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 76
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
James F. Messick enlisted in 1864 in the One Ilundred and Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, serving until the fall of 1864, when he was mustered out. lle is now located at Carlinville. Joseph B., our subject, was raised upon the home- stead, and carly assisted in the labors of the farm, and acquired a thorough knowledge of agricultural duties. During the winter months ,Judge Messick enjoyed the advantage of instruction in the com- mon schools of the neighborhood, and from 1866 to 1867 attended the Shurtleff College at Upper Alton. In August, 1864, our subject enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois In- fantry. Company I, and was mustered in at St. Louis and sent with a battalion into Missouri, and remained in the service until July, 1865, when he was mustered out and returned home.
lle then entered Shurtleff College and well im- proved the time in that excellent institution, and, after a course of study, began teaching school and continued as an instructor until 1869, work- ing meantime in summers upon the home farm and also studying law under Gen. Reukart.
Later Judge Messick was admitted to the Bar at ('arlin ville, and taught school until 1872, when he went to East St. Louis and opened a law office. In 1875, our subject was elected to the position of City Judge, the duties of which office he dis- charged with distinguished ability, his decisions ever being sustained by law and evidence. For four years he occupied the judicial bench with honor and efficiency, and in 1875, at the close of his term of office, again resumed the practice of his profession. In 1881, Judge Messick was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of the Thirteenth District, for one term. In 1882, he was elected upon the Republi- can ticket to the State Legislature from St. Clair County, and was re-elected in 1884, remaining in otlice until 1886. As a member of the Legislature he was faithful to his constituents and did excel- lent work upon various important committees. Dur- ing his terms the State Legislature contained a large number of brilliant men, some of whom have since occupied chairs in the I'nited States Senate.
July 1, 1884, our subject formed a part- nership with a leading attorney, the firm being Messick & Rhoads. The well-known office of the firm is located at No. 320 Missouri Avenue. In 1889, Gov. Fifer appointed Judge Messick a mem- ber of the State Board for Southern Illinois pen- sions, and in the fall of the same year he became President of the Board. January 1, 1885, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Sarah P. Woods, who was born in Des Moines and is a daugh- ter of James A. Woods, a contractor of East St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Messick have one child, a son, J. B., Jr. Richard O. died in 1887. Judge Messick is a charter member of MeDowell Post, G. A. R., and is also a Modern Woodman. Always a Republican, our subject has been a delegate to the various State conventions since 1871, and was Chairman of the county convention for two years and received the honor of being sent as delegate to the National
658
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
convention at Minneapolis. Judge Messick enjoys the distinction of being a popular man with both Democrats and Republicans. Ever genial, courte- ous, affable, benevolent and sympathetic by nature, his ready wit and exceptional conversational abil- ity render him a host whose cordiality and enter- tainment are never forgotten by the guests who enjoy his hospitality. Upright and honorable in the daily transactions of life, our subject com- mands the esteem and confidence of his fellow- citizens, and the attractive home at No. 517 North Ninth Street is the scene of many brilliant social gatherings.
M RS. CATHERINE HARDY, of Lenzburg Township. St. Clair County, Ill., was born in Germany in 1819, and is the daughter of Peter and Catherine (Sun) Makendoler, both of whom were natives of France. The father of our subject started with his family for the United States in 1827, and the mother died on the journey up the Mississippi, two days before the arrival at St. Louis. Upon reaching the latter place, his cir- cumstances were so straitened that he was under the necessity of separating from his children, four in number, and parceling them out among strangers. Mr. Makendoler never succeeded in gathering his family together again. as he died in a few years, and before he secured a position that would war- rant such a step.
Our subject. the eldest of the children, made her home for three years with Jacob Margie. No advantages of schooling were afforded her, vet her strong natural sense and keen obser- vation have combined to give her a fund of in- formation that stands well in its stead. Possessed of a memory above the average, she recalls inci- dents and events with striking exactness, and talks intelligently upon a great variety of ques- tions. She was married in 1838 to John llardy, who was born in Switzerland in 1812, and came to the United States with his parents, Jacob and
Barbara Hardy, both natives of Switzerland, in 1817. This old family first settled in Indiana, re- maining there one year, at the end of which time they removed to Dutch Hill Prairie, St. Clair Coun- ty, Ill., being among the very earliest settlers of that seetion of country. Jacob Hardy was a farmer, having followed that calling all his life.
