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 47
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ARRY FRANCIS PARRY. The business in live stock of all kinds engages the atten- tion of a number of prosperous firms, and the number of animals received at and shipped from East St. Louis, Ill., makes up a prom- inent item and one which adds materially to the ag- gregate of the city's trade. One of the most exten- sive and prosperous firms of the West is the Camp- bell Commission Company, of which Mr. Parry is the efficient manager. The company was incorpor- ated with a paid-up capital stock of $125,000 and does business with the Union Stock Yards of Chi- cago, Ill .; the National Stock Yards of East St. Louis, Ill .; the Kansas City Stock Yards, of Kansas City, Mo .: the Union Stock Yards, of South Omaha, Neb .; and the I'nion Stock Yards, of Sioux City, Iowa. The gentlemen composing this firm meet with suc- cess that is warranted by the fact that they possess the requisite qualifications for conducting the busi- ness, their knowledge of live stock and their ac- quaintance with stock men being extensive. By fairness in their dealings with the trade, they have built their business to its present gratifying pro- portions and have demonstrated what can be ac- complished by enterprise supplemented by experi- ence.
Mr. Parry was born at Chester Springs, Chester County, Pa., January 4, 1853, to Captain Joseph
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Parry, who was also born in that country, in 1828, at which place the grandfather was also born. The great-grandfather came to this country from Wales, in company with several brothers and was a partici- pant in the Revolutionary War, after which he set- tled in Pennsylvania where he spent the remainder of his days. The grandfather was a farmer, and on his place m Pennsylvama relies of the Revolution- ary War could be found for many years after. His land was situated near Paola Monument, which was erected in remembrance of the bloody Paola mas- sacre, and was the scene of several battles. lle reached the age of eighty-six years and until almost the last of his life he was noted for his great strength. He was a Quaker and possessed the gentle manners and peaceful disposition for which that religious sect has always been noted.
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Capt. Joseph Parry was a miller by occupation, and after his marriage to Miss Emma Rogers in Chester County, Pa., in 1854, he removed to Del- aware and located at Smyrna, where he engaged in milling and farming. in partnership with David .J. Murphy, which business he successfully continued for four years. While on business in Philadelphia, Pa., he died in 1872, at the age of forty-four years, and his death coming so unexpectedly was a great shock to his family. lle obtained his title of Cap- tain while a member of Company E, Fifth Delaware Infantry, being commissioned by President Lincoln through Secretary Stanton. In October, 1862, he was honorably discharged and returned home, He was a Democrat politically and was a pillar in the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the time of his death he weighed about two hundred and fifty pounds. His wife's people were Friends, or Quakers, and were of English descent. She died in Dela- ware in 1861, having become the mother of four children, two of whom grew to maturity: John L., a stock dealer of Kansas City, Mo .; and Ilarry Francis, the subject of this sketch.
This wide-awake business man was reared in Smyrna, Del., and received a careful industrial training on his father's farm, and a practical and thorough education in the common and Iligh Schools of Smyrna, and in Wilmington College, of Wilmington. Del. Upon the death of his father he began working for a brother in the milling busi-
ness, with whom he remained until he was twenty years of age. In 1873 business considerations in- duced him to remove to St. Louis, Mo., but after some time devoted to the milling business in that city, he decided that the work was too arduous, and formed the resolution to learn telegraphy. The stoek yards of East St. Louis were just about com- pleted at that time, and as he had early in lite de- veloped a genius for the successful conduct of business affairs, he was placed in charge of the office at this place, of which he was the successful manager until 1885, when he resigned. With an excellent recommendation from his former employ- ers, he took charge of the office books of J. H. Camp- bell & Co., and when the firm was incorporated he became one of its stockholders and manager at the National Stock Yards of East St. Louis, having en- tire charge of the business at that point. The estab- lishment with which he is connected is one of the largest commission houses in the United States and is well and most favorably known to stockmen throughout the country.
