USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. I > Part 34
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John Nelsch, born January 3, 1813, in Goeppingen, Wuerttemberg, where he learned the baker's trade, came to America in 1835, locating in Quincy. Here he married Leonore Clara Kraus, born in Forchheim, Baden, who came to this city in 1835. They moved to Jacksonville, Illinois, where John Nelsch established a bakery; he also conducted bakeries in Beardstown and Virginia, Cass County, Illinois. In 1842 the family returned to Quincy, where John Nelsch for many years was active in his business as baker. For a number of years he con- dueted a brewery and a summer garden. In the early '50s his wife died, and in 1855 he married for the second time, his wife being Marie Mesel, born in Sankt Johann, Saarbruecken, Prussia. She came to this country in 1849 with her parents, and located in St. Louis, where her parents died, and she later came to Quincy. Johu
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Nelseh died November 23, 1893, his wife is still among the living, eon- dneting the bakery established by her husband many years ago. Three sons of John Nelseh live in Quincy: John Nelseh, Jr., who served in the Tenth Illinois Infantry during the Civil war; Louis Nelseh, a cooper, who still follows his trade; and Albert Nelseh, the youngest son, proprietor of a large bakery.
Sebastian Gerber, born 1806 in Forchheim, Baden, came to Amer- ica in 1835, landing at Baltimore. From there he went to Pittsburgh, where he boarded a steamboat, coming down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi to Quincy. It was in December when the boat arrived here, but there was so much ice before the city that the boat had to land at West Quiney, from where the passengers were brought to Quincy the next day in skiffs. In 1840 Sebastian Gerber married Creszentia Herr, she being born 1819 in Fischbach in the Black Forest of Baden. In May, 1865, Mrs. Gerber died and her husband departed this life in July, 1875. Joseph Gerber, a son of Sebastian and Cres- zentia (Herr) Gerber, born in Quincy, October 2, 1846, learned the machinist trade, at which he worked for forty-six years, and then retired. He married Caroline Sehauf, a daughter of the old pioneer, Henry Schauf, who located here in 1836. One daughter, Miss Anna Gerber, is engaged as stenographer in the Ricker National Bank: the other daughter, known as Sister Ceeclia, is a member of the Order of Maria de Ripan.
SETTLERS OF 1836
John Bernhard Schwindeler was born in 1805 in Herzlage, Hann- over, where he grew up to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade, also serving in the Hanoverian army. In the fatherland he married Gertrude Wellmann, born in Ankum, Hanover. In 1833 they emi- grated, coming to America, where they located in Louisville, Ken- tucky. In the spring of 1836 the family eame to Quincy, where he worked at his trade as a carpenter. When the Mormon troubles be- gan, John Bernhard Schwindeler was elected as captain of the Ger- man Guard, who participated in the Mormon war, the company marching from Quiney to Nauvoo overland. Later he was elected to the office of tax collector of Quiney, and also served as constable. John Bernhard Sehwindeler died in 1847, his wife followed him in death in 1849, as a victim of cholera.
Charles Ferdinand Schwindeler, born September 7. 1834. in Louis- ville, Kentucky, a son of John Bernhard and Gertrude ( Wellmann) Schwindeler, came with his parents to Quincy, where the family made their home in a log cabin. When thirteen years of age he was apprentieed to his uncle, Frederick Wellmann, learning the painter's trade, which occupation he followed for many years. h 1855 he married Marie Faerber. For a number of years he served in the volunteer fire department as foreman of Liberty No. 3, and later of
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Water Witch No. 2. In 1883 Charles Ferdinand Schwindeler was elected as city treasurer for four years, and in 1891 he was again elected to the same office, serving the city for eight years as treasurer and ex-officio tax collector. October 19, 1891, his wife died, and Charles F. Schwindeler departed this life March 23, 1909. Children living are: Charles J. Schwindeler, painter, in Quincy; Frank John Schwindeler, electrician, in St. Louis, Missouri; Miss Frances Schwindeler, and Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Rummenie, both in Quincy.
Dr. Michael Doway, born 1803 in Sursee, Canton Luzerne, Switzer- land, studied medicine, and in 1826 married Nannette Suppiger, born in Sursee in 1807. In 1835 they emigrated to America, locating at Highland, Illinois, a Swiss colony founded by Dr. Casper Koepfli and John Suppiger. In 1836 the family eame to Quincy, where Doctor Doway, in connection with John Guggenbuehler, conducted a brewery at Seventh and York streets. Later Guggenbuehler returned to High- land, and Doctor Doway bought a piece of ground from Governor Thomas Carlin, on Hampshire near Fifth Street, where he erected a building and conducted a drug store for many years, at the same time practicing medicine. Emilie, the daughter of Dr. Michael and Nannette (Suppiger) Doway, was married to Charles Seeger, for many years engaged in business in Quincy as insurance agent. Dr. Michael Doway died January 10, 1891, his wife followed him in death November 7, 1897. Charles Seeger and wife also departed this life years ago.
