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 49
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Hugh Mills, the eldest of these children, passed his boyhood and youth on the farm and his edu- cation was confined to the common schools, taught in the log schoolhouse with slab seats, ete., of those days. His youthful muscles soon became hardened to manual labor, and when sixteen years of age he began to take a decided interest in live stock, principally horses, cattle and hogs. Ile remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, but previous to that he had run the first Buckeye reaper in the county. At the last-
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mentioned age, he began for himself by trading in stock, and when twenty-one years of age he lo- cated on a farm. In 1858, he came to Clay City, Ill., purchased a farm in Clay County. and branched out as a dealer in stock.
In the fall of 1861, filled with a patriotic desire to aid his country, he enlisted and raised part of a company-about twenty-five men-for the Sixth Cavalry, but was rejected. He subsequently en- listed, but was again rejected on account of phys- ical disability, but in the same year he was author- ized by Dick Yates to raise a company.
After his war experience, Mr. Mills added to his farm until he owned four hundred and eighty acres of nicely improved land adjoining Clay City. In 1880, he came to St. Louis, Mo., to engage in the stock business, and entered the National Stock Yards as a member of the firm of C. M. Keys & Co. In 1882. he located with his family in East St. Louis. Since joining the firm, Mr. Mills has han- dled the business continually to the satisfaction of a large circle of constituents, and few houses in this or other businesses stand higher. commercially speaking, than the firm of C. M. Keys & Co. Ilaving ample capital to handle the business in every legitimate manner, the house is, from its own funds, able to make advances to stock-feeders and shippers, as their trade requires. They do a regular, safe business, amounting to handsome proportions, and have won a strong position by reliable and faithful service. They also have a branch house in Kansas City and do a large busi- ness there. As a cattle and sheep salesman for the firm, Mr. Mills has met with wonderful success.
Our subject resides at No. 716 Summit Avenue and has one of the finest houses in the city. lle also owns a farm, and is engaged in breeding standard-bred horses, Mambrino, llambletonian and Blue Bull, owning "Dexey," a pacer with a record of 2:223. lle was the owner of the first Hereford cattle in Clay County and was an organ- izer and Director of the Clay County Agricultural Society for over twenty years, being President of the same for one year. He is Director of the first Mutual Building and Loan Association, and is prominent in all good work. Ile was married in Dunkirk, Ilardin County, Ohio, in 1856, to Miss
Ellen Rubens, a native of Plymouth, Ohio, who hore him six children, four living, viz .: Joseph, who resides in St. Louis and is in business at the National Stock Yards; Emma, at home; Charles, in the Kansas City Stock Yards, a hog salesman; and Mary, at home. Mr. Mills is a Chosen Friend in the order of Masons, and in politics is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
NTON SEUILINGER. The gentleman whose name heads this biography is the President of the Sehlinger Grain Company, incorporated, with a paid-up capital stock of 815,000. Ilis son Tony is the Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Sehlinger was born in Baden, Ger- many, February 23, 1837, and obtained his educa- tion there, being fourteen years old when his father came to America. The latter was the son of John and Magdalina (Schindler) Sehlinger, and settled in Belleville, following the same occupation, that of butcher, as his father and grandfather before him. The father died June 6, 1860, leaving three boys, Anton, Augustus and ('harles, the two latter now being in Louisville, Ky.
Our subject went into the country three miles northeast of town and lived there twelve years. Being too young to settle on land for himself, he resided with his uncle, Joseph Schindler, his mo- ther's brother, until the latter went to Mascoutah and started a flouring-mill. Anton then joined with him and learned the business, being book-keeper and manager from the start. lle was married January 23, 1866, to Miss Louisa Faust, daughter of Nicholas Faust, of this city, and still continued at Mascoutah, finally becoming a partner. The unele died in 1878, but Anton continued in the business until 1883.
