USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. I > Part 45
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Julius Frederick William Uecke, born November 2, 1832, in Car- nitz, Pommerania, eame to America, in 1851. IJe landed in New York. from there went to Milwaukee, then to Chicago and came to Quiney in 1853, where he located. He was a locksmith, also built elocks for towers. In Chieago and Quiney he worked as machinist, among others for Worrell & Caldwell. When the Civil war broke ont he enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry, serving three years. Returning home, he worked as a machinist, and for six years in com- pany with Herman Keller made corn planters in Camp Point. Then he was employed in the Gardner Governor Works, also worked for Brown & Dimock, and for John Williams. In 1864 J. F. William Uorke married the widow Barbara Elizabeth Stephen, nee Bickel,
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born in Langula, Thuringia, September 10, 1833, who came to Quincy in 1852 with her husband Andrew Stephen, also from Languela, where he was engaged as a linen weaver; he was engaged as engineer in Thayer's distillery and lost his life in a distillery at Lacon, Illinois, the boiler exploding. While J. F. William Uecke still survives, his wife died in 1917. Children living are: Misses Elizabeth and Mary Stephen in Chicago; Mrs. Lillie Schlagenhauf, wife of William Schla- genlauf, attorney in Quincy; Clara E. Uecke, who has been in Hono- lulu, Hawaii, where she taught in Oahu College, she now is engaged in Columbia University, New York; and Florinda A. Uecke, who for thirteen years has been teacher of domestic science in the Quiney High School. Elizabeth, a granddaughter, the daughter of Henry Stephen, also was in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she taught in a kindergarten ; she now is married to Charles Turner in Chicago.
Major Charles Petri, born July 27, 1826, in Braunschweig, was a graduate of the high school in Bernburg. He then studied archi- tecture and engineering at the polytechnical college in Munich. Ow- ing to the revolutionary disturbances in Europe he decided to come to America, and left Bremen June 24, 1848, on the sailing vessel Emerald, landing in Philadelphia August 15. Coming west, he spent the fall and winter with a German farmer in Breckenridge County, Kentucky. The following fall he bought 250 acres of land near Cloverport, Kentucky, and went to farming for several years. This not being a success, he decided to come to Quincy, where he arrived in March, 1853. Here he, with Dr. Francis Drude, rented a farm fourteen miles southeast of Quincy. The crops proving a failure, Charles Petri decided to quit farming and devoted himself to his calling, that of a civil engineer. He was engaged as surveyor on the line of the Chieago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, which was completed in 1856. Then he returned to Quincy and became assistant of B. I. Chatten, city engineer and eounty surveyor. In 1858 he was appointed engineer on the Quincy & Toledo Railroad. In 1859 he was elected city engineer, serving for three years. When the Civil war broke out, Charles Petri was elected as captain of Company H, the German company of the Sixteenth Illinois In- fantry. December 1, 1862, he was promoted as major, and was at- tached to the staff of Gen. James D. Morgan, as topographical engineer. January 21, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and in the following April received his commission as lieutenant colonel. In June, 1865, he bought the Quincy Tribune, a German daily and weekly paper, which he published and edited for some time. He also was county surveyor, engineer of the Quiney. Missouri & Pacific Railroad, again elected as city engineer, and finally assistant engineer of the Han- nibal & St. Joseph Railroad, a position which he occupied from 1877 until his death, November 11, 1887. Charles Petri always took a great interest in the welfare of his adopted country, a faet which was proven by his service in the army during the days of the Civil war.
