Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Wilcox, David F., 1851- ed
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 952

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 11

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

After leaving school A. C. Biekhans served an apprenticeship of three years at the baker's trade, which he subsequently followed for a year in his native land. In 1867, following in the footsteps of his brother Frank, who had im- migrated to the United States in 1864, he came to Illinois, locating in Quincy, where for four months he was employed in a bakery. A natural mechanic and skillful in the use of tools, Mr. Biekhans then made use of his native talent by learning the trade of file entting, serving an apprenticeship of two years. Then,

LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

797

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

in partnership with his former employer, William Dienstuhl, he established himself in business under the firm name of Dienstuhl & Bickhaus. Three years and nine months later, about 1874, the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Biekhaus moved to his present fine building on Broadway, where he has estab- lished a large and constantly increasing business.

On September 3, 1867, Mr. Biekhaus was united in marriage with Emma Seifert. and into their household thus established the following children have been born, namely: Elizabeth, deceased; Henry, foreman in his father's fac- tory; Joseph, associated with his father in the factory; Clem, deceased ; Dena, deceased ; Clem, deceased; Amelia, wife of Max Scott, of Quincy; Lydia, wife of William Dover, of Quincy; Emma, deceased; G. Roy, who died in infancy ; George, deceased: a daughter that died in infaney; Julia, wife of Theodore Stigeman ; and Ernest, associated in business with his father.

In politics prominently identified with the democratic party, Mr. Bick- haus served as foreman of the old fire department, and since 1883 has repre- sented the Fifth Ward as alderman, during which time he has been loval to the interests of his constituents and lent his influenee toward the establish- ment of beneficial enterprises. Fraternally he belongs to the Court of Honor, to the Knights of Columbus, to the Prairie Benevolent Association, and to the Travelers Protective Association. Religiously he and his family are members of St. Boniface Catholic Church.

HENRY L. MICHELMANN is secretary and general manager of an industry which was founded in Quiney the same year he was born and which for thirty years under his virile enterprise has achieved rank among the most important of the city. This is the Miehelmann Steel Construction Works. It was estab- lished on a small scale by his father, the late John H. Miehelmann, but the great degree of its prosperity and its widening scope in local industries is the direct result and product of H. L. Michelmann's broad technical understanding and executive administration.

Henry L. Michelmann was born in Quincy February 13, 1865. In that year his father, John H. Michelmann, started a small shop for the manufacture of boilers, and more particularly the repairing of boilers. John H. Michelmann was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1830 and came to the United States at the age of twenty-three, in 1853. Ifc first located at Evansville, Indiana, and in 1855 came to Quiney. In the old country he had learned and had followed the trade of blacksmith, but after coming to America he learned boilermaking. Thus in 1865 he was thoroughly qualified by experience in the trade and as a general business man to establish an independent concern. At the beginning the shop was condneted under his individual name as J. H. Michelmann. His location was at the corner of Spring and Second streets. In 1900 the works were incorporated as the Michelmann Boiler Company. with John J. Michelmann as president and treasurer and Henry L. Michelmann secretary and manager. In 1906 a new incorporation was made under the name Michelmann Steel Construc- tion Works.

Henry L. Miehehmann was edueated in the Quiney public schools and in the Gem City Business College, and at the age of sixteen went into his father's shop. He learned boiler making and sheet metal work as thoroughly as his father had done before him, and his skill in the trade and an apt comprehension of everything eonneeted with the business brought him to increased promotion until he was secretary and manager of the works.

As early as 1886 he was foreman in the shops and he gradually took upon himself the greater part of estimating and management of the business both inside and outside. When he first took charge it was a small concern doing a business valued at from $15,000 to $20,000 a year, whereas now the company's annual business is about $200,000. Chief credit for this achievement is un- doubtedly due Henry L. Michelmann and his career stands out prominent be-

Vol. 11-5

798

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

cause of his singular devotion to one line of work. He started as a boy, learned all the technical processes by actual experience, and his own knowledge, charac- ter and business experience have been worked into the large plant of which he is today the active head.

Mr. Michelmann married June 21, 1893, Miss Ida Meyer, a native of Quincy. They have four children, Ruth, Irene, Flora and Ada. Another child, the first born, Robert, died at the age of six and a half years. Mr. Michelmann is a republican in politics, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Knight of Pythias and a member of the local Young Men's Christian Associa- tion.

