Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 27

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

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 27

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An authentie record of his military experience is as follows: He enlisted from Quincy February 14, 1865, to serve one year or during the war, and was mus- tered into the United States service at Quiney on the same day as a private of Capt. Charles H. Heidbreder's Company H, Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Adolph Dengler commanding. This company was

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recruited to fill up the quota of the Forty-Third Regiment and joined that regi- ment at Little Rock, Arkansas. The regiment had been in service from the first year of the war, and participated in the capture of Little Rock, Arkansas, in the summer of 1863 and was the first regiment to enter that city. During the latter period of his service and while Mr. Stockhecker was a member of the regiment it was in the operations at Arkadelphia in Arkansas, Okalona, Elkin's Ford, Prairie De'Ann, Moscow, Camden, Marks Hills and Jenkins Ferry, and from there returned to Little Rock. He performed guard duty, taking part in a number of expeditions and raids and was mustered out of the service November 30, 1865, returning to Camp Butler. Illinois, for final pay and discharge. Her- man H. Stockhecker was always to be found at his post of duty and rendered faithful and meritorious service, earning commendation for soldierly bearing and good conduct at all times. He was sick during his service and confined in a regimental hospital at Little Rock about three weeks. He received an hon- orable discharge at Springfield November 30, 1865, by reason of close of the war. For many years he has been a member of John Wood Post No. 96, Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic.

Before enlisting he had worked in the foundry of Thomas Wick at Quincy, and was taken back when he returned from the army and continued there two years. He and Frank West then formed a partnership as wood merchants, shipping large quantities of wood up and down the Mississippi River. Three years later he bought Mr. West's interests and continued the business for sixteen years. He also acquired some 400 acres of timber land in Pike County and oper- ated it extensively as a timber man for several years. At one time he had 700 acres of timber land. On selling that property he invested the pro- ceeds in city real estate. When he left the wood business he and Samuel Woods engaged in the wholesale and retail brick trade for eight years. Mr. Stockhecker then bought the interests of his partner and continued the business on his own account until 1906, at which date he formally retired, and has since looked after his private affairs. For a number of years Mr. Stockhecker resided at 305 South Eighth Street, but his present home is at 2546 Vermont Street.

March 23, 1868. he married at Quincy Miss Anna Fleer. She was born in Germany December 28, 1846, and at the age of six years was brought to this country in a sailing vessel to New Orleans and thence to Quincy by her parents, Herman and Anna Fleer. Her parents spent the rest of their days in Quincy and died when about three score and ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Stock- hecker became the parents of the following children: Anna, Herman, Ida, Wil- liam, George, Lillie, Albert, Edward, Walter and Flora. Anna now lives at Fort Madison, Iowa, the widow of Peter Werner, and her children are Frank Louis Paul, Peter and Lillian. Herman H., Jr., aged forty-six, lives at St. Louis and is a concrete finisher. He married Eva Shoop and has a son, Leroy. Ida is the wife of Anton Abbott, of Quincy, and their children are George, Edna, Arthur, Elva, Anton and Clarence. Lillie first married George Phirman by whom she had two children, and after his death became the wife of Willis Thoele, and they now live in Detroit, Michigan. Albert is chief engineer of the Electric Light and Power plant at Quincy. He married Emma Williams, of Quincy, and his children are Russell, Ralph and Ruth. Edward is a stove molder and by his marriage to Nina Gordon has two sons, James and Lloyd. Walter is a night foreman in the Quincy postoffice. He married Lillie Dickhint, and has a son, Victor, born on Victory Day, November 11, 1918. The youngest of the children, Flora E., married Lawrence William Sturhahn, who is connected with the Standard Oil Company. They have a daughter, Betty Ann, aged two years. All the family are members of the Lutheran Church and Mr. Stockhecker is a republican voter.

JOHN F. ALISON. For almost half a century Mr. Alison was a resident of Adams County and was a real substantial factor in the development of the farm- ing and civic community of Ellington Township. It would be difficult to find a

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more attractive place than the Walnut Dell Farm, and certainly no people are more highly esteemed in that community than the Alison family.

