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 67
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The primary education of our subject, which was acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course of study in Belleville, and he was af- terward a student at Washington University in St. Louis. Ile took charge of his uncle's farm in 1879, and has since his death managed his estate. Ile is an able manager and prosperity has crowned his weil-directed efforts. The farm upon which he resides seems complete in all its appointments, the improvements are good, the fields are well tilled, and the whole forms one of the valued farms of the community.
DOLPH KNOBELOCH, who resides on section 29, Shiloh Valley Township, is one of the most prominent and promising young farmers of the county. His life record, which we feel assured will prove of interest. In 1892. Mr. Knobeloch was joined in wedlock to many of our readers, is as follows; He was with Miss Pauline Tiemann, the accomplished
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daughter of August and Augusta (Hlenschel) Tie- mann. Her parents were both natives of Germany, and are numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of St. Clair County. They had a family of seven daughters and one son. Mrs. Knobeloch is a lady of culture and refinement, who presides with graee over her hospitable home. In the sub- ject of this sketch we see one of the wide-awake and progressive young farmers of the county, who is widely and favorably known in the community. Those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his best friends, a fact which in- dicates his well-spent and upright life.
DOLPHI STEIN. This prominent citizen of Fayetteville was born in Hanover, Germany, December 26, 1849. Ilis par- ents, Rudolph and Dorothy (Meiyer) Stein, were likewise natives of Germany, the former born in 1807, and the latter in 1809. Dur- ing the early part of his life, the father followed his trade, that of a brick mason, but subsequently he was proprietor of an hotel. He always re- mained in his native land, where his death of- curred in 1857, when in life's prime. His wife sur- vived him a few years, her decease occurring in 1866. In their religious connections, they were active members of the Lutheran Church and reared their children in that faith.
The family of which our subject is a member consisted of nine children, four of whom died in childhood. Of the others the following is recorded : Caroline married Louis Riekenberg; Louis chose as his wife Miss Maggie Hessings; Henry married Miss Mary Nienaver; Sophia is the wife of Cart Wilsnsmeyer; and Adolph, our subject, completes the family circle, At the age of fourteen. the last- named commenced to work on a farm, but some time afterward was apprenticed to learn the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed until he em- igrated to the United States,
When Mr. Stein first came to this country, he located near Darmstadt, in St. Clair County, for
one year, after which he was in the employ of vari- ous people near this village until 1878. At that time he rented land, and continued thus engaged for three years, when he entered the saloon business at Fayetteville and has since been occupied in this way. The lady who became his wife in 1877 was formerly Mrs. Mary Wrueckner, and at the time of her marriage was the widow of Lemuel Crossman by whom she had one daughter, Matilda, now the wife of George Drasser. Mr. and Mrs. Stein are the parents of four children, namely: Arthur, Iva, Adolph, Jr., and Celia, deceased.
In his religious views, Mr. Stein is a prominent member of the Evangelical Protestant Church, in Fayetteville, of which he is Secretary and has been for thirteen years. In his political affiliations, he is a Republican, and has served in positions of import- ance and trust in the village. At present he is filling the office of Treasurer of the village. Our subject has worked from the bottom of the ladder up and is a worthy example, as he has risen from a poor boy to be a highly respected citizen with a good competence.
C HRISTIAN MUETZE. The dental profes- sion has one of its most able representatives in this gentleman, who is conducting a lu- crative and increasing practice in the city of Belle- ville. Although he has been located here but a short time. he has won for himself a place among the most talented professional men of St. Clair County, and is also well and favorably known as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, to whom the welfare of the community is ever a matter of interest.
A native of Germany, which has contributed to this country so many of its ablest and most sue- cessful citizens, Mr. Mnetze was born in Marburg, Desse-Nassau, January 17, 1869, and is a son of Peter and Louisa Muetze, natives of the Father- land, who passed their entire lives in that country. In the excellent common schools of Marburg our subject received his education, being a graduate
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of the schools there. After completing the course of study, he resolved to come to America and seek a home in the "land of the free."
