Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 120

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 present firm has its home at 222-224 North Fifth Street, and the busi- ness has been incorporated since 1905. Mr. Potter is president and treasurer, Vol. II-47

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John J. Fisher is vice president, and C. G. Edgar is secretary. The original partner, Mr. Vaughn, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, came to Quiney and was associated with Mr. Potter in the business for one year, when the firm dis- solved partnership, but the name Vaughn has ever since been carried in the business title.

At the present time the company has in addition to its store extensive ware- houses, with a capacity for holding many carloads of goods. The goods are all classified and arranged so as to expedite the handling and prompt shipment and delivery. Besides the Quiney business the company operates a similar store at Louisiana, Missouri, and also a store at Brookfield, Illinois. At Quincy four- teen people are employed in the different departments of the business, and the company also has a traveling salesman covering territory 100 miles around Quiney and reaching into Western Missouri. The substantial character of the business is further testified to by the fact that some of the employes have been with the firm for periods ranging from ten to twenty years. Mr. Potter is also owner of much improved real estate on North Fifth and Vermont streets, and has a large sales stable used by buyers who purchase horses and mules for Gov- ernment purposes.

Mr. Potter was born in Basco, Hancock County, Illinois, December 6, 1869, and grew up on a farm. He also spent eleven years in Kansas during the period of hard times when drought and grasshoppers afflicted the settlers and during those eleven years the family succeeded in raising only two real erops. From Kansas the Potters returned to Basco, Illinois, and it was from that locality that Mr. Potter came to Quiney.

His father Robert J. Potter was a son of R. John Potter who lived and died on a farm in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Robert J. Potter was born in Westmoreland County in 1843, grew up there as a farm boy and during the Civil war served three years eleven months in the One Hundred and Forty-Second Pennsylvania Infantry. He was in many hard fought battles, and at Gettys- burg the drum of one ear was burst and he lost his hearing in that organ the rest of his life. He had many narrow escapes from danger and spent his last years in the Soldiers' Home at Quiney, where he died in 1910. Robert J. Potter married in Hancock County, Illinois, Benna E. Rohrbaugh, who was born in that county seventy-three years ago and is now living in California, still retain- ing her vigor of mind and body. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church as was her husband, and he was a strong republican.

At Quiney in 1902 Mr. E. B. Potter married Miss L. Edith Bunting. Mrs. Potter was born in the house where she now resides at the corner of Twelfth and Kentucky streets and has spent all her life in this eity. She is a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Tilton) Bunting. Her father was born in New Jersey and was directly descended from Jarvis Bunting, a prominent Quaker colonist, and she is also related to the William Penn lineage. The Buntings have an interesting history of many generations in England and America, and at one time the family had its coat of arms. Mrs. Potter's mother was a native of Ken- tueky, and her parents married at Quiney, where her father died at the age of sixty-eight and her mother at sixty. She was active in the Methodist Church while Mr. Bunting was a Quaker and a republican. The old Bunting home was constructed just after the Civil war and was the first residence in that part of the city, which was then known as a cow pasture. The house adjoins the old Historical Society Home. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have one daughter, Winifred May, fifteen years of age and a student in high school. Mr. and Mrs. Potter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is affiliated with the local lodge of Masons.

FRED FRIKE. Someone has described success in the following words: "IIe has achieved sueeess who has lived well; laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respeet of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niehe and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he

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found it ; who has never laeked appreciation of earth's duty or failed to express it; has always looked for the best in others and gave the best he had; whose life was an inspiration, whose memory is a benediction."

A great many people in Adams Connty eame to know and appreciate these qualities in the late Fred Frike. He did much to make his name respected in business eireles, but even more to earn the love and admiration of the people around him. Mr. Frike was born at Barry in Pike County, Illinois, Deeember 21, 1856, son of Fred G. and Anna (Bradshaw) Frike. His father was born, reared and edneated in Germany, and just before becoming subjeet to military duty left for the United States, accompanied by his parents and a sister and joined his brother Christ, a cooper by trade, at Barry, Illinois, who spent his last years there and died at the age of sixty. Christ's children were: Eva- line, wife of William Grubb, who lives at Barry and has a family of children; and Mrs. Dora Melntyre, widow of John McIntyre, also living at Barry, and of her two sons Harry Frike MeIntyre is married and has children, while J. Christ died at the age of twenty-one. Fred G. Frike after reaching Barry spent several years in the cooper's occupation. He married there Miss Anna Brad- shaw, and thirteen or fourteen years later moved to Beverly in Adams County, loeating on a farm. Four years later he transferred his residenee to Fowler, where he continued in business until his death. His wife was a Baptist, and both were highly respected people.

