USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 111
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124
The late Fred William Eehternkamp, of Fall Creek Township, had such a career. He was one of a number of early settlers there who had at first to de- pend upon wages of work by the day or month, and through a frugal and indus- trious course eventually acquired a fine property. He was an excellent citizen, public spirited in all ways, and the memory of his life and eharaeter is still an asset of the community.
He was born in Westphalia, Germany, February 4, 1835, and died at his old home in this eounty April 3, 1913, aged seventy-eight years, one month and twenty-seven days. He was educated in the schools of his native country, and at the age of eighteen came to America. His parents, Casper Echternkamp and wife, also eame to this country. Casper later went to Nebraska with his three sons : Gottlieb, Fred and Herman. One son, Henry, died in Quiney.
Fred William Echternkamp came to, manhood in Fall Creek Township, and before he was twenty-one years of age married Miss Hannah Fleer, who was born in Germany, September 25, 1837. She came to this country with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Casper "Fleer. Her mother, Anna Fleer, died when about eighty-two or eighty-three years of age.
The first land bought by Mr. Echternkamp was twenty acres. It had a three-room log house, and in that humble home all his children were born. About 1875 he bought eighty aeres a mile east of his first home. That had a good house, and he soon afterwards erected a barn. Later he acquired another eighty aeres adjoining, giving him 160 acres in the home farm. The second eighty also had a group of buildings and improvements. He also retained the original twenty aeres and his estate kept on growing until he had about five hundred acres, divided into three complete farms. His industry as a stockman helped raise the standard of the horses, mules and eattle in his community. He was a demoerat in politics, a member and trustee of the German Lutheran Church. and served in many relations with the community, ineluding the offices of tax eolleetor, school director, road commissioner, ete. For many years he was identified with the Bluff Hall Congregational Church, and at his death was laid to rest in the church cemetery. His widow survived him about four years, passing away September 14, 1917.
He and his wife had eight children, and six reached mature years: Henry G., born February 10, 1857, and died July 16, 1918, special reference being made to him on other pages; William H., born February 23, 1863, died at the age of twenty-one; Minnie, born February 10, 1865, died in 1889, unmarried ; Hannah, born March 16, 1868, died when a young woman; John A., referred to in a following paragraph; and August F., born October 20, 1873, who died a few days after his brother William, at a time when nearly all members of the family were ill.
John A. Echternkamp, who has followed in his father's footsteps and has done much to keep up the reputation of the old farm as a center of produetive activities, was born in a three room loghouse across the road from the Bluff Hall Church in Fall Creek Township August 11, 1870. All his life has been spent on his farm, and he looked after his parents as long as they lived. On November 1, 1891, he married Elizabeth Speekhart, member of the well known Speckhart family to whom repeated reference is made in these pages. Mrs. Echternkamp was twenty years of age at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Echternkamp have a fine family of children, named John, Hannah, Mar- garet, Henry, Fred, Carl, Katie, Adam and Ella. All are still at home except
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
1
Dr E. F. Stammt
1415
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
the two older. John married Louise Althoff, and is a farmer near the home- stead : Hannah is the wife of Fred Althoff, of Quincy.
EDWARD MORRIS HODGDON is one of Quiney's business men who are respon- sible for the supply of milk of wholesome and standard quality to the peo- ple of that city. It is a service second to none in value and importance, and under Mr. Hodgdon's careful and energetic direction it has become a busi- ness of substantial character and profitable returns to himself.
Mr. Hodgdon was born in Quincy May 1, 1883, and is connected with some of the old families of this county. His grandfather, Watson Trowbridge, had the distinction of hauling the first load of freight across the Quincy bridge. Mr. Hodgdon is a son of Charles F. and Alice (Trowbridge) Hodgdon, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Ohio. His father came to Quiney in 1868, was a carpenter by trade, and later conducted a planing mill. Both parents are now living at Hannibal, Missouri. They had four children : Frank, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Hannibal, Missouri ; Edith, deceased ; Edward M .; and Louise, at home with her parents.
