USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. I > Part 40
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SETTLERS OF 1844
Frederick Lohr and his wife Doris, nce Frantz, both from Mecklen- burg-Schwerin, came to Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1838, where the husband died. In 1844 the widow, with her son, Joseph, born on the ocean in 1838, and her daughter, Mary, came to Quincy. The son learned to be a smith and died in 1889. In Quincy the widow Lohr married Charles Clark, a prominent contractor, and the children adopted the named Clark. Charles Clark, the game warden, is a son of Joseph (Lohr) Clark. Mary, the daughter of Frederick and Doris (Frantz) Lohr, became the wife of Joseph Esterly (Ocsterle), chief of the fire department for some years.
John Andrew Grimmer, born 1795, and his wife, Magdalena, nee Nippold, born 1800, both from Langula, Thuringia, came to Quincy in 1844, and went to farming in this county. They had five sons,
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Andrew, Martin, Henry, John, and Simon, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Marie and Christine. John Andrew Grimmer died in 1871, his wife preceded him in death in 1851. The sons all became farmers. Henry Grimmer later came to Quiney and conducted a general store. All the sons and daughters of John Andrew and Magdalena (Nip- pold) Grimmer have departed this life. Walter, a son of Simon Grimmer, served in the Philippine Islands, as member of Company E. Twenty-third United States Infantry, Thomas Schley, son of Admiral U. S. Sehley, being lieutenant of the company.
George Linz, born May, 1831, in Muehlhansen, Thuringia, came to Quiney with his parents in 1844. Hle learned the printer's trade, and in 1850 began the publication of a German paper, Quiney Wochenblatt. In 1853 he changed the name to Illinois Courier. In 1861 he suspended the publication and enlisted in Company II, Six- teenth Illinois Infantry, serving during the Civil war. In 1867 he began the publication of the Demokrat, which he suspended six months later. Then he worked in the office of the Quiney Tribune, a German daily and weekly paper, until his death, December 28, 1874. IIis wife, Mary, nee Ackermann, also born in Mnehlhausen, surviving, later became the wife of John Koehler; both have since died. Four children of George and Marie (Ackermann) Linz live in Quiney; Otto Linz, the printer, and George Linz, Jr .; Mathilde, wife of John Rettig. and Emilie, wife of William Neuer.
Ferdinand Flachs, born July 24, 1821, in Alsleben on the Saale, Germany, came to St. Louis in 1843, where his brother, Henry Flachs, conducted a drug store. In 1844 Ferdinand Flachs came to Quincy and became the partner of Dr. Michael Doway, proprietor of a drug store. Later he married Annette, daughter of Doctor Doway. Fer- dinand Flaehs became prominent, and for some time conducted a bank. Later he returned to the drug business, and finally acquired a soap factory. the firm being Flachs & Reimann. In 1887 he died, his wife departing this life in 1898. Henry Flachs, a son, born in Quiney, was educated in the higher schools of Germany and later was in business in Quiney until his death some years ago. Edward Flachs, a brother of Ferdinand Flachs, born 1818 in Torgau, came to Quiney with his family and was bookkeeper in the business of his brother for a number of years. Later he was bookkeeper with the Aldo Som- mer Drug Company.
Joseph Stuekenburg, born 1813 in Essen, Oldenburg, located in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1829. His wife, Elizabeth, nee Imbuseh, was born 1815 in Essen. For many years they conducted the Tremont Hotel in Louisville. In 1844 the family eame to Quiney where Stuck- enburg erected a two-story briek building on Hampshire Street, which is still there, and conducted a general store. The winter of 1845-1846 was very severe, grocers' supplies became exhausted. To satisfy his
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customers, Stuckenburg hitched his horses to a sleigh, drove to St. Louis and secured a load of groceries. On his return trip, while crossing over the iee of the Illinois River, the team broke through, the sleigh with the groceries and one of the horses were lost. Joseph Stuckenburg mounted the other horse, wrapped a blanket he had saved around his shoulders, and rode to Quincy. Arriving here at night, he was frozen so stiff that he was unable to dismount. His wife assisted him and when about to enter the house he fell, unable to rise. Neighbors were called, and with their aid his clothing was taken off and the man put to bed. But his health was broken, he lingered around until July 10, 1848, when he died, while his wife lived until 1890. The facts contained in the foregoing were given to the writer of this story in 1908 by Mrs. Josephine Hutmaeher, daughter of Joseph Stuckenburg.