Fred Frike grew up in the different places above mentioned and lived with his parents to the age of sixteen. He finished his education at Fowler, and later paid his own way through the Gem City Business College. At Coatsburg Mr. Frike entered the dry goods business, and from the day he started was well on the way to success. He sold goods there to an enlarging cirele of friends and patrons for over thirty years. He finally retired in 1914 and moved to Quiney, where he bought the fine brick home known as the Judge Marsh Estate at 818 North Fifth Street. He lived there until his death two years later. Mr. Frike was a democrat.

His outstanding characteristic was his generosity. This was shown in behalf of the poor and needy, and also in many ways and forms of helpfulness to his friends and family. He was a most devoted husband and father, and his essen- tial nobility expressed itself in thousands of acts of kindness.

Mr. Frike married at St. Louis in 1911, after a romantie courtship of a few days, Miss Emily J. Crane. Mrs. Frike, who still resides at the old home, 818 North Fifth Street, was born at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1869. She is in the seventh generation of the Crane family in America. The Cranes eame ont of England and were pioneers in New England and the State of Conneetieut (Weatherfield). Her grandfather, Elihu Crane, and two brothers were among the first settlers in Northwestern Pennsylvania in Erie County. Elihu Crane settled there about 1798 and in 1800 he and his brother Fowler laid out the town- site of Cranesville, where they had a tavern, store and some other loeal industries. James E. Crane, father of Mrs. Frike, was born in Erie County ninety years ago, and beeame prominent in business affairs in Western Pennsylvania as a lumber manufacturer. In 1876 he transferred his enterprise to Western Kansas, buying a large traet of several hundred aeres at Kinsley on the old Santa Fe trail. He oeenpied it during the two years of almost continuons drought, when not a drop of rain fell for twenty-two months, and also endured the devastating grasshopper plagne. His was one of the very few families in that eounty which did not have to resort to some sort of publie or state aid during that ealamitons period. From Kansas James E. Crane moved to Siloam Springs in Northwestern Arkansas, and there his wife died in 1890. at the age of fifty-five. Mrs. Frike was one of ten children. James E. Crane married a second wife, and resided at Siloam Springs, Arkansas, where he died January 26, 1919, at the age of ninety years, twelve days.

Mrs. Frike at the age of twenty-nine graduated from the St. Luke's Training School for Nurses, elass of 1897, in St. Louis, Missouri, and for some years before

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her marriage was active as a nurse in St. Luke's Hospital under Surgeon Mudd. Her skill was called into service to handle cases for many of the best known people in the Middle West.

Mr. and Mrs. Frike had two children: Emily Ann, who was born in the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium at St. Louis November 14, 1912, and Helen Julia, born at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis July 20, 1914.

The late Fred Frike was a man of exceptional energy and of varied talents. In business he was quiek, ready in decision and prompt in action, and was well known all over the southeastern part of Adams County in a business way. He was very congenial with his friends, and it was only in his acts of generosity and helpfulness that he sought to cover up his actions, and that not through any lack of frankness but through the true spirit of charity. He was a man of strong likes and dislikes, was very temperate in his habits, and was devoted to his home, loving his wife and family as few men did. He died very suddenly and unex- peetedly. He was in the Burlington Railway Station with his arms loaded with bundles and presents for his wife and babies when he dropped dead at Coatsburg, Illinois.