Edward Morris Hodgdon began his education in the Quincy public schools and when a boy went with his parents to Hannibal. There in 1900, at the age of seventeen, he obtained his first experience in the milk business, and has been in that one line ever since. Having acquired a thorough knowledge of the industry and having accumulated some capital through thrift and care- ful saving, Mr. Hodgdon came to Quincy in July, 1914, and built a plant for pasteurizing and handling milk. He gets his raw milk supply from Missouri plants, and handles, pasteurizes and distributes about 275 gallons per day. The business is rapidly growing.
June 21, 1911, Mr. Hodgdon married Ruth Brown, a native of Monroe City, Missouri. Politically Mr. Hodgdon is a democrat, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
DR. EDWIN F. STANNUS. The History of Adams County would not be com- plete without the biography of Dr. Edwin F. Stannus, the leading specialist in Quincy, and one of its substantial citizens.
The Stannus family is a native of our sister State of Iowa, both his father and grandfather having been born in that State. John Stannus, the grandfather, spent a very active career in Keokuk, Iowa, where he conducted a large whole- sale business and developed trade relations all over the Central West. He was of prodigious size-being six feet four inches in height. He was a prominent Mason.
Frank E. Stannus, the father of Dr. Edwin F. Stannus, was born in Keokuk, was prominent in the affairs of that city, having served three terms as alderman- one year as mayor pro tem, and a member of the volunteer fire department. Some twelve years ago he removed his family to Quincy, where he was active in the affairs and proprietor of the Quincy Rug and Carpet Manufacturing Com- pany until his death January 14, 1916. He was also prominent in many frater- nal bodies, and was a leading member of the United Presbyterian Church in Keokuk. Iowa. His wife, who shared with him in church activities, was Miss Elizabeth Young, a native of Warsaw, Illinois. She survives her husband and makes her home with her only son, Dr. Edwin F. Stannus. Her only daughter, Etta C., is a graduate of the Quincy High School and of the State Normal School at Macomb, Illinois, and is now a successful teacher in Dewey School in Quincy.
Dr. Edwin F. Stannus, the subject of this sketch, was born August 6, 1881, in Keokuk, Iowa, where he grew to manhood and received his academie educa- tion in the schools of that city. He was very active in outdoor sports, which accounts for his splendid physique. He is a graduate of both the high school and business college of Keokuk. He was a great athlete and his friends and admirers characterized him as a perfect dynamo of energy.
1416
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
After completing his college training he was engaged with his father, who at that time was the representative of the Standard Oil Co., in Keokuk, and became a profieient stenographer and elerk. But the ambition of young Stan- nus prompted him to undertake more responsible duties than that of elerk.
His first ambition led him in the dental profession. He was graduated from the Keokuk Dental College in dentistry in 1903, at the age of twenty-one years, and is now a member of the Alumni Association of the Iowa State University, which afterwards took over the Keokuk Dental College. A spirit of adventure led him out to Keystone, South Dakota, in the Black Hills District, where he soon developed a good praetiee. Remaining there but a short time he returned to his native eity of Keokuk, where he entered the Keokuk Medieal College and College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated in 1905, and now is a member of the Alumni Association of the Iowa State University, which also took over these colleges. After passing a successful examination Before the State Board of Examiners of Iowa. he practiced at Keokuk until 1907, when he removed with his parents to Quincy, Illinois.
He received on August 15, 1907, his license to practice his chosen profession in Illinois, and from that day on his sueeess has been assured. His fame has spread beyond Quincy, so that his office is thronged by patients from far and near.
His splendid technique has been developed not only by his large individual practice, but under the direction of the most eminent specialists in this eountry. The Doctor has taken many post graduate courses. . He was in the New York Polyelinie Ilospital in 1913 pursuing a general eourse and in 1916 and 1917 was an individual operator in that institution, under the direction of the fore- most surgeons. Ile was also a student in the New York Polyelinie and the New York Roosevelt Hospital of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat in 1914 and 1915, and again in 1916, 1917 and 1918 took a special eourse as an operator in both of the above institutions. He studied in the Roosevelt Hospital, and holds certifieates for expert and special study from Dr. Ben Witt Key of the New York Eve. Nose and Throat Infirmary, and also from Dr. Ernest Whitby Goode of the Polyclinic Hospital, and from Dr. Abbott Trask Hutchinson, of the Roosevelt Hospital. Another certifieate was given him by Dr. Walter Evre Lambert, one of the most eminent eve specialists in New York City. Doetor Stannus was also appointed on the staff of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of New York, as assistant eye surgeon in 1918, and held that position for six months until he returned to Quiney to resume his former practiee. He was also surgeon of the nose, throat and ear elinie of the West Side Dispensary and Hospital in New York City in 1918, and built up that department until it exceeded all other elinies in this institution.
