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 53
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marriage with Miss Jane, daughter of Nathaniel Smith, who came to St. Clair County as early as 1810. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ilill have been born seven children. one of whom died in infancy. Nathaniel S. is a telegraph operator at Pontiac, Ill .; Robert M. lives at Wellington, Kan .; John manages an elevator for the Crown Milling Com- pany, at Freeburg; Walter M. clerks in a store at Webster, Mo .; Mary Jane is the wife of J. II. Jones, and lives in Pontiae; and Clara A., who married J. P. Holcomb, died a year after marriage, leaving one son. The mother of these children died De- cember 22, 1878.
The pleasant home of Mr. Ilill is presided over by his cultured wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Livers, and became his wife January 16, 1881. She was born in Monroe County, near Ilar- risonville. Il., and was the danghter of Joseph Livers, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Monroe County when a boy. By trade he was a blacksmith, and followed farming in connection therewith. He was the father of five children, of whom Mrs. Hill was the first-born. During the early Indian Wars he served in defense of the Govern- ment, and was an upright, public-spirited man.
The farm of Mr. Hill comprises one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, and in addition to this he is the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Franklin County, which he rents. In religion he sbared the belief of Robert Ingersoll and Thomas Payne. He is a stanch supporter of the Republiean platform, and was one of the four members of the first Republican convention ever held in this county. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors for six years, served as Justice of the Peace for four years, and during the late war held the position of enrolling officer of the dis- triet. In 1880, he served as Census Enumerator, and has filled other local positions of trust and responsibility. With one exception, he is the old- est settler in Prairie du Long Township, and has been a witness to its rapid progress during all the years of his residence here, aiding as far as pos- sible to promote its welfare.
The grandparents of our subject were Jonathan and Ruth ( Maple) Hill, the former born in New Jersey, of English parentage. In early manhood
he moved to Erie County, Pa., where he spent his remaining years. The children born to himself and wife were William, who died near Freeburg, this State; David, father of our subject; Sarah, Mrs. Thomas Wright; Jonathan and llenry, deceased; and Polly, Mrs. Ward. David Hill was born in Erie County, Pa .. March 10, 1794. Ilis father died when he was a small boy, leaving the mother with six children to support and educate, although her means were very limited. With her children, she removed in 1808 to Illinois, and settled on Turkey Hill, St. Clair County. Here she was obliged to undergo the hardships common to a new country, and at times found it necessary to bar the doors as protection against wild animals. After a faithful life, she passed away at the old home.
David Hill married Isabella, daughter of Zaeli- ariah Burnett, who came to Illinois from Wayne County, Ky. The first employment of Mr. Ilill was that of pulling blades of corn in the field which was afterward the site of the present public square of Belleville. Ile served one and one-half years in the War of 1812, as a member of Jacob Short's company, which was under Gov. Edwards' com- mand. Although he had no school advantages in early life, he was studions and observing, and ob- tained a practical knowledge that served him to good purpose. Ile was a local Methodist preacher and often appeared before his audiences in his bare feet. A natural orator and a well-informed man, he was considered an able expounder of the Gos- pel and an interesting preacher. He was a good, conscientious man, and mueh respected by all who knew him. Ile died August 6, 1881, mourned throughout the community where he so long re- sided.
The family of which our subjeet is a member consisted of sixteen children. the following of whom grew to maturity and survive: Crawford A., who lives in Cape Girardeau, Mo .; our subject; Peter ('., whose home is in Benton, Ill .; Jane Ann, wife of Charles Wilderman; and Mary Angeline, who married Oliver Charles, and lives in Mis- souri. The deceased are Ruth, wife of Ed Terrill; Isabella, who died at the age of eigh- teen; John, whose death occurred when sixteen; David A., who was killed in the Mexican
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War in 1847; Henry, who died about 1880; Jona- than, whose death occurred in Springfield, Mo., in February, 1890; and six who died before reaching maturity. Crawford A. and Peter are bothi pensioners of the Civil War. A sister of our subject's father, while living in Erie County, Pa., at about the age of three years was carried off by a panther and partially devoured. A very extended search was made at the time by the entire neigli- borhood, but they failed to find the missing child. A distant neighbor dreamed of the occurrence, and also of the place where the remains were, and on a second search being made, the remains were found under a fallen tree-top. Our subject has some val- uable old family relics in the way of manuscript dating back to the beginning of the nineteenth century.