Prior to emigrating, Mr. Muetze studied Eng- lish for four years, and was able to converse flu - ently in our language when he came to America in 1884. At onee after landing, he proceeded to Belleville, where he secured a position as elork in a mercantile establishment and remained thus em- ployed for several years. Subsequently he entered the office of Dr. Henry Muetze, his brother, at St. Louis, and later took a course of lectures at the dental department of Washington University in that city. After studying for two terms, he was graduated in the Class of '92, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. In February after graduating, he opened an office in Belleville, where he has since remained in active practice. Ile has gained an enviable reputation for skill and thor- oughness, and has an elegant suite of rooms at No. 13 West Main Street, where his office is located. A frank and genial conversationalist, devoted to his profession, but equally alive to all matters of public moment, he is held high in the regard of the citizens of Belleville and the surrounding country.
ATHIER JAMES M. GOUGH is the pastor of St. Luke's Catholic Church at the cor- ner of Church and C Streets. Belleville, Ill., which church was separated from St. Peter's ('athedial in January, 1883, which at that time embraced the English-speaking ('atholics, number- ing about seventy families. The first services were held in the hall of the St. Agnes Orphan Asylum until the fire at the Convent January 5, 1885, when they began holding services in the present edifice, which, in the meantime, was in course of construction. This church is of Gothic architec- ture, is beautiful in appearance, is substantially built of briek and is 100 x 42 feet in dimensions, It has a seating capacity of six hundred, but
twelve hundred persons have been in the church at one time. The interior is beautifully fin- ished, and, taking it all in all, it is one of the handsomest and finest finished churches in the diocese. The congregation now numbers over three hundred families, and embraces among its numbers the first citizens of Belleville. At the time of ereetion the church was thought to be much too large but, in fact, will soon prove too small to accommodate the congregation. At different times there has been spent over $40,000 on this church, but it is a model of beauty and convenience, and does credit to the pastor and floek, illustrating, as it does, their zeal, earnestness and energy.
In connection with the chureb a fine parochial school has been established, which is successfully conducted by Sisters from Notre Dame, five in number, the pupils in attendance being over two hundred. This school, of course, is under the eon- trol of Father Gough, who resides near by in a fine brick priest's house, which has also been erect d since he has taken charge of his present congre- gation. Ile was born in Providence, R. 1., May 19, 1851, a son of Michael and Ann (Gough) Gongh, both of whom were from the North of Ireland, but were not related in any way, so far as known. The father was a business man of War- wick and was respected throughout that section as a man of honor and a useful and valuable citi- zen. The initiatory training of Father James M. Gough was obtained in the public schools of Prov- idence, after which he entered Bryant & Strat- ton's Business College of Providence, where he ob- tained a thorough and practical education. This he followed up with a four-years Latin course in St. Joseph's College, at Teutopolis, Ill., and later pursued his studies for six years in the Grand Seminary of Montreal, Canada (Sulpician Semi- nary), during which time he took a very thorough course in theology and philosophy for the pur- pose of entering the priesthood, his kindly nature instinctively turning to that broad and noble field for his life work.
Ile was ordained by Archbishop Edward Fabre at the above mentioned seminary. which is the largest in America, and received the degree of S. T. B. for the diocese of Alton, being assigned
Michael Reis
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to Belleville by Rt. Rev. Peter Joseph Baltes, before the division of the diocese. The church. at Belleville has been his first and only charge and he has been a resident of this town since the 19th of January, 1883. He was the first pastor of the church and is the oldest priest in point of residence in the city. Ile has been a faithful laborer in the vineyard of his Master and has received a portion of his reward in this world, for he lias the respect and affection of outsiders, as well as of the members of his congregation. Ile is at the head of several important societies in connection with his church, and is a stanch sup- porter of temperance and advocates its doctrines on all occasions. Ile is of a benevolent, generous and kindly disposition and those who seek his aid or counsel are given sound advice and substantial assistance.
ON. MICHAEL REIS. The subject of this notice is the senior member of the firm of M. & H. Reis, old and prominent lumber dealers of Belleville. IIe is a well-known business man, having been here for thirty years. Born in ITesse-Darmstadt, Germany, November 25, 1831, he is the son of Valentine and Catherine (Freihaut) Reis, who emigrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans in July, 1846, and proceeding thence to St. Louis. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native coun- try, and after he arrived in St. Louis he entered the shoe shop which his father had established there, and learned the trade.