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Although a republican, he was six times entrusted with a public office in a democratic community. He was married three times and left three children, one son, Thomas R. Petri, an attorney, and two daughters.
llenry Sprick, born March 1, 1826, near Herford, Westphalia, came to Quiney in 1853, where he in the beginning worked for John Wood, later being employed on a farm. In 1855 he joined a party who started a colony in Washington County, Nebraska, mak- ing the trip overland in a wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen. In 1858 he came to Quincy looking for a wife, which he found in the person of Sophia Wilkening, born May 30, 1837, in Lindhorst, Lippe- Schaumburg, who with her parents, Henry Wilkening and wife, came to Quincy in 1856, the family locating near Mill Creek. The wedding trip from Quiney to Fontanelle, Nebraska, about 450 miles, was taken by wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen. Henry Spriek in the course of time became prominent in the new community. In 1873 he was elected to the lower house of the Nebraska Legislature, being elected for three successive terms. In 1878 he was elected as a member of the State Senate. In 1884 he served as presidential elector on the republican ticket. Ilenry Sprick died July 21, 1906, after having been active in the development of his community for fifty years, prominent among his fellow citizens, and known for his philanthropie spirit. Henry C. Sprick, born January 26, 1864. in Fontanelle, Ne- braska, a son of Henry and Sophia (Wilkening) Sprick, pursued his early education in his native town, attending a parochial school. At the age of seventeen he attended the high school at Blair, Nebraska, for one year; at the age of eighteen he became a student in the publie schools of Quiney, and at the age of nineteen entered the Gem City Business College, from which he graduated in 1886. Returning to his old home in Nebraska, where he worked on the farm and aeted as private secretary to his father, who then was serving as State Sen- ator, he was engaged in different enterprises until 1890, when he came to Quiney, where he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the State Street Bank, later purchased an interest in the bank and was made teller. In 1902 he became assistant cashier and at present is cashier of said bank. August 14, 1890, Henry C. Sprick married Clara Heid- breder. a daughter of Herman and Anna (Junker) Heidbreder. Their children are: Harvey, who is clerk in the State Street Bank, and Helen Sprick, a student, at home.
SETTLERS OF 1854
Henry Sieckmann, born August 19, 1831, in Elverdissen, West- phalia, came to Quiney in 1854. He worked in VanDoorn's sawmill, also for John Wood. During the Civil war he served in Company HI, Tenth Illinois Infantry. He died May 23. 1899. John II. Sieck- mann, the son, born in Quiney, attended the parochial school, public
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schools and the Gem City Business College. He at present is assistant eashier of the Mereantile Trust and Savings Bank.
Frank Tubbesing was born in Quincy April 6, 1854, as the son of Frank and Barbara Tubbesing, who came from Germany. He learned the earpenter's trade and then studied architecture iu the office of Robert Bunee. In 1878 he opened an office of his own and for a number of years was prominent in his profession until his death years ago. April 6, 1875, he married Hannah Pellman, whose father, Caspar Pellman, was a member of Company A, Twenty-seventh Illi- nois, and was killed in battle January, 1863. Besides the widow one son, Frank Tubbesing, Jr., survives.
John J. Wessels, born February 9, 1813, and his wife Gretje, nee Schmidt, born September 23, 1814, both in Ostfriesland, were married December 2, 1837, and came to Adams County with their family in 1854, locating in Clayton Township. John J. Wessels, Jr., born Mareh 28, 1840, served during the Civil war in the Third Mis- souri Cavalry regiment, and resides in Quiney at present. Lambertus J. Wessels, the second son, born March 21, 1845, served in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and also resides in this eity. Frederick J. Wessels, the third son, born May 20, 1854, on the sea, is prominent in business as a member of the Quiney Con- fectionery Company.
Henry Meisser, born February 14, 1837, in Belleville, Illinois, came to Quiney in 1854, and worked for Timothy Rogers, the wagon- maker. Later he worked for the lumber dealers Diekhut and Ben- neson. Here he married Katherine, daughter of William Diekhut. For thirty-one years he was a member of the volunteer fire depart- ment, gradually advaneing until he finally beeame chief of the de- partment. For more than thirty years he was president of the Firemen's Benevolent Association. For fourteen years he was con- nected with the Eagle Mills and was the originator of the People's Ferry Company.
