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 50
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The paternal grandparents lived first near Bal- timore, Baltimore County, Md .; afterward in Pennsylvania, and then decided to remove farther
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West. They went down the Ohio River and stopped six months in Pittsburg; thence proceeded to New Design, Monroe County, where they re- mained but a short time, when they came to St. Clair County. That was in 1805, at which time Joseph Wilderman entered land on section 7, and there he made his home until he died. He was a soldier in the Black Ilawk War. The name of his wife was Patience Loury, and they were the parents of eleven children. John started with the family but left them at Petersburg, went South, and was never heard from afterward. George, Levi, Frank, William, Henry, James, Dorsey, Betsey, Michael and Sarah were the remaining children.
Dorsey Wilderman, the father of our sub- ject, was married to Miss Phoebe Carr, daugli- ter of Joseph Carr, a prominent farmer of this county and an early settler, having come here in 1790. After his marriage Dorsey Wilderman lo- cated on the place where our subject now lives, and remained until the time of his decease. He left eight children: Priscilla, Mrs. Adams, de- eeased; Jaeob lives in Franklin County; Jeffer- son, deceased; Mary, who was married to Jolm Chesney, is now dead; Sallie is married to Ris- den A. Moore, and lives near Belleville; James, de- eeased; Cordelia died at the age of fifteen; and Charles lives near Equality, Ill. Dorsey Wilder- man was in the Black Hawk War, and died Aug- ust 24, 1857.
The birth of our subject took place September 8, 1832, on the place where he now resides. Ile was educated in the old subscription schools of his day, and passed his time on the farm, doing much work and taking his ease after- ward. Ilis marriage occurred in 1857, with Miss Martha Pitts, the daughter of Kenehen Pitts and his wife Elizabeth. The father of Mrs. Wild- erman was born in South Carolina and lived there until ten years of age, when he went to North Carolina, and three years later removed to Tennes- see, growing up to manhood and marrying there; thence going to Morgan County, Ill., about 1827, and entering Government land in this county. about two miles below Freeburg. He died in Nashville, III., in 1875.
After his marriage our subject continued to live
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on this place, and here his four children have been born. They are: Flora, who is the wife of Dr. Hertel, of Freeburg, Ill .; Millard, who married Emma Herman, lives near Freeburg, and is a farmer; Julius, who married Mary Wilderman, lives in this township; and Myrtle, who is the wife of Ilenry K. Kessler, who is the foreman of the Barnard Gasoline Stove Works. Our subject has two hundred and twenty-two acres of land, and all but fifty aeres are well improved and in a good state of cultivation. He has retired from active labor himself, but his sons operate the farm and raise grain principally. Politieally, he is a follower of Thomas Jefferson.
Mr. Wilderman has filled the important offices of School Trustee and School Director for a long time, and is very much interested in all things looking toward the improvement of his section. This is one of the representative families of this county, and of its members old St. Clair may well be proud. Energetic, honest, progressive, and upright, these are the kind of people who will build up any section, and make it to take higlı rank among the communities of this great State.
OHIN R. LYONS. Among the residents of St. Clair County who have prosecuted their life work successfully and are now enjoy- ing the fruits of their prudence and energy surrounded with comforts, is the gentleman above named, who is now oceupying a pleasant home in Marissa and has a sufficient income to afford him- self and family a maintenance during the remain- der of their lives. He was born near Winnsborough, Fairfield County, S. C., in September, 1814. and is the son of James and Jane (Elder) Lyons, natives of Ireland. The parents were married in the Emerald Isle, and on coming to America, in Jan- uary. 1805, located in the above-named State, where they followed farming. When leaving their native home, they were accompanied by two children, one of whom died while en route to the United States.
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In 1833, Mr. and Mrs. James Lyons came with their family and few worldly effects to this coun- ty, locating on publie land in Marissa, within a few miles of where our subject is at present resid- ing. They reared a family of four sons and three daughters, four of whom are still living and occu- pying good positions in life. The father, who was a devoted member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, died in September, 1866, while his good wife, who was also a member of that denomina- tion, preceded him to the better land by a num- ber of years, her death occurring in 1852.