In 1887, he came to this place and established a grain business with F. Enkelke, the firm being Sehlinger & Co. They dealt heavily in grain and flour and soon our subject bought out the entire business, consisting of warehouse and elevator,
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with a capacity of fifty thousand bushels; also the residence and grounds surrounding it. Since that time he has greatly remodeled and improved the property. Hle owns 300x130 feet on South Abend Street, from No. 800 to No. 812, and a whole bloek on East Eighth Street. His house does an immense business, being connected with the Cairo Short Line by switches, and doing the heaviest grain trade in this vicinity, shipping all through the country. In addition to this busi- ness, the firm has a flour and feed store opposite the market on North Illinois Street, where they do a large wholesale and retail business. Ile is the father of six children: Tony, Mary C., Lena J., Anna L., George M. and Edward. The family are members of St. Peter's Catholic Church and enjoy the society of a large circle of friends. Mr. Sehlinger's fellow-citizens persisted in elect- ing him to the office of Alderman, but he declined the honor with thanks and positively would not serve, the cares of a wide extending and steadily growing business requiring all his time.
AMES L. PERRYMAN, M. D. In tracing the genealogy of the Perryman family, we find that its members were originally from England, and that the first branches that took root on American soil were three brothers, James, John and David, who came here with Lord ('alvert, brother to Lord Baltimore, in 1632, and formed a colony in Maryland. One became see- retary to Lord Calvert, another was a member of the first Colonial Parliament, and the third he- came prominent in the frontier Indian wars. The great-grandfather of our subject held an appoint- ment under the King of England which required his residence in the colony further South, in fact, in the Carolinas, he being something of an executive officer and military protector.
James S., grandfather of our subjeet, was born in Carolina and reared to martial life. During the Revolutionary War, he was with the Colonists, and reached the rank of Colonel under Gen. Wayne. He participated in the battles of Sara-
toga, Germantown, Brandywine and Yorktown. After the war, he settled in Claiborne County, Tenn., and married Miss Naney Condray, becom- ing the father of a large family. His son, Charles Mattison, father of our subject, was born there in 1809, and there made his home until 1832, when he came to Illinois, settling near Lebanon, St. Clair County. Later, he moved to Jefferson City, Mo., where he died in 1854. lle was a man of superior mental attainments, being far ahead of the majority of men in his choice and use of lan- guage. The great ability to talk or write well is characteristic of the Perryman family, and many of its members have attained distinction as orators.
Charles M. Perryman was married in Tennessee in 1829, to Miss Louisa J. Collingsworth, a na- tive of Claiborne County, Tenn., her birth also occurring in 1814, she being the daughter of a Rev- olutionary soldier. Dr. James L. Perryman, the eld- est and only survivor of four sons, was born April 11, 1831. Ilis brother Frederick died in his fifteenth year; Bluford Hamilton, the third brother, became a prominent physician and died in 1860; and Horaee M., the youngest, was also educated in medicine and gave great promise of a brilliant career, but was cut down by the reaper, Death, in 1870, when thirty-two years of age. The two brothers last named left children, most of whom found a comfortable and pleasant home with Dr. and Mrs. Perryman, and are now grown up and settled in life.
Dr. Perryman, the original of this notice, en- tered McKendree College when in his sixteenth year and took a full course, manifesting at an early age a diligent interest in the acquisition of knowledge. lle was graduated in 1849, and, hav- ing the study of medieine in view, entered the office of Drs. W. W. and .J. A. Roman at Belleville, where he remained for some time. Later, he took two full courses in the Missouri State University, at St. Louis, being graduated with the degree of M. D. After practicing for a short time, he en- tered and was graduated from the St. Louis Med- ical College, and then took a course of surgical lectures in Jefferson Medical College, in Phila- delphia, and also in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.
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Our subject intended to become a Professor in the University of Missouri, but his father's death disarranged his plans. as it threw the entire care of the family upon him. He took charge of the family and educated his brothers in medieine until they became self-supporting. The Doctor is a physician of established reputation, and has stead- ily risen in the channels of medical life. He is actively engaged in the practice of his profession and is one of the eminent physicians of the county. Ile is progressive and advanced in his ideas, and is a member of all the medical societies. Polit- ically, he affiliates with the Republican party, but has never cared to hold office. He often takes the stump during heated political campaigns and, as he has the family gift of oratory, he is warmly welcomed everywhere.