Doctor Stannus was first assistant surgeon to Dr. William Lawrenee Gate- wood in the Polyelinie Hospital of New York in 1917 and 1918, and after Doc- tor Gatewood was taken into Government serviee. he became instructor in laryngology and rhinology in that institution, and did all the teaching therein. But more than that, the good wishes and the keen professional interest of these eminent specialists have followed him, and have stood sponsor in many ways for his unusual suceess.
Doctor Stannus has the most complete laboratory and equipment for the medical and surgical treatment of the eye. ear, nose and throat of any specialist in this territory. The Doctor has not failed to provide anything that will sup- plement his personal skill.
Doctor Stannus offered his serviees to his Government, but received the following reply: "The Acting Surgeon General directs me to aeknowledge receipt of your letter of September 7. 1918, tendering your services to the Government in the existing emergeney, and in reply to inform you that owing to the fact that you are ineligible for appointment in the Medical Corps, the U. S. Army, by reason of overweight, the Department regrets that it cannot utilize your services in a commissioned capacity, the offer of which is greatly
1417
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
appreciated." However, he was appointed on selective service by the governor of New York, which action was approved by the authorities of the United States, as a member of the Local Board, Division No. 116 of the City and County of New York, and had full charge of the examination of all applicants of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He was also appointed an associate member of the Medical Advisory Board No. 6 of New York City.
Doctor Stannus is a member of the G. F. Jenkins Medical Society of Keo- kuk, Iowa, also of the Charles C. Slagel Dental Society of lowa, and is also assistant surgeon in the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and surgeon of the nose, throat and ear clinic of the West Side Dispensary and Hospital of New York.
He is at the head of the local acrie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and is the examining physician for the Modern Woodmen of America, of the Interna- tional Harvester Co., of the Illinois Bankers Life Insurance Co., of Monmouth, Illinois, and for many other orders and companies.
Doctor Stannus is not only an eminent specialist, but is one of the sub- stantial citizens of Quincy, occupying a beautiful home on Maine Street. He is a stockholder in many of the best institutions of the eity, including the Illinois State Bank, and the State Savings, Loan & Trust Co.
This sketch would not be complete without mention of the Doctor's estim- able wife, whose maiden name was Miss Osa Miller, and to whom the Doctor was wedded on December 16, 1909. She is a native of Quincy and is an accom- plished musician, both in piano and vocal, being a teacher of music before her marriage to the Doctor. She is not only a good wife to the Doetor, but is a great helpmate as an assistant and nurse. The Doctor could not possibly treat so many patients without her valuable assistance. During the summer of 1918 she took a course in refraction in the School of Ophthalmology and Otology of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of New York City, under the supervision of her husband.
Doetor Stannus is a member of the Christian Church of Keokuk, Iowa, and a demoerat in politics.
HERMAN A. GENTEMANN. An active and able representative of the hor- tieultural and floricultural interests of Adams County, Herman A. Gente- mann is a valued resident of Quincy, where he has an extensive nursery, well filled with a varied and choice collection of plants and flowers, some of which are quite rare and valuable. A son of the late C. Frederick W. Gentemann, he was born in Quincy July 10, 1876, of German aneestry.