When reaching his twenty-first year, John R. Lyons of this sketch began life for himself by operating his father's farm, and he continued to make his home with his parents until their death. Young Lyons commenced at the bottom of the ladder, and so successful has he been in his social calling that for a number of years he has lived re- tired, able to indulge in luxuries and recreations suited to his years and tastes. Ile owns five hun- dred acres of land, the records showing him to be one of the heaviest tax-payers m the township. The entire amount has been accumulated by energy and perseverance, united with economy and good business qualifications, and the youth who may peruse this sketch could do no better than emu- late his example. Ilis life has been well spent and his work well done, and when death shall have closed the scene, his memory will be greatly cher- ished, and the verdiet of all who have known him will be, "lle has done what he could."
The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary, daughter of William and Naney MeKey, was sol- emnized January 19, 1843. ller parents were born in Ireland, where the father was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Lyons' pleasant home was presided over and brightened by this estimable lady until February 7, 1885, when she passed away. She reared a family of seven children, only one of whom, William K., is yet living. With her husband she was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and was always found to be active in every good work.
In the spring of 1892, our subject visited his old home in South Carolina, which was his first trip to the old place since 1833, It was very hard
for him to realize that he had spent his boyhood days there, the familiar faces having passed away and the scenes changed, until it seemed to him more like stepping into another world. Mr. Lyons is the oldest settler now living in Marissa, and al- though the weakest member of his family physi- cally, has led a very active life and is well pre- served for one of his years. One of his sons, .James G., entered, the Union army when nineteen years of age, and being taken sick with the ty- phoid fever, died at Ft. Hinman in 1863. For years Mr. Lyons worked for the good of the Republican party, but he is now laboring ardently for Prohibition, standing high in the councils of that political party. lle is an honest, intelligent man, has true Irish wit, and is a favorite with all.
FG SLIEPER. The subject of this notice is engaged in, the saloon business in the village of New Athens. Ile is the son of Frederick Slieper, who was born in Germany, and there married Miss Eleanor Rockebant, and came to this country in 1828. llis first location was eleven miles from St. Louis, Mo., where he en- gaged in farming for fourteen years; he then went to St. Louis, residing there until his death, in 1888. Three of this family of six children are living, namely: our subjeet, Christina, and Mena, who now lives in California. The birth of our subject took place June 10, 1831, on the old home place in Missouri, and there he grew to manhood, at which time he learned the trade of brick-mak- ing, which he followed for twenty-two years, the greater part of the time being spent in St. Louis.
In 1860, our subject removed to Cairo, built a house there and opened a saloon, where he contin- ned seven months, and there his eldest son was born. About this time he became engaged in coal min- ing, and followed this business for nine years. lle then bought a farm three-fourths of a mile from West Belleville, removed to it and lived there for a period of nine years. He then located on a farm five miles south of New Athens, which
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he still owns, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres. In 1859, he was married to Miss Angusta Shank. daughter of Christian Shank, of Columbia, Ill., and eight children were born to them. The living are Ellen, Mary, Louisa, Willie and Ida. Willie is operating his father's farm, and the girls are all married but Ida. Those who died were: Robert, at the age of thirty-one; Louisa, who died at the age of four; and one who died an infant.
Our subject belongs to the Lutheran Church, and is very liberal and good-hearted. After he left the farm he came to New Athens and engaged in his present business. Mr. Slieper lost his wife April 12. 1892, which has been a great grief to him, but his children are all doing well, which is a source of comfort to him. To these our subject displayed a generous spirit when starting them out in life. Ile is a very intelligent and much- traveled man, having passed many years steam- boating on the Mississippi River, and having made trips all over the United States.
G EORGE B. GELWICKS. a retired coal op- erator, is one of the leading and most pop- ular citizens of Belleville, having come to this beautiful little city in 1850. Although called away from its confines by the voice of duty in 1862, he returned to this place when his term of enlistment expired and has since made it his home. This place is very dear to him, as Belle- ville is the scene of his labors; and here it is that he climbed from obscurity to prosperity and made the fortune he now enjoys.