Ignatz Bross and family came to Ameriea in the early '30s of last century. Both were born in Elgesweier, Baden. His wife was Bar- bara, nee Regelsberger. They located in Louisville, Kentucky, but in 1836 he decided to come to Quincy, making the trip overland by prairie schooner, drawn by a fine team of horses. When they arrived here, there was no house vacant and so they camped under the shelter- ing shade of a big tree near what now is Twelfth Street, until a dwell- ing could be seeured. Ignatz Bross departed this life in 1842, his wife following him in death in 1846. Benjamin Bross, a son of Ignatz and Barbara (Regelsberger) Bross, in 1856 moved to Carthage, Illinois, where he died some years ago at a high old age. Christine, a daughter of Ignatz and Barbara (Regelsberger) Bross, beeame the wife of Daniel Kaiser, one of Quincy's pioneers, who conducted a soda water factory in this city and also made hubs for wagon wheels; the other daughter, Marie, was married to Joseph Mast, the early pioneer. All have long sinee died.
HIeny Edward Barth was born October 28, 1805, in Dresden, Saxony. where he grew up to manhood and learned the butcher's trade. In the beginning of 1836 he emigrated, landing in New York July 26th. Continuing his journey to Cineinnati, Ohio, he there
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boarded a steamboat, coming down the Ohio River and up the Mis- sissippi to Quincy, where he settled for life. March 1, 1539, he married Christine Breitwieser, who was born April 12, 1810, in Kleestadt, Grandduchy of Hessen, and came to Quincy in 1838. For many years Henry Edward Barth conducted a meat market in this city, and later was proprietor of a hotel, known as "Gasthof zur Stadt Dresden." July 17. 1875, he died, his wife preceding him in death JJanuary 24. 1872. Henry Edward and Christine (Breitwieser) Barth had two sons, John and Henry Barth, who grew up in this eity, where both married and were active in their chosen calling, conducting meat markets; both have long ago departed this life. One danghter of Henry Edward and Christine ( Breitwieser) Barth still lives in Quincy, Mrs. Eva Marie Hng, born March 24, 1846, the widow of Frederick Hug, who for many years conducted a barber shop in Quincy.
Andrew Keller, born April 27, 1816, in Gross-Biberau, Grand- duchy of Ilessen, grew up to manhood in his native town, where he learned the tailor's trade. In 1836 he came to America, locating in Quincy, where he settled for life. July 19, 1840, he married Julia Wild, born April 3, 1817, in Gruenstadt,. Bavaria. For many years Andrew Keller was engaged in business in this city, in the beginning following his trade as a tailor, and later in the mercantile business. condueting a dry goods and grocery store. In 1857 he represented the Fourth Ward in the city eouneil. Andrew Keller died August 11, 1864, while his wife lived until December 11, 1892. George Keller, the son of Andrew and Julia (Wild) Keller, grew up in Quiney and learned blacksmithing and wagon making, being a member of the firm Wenzel & Keller. During the Civil war he served in the Union army as waggoner of Company D. One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry. Later he married Josephine Bregger, daughter of Thomas Bregger. For a number of years he has been in the agri- cultural implement business with his sons, George, Oscar and Arthur, under the firm name George Keller & Sons. Andrew and Julia ( Wild ) Keller had three daughters, Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Beamer (Boehmer), she at present residing in Kansas City, Missouri ; Mary. the wife of Philip Schanz, she died several years ago; and Emma. the wife of Herman H. Westerbeek in Kansas City, Missouri.
Sebastian Dingeldein, born in 1810 in Gross-Biberan, Grand- duchy of Hessen, came to America early in the '30s of last century, loeating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His wife was Catherine, hve Klingler, born in 1810 in Reichelsheim, Grandduehy of Hessen. In 1836 they came to Quincy, where Sebastian Dingeldein conducted a bakery on Hampshire between Third and Fourth streets. Later he acquired a farm six miles east of the city near Mill Creek. where he followed farming for many years. In 1845, his wife died, while Se- bastian Dingeldein in later years came to the city, where he died in 1891. George Dingeldein, the son of Sebastian and Catherine (Kling-
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ler) Dingeldein, was active as a farmer for some time, but later moved to the city, where he went into business as manufacturer of extracts, until his death about a year ago. Sebastian and Catherine (Klinger) Dingeldein had two daughters, Catherine, who became the wife of the farmer, George Dickhut, and died many years ago; and Caroline, who became the wife of George Schaller, proprietor of a tinshop and dealer in stoves; she also departed this life a number of years ago.