Ilenry Tenk and his wife, Elizabeth, nee Selle, both born 1791 in Suedlohn, Westphalia, in 1844 eame to Quiney with their family. Henry Tenk, being a eloekmaker and skilled mechanic, cleaned and repaired elocks, calling at the homes of the people. He died Febru- ary 20, 1864, his wife September 18, the same year. Henry Tenk, Jr., eldest son of Henry and Elizabeth (Selle) Tenk, born in Suedlohn, September 7, 1829, entered the service of L. & C. II. Bull, dealers in hardware. Later he married Agnes Brockschmidt, a nieee of Joseph Broekschmidt, the pioneer watchmaker; she died 1861, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, now the wife of George Starmann. Henry Tenk then married Gertrude Venvertloh, who died August 12, 1894; her husband departed this life February 21, 1912. Two sons, Rudolph and Frank J. Tenk, and one daughter, Sophia, wife of Dr. O. F. Schullian, are among the living. John Herman Tenk, born July 7, 1837, in Suedlohn, entered the service of Bernard Lubbe, general store; then Rieker & Arntzen, and finally Sawyer & Adams. In 1866 he married Theresia Ohnemus ; he died December 15, 1907, his wife in 1915. Children living are: Carl J. Tenk, John Herman Tenk, Jr., S. J., priest in Central America : and two daughters, Coletta, the widow of Max Reimbold, and Caroline Tenk, both in Los Angeles, California. Gertrude, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Selle) Tenk, born Decem- ber 3, 1833, in Suedlohn, became the wife of Henry F. J. Ricker, pioneer and banker; she died 1907. The Tenk Hardware Company, founded in 1865 by Henry and John II. Tenk, is now one of the largest establishments of its kind between Kansas City and Chicago, and between St. Louis and St. Paul. Rudolph Tenk is president and treasurer, Frank J. Tenk is vice president, and John H. Cox is secre- tary of the company.
The history of the Schaller family is especially interesting. John Stephen Schaller, born February 1, 1801, in Sachsenhausen, Waldeck, with his second wife, Elizabeth, nee Leser, came to this country in
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1844, landing twelve miles south of Quincy at Marion City. High water drove the people out of their homes, and the Schaller family then located near Palmyra, Missouri, on a farm. Later they moved to LaGrange, ten miles north of Quincy, where John Stephen Schaller followed his trade as stonemason until his death, February 18, 1857; his wife died a few years later. William Schaller, the eldest son, born January 11, 1823, married Elizabeth Hetzler in LaGrange. After condneting a meat market until shortly before the Civil war, he exchanged his business for a farm near Mill Creek, south of Quincy. After the war he moved to Marion County, Missouri, and followed farming until he died November 5, 1884, his wife departing this life May 20, 1904. One son went to New Mexico, five other sons and two daughters remained in Marion County. Frederick Schaller, second son of John Stephen Schaller, born July 20, 1834, crossed the plains in 1849 and worked in the mines of California for two years. Return- ing on the sailing vessel Yankee Blade, the ship was wrecked and he lost all his possessions. Finally returning, he married Anna Maria Frohn, who came to Quiney in 1844. In 1859, while conducting a business in LaGrange. Frederick Schaller was the victim of a brutal ontrage, perpetrated by unknown men. Eleven negro slaves had escaped to Illinois, gaining their freedom by means of the so-called "underground railway." A number of masked men appeared at the home of Frederick Schaller in the night, dragged him out, aeeused him of having aided the slaves, and in spite of his most earnest denial and protestation, tied him to a tree, lashed and horsewhipped him, until his body was streaming with blood and life almost extinct. He was found by friends, who brought him to Quiney, where relatives nursed him back to health. When the War of the Rebellion broke out, Frederick Schaller rallied to President Lineoln's first eall, serving in the Tenth Illinois Infantry for three months. Then he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, became a sergeant and served to the end of the war. Returning to Quiney he was in business until his death, December 8, 1879; his wife died May 1, 1886. One son. Frederick, located in the West, and one daughter, Mrs. Sadie Agnew, in St. Lonis. George Sehaller, the youngest son of John Stephen Schaller, born in Sachsenhausen, Waldeck, February 18, 1844, grew up on the farm. later came to Quiney and learned the tin- ner's trade. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in Com- pany C, Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, serving one year, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability contracted in the service. January 24, 1867, he married Pauline Dingeldein, danghter of the old pioneer Sebastian Dingeldein. For twenty years he conducted a tinshop in Quiney, then retired. His wife died years ago. Onie son, George, Jr., is connected with a large hardware business in Denver, Colorado; another son, Albert, is with the Dun Mercantile Ageney in Des Moines, Iowa.
