Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 119

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

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The general's health was so impaired from his maimed condition and the continuing effects of his wounds that he was compelled to offer his resignation which was accepted Inne 11, 1864. Ilis army reeord was altogether admirable, and at the time of his resignation he received the distinction of special commen- dation from Maj .- Gen. Granville M. Dodge, commander of the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps.

Any account of General Bane's military career would be incomplete with no mention of the service of his devoted wife, who accompanied him in the army whenever regulations would permit. assisting him by her comprehension, her judgment, her fortitude.

After the Battle of Shiloh, this heroic woman, attended by an aid, rode on horseback in the night. through the carnage of the field, searching for the fallen body of her husband of whom she found no trace until three o'clock in the morn-

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ing. Her assiduous care was one of the main factors in preserving his life. The needs of her husband, great as they were, could not wholly absorb her generous sympathy and attention. Soldiers of whatever rank found in this wise, warm- hearted woman, a friend ever ready to cheer, to counsel, to console in the shift- ing events of eamp, or mareh. or hospital.

In 1865 General Bane attended the Law School of Harvard University. In 1866 he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue in Quiney, Illinois. In the practice of law in that city he was associated with a former Payson friend, Capt. Thomas W. Macfall, of the Third Illinois Cavalry, and who afterwards, for many years, was superintendent of the public schools of Quiney.

General and Mrs. Bane were a welcome addition to Quiney society and at onee interested themselves in church and community work.

The strain of army experience had so over-taxed the endurance of Mrs. Bane that her health slowly declined until in April. 1870, she left the many, loving friends whose lives were better for having known her presence.

The second wife of General Bane was Miss Harriet K. Parrish of Quiney, to whom he was married June 25, 1872. This lady, beautiful, brilliant and aecom- plished, became the mother of two interesting boys. The family cirele was broken all too soon by the untimely death of the fair young wife and mother in 1891.

In 1876 General Bane was appointed commissioner of lands in Utah, with headquarters at Salt Lake City. During the Harrison administration he was assigned a Government position in Washington, D. C., where he continued to reside until the drama of his helpful, brave and busy life was ended.

The mortal remains of this valiant soldier, whose strong right arm is buried on the battle ground of Shiloh, was laid in the National Cemetery at Arlington. "God give his manly spirit rest."

The immediate relatives to cherish and revere his memory were his two sons, Edgar Milton and Howard, an adopted son, Dr. Harry Hutton Bane, and his estimable widow, Mrs. Luey Bane, whose present home is in Falls Church, Virginia.

EDWARD J. BARTHI. While Mr. Barth is now quietly devoting his time to a small farm a mile east of Quiney on Thirty-sixth Street in Melrose Township, his early interests were with the meat and buteher business, and it is that busi- ness which has been longest associated with the Barth family in Adams County. Three generations of the name were butchers, and one of the first retail meat shops in Quincy was established by his grandfather.

His grandfather was Henry Barth, who came from Germany and was in Quincy as early as 1835. He died in 1876. at the age of seventy-six, and all his active life was spent in the butcher business. He was also a great reader and a student.

John Barth, father of Edward J., learned the business from his father. and was active in it until his death. He married Augusta Otto, a native of Quincy, and daughter of Tons Otto, who was a German wagonmaker on Eleventh Street between Broadway and Spring. During the Civil war Tons Otto made wagons for the Government. Augusta Barth is still living at the old home, 1114 Main Street, which has been the Barth residence since 1861, when the house was built, and she also lived in the house which previously stood there. Edward J. Barth, who was born in Quiney October 8, 1861, is the oldest of three chil- dren. His sister Matilda is unmarried and still lives at the old home. His sister Bertha married Will Ruff, and died several years ago.

Edward J. Barth learned the butcher trade from his father and later sold his interests in the home establishment. About 1889 he established a shop at Twelfth and State streets, and was in business there until 1908. He had his own slaughter house and he knew every phase of the industry. For the past eleven years he has lived on the farm.

In 1888 Mr. Barth married Miss Anna Hoffmeister, daughter of Henry and Dena Hoffmeister. Mrs. Barth was born in Quincy. Her father was a carpen- ter hy trade but the greater part of his life was spent on his farm. Mr. Barth is

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still interested in the family estate, much of which is ineome and rental property. He does general farming and is a specialist in poultry, having some of the finest specimens of the Barred, Partridge and White Roeks in this part of Illinois. His birds have carried off honors at many poultry exhibits. Mr. Barth is a republican, and has served as election judge in Melrose Township. He and his wife are Lutheran Evangelics.

