USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. I > Part 35
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forming himself from an artificer in noble metals into a tinsmith and sheet iron worker, making cook and heating stoves out of the latter material. In April, 1836, two years after his arrival in St. Louis, he took a trip by steamboat up the river to Quiney, which he had heard of as a growing town. On arrival he heard that one tinsmith was already settled here and two others were expected. Being advised to try Warsaw, Hancock County, Illinois, he resolved to investigate what inducements it might offer. Learning that the next steamboat for the Upper Mississippi would not be due before three weeks, he set out and made on foot the distance of forty miles between the two villages. In Warsaw he met an old acquaintance acting as United States land agent, and was persuaded to purchase a house and lot, giving $100 eash down on first payment.
Returning to St. Louis, he made preparations to transfer his little family to their prospective home in Warsaw. A trifle changed all their plans. When the boat reached Quiney May 19, 1836, Mr. Maertz stopped off to get his heavy cloak which he had left in care of Anton Konantz, when he started afoot for Warsaw. Meeting sev- eral acquaintances, he was informed that the tinners had left and he was greatly needed. The superior advantages of Quiney over War- saw were so urgently set forth, that he was persuaded to stop and locate here. In the meantime Mrs. Maertz with her little daughter, Ottilia, was on the boat waiting for the return of her husband. The bell rang for pushing off-Mrs. Maertz appealed to the captain, beg- ging him to wait for her husband; the captain assured her that he would be in time to jump on, for he saw him running down hill. She looked and saw three men racing single file down the cow path that led up to the village between a thicket of blackberry and hazelnut bushes and serub oaks. They dashed on board and one of the men then shouted : "Captain, hold on, put out the bridge, these people are going to stop in Quincy! Let everybody lend a hand to unload these goods." The deckhands hustled about and passengers helped with lusty good will to carry the goods ashore. As the boat pushed off the family found itself suddenly stranded in Quincy, forty miles from its prospective home in Warsaw, Illinois. After matters had been explained to Mrs. Maertz, the question arose, whither should they go, where find shelter ? Anton Konantz, who had rented a large attie room for his family, offered to shelter them until a vacant house could be found. A partition was improvised by stretching a drugget carpet across one end. The second Monday following there was a house of three rooms to let. one below and two above. for $18.50 per month. But Mr. Maertz began to build as soon as he had secured a lot : in three months the house was ready for ocenpaney and in Angust of the same year the family settled down in their own home.
The year 1837 was a sad one for Charles Augustus Maertz. In August of that year, while hammering on a stovepipe, a scale of iron struck his left eye, lodging in the pupil. There being no physicians here sufficiently skilful to extract the scale, Mr. Maertz suffered in-
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tensely, and for six months was entirely disqualified for business of any sort. After he again was able to work he took up his business with his wonted energy and renewed vigor. In 1841, business being very dull, Mr. Maertz went to New Orleans, where he worked at his trade until February of the next year, when he returned to his family in Quincy. Here he followed his business until 1850, when he sold ont and took a trip across the ocean, sailing from New York in June of that year for a visit with his mother and sister, and also with the father, brother and sister of Mrs. Maertz. Returning by sailing vessel via New Orleans he arrived in Quincy December 12, 1850, after an absence of about six months. In 1867 Mr. Maertz took a second trip to the fatherland, accompanied by his daughters. It was on this oe- easion that he was induced by his daughter, Miss Louisa, to resume pencil sketching from nature (an accomplishment acquired in boy- hood before his apprenticeship). lle at that time made two sketches, one of the ancient walled City of Offenburg, situated on a gentle eminence between the River Kinzig on one side and some bold spurs of the Black Forest on the other; the other sketch being a romantie Castle Ortenberg, perched upon the steepest spur of the lower range of mountains, overlooking the plain in which the city is built. His interest developing from sueeess, he went on and colored both. This diversion taken up at the age of fifty-seven became a delightful pastime with him until within two years of his death; today the result of this activity is seen in the home of the family in this city, which is adorned by sixty paintings, all the result of his genius, an achieve- ment one seldom sees, when considering the difficulties under which he labored, owing to the loss of one eye-only a person of an iron will, accompanied by an untiring patience, could accomplish what he did.
During his business career in Quiney Charles Augustus Maertz built and owned twenty-two houses, adding that much to the develop- ment and growth of the city. Besides his activity in business, he also took a great interest in publie matters, writing for the daily papers. English and German, and repeatedly speaking at publie meetings, when he deemed it proper in the interest of the welfare of the com- munity.