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C HARLESGROSSMANN. Among the many fine farms which attract the stranger's eye in this part of St. Clair County, the one belonging to the subject of our sketch de- serves especial mention. The ownerof this pleas- ant piece of ground is Charles Grossmann, who is of German birth and extraction. The father of this gentleman, also named Charles, came to this country in 1832, having been born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and was reared in that coun- try to a life of toil.
The father of our subject married Miss Elizabeth Debn in his native land, and when the family had been increased by five children, he resolved to seek a wider field for his offspring than he had ever found for himself. Hence, in 1832, he took the good wife and the five children, Louis, Margaret, Barbara, George and our subject, and sailed away far over the sea to America-so long ago has this land been the hope of the poor and op- pressed in other chimes. After arriving here, one more child, Eleanor, was added to the family. Not at all dismayed at so many little hungry mouths to Feed, Mr. Grossmann and his worthy wife set
to work. They made their way to St. Clair County immediately and entered land of the Government where his son now lives. Ilere the father be- gan improvements and worked away until he owned a fine farm and his children were all com- fortably off. Mr. Grossmann had $50 when he reached this country, and that money he expended for two cows and found he had made no mistake in so using it. Hle built the family a house and made many improvements before his death in 1868.
Our subjeet was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. in Germany, June 3, 1832. and was about two weeks old when he began his travels. His memory of the long ocean journey is naturally not a very distinet one, but he well remembers what a wilder- ness this country was when he became old enough to notice his surroundings. He can yet see the for- est and underbrush which were cleared away by his father, and where now his eyes only note the great fields of waving yellow grain, or the rustling eorn, he can, in memory, see the primeval forest or the burned stumps of the beginning of civilization. His edneation was necessarily of the most limited kind, and his time was so occupied that if the ad- vantages had been better, he would scarcely have had time to enjoy them.
The marriage of our subject took place m 1855. when he was united to Miss Katharine Kelly, who was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt also. She lived but eight years, and by that time there were five children, of whom four are still living. They are, Charles C. and Louis, who live in Smithton Town- ship; George, who lives in Millstadt Township; and Lizzie, who is the wife of Charles Veille and lives in this township. Katharine died at the age of three years. The second marriage of Mr. Grossmann took place in this county, when he was united to Miss Katharine Hartman, who was a native of Pennsylvania. By that marriage there were two children: Mary, who is the wife of Gustav Ettling, who conducts the hotel at Floraville; and .Jacob, who remains at home.
After the demise of the second Mrs. Grossmann, our subject felt his loneliness, and it was not until he found the present good woman to occupy his home that he grew happy again. His present wife
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was Mes. Margaret Stahl, daughter of Philip Jockel, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, the old home of her husband, and came here in 1854. This marriage took place December 6, 1875, and two children have resulted from this union, William Frederick and John H., who are at home. The farm of Mr. Grossmann consists of two hundred and forty acres, all well improved and now under the best cultivation. On this land he raises corn, oats and potatoes, but wheat is the principal crop. The family of Mr. Grossmann are members of the Evangelical Church, and give it their endorsement and support. He is also a member of the George- town Treubund, and he has held the office of Deputy Master of the lodge. Politically, Mr. Grossmann is a Republican and believes that a proper following of the principles of that party will lead the country into the greatest prosperity.
ICHAEL HARROLD, Superintendent of the East St. Louis Electric Street Railroad Com- pany, fills his responsible position in a man- ner that reflects credit upon himself and the company. 1le is a native of the Emerald Isle, born in County Limerick on the 28th of Jan- nary, 1865, and his father, Thomas Harrold, as well as his grandfather, John Harrold, were natives of the same place. The latter was a comfortable farmer in his native country, and there passed his entire life.
Thomas Harrold followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, who for many generations had been farmers, and tilled the soil with fair success dur- ing his days. He married Miss Kate Long, who was also a native of County Limerick, and their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, all of whom are now living, but only one in Amer- ica. The parents were highly respected in their native county and were identified with the Cathi- olie Church.