The Alison family has been in America for more than a century and a half and have exemplified the sturdy traits of loyal and patriotic citizens. Mr. John F. Alison's grandfather, John Alison, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Allison's father, Andrew Alison, was born either in Kentucky or Virginia, and was a pioneer settler in Nicholas County of the former state. He grew up with only such advantages as were supplied in an educational way in the early part of the last century. He was reared and acted as a democrat until the birth of the republican party, when he was recruited into its ranks. In 1846, at the time of the Mexican war, Andrew Alison took his family from Kentucky to Putnam County, Indiana, and on a farm in that locality he spent the rest of his days. Andrew Alison married Elizabeth Hedges, and both were members of the Presbyterian Church and died in that faith in Putnam County, where they have their last resting place. Elizabeth Hedges was also a native of Ken- tneky. They were the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, two of whom are still living, William H. and Robert R. The two brothers are members of the Presbyterian Church and republican voters. William II. is a retired farmer living in San Jose, California, and has four children, while Robert is farming at Paola, Kansas, and his family consists of three children.

John F. Alison was born near the Town of Mooresfield in Nicholas County, Kentucky, March 1, 1834. His span of live covered more than fourscore years, and within his personal recollection occurred many of the most astonishing events and inventions which have moved the modern world. He was about twelve years old when his parents moved to Putnam County, Indiana, and the trip was made in true pioneer style with wagons and teams. In Putnam County he grew to manhood. His education was acquired in some of the typical old- fashioned schools that have been so frequently described in the literature of the period. The school that stood most clearly in his memory was built of logs, had a clapboard roof, while the seats were made of split logs supported from the floor by means of pins. He wrote his copy with the old goosequill pen, fash- ioned by the teacher, and used other equipment such as cannot be found in the modern schools. In one thing the old time schools did excel, and that was the strict attention paid to the practical and fundamental principles of knowl- edge. Mr. Alison had little time to attend even such schools as did exist in his youth, since much responsibility rested upon him in looking after the farm and contributing his earnings to the family support.

Mr. Alison married for his first wife Miss Angelina Brown. They had two children, only one of whom is now living, Lanvel. Lanvel is manager of his mother's farm in Ellington Township. He was given a good common school education and also a business course in Musselman's Business College at Quincy. He married Miss Charlotte Cook. They had four children, Martha, John C., Robert F. and Myra Angelina. He and his wife are members and he is an elder of the Presbyterian church in Ellington Township. He is one of the leading republicans in that township, has served as township clerk and is chairman of the Town Board and the sale of Liberty Loan bonds. He is one of the men vig- orously upholding the cause of the great war.

Mr. Alison's first wife died in 1876 and is laid to rest in Putnam County, Indiana. On March 12, 1879, Mr. Alison married Miss Lucinda Hedges. Mrs. Alison is a native of Adams County. She was born January 17, 1838, and her birthplace was a little log cabin that stood on the site of the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Alison. She has spent all her life in this county and her family goes back to the truly pioneer times of this section. Her parents when they first located here saw Indian tepees on their land. She gained her education in much the same kind of schools attended by her husband. Her first school was the old brick school, which lay southeast of the Hedges farm. It will serve to indicate the long span of years which Mr. and Mrs. Alison lived to note that America has been engaged in four great wars since they were children, the war

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with Mexico, the Civil war, the war with Spain and now the war with Germany. Mrs. Alison was well edneated and from the common schools attended Abingdon College at Abingdon, Illinois. She was granted a teacher's certificate. She was formerly a member of the Christian Church, but is now active in the Presbyterian faith, and has served as treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society, and has done much to maintain church funetions in her community.

Mrs. Alison's father was born and reared in Kentucky and was one of the stanch farmers of Adams County for many years. He bought 160 aeres of land in Ellington Township and his property enabled him to accumulate much other property. He began voting as a whig and he and his wife were members of the Christian Church. Both her parents were buried in Ursa Township.