Our subject is a stockholder in the First Mutual Building & Loan Association, and the Second Mu- tual Building & Loan Association; he belongs to the St. Louis Live Stock Exchange, of which he is Vice- president, is aetive in upholding the present gov- ernment of the city, and was one of the three com- missioners appointed by Judge Hay to assess all property owners who were benefited by the erec- tion of the East St. Louis Viaduct. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the East St. Louis Public Library and Reading Room, and is now Secretary and one of the Board of Di- rectors. A Democrat in politics, he is no aspirant for office, much preferring the duties of civil life to the turmoil of politics. Socially, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which honored order he was for two years Wor- shipful Master, and also belongs to the Order of Owls. Coming as he does from good old Quaker stoek, he inherited all the physical and intellectual vigor of his ancestry, along with the prudence and good judgment which have always distin- guished that sect, and has always been quick to perceive and grasp at an opportunity for profitable investment. His code of morals is of the Quaker
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type, impeiling him always to a just consideration of the rights of all with whom he is brought into contact, and to a conscientious observance of all the proprieties of life. Thus he has won many friend- ships, which grow stronger with more intimate ac- quaintance.
Mr. Parry is erecting for himself a beautiful resi- dence at No. 634 Ninth Street, and also owns other valuable property in the city. He was married in Delaware in January, 1875, to Miss Mattie Stock- well, a native of the State of New York, a daughter of Louis Stockwell, of the old Commodore Stock- well family. She died in 1876, leaving one child, Harry, who is attending Dover Academy in Dela- ware. llis second marriage took place in St. Louis in 1881, Miss Jennie Richards, a native of Belle- ville, Ill., and a daughter of August Richards, be- coming his wife. Mr. Parry is an ideal man of business, active, energetic, honorable and cordial, and to the commercial and social circles of East St. Louis he is considered a decided acquisition.
J. DANIEL. The Blue Grass State has given to Illinois many estimable citizens, but she has contributed none more worthy of notice or more highly esteemed than the sub- ject of this sketch, who is one of the prominent stockmen of the State, being a member of the Evans-Snider-Buel Co., large commercial men with a capital stock of $200,000. Ile was born in Winchester, Clark County, on the 24th of July. 1848, to the union of Willis and Sarah G. (Jack- son) Daniel, who were natives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather was a Virginian by birth, but an early settler of Kentucky, and was related to the celebrated Daniel Boone. The maternal grand- father was also an early settler of Kentucky. The father of our subject was reared in his native State, and after marriage followed farming near Win- chester until his death in 1852. Afterward, the mother married Dr. S. N. Yates and removed to Sturgeon, Mo., where ber death occurred. She was a member of the Christian Church. To the first
union were born seven children, four of whom are now living, and three children were the fruits of the second marriage, two now living.
T. J. Daniel, who was next to the youngest in order of birth of the children born to the first union, was reared in Kentucky until eight years of age, when he came with his mother by boat to St. Louis, in 1856. They went by team from there to Sturgeon, and our subject attended the public schools there. Later. che entered the college at Mexico, Mo., and remained there two years. From early boyhood. he had shown a marked hking for stock farming, and in 1870, when twenty-two years of age, he started out for himself. Ile came to St. Louis and entered the Ashbrook yards, where he was engaged in driving stock with a pony for a year. Afterward, he was employed by the Irons Casting Company, was with them for six years and the last year he was foreman in the cattle yards.
In 1877 he came to the National Stock Yards, was in the employ of the company for three years, but has been familiar with the stock yards since 1874. In 1880 he became a partner with Little, Jarvis & Co., acting as cattle stockman, and con- tinued with them about four years, and then en- tered the employ of Hunter. Evans & Co., as cattle salesman. In 1889, the Evans-Snider-Buel Co., was incorporated and he became a stockholder and was cattle salesman. This company is doing a flourishing and extensive business and has offices in Chicago, Kansas City and here, our subject super- intending all the sales. Mr. Daniel is the owner of considerable real estate in the city and is a member of the First Mutual Building and Loan Association. Hle resides at No. 533 North Eighth Street.
The marriage of our subject to Miss Mary M. Yates occurred in St. Louis in 1877, and three children have been given them: James H., deceased; Thomas Jefferson, Jr., and Flato Willis, Mrs. Dan- iel, who was born in Missouri, was reared in St. Louis. In April, 1890, Mr. Daniel was elected a member of the School Board and holds that position at the present time. In April of the following year, he was elected Alderman from the Sixth Ward. Ile is at present Chairman of the Water Committee and has held many positions of trust in the city.