John A. Roth, born April 11, 1814, in Meykammer, Bavaria, came to America in 1836, loeating in Quiney, where he went to work at his trade as cabinet maker. August 13, 1838, he married Appolonia Sehell, daughter of John and Barbara (Zwick) Schell, born in Bavaria May 2, 1819, who came to Quiney with her parents in 1836. In 1849 John A. Roth crossed the plains, going to the gold mines of California, from where he returned in 1852; in 1854 he went to California again, returning in 1856. Then he located in Camp Point, this county, where he went into business, dealing in furniture, stoves and tinware, manu- facturing the latter. For many years he occupied a prominent posi- tion in business circles of that town, until his death, October 1, 1875, his wife also departing this life many years ago. John W. Roth, a son of John A. and Appolonia (Schell) Roth, was born in Camp Point September 23, 1858. After acquiring a good common school education, he worked in his father's store for a time, but coneluded to try railroading, and was employed in the Wabash and Union Pacific service for some time. In 1884 he bought out a general store in Kings- ton, Adams County, which he conducted for six years. Being ap- pointed depnty sheriff, while in Kingston, he held that position con- tinuously until he was elected sheriff in 1898. After the expiration of his term, John W. Roth went West, where he located.
Among the German pioneers who settled in Quincy in 1836 was George P. Heller. Born May 16, 1811, in Oberau, Grandduchy of Hessen. He came to America in 1828 and located in St. Louis. In 1835 he came to Quiney and worked here at his trade as earpenter during the summer, but in the fall left this town, he and another man, who also was a carpenter, walking from Quincy to St. Louis, where there was more opportunity for work in the winter. In the spring of 1836 George P. Heller again came to Quincy to settle here for life. In 1842 he married Elizabeth D. Waldhaus, a daughter of Henry Waldhaus, who with his wife had located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1831. The family came from Oberau, Grandduchy of Hessen, where the daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1822. About the year 1833 Henry Waldhaus, who was a earpet weaver, with his family located in Belleville, Illinois, and in 1835 came to Quincy, later settling on a farm near Mill Creek in Melrose Township. George P. Heller worked at his trade as carpenter and builder for many years, and, among many others, had the contract to construct the
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first building erected by the late Henry F. J. Ricker on Hampshire Street. In 1851 he lost his life by falling from the roof of a house, leaving his family, consisting of wife, two sons, John AA. and George, and three daughters. Sophia, Mathilde and Emma, in straitened cir- cumstances. John A. Ileller, the eldest son of George P. and Eliza- beth D. (Waldhaus) Ileller, was born February 1, 1844, in a log honse near the northwest corner of Seventh and Jersey streets in Quiney. When six years of age he had to stay at home and take care of the younger children, while the mother attended to her work, taking in sewing, often working until midnight. Later she did washing and ironing, being thus engaged every day of the week, all of this being necessary to support herself and children. In June, 1854, John A. Heller, then ten years of age, went to work for David W. Miller, proprietor of the Quiney House, his first oeeupation being that of a knife shiner. When the Cather House (later the Tremont Hotel) had been built, he was the first employe hired by Zachariah Cather, the proprietor, and began by cleaning windows, before the house was furnished. Two years later he returned to the Quincy House, learning to cook. In the course of time he worked in different hotels, the Quiney, the Tremont, and the Paeifie, in this eity, and also in the Commercial Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee. In 1859 and 1860 he was eook on packets that plied between St. Louis and Memphis. Then he went to sea as eook, first on the James Bryant, of Beverly, Massa- chusetts, and then on the Bosporous, of Bangor, Maine, visiting every continent with the exception of Australia. After four years of life at sea, he returned to his old home, the Quiney House. In 1872 he, with the late Mayor Frederick Reariek, organized the Eagle Packing Company, preserving eanned goods, but they lost everything in the panic of 1873, caused by the financial erash of that year. January 1, 1874, he, in partnership with Herman Moeeker, Sr., opened the then new Paeifie Hotel. In 1879 he left the hotel business and in the spring of 1880 began raising early vegetables and ehiekens. Finally he started in the florist business, securing an excellent patronage, retiring from active business in the fall of 1899. John A. IIeller also has been busy in the literary field. In 1878 he wrote a work entitled "A Teleological View of Nature," in 1910 "A Constructive Treatise of the Evolution Theory," and in 1916 "A Diminution of a Literary Kaleidoscope"; besides the above mentioned he has written 160 poems. among them one entitled "My Travels Over the Globe." John A. Heller was especially active in seeuring a Chamber of Commerce Building for Quiney, towards which he in 1912 subscribed $1.000, this sum being placed in bank for more than three years, nothing being added but the interest. Finally he gave them the choice among several sites, he agreeing to buy the ground thus selected. A com- mittee, entrusted with the selection, chose Fifth and Jersey streets, where the building then was erected. John A. Heller certainly made his mark in the history of Quincy. July 24, 18GS, John A. Heller married Martha J. Weidenhammer, the latter born in Pennsylvania,
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as the name plainly indicates, also of German deseent. She died in October, 1910.