The writer of this narrative having gone somewhat extensively into the description of the life and work of Charles Augustus Maertz, had only one object in view; namely, to impress upon the present, and on coming generations, what can be accomplished by honesty of purpose and by untiring will power. Charles Augustus Maertz departed this life January 7, 1890, while his wife followed him in death August 18, 1903. Two daughters are living in this eity : Mrs. Emma Cyrus. the widow of Capt. John M. Cyrus, who served in the Civil war ; and Mrs. Dora R. M. Lockwood. Ottilia, the eldest danghter, was married to Dr. Joseph F. Durant, January 10, 1856, and both died some years ago.
Lonisa Maertz, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Augustus Maertz, was suddenly called from her earthly career February 4, 1918.
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She was born in Quiney about eighty years ago, was a great reader and student, and one of the best informed women in Quincy, having traveled extensively in Germany, Italy and other countries in Europe, also in Mexico. During the Civil war she was one of the first of the group of women to offer their serviees to the Union, and for almost the entire duration of the war she was a nurse in the army hospitals. She also was an active member of the Humane Society and of the Historical Society of Quiney.
SETTLERS OF 1837
In the year 1837 the infinx of German immigrants was especially large, and that year marked the organization of two German con- gregations in this city, the one Catholie, the other Protestant, both congregations building their churches on Seventh Street, between York and Kentucky streets, the Protestant Church on the east side, the Catholic Church on the west side of the street, just opposite.
In the person of Father Augustus Briekwedde the Catholies of Quiney greeted their first resident German priest in 1837. Augustus Florentius Brickwedde was born June 24, 1805, in Fuerstenau, Han- over. He was the son of John Nepomuek Bernhard Joseph Briek- wedde, an attorney and judge in Bersenbrueck, who had married Maria Anna Alexnor Lotten. The son was ordained to the priest- hood by the Bishop of Hildesheim, Hanover, September 20, 1830, and served as vicar in Fuerstenan from 1831 up to the beginning of 1837. Having received a permit from the vicar general of the Diocese of Osnabrueek, he on April 12, 1837, left for America, arriving in Quiney August 15th of the same year. Father Brickwedde organized the first German Catholic congregation in this eity in 1837, and built the first church on an eminenee on the west side of Seventh Street, be- tween York and Kentucky streets, which was named Ascension Church ; later he built a church on Seventh and Maine streets, which was named St. Boniface Church. In 1849, after having labored here for twelve years, Father Brickwedde left Quincy, assuming charge of a con- gregation at St. Libory, St. Clair County, Illinois, where he labored for more than fifteen years, departing this life November 21, 1865.
Among the immigrants arriving here in 1837 were John Christopher Meyer, born January 3, 1803, in Hagen, near Osnabrueck, Hanover, Germany. On the same ship that brought him across the ocean came Anna Maria Angela Borstadt, a daughter of Christian and Gertrude (Tippel) Borstadt, born in Fuerstenan, near Osnabrueck, Hanover, January 9, 1813. They, with many others, left on board the sailing vessel Maria Brandt, owned by the King of Hanover, March 15, 1837, and reached New York July 4th of the same year, the voyage requiring 110 days. After a short stop in New York the party left for the West, following the usual ronte by canal and river, the trip requiring about ten weeks until they reached St. Louis, where John Christopher
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Meyer and Anna Maria Angela Borstadt were married in the old St. Louis Cathedral by Rev. Father Fischer, September 5, 1837. The latter part of that month they came to Quincy, where they settled for life. In the spring of 1902 the writer of this narrative called on the widow, Angela Meyer, at that time in the eighty-ninth year of her life, for information about their trip to this country, and found her very bright in spite of her high old age, she relating among other things the following : "While we were coming up the Mississippi, near the Ohio River, my oldest sister, Elizabeth, wife of Gerhard Naber, was pushed off the boat by a brutal man and was drowned. Arriving in St. Louis, we remained there for a while and then came to Quincy, where there were comparatively few houses. L. F. W. Butze, brother- in-law of Paul Konantz, conducted a small store. O. H. Browning's log cabin was still in existence, although he had built a frame house. In 1838 the first fine hotel, the Quiney House, was built, and my husband, who was a plasterer, worked on that building. One even- ing, after I had prepared supper, I went out to look whether my husband was coming home. A large animal came along the road, panting and growling. It was getting dusk, and not being able to distinguish the animal, 1 hurried into the house, being much fright- ened. Shortly afterward 1 heard several shots fired, and soon there- after my husband came in, saying: 'Angela, do you wish any bear's meat ? A bear has just been killed.'
