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 73
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HARLES FOULKS. a very early pioneer of St. Clair County, but now residing with a daughter in St. Louis, was born in Mon- mouth County, N. J., in 1808. He is a son of Christopher and Margaret Foulks, and it is worthy of note that one of his parents was born in Ger- many three weeks before the grandparents left that country and the other was born in the United States three weeks after the grandparents arrived in this country. In Pennsylvania the parents of our subject were reared to maturity, but soon after their marriage they removed to Monmouth County, N. J., where the father was engaged in a tobacco
factory and wool-carding machine business. After selling out, he commenced to ship wool to New York City and also owned and managed a store for several years, being in partnership with a brother.
About that time the attention of Christopher Foulks was turned Westward. His brother came to Illinois to enter land two years before there was a land office for that portion of the State which is now St. Clair County. After a land office was opened, he came the second time and entered three hundred acres where Rent- chler Station is now situated. Christopher Foulks with his family followed in 1817, and for a few weeks stopped with the family of William Moore until they could get a house erected. They built a log cabin, 17x19 feet in dimensions, in which twenty-one people made their home during the entire winter.
After living on that farm for many years, Mr. Foulks, Sr., sold the place and went to St. Louis, where he again engaged in the tobacco business. He met with success in his enterprise and the fac- tory is still in possession of the family, having been enlarged until it is now the largest tobacco factory in the United States. The father of our subject was one of eight brothers, three of whom came to Illinois, two being ministers in the Methi- odist Episcopal Church. He was also a member of that church. In politics, he was a Whig and served as Captain in the War of 1812.
The subject of this sketch was one in a family of nine children. He was married first to Emily, daughter of James Adams, and unto them were born seven children. His second marriage united him with Mrs. Mary E. (Fythian) Smith, and they became the parents of eight children. After his first marriage he engaged in farming a portion of his father's place, and in 1828 he located on one hundred and fifty acres of land near Belleville. Soon selling that place, he entered eighty acres near Freeburg, and in the home there established he resided fifty-two years. At one time his landed possessions amounted to three hundred acres near Freeburg.
Retiring from farm life, Mr. Foulks erected an hotel at Freeburg, which he managed for three
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years, but which, however, did not prove a fi- nancial success. He then removed to Belleville and purchased property amounting to 88,000. In 1887 he went to St. Louis, where he makes his home with his children and spends his elosing years in retirement. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat and in former years was prominent in public affairs. Ile has witnessed the progress of St. Clair County from the time when it was the home principally of Indians, until now it ranks among the best counties of Illinois, and much of its prosperity may justly be attributed to his efforts.
R EV. JOHN JARGSTORFF, of Darmstadt, St. Clair County, Ill., was born in Holstein. Germany, in the year 1854. He is a son of C. L. and Helena (Peters) Jargstorff, also natives of Ilolstein, the father having been born March 22, 1822. The latter was a scholar of super- ior attainments, having graduated from one of the leading universities of Germany. Early deter- mining upon the vocation of a teacher, he was ed- ucated with that object in view, and after leaving his Alma Mater was for many years a professor in prominent universities of his native country. Eminently patriotic, his love for the Fatherland is supreme, he having taken an active part in the War of 1848, serving as First Lieutenant and re- ceiving thirteen wounds, chiefly gunshot injuries. Now, in retired life, he receives a pension from the German Government for his services as an educator. Our subjeet's mother died when he was but three years old, and of the two children born to her, he alone survives. After her death his father married again, his second wife's maiden name having been Christina With. Russia is the native country of the grandfather of our subject, he having been a General in the army of that empire. In the year 1813, he went to Ilolstein, married and settled there upon a large tract of land.