Adam Keller was born May 21, 1787, in Ostheim, Grandduchy of Hessen, and married Marie Dorothea Pfeiffer, born in Gross Biberau. They came to Quincy in 1836 and located near Mill Creek, where they went to farming. While Mrs. Keller died early in the '50s, her lius- band lived until March 25, 1872, when he departed this life. Matthew Keller, the oldest son of Adam and Marie D. (Pfeiffer) Keller, married Marie Herlemann, born in Wersau, Grandduchy of Hessen. Their sons were: George Keller, who married Hannah Miller, and later moved to the city, where he conducted teaming until his death; An- drew Keller, born November 13, 1845, served in the One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Illinois Infantry during the Civil war, and later con- ducted a grocery and notion store in Quincy; he married Dora Schnellbecher, daughter of the old pioneer, Wendel Schnellbecher, she surviving, while he died a number of years ago. William Keller, twin brother of the before mentioned Andrew Keller, married Mary Ruff, daughter of the old pioneer, Jacob Ruff, and condueted a grocery store in this city for many years, finally moving to La Plata, Mis- souri, where they reside on a farm. Matthew Keller, the youngest son of Matthew and Marie (Herlemann) Keller, who lived on the farm in Melrose, departed this life many years ago.
Paul Konantz was born in Hohenzollern, August 16, 1811. In 1836 he came to Quincy, where he married Wilhelmina Sehultheis May 9, 1843, she being a native of Marjoss, Principality of Hessen, and had come to Quincy in 1835. Paul Konantz was aetive in business circles for many years, condueting a grocery and also a wood yard. He died in 1877, and his wife in 1897. William H. Konantz, the oldest son of Paul and Wilhelmina (Schultheis) Konantz, was born in Quincy April 9, 1846. After finishing his education he served an apprentice- ship with Bernard & Loekwood, learning saddlery and harness mak- ing, and then spent two years in Chicago, learning the finest grades of work. In March, 1876, with a few hundred dollars capital, he opened a shop of his own, and being an expert workman, his busi- ness prospered so that within five years he not only enjoyed a hand- some local patronage, but was shipping to other cities as far west as the Pacific Coast. A number of years ago he retired from active busi- ness life, enjoying a well earned rest. The other children of Paul and Wilhelmina (Schultheis) Konantz were: Dr. Charles F. Konantz, for a number of years a practicing physician in St. Paul, Minnesota; John P. Konantz, a baker in Ithaca, New York; Edward and Adolph Konantz, in a saddlery and harness business in St. Paul, Minnesota: Mrs. Wilhelmina Smith, in Chicago; Mrs. Henrietta Ripley, in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois ; and Mrs. Anna Lindley, whose husband years ago was postmaster in Urbana, Illinois.
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Sixteen years ago Frederick Gustave Ertel, at that time superin- tendent of public schools in Quincy, related the following to the writer of this history: "Ulrich Luginbuehl, my maternal grandfa- ther, was born in 1784 in Berne, Switzerland, and his wife, Maria Anna, nee Stucke, was also born in Berne in 1789. They were mar- ried in the Reformed church in Berne, where my mother was born in 1823, she being named after her mother, Maria Anna. Early in 1825 my grandparents, in company with many others, decided to emi- grate to America. There were one hundred and twenty persons in the party, which traveled overland from Berne to Havre, all bound for this promised land, America. It certainly would have made a splendid subjeet for an artist, to immortalize the picture of that party on eanvass, as they journeyed overland, like the children of Israel. Some of the families had their household goods transported on wagons, drawn by horses, while others had them carried on the baeks of burros, and others still, not so fortunate, placed their scanty pos- sessions on handearts, which they shoved before them. By far the greatest number of those emigrants had to travel afoot, and these, as well as the people who shoved handearts, and the leaders of the paek- mules, had to start earlier in the morning than the others who were so fortunate as to possess wagons and horses; and in the evening it would invariably take several hours before the whole party was gath- ered at the agreed camping grounds.