"In the spring of 1838 about 500 Indians came through Quincy and continued their mareh eastward; they were headed by their chief and conducted themselves properly. While the first brick church of St. Boniface congregation was in the course of construction, at Seventh and Maine Streets, another contingent of Indians, about 300, came from the west and attended services in the unfinished church; they also went east, and they were well behaved." 6
John Christopher Meyer died August 6, 1869, his wife living for many more years, she departing this life May 12, 1904, in her ninety- second year. Christian John Meyer, the oldest son of the couple, born May 1, 1840, followed the trade of plasterer; January 29, 1867, he married Anna Catherine Welberg, born March 31, 1849; he died June 4, 1910.
Other children of John Christopher and Anna Maria Angela (Borstadt) Meyer were: Josephine, born January 24, 1842, she being married to Henry Freiburg January 21, 1862; Gerhard John, born March 20, 1844, married Barbara Mast, November 22, 1870, and he died May 27. 1914; Edward Angust Meyer, the ex-alderman, who represented the Second Ward in the city council, is a son of Gerhard and Barbara (Mast) Meyer; Emelia, born March 15, 1847, was mar- ried to John Mast, November 9, 1869, and both are living; William, born January 20, 1849, married Crescentia Sohn 1876, she was born November 6, 1855, and died May 8, 1891, he lives in Chicago; August, born April 5, 1851, married Agnes Hilarda Ottmann, she was born September 30, 1857, he died October 26, 1911; Frank, born June 12,
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1854, married Ellen Loretta Hinchey, she was born JJanuary 2, 1865, he died May 28, 1914 ; and Rosalia, born July 6, 1857, married Charles Rothgeb June 4, 1878.
Leonard Schmitt, born in 1811 in Georgheim, Grandduchy of Hes- sen, married Margaretha JJost, born January 13, 1813, in Erbach, Grandduehy of Ilessen, and they came to Quincy in 1837. Leonard Schmitt being a carpenter, was among the first building contractors of this city. He was engaged in the erection of the old Quincy House, St. Boniface Church, and a number of other public and private build- ings. Leonard Schmitt died in 1898, his wife having preceded him in death in 1896. Margaretha Schmitt, the mother of Leonard Schmitt, came to Quiney with her son and daughter-in-law in 1837; she was born in Georgheim in 1774, and died in Quincy in 1852. Leonard M. Schmitt, born in Quincy March 24, 1848, was the oldest son of Leonard and Margaretha (Jost) Schmitt, and was proprietor of a drug store in this city for a number of years; he began working in the drug store of Doway & Morton, and remained with that house for three years, then entering the house of Rogers & Malone, where he remained for twenty years. In 1882 he went to Chicago, where he became a partner in the Hurlbut Drug Company. In 1887 he with- drew from the firm and returned to Quiney, where he went into the retail drug trade for himself, conducting the business until his death in July, 1915. In 1882 he married Frances Koenig, a daughter of Angust Koenig, grocer in Jacksonville, Illinois. The widow, besides one son, Raymond, and two danghters, Gussie and Nora, are still among the living. Nicholas Schmitt, a brother of Leonard M. Schmitt, is with a wholesale drug house in St. Louis. Other children of Leonard and Margaret (Jost) Sehmitt are: Elizabeth, widow of Severin Dehner; Anna Catherine, wife of Joseph Jacoby, proprietor of a cigar factory; Sister Hyacinth, Order of Notre Dame, Covington, Ken- tueky; and Mary, wife of Gerhard Jansen.
William Gasser and his wife, Catherine, nee Koch, both born in Bahlingen, Baden, about the year 1800, came to Quiney in 1837. Wil- liam Gasser was a brewer, and conducted the first brewery in the city in connection with Anton Delabar, the pioneer in the brewing in- dustry of Quiney. Later he, in company with Casper Ruff, conducted a brewery at Sixth and State streets. Finally, in 1841, William Gasser died, while his wife lived to the high age of ninety-four years, depart- ing this life in 1894. Elizabeth, who married George Ernst in this city, was a daughter of William and Catherine (Koch) Gasser, and Caroline, another daughter, who married Leonard Hoering, many years ago moved to The Dalles, Oregon, where she still lives, her hus- band having died a number of years ago.