At that time an uncle of our subject, Bartel Reis, owned a lumber yard, in which young Michael be- came first acquainted with the rules of the busi- ness. Ile remained in his employ for five years, and at the expiration of that time his father em- barked in the same business, and Michael went with him. When his father went North, our sub- ject engaged with Joseph Hanses. In 1866, he and his brother Henry opened a yard under the firm name of M. & H. Reis, and have since con-
dueted a safe and profitable business. The firm handles lumber, sash, blinds, doors and everything pertaining to building and furnishings. With the exception of O. Heinricks, our subject is the oldest lumberman in the city.
Mr. Reis has been Alderman for the Third Ward for two terms. He was Mayor for two terms, dur- ing which time the cedar block pavement was put in, the water-works were completed, and the street railroad was finished. During his able administra- tion the city made remarkable progress, and many needed improvements and reformations were in- angurated. Ile is a member of the Knights of America, of which he is now President. In St. Peter's Benevolent Society he has held the office of President fourteen of the twenty years it has been in existence.
May 13, 1856, Mr. Reis was married to Miss Ap- polonia Eberle, of St. Louis, a native of Germany, and seven children have blessed the union: Anna, who is the wife of Anthony Phillips, of Shakopee, Minn .; Ida, the wife of Julius Kohl, of Indianapo- lis; Henry G., Rosalie, August, and two sons who died in infancy. Mr. Reis and his family are highly respected in Belleville, and his business standing is very high.
R OBERT X. Mo CRACKEN, M. D., a success- ful and prosperous physician and surgeon residing in Fayetteville Township, St. Clair County, has an excellent and rapidly increasing practice in his neighborhood and vicin- ity, and is well known as an able, intelligent and energetic citizen, worthy of confidence and esteem. Our subject is a son of Robert and Cora (Illinski) McCracken, both natives of East St. Louis. The father was educated in the city of his birth and attended the public schools in early life; he after- ward studied law and fitted himself for the prac- tice of the profession, but, preferring other pursuits, never became an attorney. He was married when quite young but had no children by his first wife, who did not survive her marriage many years.
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The mother of our subject, who was united in marriage with her husband some time after his first wife's death, was a daughter of Dr. A. X. Ilinski, who practiced medicine successfully in St. Louis for over fifty years. The mother of Mrs. Cora (Illinski) MeCracken was in girlhood Miss Ophelia Lebur, and by her first marriage she be- came the widow of Dr. Butler; she afterward married Dr. Illinski and now survives him. The maternal grandmother of our subject is an attract- ive lady, possessing a large cirele of friends, tried and true. Dr. MeCracken was one of three chil- dren born unto his father and mother, and is now the only child living. One died in infancy, and Nicholas, a promising young man, died at twenty years of age.
Dr. MeCracken's father was one of the few seekers of gold in far-off California who there achieved financial prosperity. He was for sey- eral years engaged in a store in East St. Louis and Cahokia. Politically, he was a Democrat and was a devout member of the Catholic Church. Ile died when our subject was but four years old, and his wife, who is yet living in Cahokia, afterward married C. W. Droit, and by this union had. two daughters, Pauline and Camille. Dr. MeCracken is the grandson of Robert and Arthouts (Jarrot) MeCracken, who were very early pioneers of Ca- hokia, where the grandfather ran a distillery. After his death, his widow married again and be- came the wife of Dr. Brackett. Our subject, a direct descendant of the pioneers of the southern part of Illinois, was born in the old village of Ca- hokia in the year 1864. Ile enjoyed excellent educational advantages and attended the Christian Brothers' School at St. Louis for three years. He studied at Jeradon one year and was at Jesenett one year, and also attended school at Valparaiso, Ind., and received a term of instruction in Foster's Academy, a commercial school in St. Louis.
Later, Dr. McCracken studied medicine at St. Louis Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated in 1889. Beginning the duties of his pro- fession in Cahokia, our subject practised medicine in the home of his childhood one year and then came to his present location, where he has built up an extended and largely increasing practice, and has
won the regard of the general public. Politically, Dr. MeCracken is a Democrat, and in religious affiliations is a Catholic. An earnest and energetic citizen, theroughly devoted to the duties of his profession, he takes an interest in the local pro- gress and leading movements of his home neigli- hood and vicinity and is proving an important factor in the upbuilding and advancement of promment enterprises of the day.
