Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 16

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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Robert Montgomery, Sr., father of the Quiney business man, was born at Philadelphia June 17, 1808, and died in that city of pneumonia Deeember 29, 1846. For a number of years he was a teller in the Mechanics Bank of Philadelphia, and later an exchange broker. In 1830 he married at Philadel- phia Miss Sarah Pieree. She was born near that eity in May, 1807, of English ancestry, a granddaughter of Samuel Pierce, Sr., and daughter of Samuel Pieree, Jr. Her father was a native of New Jersey and a prominent farmer and owner of a splendid property in that state. Mrs. Sarah Montgomery in 1867 came west to join her son at Quiney and died there in 1879. Her husband was a Presbyterian, while she was a member of the Episcopal Church.

Robert Montgomery was the oldest of his father's family. His only living sister is Mrs. Rebecca Wood, who has been a resident of Quincy since 1863, and is the mother of Howard and Ernest Wood, both well known Quincy men.

The early life of Robert Montgomery was spent in Philadelphia, where he completed the course of the public schools. For about five years he worked in a general merchandise store in New Jersey. In February, 1852, he came west and located at St. Louis, and six years later moved to Palmyra, Missouri, where for a year or two he was clerk in a drug house. He then located in business at Selbina, Missouri, and in 1862 by appointment from President Lineoln became postmaster of that Missouri eity.

It was January 1, 1865, that Mr. Montgomery began his residence at Quiney. With Mr. Ferdinand Flack he engaged in the drug business. About that time he sold his Missouri property for $9,000 and soon afterward bought the interest of his partner in Quiney. He had other associates, including Charles Kies. In 1873 he sold his interests in the firm to Aldo Summers, and in September of the same year bought an interest and became a partner with Hiram Rogers. Mr. Rogers died soon afterward and his interests were acquired by Mr. Mont- gomery December 20, 1881. In 1892 Mr. Montgomery returned to New Jersey, and became administrator for his unele's extensive property there, devoting a part of his attention to it until 1902. Some years ago his son James was appointed postmaster of Quincy under Cleveland and Mr. Montgomery filled the office of chief of the money order department six years. Since then he has lived retired at his home at 2303 Maine Street.

At St. Louis Mr. Montgomery married Elizabeth Wiehert, a native of Ohio, but reared in St. Louis. IIer father. Dr. James Wichert, was a prominent physician of that city. Mrs. Montgomery died at her country home Thanks- giving Day, 1904, after they had been happily married for forty years. She was the mother of four children: Robert Montgomery, Jr., who died in 1901, left four sons and one daughter. Three of these sons are now in the service of their country, one being an ensign at Annapolis, another a yeoman at the Great Lakes training station, and still another a sergeant quartermaster at San An- tonio, Texas. James Montgomery, the second son, who died in March, 1916, married Miss Emma Cox, who is living in St. Louis, and of her family two sons. Frank and James, are soldiers. Thus Mr. Montgomery has six grand- children representing the family in the present great war. The only living son of Mr. Montgomery is Dr. Edmund B. Montgomery, who graduated in 1879 from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and for many years has successfully practiced medicine at Quiney. Doctor Montgomery married Emma

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Cox, and their son Hosmer is now in the medical corps in France. Doctor Mont- gomery and wife also have three daughters: Amelia, Ella and Elizabeth.

Robert Montgomery for his present wife married Mrs. Catherine (Murray) Rogers, widow of William T. Rogers. She was born in Salem, Ohio, and was educated there. Her father, Capt. Gilbert Murray, was an offieer in an Ohio regiment in the Civil war and was killed in battle. By her first marriage Mrs. Montgomery had six children. Mr. Montgomery is a Unitarian and for sixteen years served as treasurer of his church. His wife is a Baptist. In polities he is an independent democrat.

SAMUEL TALLCOTT. One of the oldest and best known families of Honey Creek Township are the Talleotts, whose homes and worthy activities have been centered there since pioneer days. The permanance and stability of the family is interestingly reflected in the fact that the house which now furnishes the home to Samuel Tallcott and family is the same one in which he was born May 1, 1857. This farm is two miles east of the Village of Mendon.