Mr. Alison as a republican cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lineoln. With his wife and son he owned 110 acres of fine land in Ellington and Ursa townships, and this estate is widely known as the Walnut Dell Farm. It is a center of productive agriculture and is also a home of eordial greeting to their numerous friends. With his wife Mr. Alison has enjoyed life as they went along and accepted opportunity to travel and see their own country. They spent some time on the Pacific coast in the eities of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, and also visited the grasshopper State of Kansas. John F. Alison died on the 18th of September, 1918.

HENRY C. CUPP will go down to fame in Adams County chiefly as "the apple king." As a specialist in apple raising in this section of the country, and as a general horticulturist, Mr. Cupp's work and influence have been of inestimable value not only locally but throughout the state and nation. By years of patient effort and study he developed a magnificent apple orchard in Fall Creek Township, and not only grew apples by the thousands of barrels but applied himself to the study and solution of the many problems affeeting the distribution of the apple crop and to organizing the fruit growers of the state and nation for the general welfare of all concerned.

Mr. Cnpp about 1875 determined to develop part of his farm in Fall Creek Township to an apple orchard. Out of that he gradually built up what became widely known as the Diamond C Fruit Raneh. The nucleus of this raneh was ten acres of apple orchard. In 1880 he set out seventeen acres, chiefly of Ben Davis. In 1897-98 he continued his planting by increasing his aereage 120 aeres. His erop of 1897 was sold for over $400 per acre. For a number of years he handled the growing, paeking and marketing of the products of his 150 aeres of orchard and in that time marketed many thousands of barrels of the choicest fruit grown anywhere in the Mississippi Valley. Mr. Cupp was both a seientifie and practical orchardist. He did much to popularize the spraying of trees in Adams County, and it is said that he was the first man to use a gasoline engine for power in operating his spraying tank. Mr. Cupp owned a farm of 336 aeres, and besides his orehard condueted general farming and stoek raising. He was the first to introduce Poll Angus cattle into Adams County and was also a successful breeder of Chester White swine. As a busi- ness man he continued active until 1916, since which year he has lived retired in Quincy.

Mr. Cupp was born in Steuben County, Indiana, October 30, 1848. He is of Holland Dutch aneestry. His father. Jacob Cupp, was born in Pennsyl- vania and married in Ohio Doreas Ann Smith, who was of French and Eng- lish lineage. Jacob Cupp and family moved in 1858 from Steuben County, Indiana, to Shelby Connty, Missouri, where he was a farmer. He was a stanch abolitionist, and it required a great deal of courage to live in that see- tion of Missouri at the time. Some of his property was stolen. and he was threatened with personal violence, until finally General MeNeal made a public proclamation that if the life of Mr. Cupp was taken he would execute ten of his rebel neighbors. Jaeob Cupp died in Shelby County, Missouri, in 1874.

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His wife passed away in 1859. They had seven children : Catherine, Louis, John S., Theodore, George. Henry C. and Frank.

Henry C. Cupp was a small boy when his mother died, and he has always looked upon his sister Catherine as his second mother. Catherine Cupp was born November 18, 1839, and married William Cook, who was born in 1824 and left her a widow in 1876. Mrs. Catherine Cook now lives at Shreveport, Louisiana. She was the mother of six sons and one daughter: Lewis S., who is a successful farmer near Slater, Missouri, is married and has a family of sons and daughters; Jacob E., a farmer also near Slater, is married and has two daughters; Anna, wife of Benjamin Boring, also a farmer near Slater; Frederick, Ulrich and Edwin T., who all live near their mother at Shreve- port, Louisiana, Frederick and Ulrich being married; and Frank C., who has a large farm under lease near Hannibal, Missouri.

Henry C. Cupp had three brothers who made records as soldiers in the Civil war. Lewis C. and John S. were both members of the Third Missouri Cavalry, and served all through the war. Theodore was a private in the Thirty-Ninth Missouri Infantry and was out for about one year. Lewis C. died in Ralls County, Missouri, in 1901, leaving a family of children. John was also a Missouri farmer and stock raiser, as is Theodore. Henry C. Cupp received most of his early education in the schools of Shelby County, Missouri. and also attended Palmyra College at Palmyra, Missouri. He moved to Adams County. Illinois, in 1870, when about twenty-two years old, and in this county his active career has reached its most definite achievement. When at the height of his work as an apple grower he employed about 200 men in his orchard during the busy season, and the harvest was not infrequently as high as 10,000 barrels. Necessarily he had to provide extensive quarters for housing the labor during the harvest, and he built a large house on his farm for that purpose.

