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 59
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der the parental roof until 1881, when he removed to the farm where he now resides, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres under a high state of enl- tivation.
On the 5th of December, 1878, Mr. Knobeloch was married to Miss Lizzie Haege, daughter of Jacob and Annie C. (Perschbacher) Ilaege, the former a native of Bavaria, and the latter of Darmstadt, Germany. The father was born Sept- ember 21, 1824, and the date of the mother's birth was August 19, 1831. Mr. Haege was about twenty of age when he came to America, having just completed an apprenticeship to the black- smith's trade. He took up his residence in Shiloh, St. Clair County, established a smithy, and engaged in his chosen occupation for many years. He was a genius and invented the gang plow and manu- factured all kinds of implements. His death occurred on the 28th of April, 1891. His wife still survives him and yet makes her home in Kansas. They reared a family of five children: Philip; Lizzie, the honored wife of our subject; Anna, wife of August C. Meckfessel; Jacob H. and William B.
By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Knobeloch has been born a family of six children, of whom five are yet living, as follows: Amelia, William B., Ar- thur. Albert and Rudolph. Jacob, the youngest, died at the age of three months.
Mr. Knobeloch is a practical and progressive far- mer, and his well-tilled fields yield to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He has many excellent improvements upon his farm which indicate his thrift, and he al- ways has the latest improved machinery. He ever keeps abreast with the times and is always willing to investigate any new plan that will save labor and produce better crops. In politics, Mr. Knobe- loch is a supporter of the Democracy on questions of National importance, but at local elections votes for the man whom he thinks best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party affiliations. At this writing. in the antumn of 1892, he is serving as School Director of his district, a position he has filled for several years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit .Association
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and a valued citizen of the community, one whose sterling worth and integrity have won him the high esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contaet.
G EORGE P. LIENESCH, a prominent and in- fuential farmer who resides on section 6, Shiloh Valley Township, where he owns a tine farm, is a native of Germany. The date of his birth was 1818. and the place was Hanover. Ile is a son of Herman P. and tiertrude (Stienman) Lienesch. Our subject was the only child. and his mother died when he was about six months old. Ile is the descendant of a very wealthy and historic German family. In their native land, they were farmers by occupation and owned a large estate, which is still known as the Lienesch Place. Herman 1'. Lienesch was a son of John Garhart Lienesch, a descendant of Michael Lienesch, the third of that name. Since the Reformation of Martin Luther, the family has been Lutheran and stanch defenders of that faith. The old mansion of Lienesch was de- stroyed by fire when our subject was a lad of twelve years, and in its flames perished most of the valuable papers, some of which dated back several centuries. The father of our subject was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Mar- garet Pahlmann, of another old German family. By this marriage one son was born, who now oceu- pies the old homestead, which was given him by his generous elder brother.
George P. Lienesch grew to manhood on the old estate and received a fine education. His primary studies were pursued in tlie ('atholie schools near his home, and his classical education was received in the kingdom of Hanover. where he became a proficient scholar in French, English and Latin. When he was about twenty years of age, after reading the history of the United States, he formed a desire to travel and see something of the New World. Accordingly, that year he took passage in a sailing-vessel and was seventy days upon the bosom of the broad Atlantic. During the voyage,
they suffered many hardships and perils, a deserip- tion of which is given in a very interesting manner by our subject. He landed in New Orleans on New Year's Day, 1839, and remained in that city but a short time. Wishing to see the sights of the Crescent City, he visited slave markets, among other things, which made him very much disgusted and indignant with the traffic there carried on in human beings. Ile next made his way to St. Louis, coming up the Mississippi by boat. Ile had left home and an assured income in the' old homestead and wished to make his own fortune in the New World. In this independent spirit, he hired out to a farmer. receiving $10 per month. Ile worked about a year at this employment in St. Clair County. The first work which was given him to do was trampling out grain on the threshing floor. With his carefully saved earnings he soon purchased thirty acres of land at $10 an aere, near the farm where he now lives. Later, he received considerable money on the settlement of his father's estate in Germany, which he invested and now owns three hundred acres of fine and well-culti- vated land.