OIIN KIEFER. If by success in life we mean securing a comfortable home and the means for a good support, then is our suh- ject one of the successful men of St. Clair County. lle owns and occupies a farm consisting of eighty-four aeres of land on section 7, Marissa Township, which has been developed and placed in its present state of improvement by himself, and thus attests his industry and thrift. Many of the best and most successful farmers of this part of Illinois are natives of the Fatherland, and such is the case with Mr. Kiefer. lle was born in Germany, December 26, 1826, and is the son of Lenzburg and Mary ( Woleriek ) Kiefer, also natives of the German Empire.
The father of our subject was a tailor by trade, which occupation he followed his entire life. lle was a son of Christopher Kiefer, and in religious affairs was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Lenzburg Kiefer were born three children, of whom our subject is the second in the family. The others were Christo- pher, and Philapena, who is now deceased.
The gentleman of whom we write began life on his own account at the early age of fourteen years, at which time he engaged to work in a brewery, where he was employed for four years. Later, he hired out as a farm hand, and remained in his native country until 1853, at which time he set sail for American shores, landing in New York ('ity with but $4 in money. Being very industri- ou's and ambitious to gain a competence for him-
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self, he immediately found work on a railroad and was thus engaged for two months. At the expi- ration of that time he came to Belleville, this county, and aided in the construction of the plank road from Belleville to Freeburg. Finally, how- ever, renting land, he cultivated the soil for twelve years. His industry resulted in making him the possessor of as well-improved a farm as may be found in this vicinity, which he purchased in 1885. Mr. Kiefer is a keen, wide-awake man who has gained much information by actual experience and by observation, and takes a high rank among his fellow-agriculturists.
The lady to whom our subject was married in 1853 was Miss Jacobien, daughter of Philip and Rosa Sharfer Kepler. To them have been born the following six children: Elizabeth, Otto, John, Margaret, Mary and Edith. Both he and his good wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and their names are associated with every good work. lle takes great interest in polities, and always votes with the Republican party. He is recognized as one of the intelligent as well as successful citi- zens of the county, enjoys the confidenee of the business community, and commands the esteem of his neighbors.
ENRY BARTHEL. One of the prominent men of this eity is named in the opening of this notice. lle was born in the village of Langenselbold, in Central Germany, August 28, 1827. His parents were William and Catherine Barthel, who emigrated from the Father- land to America, and landed in New Orleans. They made their way to Belleville, where many Germans had preceded them and they were sure of hearing the familiar tongue. They looked about for a new home, and found it about a mile and one-half east of Freedom, Prairie du Long Township, but they lived but a short time to en- joy the pleasures of the new country they had un- dergone so much to reach. William Barthel died in 1841, and his wife only survived him one year.
Henry, the subject of our sketeb, was thus left an orphan, and he went to St. Louis, and was there apprenticed to the trade of harness and saddle making. At the age of nineteen years he was en- gaged by the Quartermaster's Department of the Government service, and was sent to Santa Fe. N. M., in 1846. llere the superintending of manu- facturing and repairing of saddles became his busi- ness. The following year the most of the troops were sent to the front, leaving Gen. Price in com- mand at Santa Fe with but few men, and now and then our subject was enabled to break the monotony of his work with a round of guard duty. Here he re- mained for five years, when, in 1851, he returned to Illinois and settled on a farm about three miles east of Freedom, Monroe County. After three years of farm life, he removed to Freeburg, where he has since resided. ITis early education was ob- tained in one of the rough schoolhouses of Prairie du Long, where, in company with llon. William R. Morrison, he attended a school taught by Mathew Donohoo. Ilis reader was the old Illinois form book, and that of Morrison was a history of the United States. This reader indelibly impressed upon his mind the forms of legal papers and doeu- ments. This has been of great service to him in his career as Justice of the Peace, to which posi- tion he was first elected while living in Monroe County in 1852, and again soon after making a change of home and moving to Freeburg. This office he held for twenty-four years, and his life in his official position was replete with incidents, and he often mentions the "thank you" weddings. He was elected a member of the Board of County C'om- missioners of St. Clair County in 1876. During his long term of office, many publie improvements were inaugurated. The first iron bridge over the Kaskaskia at New Athens was built, the macadam- izing of the Centreville and St. Louis road was done, the court house square was enelosed, and other like enterprises were consummated. In chang- ing from county to township organizations, he was appomted on the commission to divide the county into townships, in conjunction with the llons. T. H. Portal and Joseph B. Messick, and was Chair- man of that commission.