John Hardy and his wife were the parents of seven children, as follows: Catherine. John, Eliz- abeth, Susan, Jacob, Mary and Henry. John, Eliz- abeth and Susan are dead. These children were all born upon the estate of their grandparents, their father having lived at home with his parents until his marriage, when he and their mother made a home on another part of the farm. Our subject. as was also her husband, is a member of the Ger- man Methodist Episcopal Church. His political belief held him to the Republican party. The death of this good man occurred in 1882, when he was seventy years of age.
n ICHOLAS GERMAIN, an industrious farmer and respected eitizen, living upon a nicely improved tract of eighty acres on section 9, Smithton Township, St. Clair County, Ill., is the son of Hyacinth Germain, whose sketch will appear in another portion of this work. This farm was purchased in 1842 by the father of our subject, and has been in the family ever since, Nicholas having been born and reared upon it, and has lived there continuously from the time of his marriage. After years of attendance at the public school of his district, our subject took a course of instruction in schools at St. Louis, his education embracing a line of study in the Ger- man as well as the English language.
In the year 1874, Mr. Germain was married to Miss Elizabeth Meister, daughter of Jacob Meister, of Belleville, the offspring of the marriage being ten children, all living, as follows: Rosa, Embora, Edward Jolin, Robert D., Albert Henry, Etta, Ida, Anna Helen, Margaret and Lena. Our subject has put to good account the fertile land of his farm.
659
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which he devotes to the growing of grain and the raising of stock. He takes decided interest in cat- tle, and can show to visitors some very fine Hol- stein cows that have grown up under his eye, whose superior condition is largely due to his in- telligent care. An apt knowledge of the soil and its adaptability to various grains enable him to choose to best advantage the kind of seeds that will yield him the best harvest. Careful cultiva- tion, with industrious application to work, has re- sulted in winning for him the well-deserved repu- tation of a good farmer.
The religious convictions of our subject are de- cided, being the result of early education received at home and of the reflection that comes with ma- ture years. Towards the Roman Catholic Church, in whose membership he is enrolled, he holds senti- ments of attachment and allegiance. While he does not take a busy or prominent part in politics, Mr. Germain always manifests lively interest in the success of the Democratic party, the ticket of which he always votes.
OHN HEINZELMAN, a practical mechanic who is acquainted with all the details of his business, is a member of the firm of llein- zelman Bros., leading carriage manufacturers of Belleville, Ill., located at the corner of B and .Jackson Streets. The factory is a two and three story building, 150x155 feet in dimensions, the lower floor of which is occupied by wood, iron. paint and trimming workers, a portion, also, being set apart as a wareroom. The house does a jobbing trade through Southern Illinois, and gives employ- ment usually to twenty-five men. This firm, one of the oldest in Belleville, having been established in 1857. has won an enviable reputation for fair dealing and excellent work. Prior to the date named, the two members, John and William, had prepared themselves for the important step by learning the trade in a carriage factory at St. Louis.
Our subject was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, April
16, 1841, his parents being John A. and Catharine (Heiserman) lleinzelman, who came to the United States in 1835 from Stuttgart, Germany, where the father was born. They resided at 'Cincinnati, at which place the son William, as well as John,' was born, for a number of years before the removal of the family to Belleville. The father started the carriage manufactory on a small scale and contin- ued at its head until his death, in September, 1865, when. JJohn and William, who had been associated with him since the beginning of the business, as- snmed entire control, under the firm name of Heinzelman Bros. Gradually trade increased until larger quarters were required, and in 1874 the present building was erected.
The subject of our sketch was married October 16, 1867, to Miss Emeline Middlecoff, born eight miles out of St. Louis, the daughter of Frank Middlecoff. Three children have been born to this couple, namely: Sophia, Oudelette and Arthur. Mr. Heinzelman is very prominent in local Masonic circles, having held leading positions in St. Clair Lodge, Belleville Chapter, Belleville Council and Tancred Commandery. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, holding the office of Trustee in that body. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Heinzelman is located at No. 216 .Jackson Street, Belleville.