OTIS JOHNSTON, M. D. A native of Quincy, Doctor Johnston has for nearly thirty years been identified with his calling as a physician and surgeon, and his work as a surgeon in particular has brought him a front rank in the profession. He is now chief of the staff of St. Mary's Hospital.

Doctor Johnston graduated from the Quincy Medical College twenty-nine years ago and has given all his services in his home city. One indication of the rank and esteem he enjoys is that for a number of years he was president of the Adams County Medical Society, and is also a member of the State Society and the American Medical Association.

Doctor Johnston was born at Quincy in 1868, and was reared and educated here, attending high school. He is a son of John W. and Isabel (White) John- ston, both of whom were born in Kentucky of old Scotch ancestry. His people have been Americans for several generations. John W. Johnston after his marriage started for Missouri, and had to cut a road through a long stretch of timber in order to reach his land in Lewis County. He went there in 1856, subsequently settled in Marion County, and when still a young man came to Quincy. He and his wife spent their last years in Quiney. John W. Johnston was prominent in the tobacco industry of Quincy for a number of years. He was a maker of the old Navy Plug and the American Twist. Doctor Johnston has a brother, Virgil V., who is a rice grower and planter at Stuttgart, Arkan- sas. He also has two sisters, Exia and Ida, the former a teacher and the latter a stenographer, both living in Quincy.

Doctor Johnston married at Quincy Mande Harrington Grieser. Her parents were natives of Baltimore, and Mrs. Johnston was only three years old when her mother died at the age of twenty-eight. Her father, who died at Quincy ten years ago, was John L. Grieser, one of the largest land owners and most prominent citizens of the county. At one time he owned over 2,000 acres of land south of Quincy, and he was the principal promoter and after years of advocacy and educational campaigns he brought about the construction of the Indian Drain Levee, which at that time was regarded as the greatest improve- ment in and around Quincy. It resulted in the draining of thousands of acres, and changed the value of land from about $10 an acre to $150. Doctor and Mrs. Johnston became the parents of two children. One son, Emmett, died in 1897, in infancy. Their only living son, Eugene A., aged fourteen, is a student in the Quincy High School. Doctor Johnston is a member of the Christian Church while Mrs. Johnston belongs to the Congregational denomination. He is affili- ated with the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and Elks, and he and his family have always taken an active part in social affairs.

MILTON S. CABELL is one of the most sterling citizens Quincy has ever had. He represents in one sense some of the older activities and older spirit of Quincy when this was a typically river town. Mr. Cabell was an engineer on river steamboats for a number of years, and his father was a noted captain of river boats from pioneer times. Milton S. Cabell until he retired was in ser- vice as an engineer for fully half a century. He won an ample competence for

799

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

all his needs by his work and has connection with a number of Quincy financial institutions.

For twenty-two years Mr. Cabell was in service as engineer for the Quincy postoffice, and perhaps the larger number of people in the city associate that service with his name, though it constituted only about half his active lifetime. He was first appointed to the office by Judge Thompson, then postmaster, in 1892. He served under successive postmasters, James Montgomery, Chet Wil- cox, David F. Wilcox, editor of this history, and finally resigned his office while Mr. Wilcox was still postmaster. Mr. Cabell enjoyed the personal friendship of all these men, and holds them and their memories in the highest regard.

Mr. Cabell was born in Quincy, on Vermont Street, back of the present Blackstone Building, May 27, 1847. He attended local schools here, and at the age of fifteen went to work on Mississippi river boats and learned the trade of engineer. He was employed on the boats of the St. Louis aud Keokuk packet line for about seven years, and on leaving the river he went to work as engineer in the Castle mills. He was also with the Telco mills, the Gem City mills, the Diek Brothers mills, and from that branch of service entered the engineering plant of the local postoffice. Through fifty years Mr. Cabell was never with- out a job, and that speaks highly of his efficiency and skillful ability and also the faithfulness with which he has done his chosen work in life.