One of his ehief characteristies was a love for old things, especially those of artistie value and with some individual associations. The first toy cannon given him when he was five years of age and when the Civil war was in progress he kept to the end of his life. He also had many other similar trinkets, including a pocket mirror, a baseball he had made when a boy, and several articles of old furniture. He also carefully planned and preserved the hides of some favorite animals he had owned, and used them as rugs or mats. Mrs. Frike has very similar tastes and sympathies, and their marriage was one based on extreme con- geniality as well as complete affection and confidence. Mrs. Frike has a number of heirlooms handed down through her old American and New England family. These inelude a pair of old candle snuffers which go baek to colonial days. She and her husband had also gathered many articles of interest in their travels, and these she earefully preserves. Mrs. Frike has one of the most interesting homes in Quincey. .

DAVID N. MARKILLIE is one of the older business men and publie spirited citizens of Quincy, and for over ten years has served as superintendent of publie works in the eity government. He was first appointed to that office in 1906 under Mayor John H. Best, and in 1917 Mayor Thompson reappointed him. His work has given satisfaction to the citizens of Quiney interested in an effi- eient administration of the local utilities and his term of service has been ehar- aeterized by many progressive ideas. Mr. Markillie introdneed the first street sweeper into Quiney, and also the first macadam streets were built under his direction. He had considerable difficulty in convincing a considerable number of citizens of the wisdom of this program, but most of those who were at one time opposed are now strongly in favor of his ideas and praetiees.

Mr. Markillie has been a resident of Quincy for eighteen years. Before en- tering upon his public duties he was in the feed business at 416-420 North Fifth Street. He has always been active in local affairs and loeal politics.

Mr. Markillie was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1853. He grew up there, and was one of the first students in Whipley Academy at Jacksonville. In 1889 he moved to Hancock County, Illinois, and was a farmer in that locality until he removed to Quiney in 1901. Mr. Markillie's grandfather was a native of England and on coming to the United States located in Kentucky, where he married a German girl. Their son Abraham was born in Kentucky in 1827, and three years later the family moved to Seott County, near the line of Morgan County, Illinois. Here the Markillies cleared up a good farm.

Abraham Markillie grew up in Seott County, followed the life of a farmer, and in Morgan County married Margaret Funk, member of the old and prom- inent Funk family of Illinois. She was born in Morgan County, in Lynnville, where her parents, Nimrod and Eva Funk, were pioneer settlers and early farm-

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ers. Abraham Markillie and wife after their marriage lived on the Markillic homestead in Scott County, but finally retired and spent their last years in Win- chester. Abraham Markillie died on his seventy-first birthday and his wife passed away a few months after she was seventy-one years of age. They were members of the Christian Church and he was a republican. During his youth he enjoyed the acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln, while his older brother, Thomas Markillie, was a particularly good friend of that Illinois statesman and they sometimes hunted together. David N. Markillie has one living sister. Ada, widow of Henry Langford of Winchester.

In Morgan County Mr. Markillic married Sarah J. Angelo. She was a native of that county and grew up in the same neighborhood with Mr. Markillie. She finished her education at Jacksonville. Mr. and Mrs. Markillie had six children. The daughter Maud is now deceased. Alpha lives in Carthage, Illinois, and is married and has a son, Ellis, and a daughter, Catherine. Edgar B. is married and lives in California. Dennis, a resident of Basco, Illinois, has a son, Abraham, and a daughter, Martha. Guy T. is a merchant at Quincy, and by his first marriage has a son, Clyde, and by his present wife a danghter, Mar- jorie May. Earl A. is in business at. Detroit, Michigan, and is married but has no children.

JOHN C. ORDING. A man of liberal views, energetic and enterprising, John C. Ording, of Quincy, has long been identified with the industrial and commer- cial interests of the city, at the present time being secretary, treasurer and office manager for the firm of J. H. Dnker & Brother Company. A son of Henry Ording, he was born in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, October 24, 1865.