His parents were Chester and Harriet (Stringham) Talleott. Chester Tall- cott was born at Glastonbury, Connecticut, in 1810, and during his youth learned the trades of bricklaying and plastering. He came to Illinois in 1831, and at Jacksonville worked with a brother who was in the contraeting business there. In the same year, during a prospecting tour, he bought his first tract of land in Adams County. He was attracted to this section of Illinois largely by the presence of other Connecticut people here. His first purchase of land was on the edge of the prairie in Honey Creek Township. He continued to work at Jacksonville for some months and in 1832 rode a horse back to Connectieut, being accompanied by Richard Starr's father and Henry Fowler. He sold his horse in Connecticut and bought a team, and that team drew the wagon in which he and his young bride rode out to Western Illinois. His wife, whom he married in Connecticut, was Mary Hale. He lived at Jacksonville and followed his trade until 1834, and then settled on his land. With his mechanical skill lie constructed a large barn and house on his place. Money was exceedingly scarce in those days, and it is said that he paid out only 50 cents in currency. The large frame house with its brick lining, built more than eighty years ago, is still standing. At that time there was not another house between his place and Mendon. His first wife died there about three years later. In the mean- time her sister, Elizabeth Hale, had come west, and she was the second wife of Chester Talcott. She died during a cholera epidemic and one of her daughters and one son by Mr. Tallcott's first marriage were strieken with the same disease. The other son, Asa, grew to maturity, served as a Union soldier in the Civil war, spent a number of years in Kansas and at the age of seventy-six retired to Mendon. A daughter, Anna, married Horaee Hulburd, and lived in Iowa, where she died.

In the fall of 1855 Chester Tallcott sold his original farm and came to the location where his son Samuel now resides. This land he had also acquired in the year 1831, and in 1855 he undertook to build and improve the place. For a time he lived in a cabin, but in 1856 erected the substantial brick house in which Samuel Tallcott was born and where he still lives. The brick for this building was made in a yard two miles south, and most of them were hauled to the building site by Chester Tallcott's oldest son, Asa. At that time it was one of the largest homes in this part of the county. After 1855 Chester Tallcott lived on this farm, supervised its cultivation, but also employed himself at his trade. He died there in 1871, at the age of sixty-one. For his third wife he married Harriet Stringham, who survived him many years and passed away January 1, 1901. Her children were: Mary, who married Wesley Clair, and died at the age of forty; Julia M., who married Amos Scranton and moved to Chariton County, Missouri, where she died: Ella, who is unmarried and lives at the old homestead : William, who spent thirty-five years at Mendon.

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Missouri; Samuel; Elma, who died in infancy; and Albert, who died when about thirty years old.

Samuel Tallcott has spent all his life since birth on the farm above described, excepting for six months in 1881-82 when he traveled and sojourned on the Pacific Coast. His energies have been successfully devoted to general farming. He handles high grade Red Polled cattle, Percheron horses and Poland China hogs, and keeps good utility stock and gets most of his profits from cattle and hogs sold from his farm. He is one of the modern and progressive farmers of Adams County who have a silo as part of their farm equipment. Mr. Tall- cott's father was school director for many years, road commissioner, and an independent republican in politics, and his son Samuel has played almost a sim- ilar part, serving on the school board, twice was assessor of the township, and the fact that he was a republican in a democratic township is sufficient testimony to the adequacy and satisfactoriness of his public service. Whenever a can- didate he made no special effort to secure his election, and he once refused the nomination for supervisor. The Tallcotts have long been identified with the Congregational Church at Mendon.

December; 24, 1885, Mr. Tallcott married Miss Abhie Myers, who at the time of her marriage was twenty-two years of age. She is a daughter of Cyrus and Sarah (Dudley) Myers, of a well known family elsewhere referred to in this publication. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Tallcott are given brief record as follows: Fred, who was kicked by a horse and died at the age of twenty; Cora, Mrs. Albert Evans, of Mendon Township ; Julia, Mrs. Edward Mealiff, of Mendon Township; Charles, who married Pearl Rowbotham and lives at Mendon in Chariton County, Missouri; Chester, at home; Arthur, who is in the United States Army, assigned to the division of motor mechanics and now in England in the service; Walter, at home; Sarah, who died in childhood ; and Elizabeth, at home.