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In politics, he is a Democrat, has ever been an active worker for his party, and has been a dele- gate to county and State conventions. Socially, he is a member of the Masonie fraternity. He is interested in all religious enterprises, is Deaeon in the Christian Church and assisted in building the church.
E DWARD J. SCOTT. The agreeable and popular Clerk of the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, at Belleville, was born in this county November 14, 1834, and was the son of Felix Scott, one of the old settlers. His grand- father, Joseph; of Scotch-Irish deseent, was a very old pioneer, who took up land when the present State was yet a Territory, having come from Vir- ginia. The father of our subject was born in the same place, but obtained his education in this county and here grew to maturity.
The grandfather of our subject had a powder mill on his place and provided the powder used in the Black Hawk War. The old gentleman spent his last days with his son in this city, and died in 1871 or 1872. Felix Scott, the father of our sub- ject, married Miss Nicy Moore, daughter of Gen. James Moore, of Monroe County, who figured prominently in the Black Hawk War. The Seott family lived on the old homestead until Felix came to Belleville, about 1878, and remained here until the time of his death, about six years later, at the age of seventy-seven years. The family consisted of two sons, our subject and James M., now of Huntsville, Mo., who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Our subject enjoyed the advantage of an edu- cation at Shurtleff College, in Upper Alton, and at McKendree College. His career began on a river steamboat, where he remained for two and one-half years, and then worked at farming until the peal of the war bells rang out. Then he enlisted, in August, 1862, in Company I, One Ilundred and Seven- teenth Illinois Infantry, and was sent to Memphis, thence down through the States where the war was raging. Mr. Scott was at Meridian, Miss .; Ox-
ford, in the same State; through the campaigns in Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri; thence back to Ten- nessee; then to Mobile, Ala .; and finally reached .home in 1865. Entering the struggle a private, for meritorious conduct he was promoted to be Orderly-Sergeant.
After his return, Mr. Seott engaged in farming for a year, and then went to Duquoin, Ill., to carry on a business in hay, when, one year having passed, he was appointed a eleik in the Census Department in Washington City, becoming later a clerk in the Land Office. Our subjeet then re- returned to the farm for two years, after which he was elected to the position he now holds. The old home farm, which his grandfather obtained from the Government, is his, and it is a place of interest as being one of the oldest in the county. The title has never been out of the Seott family. The marriage of Mr. Seott took place January 17, 1860, with Miss Mary E. Wilderman, a daughter of Franeis Wilderman, one of the old settlers. One child is the result of this union, Felix, who is at school in St. Louis. Mr. Scott is a member of Hecker Post No. 2, G. A. R. He and his pleas- ant and entertaining wife are members of the best circles of society in Belleville.
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D AVID D. MILLER. Sixty-two years of resi- denee on a farm must create an affection for the place, which no doubt is understood by the subject of the following sketch. He was the son of Absalom Miller, who came here from Vir- ginia at a very early day and bought land of the Government. He had first settled north of East St. Louis, but remained there only a short time, when he came to this place and soon married Miss Sallie Carr, who was the daughter of Henry Carr. They reared a family of six children, all of whom reached a good age but are now deceased, with the exception of our subject. They were Alexander, Jefferson, David, Bethsheba, Betsey and Mary. The father was one of the soldiers who did such good service in the Black Hawk War, and was a
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very successful farmer, at one time owning two large tracts of land in this county.
The subject of this sketeli was born where he now lives December 11, 1829. He was reared and educated here and grew up to understand the busi- ness which has occupied his life. He was married in 1856 to Miss Sallie Burnett who was the daugh- ter of Alexander Burnett, a farmer on Township 2, where Mrs Miller was reared. Two children were horn to Mr and Mrs Miller: Andrew O., who mar- ried Miss Ella S. Smith and lives with our subject, and James, who married Miss Lizzie Smith and lives near.
The farm of Mr Miller contains one hundred and eighty-two acres, all well improved, and upon which great harvests of grain are raised. Mr. Miller is a member of the Farmers' Mutal Benefit Association, and politically is a strong Democrat. Ha has held the office of School Director, and has given such good satisfaction that he has served for twenty-seven years by election. He has taken a very active part in the conventions of his political party in the county and in 1890 was sent as a del- egate to the State convention at Springfield. He is a member of the Central Committee, and has been Chairman of the local county and township com- mittees. In his long residence here he has seen many improvements.