On the 20th of April, 1855, Dr. Perryman mar- ried Miss Virginia Bradsby, daughter of Richard Bradsby, an old settler of Kentucky, whose fa- ther, William Bradsby, and brothers were Revo- lutionary soldiers, going from Virginia to join Washington's command. William emigrated to Kentucky with Daniel Boone and was active in the events that made Kentucky the "dark and bloody ground." Richard Bradsby came to Ili- nois in 1804, expecting to go to Missouri, but not being able to eross the river, settled in this State. Ilis death occurred on the 5th of September, 1875.
Our subject is possessed of all those qualities that make a successful and popular physician. Ile is urbane, pleasant and sympathetic, and a very attractive conversationalist, his mind being well stored with history, literature, poetry, philosophy, etc. As a surgeon, he has gamed a wide-spread and enviable reputation, and is one whose career has been marked by success. lle is one of the substantial men of the county. has a very elegant home in this city, and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. Ile has been in active practice for over forty years and gives his attention prin- cipally to diseases of women, nervous diseases and surgery. No physician in the county has a better record in his profession than he.
The Doctor speculates in lands and mines in Colorado, and owns much good farming land in Missouri and Illinois. He has an adopted daugh-
ter. Anna Mary Schaedel Perryman, who is now seven years of age, and he has reared nine nephews and nieces, never having had'any chil- dren of his own. The Doctor is a member of the Catholic Church, but his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
G EORGE J. MUSKOPF, one of the rising young farmers of St. Clair Township, is a gentleman who combines independence and self-reliance with energy, and with these qualities is bound to make a success of whatever he under- takes. Our subjeet was born at Iligh Prairie, in Millstadt Township. on the 21st of April, 1866, being the youngest of three children born to John and Catherine ( Probst) Muskopf.
The father of John Muskopf, Ilenry, died March 3, 1883, aged eighty-five. and his wife, Charlotte Muskopf, died March 2. 1882, aged seventy-six. These estimable people came from Germany in 1835, and settled in St Clair County on a farm. The maternal grandfather is still living. a vener- able old gentleman of seventy-seven, making his home in Saxton, Millstadt Township. His wife, Catherine, however, dicd about sixteen years ago when nearly seventy years of age. The grand- parents on both sides were honored and respected pioneers of this great State. John Muskopf died May 5, 1871, his wife having been called to her heavenly home October 16, 1867. Both these good people breathed their last in Millstadt Town- ship. They had three children: Catherine, who died in infancy; John, who died at the age of seven; and George J., our subject.
George J. Muskopf was reared on his father's farm in Millstadt Township, and received a com- mon-school education, as do almost all of the farmer boys of this generation. While yet a young man he started to support himself, working on farms in various places in Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri, and the experience thus gained fully equipped him for the serious duties of life. Returning to the scenes of his childhood, our sub-
John Bänk
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jeet bought the farm where he now resides, in St. Clair Township, two years ago. It is a fine traet of eighty aeres, known as the August place, where was born Mrs. Elizabeth Bornman, the oldest liv- ing person born in St. Clair Township, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in these pages. IIere he has made a comfortable home for himself and family, where they reside, enjoying the respect and confidence of all their neighbors.
Mr. Muskopf was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Miller, daughter of Peter and Mary Miller, who are still living, residing about one and one- quarter miles north of Floraville. The cere- mony took place April 1, 1888, in Floraville, Millstadt Township. Mr. and Mrs. Muskopf have two children: Otto, aged three years, and John Edwin, nearly two. Our subjeet is indepen- dent in pohties, always voting for the best man in his estimation for an office, regardless of party lines. llis high sense of honor and gen- eral fitness for any of the township offices are well known by all the voters of the township, and there is no doubt but that he will be ealled upon in the future to fill at various times most of the offiees that lie within the gift of the people of the township. Mr. Muskopf and his wife are consist- ent members of the Evangelieal Churel.
OHN RANK. No better representative of honest, upright manhood can be found than the above-named gentleman, an influential citizen of Fayetteville. Ile is a native of Alsace, which, at the time of his birth (1843), was a French province, but is now owned by Prussia, having been lost to France in the late Franco- Prussian war.