G EORGE C. LEMEN. The subject of this sketch resides on a well-cultivated farm in section 29, Freeburg Township, St. Clair County, Ill. Heis one of the fortunate gentlemen who probably can trace his family back four gen- erations. Frequently in the hurry and turmoil of life the records of a family get lost and a direct line cannot be traced. In Mr. Lemen's family this has not been the case. His father was George C. Lemen, who was the son of John T., who was born in the northern part of St. Clair County, and he was a son of Robert Lemen, who was the son of James Lemen, who came to this State from Virginia
660
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
at an early day and was one of the first settlers of the county. At that time the original inhabitants in the State were more numerous than white men.
John T. Lemen was married to Patience E. Wilderman, the daughter of George Wilderman, who was one of the settlers of the county and who came here in 1806. Ile had three children, two of whom grew to manhood, R. W. and George C. The former is still living in Freeburg Town- ship.
George C. Lemen, the father of our subject, was married to Maria Griffin and had but one child. Ile died from injuries received by a fall from a horse. The birth of our subject took place on the 13th of January, 1858, on the place where he now resides. He was reared here and was one of the pupils at the district school-one of those who could have sat for the portrait of the "Barefoot Boy," immer- talized by the late lamented poet Whittier. After he had reached a proper age, he went to Shurtleff ('ollege, where he finished his education.
After Mr. Lemen returned home he became in- terested in farming, and on September 6, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura J. Agnew, who was the daughter of A. F. Agnew, who was a farmer in Monroe County, near Columbia. Her mother died when she was small and she made her home with Mrs. Isaac Shook, now Mrs. William Winkleman, of Belleville.
After marriage, our subject brought his wife to this place, and here they made a pleasant home. Mr. Lemen has a farm of two hundred acres of land all well improved and he raises much fine stock. His principal crop is wheat, although he grows other grains. He has full-blooded Jersey cows and takes an interest in fine stock.
Two lovely children fill the home of our subject with happiness. Grace is eight years old and Willie is four years old. In his politieal opinions Mr. Lemen is a Republican, and believes in the wisdom of the party's methods looking toward a protective tariff, and casts his vote and influence with that party.
Mr. Lemen made himself felt in the affairs of the Grange, being a member of importance in that association at Turkey Hill. This organization holds some of the best men of the State and all of the
advanced agriculturists belong to it. At their pleasant home, hospitality reigns, and assisted by his amiable wife Mr. Lemen is always glad to see his friends and entertain them with his best.
OHN WESLEY HYPES. There are certain characters that mellow and sweeten under the chastening hand of affliction as certain rare and luscious fruits only attain their perfection when touched by frost. So it has been with the man whose name appears above, and of whom it is our pleasant privilege to give a short biographical sketch. Shut out from the world of sound and with the visual sense dimmed, there have been discovered in huis inner life resources and riches unknown before he was thus isolated from the clang and elatter of the ordinary routine of life.
John Wesley Hypes was born May 12, 1810, in Botetourt County, Va., and is a son of Henry and Patience (Reynolds) Hypes, also natives of Vir- ginia. Our subject's ancestry on the paternal side is traced to Germany, while on the mother's side English blood flows in his veins. Mr. Hypes' par- ents were married in Virginia, and there followed farming until 1811, when the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, remaining one year, and in 1812 settled on a farm near the town of Xenia. That was the family home as long as the father and mother lived, the former passing away in his eightieth year, and the mother dying when fifty-one.
Our subject was one of a family of eight chil- dren, who are named as follows: Nancy, Joseph, Washington, Sarah, Benjamin, Davison, John W. and Francis Asbury. They are sketched as follows: The eldest sister, who married Nathan Horner, is deceased; Joseph died in Lebanon, and left two children: Washington jomed the United States Navy in 1835, and has never been heard from; Sarah died at the age of seven months and fourteen days; Davison departed this life in 1823; Benjamin is a venerable and esteemed resident in Lebanon Township; Francis A. died in 1847.