Born and edueated in Germany, C. Frederick W. Gentemann immigrated to the United States when about seventeen years of age. Coming directly to Quincy, Illinois, he was in the employ of Governor Wood for several years. Industrious and economical, he accumulated a sufficient sum of money to war- rant him in starting in life on his own account. Familiar with horticulture, he built a small greenhouse, 16 by 30 feet, and having imported a few plants became the pioneer nurseryman of Adams County. Successful in his venture, he gradually enlarged his operations, building up an extensive business, which in 1901 he relinquished in favor of his sons, Herman and Phillip, and thence- forward lived retired until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Frederika Goesling, was born in Germany, and is now living in Quincy. Eight children were horn of their union, as follows: Henry, of Argonia, Kansas, now engaged in dairy farming; Hannah, wife of William Coulson, of Mem- phis, Tennessee ; William, of St. Louis; Reieke, wife of William Sehnith, of Galesburg, Illinois: Minnie, living with her mother; Herman, the subject of this brief sketch: Phillip, associated with his brother Herman as a florist; and Linnie, who died in girlhood.
Having acquired a practical education in the Quincy schools, Herman A. Gentemann beeame interested in the growing of plants and shrubs while work- ing with his father. He subsequently spent two years in Chicago, in the em-
1418
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
ploy of Bassett & Washburn, wholesale dealers in cut flowers, gaining valu- able knowledge and experience while there. Returning to Quincy in 1901, he and his brother Phillip succeeded to the business established by their father, and are managing it most sucessfully. These enterprising brothers have a finely equipped nursery, with 35,000 feet of glass in their greenhouses and other things of corresponding size and value. This firm, which has an office and flower shop at 714 Maine Street, is earrying on a substantial and lucrative business in the city, and employs a number of representatives in outside towns. All are extremely well patronized, as flowers within the past few years are listed among the necessities of life rather than the luxuries.
Mr. Gentemann married, August 20, 1902, Anna M. Bradshaw, a native of Quiney, and into their home two children have been born, Christel, who died in childhood, and Rosalind, born June 29, 1907. Politieally Mr. Gentemann is independent, voting with the courage of his convictions. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, being a member of the Quincy lodge; and also belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose. Socially he is a member of the Quiney Power and Motor Club.
WARREN L. KING is a native of Quiney and in 1901 graduated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery and lost no time in establishing himself in practice at Quincy, where his business and professional reputation has increased apaee. He is one of the busiest dentists of the city, and is prominent in dental organizations, having been vice president of the Illinois Dental Society, and also a member of the County and National associations. Doctor King is a Seottish Rite Consistory Mason, and is a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
He was born in Quincy July 11, 1880, and graduated from the Quiney High School in 1898. He entered upon his professional work at the age of twenty-one and has been one of the useful citizens of Quincy ever sinee.
He is a son of William E. and Mary J. (Martin) King, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York State. They married in Quincy, where William E. King was for several years manager of the local office of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He learned telegraphy in Ohio. He died while still at his work in 1886, when not yet forty years of age. His widow is still living, enjoying good health in advanced years.
Doetor King, only son of his parents, married at Quiney Miss Alice Sweet, who was born and reared here, daughter of E. K. and Lucia A. (Davis) Sweet. Her father, who died a number of years ago, was prominent in local business affairs as a horse dealer and stockman. Doctor and Mrs. King have two children. Marylyn Sweet King, who is thirteen years old and in the ninth grade of the publie schools, and Warren Kent King, born in 1907 and also at school.
EDWARD W. PETER is county treasurer of Adams County. A native of the county, known to its people all his life, Mr. Peter has proved trustworthy and reliable in every relationship and duty, and for many years was one of the lead- ing cdueators of the county.
He was born in Melrose Township of Adams County March 9, 1865, a son of William and Emily (Kaltenbach) Peter. His father was also a native of Melrose Township, where the Peter family established their home in pioneer times. William Peter followed farming, was a substantial resident of his com- munity, and died Mareh 15, 1915. The mother, who was born in Baden, Ger- many, is now living in Quincy. To their union were born a large family of children, the record being told briefly as follows: Edward W., the oldest; Charles, of Melrose Township; Albert, of Melrose; Frank, deceased; Tony, of Danville, Kansas; George, of Melrose Township; Rose, wife of Henry King, of Quincy ; a son that died in infancy ; Carrie, wife of Frank Daniels, of Quincy ; and William, of Payson, Illinois.