In 1810, Mr. Lieneseh married Permelia Mes- senger, the daughter of John and Anna (Lyon) Messenger. Iler father was a surveyor and made the first map of Illinois. Her maternal grandfather was at one time Governor of Arkansas and a noted Congressman. Mr. and Mrs. Lienesch were blessed with three daughters: Augusta, now deceased, who married Charles Hoffman: Anna Gertrude; and Rebecca L., wife of James Huckstep. After the death of his first wife, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of Col. John and Isabella (Kin- ney) Thomas, of Belleville, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this volume,
To our subject and his wife have been born four children: John T .: George W .; Belle, the wife of Herman Cleibecker: and Jessie Fremont. wife of Ralph Pierce. The mother of these children was for some time an invalid and her failing health induced our subject to take a trip abroad; accord- ingly, they spent a season in Europe. visiting the home of his youth and the Paris Exposition of 1867. In spite of the voyage and change of scene, the wite failed rapidly and soon passed away. In
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1872. Mr. Lienesch married Mary C., daughter of Bernard and Clara ( Walker) Cleibeeker. By this union has been born one son, Walter H.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Lienesch is an advocate of the Republican party, of whose prin- ciples he is a loyal defender. Ile is a member of the Lutheran Church, as were his ancestors for many generations. For over half a century, Mr. Lienesch has resided in this county, which, when he first settled here, was almost a wilderness. He has many interesting recollections of those early pioneer days, when game was still abundant and Indians still made it their hunting-grounds. Ile brought with him from Germany a gun, with which he killed cleven deer in this county soon after his arrival here. Ile has been quite an extensive traveler and has crossed the ocean nine times, Ile is a man of breadth of mind and wide information and general knowledge, and seldom errs in his judgment of people or affairs.
F6 RANK LEAKE is the Cashier of the Bank of Mascoutah, located in Mascoutah, III. This bank was organized in October, 1891, by the well-known banker, J. N. Hagins, of the Columbia National Bank, of Chicago, who is also proprietor of a bank in St. Anne, Ill., and another at Gillespie. IN. The Bank of Mascoutah is the only one located in this city, and it does a general banking business, loans money. receives deposits, makes drafts, collects and pays interest on time deposits of over three months' standing. The bank is located in the Odd Fellows Building, which is owned by Mr. Hagins. It is provided with a fire- proof and burglar-proof sate, manufactured by the Mosler Safe Company, and this is enclosed in a strong, well-built, fire-proof vauit. The safe and vault are according to the latest improved manufacture, and the patrons of the bank can feel perfectly safe in making deposits therein. Al- though the bank has been in operation only about a year, it has done a considerable amount of busi-
ness, exceeding the expectations of the owner, to whom the management has been very satisfactory.
Mr. Leake, the efficient Cashier, is an able husi- ness man, well qualified for the position he holds. As he is widely and favorably known in the com- munity, we feel assured that this record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers. He is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth having occurred in Erie County in 1861. His father, John Leake, was a prominent plow manufacturer of North Amherst, Ohio, and it was in that place that our subject acquired his early education, which was afterward supplemented by a course in Oberlin College, of Ohio, where he completed his literary studies: Ile was then fitted for his life work, and for the past ten years he has been engaged in the banking business, mastering it in all its details. Ilis honorable and straightforward record in the past is a recommendation to him in the position he now fills. He is ever true to his duties and has the confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact, either through business or social relations. Mr. Leake is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
One of the important events in the life of our subject was his marriage, which oceurred in Hart- ford, Wis., September 11, 1888, to Miss Agnes Schoenke, daughter of Henry and Albertiena (Schwe) Schoenke.