Vol. 1-24
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SETTLERS OF 1845
Theodore Brinkhoff, born 1809 in Holtbeck, Westphalia, married Elizabeth Holbert, born 1805 in the same town. In 1845 the couple came to Quincy with their daughter, Elizabeth. For many years Theodore Brinkhoff conducted a cooper shop, employing a number of men, and was very successful, acquiring quite a competency. In 1884 he departed this life, his wife preceding him in death in 1880.
Ferdinand Kampmann, born June 24, 1811, in Stromberg, West- phalia, was a baker, and married Johanna Buecker, born June 10, 1811, in the same town. The couple came to Quincy in 1845, where they conducted a bakery and restaurant. Later Ferdinand Kamp- mann acquired the brewery at Seventh and York streets, founded by a Mr. Francis, an Englishman, which he conducted for many years. Ferdinand Kampmann died April 27, 1885; his wife followed him in death July 24, 1901.
John Henry Tushaus, born March 31, 1830, in Suedlohn, West- phalia, came to this country with his parents in 1844, and located in Quincy in 1845. For a number of years he was employed by Sylvester Thayer, and in 1859 became a partner of John Altmix, they con- ducting a general store. In 1865 he erected a building on Hampshire Street, where he conducted a grocery until his death in 1894. In 1852 John Henry Tushaus married Maria Anna Scheiner, his wife preceding him in death in 1891. Their children were: Mrs. Wm. Weisenhorn, Mrs. J. B. Ricker, Mrs. Joseph Michael, Thomas L. Tushaus, assistant cashier of the State Savings, Loan & Trust Com- pany, and Joesph H. Tushaus, the latter in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Bernard Wewers, born 1824 in Stadtlohn, Westphalia, came to Quincy in 1845. Here he married Adelheid Moller, born in Meesen, Hanover. For many years he, with his brothers, Henry and Joseph, was engaged in the construction of sidewalks. William Wewers, a son of Bernard Wewers, born 1851, learned the trade of saddler and harness maker ; later he went into the milling business, being connected with the Star Mills for eight years. Then he became one of the found- ers of the Gem City Stove Works, and was manager of the business until his death, May 9, 1912. In 1879 William Wewers married Mary Lechtenberg. She survives him with one daughter, Bertha, wife of Henry J. Rupp ; the latter is treasurer of the Gem City Stove Works. Bernard A. Wewers, born 1861, second son of Bernard and Adelheid (Moller) Wewers, for many years was foreman in the E. M. Miller Carriage Works. Anna Wewers, daughter of Bernard and Adelheid (Moller) Wewers, became the wife of Henry Lechtenberg, manager of the Central Iron Works.
Ferdinand Henry Cramer, born 1825 in Sevelten, Oldenburg, where his father was a teacher, attended the teachers' seminary in
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Vechta, preparing himself for the calling. In 1845 he came to Cin- cinnati, but soon moved to Quiney, where he was appointed as teacher of St. Boniface Parochial School, which position he held until 1849. Then he resigned, and together with Clemens Kathmann conducted a dry goods and grocery store. October 25, 1853, Ferdinand Henry Cramer married Marie Anna Koch. For years he was captain of Liberty No. 3. the oll German company of the fire department. Being drenched by water during a conflagration, he contracted an aihnent which resulted in his death, July 3, 1861. The widow still resides in Quiney. One son, John Ferdinand, is in business in Chicago.
John Leonard Roeder, born January 21, 1800, in Grossherbach, Bavaria, learned the shoemaker's trade with his father. Later he married Marie Appolonia Dehm, born 1804 in Danerzell, Bavaria. In 1844 they emigrated, landing in Philadelphia. They then left for the West, coming by way of Cincinnati, down the Ohio and up the Mis- sissippi River to St. Louis; they then followed the Illinois River to Pittsfield, Pike County, where they located, but in 1845 came to Quiney, settling here for life. Roeder followed his trade in this eity for many years. His wife preceded him in death in 1867, while he lived to the high old age of one linndred and eight years, his death ocenrring in 1908. Having adopted Johanna Heitland, an orphan, her parents dying early in the '50s of last century, this foster daughter, who later became the wife of John J. Liebig, repaid her foster-father by caring for him in his old age until he departed this life.