William Tenhaeff was born February 9, 1826, in Rees on the Rhine. He came to America in 1851, located in St. Louis 1852, and in 1854 settled at La Prairie in Adams County, where he condueted a gen- eral store. In 1857 he married Eva Kaufmann, born in Ostfriesland. His brother Charles J. Tenhaeff was a partner in the business for a time, but both brothers soon turned their attention to agriculture. In 1893 William Tenhaeff moved to California with his family and located at Pasadena. One son, Leopold, in the railway mail service, lost his life in an accident at El Paso, Texas, in 1907, the other son, Alex, was engaged in the express business at Pasadena. Marie, a daughter of William Tenhaeff, in 1885 became the wife of Rev. George Eisele, who was pastor off St. Peter's Lutheran Church
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in Quiney, where he died in 1886. The son George Eisele, Jr., was a graduate of the Chicago College of Pharmacy.
Henry Arnold Geise, born April 6, 1809, in Borringhausen, Ohlen- burg, came to America in 1833, and started a sawmill in Cincinnati, where he married Theresia Collage, born November 9, 1821, in Lenge- rich, Ilanover. In 1854 the family came to Quiney, where Heury A. Geise became prominent in business. He ereeted the Broadway Hotel at a cost of $25,000. Then he bought the distillery of Thomas Jasper, paying $20,000. Later he bought the interest of Bernard Borstadt in the paper mill, which he conducted with his son Bernard Geise ; the mill was destroyed by fire, causing quite a loss. In 1876 he with his sons Bernard and Henry opened a bank in this eity. Ile also was one of the founders of the German Insurance Association in 1860, and its president for a number of years. Henry A. Geise died De- comber 5, 1880, and his wife departed this life November 19, 1889. Henry A. Geise, Henry B. Geise and Martin J. Geise, the latter the well known architect, are grandsons of Henry Arnold Geise.
Cord Henry Stork was born February 9, 1802, in Eilshausen, Westphalia, where he manufactured spinning wheels. His wife was Anna Maria, nee Schaefer. The family emigrated in 1854, loeating in Quincy, where they arrived June 17, and three days later Cord H. Stork died of cholera. Sons were: Albert Henry Stork, born December 30, 1827, who also made spinning wheels and furniture, and engaged as a building contractor in Quiney; he died March 31. 1891. Frank Ludwig Stork, the second son, was for many years engaged in teaming, and during the Civil war served in the Forty- third Illinois Infantry, his death occurring April 30, 1875. Fred- erick William Stork, the third son, was for many years active as a building contractor, and served in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry during the Civil war; he died August 25, 1899. Herman Stork, the youngest son of Cord H. and Anna MI. (Schaefer) Stork, served in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth llinois Infantry ; he departed this life March 5, 1903.
John Schlagenhauf, born January 19, 1834, in the Black Forest of Wuerttemberg, came to America in 1852, loeating in C'ineinnati. In 1854 he came to Quiney and entered the Methodist College, to study for the ministry, being ordained as minister in 1857. In the course of time he served fifteen different congregations. In 1858 he married Ilenrietta Thomas, who died in 1862. In 1863 he married for the second time, chosing Margaret Rohn of Beardstown, Illinois, as his wife. January 18, 1911, he died, leaving his widow with four sons, Ilenry, a physician in St. Louis; William, attorney in Quincy: Ed. ward, a dentist in St. Louis; and Philip, attorney in Quincy. William Schlagenhauf, the well-known attorney, was born March 8, 1867, in Belleville, Illinois, attended the public schools, and eventually entered
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the German College at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, from which he grad- uated. He then became a student in the law department of the Michigan State University, and in June, 1890, was admitted to the bar. He opened a law office in Quiney in connection with Col. W. W. Berry. Under Homer M. Swope he acted as assistant city attorney. In 1899 he was elected to the State Legislature, serving three successive terms. In 1892 William Schlagenhauf married Lillie M. Uecke, and they have three children living, William J., Lily E., and Lenore.