1419
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
Edward W. Peter grew up as a farmer boy, attended the distriet sehools, and was earnest and diligent in making the best use of all his opportunities. In 1887 he was a student in the Gem City Business College at Quiney. There are many seetions of Adams County where his name is most highly honored because of the effective serviees he rendered as a teacher in country sehools. Altogether he was aetive in the work of the schoolroom for twenty years. Then for 11/2 years he was associated with his brother-in-law, Mr. King, in the merchandise business at Quiney, but left that to accept the office of county treasurer, to which he was elected in 1914. Mr. Peter is a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus.
BERNARD H. BERTER has been a resident of Quiney nearly fifty years. made his money here, and in this community has invested all his loyalty and affeetion, and is one of the most patriotie and publie spirited of Adams County's eitizens.
Ilis business for many years has been as a grocer at 640 North Twelfth Street. Mr. Berter is now semi-retired, leaving the details of the store to his two sons, William and Joseph. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, March 19, 1843, and was reared and educated there. In 1863 he enlisted as a private in the Ger- man army and served all through the war against Austria. He was in five of the major battles of that war, but escaped unhurt. When the war ended in July, 1866, he secured a passport and sailed for America. From Bremen to Castle Garden was a voyage of two weeks by way of Liverpool. He joined a relative at Cineinnati and worked there a year with a florist and greenhouse proprietor. In May, 1870, Mr. Berter eame to Quiney and was employed here five years as a eoaehman, two years of that time with the late Edward Wells, the story of whose life is told on other pages. Ile then went into the old Quiney mills as sales- and delivery man, and was with that institution until it was burned about ten years later. Mr. Berter received his final certificate of naturalization from the Circuit Court at Quincy in 1880.
In 1889 Mr. Berter invested his modest capital in the groeery business. his first store being at Twelfth and Oak streets. In 1903 he bought his present location at the corner of Twelfth and Vine streets, and here he has since built up a flourishing trade. He owns a large store building, and in his business trained his sons, and for the past nine years has given them praetieally the management of the industry, which is still eondueted as B. H. Berter & Sons.
In 1876 Mr. Berter married Elizabeth Hoelker, daughter of the late George and Adelaide Hoelker, who came to Quiney in 1842. Both the Berter and Hoelker families are Catholies and members of St. Francis Church for the past forty years. The children were all confirmed there. William and Joseph are in the groeery business. Alois is a painter in Quincy. Edward died at the age of eighteen, and Maria at the age of two. Carl, the youngest, studied law at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1917, took post graduate work the following year and has since enlisted in the Army Medieal Corps at Camp Kearney, California. The sons are members of the Knights of Columbus and both father and sons are democratie voters.
J. GRANT MCCARL, brother of Judge Lyman MeCarl of Quiney, has for many years been one of the sueeessful farmers and stoekmen of Richfield Township. His home is four miles northwest of the old MeCarl place in the same township. On the MeCarl homestead, which is now owned and oeeupied by his brother Seott, J. Grant MeCarl was born August 11, 1863, son of Alexander W. and Minerva McCarl. He came to manhood with a liberal edueation, having spent three years in Lombard College at Galesburg, though he never graduated. Many people remember him as a former teacher. He followed educational work for three years in Richfield and Payson townships. He became a member of the Phi Delta Theta college fraternity.
1420
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY
For a number of years he was associated with his brother Scott in the man- agement and ownership of the old home place, and sold his share to his brother in 1904. On September 3, 1904, he bought his present farm, the old IIenry Lyle place in section 19, on the west township line of Richfield. Lyle had secured the 135 acres direct from the government. This farm is two miles cast of Plainville and twenty-two miles southeast of Quiney. Mr. MeCarl paid less than $50 an acre for the farm. It has many attractive features, being watered with living springs. The substantial brick house was erected in 1867 and has a cornerstone laid by the Masonic Lodge with the initials H. L. and the date 1867, and also containing the Masonic Square and Compass and other symbols.
Mr. MeCarl has done much to improve and develop this farm and has con- ducted it both for grain and stock. He keeps some pure bred Poland China hogs. He has remodeled the house and also the barn and put up several other smaller buildings.
Mr. MeCarl has always been a democrat but has no tendency towards poli- tics. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Tri-State Fraternal Insurance Order.
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.