Christian Abel, born August 23, 1812. in Eschbach, Grandduchy of Hessen, came to Quincy in 1837, and in 1839 married Charlotte Wedig,
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who was born November 22, 1818, in Gruenstadt, Bavaria, and also came to Quincy in 1837. In 1842 they located in Melrose Township, where Christian Abel followed farming for many years, during which time he held the offices of school director and commissioner of high- ways consecutively for years. Both departed this life many years ago. Two sons are among the living, both having retired from active life, namely : William Abel, born in Quincy December 17, 1841; he grew up to manhood, and on March 27, 1864, married Emilie Bert, daughter of Jean Philip and Elizabeth (Liebig) Bert; she died four years ago. George Abel, born in 1843, after attaining maturity, married Alice Blivens, daughter of Samuel Blivens, and born in Bur- ton Township.
John Bernhard Koch, born in Allendorf, Westphalia, December 3, 1799, learned the trade of saddler and harness maker in his home town, and then traveled as a journeyman all over Europe. Later he married Anna Maria Koenig, also born in Allendorf in 1808. In 1837 John Bernhard Koch came to America, locating in Quincy, where he established himself in business, and in 1840 returned to his old home to bring his family, consisting of his wife and two children, to Quincy, the children being John Liborius Koch, born July 28, 1832, and Maria Anna, born 1835, the latter at present still residing in Quincy, the widow Mary A. Cramer. John Liborius Koch, the oldest son of John Bernhard and Anna M. (Koenig) Koch, learned the trade with his father, and after the latter's death, which occurred June 27, 1880, continued the business. John Liborius Koch in 1863 married Anna L. Albrecht, and was in business until June 11, 1889, when he departed this life, while his wife lived until March 25, 1913, when she died. The saddlery and harness business, established eighty years ago, is at present conducted by Philip B. Koch, the oldest son of John Liborius and Anna L. (Albrecht) Koch. Max Koch, the next son, studied for the priesthood, and being ordained as priest, became assistant at the cathedral in Belleville, Illinois; being afflicted with an affection of the lungs, he went to the Adirondack Mountains to seek relief, where he died December 20, 1901. Bernhard Koch, another son, entered the postal service of the government, and has held a position in the Chicago post office for many years.
Dr. John A. Koch, also a son of John Liborius and Anna L. (Albrecht ) Koch, born in Quincy, May 17, 1874, received his early education in the grammar schools of Quincy, and later attended St. Francis College. In 1890 he entered the employ of the Miller & Arthur Drug Company in Quincy, serving as clerk for some time. After working for the Morrison-Plummer Company in Chicago for a while, he removed to Washington, D. C., where he was appointed pharmacist of the Garfield Memorial Hospital, and was graduated in pharmacy at the National College of Pharmacy with the class of 1894. While filling the position of pharmacist he took up the study of medicine and eventually entered the medical department of Columbia Univer-
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sity, from which he graduated with the class of 1897. Immediately afterward he was appointed resident physician of the Garfield Memo- rial llospital, but in a short time resigned that position and went to Europe, pursuing post-graduate work in Berlin University, and also in Vienna. He thus thoroughly equipped himself for his chosen life work, and upon his return to the United States in the fall of 1898, he again came to Quiney, where he since has been established in his profession. He is a member of the County, State, and National Medi- cal Associations. In October, 1916, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons was conferred upon him. October 4, 1898. Dr. John A. Koch married Louisa Irvin of Watsontown, Pennsylvania.
Adolph Koch, the youngest son of John Liborius and Anna L. (Albrecht ) Koch, went to Washington, D. C., where he studied law. He now is established at Fresno, California, in the real estate and first mortgage business.
Daughters of John Liborins and Anna L. (Albrecht) Koeh were: Francisca, who became the wife of Peter J. Rupp, he being established in business in Chillicothe, Missouri, where he died years ago; the widow still residing there. The next daughter joined the Order of School Sisters of Notre Dame and is at present superioress of the order in New Orleans, Louisiana. The youngest daughter, Miss Ida Koch, died in 1904.
Martin Grimm, born in Weiler, near Weissenburg, Alsace, in 1792, with his wife Adelheid, nee Lang, and four children, Adelheid. Martin, George and Margaret, emigrated in 1837. With them came Ludwig Ruff and wife, Casper Ruff and wife, Daniel Ertel and sister Elizabeth Ertel, the latter later becoming the wife of Martin Grimm, Jr. The voyage across the ocean to New York required fifty-one days. From there they came west, part of the way by means of the Erie Canal, the eanal boat being drawn by mules. One may form an idea of the slowness of this mode of transportation, when it is stated that the wife of Ludwig Ruff left the canal boat while they were enroute, going to a farmhouse near the canal to get milk, while the boat kept on going, she being able to overtake the boat after she had secured the milk. When the party reached Quiney, they found only log cabins and frame honses here. a faet which seemed astonishing to Ludwig Ruff, the houses in his home town in the fatherland all being built of stone. There were no streets, only footpaths. Some of the Indians they met here spoke French, a language they had learned from Catholic Missionaries.