Mr. Gelwicks is the son of George and Mary Ann (Stephenson) Gelwieks. The father, George Gelwicks, was born in Ilagerstown, Md.,, where he engaged in coach-making and blacksmithing, but came to Illinois soon after his marriage with Miss Mary Stephenson, of Baltimore, making the re- moval about 1838. After arriving in Illinois he settled in Calhoun County and engaged in school- teaching. In addition to his efforts in an educa-
tional line, he owned and operated a farm, where his death occurred in 1849. Mr. Gelwicks left a family of five children and a faithful and loving wife to mourn his loss. The latter is still living and now makes her home in St. Louis.
Our subject came to Belleville in 1850, mak- ing the trip with his mother. After his arrival in the county an unele took charge of the little fatherless boy, and reared and educated him. As soon as he was old enough, he relieved his unele of the burden of his support and entered a printing office, where he remained until July 1, 1862. when. prompted by a sense of patriotic duty. he enlisted in Company F, Seventieth Illinois In- fantry. The regiment was sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill., where our subject was detailed to exchange prisoners at Vicksburg in that same year. In October, 1862, he received an honor- able discharge, his term of enlistment having ex- pired, and he returned home.
At first Mr. Gelwicks resumed his former oceu- pation, remaining in the office of the Belleville Advocate for about six years, but about that time his attention was called to mining, and be resolved to invest his spare capital in a mine. Accordingly, he purchased a mine on the Mascontah Road, which he operated for seventeen years. One of the shafts was sixty feet deep, and the vein struck was six feet through. This so encouraged Mr. Gelwicks that he cleared off ten acres and gave i active employment to twelve men. As was only natural, our subject made a large amount of money from this mine, and when he felt that it was being exhausted he disposed of his stock. Mr. Gelwicks has been so successful in his man- agement of mines that he was offered the position of Superintendent of the mines of the Electric Light and Coal Company, having charge of all work underground in the mines of the company, and this occupies the greater portion of his time.
Mr. Gelwicks was married to Miss May Ceceha Majors, born in Belleville, daughter of John P. Majors, and thirteen children were born to them, of whom but six are now living, namely: Mary (., Olivia, Gertrude. Laura, Nora and Rich- ard. Our subject is a member of the Ancient
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Order of United Workmen and Iron Hall. In him the Methodist Church has one of her stanchest members, and he and his estimable wife are im- portant factors in that body. Through the Build- ing Association Mr. Gelwicks bought and built a neat little home in 1885, situated at No. 1010 Mascoutah Avenue. Mr. Gelwieks may well be regarded as one of the representative men of Belleville, where so many years of his life have been spent.
C ONRAD KILIAN, a prominent and pros- perous farmer living on section 1, Smith- ton Township, the subject of the present sketch, is the son of John Kilian, who was born in Germany in 1804, married Barbara Reinhart there, and emigrated to this country in 1814, locating first in St. Clair County, five miles north from Belleville, and living there five years. Then he came to Smithton Township, where he bought one hundred and five acres of land at 826 per acre, and kept on buying until now two hun- dred and ten acres of fine grain land and meadows comprise his property, which he has gradually paid for, although poor when he began. He has had six children, of whom four are living, as fol- lows: Katherine Sutter, who lives in St. Louis; Annie Elizabeth Vollrath, who lives in Edwards- ville; Jacob, who resides in Smithton Township; and our subjeet.
The birth of Mr. Kilian of this notice took place August 18, 1832, in Germany, he being twelve years old when his father brought him to this country. Between that time and the time that his father bought the farm, Conrad largely assisted him in every way possible, and it was principally through his efforts that the place was bought and paid for. In course of time, our subject married Mary F. Ripley, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Ripley, her father being a prominent farmer and early settler of this county, but a native of Virginia, Mrs, Conrad Kilian was born
and reared on the old Ripley homestead, and edu- cated in this county. After his marriage, our sub- ject settled on the place where he now lives, and has remained there ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Kil- ian have had five children, as follows: Ellen, wife of Henry Marsha, lives near Springfield, Ill .; Eliza- betli Ann, wife of IIenry Moeser, of Smithton Township; John E., living at home with his father; Sarah V., living at home; and Mary, who also remains under her father's roof.
