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 55
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Another side of our subject's hfe is presented to the readers of this RECORD. when we tell of his army experience. Charles Probst was one of the brave men who went out with Company D, Forty-third Illinois Infantry, and his life as a soldier would fill a volume with most interesting reading. Participating in many bloody battles, Mr. Probst proved himself a man of great personal courage, finally receiving wounds from the effects of which he will never recover. A grateful Gov- ernment bestowed upon him a pension, which he has drawn since being mustered out in 1865. Mr. Probst is a highly-esteemed member of Millstadt Post No. 681, G. A. R., and is always an interested attendant at the meetings, where old days and dangers are talked over. The fruits of his marriage are nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: John, hving in St. Louis; Charles,
residing at Twelve Mile Prairie; Fritz, at home; Katherine, wife of Fritz Metzger, of Floraville; Ida, at home, as are also Emma and Edward. Louis and Sophia have been removed by death.
The fine farm of our subject consists of one hundred aeres of good land, which is carefully cultivated, wheat being the principal crop, but much fine stock may be seen on it. Sinee his resi- dence in this township, Mr. Probst has proved himself a man of honesty and good judgment and has been called upon to fill the position of High- way Commissioner for the past seven years. Ilis political views are in accord with the principles of the Republican party. His family belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Floraville and lead lives which reflect credit on that connection.
h ERMAN SPITZNASS. The gentleman whose honored name appears at the heading of this sketch is another of the brave sons of this country with whom Germany has furnished us. Mr. Spitznass was the son of William Spitznass, a native of Prussia, where he was reared and married. The lady whom he married was Miss Johanna Kelch, with whom he came to this country about 1852, locating at Turkey Hill. where he bought land, and bere it is that our subject still resides, on the oid home place. The father lived here until 1872, when he removed to Belleville, living there for five years, and then removed to New Athens, where he still resides, es- teemed and respected by all. His beloved wife was taken from him in 1858, and he has never supplied her loss. This gentleman is a good. brave and patriotic man, and served faithfully and well in the German army. lle and his wife were the happy parents of seven children, six of whom are living, namely; Emma, our subject, Otto, Richard, Clara, Anna and Ida, all of whom are a credit to their father and an honor to their respective communities. Otto, taken away by death, was deeply mourned by all.
Our subject, as was before stated, is a native of
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Germany, having been born in Prussia, October 18, 1842, and was only eleven years of age when the family made their advent into this country of freedom, and he grew to manhood in the place where he still lives. In the year 1861, he nobly responded to the call of his country and entered the Forty-third Regiment of Illinois Infantry, serving three years, and taking part in the battle of Shiloh, as well as numerous minor ones, in all of which he gave evidence of great personal courage as well as of unswerving attachment to the country of his adoption. Upon his return from the war, our suh- jeet married Miss Rachel Funk, who died five years afterward, and later he married her sister Mary. By his first wife Mr. Spitznass had one child, and nine were added to his family as the fruits of his second union, namely; George, Otto, Amelia, Lou- isa. Theodore, Ilenry, Hilda, Herman and a habe unnamed. Mr. Spitznass has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-nine acres, all in a fine state of cultivation, on which are carried on general farm- ing and stock-raising. The farm is on seetion 6, Freeburg Township, St. Clair County. Here our subject has spent his life, having a reeord as an honest, industrious agrieulturist. He is a member of the (frange, in which he has been very active, and politically is a strong Democrat and takes a 1 deep interest in the affairs of his party.
INCENT G. JOHNSON. This farmer and intelligent gentleman living on a fine farm of one hundred aeres of fertile Illinois soil, was born September 23, 1837, one-half mile south- west of his present home, upon what is known as the "Phillips Farm."
The father of our subject, Hardy Johnson, was born near New Berne, N. (., and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Smith, was a native of Columbia, Maury County, Tenn. The paternal grandfather was an old sailor, who was in the navy during the Revolutionary War, and died at Aberdeen, Miss., at the advanced age of
ninety-nine years. Ilis wife was very old when she passed away. The mother's parents were Vir- ginians, who emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day. Hardy Johnson and his wife came to Illinois in 1831. They had started for Brownsville, Mo., but in passing through Franklin County, Ill., were so pleased that they remained there three years. They came to St. Clair County in 1834, and settled on the place where our subject was born.