His father was the well known old river man Capt. Samuel G. Cabell, who was born in Virginia and married Sadie Harris, a native of Kentucky. Both were of old southern stock and possessed many of the traditions of the best of southern families. Captain Cabell and wife were married at Carrolton, Illinois," and soon afterward moved to Quincy. Captain Cabell served as chief engineer on the St. Louis and Keokuk Packet Line, at first with headquarters at Carrol- ton, and it was at the suggestion of Governor Carlin, a lifelong friend, that he moved to Quincy. He was chief engineer on river boats for a dozen years, and after that was owner and captain of many of the best known vessels on the Mississippi. He was also captain of the St. Mary and the William Camp- bell, two boats well known on the Missouri River between St. Joseph and Omaha just before the war. He was captain and owner of the Sparrow Hawk, the Georgetown, the H. T. Yateman, the Ed Manning, all of which plied on the Mississippi. Captain Cabell spent the last twenty years of his life in retire- ment, and died in 1898, at the venerable age of eighty-four. His name is still spoken with respect by the old time Mississippi River people. He survived his wife a number of years, she passing away at the age of about sixty. Captain Cabell was a democrat and a Methodist, while his wife was a Baptist.

Milton S. Cabell is the only surviving child of six in his father's family. He had a brother, John, who married, but had no children, and a sister, Emma, died unmarried at the age of forty-two.

In 1867 Milton S. Cabell married at St. Louis Miss Nellie M. Martin. She was born at Camden, Missouri, in 1850, was educated there, and during more than half a century of married life she and Mr. Cabell have enjoyed a rich and rare companionship, have labored together, have made their lives worth much to the community as well as to themselves, and without children of their own they have done much to brighten life for others less fortunate. Mrs. Cabell's father, Thomas Martin, died in California when about seventy-five years of age. Thomas Martin married Miss Humphrey, who died at the home of her daughter when about seventy-five. Her parents were both natives of Indiana. Mrs. Cabell has a sister, Mrs. Gus Bowman, a widow, and mother of a son, William B. Bowman. The latter has two sons, William Bowman, Jr., and Charles, the former now serving in the aviation corps in France, while the latter is employed on a Mississippi River boat in Government service, the William Eastman. Mr. and Mrs. Cabell are members of the First Baptist Church of Quincy. He has been a Mason of high standing for forty years and is affiliated

800

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

with the Lodge, Chapter, Couneil and Consistory, having been a Scottish Rite Mason for thirty years.

, HENRY F. SPRENGER. Careful, methodieal and scientifie farming at its very best is perhaps nowhere in Adams County better illustrated than on the place of Henry F'. Sprenger in Honey Creek Township. This is in every sense a practical farm. Mr. Sprenger is not a wealthy business man running a farm for a diversion or pleasure, and his place has all the more signifieanee and value as an example when it is remembered that he went in debt for the land when he acquired it, and made the farm pay for itself and bring the enviable pros- perity he now enjoys.

Mr. Sprenger was born in Gilmer Township of this eounty. November 5, 1863, son of Frederiek S. and Ida (Paymour) Sprenger. His parents were natives of Germany, his father born in Prussia and his mother in Hanover. As soon as they were married they started for America in 1858, landing at New Orleans, and coming north by boat to St. Louis. After a brief residence in Quiney they moved to Gilmer Township, and in 1862 moved to the old Sprenger homestead in section 23 of Honey Creek Township. Here Frederiek Sprenger lived a busy and profitable life, which eame to a elose in February, 1897. In the family were five children : Henry F .; Mrs. Mary Wiegmann; Frank, who died March 21, 1905; Mrs. Ida Dinklage; and Mrs. Minnie Baners. Mrs. Ida Dinklage still oeeupies and owns the old homestead farm in seetion 23. The Sprengers are of old German stoek, and some of the interesting relies they brought with them from the fatherland are still in the family possession, inelud- ing some German books which are more than a century old.

Henry F. Sprenger grew up in Honey Creek Township, was edueated in the local schools and in the German sehool at Coatsburg, and was with his parents until he was about twenty-seven years of age. He bought the land included in his present farm in 1890 from the John Byers estate, but it was not until 1896 that he occupied it, in the meantime having operated his own land as well as his father's homestead. Of November 18, 1896, Mr. Sprenger married Miss Mary Linkerman, daughter of Henry and Louisa (Holle) Linkerman. Her father was born in Germany and came to the United States in the '60s and died in 1913 in Camp Point Township. Her mother is still living. Mary Linker- man was born in Hancock County, and was twenty years of age at her marriage. She died January 15, 1906, leaving one son, William Henry, who is still at home. On June 15, 1910, Mr. Sprenger married Frederieka E. Linkerman, sister of his first wife.

