeberlin. The latter was a good, pious man, who long labored as a minister in the Lutheran Church. Our subject obtained his education at Augsburg, and came
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to this country in the year 1854, having received his medical education in the best schools of Ger- many.
After reaching America, his first location was Laneaster, Ohio, where he remained a few months and then went to Carrollton, Ill., forming a partnership with an American physician. Our subject soon decided to find a larger field, so went to St. Louis, and as a preparation for future en- larged usefulness, entered the medical college there in order to familiarize himself with the American terms used in practice. Remaining there until his object had been attained, he then located in the town of Freeburg. This village then bore the name of Urbany. Ever since that time, 1857, Dr. Koeberlin has been a successful practitioner in this place, relieving pain, curing disease and soothing dying beds with skill, devo- tion and kindness. In the year 1860, our sub- ject was married to Miss Rosa Ochs, daughter of Rudolph Ochs, one of the early settlers in the county, having come here in 1833 from his birth- place of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in Germany. Ilis wife died at an advanced age.
Our subject became the father of ten children, but only three have been spared him, and they are: Millie, Erwin and Fred. Erwin is a druggist in St. Louis. Dr. Koeberlin is a member of the St. Clair County Medical Society, and has held the office of President in it; he is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has held all of the offices of the lodge, having been Worshipful Master of the Freeburg lodge for over ten years, also a charter member, and has always taken an active interest in the work of the fra- ternity.
Politieally, our subjeet is a believer in the doc- trines of the Republican party; was a member of the Board of Trustees of the city for a number of years, and for a quarter of a century has held the office of Trustee of Schools. Dr. Koeberlin has a very large practice and probably knows more of the inside life of the county of St. Clair, than any other man in it. Hle is beloved and respected, and his judgment is relied upon when less experienced physicians quail before some terrible scourge of disease, as they feel their helplessness to cope with
it. The sueeess of the Doctor lies in his large sympathy, as well as in his superior skill and knowledge. His presence inspires confidence, and faith is a potent factor in physie as in religion. Patients of his realize that he makes a careful study of each particular case, and that his best efforts will be put forth in their behalf. Dr. Koeberlin keeps abreast with the times in his pro- fession, availing himself of all possible sources of information in his beloved profession.
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