The father of Vincent Johnson died March 20, 1876, at the age of eighty-one. Ile held no offices during his life time, but contented himself with doing his duty by church, family and State. The devoted mother of our subject was so overcome with grief that she only lingered twenty days after the demise of her husband. Their marriage took place in 1821 in Maury County, Tenn., and they lived near Columbia for several years after mar- iage. They were the parents of the following children: Louisa, who married for her second hus- band J. D. Franklin, a farmer living in Woodford County, I11. She had two children by her first mar- riage. Elzira died in February 1891, aged sixty-two years, the wife of William Harris, of Nashville, Ill., and left seven children; Mark died at the home of our subject in 1884, at the age of fifty years; William R. was about nineteen when death claimed him; Mary, wife of Joseph Whiteside, died in Logan County, Ill., and Margaret, widow of L. D. Rob- erts, who was a mechanie, but devoted himself to farming during his later years. She has been a widow for twelve years, and has one daughter.
The subject of this notice, reared on a farm and thus educated for his life work, first attended the local schools and then took a course in the Belle- ville IHigh School. He continued an inmate of the paternal household until a man in stature and age. llis marriage with Miss Emily Moore took place on the 8th of October, 1862. She was the daughter of Risdon A. and Ann ( Middlekoff) Moore. Her father lives in Shiloh Valley Township, about two miles east. and is an old settler and prominent citi- zen. Mr. Johnson lost his wife in 1870 and she left one child, Mary, who married M. O. Wilderman, and had one daughter.
Our subject married a second time, May 20, 1873,
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this union being with Miss Pinelda C. Breese, of Irvington Ill., daughter of John and Etheinda (Rieff) Breese, both deceased. Her father made Illi- nois his home in 1849. Farming has been the life business of Mr. Johnson, and his work has brought him happiness and success. Like his father, he has been a Democrat all his life and peaceably upholds the principles of the party when- ever called upon. Our subject is now serving the township as Highway Commissioner. Mr. Johnson is a fine looking man and his quiet, thoughtful countenance tells of reserved mental strength. llis neighbors esteem him highly and his friends are greatly attached to him.
R EV. JAMES GILLEN. The Catholic Church at Lebanon is fortunate in having as its pastor a gentleman of such large resources and unquestioned ability as Father Gillen. Among the people of the community in general, as well as the parishioners, he is very popular, and his geniality of manner and devotion to his parish win him many friends. To his efforts may be at- tributed the large measure of success which has come to the church in recent years, and he has been largely instrumental in securing the erection of the magnificent edifice, which when completed will be one of the most elegant churches in the State.
Father Gillen was born in Heisterburg, February 23, 1861. ITis parents, John and Frances (Gross) Gillen, natives of Germany, emigrated to America in 1875 and settled in Ohio, where they still make their home. The subject of this sketch received the rudiments of his education in the parochial schools of his native place and afterward en- tered St. Joseph's College at Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained tive years. Ilis literary studies were subsequently pursued at Teutopolis, 111., where he improved his excellent educational advantages to their fullest extent.
On the completion of his studies at Teutopolis, our subject took a philosophical course of two years at Montreal, Canada, and afterward went to
Europe, commencing the study of theology at Rome and remaining there for four years. Upon his return to the United States, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Francis, Wis., May 9, 1886, and on the 14th of the following month accepted the pastorate of St. Joseph's Church at Lebanon, where he has ever since resided. This parish has been established about twenty-five years and at the present time consists of about sixty-five fami- lies. As has been above stated, a new church is in process of building, which will cost $15,000 and will, on its completion, be a beautiful edifice.
Father Gillen is a very popular priest. A man of education and great energy, to his persistent ef- forts is to be credited the fact that his congrega- tion enjoys a steady numerical growth. Ile has devoted himself untiringly to the task of raising the money necessary for the erection of the new church and has been rewarded with success. Mod- est and unassuming, he has labored not for his own temporal advancement but for the highest spiritual welfare of his parishoners and it is not strange therefore that he is esteemed by each one as a personal friend.