The parents of our subject were David and Catherine Rank, both natives of France, the father born in 1820 and the mother in 1817. David Rank spent his early life in his native village, and, as soon as he was old enough to be of service, was placed by his father in a woolen mill, where he
learned the trade of a weaver. lle was quite young when he married Catherine Kocher, and they became the parents of eight children, three of whom were born in France and five in America. The only surviving members of the family are John, and Mary, now the wife of John Neice.
David Rank, accompanied by his wife and three children, emigrated to this country in the year 1846, and settled at Belleville, HI., where he worked for eight years as a briek-maker. A few hundred dollars was the extent of his moneyed possessions, but after obtaining the work which seemed to him most lucrative in the vicinity where he located, his true thrifty nature asserted itself, and in 1851 he moved to Fayetteville and bought village property. Ile continued the business of brick-making in his new place of residence, where he owned his own plant, and conducted a most ex- eellent business in this line until his death, which occurred in Fayetteville in 1855. A man of up- right principles and strong personal characteris- tics, he was an ardent believer in the Catholic faith and a member and generous supporter of the church. His widow is still living, and makes her home near her son John. She is beloved for her amiable and womanly qualities.
The gentleman with whose name we opened this biographieal sketel commenced his acquaintance with the realities of life at the early age of thir- teen, at which period he accompanied his father to the briekyard, and there assumed the duties his youthful years allowed him to perform. 1Ie worked at this trade until the war of the Union broke ont, when, fired with youthful but ardent ambition for the land of his adoption, he enlisted in Company F. Ninth Illinois Regiment, and, under the command of Gen. Sherman, went to the front. Among the one hundred and ten battles in which he participated were those of Ft. Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. He was captured at Resaca and placed in Andersonville prison, where he re- mained twelve months. From Andersonville he was taken to Charlestown, Ft. Lawrence and Wil- mington, and finally transferred to the I'nion ranks. He received many wounds during the cam- paign, one being a gun-shot in the face, received at Ft. Donelson, and he was shot in the left side
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and face at Shiloh. At Resaea he was wounded in the head, and also received a wound in his leg, which resulted in his capture by the enemy. After serving the cause of the Union nobly, he was mus- tered out at Springfield, Il., April 12, 1865.
After returning home from the war, John Rank married Miss Johanna Waeltz, a daughter of Will- iam and Barbara (Dressel) Waeltz. To them were born ten children, six of whom are yet living: Emma. wife of Martus Aberle; Mary, John. Adolph, Edward and Johanna. After his mar- riage, our subject immediately commeneed life as a farmer, in which capacity he remained for fifteen years, devoting himself to the pursuit of agricul- ture with no small success. As he advanced in years, however, the vicissitudes of army life, and the wounds received in his country's eause, com- meneed to tell on his system, and he became a con- firmed invalid. His indefatigable courage during his many encounters with the enemy won for him the commendation of his superior officers, and, as a reward for his services, he is to-day the recipient of U'nele Sam's bounty to the extent of $72 per month; among the highest pensions paid to any sol- dier of the late war. After losing his health, he moved to the village of Fayetteville, where he lives a retired life, respected by all who are honored with his acquaintance. IJe is with the Republican party as one of its most ardent adherents, and east his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln for his second term.
ENRY BOEMER. The intelligent gentle- man whose sketch it becomes our pleasure to place before the publie is a teacher in the graded school of Millstadt, Ill. Ile has a very pleasant home in this city, which he built in 1888, and there he lives in comfort, surrounded by his books and music and attended by his charm- ing wife.
Mr. Boemer of this notice is the son of Casper Boemer, and his birth occurred January 31, 1859. at the old homestead, where he was reared from
childhood. This was the home of his parents and is situated one and one-half miles west of Millstadt.
Our subject attended the district school during boyhood and as soon as of proper age he went to St. Louis, and there attended the excellent com- mercial college of Bryant and Stratton, graduating from there April 26, 1877. He taught school in this township for four years and then went to the Normal College at Carmi, Ill., and began teach- ing school. Ile was retained for seven years in Stookey Township, and then came home and taught for two years in his home distriet. In 1891, he was elected to a position in the graded school at Millstadt and has been attending to his duties here ever since.