In 1871 Mr. Cupp married in Adams County Miss Frances L. Rankin, who was born in Fall Creek Township in 1852. She was reared there, attended the local schools, and also the college at Jacksonville. She was a daughter of Robert and Sarah J. (Edmonds) Rankin. Her father was born in Kentucky of Scotch ancestry and her mother in Tennessee of Irish stock. Robert Rankin and wife were married in Adams County, Illinois, and he became active as a farmer in Fall Creek Township and was also one of the pioneer peach growers in the county. They were devoted Christian people, members of the Methodist Church, and through their charity assisted many deserving people.

Mrs. Cupp died on the farm in Adams County January 25, 1916. She was very active in the Methodist Church. To their marriage were born four children, three of whom died in infancy, and all are buried in the old Fall Creck Cemetery. The only surviving daughter is Lillie Jane, who was born in Adams County January 28, 1872, and was educated in the country schools and four years at Chaddock College. July 26, 1893. she married Perry W. Sapp. of Macomb, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Sapp now live at Springfield. Mr. Sapp has been active in publie affairs and is now engaged in the apple commission business at Springfield. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sapp are : Stanley C .. now a clerk in the railway postal service on the Santa Fe Railroad, married and the father of two children: Whitney F., who is connected with the Balti- more & Ohio Railway, is married and has a son Whitney, Jr. : Lulu Miriam, who graduated with the class of 1917 from the Springfield High School and is a very talented musician, being a violinist.

Mr. Cupp, and the same is true of his son-in-law, Mr. Sapp, is a very radical republican. However, he has seldom sought official honors, though he was once candidate for state representative. Mr. Cupp is affiliated with Payson Lodge No. 379, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Quiney, also the Royal Arch Chapter and Knight Templar Commandery and Eastern Star, and has been active in Masonry for thirty-nine years. He was formerly identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. With all his well deserved fame as a horticulturist many people in Adams County know Mr. Cupp chiefly because

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of his practical philanthropy, and his charities though extensive have been unostentatious and chiefly known by their recipients. He was largely responsi- ble for founding and building the Union Church in Fall Creek. Naturally his name has been associated with many of the large horticultural organizations. He was one of the organizers of the Mississippi Apple Growers' Association in 1897, was honored as its present for the first six years and later served another four years as president and is now vice president. He was one of the organizers of the National Apple Growers' Association and its first president. The present head of the national organization is Senator Dunlap of Illinois. Mr. Cupp has for thirty-five years been a life member of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, is a correspondent of the State Agricultural Society, and for a number of years has been reporter of the annual erop, stock and fruit conditions in Adams County for the National Department of Agriculture. For three years he served as president of the Adams County Fair Association and has been a director ten years. For a long period of years he served as delegate to the National Farmers' Congress. These delegates are appointed by the governor and Mr. Cupp received the appointment both from democratic and republican executives. Mr. Cupp was candidate for county elerk of Adams County on the republican ticket in 1918, and went down with all candidates on that ticket. He, however, feels perfectly satisfied over the results, as there was a 2,000 democratie majority to overcome in the county.

JOHN W. EGBERS is one of the best known citizens of Adams and Hancock counties, and while his chief business interests have been as a farmer he has also gained something of a publie character, because of the ability with which he prosecuted many cases before justice courts and as an auctioneer. Mr. Egbers now lives on one of the good farm homes of Honey Creek Township, 21/2 miles northeast of Mendon.

He was born in Roeky Run Township of Hancock County August 8, 1853, son of Charles and Magdalena Egbers. His parents were both born in Germany and were married at New Orleans. They settled at Quincy in 1838, and had many opportunities to secure choice land at the Government price of $1.25 per acre. They finally settled on the bottoms a mile from the Mississippi River in Hancock County. Their home was almost destroyed by the flood of 1851, and they then moved their residence baek on the high ground and lived there the rest of their days. The father died at the age of seventy-two and the mother at eighty-three.