E DWARD F. BRIESACHER is a gentleman who has held the important office of School Director for twelve years and is one of the prominent and influential farmers of his locality. He is of German descent, as both his parents were natives of the Fatherland, the father, George, coming to America in 1828, landing in New York, from which place he came, two years later. to St. Clair County, settling on the farm where his son Edward now resides.
The mother of our subject, Christina Roath, came to the United States about four years later than he who was destined to be her husband, land-
ing in New Orleans, from which place she made her way to St. Clair County and married Mr. Brie- sacher the same year. These two carried on farm- ing on the little farm they had bought, and here they both died, the mother, November 28, 1880, aged sixty-nine years, and the father, February 28, of the following year, aged seventy-two years. They were blessed with nine children, of whom the following are now living: George, born June 3, 1836, is a farmer residing in Smithton Township, just across from the St. Clair Township line. He married Caroline Vollmer and they have four liv- ing children, three boys and one girl. Henry is the next child born to George Briesacher, Sr., and he was born July 15, 1850. is now a traveling-man with seven living children; his wife is deceased. Catherine is the widow of Frederick Peters and resides in Stookey Township, her husband having died April 24. 1892, when nearly fifty-four years of age, leaving his widow with nine children. Sophia is the wife of John Woltz, a railroad man; they have no family; and our subject.
Edward F. was reared on the home farm, where he was born February 8, 1854, and where he has since resided. Here he received the common- school education in the country schools and re- ceived a further education from his parents in the language of his beloved native land, Mr. Brie- sacher now being able to read and write in Ger- man, as well as in the language of his own land. Hle owns thirty-nine acres of fine land on section 31, and devotes himself to the pursuit of general farming with great success.
Our subject, on the 12th of April, 1880, Jed to the altar Miss Elizabeth Seifert, a native of St. Clair Township, who was born just south of Belle- ville. Her father, George, died in August, 1875, but her mother is still living, residing south west of Belleville. Five children have blessed their happy union, namely: Julia, who was called away ere her tiny lips could frame the names of her parents: Amanda, nine years of age; Adolph, seven years of age; Richard, five years of age, and baby Theo- dore, just two years old.
Mr. Briesacher is independent in politics, always follows his own convictions, regardless of party lines, He is a consistent member of the Evangel.
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ical Church, in which body he exerts a large amount of influence. He and his wife are people who are widely respected and universally liked and esteemed by the entire community.
ARTIN W. SCHAEFER is State Attor- ney for St. Clair County, having been elected to that office in November, 1888. for a four-years term of service, and he fills the position in a manner which reflects credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. Schaefer was born at the village of Troy, in Madison County, Ill., on the 20th of March, 1857, being the son of Jacob and Margaret (Noll) Schaefer, natives of Germany, who came to Amer- ica and settled in St. Louis, where the father pur- sued his trade of tailor. In 1852. they removed to Madison County, and remained there, the fa- ther pursuing his trade, until 1858, when they set- tled in Lebanon, this county, where both parents still reside, enjoying the evening of their useful lives at peace with their neighbors and consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
Martin received a better primary education than falls to the lot of many boys, being educated at MeKendree College, at Lebanon, from which he was graduated in the Class of '76, and which con- ferred the degree of A. M. upon him in 1879. The future State Attorney at once began the study of law, and was graduated from the law department in the Class of '79, being admitted to the Bar in May of the same year. While pursuing his course of law, he was teaching in this county, thus earn- ing sufficient money to carry on his studies. In 1880, he entered into partnership in the banking business with the Ion. Henry Seiter and James D. Baker in Lebanon, which continued until the fall of 1881, when he came to Belleville, and in April, 1883, was elected City Attorney, holding that office for three terms of two years each, and continuing in it until elected to his present position in 1888. In the fall of 1882, he formed a part- nership in law with William HI. Snyder, Jr., son of
Judge Snyder, which continued until Mr. Schaefer formed his present partnership with the Hon. James M. Dill in the fall of 1884. They have a large practice and both gentlemen are considered men of great ability and skill in all legal matters.