It was in 1910 that Mr. Sprenger rebuilt the original home and that gives him the neat and attractive house in which he and his family now reside. In 1904 he erected the barn. His barn is now well supplied with a complete equip- ment and perfeet arrangement of buildings, including hog barns, garage and granary, and he has carefully looked after and provided for an uninterrupted water supply, obtained from a deep drilled well 275 feet, and brought to the surface and distributed by means of a combination of windmill and gas engine. Mr. Sprenger has carefully graded up and improved his own livestock, market- ing about a hundred head of Poland China hogs every year, and occasionally feeding some eattle for market. All his own corn is fed on the farm. For his work horses he has some good grades of Percherons.

When Mr. Sprenger bought his present farm in 1890 he had only $800 to invest, and had to shoulder a big debt for the remainder. By steadily keeping at his work and always studying to better his land and his method of handling it, he has gradually emerged from all his obligations and his farm today would be hard to equal in the matter of efficiency and general value. He is a member of the Farmers Improvement Association of the county and takes pride in trans- forming his own farm enterprise and efforts toward the general betterment of the community. He served as a director of the Center School Board fifteen

801

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

years, is a democrat, a member and trustee of Coatsburg Lutheran Church, and all in all is one of the most substantial citizens of the county.

CHARLES II. WOOD. As a farmer and business manager Adams County has few men to compare with the late Charles Il. Wood. For many years he was one of the most influential citizens of Ellington Township.

Ile was born on his father's farm in section 4 of that township, March 20, 1842, lived there all his life and died February 10, 1898. His parents were Charles and Ann Wood, both natives of England and of old English ancestry. They were married in England and their children born in the old country died before the parents came to America in 1840. They came to this country in a sailing vessel and after many weeks landed at New York and came on to Adams County. In England Charles Wood. Sr., had been a skillful weaver by trade, but in Adams County he bought land in Ellington Township and developed his property and owned a large and profitable estate. Both he and his wife died on the old farm, he at the age of fifty-six and she when seventy- six. They were members of the Episcopal Church.

Charles H. Wood was the only child of his parents to reach maturity. When a young man he took the management of the home farm and later became its owner. He increased his possessions and at one time had more than 400 aeres, all well improved and constituting a most valuable property. He did general farming and was also an extensive fruit raiser. He developed several acres to fruit. His home was a substantial ten room house and there were other sub- stantial buildings.

Mr. Wood was a stanch republican but never sought any office. He was a member of the United Brethren Church.

Ile first married Mary Kinkade, who was born and edueated in Adams County. She died at the home in Ellington Township in 1884, when in the prime of life. Of her children the oldest, Enoch, is a resident of California and is the father of four daughters. S. Edmond has one of the finest farms in the vicinity of Augusta, Illinois, and is married and has two sons and four daughters. Abraham L. is a bachelor living in California. Isaac N. has a truck garden in Riverside Township of this county, and his family consists of a son and daughter. Lewis died at the age of twenty-three.

In the fall of 1886, in Gilmer Township, Mr. Wood married Miss Sarah McKee. Mrs. Wood since her husband's death has shown remarkable abilities in the handling of her affairs, and is regarded as one of the shrewdest business women in the county. She was born in Ellington Township and has spent all her life in this county. Taking property left to her management by her hus- band. she has greatly improved it, and has also acquired much property in Quiney. She now lives in Quincy at 524 North Ninth Street.

Mrs. Wood is a daughter of Samuel and Martha ( McKeeman) MeKee. Both parents were born in Ireland. Her mother was first married to William Boyle. They came to the United States and settled in Adams County, where Mr. Boyle died, leaving two sons, John and Daniel. She later married Mr. MeKce, who had come to Adams County when a young man. Mr. and Mrs. McKee were Adams county farmers. He died in 1855, and his widow passed away at the age of seventy. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Wood was the only child of her father.