The subject of this sketch received a very care- ful and thorough education in private schools,
and Kiel University, and for several years attended a college near his home in Germany, fitting him- self for the profession of a teacher. Turning his face Westward. he emigrated to the United States in the year 1881, locating at Cape Gir- ardeau, where he prepared himself for the min- istry of the Lutheran Church. Ile then went to Belleville, Ill., in June, 1882, and was ordained a minister in St. Paul's Church, taking work im- mediately afterward in St. Jacob's. Madison County, Ill .. where he remained five years. Then he went to his present place of residence and has remained there ever since. Sophia Pahmeyer be- came his wife. March 1, 1885. and has borne him two children: Olga, aged six years, and Julius, aged eighteen months. She is the daughter of Ernest and Mary (Schiem) Pahmeyer, the latter dying when she was very young. Our subject is a member of Marissa Lodge No. 654, I. O. O. F. Politics is a pleasing study to him, his faith in the Democratic party being so strong that he has ad- vocated its measures from the stump, and it is stated that at one time he thought seriously of stepping out of the ministry into the arena of politics.
OUIS RHEIN, living on seetion 4, Smithton Township, St. Clair County, Ill., is the son of Fred Rhein, who was born in Ba- varia, Germany, where he was reared and married to Katharine Lipbert, coming to this country in 1839. He first located in St. Louis, from which city he removed to Belleville, and afterward to Smithton Township, where he bought prairie land at $4 an acre and improved it himself. At the time of his death, in 1884, he was the owner of seventy-one acres. There were but two children by the marriage of the parents of our subject, namely, our subject and Fred. The mother, as well as the father. was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at the time of her death, in 1870.
Our subject was born October 22, 1848, on the old homestead in this county, where he was reared
Vester Reimanno
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to manhood, received his schooling and was mar- ried in 1875, to Miss Louisa Gonch, daughter of Mary Gouch. After two years of married life, Mrs. Rhein died, July 23, 1877, leaving one child, Otto, now deceased. Miss Elizabeth Schwinn be- came his second wife, February 4, 1879; she is the daughter of Peter Schwinn, an early settler of St. Clair Township, this county, where he still lives and where Mrs. Rhein was reared and edu- cated. The latter has borne her husband nine chil- dren, seven of whom are living, namely: Margaret C .. Stella L., Adolph F., Hilda M., Adell O., Edna C'. and Theolinda K.
The farm of our subject contains four hundred acres of good land, well improved and carefully cultivated. While raising minch grain, he devotes a large portion of his time to the improvement of stock, breeding a number of Kentucky mules and blooded Clydesdale horses, it being his constant aim to maintain a variety of first-class stock. Ile has a very comfortable home and is one of the largest farmers in the township. Ilis religious convictions have led him to accept the doc- trines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which body he holds membership. Educational matters always interest him and he is a Director of Schools in his district.
ETER REIMANN, of the firm of Niemes & Reimann, contractors and builders, is one of the successful business men of East St. Louis, and is a very pleasant gentleman in all the relations of life. He is of German birth and lineage, and possesses the thrifty traits of character noticeable among people of that nation. His grandfather, Peter Reimann, was a native of Germany, and in that country engaged as a farmer and wine-grower. Ile was one of the soldiers who returned from Napoleon's disastrous campaign in Russia. The father of our subject, Adam Rei- mann, also followed the occupation of a farmer and wine-grower, and was a soldier in the German army in the campaign of 1848. Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a : and was born in Brem-Schwer, Germany.
man of sincere Christian character. Ilis last years were spent among his own vine-clad hills. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Fry, the daughter of a German farmer who was frozen to death in the French army. She resides in Ger- many.
Our subject is the eldest of nine children born to his parents, four of whom are yet living. The place of his nativity was Mandel, by Grentznaugh. and he remained there until he had reached his eighteenth year. He attended the common schools of his province until he was fourteen, and then was apprenticed to a stone-mason for three years. lle worked in different places until 1866, when he concluded to emigrate to America. Accordingly he left Hamburg on the steamer "Prussia," and af- ter a stormy passage of eighteen days, reached New York. In the fall of 1867, he came to East St. Louis. Ile followed his trade at various places, in St. Louis, Mattoon, Ill., Venice, Ill., and Moberly, Mo .; and in 1872 he took the contract from H. Watson to build the Round House in De Soto, Mo.