Ilerman Michael, born October 30, 1825, in Hunteburg, Hanover, eame to America in 1845 with his parents Henry and Clara (Boellner) Michael. The family located in Cincinnati, where Herman Michael July 5, 1853, married Bernardine Klatte, born May 18, 1834, in Huede, Oldenburg. In 1854 they came to Quiney, where Herman Michael for a quarter of a century was active as a cooper. Sons were: William, a priest of the Catholic Church; John B., traveling salesman, and Henry H., bookkeeper for the Blomer & Michael Com- pany, while that firm existed. Joseph J. Michael, born March 25, 1856, attended the parochial school, St. Francis College and the Gem City Business College. Being ambitious, he began working when thirteen years of age, being employed by Henry Bull in his botanical garden, then in the soap works of Flachs & Reimann. He learned the brick-mason's trade, and during the winter months worked in the pork-packing establishment of VandenBoom & Blomer. Also was shipping elerk for the Bonnet & Duffy Stove Works. Was a building contractor, and as such erected a hotel, the gas works, a schoolhouse, church, bank building and a number of residences in Creston, Iowa. He then entered the office of the pork-packing firm of VandenBoom & Blomer, and on May 1, 1882, associated himself with Henry Blomer and Fred Wolf under the firm name Blomer, Wolf & Michael, which continued for eight years. In 1900 Fred Wolf withdrew and the firm Blomer & Michael was incorporated, the busi- ness being continued on a large scale until the plant was destroyed by fire. Joseph J. Michael became interested in several other com- mercial, financial and industrial enterprises, is vice president of the Broadway Bank, and today enjoys the fruits of his resourceful busi- ness ability. In 1884 he married Catherine Altmix, a daughter of the old pioneer John Altmix. Their son Roman is stenographer; Clara, a daughter, is stenographer with the Mercantile Bank, and the daughters Gertrude, Genevieve, Henrietta and Pauline are students.
SETTLERS OF 1855
George Sehacfer, born June 1, 1828, in Laasphe, Westphalia, came to St. Louis in 1853, and to Quiney in 1855, where he for many years condueted a cooper shop. He married Mary Womelsdorf born in the Grandduchy of HIessen, who died in 1901. William, the eldest son, has been deputy in the sheriff's office for more than twenty-five years.
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Louis Schaefer, the second son, was assistant postmaster while David Wilcox was postmaster of Quincy. George Schaefer, Jr., the third son, is engaged as Government engineer.
Jacob R. Urech, born February 21, 1845, in Zofingen, Switzerland, in 1855 came to Quiney with his parents. Here he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Quincy Tribune. Later he learned the trade of saddler and harnessmaker. In 1865 Jacob and his brother Fred- erick Ureeh enlisted in the One Ilundred and Fifty-first Illinois In- fantry, serving to the end of the war. October 3, 1869, Jacob R. Urech married Amy S. Wharton in Payson, this county. In 1877 he began the publication of the Mendon Dispatch, a weekly paper, which he published for a number of years, finally retiring from active busi- ness.
Dr. John F. Rittler, born December 27, 1828, in Altenburg. Saxony, studied in German universities and graduated in the medical de- partment of the University of Prague. In 1853 he came to America and located in Florence, Massachusetts; in 1854 he went to Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, and in 1855 located in Quincy. Here he married Emilie Rossmaessler, a daughter of Emil Adolph Rossmaessler, pro- fessor of natural history. For many years Doctor Rittler practiced medicine in Quincy, until he died, April 1, 1892, his wife departing this life March 23, 1898. They had one daughter, Johanna, who in 1874 became the wife of C. II. Ilenriei, at that time publisher of the Quiney Tribune. Both have departed this life, leaving two daugh- ters, Elsa, wife of Lieut. Fred Andrews, in the Philippine Islands, and Edith, also in the Philippines as correspondent of the San Fran- cisco Chroniele.