Our subject has traveled quite extensively in the Northern part of the United States. He is partie- ularly interested in physical geography, and in 1880 made an extended trip through Wisconsin and Minnesota, studying the geography, and the topography of the Mississippi Valley, and the up- per part of the United States, gathering many facts and exploding many theories and gaining an experience which serve to make him a more com- petent teacher than before.
Mr. Boemer's first marriage united him with Miss Katie Wilkins, but the life of this young bride was short, for in one year she had passed away, leaving little Katie, who was also taken. After this break- ing up of his household, Mr. Boemer remained at home until in June, 1888, when Miss Katie Merod, the daughter of Mrs. Frederick Merod, became his wife, and sinee that time his domestie affairs have been comfortable and pleasant. One son, Irving, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boemer.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church elaims this worthy couple as members, and Mr. Boemer is a member of the choir, his musical abilities making the position one of peculiar fitness. Our sub- jeet has all the talent of his ancestors in musie, which he enjoys and understands. Ile is leader of the Liederkranz, which position he has held for a great many years. Ile is one of the foremost workers in the keeping up of this society and has been an officer in it since its organization, being Chairman of the Building Committee and also Treasurer, and has had all of the overseeing of
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the work on the Society's building to look after. He has taken a great interest in all the musical or- ganizations of the city and has been leader of the hand.
The Democratic party has a strong adherent in Mr. Boemer and his vote and influence are given for that party. He is a man of fine physical healthi and has accomplished a great deal of good and has attained a prominent position for one of his age. During his vacations he combines pleasure and business and travels for the Mervin School Supply Company of St. Louis. At the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors in October, 1892, he was ap- pointed by that body Justice of the Peace for Millstadt Township.
ILLIAM H. PHILLIPS. Here and there among the fertile farms of the Prairie State may be found quiet, retiring people of both sexes who have kept out of the vexing whirl of life and have found peace and content- ment in the surroundings of a retired home. Such has been the case with the subject of our sketch, who resides on section 18, Freeburg Town- ship, and was born on the 30th of December, 1832. Ilis father was Benjamin Phillips, a native of Orange County, N. C., born in 1793. The father removed into Tennessee when young, and was reared there until the opening of the War of 1812, when he enlisted and took part in the bat- tle of New Orleans.
After the war, Benjamin came from Tennessee to St. Clair County in 1815, entered land from the Government near Freeburg, and located on section 7, which had been entered by George Wilderman, and here lived until the time of his death. Ilis wife was Sallie Wilderman, daughter of George Wilderman, one of the early settlers of the county, who bore him the following children, of whom six are still living, as follows: Elizabeth, Emcline, Sarah, Jane, Eliza and our subject. Those who have passed out of this life were Maria, Nancy, Minerva. Patience and Virginia. This sol-
dier of 1812 was a valued member of the Baptist Church, and had served several years as Justice of the Peace.
Our subject first saw the light on the old home- stead on section 7, was educated in the district schools, and has lived all his_days on the home place. The farm consists of one hundred and forty acres of land in a good state of cultivation, but Mr. Phillips does not farm himself. He makes his home with his sister Sarah Jane, who was born on the old place. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat, and so votes when he goes to the polls. He has lived so quietly that the great questions that produce so much angry discussion the country over do not disturb him in his quiet retreat. Our subject has never married, yet in his single estate has doubtless enjoyed life fully as much as many who have become benedicts. Gentle and unobtrusive, Mr. Phillips accords to every man the right to his opinions. Honest and upright, he yields to all what is due in just measure. The fame of his deeds may never reach the outside world, yet, after all, no higher praise can be bestowed upon any man than that his life is upright, and that no wrong or oppression was ever perpetrated by him. Such may be truthfully written and said of kind- hearted William II. Phillips.
RANCIS A. WILDERMAN. In every lo- Ho cality reside those who have successfully accomplished their life work and have earned a season of rest while the work is resigned to younger and more eager hands. This is the case with the subject of the present sketch, who is a retired farmer living on section 7, Freeburg Township, St. Clair County, and is a son of Dor- sey Wilderman, a native of Baltimore, Md., who was born there February 11, 1792, the son of Joseph and Patience Wilderman.
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