R ALPH B. TARLTON. Nowhere within the limits of St. Clair County can be found a man of more energy, uprightness and integrity than Ralph B. Tarlton, who was born in Callaway County, Mo., opposite Jefferson City, on the Missouri River, May 25, 1844. His parents, M. R. and Mary E. ( Loeke) Tarlton, were native Ken- tuckians, the father born in Bourbon County. The elder Mr. Tarlton was a planter in his native State until 1843, when he removed to Missouri, bought a plantation near the Missouri River, in Callaway County, and became one of the most promi-
los Wehrle
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nent planters. The war damaged him financially, but he made his home there until his death, in 1878, when seventy-five years of age. Mrs. Tarlton resides with her children, is at present making her home with our subject, and is over seventy years of age. She is an exemplary mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her fa- ther, John Locke, was a farmer of the Blue Grass State. Their children were in the order of their births as follows: Ben, deceased; Cloyde, de- deased; Theresa, Mrs. P. E. Chapple, of Kansas City; Ralph B., our subject; M. R., in Fayette, Howard County, Mo .; Locke, deceased; and Mary. Mrs. H. Morris, deceased.
Like the majority of farmer boys, our subject received his edueation in the common distriet schools, where he swung his youthful limbs from the slab benches in the log schoolhouse of that day. When sixteen years of age, he entered Fay- ette College, remained there about a year and a half and then, on account of the breaking out of the war, he returned home and took charge of a part of his father's farm. Hle carried on about four hundred acres of this until after the war, and then bought five hundred acres, which he tilled successfully until about 1871, when he left the farm. He went west to Kansas, hunted buffaloes, and was in Dodge City when it was first started. Re- turning to Jefferson City, he remained there a few weeks and, in 1873, came to the old Pacific Yards in St. Louis, where he was employed by William Humphreys as a commission merchant. Three months later, he came home and engaged as sales-
November 22, 1859, Mr. Wehrle was married to man for Humphreys, Short & White, but later was | Miss Fredrika Kessler, of this city, who was born
in the employ of Nick Moody, a commission mer- chant doing business under the firm name of Moody, Ray & Co. Still later, he was with Daw- son & Underwood. He was then a partner of the firm of Jaekman, Hickman & Co. until they broke up, after which he was in business with Met- calf, Moore & Co., remaining with them until the firm title was changed to Joseph Metcalf & Co. In January, 1875, the present partnership of Tarlton, Moody and Co., general commission merchants, was formed. Our subject has charge of the hog department and is one of the oldest stoekmen here.
Mr. Tarlton resides at No. 636 Ninth Street,
and his fine home is presided over by his estimable wife, who was formerly Miss Fanny Stapleton. whom he married in 1880. She was born in How- ard County, Mo. Two children have been born to this union, Locke and Laura, both unusually bright and intelligent. Mr. Tarlton is a member of the Chosen Friends, and, in polities, is a Dem- crat.
WEHRLE & SON, the oldest and most prominent jewelers of Belleville, are the subjects of this sketch. Joseph Wehrle was born in Baden, Germany, October 20, 1820. In his native land he received his education, and learned his trade, serving a full apprenticeship and working as a journeyman until 1842, when he came to Canton, Ohio. He remained there three years and then removed to St. Louis, from which city he eame to Belleville, and at first worked for others at his trade. In 1849, he established him- self in business, and has continued thus engaged for forty-three years. He had m 1853, during the summer of the Crystal Palace Exhibition, a shop in New York on the public square. He bought his pres- ent building in 1859, and has been in this location sinee 1860. The firm carries a full line of jew- elry, watches, clocks and silverware, only of the best, and the store is considered one of the most reliable in this section of the country.
in Baden, September 25, 1831. Ile took his fam- ily to Germany, and remained there from 1871 to 1872. Two of the four children born to his mar- riage still survive, namely: Fred G., who is his partner, and Josephine, who is the wife of Fred Dunck, of this city. Mr. Wehrle is a member of the Free Protestant Church.
Fred G., the son and partner of the above- named gentleman, was born August 30, 1860, He was educated in Belleville, and when his schooling was completed, he learned his trade with his fa- ther, after which he entered a finishing school at New York, where he remained for one year. Upon
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his return he formed a partnership with his father, June 18, 1883. Ile was married to Miss Louisa Grieser, of this city, at St. Louis, November 10, 1886, and they are the parents of two children, Leroy and Frederick.