They have a family of three children: Oren E. graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College in 1910, and since 1913 has been in the Government serviee and is now inspector of the veterinary department, with headquarters in the laboratory at St. Louis. Irma Emma is the wife of Roy Holford, of Quincy. Bertha married George Knobloek, a well known Adams County citizen.

Henry Hoffmeister, father of Mrs. Edward J. Barth, mentioned above, was for many years a prosperous and successful farmer of Adams County. His death occurred July 5, 1906.

HENRY BOCKHOLD. Of the familes that have been longest and most indus- triously identified with the agricultural welfare and enterprise of Melrose Township that represented by Henry Bockhold is especially noteworthy. Mr. Boekhold is one of the leading farmers of Melrose Township, his well im- proved farm and home being seven miles southeast of Quincy.

He was born near Antony's Church in this county December 22, 1860, son of Bernard and Catherine (Dieker) Boekhold. His father, a native of Ger- many, came to the United States at the age of twenty-two. In Germany he had become an expert in the manufacture of the wooden shoes which were the reg- ular article of footwear in the low countries of Germany. After coming to Adams County he manufactured many pairs of these shoes for his neighbors. His chief employment, however, was cutting wood in the distilleries at Quincy.

He married here at the age of twenty-eight. Catherine Dieker had come to Adams County with her brother, Herman H. Dieker, who afterward went to Missouri and died in that state in May, 1918. Before her marriage Catherine Dieker worked out. At the time of their marriage they bought a team and began farming where their son Henry was born. Bernard Bockhold ran a farm in partnership with his brother-in-law, Herman Dieker. About six years later he bought forty acres of timber land, going in debt for the entire purchase. There he built a small house, eleared up the land, and sold the wood in Quiney. White oak eordwood he sold for $8 and hickory at $10 a eord, after hanling it six miles to town. He made the trip every other day, hauling two loads, and his sale of wood was an important factor in paying the family expenses during those years. About 1875 Bernard Bockhold bought the present homestead owned by his son Henry. This comprised nine-one acres and is two and a half miles distant from the former residence of Bernard Bockhold. He went in debt about $5,000 when he bought it. It was the old Odo Bishop farm, at that time belonging to David Bishop. In 1884 Bernard Boekhold returned to his former homestead. His wife had died about ten years after their marriage, leaving four children. For his second wife he married Christina Vogeding. She died at the old homestead, and her husband then spent his last years among his chil- dren, passing away in 1895, at the age of seventy-five. He was a democrat and an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. By his first wife he had the following children: Henry; Herman, who left Adams County when a young man and died in Marion County, Missouri, at the age of fifty-two; Bernard. a farmer in British Columbia : Frank, who died in boyhood. By his second wife he had five children : Joseph E., of Melrose Township; Anton, who lives in the State of Washington; John. connected with the Gardner Governor Works at Quincy ; George, who lives in the West ; and Mary, Mrs. Oliver Means, of Quincy.

On these various farms mentioned Henry Bockhold spent his youth, attended the local schools, and was well prepared by experience and training for the work of farming, which he has followed for over thirty-five years.

November 18, 1884, he married Rosina M. Blaesing. Mrs. Bockhold was born

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in Quincy, daughter of Bernhard Blaesing, who was born in Germany February 14, 1828, and came to this eountry with his parents in 1845. In 1854 Bernhard Blacsing married Mary G. Kroner, who was born in Germany in 1837. Bern- hard Blaesing had an intensive farm and garden and fruit orchard just outside Quincy. He died there at the age of sixty-three in 1891 and his widow three years later. Mrs. Bockhold was born November 27, 1857.

At the time of his marriage Henry Bockhold took the farm of his father, renting it until 1896. He then bought the ninety-one acre homestead for $7,000, and has since made many improvements, including the erection of a barn in 1897 and the substantial home in which he and his family reside in 1907. Since then he has added still more lands, seventy-two acres, and has it all well im- proved and under a high degree of cultivation. One source of revenue to the Boekhold family has been butter making.