Martin Grimm settled near Mill Creek, where he built a sawmill and gristmill, being a millwright. The mill-dam being destroyed by a severe flood, caused by a heavy rain. Martin Grimm dismantled the mill, brought the material to town and rebuilt the mill at the creek near Fourth and Delaware streets. Later he left for the fatherland to settle up some matters concerning an estate, but the ship was lost
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at sea. Martin Grimm, Jr., born 1820, who later married Elizabeth Ertel, also was a millwright, and for many years conducted a flour mill on Fifth Street, between State and Ohio. In 1861 and 1862 he repre- sented the Third Ward in the city council. Children of Martin and Elizabeth (Ertel) Grimm, living today, are: Joseph and Martin Grimm, Mrs. Adelheid Reuser and Mrs. Wilhelmina Mueller. Joseph Grimm served as musician in the One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Illi- nois Infantry during the Civil war.
George Grimm, born 1824, for many years was a member of the Menke-Grimm Planing Mill Company. He was married twice, his first wife was Barbara Hoeflin, his second wife, Wilhelmina Mueller. Children living are: George L. Grimm in Kansas City, Missouri; Frederick Grimm in Petosa, Wisconsin; Emma, wife of August Weh- meyer, in Quincy ; Caroline, wife of Henry A. Brinkmann, in Warsaw, Illinois : Laura, wife of Philip Steinbach, in Quincy; Bertha, wife of Robert Reitz, in New Mexico.
Daniel Ertel, born January 7, 1813, in Weiler, near Weissenburg, Alsace, came to Quincy with the Ruff and Grimm families in 1837. He was a millwright, and in company with Martin Grimm conducted a carpenter shop. Later, after settling down in Quiney, Daniel Ertel married Maria Anna Luginbuehl, born in 1823 in Berne, Switzerland. In 1861 he traded his property in Quincy for a farm near Camp Point, where he lived for many years, and his wife died in 1879. In 1898 he returned to the city, where he died in 1899. Among the twelve children of Daniel and Maria Anna (Luginbuehl) Ertel were the following : Frederick G. Ertel, born in Quincy in 1849, chose the calling of a teacher, being active for twenty-three years in the schools of Coatsburg and Mendon, then for ten years in Quincy. During Presi- dent Cleveland's second term he was assistant postmaster in Quincy for nearly four years. Later he was superintendent of public schools in Quincy for several terms; and still later he was engaged as book- keeper. IIe departed this life some years ago.
Other children of Daniel and Maria Anna (Luginbuehl) Ertel were: John Ertel, farmer near Shelbina, Missouri; George Ertel, farmer near Camp Point in this county; Albert Ertel, mechanic at Shelbina, Missouri, now in California ; Daniel Ertel, farmer near Camp Point ; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Dr. John D. Tieken at Coats- burg, died in 1879; Emma is the wife of Nicholas Hafner, carpenter in Quincy ; and Louisa is the wife of Wilke Bruns near Camp Point.
Henry Rupp, born in February, 1813, in Unterrodach, Bavaria, learned the trade of soapmaker in his home town. Coming to America in 1836, he located in Quiney in 1837, where he began business on a small scale, erecting a factory on the site where the C., B. & Q. pas- senger station now is located. Gradually increasing his business he in the course of time accumulated quite a fortune. In 1850 Henry Rupp married Maria Weisbrod. In 1857 he built the Bluff Brewery north
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of the city, and went into the brewing business. Several years later the brewery was destroyed by fire. With undaunted energy he had the brewery rebuilt, but the second building suffered the same fate, it also burning down. As there was no insurance in either case, the finances of Henry Rupp were reduced considerably by those losses. Ile died in 1877, while his wife followed him in death in 1890. Henry Rupp. Jr., who has been engaged in carriage and wagon making in this city for many years, is a son of Henry and Maria ( Weisbrod) Rupp. Ile married Olga Mitchell, daughter of Ben Mitchell, the latter, born of German parents, lives in Indiana. Mrs. Dorothea Son- nenschein, widow of William Sonnenschein, and Miss Katherine Rupp, daughter of Henry Rupp, Sr., reside in Riverside Township.
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