Mrs. Wood has three children : Martha M., who graduated from the Quiney High School in 1910, was a teacher for two years and is now the wife of William Shriver of Ursa Township. Their children are Eva May, William L. and Myrtle R. Ralph MeKee Wood, born in 1893, graduated from high school in 1913 and is now a soldier at Camp Funston. Mary Lucinda graduated from the Quincy High School in 1915 and is at home with her mother. Mrs. Wood and her children are Presbyterians.

802

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

EUGENE WEISINGER. The men who deserve greatest credit for the immense productiveness of American agriculture are those who are in actual contact with the work and processes of the farms. An increasing part of American farms is owned by men who do not reside upon them and to only a limited degree are responsible for the fruits gathered from their lands. It is in the class of farm managers and those whose time and resonrees are eoneentrated upon the trying processes that Mr. Eugene Weisinger has his place. Mr. Weisinger is one of the finest types of American citizens. He is of German birth, but has lived in this country since boyhood. He signalized his devotion to American ideals by ser- vice in the Spanish-American war, and the degree of community esteem in which he is held is well reflected by his present position as supervisor of Gilmer Town- ship.

Mr. Weisinger and family reside in section 35 of Gilmer Township, fourteen miles east of Quincy. He was born in the Kingdom of Wuertemberg May 29, 1875. He was edneated in the German common schools and was seventeen years old when he came to the United States. He was the only member of his immediate family to come to this country. His uncle, Carl Eppinger, was at that time a resident of Quincy. Mr. Weisinger arrived at Quincy July 2, 1892. A machinist by trade, he worked for the Plow Company and the Gardner Pump Works for one year, but since then has applied his efforts steadily to farming. He went to work as a farm laborer by the month, spending two years with William Zanger of Burton Township, two years with J. S. Lawless in Gilmer Township, and in 1898 took employment with J. R. Ferguson of Burton Township.

In the meantime Mr. Weisinger had been a member of the Naval Militia Company at Quincy, serving as aeting boatswain's mate. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted in the United States Navy, and was in active service from May 25 to November 13, 1898. He was on the flagship Newark, first commanded by Commodore Watson and later by Rear Admiral Schley. He was an ordinary seaman, and was in charge of the poop deek or admiral's quarters. During his serviee in the Naval Militia he had been granted a gold medal for profieieney as a seaman.

When he received his honorable discharge from the navy Mr. Weisinger re- turned to farm work. In December, 1902, he married Sophia Page, of Burton Township, daughter of Michael Page. She was born in Burton Township and was twenty-two when she married. Up to the time of his marriage Mr. Weis- inger had been a rather easy going and a "good fellow," and consequently his accumulations and capital amounted to only the savings from a year's earnings and a horse and buggy. With the responsibility of a home he set himself seri- ously to providing for the future. For three years he farmed in Burton Town- ship and in the fall of 1905 came to his present place, then the Walter Cate farm in Gilmer Township. At that time he had the management of 140 aeres and at present he has 300 acres under his control. This fine farm is owned by C. M. Henry. Mr. Weisinger has made a splendid success as a farm man- ager, and handles his fields and livestock with profit both to himself and the owner of the land. About every year he sends two carloads of his own hogs to market and also buys and feeds both eattle and hogs.

Mr. Weisinger has given much of his time to publie affairs. He served as township elerk two years, was township collector of Burton Township the first year after his marriage, and was elected to his present offiee as supervisor of Gilmer Township in 1918. He is also a director of his home school distriet. Mr. Weisinger is a republican and is affiliated with the Masonie Lodge and Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Columbus. In the Odd Fellows Lodge he has passed all the chairs and has been representative to the Grand Lodge. He and his family are supporting members of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Weisinger have a happy family of seven

803

QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY

children, the oldest aged fifteen. Their names in order of birth are Carl, Gladys, Emmett, Page, Clifton, Rosina and Ruth.

FRED WILLIAM ALBSMEYER. One of the interesting old timers of Adams County is Fred William Albsmeyer, now living retired at Quincy, and whose active life was spent on a farm in Melrose Township. The story of Mr. Albs- meyer's carcer illustrates what may be accomplished by a man of determination and without capital, and in spite of vicissitudes and circumstances in the highest degree discouraging.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Wilcox, David F., 1851- ed Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 952

Author: Wilcox, David F., 1851- ed
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 952