There are one hundred and thirty acres of good land in Mr. Kilian's farm, and it is well im- proved and well cultivated, fifteen aeres being in timber. Our subjeet holds religious connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church and there his family also worship. Politically a Repub- liean, Mr. Kilian always votes that ticket, and has held the responsible offices of School Trustee and School Director for twenty years, to him being due the excellent school organization of his dis- trict.
OHIN T. WARD. The birthplace of the sub- jeet of our sketch was Turkey Hill, St. Clair County, Il., the date of his birth being October 28, 1830. Ile was the son of hon- orable parents, his father being John Ward, a na- tive of South Carolina, born in 1796, and his mother Mary Hill, born in 1801 in Pennsylvania. In the year 1806, the father and grandfather of our subject made the trip overland to Illinois, making a settlement on Hazel Creek, near where our subjeet was born. Then the country was in a wild, unsettled, uneultivated state and the In- dians were very numerous and troublesome.
The father of our subject was a lad of ten years when he reached this State. He grew up like a giant, and seemed to thrive on the hardships of that time, taking part in the Indian wars on the Missis- sippi, and doing his share in subduing the savages. His corn was raised in a field where the city of Belleville now stands. Ile remained near Tur- key lTill until 1836, when he removed to Belleville and lived in that city for eighteen years, and then
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came to the place on which our subject now re- sides, beyond the western limit of the city. llis useful life ended April 23, 1868.
The mother of our subject was a typical pioneer woman and her experiences began early in life. On emigrating to Illinois, she and her mother came down the Ohio River by boat and then walked the distance between that stream and St. Clair County. Our record of her life is not as complete as the biographer desires, but we know that a part of her family took a prominent piace in the early struggles with the savages. IIer brother David lived to be ninety years old and was one of the early Indian fighters. Mrs. Ward died in September, 1883. Only two children were born of this marriage, our subject and his brother Mark, who now resides in Wellington, Kan. The latter has been twice married, his first wife be- ing Mary Jane Kirkpatrick. one child resulting from this union. Ilis second wife was Elinor Wilderman a cousin of Judge A. S. Wilderman, of Belleville; there are three children by this marriage.
Our subject was reared in Belleville until he was about fifteen years of age. From 1845 to 1848, he attended MeKendree College at Lebanon, Ill., and after he left there he engaged as a clerk for one year, but at the expiration of that time he went back to the farm. This he found both pleas- ant and profitable and he has made it the business of his life. The marriage of Mr. Ward took place May 1, 1849, to Miss Lucy Ash, the estimable daughter of Christopher and Nancy Ash, who were natives of Ireland and the State of Virginia, re- speetively. The children who have been added to the household in these years are as follows: William Edgar, who is a lawyer, married Lizzie Phillips and resides at Belleville and has a family of five children; Walter Lee, who married Amelia Davis, resides on the home place with his six ehil- dren; Albert Grant, who married Bertha Louisa Freikert, since deceased, resides in Belleville with his two children; Louis Thomas, who was recently married to Miss Philopena Bauer, lives on a farm; Ella, Kate, Fannie Beatrice and Mary Louisa are at home. The first wife of Mr. Ward died and he married her sister Catherine in March, 1878.
Mr. Ward has been a successful horse-breeder and
has confined himself to Hambletonian stock, being one of the first in this section to recognize the fact that imported stock was the best investment. Both offices of Ilighway Commissioner and school Direc- tor have been filled by him to the satisfaction of the community. Our subject is a believer in the doctrines of the Republican party and has voted that ticket for many years. In his religious con- victions, he follows the teachings of John Wes- ley. Mr. Ward has lived in his present house for thirty-three years and his first home, built forty-three years ago, is now occupied by one of his sons.
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OHN BERTELOTHI. The subject of this short sketch is a farmer residing on section 18, Smithton Township, in St. Clair County. Ilis father was Peter Berteloth, who was born in Germany and was reared there. lle was also married in that country to Miss Anna Barbara Kilean. When he first came to this country, he located in Smithton Township, where he bought land and where his son now lives. Only two of his children, Adam and our subject, are now living. lle owned one hundred and twenty acres of land which he had earned himself, and died in 1870 after a life of honest toil; his wife is still living.