The original of this notice, who was the third in order of birth of the above-mentioned children, Was reared on a farm adjoining the town of New.
castle West, and was trained to the duties of the farm at an early age. He attended school in his native country, secured a good, practical educa- tion, and in 1883 crossed over to this side of the Atlantic, leaving Queenstown in the spring of that year. After reaching New York City, he was em- ployed at the wharves for three years, and in 1886 he came to St. Louis, where he began working for the Union Depot Street Railway Company as a conductor. He continued in that capacity for over four years, and was there when the electric cars first came into use. Being thoroughly con- versant with the different branches of the road, he was sent to East St. Louis by the company as superintendent in charge and manager of the street railway.
Our subject was the 'first superintendent ap- pointed to operate the road and was elected to that position in February, 1891. He is a most capable man for the position, thoroughly under- stands every detail connected with it, and is wide-awake and thorough-going. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, contributes lih- erally to its support, and in politics is a stalwart Democrat. In all public enterprises he takes a leading part, and he is recognized by all as a first- class citizen.
C HARLES MAUER. One of the most suc- cessful men in the hardware line in East St. Louis is the original of this sketch, who was born at Freeport, III., March 28, 1853, and was the son of C. F. Mauer, born in the Province of Saxony, Germany, where he followed the trade of a baker. The father married there and came to America in 1818, going to Freeport, where he re- mained until about 1856; then he went to Bloom- ington, Ill., and began his trade, but died there in 1863. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Lederman, born in Germany, who, after the death of her husband, took the family to Pekin, where she now resides,
John Howele
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Our subject was the second youngest in a family of tive children, and was reared in the towns of Pekin and Bloomington until 1870. There he re- ceived a good common-school education, and when eleven years of age was put to learn the trade of a tinsmith, but at sixteen he decided to become a miller and worked at this for two years; subsequently, in the fall of 1870, coming to St. Louis, he immediately found employment. In the spring of 1871, he crossed the Mississippi and welt ito the employ upaloy of C. Hauss, of East St. Louis, with whom he remained until 1878.
Mr. Mauer then started in business for himself on Collinsville Avenue with a stock of hardware and tin ware, and here he has been in business since, and has been so successful that in 1883 he built the brick block he now occupies. It is 30x100 feet and has two stories with basement and eleva- tor. In his immense tin shop, he employs a num- ber of men, and in 1891 he started a branch store in Madison. IIe is a stockholder in the First Na- tional Bank, a man of wealth, owning valuable real estate, and in 1892 laid out the Charies Maner Addition to East St. Louis. Mr. Mauer was mar- ried in St. Louis County, Mo., to Miss A. II. Luge, who is a native of St. Louis County, and they have two children. Charles and Edward. Although a stanch Democrat in his political convictions, he is not aggressive, and socially is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Mauer is well known as a good citizen, and as such receives the respect of the community.
OLIN MAULE. This gentleman is President of the Maule Coal Company at Belleville, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 and has the following officers: John Manle, President; Frank Manle. Vice-pres- ident and Treasurer; and Robert Maule, Superin- tendent and Manager. Ile also belongs to the National Coal Company, which has a capital stock of $10,000 and the same officers.
John. Maule was born in Clackmannanshire, Jan-
uary 5, 1837, and passed his childhood years in Stirlingshire, Scotland. His parents, Alexander and Margaret (Hall) Maule, died when he was very young, and he was, therefore, obliged to be self- supporting from an early age. He came to the United States in 1851, and began working in a coal mine five miles from St. Louis, Mo., where he con- tinned for twelve years. In 1863, he went to Caseyville, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and opening up a mine began operating for himself. After remaining there seven years, he sold the mine and sunk another on the Vandalia Railroad, which he named the Abbey Mines. He became a large oper- ator, employing one hundred and twenty-five men and shipping twenty-five carloads of coal every day. IJe had the first large mine there, and was very successful until he sold out to the railroad in 1868. Ilis next venture was that of sinking a mine to a depth of five hundred feet, but he failed to get coal.