Henry C. Bastert, born 1815 in Brackwede, Westphalia, emigrated in 1843, came by way of New Orleans to St. Louis, where he worked in a sugar factory for two years, loeating in Quincy in 1845. 1Ie served in the war with Mexico, and after that war condueted a grocery business in Quiney. Then he went to farming near Tioga, Illinois, later returned to Quincy, where he was one of the organizers of the German Insurance and Savings Company, for years being president of the association. In 1894 he departed this life. Children living are : Mrs. Caroline Niemeyer, Mrs. Louisa Hartung and Miss Emma Bastert in Quiney, and Mrs. Emilie Hengelberg in St. Louis. J. Henry Bastert, only son of Henry C. Bastert, born April 5, 1866, on a farm in Hancock County, is an example of what push and close attention to business can accomplish. When thirteen years of age he filled the position of engineer at the old Aetna Iron Works. In 1883 he became elerk with the German Insurance Company, soon was promoted to the position of bookkeeper, and afterwards was elceted as seeretary, an office which he held up to the time the company voluntarily went out of business in 1894. After closing up the affairs of the company, and having wound up its extensive business to the satisfaction of all the stockholders. he engaged in the general loan and insurance business, the name of the firm now being Bastert, Miller & Castle.
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1
Frank Rothgeb, born February 26, 1819, in Kaiserslautern, Rhen- ish Bavaria, came to Quincy in 1845, where he was engaged in business until his death, May 23, 1849. Frank Rothgeb married Anna B. Beutel, born in Oberdorla, near Muehlhansen, Thuringia, September, 1826. One son, Gustave A. Rothgeb, born in Quincy, July 16, 1846, grew up to manhood and married Rosanna Notter. After being in business in this city for some years the family went West, locating in Boulder, Colorado, and later moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where Gustave A. Rothgeb died in 1904. His widow now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her eldest daughter. Emma, daughter of Frank and Anna (Beutel) Rothgeb, became the wife of Charles HI. Heid- breder, captain of Company H, Forty-third Illinois Infantry. He died in 1869; the widow resides in Quincy. In 1850 the widow of Frank Rothgeb became the wife of Henry Rothgeb, born in Kaisers- lautern, October 11, 1822; he was a cabinet maker and for many ycars worked in the furniture factory of F. W. Jansen. Then he conducted a grocery store until his death, April 17, 1887; his wife having preceded him in death February 14, 1872. Children living are : Charles, painter in Quincy ; Frank, with the Quincy Confection- ery Company ; Edward, traveling salesman for the Standard Oil Com- pany; Frances Rothgeb, Los Angeles, California; Anna Rothgeb in Quincy ; Clara, wife of Charles W. Breitwieser, in Quincy; and Lydia Rothgeb in Los Angeles, California.
John Bornmann was born July 14, 1816, in Hatzfeld on the Eder, Grandduchy of Hessen. llis parents were Henry and Katherine (Misz) Bornmann, the father following agricultural pursuits. One uncle, Daniel Misz, was with the 500,000 men who in 1812 took part in Napoleon's march to Moscow, but, like many thousand others of that grand army, never returned. Henry Misz, another unele, born in 1772 in Hatzfeld on the Eder, left home when eighteen years of age, and in 1790 enlisted in the British army for two years. Then he joined the army of the Netherlands, in which he was a captain in 1816. Later he was made a knight, for bravery in battle, and received the Order of William of Orange. In 1826 he came on a visit to his sister in Hatzfeld, then occupying the rank of general in the army of Ilolland. John Bornmann married Katherine Bald, born October 3, 1820, near the City of Berleburg, residence of the Prince of Sayn- Wittgenstein-Berleburg. In 1845 they emigrated and came to Amer- ica by way of New Orleans, continuing their trip up the Mississippi ; they landed in Quincy November 12, 1845. John Bornmann for many years was active in the soap and candle business, working for George Bywater, as long as the latter continued in business, and later on for Moser & Wild. John Bornmann died April 21, 1901, his wife having preceded him in death May 5, 1894. Henry Bornmann, the eldest son of John and Katherine (Bald) Bornmann, was born in Quincy, May 1, 1846. When six years of age he was sent to school, his first teacher being John M. Perz, maternal grandfather of William G. Feigenspan,
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the attorney. The school, a little loghouse, was located on the north side of Kentucky Street, a few doors east of Ninth Street. Later he attended Salem Parochial School, where he followed his studies under three different teachers, all graduates of teachers' seminaries in Ger- many. In April, 1859, he graduated at the age of thirteen years, and then became an apprentice in the office of the Quincy Tribune, a German paper, founded in 1852 by a number of prominent men of the whig party, among them John Wood, Frederick W. Jansen and others. John Wood wrote to Horace Greeley for an able editor, and he, seconded by William H. Seward, recommended Gustave Adolph Roesler, who had been prominent in the revolution of 1848, and a member of the parliament in Frankfurt on the Main. Roesler eame and proved to be a very able writer, but his career was ent short, his death occurring in August, 1855. When Henry Bornmann entered the office of the Quiney Tribune as