G ERIIARDT H. KEMPER. One of the most prominent of the German-American citizens of East St. Louis and one who has done much for the advancement of this portion of the city, is the gentleman whose biography it now be- comes our duty and pleasure to write. He is the present proprietor of the oldest feed store in the city, a man of means, and one of the Directors of the First National Bank; also a member and Director of the Clearmont Land Association, a mem- ber of the Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis, and is now serving the city as Alderman from the Fourth Ward. The grandfather of our subject was a na- tive of the Province of Melle, Germany, where he followed the occupation of a farmer and where our subject's father was born. The grandfather was a teamster in Napoleon's army and took part in the march to Russia; subsequently following his son to America. he lived quietly here until his death, in New Melle. Mo. Frank Kemper, the father of our subject, came to America in 1837. Having received a good education in his native country, he engaged in St. Louis as a clerk for a short time and then, on account of failing health, located land in what is now New Melle. There he began farming and in connection with it op- ened a country store, thus becoming the founder of the thrifty little town of New Melle, where he became a very successful man. When the dread disease, cholera, swept over the land in 1852, he was one of its victims, five members of his family dying in two days. The mother of our subject was ('lara Mary Kuhlman, who was born in Germany.
After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Kem- per married Mr. Bredenkamp, and at her death left a family of six children by her first marriage
and two by the last union to mourn her loss. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the public and parochial schools, where he reecived a good common-school education. When he was only eighteen years old he enlisted in Krakel's Battalion Home Garrison Missouri Militia, and served seven months, until discharged. Eighty days later he enlisted again under Colonel Bailey's State militia of fighting bushwackers, and contin- ued with them for three months. Coming then to St. Louis, he worked a year in a mill at Camp Springs, Ill .. but the summer of 1864 was spent upon a farm, and in the fall of 1865 he returned to the old farm and there remained until 1867, when he came to East St. Louis. At this time our subject was twenty-four years old, having been born January 28, 1843, at his father's home m New Melle, Mo., and had had many experiences for one of his years. He later entered the service of Henschen Krite & Company, as clerk and retailer. In the year 1869 deciding that he had gained enough experience to become a merchant, he formed the firm of Kemper & Roewe, and engaged in the feed business, thus continuing for thirteen years, doing a good business in flour and feed. In 1883 Mr. Kemper bought his partner's interest and kept on alone for six months, when he took in his half-brother, and made the firm G. II. Kem- per & Co. It has so continued until the present time, doing a very large business. They suffered in 1883 from fire, but rebuilt immediately. Their brick block has now fifty feet front with sixty- five feet depth and is on a lot two hundred and forty feet deep. Mr. Kemper built a handsome residence on Fourth Street and owns two other houses. The important position he occupies in the commercial life of the city we mentioned in our opening paragraph, and his influence is widely felt.
Mr. Kemper was married in St. Louis May 11. 1867, to Miss Mary Trebbe, who was born in the Province of Melle, in Germany, but was reared in St. Louis. Three children have been born to this couple, Matilda, Annie and John. Mr. Kemper has always been very active in those improvement schemes which he thought were advisable, and was one of the first to take measures to have the streets
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redneed to the present grade. Ilis services have been required on the Ways and Means Committee of the City Government, and he has been three times elected as an Alderman. Our subject is as prominent in the Lutheran Church, of which he is an honored member. as he is in publie life. He was one of the building committee when the large church of his denomination, St. Peter's, was built and he is still its Treasurer. Mr. Kemper is a firm believer in Republican principles, and warmly sup- ports that party, and has been frequently called npon to serve on both the grand and the petit juries. Our subject is a man held in high esteem in his city and has the proud satisfaction of know- ing that the confidence of the people is deserved. As Superintendent and Treasurer of St. Peter's Cemetery, he has sold all the lots that have been disposed of in it.
RED S. WECKLER. Among the many residents of Darmstadt, St. Clair County, who deserve notice in a volume of this nature, Fred S. Weekler is most certainly not one of the least. lle is the son of Peter and Barbara Weekler. Peter Weckler was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, in the year 1810. After complet- ing the course in the common schools of his native town, he entered the Iligh School, and thus became possessed of more than ordinary education to assist him in the battle of life. After leaving the High School, he eommeneed to learn the trade of a bookbinder, which vocation he followed with success in his native country.