In 1883, Mr. Reimann formed a partnership with John Niemes, and at the same time opened the Falling Springs stone quarry, of thirty-five acres, located on a branch of the East St. Louis & C'ar- ondelet Railroad. This is by far the largest quarry in Southern Illinois, and the firm takes contracts for great quantities of fine stone. They have done some very fine work, the Webster, Franklin and Lincoln Schools being samples, and others being the Heims Brewery, the water-works, the principal business blocks of the city, the Union Depot and railroad work as far as the Indiana line. Our subject personally superintends all the work, as he is a practical stone and brick mason. He owns considerable property besides his residence at No. 327 Ninth Street.
Mr. Reimann was married in 1871, to Miss Katie Hermann, who was born in Belleville, and three children are the result of the union. They are: Mrs. Elizabeth Dohl, residing in East St. Lonis; Cath- erine and Albert, who are at home. In 1882, Mr. Reimann was united in marriage with Miss Mary Salmoh, who was born at Hermann, Mo. His pres- ent wife bore the maiden name of Katie Schrader,
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Our subject belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is the oldest member of that order in East St. Louis, having joined in Belleville in 1869. and is now a member of the Helvetia lodge here. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Honor, Knight of Pythias (Uniform Rank), and one of the Sons of Herman. He is a Republican, in his political faith, and has very fixed opinions upon the questions of the day. In their religious connections, he and his family are members of the Evangelieal Church.
E DWARD C. SCHUETZ. Both in his busi- ness success and the position he occupies in the community, Mr. Schuetz is an example of what a man can accomplish, providing he pos- sesses energy, pluck, good judgment and honesty of purpose, coupled with a respect for the confi- dence of the people among whom he may live. Ile is City Clerk of East St. Louis, to which posi- tion he was elected in 1888. Hle possesses excellent judgment and good business qualifications, both of which are necessary for a successful and pros- perous career.
Born in East St. Loms, Ill., on the 9th of Sep- tember, 1862, our subject is the son of Charles C. and Charlotte C. (Spellerberg) Schuetz, natives of Germany, the father born in Dresden and the mother in Hanover. The paternal grandfather of our subject, E. C. Schuetz, was a Government officer and Government Surveyor. He was a prac- tical civil engineer, in which capacity he served in the war with Napoleon Bonaparte. In his religious belief he was a Lutheran. Ilis death occurred in Dresden, Germany, when he was eighty-three years old.
The father of our subject, Charles C. Schuetz, was only eighteen years of age when he crossed the Atlantic, and after landing in America he traveled quite extensively in various States. Later, he entered the regular army and was in the expedi- tion to the West during the Indian troubles there under Gen. Kearney. Five years afterward he
returned and was discharged in St. Louis; he then located in East St. Louis and was there employed in the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad shops as painter and decorator of passenger coaches. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Second Missouri Infantry and for some time saw active service in the field, but was afterward taken into the headquarters, Department of the Army of the Missouri, and made the final report. At the close of the war he was under Gen. Pope.
For some time after the close of the war Mr. Schnetz was engaged as book-keeper in a large lumber business at East St. Louis; subsequently, he was with a sawmill company in the same place and still later was Deputy County Assessor under George W. Sierber. Afterward he served as Dep- uty Sheriff for some time and then entered the employ of the Fourth National Bank of St. Louis as head hook-keeper, which position he is still occupying. He is a resident of East St. Louis, where he is prominently identified with many important public movements. In politics, he is a Republican, and socially he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic as a mem- ber of Frank P. Blair Post. Mrs. Schuetz is de- ceased.
Our subject attended the public schools of this city until 1879. Since early boyhood he has been familiar with office work, having been employed in various railroad offices in the city. In his so- cial connections he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, National Union. In political affiliations he is a stanch Republican and has served as dele- egate to county and State conventions.
ATHER PATRICK J. O'HALLORAN, Pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church at East St. Louis, is a native of Ireland, and came to America with his parents when a small boy. The family located in Cincinnati, Ohio. and there and in Kentucky he received his edu- eation. He was ordained at Alton, Ill., in 1862, and received his first charge at Jacksonville. He
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was at various places, some of them being Win- chester. Bunker Hill, and Cairo, where he remained five years, and in 1873, on December 1, he came to East St. Louis and since then has been the Father of St. Patrick's Church. It was the first Catholic Church built in the city and was completed in 1862. having been founded by Father J. J. Bremen.