FREDERICK RUPP. One of the most interesting stories told on other pages of this publication is that which deals with the growth and development of Rupp Brothers & Company, iron and steel merchants. One of the factors in that history was the late Frederick Rupp. He started out poor, as do most iron and junk dealers, driving a horse and small wagon throughout the country and gathering up commodities that in wasteful American fashion are thrown away, and he kept at the business until with his brother and others saw a great plant established, and he was personally rated as one of Quincy's very successful and prosperous citizens. The history of the business is told elsewhere, but here should be noted some details of his personal career.

Frederick Rupp was born in Hesse Nassau, Germany, October 19, 1848, and died in Quiney August 18, 1917. He came with other members of the family in 1867, by sailing vessel, and from New York came westward to Quincy. Here he entered business with his brother George, and gave it his complete time and energies practically until his death.

The late Mr. Rupp was an esteemed member of St. Francis Catholic Church, and in politics was a democrat. In 1883, at Quiney, he married Miss Theresa Hoene. Mrs. Rupp, who survives her honored husband and resides at 502 North Twelfth Street, was born at Quincy in June, 1863, and was reared and educated here in the public schools. Her parents were H. Frank and Mary (Laacke) Hoene. Her mother was a native of Quincy, while her father was born in Germany and came as a young man to the United States and was married in Quincy. For a number of years he was connected with the Ricker Bank and later engaged in the mining business, but lost his property in that venture. He spent his last years at Warrior Station, Alabama, and died September 1, 1910, at the age of sixty-seven, and his widow passed away at the same place.

Mr. and Mrs. Rupp had nine children : Rose E., who is a well educated young woman and still at home; Carl G. and Fred B., both of whose names appear on

Frecherick Ruffo

LIBRARY OT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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the Quincy honor roll of soldiers now serving the cause of democracy in France ; Theresa M., who is a member of the Order of St. Francis; Margaret L., wife of Henry Frank Druffel, who is also a soldier in France, and during his absence his wife lives with her mother and has one son, Eugene H .; Edith A., William F. (a graduate of the Gem City Business College), Bertha M. and Julius C., all at home. The family are members of St. Francis Catholic Church.

JOHN C. YEARGAIN is a prominent and successful stock breeder and farmer in Honey Creek Township. His farm, two miles northeast of Fowler, is widely known among stockmen, especially those interested in the highest type of the Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Yeargain is proprietor of one of the largest individual farms in the county, and is member of an old and notable family.

The Yeargains were real pioneers in Gilmer Township, where John Yeargain and wife settled in the fall of 1831. John Yeargain was not only among the first to clear away the woods and erect his log cabin home, but from the first carried the torch of religion and saw to it that religious service was not neglected among the pioneers. His house was the place of preaching and the scene of the organization of the First Methodist Church in Gilmer Township. John Yeargain was born in Virginia and in March, 1815, moved to Jefferson County, Kentucky, near Louisville and later lived in Shelby County, Kentucky, until he came to Adams County. He married Elizabeth Bain. John Yeargain died November 30, 1845, and his wife April 1, 1855. They had four sons, William T., who was born in Kentucky in 1815, John P., Milton M., born June 3, 1828, and Edward A. William T. Yeargain came into possession of the old Yeargain homestead in Gilmer Township in 1842 and lived on that farm until his death in his ninety-third year. One of his sons, William, resides at Camp Point and another. James, in Brown County, Illinois. John P. Yeargain lived and died in Gilmer Township and his son Thomas is a resident of Paloma. The last survivor of these four brothers, and by that token, the oldest resident of Gilmer Township, was Milton M.

Edward A. Yeargain, father of John C. Yeargain, married Ruth Pearce, daughter of David and Elizabeth Pearce. David Pearce was born in Baltimore County, Maryland. March 18, 1807. February 27, 1829, he married Elizabeth Stabler, who was born in York County, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1808. The Pearce family moved to Butler County Ohio, in 1835, and in 1848 came to Adams County. David Pearce died here December 16, 1878. Edward A. Year- gain lived for many years on a farm three miles southwest of Columbus in Gilmer Township, but spent his last years in Quincy, where he died at the age of sixty-eight. His first wife died aged thirty-six, and for his second wife he married Sarah Norris, who is still living. Edward A. Yeargain acquired a splendid farm of 340 acres in Gilmer Township, and was as successful in his generation as a farmer and stock raiser as his son John C. has been. This old farm has since been sold. Ile was a republican and his brothers were of the same political faith except William T., who served in the State Legislature as a demo- crat. Edward A. Yeargain by his first marriage had five children: Mary, wife of C. L. Anderson, of Gilmer Township ; Louisa, Mrs. W. S. Hall ; Edward, who died on the home place when twenty-two years of age; David P., who for the past twenty years has lived at Long Beach, California; and John C. By his second wife Edward A. Yeargain had six children: Lorenzo, of Quincy, who died in November, 1918; Ruby, Mrs. Hirsh, of New York, and four children who are deceased, Catherine dying when twenty-two years of age.