In 1868, Mr. Maule came to Belleville and opened a mine on the Pittsburg Road, mainly for the local market. After exhausting the coal supply there, he sunk a mine on the Belleville & Carondelet Railroad, in 1886. This is known as the Maule Mine and has a slope entrance, with all running machinery. Ile has an annual lease of one hundred and ten acres, and furnishes coal for the largest furnaces of Belleville. Ile supplies the railroad from the Belleville Steel Works to Cairo, and the Short Line Railroad, the former consuming five thousand bushels a day, with two locomotivesand one hundred and forty-six cars. This plant repre- sents $75,000, although it is capitalized at $100,000. The National Mine is about one-fourth of a mile west of the Maule, and is a shaft on the Belleville & C'arondelet Railroad, with complete equipments for shaft mining. The Maule mine is operated by compressed air and runs a railroad to all parts, hauling fifteen hundred feet with a cable wire. The company has offices and yards at No. 17 Clark Avenue, and also in East St. Louis. Our subject divides his time between his two places of business, making his home in Belleville.
The career of Mr. Maule has in many respects been a remarkable one, and furnishes an illustra- tion of the power of industry. Without friends,
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and without even tive cents in his pocket, he came to Belleville, where now he is one of the most prosperous citizens. He owns real estate in the city. probably to the amount of $25,000, which does not include his fine brick residence at No. 415 Franklin Avenue.
Mr. Maule first married Miss Margaret Archibald, of Scotland, born near Stirling, he having sent for her to his old home. She died in August, 1870, leaving four children, as follows: Maggie, wife of John Doan, of St. Louis; Jeannette, wife of Fairly Nelison, of St. Louis; Francis and Robert. After- ward, Mr. Maule married Sarah Wandless, of Caseyville. Il. They have six children: Elizabeth, wife of George Roth of this city; William, Alex- ander, James, Eugene and Arthur. They are highly respected members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Honor. He has been Alderman for the Third Ward and was appointed by the Governor State Exam- iner of Mines of Illinois. Ilere is an example where honest, thrifty industry has obtained its deserved reward.
G EORGE SCHROEDER. The subject of the present notice is an enterprising young man, located at No. 919 Illinois Avenue, East St. Lonis, where he manufactures those necessities of hot weather, soda and mineral waters, and conducts a Weiss beer brewery. He was born in St. Louis, June 20, 1866, and his father was Edward Schroe- der, a native of Germany, who came to America when a young man and located in St. Louis, starting the business which the son carries on. Two partners were tirst connected with him, but ulti- mately he bought them out and conducted the business successfully alone. Afterward selling out here, he went to Cairo and started the same industry, but finally disposed of his plant there and returned to St. Louis, and in 1867 came to East St. Louis, becoming the originator of the soda
and mineral water business in this place. Starting from the bottom. he worked himself right up by that perseverance which belongs to his race. The worthy father died in July, 1887. in the fifty-third year of his age.
The mother of our subject was Mary Reinders. born in Germany, the daughter of Prof. August Reinders, who was a teacher in his European home. but who led a retired life after coming to East St. Intis. Her husband died in this city, but she still lives here and is a member of the Catholic Chinch. Our subject was the second eldest in a family of four children, and was reared in East St. Louis, attending the public school here, and then was sent to the Washington University for three years. From a boy he was familiar with the details of his father's business, and on the latter's death took charge of it, conducting it for the family under the firm name of E. Schroeder & Co. Mr. Schroeder was the manager, and in 1892 bought the entire interest out, and has since conducted it alone. In 1889 he put in improvements and engaged in the manufacture of Weiss beer. The plant has steam power and is in every way the largest and best equipped in the city for that business. His building is 35x85 feet, and has two stories. His marriage took place in June, 1890, with Miss Bertha Schaub, daughter of George Schaub, a hardware merchant in this city. One little one has come to brighten his home, a daughter, Viola. Mr. Schroeder is a Democrat in his political opinions, and is possessed of a laudable ambition to make a success of his life in all that goes to make up a worthy manhood.