ARON STOOKEY. Among the men who have filled public positions in St. Clair County, the gentleman above named holds a prominent place as one who thoroughily understands the business in which he has been en- gaged, and fulfills his contracts in a reliable and conscientious manner. Ile has an extended ac- quaintance, and the estimate of those who know him includes a hearty respect for his private ehar- acter, as well as their good opinion of him as a skillful manager of affairs.
The parents of the above-named gentleman were Simon and Hannah (Gooding) Stookey, whose family consisted of seven children, who attained the years of manhood and womanhood. They were: Daniel; Aaron, our subject; Simon J., de- ceased; Sarah, wife of Louis Eyman, It now de- ceased; Ilannah A., wife of Marshall W. Weir;
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James M. and Melissa J., deceased, the latter of whom was the wife of Ferdinand Hinckley.
Simon Stookey, the father of our subject, came to St. Clair County with his parents in the year 1802 and settled near where the city of Belleville is now located. The family brought all their earthly effects with them to the new home on the prairies on wagons. The possibilities of this dis- triet as a farming country arrested the attention of Daniel Stookey, the grandfather of our subject, and he and his wife, Barbara ( Whetstone) Stookey, concluded to remain in this part of the State. Grandfather Stookey was the American represen - tative of an old and respected German family, part of whom were carly settlers in Virginia. Ile accumulated quite a fortune in Illinois, and at the time of his death was the owner of four hundred acres of fine farming land and was known as one of the finest raisers of stock in this section of the State.
Simon Stookey, the father of our subject, lived with his parents until the time of his marriage, when he located on a farm in Millstadt Township. Ile began life on his own account with but limited means, but soon accumulated enough to purchase two hundred and twelve acres of land. Ile was a man of strong characteristics and dauntless cour- age, and held many local offices in his township, for many years representing his county as one of its Commissioners. Hle was elected to the State Legislature but never honored that body with his presence, as soon after his election to office he was stricken with an illness that proved fatal and de- parted this life in the year following. He was a self-made man in the truest sense of the word. A natural student, he acquired his education by dili- gent study after the close of the day's labors, and was known as one of the best-posted and intelli- gent men of the community.
Aaron Stookey, with whose name we introduce this article, lived with his parents until the year 1852, when he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Holcomb, daughter af John W. and Eliza- beth (Goodner) Ilolcomb. Ile first began life as a farmer, which he followed a number of years, then engaged in the livery business in Belleville, which enterprise he conducted successfully for a period
of ten years. Ile also gained an excellent reputa- tion as a judge of stock, and his opinion in all matters relative to the same was relied on by many and older heads, A clear head, excellent thinking powers, and the ability to discriminate are among his other manly attributes, and he is one of the most successful men of his years in St. Clair County. The sterling qualities of the grandparents have certainly descended to this representative of the Stookey family. Ile has been honored with many political offices in the township, and has at different times filled the positions of Supervisor and Assessor creditably to himself and satisfactorily to those who placed him in office.
Mr. Stookey is a firm disciple of the Republican party and lends his assistance to the furtherance of its principles and the support of its tenets on all necessary occasions. The possessor of stanch ideas, he can always be relied on whenever he has arrived at a decision. With an intelligent concep- tion of his duties as a citizen, a feeling of good- will toward mankind and a deep regard for his family, he endeavors to honorably fulfill all the duties that devolve upon him, and in so doing he gains the respect of all who come in contact with lim.