John C. Yeargain was born December 3, 1864, on the old homestead farm in Gilmer Township. In that environment he lived until he was twenty-one, and attended the local schools for his education. After leaving home he spent two years in Hancock County and then with a cash capital of $200 rented the old homestead for three years. He then rented a portion of his present farm, the old Peter G. Horn estate. On February 12, 1890, he married Miss Harriet

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Horn, who was born at the old Horn farm December 15, 1864, daughter of Peter G. and Drusilla M. (Stahl) Horn. Peter G. Horn was a prominent citizen of Honey Creek Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1825, son of Adam and Mary Horn, and settled in Adams County April 15, 1857. His wife was born in Pennsylvania January 26, 1831. Peter Horn was recognized even forty years ago as one of the ablest and most pro- gressive farmers of Honey Creek.

The Horn farm after being rented by Mr. Yeargain for two years was bought by him. Besides his wife's interest he assumed a heavy debt contracted with the other heirs. It was a large farm of 400 acres, and at the time of his purchase represented almost a maximum of land value in Adams County. It contains some long standing improvements, including the house built by Mr. Horn in 1860, and the barn about 1863.

This is now the Yeargain stock and grain farm. Mr. Yeargain's Short- horn cattle comprise a herd of about thirty-five thoroughbreds. For a number of years he has made a practice of selling breeding animals, many of which are shipped to distant states, and he holds both public and private sales. Some of his bulls and heifers have commanded most attractive prices. He is also an extensive breeder and feeder of hogs. Besides making this farm pay for itself Mr. Yeargain has invested his surplus in many other tracts of land, so that his present estate comprises about 800 acres, practically in a body, and so arranged as to be conveniently directed under his individual management. He has two other building sites on the farm, one occupied by a tenant, but he main- tains general supervision over the entire domain. Mr. Yeargain is a member of the County Improvement Association, has been a delegate to the Farmers Congress at Rock Island, is a trustee of the United Brethren Church at Fowler, is a supporter of all the war activities, including Red Cross and Young Men's Christian, Association, and while these constitute, together with the manage- ment of the farm, the full meed of a citizen's service, he had no inclination for the honors of office and is content to vote as a republican.

JOHN L. SOEBBING. Banker, merchant and public citizen, John L. Soebbing occupies a prominent place at Quincy, where he has long been identified with important interests. He is a native of Quincy, born February 2, 1861, has spent his life here, and it has been his privilege to contribute through his busi- ness ability and undiminished industry to the founding and forwarding of numerons enterprises that have had much to do with substantial development here.

The parents of John L. Soebbing, Anton and Catherine (Buddle) Soebbing, were of German extraction. They came to Quincy, Illinois, in 1853 and 1847, respectively, and during their long subsequent residence here were respected and estecmed. They were the parents of six children, namely: A son that died in infancy : John L .: Anton G., who is a rsident of Kansas City, Missouri ; Elizabeth, who is deceased; Catherine, who is the widow of William Tempe, of Quincy ; and Henry A., who is a resident of Quincy. After attending the parochial schools at Quincy John L. Soebbing entered the employ of Dr. Rittler, a well known medical practitioner of this city at that time, and then started to learn the drug business with P. Carus, a druggist located on Maine Street, and continued with Mr. Carus until the latter's death. His next position was with the grocery house of C. R. Oliver, and from there entered the employ of John HI. Metzger. At this time, realizing that a thorough knowledge of practical business methods was almost a necessity for a young man contemplating a business life, he entered the Gem City Business college in 1876 and completed the course, after which he returned to the grocery line and between that time and 1887 was a elerk with Strickling & Company, Jacob Scholz and John Altmix, in these standard houses securing a very thorough knowledge of this line of trade.