Our subject has been very active in church work here and established the Lorella Convent, and the St. Patrick's Parochial School, which is the largest in the city. The church is centrally located on the most desirable ground in the city The paro- chial residence was completed in 1889 at a cost of over $10,000. It is finely furnished and has all modern improvements. In 1890, his congregation was so large that part of it started the St. Mary's Church, but yet his congregation is the largest one here, and he is one of the oldests priests in Alton and Belleville. Socially, he is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Catholic Knights of America and the Knights of Illinois; Father Matbews' Total Abstinence Society; the Society of the Sacred Heart and the Rosary. He is loved and looked up to by all his families and is a devout worker in the Church of Rome, con- seientiously living up to what he believes to be right.
OIIN C. HAMILTON. That our subject was one of the shrewdest and most intelligent agriculturists of St. Clair County is shown by the success which has crowned his efforts, for he is now living retired from active work of any kind in the beautiful village of Marissa, where he is prominent in both business and social circles. Fle is a man of much practical business talent and financial ability, and by the judicious investment of his money has acquired a valuable property, which, is a standing monument to the energy which he has put forth in the labors of life, and the good judgment which has characterized his efforts. Ilis high standing among his fellow-men is equally satisfactory proof of his worth as a neighbor and citizen.
A native of South Carolina, our subject was born in Chester County, January 26, 1829, and is a son of John and Sarah (Elder) Hamilton, the former of whom was born in the above-named county in 1794. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Robert and Martha ( Ross) Ilamilton, were natives of Ireland, emigrating to America from County Antrim in 1792, soon after their marriage.
The father of our subject was reared in his native county, where he was engaged as a cotton planter until coming to Illinois in 1831. Locating in Ran- dolph County, he remained there for three years, when he took up his abode in St. Clair County, near where our subject makes his home. His mar- riage with Miss Elder was solemnized May 1, 1817, and of their union were born three sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, with one excep- tion. They were members of the United Presby- terian Church, and departed this life in 1876 and 1871, respectively. On the outbreak of the War of 1812, the father of our subject enlisted in his fa- thier's stead, and returned home from the conflict unharmed. In polities, his early years were spent in support of the Democratic party, but during the latter part of his life he voted the Republican ticket.
John ('. Hamilton, of this sketch, remained with his parents until their death, and since attaining his majority has managed the farm with unqualified success. He brings to the consideration of all sub- jects presented to his mind the shrewd and cautious judgment that characterized his agricultural career, and though having been engaged all his life as a tiller of the soil, he has been connected with various other branches of business, and is now one of the prominent men in the southeastern part of the county.
In 1857, our subject and Miss Margaret, daugh- ter of William and Mary (Borden) Meek, were united in marriage, and to them has been granted a family of four children. They have been given the best advantages in an educational way, and three are graduates of different colleges. Relig- ionsly, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are devoted mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church, and num- ber their friends among the best residents of
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the county. A quiet, unassuming man, he is an in- fluence for much good in the community where the greater part of his life has been passed, and his every deed and act are guided by the highest prin- eiples of truth, integrity and morality. lle is a firm believer in the political doctrines of the Re- publican party. and therefore casts his vote with that element.
h ENRY GUENTZ. This gentleman holds the important position of Justice of the Peace, was City Register of Belleville for eight successive years, and is also insur- ance agent at the same place.
Our subject first saw the light of day in Dies- den, Saxony, Germany, July 5, 1835. Ilere he laid the foundation of a good education in the ex- cellent private schools of his native land. Coming to America with his mother August 1, 1847, he finished his course of study in Shiloh Valley in the vicinity of Belleville, for a time under the in- structions of Milton Scott, who later became Su- preme Judge. After that he entered the mercan- tile establishment of Edward Tittmann, the largest business at that time in Belleville, and remained with him until his failure in 1857, when he was retained as chef clerk by the assignee until the business was entirely finished. He then purchased the Tittmann vineyard and farm in the immediate vicinity of Belleville, which he operated for ten years, until 1868. when he removed to the city of Belleville, and was appointed to the office of City Register in 1869, filling that office for eight suc- cessive years. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1873, and still continues to fill that office to the satisfaction of all parties. He is the oldest Justice continuing in office, he having held his position for nearly a quarter of a century. In addition to his public office he is the agent for a number of the oldest and largest insurance companies of the country.