661
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Hypes removed to Lebanon in 1836, and was first engaged in business as a saddle-maker and later enlarged his interests and added to it harness-making. He was thus employed until 1876, at which time he retired from the active conduct of the business. November 15. 1849, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Murray, a daughter of Daniel and Rachel (Horner) Mur- ray, both of whom were natives of Baltimore, Md. Mr. and Mrs. Hypes have been faithful and con- genial companions for nearly half a century, and now reside together in their pleasant home. They have been the parents of two children: Henry Murray, who died in infancy; and Eliza Maria, who married J. C. Keet, and lives in Springfield, Mo. She is the mother of four children: Florence Elizabeth, Bertram, Harry and Belle.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hypes has been char- acterized by modesty, and although he has by no means been indifferent to the political phases through which his country has passed, he has de- sired to be only a looker-on farther than in cast- ing his ballot. Originally a Whig, on the forma- tion of the Republican party he joined its follow- ing. In church relations, both Mr. and Mrs. Hypes have for many years worshipped with the Method- | ists.
OHN FRIES, prominent in agricultural, church and political circles, is an enterpris- ing man who does his share in forwarding every movement to enhance the best inter- ests of his township and county. The father of our subject was George Fries, of whom a fuller history may be found in the biography of George Fries in another part of this volume.
John Fries was born September 28, 1840, on Turkey Hill, in what is now Freeburg Township, where he resided with his father until the time of his marriage and received his early education. He now makes his home on section 12, Engelman Township, where he owns one hundred and sixty aeres of riel farming land, six acres of which were ent off by the railroad, and twenty-tive acres of good timber land. Our subject has always been
engaged in agricultural work, his father before him having been a tarmer, and thus he under- stands the art of making the most out of his land. lle raises fine crops of wheat, oats, eorn, etc., and is interested to some extent in stock-raising.
Miss Elizabeth Fries became his wife November 10, 1861. She is the daughter of .John Fries, who emigrated to this country from Germany in an early day, and also followed the occupation of a farmer. Three children were born to our subject and his estimable wife to gladden their pathway and shed sunshine through their lives. They still remain under the parental roof and bear the names of George J., Elizabeth M. and Emilie.
He of whom we write has never been an office- seeker, but has been honored by his fellow-citizens with the office of School Trustee for the length of six years. Ile is a conscientious member of the Lutheran Church at Mascoutah, in which he holds the office of Trustee. Socially, he is connected with the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, and politically is a stanch advocate of the Republican party.
G EORGE MUNIE. The farming community of Bond County has received a recent val_ uable addition in this gentleman, who in 1892 removed hither from St. Clair County and purchased a farm. In addition to general farming, he is considerably interested in stock-raising, in which he has met with more than usual success. A practical, energetic and persevering farmer, he uses modern methods of agriculture and the latest improved machinery, and his recently-purchased estate already gives indications of his skill and judgment.
The province of Lorraine, then owned by France, but secured by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War, was the native place of our subject, and Aug- ust 24, 1844, the date of his birth. His father. Paul Munie, was born in that province in 1800, and there grew to manhood, choosing as his wife ,a lady who was likewise born in Lorraine. In
662
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1853. the family emigrated to the I'nited States. and, after landing at New Orleans, eame by boat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, whence they proceeded to Illinois, and settled upon a farm in St. Clair Township, St. Clair County. There the father remained engaged in agricultural occupa- tions until his death, which occurred April 17, 1866; his wife survived until 1881, passing away March 25 of that year.
The following is recorded of the brothers and sisters of our subject: Magdalena married George Buchler and resided in St. Clair Township, St. Clair County; Hyacinth chose as his wife Miss Louise Adams, and they reside upon a farm near Freeburg in Smithton Township, St. Clair County; Joseph married Christina Germain, and is a well- to-do farmer residing in St. Clair Township; Mary Ann; George, the youngest child, was reared on his father's farm in St. Clair Township, and in his youth was a student in the common schools, later attending the Catholic schools in Belleville.