AMES W. M.CULLOUGH, Passenger and Freight Agent of the Air Line of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad at Belleville, Ill., is one of the most trustworthy and capable officials on the road, as well as being cordial, accommodating and cour- teous. He is proving himself the right man in the right place, and the railroad officials are coming to realize this fact. He has held his present position since March, 1892, but the town of Belleville has claimed him as a resi- dent since 1852, at which time he was nine years of age. lle was born in Troy, Lincoln County, Mo., September 4, 1843, to George and Louisa (Pepper) MeC'ullough, the former of whom died at Florisant, St. Louis County, Mo. Ile was a native of the Keystone State, but of Scotch de-
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scent, and inherited many of the attributes for which the "canny Seot" is noted. Ile was married to Miss Pepper in the Pelican State, but her na- tive State was Virginia, where she belonged to one of the F. F. V's. George MeCullough was a phy- sician and surgeon of considerable note in the early days of Missouri and his patronage extended over a wide strip of territory. lle pursued his noble calling with much ability, until the hand of death cut short his career, after which his widow with her family came to Belleville, in which city they took up their permanent abode in 1852. Her family consisted of one son and one daughter: James W .. and Louisa, wife of Dr. R. D. Valentine, of Springfield, Mo. The mother died in 1884.
The subject of this sketeh was given more than ordinary advantages in his youth, for besides at- tending the public schools of Belleville, he was an attendant of the Christian Brothers' Academy, of St. Louis, Mo., for two years, and, unlike many young men, pursued his studies with earnestness and zeal and acquired an education which emi- nently fitted him for the practical duties of life. Ilis school days were followed by a period of elerk- ing in the Circuit Clerk's office, but he left it to take up arms in defense of the Stars and Stripes, enlisting in Company B, Seventieth Illinois Infan- try, in which he rose to be Sergeant-Major Ilis war record was a clean and honorable one, and during his short career as one of the "boys in blue" he was noted for his faithful dis- charge of every duty and for his upright and soldierly conduet. Upon his return home, after the strife had ended by the surrender of Gen. Lee, he began clerking for the old Major's Express, a local express from St. Louis to Belleville, on the Cairo Short Line, which was the only railroad between the cities. When the road was extended, the Adams Express Company took possession and the local express sold out, after which Mr. MeCul- lough was appointed Agent, which position he held for twenty-one years and one month, resigning in September, 1890, and removing with his family to St. Louis.
In that city he engaged in the commission busi- ness for one year, and, after elerking a short time, he accepted the position of Agent on the Louis-
ville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad, at Belleville, which is one of the most important offices, outside the terminal offices, on the road. He has six men under him, and manages them with a degree of abilty that is eminently satisfactory to the officials of the road. As a man of affairs, he is wide-awake and up with the times in every respect, well posted on the general topics of the day, alive to the interests of the section in which he resides, and is generous and whole-souled in the use of his means in behalf of enterprises that commend themselves to his excellent judgment.
Mr. Mccullough is a member of several secret organizations, among which may be mentioned the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. lle was married in Springfield, Ill., December 25, 1867. to Miss Callie Lorch, a daughter of Charles Loreh. Six children-five sons and one daugh- ter-have been born to their union, as follows: Mary Estella: George; J. W., Jr .; Ralph E., John Robert, and Charles. Our subject's life has been a happy one and he has endeavored to make others happy likewise, and has assisted many a young man to gain a foothold on the ladder of success.
R EV. R. D. WOODLEY, the popular pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Belleville, Ill., is a man keen in perception, clear and logieal in reasoning, and one who possesses the esteem of all. His church is the oldest Protestant structure in the city and is a fine brick edifice with a capacity of six hundred people, and located on First Street, between High and Illinois Streets. The audience-room is above, and the church parlors, lecture-room, dressing- room and pastor's study below. This was erected in 1848. Adjoining it on the west is the parson- age, a good two-story brick building, and both are in good condition.
Our subject was born in Columbia, N. C., May 21, 1848, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Wynne) Woodley, natives also of North Caro-
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lina. The father was born on a farm in that State. and on this same farm passed his entire life. His father had also resided on that farm. Robert Wynne, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a leading North Carolina politician and a very prominent Democrat. Daniel Woodley was born in 1799, and died in 1881. His wife passed away in 1862. Both were prominent members of the Baptist Church, and most exemplary and worthy citizens.