The beginning of this home industry was with one cow, but for a number of years he has kept from eight to ten good milk producers, converting the cream into butter at his home. The quality of the butter is well known and appre- eiated by some of the best families of Quincy who are among his patrons, and to whom he delivers onee a week. Mr. Bockhold went in debt for his land, but his progressiveness and energy enabled him to pay for it in a few years, and he has inereased its value a great deal by his investments and improvements. He is a democrat in polities but has always refused any tenders of office. His wife and children are members of St. Anthony's Catholic Church.

A brief record of his children is as follows: Rosina. Mrs. Oscar Schecke, of Melrose township : William H., who farms in Melrose Township and married Cresa Benz; Frank S. and Frances, twins, the former marrying Laura Hoover and the latter the wife of George Benz; Clara, Mrs. Anselm Blickhan of Elling- ton Township; Rome B., who was with the United States Army in the automo- bile department at. Camp Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, and died there Jannary 7, 1919; and Alfred, at home.

MRS. GEORGE CARSON, a well known resident of Quincy, with home at 1640 Hampshire street, came to Quincy some years ago from Monroe, Missouri, where she and her husband lived for many years.

Her husband, the late George Carson, was a man of prominence in the to- bacco industry in Missouri for a number of years. Hle was born at St. Louis July 10, 1840, and died at Monroe, Missouri, October 24, 1906. At one time he was superintendent of a large tobacco warehouse at St. Louis. In the paternal line he was descended from a fine old Presbyterian Irish family, with connec- tions at one time with the Irish nobility. Through his mother he represented people who came from Alsace, probably of French stock. His father William Carson was the oldest of a large family and was born in Maryland. He grew up with an unele who brought him to Missouri, and he lived in Fayette, Missouri, until his marriage to a lady of Virginia stock. William Carson after his mar- riage located in St. Louis, and at one time was manager of a large tobacco ware- house there. He also owned several Mississippi steamboats. One of them was Alonzo Childs, captured at New Orleans during the Civil war, and brought him heavy financial loss. He spent his last years in St. Louis.

The late George Carson, the only child of his parents, was reared amid wealthy and aristocratie surroundings, and was a born aristocrat. He was a very hand- some man, possessed a very happy disposition, and made and kept a host of friends. After the Civil war he entered business at Monroe, Missouri, and be- came a well known figure in the commercial life of that city and state.

October 10, 1867, at Palmyra, Missouri, he married Miss Martha B. Sutur. Mrs. Carson was born at Palmyra in 1845, and was well edueated, attending the Baptist College at Palmyra. Her parents were Verdner and Matilda (Basket) Sutur, both natives of Kentucky, where they married. Her father and mother moved to Sangamon County, Illinois, and prior to the Civil war settled at Palmyra, Missouri. Her father was a farmer and stock man in Marion County

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and subsequently at Palmyra organized the Marion County Savings Bank. 1879 he was elected president of this institution and continued its directing head until his death. He was born June 2, 1806, and died January 21, 1894. Mrs. Carson's mother was born February 27, 1814, and died August 28, 1905. ller parents were both active members of the Baptist Church.

Mrs. Carson is the mother of three children: Ada is the widow of Henry Eckle, and her son Carson Eckle is now in the army military establishment at Kansas City; Mary Carson lives at home with her mother and gives her most devoted attention to her; the only son, W. Verdner, is unmarried and is a eom- mereial salesman with headquarters in New York City.

FRED KIEM represents the third generation of an industrious and progressive family that has been identified with Adams County from pioneer days. The earlier generations were chiefly farmers, stalwart men who helped to clear up and develop the wilderness. Fred Kiem for a number of years has been in the grocery business, and was formerly associated with his brothers under the firm name of Kiem Brothers. He is now sole proprietor of the well known establish- ment at 439 South Eighteenth Street, which was originally established in 1903 as Kiem Brothers. The store is in faet even older, having been established in the early '90s by W. H. Herlymann. Fred Kiem has done much on his individual account to extend his trade and popularize his methods and service with his patrons. He carried a big stoek, is a very able buyer, and keeps his goods con- stantly moving.

He was born in Melrose Township in 1876 and grew up on his father's farm there with an education supplied by the country schools. When he first came to Quiney he went to work in the Aeme Mills, and was employed in the milling de- partment for ten years. From that he entered the grocery business under the name of Kiem Brothers. The original firm of Kiem Brothers consisted of l'red Kiem, William J. Kiem and Arthur E. Kiem. William J. is now in business for himself at 121 North Fifth Street, while Arthur has a store at the corner of Sixth and Elm Streets.