Our subject was born on the 16th of October, 1812, in Germany and was but nine years old when he came to this country. He went to the district schools and learned very quickly, as all of the young German lads do, often putting to shame the Amer- ican youth. He was married to Miss Ida Weinel, the daughter of George Weinel and was born in St. Clair Township. Iler father was born in Ger- many and came to this county first settling in St. Louis, whence he came to St. Clair County. lle had the following children, of whom only one beside the wife of our subjeet is living: Ida, Fred- erick, George, Katherine, Lena. Wilhelmina, Louisa, Magdalena and Henry, Frederick is a farmer liv- ing in Kansas. George Weinel was a member of the Lutheran Church when a young man, but later
Very July yours P.M. Romeiser
Sincerely Yours Elise Hilo and Romeiser
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in life joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. Lenry and Frederick were both in the Civil War and the former died there. The mother of Mrs. Berteloth was Catherine Skaer who was born and married in Germany.
After his happy marriage our subject located on the place where he now lives, and has faithfully and industriously followed his business as farmer ever since. Ile built his present comfortable resi- cence in 1884. Ile cultivates fifty acres of his own and twenty belonging to his mother. He raises grain and is very successful. He has a pleasant and in- telligent family of six children: Amy, Magdalene, Ida, John, Albert and Walter. In his political preference, Mr. Berteloth is a Republican and votes with that party. His church connection is with the good people who follow the rules laid down by John Wesley. This family is pleasant and hospi- table and there is no place in which the worthy stranger finds a warmer welcome than at the board of this large-hearted German citizen.
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ETER M. ROMEISER. Men are to be judged by achievement, and it is always safe to accept results as a proof of the possessions of the powers and capabilities which lead up to them. Of successes in the busi- ness world which have been earned by the exercise of sound judgment, thorough business tact and indomitable energy, there is no more eminent ex- ample in this section of the country than Peter M. Romeiser, who is now at the head of a large retail clothing house in Belleville. In these days of competition, it is merit that wins in the arena of business, and the high commercial character. the discriminating judgment, the eye that sees and the executive ability that is enabled to improve op- portunities, are attributes which are possessed by Mr. Romeiser in a marked degree.
Our subjeet was born in Steinan, Electorate of Ilesse, Germany, November 11, 1842, but left his native land when less than fifteen years of age, and
in August, 1857, crossed the ocean in a sailing-ves- sel. After a voyage of ninety days from Bremen, he arrived at New Orleans in the latter part of November. From there he journeyed by steamer to St. Louis. after which he went to Waterloo, Ill., where he clerked in a general store until the out- break of the Civil War. In June, 1861, he en- listed at Belleville as a private in Company F, Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, then in eamp at the Belleville Fair grounds.
Mr. Romeiser was a participant in the battle of Belmont, was through the New Madrid and Island No. 10 campaign, and later was in the siege of Corinth, Miss., during which time the battle of Farmington, Miss., was fought. During the sum- mer and fall of the same year, he was with his regi- ment at Nashville, Tenn., and on the 30th and 31st of December, 1862, he was in the famous battle of Murfreesboro, where his regiment was almost an- nihilated. After that battle he was appointed one of the color-bearers of his regiment, and went through the Tullahoma campaign, and was in the battle of Chickamauga, where he was wounded. and where he would have fallen into the hands of the enemy had not his regiment commander helped him off the field. He remained in the field hospital until shortly before the battle of Mission- ary Ridge, when he re-joined his regiment, al- though he was still suffering from his wound. Ile took part in that battle, his regiment being a part of Gen. Sheridan's famous division.
On the 27th of November, 1863, Mr. Romeiser received the following letter from the command- ing officer of his regiment, which he cherishes as a proud memento of the war for the Union:
Head Quarters 22d. Ill. Inf. Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 27, '63.
Spryt. Romeizer, Com. F.
Sir :- I present you with a Sergeant's warrant in token of my admiration of your courage and good con- durt in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga fought on the 19th & 20th of September and 25th of Nov., 1863. I trust you will live to carry our banner as bravely as you hare heretofore done until this Rebellion is crushed.
F. Swanwick, Lt. Col. Com'dg Reg.
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