Our subject continued in single blessedness
until August 12, 1862, when he took a wife unto himself in the person of Mary Eimer, the aeeom- plished daughter of Simon Eimer, a prominent and leading citizen of Belleville. This happy union has been blessed with nine children, namely : Louisa; Mary, wife of Otto A. Krebs; Emma, Henry, Jo- hanna, Eugenia, Helena, Josie and Camilla, all of whom are a credit to their parents. Henry now has a position with the Simmons Hardware Co., in St. Louis, Mo.
Mr. Guentz is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Work- men, and Knights of Honor. He and his interest- ing family reside in a pleasant home at No. 215 South Charles Street, and no family in Belleville is more highly esteemed than is that of Mr. Henry Guentz.
HARLES O. MOCASLAND. Among the young and active business men of East St. Louis is this gentleman, who is a native of the Prairie State and one of the most prosperous real-estate dealers in the city where he makes his home. He is connected in business with his brother, J. T. MeCasland, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this work.
Ile of whom we write was born near Murrayville, in Morgan County, this State, April 6, 1866, and received his education in the common schools, supplemented by a course at the High School at Jacksonville. Remaining at home until reaching the age of eighteen years, or in 1884, he came to this county and joined his brother .I. T. in the in- surance business, in the interests of which he trav- eled in Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and other States. In June, 1889. Mr. MeCasland returned to the city and became inter . ested with his brother in various real-estate plats, he himself attending to the laying out of North Clearmont, and also handled and platted the Beacon Heights Addition.
Mr. MeCasland was married in St. Louis, in Oc- tober, 1891, to Mias Nettie, a daughter of David
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Lusk, now of East St. Louis. Mrs. MeCasland was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of one child, who bears the name of Julia E. Our subject stands among the worthy and enterprising men of the community.'in which he is respected by all who know him. In his polities, he is an adherent of the Democracy.
OHN P. ATENGER is the grandson of Jacob and Dorcas Juenger, both natives of Ger- many. llis father was John Mitchell Juen- ger, and his mother Anna M. (Kahler) Juen- ger. John M. Juenger served eleven years in the German army, and after obtaining his discharge, he occupied himself at the shoemaker's bench, which trade he had most thoroughly learned. At the age of twenty-nine years he emigrated with his family to the I'mted States. There were four children in the Juenger family, namely: George: .John P., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of Julius Gairhart; and Catherine, wife of Michael Keifhler.
John M. Juenger located in Darmstadt, St. Clair County, Ill .. in the year 1838. Here he purchased land and made a pleasant home and he and each member of the family soon made themselves respected in the neighborhood in which they re- sided. Patience and perseverance bring their re- ward in due time, and Mr. Juenger by industry and thrift was able to accumulate sufficient of this world's riches to ease his mind with regard to the necessities of old age. lle, however, did not enjoy the allotted three-score years and ten, as his death occurred in the year 1872, while he was surrounded by a loving family and the friends who had learned to honor and respect him for the sterling man- hood they knew him to be the possessor of. His intelligent and capable wife, who had bravely stood by his side in storm and sunshine, and in every respect had done her share to accumulate and make the most of his resources and maintain the reputation of the family, died in 1891.
In Germany, the land of his parents and grand- parents, John P. Juenger was born. Ile was ten years old when his parents brought lum to the I'mited States. He received the ordinary schooling given to boys of his station and position in life, and he remained under the paternal roof until his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Landenschger, which occurred in the year 1856, his bride being also a native of Germany. This union was blessed by six children: Conrad, who married Miss Anna Shuster; Dorcas; Catherine, wife of .John Steinha- mer; Augusta, Margaret, wife of George Eckert: and Sophia.
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