A native of Hanover, Germany, Henry Ording immigrated to America in 1856, and immediately took up his residence in Quincy, Illinois. Learning the trade of a cabinet maker, he followed it for about twenty years, and then em- barked in the grocery business. Being clected sheriff of Adams County in 1878, he served acceptably for two years, after which he was for two years prosperously engaged in the feed business. In 1882 he was appointed chief of police, and served the city in that capacity for six years, performing the duties devolving upon him faithfully and efficiently. He subsequently lived retired from the activities of business until his death, February 25, 1912. His wife, whose maiden name was Caroline Glass, was born and educated in Quincy, where she is still a resident. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Henry, of Quincy ; Mary, widow of H. Tossick; John C., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned; Charles J., of Chicago; Carrie, wife of Lyle Beers, of Chicago; .Joseph B .. deceased ; Antoinette, a Sister in the Notre Dame Order in Saint Louis; August B., of Quincy ; Angust C., and a daughter, Clara, who both died in infancy.

Laying a good foundation for his future education when a boy, John C. Ording entered his father's office in the Court Building when fifteen years of age, and while there employed gained experience and knowledge of value. De- sirons, however, of continning his studies, he subsequently attended Saint Boniface and Saint Francis colleges, and the Gem City Business College. Thus fitted for a business career, Mr. Ording was for three years clerk in a steam- boat office. For seven years thereafter he was clerk for George Fischer, who was engaged in the hardware business. Retiring from that. Mr. Ording be- came associated with the George II. Stahl Incubator Works as bookkeeper and German correspondent, a position of importance which he filled for thirteen years. In 1904 he accepted his present position as secretary, treasurer and office manager for the J. H. Duker & Brother Company, which was incorporated in that year, and has since been officially identified with the wholesale liquor trade of the city.

Mr. Ording married, October 25, 1895, Anna M. Duker, a daughter of John HI. and Clara Elizabeth (Glass) Duker. Of their union three children have

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been born. namely: Sylvia M., Adelia M., and Elvira M. Politically Mr. Ording invariably casts his ballot in favor of the democratic party. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Ording are members of the Saint Boniface Catholic Church.

ALBERT BERNARD JANSEN is a progressive and enterprising Quincy mer- chant, and the work and achievement of the few years he has spent in busi- ness are a definite promise as to large and continued success in the future.

Mr. Jansen represents an honored old family name of Quiney and was born in this city December 28, 1890, son of Frederick and Mary (Meiner). Jansen. His father was a native of Hanover, Germany, and his mother of Quincy. Frederick Jansen came to America as a young man, having learned the trade of carriage maker in the old country. At Quincy he went into part- nership with Mr. Triplet in a wagon shop on Tenth and Maine streets, and this business he continued practically until his death, which occurred on August 7, 1904. The mother is still living in Quiney. In the family are eight children : Fred, of Quincy; Henry J., Rudolph, Albert and Otto, all deceased; Angelina, wife of George Welton, of Quincy; Albert B .; and Gus- tave, who is associated in business with his brother Albert.

Albert B. Jansen secured his education in Quiney at the parochial schools. When only fourteen years of age he went to work in a drug store, and two years later began helping his brother Henry J. in a butcher shop and gro- cery store. At the death of his brother he took over the business and has car- ried it forward with increasing results and prosperity, having one of the best patronized establishments on Eighth Street. He is a member of St. John Catholic Church, is a democrat in politics, and is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and other local societies. He was married on November 11, 1914.

HENRY H. HEIDBREDER. Conspicnous among the homes of Ellington Town- ship is that of Ilenry H. Hleidbreder, who owns one farm of 120 aeres in sec- tion 16 and another of forty aeres in section 20. Both are well improved. The homestead has a fine set of farm buildings, all of them ereeted by Mr. Heidbreder. The barn is 24 by 42 feet, and he has a good eight-room house. The other farm has a barn 40 by 42 feet and a nine-room house. The farm is productive of fine crops and also good live stock. Mr. Heidbreder is man- ager of the imported Percheron stallion Piston, and a fine Missouri bred jack called William H. Mr. Heidbreder has been a resident of Ellington Town- ship since early childhood. He was born in Quincy February 12, 1868, and six weeks later his parents moved to Ellington Township and he grew up on the farm which he now owns. His father, John P. Heidbreder, was born in Hanover of Lutheran ancestry. About 1850 the family came to the United States, crossing the ocean by sailing vessel, and from New Orleans journey- ing up the Mississippi River to Quincy. John Heidbreder's parents died a vear or two after settling in Adams County, and two of their children also died about the same time. The other five sons all grew up and married and died in Adams County except one son, William, who passed away in Mis- souri. All these sons left children. Their names were Henry, William, John P., Hermau and Captain Casper. The last served through the Civil war and was captain of his company.