Rev. R. D. Woodley, the only child born to his parents, secured a good practical education in his native State, and subsequently finished at Pough- keepsie, N. Y. Later, he was engaged in cultivat- ing the soil, and in connection branched out as an educator, wielding the ferule with much success in his native State. When about eighteen years of age, he began to be interested in theological studies, but it was not until 1878 that he became connected with Conference. In 1881, he united with the White River Conference, in Arkansas, and subsequently located at Poplar Grove, Ark., Osee- ola, Ark., and Powhatan, being then transferred to Montana and stationed at Stevensville and Mis- soula.
In 1885, he was transferred to the Southern Illi- nois Conference and was stationed at Harrisburg, Saline County, where he remained two very suc- cessful years. After this he was in Nashville, Washington County, for three years, and from there came to Belleville, where he is now com- meneing his third year in this church. He has a membership of two hundred and twenty-five, and by far the largest Protestant congregation in the city. The church has been unusually prosperous under his pastorate, and over one hundred and twenty-five have been added to it. Financially and in other departments, it is in perfect eondi- tion and the church is one of the best in the South- ern Illinois Conference.
A> a minister of the Gospel, Mr. Woodley has, combined with logical reasoning powers, a fair share of pulpit eloquence and impressiveness. . 1 man of most positive convictions, he never hes- itates to attack what he knows to be evil, however strongly it may be entrenched in popular favor or in whatever guise it is foisted upon his attention,
Broadly charitable, he is, nevertheless, pronounced in his views, to which he gives expression in no uncertain or ambiguous terms whenever occasion demands it. Combined with fervent piety and a vigorous intellectuality, he has that thoroughly practical knowledge of the affairs of every-day life, which makes him a competent adviser in temporal, as he is a conscientious adviser in spirit- ual, matters. Kindly in his disposition, cordial, warm-hearted and sympathetic, he is warmly esteemed by all.
Mr. Woodley was married to Miss Mary Tate, of Harrisburg, III., on the 8th of September, 1886, and this union has resulted in the birth of three interesting children, as follows: Mamie, Robert John and Ralph Daniel. Ile has also a daughter, Maggie, by his first wife, whose maiden name was Nannie Rankin; the present Mrs. Woodley is the daughter of John and Sarah Tate. Socially, Mr. Woodley is a member of Washington Lodge No. 55. A. F. & A. M., and also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Good Templars.
DAM PFEIFFER. It is a pleasure to the biographer to head this sketch with the name of the man who is in every sense worthy of the distinction afforded by hon- orable mention among the distinguished citizens of the community in which he has passed the ac- tive years of his life, and the name with which this paragraph is introduced is that of one whose con- nection with St. Clair County dates back with honor to himself and credit to the community.
Adam Pfeiffer is the son of Andrew P. Pfeiffer, who was born in Germany, and the early part of whose life was spent in Prussian-Darmstadt. Af- ter attaining manhood's estate, he married Miss Christina Boltz. Andrew P. followed the trade of a carpenter in his native land. He emigrated to America about the year 1832, and located at St. Louis, where he worked at his trade for ten years. During the latter part of his residence in St. Louis, he was known as the keeper of a private boarding
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house. After the expiration of the time men- tioned, he left St. Louis, and located at High Prai- rie, Smithton Township, where he bought a farm and lived for about forty years. Ilis next busi- ness enterprise was to trade his farm for a house and saloon in Belleville. His family consisted of seven children, two of whom died in childhood, and five of whom are living.
The subject of this sketch, Adam Pfeiffer, was boru on High Prairie, Smithton Township, St. Clair County, on the 13th of March, 1843. Af- fer gaining a common-school education in his native township, he removed to St. Louis, and worked as helper in a foundry. He remained there four years, and from there went to Smithton, where he was employed in a flouring mill. On the 3d of December, 1863, he married Miss Catherine Forcade. daughter of Mr. Louis Forcade of Prairie du Long Township. For two years succeeding his marriage, he resided in Prairie du Long Township, after which he removed to his father's farm in Prairie du Long, and from there went to lligh Prairie, where he remained for nine years. Ilis family consisted of seven children, two of whom Theressa and Maggie, died in childhood. Those living are Louis, Fritz G., Adam; Louisa, wife of Philip Skoer; and Katie, who lives at home.
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