The marriage of Mr. Schaefer and Miss Louisa Weigel took place November 11, 1879. This charming and accomplished lady is the daughter of John Weigel, one of the older citizens of Leb- anon, who came to that eity in 1852, or there- abouts. and here it was that Mrs. Schaefer first saw the light. She and her husband have been blessed with five children: Edna, Leota, Elmer, Edwin and Otho, all bright, intelligent, and very inter- esting children. Mr. Schaefer is a prominent mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and is Grand Master, having been elected in No- vember, 1891. Ile is a man that commands the respeet and esteem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, which is extended. Admir- ing friends predict a bright future for the studious and painstaking young lawyer.
C HIARLES REMBE, M. D .. who is engaged in the practice of the medical profession in Mascoutah, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Ger- many, in the year 1856. and is the third in a fam- ily of five children, four of whom are yet living. The father was for some years an officer under the Prussian Government. He died in his native land in . 1881; his widow, who makes her home in Germany, still survives.
The Doctor spent his early boyhood under the parental roof and acquired his education in a gymnasium. When sixteen years of age, he de- termined to seek a home in America, and in the year 1872 crossed the broad Atlantic. Hle at once went to Martinsville, Mo., thence to St. Louis, Mo., and began the study of medicine in the Missouri Medical College, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1878. His preceptor was Dr. 11. Staudinger, of Marthasville, Mo. After his graduation, he removed to Fayetteville, St. Clair
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County, opened an office and began the practice of his chosen profession, which he followed at that place continuously from 1878 until November, 1890. On the 22d of that month he came to Mas- contah, where he has since resided.
Dr. Rembe was married in 1884, the lady of his choice being Miss Lannie Alta Hogshead, daugh- ter of Andrew logshead, a resident farmer of Washington County, Ill. By their union have been born two interesting children, both sons, Edward Albert and Boyd. The Doctor and his wife are well-known people of this community al- though they are numbered among the later ar- rivals, and during their short residence here they have won many friends.
Dr. Rembe holds membership with the St. Clair County Medical Society. He practices in the regu- lar school of medicine and receives a liberal pat- ronage, to which he is justly entitled by his skill and ability. His office is located at his residence, on the corner of Mill and Chestnut Streets. In his social relations, the Doctor is a Mason and a Knight of Honor, and takes quite an active part in both lodges. Those who know him esteem him highly for his sterling worth and among his pro- fessional bretliren he ranks high.
Le YMAN P. STOOKEY, M. D. The subject of the following sketch is one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Belleville, a grandson of Daniel Stookey (of whom see sketch) and son of Moses Stookey. The latter was born in Virginia in 1799, and when one year old came with his parents to Belleville and was here educated and grew to maturity. Ile was a farmer by occupa- tion and lived in what is now St. Clair Township until the time of his death. Ile married Miss Elizabeth Anderson, who was born in Wilkes Barre, Pa., in 1805 and came West with her parents about 1808 or 1810, settling in this county. The marriage took place .June 17, 1824, and they reared a family of eleven children, our subject being the youngest. They were Samuel, who died after ma-
lurity; Jane, the wife of Thomas Tarr; Enos (de- eeased), who went across the plains and settled near Salt Lake City; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Woods of this county, the ouly remaining daughter; Bar- bara (Mrs. Wilson), who died some years ago; ). D., a farmer in St. Clair Township; Malinda ( Mrs. Gooding), now dead; M. M., a farmer and member of the County Committee of St. Clair Township; William, deceased: Emma (Mrs. Green), dead. The mother of this family was a pious woman, being for many years a member of the Baptist Church.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of Belleville, and, displaying studious habits, was sent to Shurtleff College in Upper Alton. He taught school for one term and then read medi- cine, mainly by himself, so determined was he to become a physician. He received some assist- ance from Dr. Perryman and then attended lec- tures at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, graduating in the Class of '72, and at once located here for practice, where he has continued in it ever since. Appreciative professional brethren have made him President of the St. Clair Medical Society, and he is a member of the Southern Illi- nois Medical Society. A very large number of enthusiastic admirers not only depend upon his skill as a physician, but also cherish him as a close and dear friend.
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