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In 1887 Mr. Soebbing bought the grocery house of John Winkeljohn and carried on a first class retail store at Twelfth and Vine streets for three years, and then built a spacious store building on the opposite corner and moved into it with his brother Anton Soebbing as his partner. The enterprise was carried on with business caution and ability and prospered greatly. In 1896 Mr. Soebbing retired from the retail line and was one of the incorporators of the N. Kohl Wholesale Grocery Company, and became secretary of this com- pany. He sold his interest in December, 1899.

In January, 1900, Mr. Soebbing organized the Quincy Grocery Company, of which he is now treasurer and general manager. On February 6, 1900, he bought out the W. S. Warfield Company, taking over the entire stock, building and sales force. Mr. Soebbing is president of the Merchants Trust and Sav- ings Bank, and a director and the treasurer of the Columbus Home Associa- tion. He was vice president and a director in the Excelsior Stove Manufac- turing Company and is secretary and treasurer of the Quincy Sand Company and other concerns.

For many years interested in polities, a republican voter, Mr. Soebbing has been honorable and useful in publie office. From 1889 to 1890 he served on the board of supervisors; from 1891 to 1893, was a member of the city council, serving on the auditing, water and light committees, and in 1896 was re-elected but resigned in the fall of that year. In 1899 he was elected again to public office as alderman of his ward, his admirable business qualities making him par- tienlarly useful on the finance, water and light committees.

Mr. Soebbing was married October 30, 1883, to Miss Clara Altmix, and they have had children as follows: Leo A., who is associated with his father in many business enterprises ; Robert J., who is teller in the Merchants Trust and Sav- ings Bank : Clara M., who resides at home; George F., who is a bookkeeper in his father's employ; Helen, who is the wife of A. R. Russell, of Muscogee, Oklahoma; Edith, who is the wife of Charles Pritzlaff, of Quiney, now in the United States Navy; John R., who was traveling salesman for the Quiney Gro- cery Company and is now in the mechanical department, Balloon Division, United States Army; Ralph J., who is in his father's employ; Eugene, now at San Antonio, Texas: and three who died in infancy.

Mr. Soebbing and his family are members of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church at Quincy, and through that medium he has made generons contribu- tions in charity. He is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Western C'athiolie Union, and formerly was treasurer of St. Andrew's branch.

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON. For many years the name of Richardson has been one of marked distinction in Illinois, and Quincy numbers among her citizens the present head of the family, Hon. William A. Richardson (Jr.). Ile was born in the capital city of the United States, while his honored father was serving as a member of Congress, June 24, 1848. His parents were William A. and Cornelia H. (Sullivan) Richardson, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of Vincennes, Indiana. In 1831 the elder William A. Richardson came to Illinois and was married January 18, 1838, and his family numbered seven children, four of whom lived to manhood and womanhood: Helen Rich- ardson Dwight, George J., William A. and John S.

Four years after coming to Illinois from Kentucky, the Legislature of Illinois elected Colonel Richardson state's attorney for the fifth judicial circuit; in 1836 he was elected to the Legislature from Schuyler County : in 1838 was chosen a member of the State Senate ; and in 1844, again a member of the Lower House, was made speaker. When the Mexican war broke out he raised a company and led it to the front and for gallant conduct at Buena Vista was made a lieutenant colonel. While vet in Mexico he was nominated as a candidate for Congress, and on his return home was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of Senator Douglas, and served in that representative body for ten years

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and in 1856 was put forward by the democratic party of Illinois as its nominee for governor. In 1857 President Buchanan appointed him governor of Nebraska. In 1860 he was returned to Congress from the Quiney Distriet and in 1863 was chosen to fill the vacaney in the United States Senate caused by the death of Judge Douglas and for more than thirty years was a prominent faetor in public affairs. Colonel Richardson's death oeeurred December 27, 1875.

After finishing his education in the private schools of Quiney, Palmyra and Chicago, William A. Richardson (Jr.), obtained a position with the railroads, first in the freight and afterward in the engineering departments. He was connected with the survey of the Quincy, Alton & St. Louis Railway, now the Louisiana branch of the C. B. & Q., and afterward on the construction of the same; with the survey of the Chillicothe, Council Bluffs & Omaha Railway, now a branch of the Wabash : with the survey and construction of Sni Levee in Adams and Pike counties in the state; with the survey and construction of the Atchison branch of the old Hannibal and St. Joseph Railway, now a part of the C. B. & Q. system; and with the survey of the Chicago, Quincy & Western Railway, which was never built.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 16

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