John P. Heidbreder was quite young when his parents died, and he grew up among strangers in Adams County. He learned the trade of cooper and was thus employed during the early years of the Civil war. He was deeply interested in the success of the Union cause, and when his brother raised Company H at Quincy in 1864 John enlisted in the company and served until the elose of the war. AAfter the war he followed the cooper's trade three years and then bought his homestead in section 16 of Ellington Township. He lived on it and prospered there for twenty-five years, when he retired to Quincy and died in that city in 1902, at the age of sixty-five. He held a number of

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local positions and trusts and was a well known man both in Ellington Town- ship and Quiney. John P. Heidbreder married Frederica Stockhecker. She was born in Germany about 1845 and came to the United States with her mother. Her mother lived to be nearly 100 years old. Frederica Stockhecker was a good wife and mother for over thirty years and died in Quiney in 1898. She and her husband were both members of St. James Lutheran Church.

Henry HI. Heidbreder was the third of eight children, all still living and all married but one. Mr. Heidbreder married in Ellington Township Sophia Beekman. She was born in Adams County, was educated in the Franklin School and was employed in Quiney up to the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Heidbreder's oldest child, Harvey, born January 25, 1894, was educated in the home township and is now occupying one of his father's farms. He married in Quincy Miss Ada Althiede, who was born and reared in Quincy. Harvey Heidbreder and wife have one son, Virgil H., born October 7, 1916. Otis J. Heidbreder, the second son, was born August 31, 1896. He attended the Central Rural School and in September, 1918, enlisted in Company B of the First B. N. Infantry, being trained at Camp Grant, but now at Waco,

Texas. Ruth, born April 28, 1898, is a graduate of the grammar schools, and is one of the youthful widows made so on account of the war. Her hus- band, James E. Durst, who was a limited service soldier, died at Camp Grant October 3, 1918, at the age of twenty-fonr.

The Heidbreder family are all members of the Lutheran Memorial Church. Mr. Heidbreder is township collecter and has served as assessor and in other local offices.

CHARLES W. JOHNSON is senior partner of the firm of Johnson & Plank, who have some unusual distinctions among the automobile men of Qniney. For a number of years they have handled some of the leading makes of automobiles and tractors and trucks. It is to their credit that they established the first garage in the City of Quincy. That was fourteen years ago, when auomobiles as passenger cars were first coming into use and when the word garage was on few people's tongues. From time to time they have handled the different makes of the best cars on the market, and have occupied several locations as garages. In 1917 they came to their present home on Jersey Street near Herald Square and Masonie Building, and here have a splendidly equipped garage 50 by 150 feet. They specialize in the Studebaker passenger cars, and also are local agents for the well known Baring tractor, and also represent the Scripps-Booth small car and the Sandow and G. M. C. trucks.

Mr. Johnson was born in Quincy July 14, 1888. He was reared and educated here, attending the public schools, and early went ont to make his own way in the world. He was a small boy when his father White Johnson died. His widowed mother is still living at Quiney. Mr. Johnson has three sisters. Cath- erine, who was born in Missouri, came to Quiney with her parents and was well educated. When a young girl, she took up clerical work, was employed for a time by the Weems Laundry in Quincy, later by the Sterns Clothing Company, and for the past three years has been in the office of her brother in the firm of John- son & Plank. Laura is the wife of A. H. Weaver, who is associated with his father in the Weaver Machine Shops of Quincy. Miss Elizabeth A. is a stenographer with the Reliable Poultry Journal of Quiney. These sisters are all members of the Christian Church.

Mr. Johnson married at Clayton, Illinois, Angusta Jefferson, daughter of T. E. and Elizabeth (Hursong) Jefferson. Her father is one of the most widely known farmers and stock raisers in this part of Illinois. He is a feeder of cattle, raises some high grade Belgian horses and conducts a flourishing business under the name T. E. Jefferson & Son. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have no children. He is senior warden of Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Quiney and his wife is active in the musical affairs of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 120

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