At the age of twenty-two years, Peter Weckler became interested in the subject of emigration, and chose America as the Meeca of his future hopes and fond anticipations. Ile arrived in this country in the year 1832, and located in Pennsyl- vania, residing in a community of those belong- ing to his own nation, who had preceded him in their attempt to seek a fortune in the New World. His first employment was obtained on the eon- struction of the Erie Canal, and. after following
this work for some time he moved to the State of Ohio. The result of this economy and indus- try in Pennsylvania enabled him to purchase a small tract of land in Ohio, and after retaining it for some time he accepted an offer at an increase of his purchase price, sold the land and moved to Peru, Ind., where he settled and made his per- manent home, living at this place until his death, which occurred in 1872.
During his stay in Pennsylvania, Mr. Weekler married Miss Barbara Keller, a daughter of Adam Keller, and to him were born ten children, one of whom died in infaney; the rest were as follows: Jacob; Mary, wife of Isaac Coehran; William, killed at the battle of Chickamauga; George: Fred S., subject of this sketch; Alexander, de- eeased; Elizabeth, wife of Cyrus Crider; Frances, wife of Frank Ilinton; and Kate, deceased.
Peter Weckler occupied a very prominent posi- tion in Indiana, was an active and respected mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and a strong Repub- liean in polities. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years. An honest man and worthy citizen, he was ambitious for the good of the people, and always manifested the real public spirit toward his fellow-men.
The son of so illustrions a father is of necessity the recipient of a goodly heritage. Fred S. Weckler, endowed with a bright mind and the capabilities which grasped the opportunity, received from his father an excellent education. Ile was graduated from the common schools of Peru, Ind., entered the High School, and afterward finished his education in the college of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind. At the age of nineteen, he began life for himself by teaching school. His work was most aceept- able, and he received an offer from St. Clair County. Ill., where he taught school for sixteen years and also for one year in Fayette County, Ill.
In the year 1875, Mr. Weckler married Miss Anna Twenhafel, daughter of Bernhard and Ap- polonia Twenhafel, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this book. This result of his union with this estimable lady was seven children: Ben- jamin H., Lizzie; Appolonia and Gustave, both deceased; Hattie, Florence and Julia. Mrs. (Twen- hafel) Weekler departed this life in March, 1890,
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while still in the prime of life. She was a woman whose goodness was felt and appreciated through- out the community.
Our subject has always occupied a very prom- inent position in the community where he has lived, and by his sterling worth has gained the re- spect, admiration and confidence of his neighbors, and of all with whom he came in contact. He is a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, a member of the Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons, of Freeburg, and also of the U. O. T. B., of Darmstadt, a well-recognized German order. Po- litically, he is a Republican, and in 189F was elected Supervisor of his township, which office he now hokls, as well as being Justice of the Peace, which latter position he has held three terms. In the year 1880, he was Census Enumerator of the township, and has been Notary Public for twenty years. His landed possessions cover a territory of four hundred and twenty acres. Ilis life is one of the best exemplifications of one who com- menced as a poor boy, and by mdustry, ability and perseverance achieved the position of an af- finent and respected citizen. November 8, 1892. he was elected to the State Legislature.
0 TTO F. SCHOTT, who resides on section 4. Shiloh Valley Township, is a well-known and enterprising farmer of this section. He is a native of this county, his birth having oc- curred on the 18th of December. 1836, upon the farm which is still his home. He is one of four children born unto Anton and Augusta (Keiser) Schott. His father was born in Frankfort-on-the- Main, July 17, 1805, and his mother February 10. 1804. in the same locality. Anton Schott was reared in that city, attended college and was cdu- cated for a preacher. From his Alma Mater he received the degree of Doctor of Languages. Ile could speak English, French and German finent- ly, and was a finished scholar.
Soon after his marriage, Anton Schott emigrated to this country, and in 1834 located upon the farm which is now the home of our subject.
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