The Kiem family was established in Adams County by Valentine Kiem, grand- father of the Kiem Brothers. Valentine was born in Germany March 6, 1828, was educated in the schools of his native country and in 1847 eame to America and soon afterwards settled in Melrose Township of Adams County. There on February 23, 1851, he married Miss Mary Ulrich, who was born October 6, 1833, in the same locality as her husband. They were thrifty and hard working people, and in section 9 of Melrose Township accumulated and improved a fine farm of a quarter of a seetion. Valentine Kiem was a demoerat in polities, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and he and his wife had five children. He died at the age of fifty-seven and his widow passed away at eighty-four.

Mr. Fred Kiem is a son of Christian and Ella (Pape) Kiem. Ilis mother is a sister of William II. Pape of a well known Adams County family. Christian Kiem and his wife were both born in Adams County. The latter died at the old home in Melrose Township in 1888 when only about thirty-three years of age. Christian Kiem is now living retired at Quiney at the age of sixty-seven. He has two brothers still living. William G. and Valentine J., both married and living in Adams County, and a sister Mary, wife of Lambert Fredericks of Adams County.

Fred Kiem married in Quiney in 1908 Miss Edith Petrie. She was born in Adams County in 1890 and was edueated in the city schools. Her parents were William H. and Elizabeth J. (Pfanschmidt) Petrie, both natives of Germany. They were farming people in Adams Connty and spent their lives here, where they died at the age of seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Kiem have one daughter Marian Elizabeth, born Angust 25, 1916.

JOSEPH H. BECKMAN, WILLIAM BECKMAN, JOHN SCHNELL. Some of the most valuable tracts of farm land in Fall Creek Township represent the labors and

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enterprise of the Beckman and Schnell families. The purpose of this record is to trace briefly the individual names of these families, and indicate the labors and influences which emanated from them as Adams County citizens.

The late Joseph H. Beckman was born in Westphalia, Germany, November 12, 1835, and died at his home in Adams County June 19, 1895, at the age of sixty years. He came to the United States when sixteen years of age. The head of the family at that time was his widowed mother. His two sisters Minnie and Hannah also accompanied him and another brother William. Henry Beekman, an older brother, had arrived in Adams County the previous year, and spent most of his life near Tioga in Hancock County. William Beckman took up the trade of cooper, later was a farmer in Fall Creek Township, served with credit in the Civil war, and died in the Soldiers' Home at Quincey.

Joseph H. Beekman was one of the many German immigrants who responded to the call for troops to put down the rebellion. He served three years three months with the Third Illinois Cavalry. He was first in the three months' serv- ice under General Wood, and then re-enlisted for three years. He was slightly wounded once by a piece of shell.

On November 30, 1864, after getting his honorable discharge from the army, Joseph H. Beckman married Minnie Stieghorst. She was eight years of age when she came from her birthplace near Bielfeldt, Germany, with her parents, Bernard and Minnie (Niebauer) Stieghorst. Her father was a linen weaver and the Stieghorst family lived at Quincy for many years. Minnie Stieghorst was eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage.

In the meantime Joseph Stieghorst had acquired a span of mules and that was his chief capital when he started life for himself. Prior to the war he had worked for Mr. Scranton near Mendon. He used is team of mules to haul lumber five or six years, and then for nine years lived on the Tibbetts farm in Fall Creek Township. After that he bought the present Beckman farm in that township, which was formerly owned by the Rude family. This contained about 100 aeres, and on that land Joseph H. Beekman labored and toiled for the last thirty-five years of his life, making all the substantial improvements and adding much of value to the productiveness and comfort of the home. His death was the result of an accident. IIe had been in Quincy on business, and on leaving the city in the midst of a terrifie storm his team ran off the Eighth Street hill over the hank, upsetting the vehicle, and he was so severely injured that he died three days later at the home of a neighbor to which he had been taken. Joseph II. Beekman was a very strong republican in politics and he and his wife were very active members of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Quiney. The Beekman farm at present has a very valuable orchard and that was set out by Mrs. Beck- man three years after her husband's death. Joseph H. Beckman and wife had four sons and two daughters : William ; Emma, wife of John Carr of Fall Creek Township ; Amelia, Mrs. Ed Hatcher of Melrose Township; Joseph H., still at the old home; Edward, at home; and Walter, who helps his mother operate the old homestead.