"In Havre each family purchased the necessary means of existence for the long and tedions voyage aeross the Atlantic. Leaving Havre on the sailing vessel Romulus, the party encountered severe storms, and the voyage to New York took one hundred days. For the last three weeks the members of that party were eut down to half rations, and water was dispensed only onee each day in small quantity. There were four births and four deaths on that voyage, one boy was among the newborn and he was christened by the captain of the ship, receiv- ing the name Romulus.
"In July, 1825, the emigrants arrived in New York. Ulrich Luginbuehl, who was a tailor, immediately got work at his trade and remained in that city for ten years with his family. New York being visited by a great conflagration in December, 1835, Ulrich Luginbuehl and family in the spring of 1836 left for the west, going up the Hud- son River to Albany, then by means of the Erie Canal to Buffalo and then to Pittsburgh, where they boarded a steamboat, coming down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Quincy, the trip from New York to this city requiring three and one-half months. It was ten o'clock at night when the boat landed here, and a very dark night at that. A man with an old tin lantern, in which a tallow candle diffused a dim light, acted as guide. Suddenly a gust of wind blew ont the light, and then they had to grope in the dark until they found a place of shelter for the night. Ulrich Luginbuehl for many years followed his trade as a tailor, until he became disabled by an accident with a flat iron, causing a lame hand, and hnd to give up his enlling. He Vol. 1-21
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died in 1854, while his wife lived twenty years longer, her death occurring 1874. A son of the couple, John Luckenbill, having changed his original name, died in 1881, aged 52 years."
LIFE AND WORK OF CHARLES A. MAERTZ
Charles Augustus Maertz was born in Berlin. the capital of the German Empire, May 31, 1811, being the youngest son of Charles Ehrhard Maertz, who was born in 1763 in Dantzie, son of a wealthy brewer in that important town of Prussia. Choosing the art of portrait painting as his profession, Charles Ehrhard Maertz went to seek his fortune in Petersburg, the capital of Russia, where Catherine II patronized art and learning with a munificent hand. Later he settled in Berlin to prosecute his profession, and in 1793 married Christiane Marin, the twenty-year-old daughter of a small farmer in a neighboring village, who proved herself a devoted wife and mother, remarkable for energy, decision of character, high principle and stern sense of duty. Charles Ehrhard Maertz died in 1816, when his young- est son, Charles Augustus, was but five years of age. The widow, being left with very slender resources, upon the adviee of her friends, pur- chased an outfit for crimping and fluting laces and muslins, and then opened a laundry exclusively for doing such work, employing several girls. When Charles Augustus Maertz arrived at the age of thirteen, having attended a school for seven years, his mother's limited means obliged her to apprentice him to a bookbinder. But the air of the bindery proving extremely detrimental to him, after six months the boy was removed from it and placed with a coppersmith. In those days it had long been very difficult to secure apprenticeship at trades, and a premium of 50 thalers ($40) had to be paid to the master by the mother of the boy for the privilege of equipping her son with a trade. After having completed his apprenticeship, he produced a masterpiece and secured his papers, which declared him a master of his trade and permitted him to praetiee it. Then he started on his journey, visiting a number of cities in continental Europe, and in 1831 went to London, England, where he remained two years, working at his trade.
Having heard mueh of America, he determined to visit this country, and in 1833 crossed the ocean, coming to New York, where he worked at his trade for a while. Business being dull, he left New York and sailed for New Orleans, where times were brisker and pay better. But he soon went to St. Louis, where he secured a position and found stanch friends. There he met Miss Ottilia Obert, daughter of Peter and Mary Obert, born May 16, 1811, in Barbach, Baden, she having come to America in 1829, accompanied by her brother, Mathias Obert. After a short engagement Charles Augustus Maertz and Ottilia Obert were married October 27, 1834, Dr. William Potts of the Presby- terian Church performing the ceremony. A few months after mar- riage Charles Augustus Maertz started a business of his own, trans-
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