apprentice, Edward C. Winter and Ernest Schierenberg were proprietors of the paper. In 1861 the Quiney Tribune was sold to Carl Rotteck, who had been a judge of the court in Baden, and was implicated in the revolution of 1848, after which he came to America. Henry Bornmann finished his apprentice- ship of three years in the office of the said paper, and then "quit the business." to learn the tinner's trade, being apprenticed for three years. During the progress of the . Civil war he answered the call of President Lincoln for "three hundred thousand more." enlisted in the Union army. February 14, 1865, as a member of Company H, Forty-third Illinois Infantry, an entirely German regiment, and served as corporal to the end of the war, returning home with his regiment December 20, 1865. He then completed his apprentiee- ship with the tinner and worked as a journeyman until the end of 1867. In February. 1868, he again returned to the printing business, going to work for T. M. Rogers, setting the type for the Rural West, an agricultural monthly published by Mr. Rogers. When this paper suspended, he went to work in the job department of the office until May, 1874, when he became foreman in the composing room of the Quincy Tribune, at that time published by C. H. Henrici. In Novem- ber of the same year the paper was sold to the Germania Printing and Publishing Company, and Henry Bornmann continued as fore- man for years until November, 1885, when he resigned his position to accept the editorship of a new German paper, the Quincy Teutonia. A year later this paper suspended, and in January, 1887. he again entered the office of the Quincy Germania, finally becoming editor of the paper, which position he held for many years. September 1, 1914, he went to work on the Quiney Herald, as reporter of said paper, being engaged as suel until June, 1917. Later he was requested to write a chapter on "The German Element and its Importance in the History and Development of Quiney and Adams County." to appear in a History of Adams County. 1918, issued by the Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago. May 16, 1872. Henry Bornmann married Katherine Uebner, eldest daughter of Caspar and Elizabeth (Schnell-
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bacher) Uebner of Fall Creek Township, Adams County. She died March 20, 1881, leaving two daughters, Rosalie Maria, wife of Herman Stork, and Clara Sophia, widow of Henry Budde. May 10, 1883, Henry Bornmann married for the second time, choosing as his wife Hannah Niehaus, born in Quincy, eldest daughter of William and Maria (Menke) Niehaus. Children were: Ida Johanna, wife of Prof. William Heidbreder, Crown Point, Indiana; Hilda Wilhelmina, wife of William Lepper; J. Henry, in Chicago; Alma became the wife of John Rettig and died five years ago; Irene and Ruth. J. Henry Born- mann, Jr., attended the parochial school of St. Jacobi Lutheran Church for seven years, then the Quincy High School for four years, and finally Illinois State University at Urbana, graduating with high honors in each one of the institutions mentioned, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science, June, 1910. He then remained two more years as assistant teacher and in June, 1912, received the degree of Master of Science. Having passed a civil service examination he entered the employ of the Government, serving in the department of chem- istry in Chicago, later in New Orleans, then in Washington, District of Columbia, finally again in Chicago, where he is at present engaged in the service of the Government. Irene Bornmann, daughter of IIenry and Hannah (Niehans) Bornmann, attended the parochial school of St. Jacobi Lutheran Church for seven years. She entered the Quincy Public Evening School, beginning the term in November, 1917, continuing and completing her course of studies at the end of April, 1918. Ruth Bornmann, the youngest daughter of Henry and Hannah (Niehaus) Bornmann, attended the parochial school of St. Jacobi Lutheran Church for seven years. Later she took a course in the shorthand department of the Gem City Business College, grad- uating in 1913. Then she was appointed as stenographer with the faculty of the college. Finally she was appointed as stenographer of the Civil Service Commission in Washington, District of Columbia, which position she occupies at present. Wilhelmina Bornmann, the only daughter of John and Katherine (Bald) Bornmann living at present, has her home with her brother, Henry Bornmann.
SETTLERS OF 1846
Frederick William Schmiedeskamp, born March 8, 1807, in Schoettmar, Lippe-Detmold, and his wife, Henrietta, nee Brand, born January 26, 1817, in the same town, came to Quincy in 1846. Schmiedeskamp was a stonemason and for many years followed his trade. He died 1879, his wife departed this life in 1899. William Schmiedeskamp, the eldest son, learned the molder's trade and was one of the organizers of the Excelsior Stove Company. He married Louisa Germann and later moved to Camp Point, where he now resides on a farm, following agricultural pursuits. Henry E. Schmiedeskamp, the eldest son, graduated Maplewood High School in 1894. He entered the office of William Schlagenhanf, attorney in Quincy, where
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he studied law. Earning the money to pursue a college course, he matriculated in the law department of the Michigan State University and was graduated with the class of 1902. He then located in Quiney, practicing law in this eity ever since.
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