John W. Egbers grew up on the farm. From boyhood his ambition and inclination looked toward a public career as a lawyer. However, his mother's influence and strong will did much to thwart his purpose. His mother fre- quently said "We have raised seven sons, all farmers" and she made provision accordingly for her son John W. Adjacent to the home place she bought land at $40 an acre, carrying $3,900 debt at nine per cent interest and insisted that her son should take possession and cultivate it. While he yielded in this par- ticular, Mr. Egbers was determined to get the best education possible and train himself for a position of influence among his fellow men. He read law, and he also took steps to overcome his retiring and modest disposition. He attended many local schoolhouse debates, and was especially impressed by the fact that the president of the society at one time was so halting and lacking in knowledge of parliamentary practice that he could not even put a motion. It was his painful example that proved one of the influencing causes leading Mr. Egbers to train himself for public speaking. He took part in the local debates whenever possible and was soon recognized as one of the keenest and most resourceful speakers of the neighborhood. He also qualified to practice before the Justice Court and handled many cases for twenty years. He is disposed to take a somewhat humorons view of some of his early cases, and says that what he lacked in knowledge of the law and experience he made up with a noisy plea and usually won his contention. At one time he had the reputa-

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tion of being the ablest pettifogger in Hancock or Adams County. He never carried this work far enough to be admitted regularly to the bar, and that has been one of the greatest regrets of his life. Mr. Egbers for some years was an able auctioneer and his services were in great demand for that. In the mean- time the duties of his farm engaged his time and energies, and he also handled real estate. Mr. Egbers owned a fine body of land, though inconveniently situ- ated. This 120 acres Mr. Egbers sold in the fall of 1917 for $200 an acre. In 1917 he bought his present place, the old Felger farm in Honey Creek Town- ship. He has a place of 167 acres, well improved, and has occupied its beau- tiful home and surroundings since the spring of 1918. The house was built a number of years ago of the very finest of lumber. There is also a large bank barn, and the homestead takes on additional attractiveness because of the fine grove of trees.

Mr. Egbers is a republican and a thorough believer in the protection prin- ciple. He has always kept in close touch with the world's events by reading and observation. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. For three years he served as a member of the local school board and took his official responsibilities very seriously, visiting school every month.

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Egbers married Addie Massey. Of the three children born to their marriage two died in one week from diphtheria. The only survivor is Oval, now a resident of Lima, Illinois. In February, 1884, Mr. Egbers married Viola Peoples. They have three children: James R., who now wears the uniform of an American soldier and is in France; Ollie, Mrs. William Williams, of Hancock County; and John Warren, a farmer in Han- cock County. Mr. and Mrs. Egbers have as a member of their household Miss Laura Shaw, a bright and attractive young lady who is very fortunate to enjoy the privileges of the Egbers home.

JOHN A. HELLER. Actively identified with the history of Quincy, there will ever be accorded to John A. Heller a tribute of honor as a man of sterling integrity, and as one who has contributed generously to the progress and pros- perity of his native city, his benefactions having won for him the title of "'Grand Old Man," a name by which he is familiarly known throughout the city and county. A native of Quiney, he was born February 1, 1844, in the house located at the corner of Seventh and Jersey streets, where his parents, George Philip and Elizabeth D. (Walthaus) Heller, were then living. The father was accidentally killed by falling from a house in 1850, leaving his wife with five young children to support.

Left fatherless in childhood, John A. Heller began early in life to assist his widowed mother in supporting her little family, his first employment having been in a local hotel, where he received $1 a week as general utility boy. He gradually worked his way upward, being successively waiter and cook, and in 1874 opened a hotel in Quincy. In 1860 Mr. Heller was cook on a Mississippi River steamboat, after which he spent four years at sea, being employed as cook and steward, and in that capacity visited every continent except Australia. Returning to Quincy, he then opened a greenhouse, and was successfully en- gaged in business as a horticulturist and florist for thirty years, but is now living retired from active pursuits, enjoying a well-earned leisure.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 27

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