The estimable lady who, on April 10, 1866, became the wife of Mr. Munie, was born April 17, 1848. and bore the maiden name of Adeline Tribout. She was one of six surviving children among the thirteen born to Bonaventura and Margaret (Fournie) Tribout, the former a farmer in St. Clair County until his death May 5, 1881, at the age of seventy-five. The mother lives on the old home- stead two miles north of Belleville, and is in full possession of her mental faculties, notwithstanding her advanced age of seventy-eight. Eleven chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Munie, who are named George .J., Magdalena, Katherina, Rosa, Louis. Emily, John, Arthur, Victor, Lawrence and Edmond. Katherina died at the age of eighteen years; Rosa, when six: Louis at four, and Emily in infancy. The others reside under the parental roof. and are gaining good educations in the schools of the county.
Mr. Mumie removed to llot Springs, Ark .. having sold his farm in St. Clair Township, and for several months engaged in the wholesale pro- duce business. Ile was not satisfied with that State. however, and soon returned to his former place of residence, where for about two years he was proprietor of an hotel in Belleville. He then
bought baek his old homestead in St. Clair County and resided there until 1892, when, realizing that it was too small to give employment to himself and sons, he sold it and bought the above-mentioned estate in Bond County. He is independent in politics and is a man of decided beliefs and force of will. He finds his religious home in the Cathi- olie Chureh, in which faith he was reared, and to which he has ever been devoted.
G
b I. HORNER. In a log house which stood on the south side of St. Louis, just west of the public square, the subject of this sketch was born February 22, 1821. lle was of English descent on his father's side, his great-grandfather having emigrated to America from England, while his maternal ancestry was of German-English origin. Ilis parents were Nathan and Nancy (Hypes) Horner, the former born in Baltimore, Md., 1770, and the latter a native of Fincastle, Va.
In 1812, the grandfather of our subject removed from Baltimore, Md., to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, where he remained until 1817, removing thence to St. Clair County, Ill. Here he purchased a farm two miles north of Lebanon, and passed his remaining years upon that place, dying there when about eighty years old. Our subject was one of three children. the others being Sarah Ann and Virginia Elizabeth. The former married Hiram 1. Ashley, a merchant of Lebanon, and both are now deceased. Nathan Horner, father of our sub- ject, came to Illinois shortly after his marriage, in Xenia. Ohio, in 1817, and after operating a farm. came to Lebanon, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for forty years. He was one of the found- ers of MeKendree College, of which he was Trustee as long as he lived.
Our subjeet was reared in Lebanon, where he attended the common schools and later entered McKendree College, from which he was gradna- ted in 1841 with the degree of B. 1. The degree of Master of Arts was afterward conferred upon
663
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
him. He commenced the study of law in the of- fiee of Judge Underwood, at Belleville, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court in 1847. During the following year he opened an office for practice at Belleville, and first formed a partner- ship with Judge Joseph Gillespie, of Edwardsville, with whom he continued several years. He has since practiced alone. With the exception of ex- Lieut .- Gov. Koerner, he is the oldest living lawyer in practice in the county.
November 19, 1857, Mr. Horner married Helen M., daughter of Jonathan and Ruth Danforth. Their children are: Henry R., Wilbur N., Hattie II., Bertha A. and two that died in infancy. Henry R. is a civil engineer, with headquarters at Den- ver, Colo .; Wilbur N., an attorney-at-law, is with the Hon. Lyman Trumbull in Chicago; Hattie HI. and Bertha A. are at home. After graduating from MeKendree College, our subject was made a tutor in that institution, and six months later was appointed Professor of ancient languages. In 1866, he was elected to the position of Pro- fessor of the law department of the college, from which he retired in 1890. Hle was elected Mayor of Lebanon in 1874, and re-elected in the follow- ing years. His political affiliations were origin- ally with the Democrats, but since 1856 he has been a Republican.
1
b ON. JOHN J. MCLEAN, Captain of the boat "Christy" of the Wiggins Ferry Com- pany at East St. Louis, was born in Cin- einnati, Ohio, January 4, 1841. His father, Milton McLean, was a nephew of Judge MeLean, of the Supreme Court, and followed the profession of a lawyer in Cincinnati until 1841. when he came to Illinois and purchased a large distillery. This was operated by competent men until it was burned to the ground in 1845. Later, it was re- built and was the largest distillery in the West. After selling his interest in that enterprise, Mr. McLean located in St. Louis, where he practiced
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.