Bernard Awerkamp, born October 6, 1849, in Coesfeld, Westphalia, came to Quincy in 1855, with his widowed mother and one brother, his father having died in the old home. At the age of twelve Bernard Awerkamp became an apprentice in the office of the Quincy Tribune, published by Carl Rotteck. Later he was employed in different stores, until finally, in December, 1869, he secured a position in the Ricker Bank, gradually advancing until in 1881, when the Rieker National Bank was organized, he was selected as assistant eashier, a position which he holds up to this day. May 9, 1876, Bernard Awerkamp married Louisa Diefenbach, a daughter of Capt. Michael Diefenbach, for many years engaged in river traffic. They have one daughter, Mrs. Arthur Hunsaker, and six sons, Theodore, paying teller in the Rieker National Bank: William F., with the Standard Oil Company; Frank A., bookkeeper with Scudder & Gale; Carl, machinist, foreman with the Otis Elevator Company; Arthur A., plumber with Best Brothers; and Walter B., foreman in Geise's garage.
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John Henry Miehehmann, born November 29, 1830, in Letz- lingen, Prussia, eame to America in 1853, loeating in Evansville, In- diana. Being a smith, he was employed in the boiler works of Val- entin Stegmiller, with whom he came to Quiney, December 24, 1855. Later he opened a boiler works of his own, in which he was very suc- eessful, gradually adding all kinds of steel work, sneh as bridge building, fire escapes, ete. December 17, 1857, John Henry Michel- mann married Mary Margaret Stnekert, born January 25, 1839, in New Orleans, where her father died, her mother coming to Quiney in 1840. The couple celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding December 17, 1917. Their children are: Henry L. Michel- mann, secretary and manager of the Michelmann Steel Construction Company ; Wilhelmina, wife of Rev. C. E. Miehe, in Okawville, Illi- nois; Emma, wife of C. F. A. Behrensmeyer, dealer in shoes; Clara, wife of William Gerdes, vice president and superintendent of the Michelmann Steel Construction Company; Elizabeth and Dorothea Michelmann; and Albert Miehelmann, druggist. John H. Michel- mann is president of the Michelmann Steel Construction Company.
William Angust Basse, born November 15, 1811, in Barmen, Rhen- ish Prussia, studied mechanies, and in Goettingen worked on the first telegraph, which in 1833 was installed by Professors Steinheil, Grund and Weber, connecting the Sternhalle with the Physical Cabinet. Later he learned steel engraving, and in 1836 located in Luedenscheid, Westphalia, where he married Friederike L. Huelsmann, born in Essen. In 1845 he, with H. Fischer, began to manufacture metal wares. In 1855 the family emigrated, arriving in Quiney June 23, and in 1856 William A. Basse aud Henry Huelsmann opened a jew- elry business in this eity, which still exists. William A. Basse died in 1880. Henry Huelsmann followed him in death in 1885, and Mrs. Basse departed this life in 1892. August Basse, the son, born in Essen, Jannary 15, 1840, married Marie Kespohl, March 19, 1864, and was aetive in the jewelry business for more than fifty years. Henry Basse, the son of Angust Basse, is manager of the business, while Marie Basse, the widow, and her daughter Bertha live in this eity. The widow Augusta Sellner is a daughter of William A. Basse.