William Beekman, whose home is in Melrose Township eight miles southeast of Quincy, was born at Quincy February 5, 1866, son of Joseph and Minnie (Stieghorst) Beckman. He grew up on the farm, was educated in the local schools, and lived at home with his parents until his marriage on April 11, 1894, to Miss Elizabeth Schnell, daughter of John and Magdalena (Struck) Schnell.

John and Henry Schnell, brothers, came with their parents from Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and located on the farm in Melrose Township now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. William Beckman. The farm was all timber, but the labors of the Schnell family converted it into productive fields. The Schnells lived in a log house for several years. The substantial brick house on the farm at present was erected in 1878. Elizabeth Schnell was about twelve years of age when her mother died. Henry and John Schnell divided the old homestead of 160 acres between them, and John started a new set of buildings while Henry received the older improvements. Henry Schnell married Miss

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Sabina Williams, and they finally retired to Quincy where he died about 1914. His widow is still living at Quincy with two daughters, Elizabeth aud Lizetta.

Mr. William Beckman had bought the Schnell farm in 1907 and for several years prior to that had operated another Schnell place near Marblehead.

Magdalena Struck, wife of John Schnell, was a native of Germany and came with her parents Osmus Struck and wife to Warsaw, Illinois. Osmns Struck died there, and his widow spent her last years in Liberty Township. John Schnell's son August now owns and oeenpies the Schnell property near Marble- lead, consisting of about 170 aeres. John Schnell died September 5, 1911. His family consisted of two daughters and one son : Elizabeth; Anna, wife of Henry Keasel of Fall Creek Township; and August, who married Mollie Drawe, and lias two children Virginia and Robert.

Mr. and Mrs. William Beckman have six children : Elmer, Adele, Anna, Mer- cedes, Frieda and Wilmer. All are at home except Elmer, who is now in the United States army with a Machine Gun Company at Camp Sheridan, Alabama. Mr. William Beckman is a republican, and he and his wife attend worship in the Congregational Church.

ANTON WIEBMER. A highly respected resident of Quincy, noteworthy for his intelligence and integrity. Anton Wiebmer has for many years been actively identified with the industrial interests of the city, and as an expert machinist has built up an extensive and flourishing business. A native of Germany, he was born December 15, 1863.

Wilheim Wiebmer, his father, was born, lived and died in Germany. He married Theresa Beck, who, in April, 1888, eame with her family to the United States, locating in Quincy. She was the mother of six children, as follows: Anton, the special subject of this sketeh ; Henry, of St. Paul, Minnesota ; Frieda, wife of Rudolph Wich, of Quincy; Pauline, deceased; Matilda, wife of Robert Goldman, of Fort Wayne, Indiana ; and Mrs. Elsa Edwards, of Toledo, Ohio.

Brought up and educated in Germany, Anton Wiebmer served an appren- tieeship at the machinist's trade when young, and after coming to Quincy with his widowed mother worked as a journeyman machinist until 1897. Starting then in business for himself, he has since made a specialty of machine repairing of all kinds, his shop, at No. 301 South Seventh Street, being one of the busiest places to be found in Quincy.

Mr. Wiebmer married, October 22, 1887, Matilda Klenk. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wiebmer, namely : Matilda, wife of C. A. Ryniker, of Quincy ; Anton, Jr., a machinist, is in business with his father, having charge of the shops ; Frederick, with his father; and Frieda, wife of H. G. Krietemeyer, of Quiney. In his political affiliations, Mr. Wiebmer is a republican. Frater- nally he and both of his sons are members of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons. His son-in-law, Mr. Krietemeyer, is also a Mason, and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.

E. B. POTTER is president of Potter-Vaughn Company, a business with an interesting history and recognized as the largest house furnishing goods supply store on the installment plan in this section of Illinois. The business was estab- lished here under the firm name of Potter & Vaughn in 1890. When the Potter family came to Quincy in that year all the capital they could muster was $280. E. B. Potter used this money to rent a small room on North Fifth Street and there made the beginning of a house furnishing store. IIe states that his stoek of rugs, lace eurtains and other wares might have been hauled in a large wheel barrow. It was a most modest beginning and it required courage and faith, work and sacrifice on his part to keep it going and growing, but he exhibited all these qualities, and is now head of a business of which any merchant might be proud.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 119

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