E MANUEL WEBB is the son of Henry and Louisa (Spiecer) Webb, who were both born in the village of Barley Hill, Staffordshire, England. The birth of Emanuel Webb occurred in Caseyville, Ky., on the 8th of February, 1814, and he now makes his home in Caseyville Town- ship, IH. His father grew to manhood in his na- tive town and received his education in the com- mon schools, As his parents were very poor he was
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obliged in early life to commence to work at hard la- bor, and as they lived in a mining district, he there- fore commenced working in the coal mines, which occupation he followed during his stay in Eng- land. In 1810, he set sail upon the broad Atlantic for America and after landing in the I'nited States went first to Pennsylvania, where he remained for a time and afterward removed to Kentucky. He was engaged in coal mining all his life, and after staying for Lot some time in the last-named State, re- moved to Illinois. where he worked in the coal mines of different parts of the State. He was mar- ried in Pennsylvania, to Miss Spiecer, and unto them were born seven children, two of whom sur- vive: Elizabeth, the wife of J. F. Bumstead, and our subjeet. His death occurred about the year 1854, and his wife was again married this time to Peter Brown. She lived until Christmas Day of 1891, when she passed away at the age of sixty-nine years.
Emanuel Webb lived under the parental roof until he had grown to manhood. In 1865, he started in the coal mines and for ten years labored there. Hle purchased a farm of twenty-four acres in 1875 with the means which, by strict economy and frugality, he had earefully saved from his wages. Ile has carried on the business of farming for many years with good snecess. In 1881, he entered the general merchandising business with P. Gaven, and has since been very successful.
On the 17th of November, 1870, Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Muilberger, a daughter of Louis and Louisa Muilberger. Mrs. Webb departed this life on the 27th of July, 1871. Our subject was again married, in 1875, Miss Sarah Mowe, who was a daughter of William and Lucy Mowe, becoming his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Webb have been born five children: Ida B., Albert, Emily L., William E. and Henry C.
Mr. Webb has always been a friend to education and is a firm believer in the efficacy of good schools and the best of teachers. He has given his children the best educational advantages, and has served as School Treasurer of the township since 1887. Socially, he is a member of Caseyville Lodge No. 126, 1. O. O. F., and in 1865 became a member of Lodge No. 43, of Collinsville, Politi-
cally, he is an advocate of the Democratie party. Ile is truly a self-made man, having risen from the lowest rounds of life, financially considered, to his present measure of success and prosperity. He has always fulfilled the duties of citizenship in a faith- ful manner and is a loyal citizen of this com- munity. For many years, he has been a respected and highly-esteemed resident of this county, and by his integrity and genial friendliness has made a host of friends.
ICHOLAS STAUB, who owns and operates two hundred and fifty acres of land on sec- tion 35, Shiloh Valley Township, is a na- tive of France. He was born in Alsace in 1840, and is a son of Stephen and Mary (Stuner) Staub, who were also natives of the same locality, the former born in 1813, and the latter in 1817. The paternal grandparents of our subject were John and Emma (Weaver) Staub, farming people of France. Under the parental roof the father of our subject grew to manhood, and on attaining his majority he married Miss Stuner, then eighteen years of age. Her parents were Nicholasand Mary (De Rush) Stuner. In the Staub family were eight children, Nicholas being the eldest. August is the second in order of birth; Stephen and Daniel are both deceased; Rosa is the wife of Peter Young; and Jacob, John and Peter complete the family. It was in 1850 that Stephen Staub came to Amer- ica. Ile left his family in the Fatherland until the following year, when, having made prepara- tions for a home, he was joined by his wife and children. He first rented land, as he was in lim- ited circunstances, but afterward purchased a farm, upon which he resided for twelve years. In the autumn of 1863, he came with his family to this county, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring in 1865. Ilis wife yet smivives him, and is now living in Maseoutah Township. He was a member of the Catholic Chnich.
With his parents, Nicholas Staub came to Amer-
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ica. In the spring of 1863, he sought a home in St. Clair County, and during the suceceding sum- mer worked by the month as a farm hand. It was through his influence that the family came to this county. Ilis boyhood days were quietly passed in the usual manner of farmer lads and he remained with his mother until his marriage, which was cele- brated m 1872, Miss Mary, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stern) Biebel, becoming his wife. The lady is a native of St. Clair County, but her parents were both born in Alsace, France. Ilaving emi- grated to this country, they became pioneer settlers of St. Clair County of 1842.
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