John Henry Wilms, born February 13, 1806, in Leichlingen, Rhenish Prussia, married Katherine Hamacher, born May 30, 1815, in Nenkirchen. John H. Wilms, together with F. W. Jansen, had learned cabinet making in the fatherland. In 1855 the family eame to Wheeling, Virginia, and in the fall of the same year to Quincy, where John H. Wilms for many years was employed in the Jan- sen furniture factory. September 22, 1872, Mr. Wilms died, and January 7, 1878, Mrs. Wilms departed this life. Frederick Wilms, the eldest son, born October 25, 1842. for many years was active in the coal business, being president of the Wabash Coal Company, and later, when the Mercantile Trust & Savings Bank was organized, he
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became president of that institution. His wife Anna, nee Diekhut, is a daughter of the old pioneer William Dickhut. Mr. and Mrs. Wilms now reside in San Diego, California. William Wilms, the twin-brother of Frederick Wilms, for many years was secretary of the Wabash Coal Company, residing in Springfield. Rudolph Wilms, the young- est of the brothers, born April 17, 1850, for more than thirty years was connected with the Halbach-Schroeder Dry Goods Company, and now is secretary of the Meyer-Wilms Dry Goods Company. His wife, Helen, nee Magaret, was a daughter of Rev. Ernst E. Magaret, pastor of the First German Methodist Church, Peoria, Illinois.
John Christopher and Maria Franziska (Luttmann) Fischer, were married in Hanover in 1830, and in 1832 came to America, landing in Baltimore September 13th, with one daughter Anna Marie. They located in Fredericktown, Maryland, where a son was born March 29, 1833, John Christopher, Jr., who eame to Quiney in 1855. Ile was a stove molder, and on August 1, 1865, married Mary A. Wielage, born in Hanover, who had come to Quiney with her parents in 1846. The children of John Christopher and Mary A. (Wielage) Fischer were: John J. Fisher, born in Quiney, July 6, 1867. He attended St. Mary's parochial school, and later became a clerk in a confectionery, after which he was employed in a grocery store, thus gaining intimate knowledge of modern business methods. In 1884 he turned his attention to the stove trade, being employed as clerk in the office of the Excelsior Stove Works, which company diseon- tinned business in 1890. May 1, 1890, John J. Fisher went into the stove repair business, under the firm style Excelsior Stove Repair Company. In 1893 this business was incorporated under the laws of Illinois, in 1896 the capital was inereased and the name changed to Excelsior Stove and Manufacturing Company, and the manufac- ture of stoves and ranges begun, sinee which time the products of the company have been marketed in every state in the Union, as well as foreign countries. From a small beginning this has become one of the important produetive industries of Quiney. John J. Fisher is president of the Quiney Freight Bureau. May 31, 1902, he married Ellen Cecelia Nolan. Other children of John Christopher and Mary A. (Wielage) Fischer were: William Joseph, now superintendent of the Excelsior Stove Works; Henry William, foreman in the tin room, Excelsior Stove Works; Ottilia, wife of Theodore Ehrhardt, superintendent of the Excelsior Stove Works; Martha, wife of Otto Duker; Henrietta, wife of Fred Rummenie, in St. Paul, Minnesota. John Christopher Fischer, Jr., died November 1, 1879, and his widow a number of years later became the wife of Nicholas Kohl, presi- dent of the N. Kohl Grocer Company.
SETTLERS OF 1856
Edward Arntzen was a brother of Senator Bernard Arntzen, born in Snedlohn, Westphalia, and came to Quiney in 1856. He was Vol. 1-27
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a civil engineer, and a member of the engineer corps which sur- veyed the line for the Pacific Railroad. Later he returned to Quincy, where he was active in business for some time. Finally he went to St. Louis, and for twenty years was engaged in the city engineer's department, until his death in the spring of 1906.
Peter H. Meyer, born December 25, 1840, in Herford, Westphalia, came to Quincy in 1856, and here learned the carpenter's trade. Later he became a building contractor and as such built a number of churches, besides many business houses and residence buildings. He married Hannah Menke, who came to Quincy with her parents in 1852. In 1912 Peter H. Meyer died in California, leaving his wife and the following children: Anna, wife of Charles Cottrell in Quincy ; Laura, wife of Prof. William Geiger, in Tacoma, Washing- ton; Minna, wife of George Weaver; and one son, Harry Meyer, in St. Louis.
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