In politics, Mr. Barthel has always been a con-
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sistent Democrat, although his first Presidential ballot was cast for Gen. Scott. This vote, he says. was so cast because he was acquainted with Scott, and not with Pierce. In business affairs Mr. Bar- thel has always been energetic. Ile opened the first saddlery estabhshment in Freeburg in 1854. and sold it in 1858, and, in company with others. erected a brewery, from which he withdrew the same year. In 1861. he went into general mer- chandizing, and has continued in it ever since.
Our subject was married April 12, 1852, to Margaret Mohr. who died January 14. 1859. Ile married Anna Maria Bumb in 1859, who died Sep- tember 8. 1872. His present wife was Gertrude Bumb, to whom he was married May 12. 1873. and six children are the result of this union. Mr. Barthel has lived an honest, upright life. and is an honor to the community in which he has lived so long.
B ENJAMIN J. WEST. The original of this sketch is one of the oldest residents of Belleville, having come here with his par- ents in 1818. lle was the son of Tilghman H. and Mary ( Mitchell) West, the former of whom was born in Montgomery County, Md .. in 1767, and was the son of Benjamin West, who had re- sided in Virginia for a number of years. A very interesting family history could be written from the authentic and copious history of the ancestors now contained in the family bible, where the direct line is traced back to the reign of Edward Il, King of England.
Tilghman H. West left Virginia on account of slavery and moved into a free State. In Virginia. he could not free his slaves, as the law did not permit that then, but he could take them into a free State and give them liberty, and that is what he did. It cost him a great deal to live up to his convictions and he made many sacrifices and en- dured many hardships at first. The father of Tilghman II. West was Benjamin, who died in 1820, at the age of ninety-one years, and his wife,
who was Elizabeth (Ililliary ) West, died at the age of ninety-six. in 1821. Their family were Wash- ington. llenry, Valinda and Elizabeth.
The marriage of Tilghman Il. West took place in Fincastle. Va., and to him were born ten children: Nancy, wife of Richard Randall; Sarah. wife of William P. McKee; Mary, wife of Rev. John llogan. who died in April, 1892, aged eighty-eight years; Susan, wife of Dr. J. N. Banks, of Chicago; Henry II., who marmed Miss White in 1837; Benjamin, who married Louisa A. Mitchell; and Edward. who married JJulia Atwater. Tilghman II. West bought a large tract of land five miles east of the city, which was then new, at 82, $3 and 85 an acre, and improved it, and there made his home until the death of his beloved wife. Hisown death occurred July 7, 1851. Ile had been a life- long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was always opposed to human slavery, and was a strong Whig.
Benjamin J. West was born at Fincastle, Va., August 23, 1812, and with his parents came here in 1818, just being able to remember the journey of six weeks when they camped out every night. It was a new and bitter experience, as they had al- ways been in comfortable circumstances. Our sub- ject remembers seeing many Indians, of whom he was afraid. The education of our subject was obtained in a schoolhouse which his father and two others had erected on his father's land, and which two educated men taught. When he was seventeen years old, he went to Belleville and he- gan his business career as a clerk in the dry-goods store of James Mitchell. Here he remained for some years, and then bought Mr. Mitchell out and ce- mented their relations by marrying his eldest daugh- ter. He continued here until 1885, having been con- tinuously in this business for fifty years. His lo- cation was on the corner of the Public Square and Main Street, but at first adjoining the place where the Thomas House now stands. Ile was a success- ful merchant and also carried on a large farm, giving especial attention to fruits, but now he is living retired, spending his summers and falls in Minnesota, where he finds the climate agrees with him.
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