Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 35

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 35

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books he acquired a practical knowledge of the common branches of learning, and subsequently taught school a number of terms.

Becoming active and prominent in public affairs, Mr. Andrew was elected sheriff of Piatt County in November, 1882, and served in that capacity for four years, his residence being in Monticello. He was very popular in public life, and later became mayor of Monticello. On May 20, 1913, he assumed charge of the Sailors' and Soldiers' Home at Quincy, and has since continued as managing officer of the institution.

Mr. Andrew has been twice married. He married first, October 22, 1873, Fannie Heath. She died at a comparatively early age, May 13, 1902. Of this union five children were born, namely: Marion, of Houston, Texas; Arthur, of Bloomington, Illinois; John, of Detroit, treasurer of the Wallace-Hagenbach Circus Company ; Metta, wife of Dr. C. M. Bumstead, of Monticello ; and Ethel, deceased. Mr. Andrew married second, November 7, 1907, Mrs. Lavonia (Duvall) Reeser, whose first husband, Charles Reeser, died in early life, leaving her with one child, Gladys, now living in Des Moines, Iowa. Politically Mr. Andrew is a democrat and active in party work. Fraternally he is a thirty- second degree Mason, and prominent in Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery, Shrine and the Consistory. Religiously he was brought up a Quaker, the faith of his parents, but he is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN H. GEERS. The career of John H. Geers might be analyzed and sub- jected to a thoroughly fair trial and it undoubtedly would reflect success at every count and test. Mr. Geers went to work when thirteen years of age. He represents one of the old and substantial families of Quincy of German origin. At the age of thirteen he began handling and selling meats in a packing house at Quincy. This training was a long and extensive one of twenty-two or twenty-three years, and gave him a knowledge of the meat business that has had as much to do with his success as an independent merchant as any capital he has invested. Then, twenty-six years ago, Mr. Geers opened a meat market at the corner of Vine and Eighteenth streets, and subsequently added a stock of groceries. In that one location he has been known to a widening circle of patrons for fully a quarter of a century. He has done well, owns his home and store, holds stock in banks and other industries, and those who keep in touch with patriotic activities of Quincy citizens know that Mr. Geers has sub- scribed at least $1,000 worth of liberty bonds, besides various other funds for patriotic purposes.

Mr. Geers was born in the Sixth Ward of Quincy October 6, 1857, and was reared and educated in this city, attending St. Francis Parochial School. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Middendorf) Geers, both natives of the Kingdom of Hanover. Henry Geers came to America at the age of eleven years. His wife was eighteen when she came and after landing at New Orleans alone came north to join sisters who had previously located at Quincy. Henry Geers and wife met and married at Quincy and for many years lived in St. Francis Parish of this city and in the Sixth Ward. The father died here in 1914, at the age of eighty-two, and his wife in 1911, aged seventy-six. They were married in St. Boniface Catholic Church of this city, and Henry Geers helped build the present church edifice. By trade he was a brick molder and very skilled work- man. During the winter season he worked in local packing houses at a lard renderer. Of their children, two, Josephine and Herman, are now deceased. Henry B., the oldest of the three now living, is married and lives in Quincy, at Thirteenth and Oak streets. Joseph H., the youngest, lives at Sixteenth and Chestnut streets. Both these sons are married and have families.

Mr. John H. Geers married in Quincy Miss Mary Graweman. She was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1859, was reared and educated there, and at the age of seventeen came to Quincy. Mr. and Mrs. Geers had twelve children, one of whom, Frank, died in infancy. Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Weaver and has three children. Louisa married Edward Musian and lives

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near Chicago, and they have three children. Henry B. operates two grocery and meat market stores in Quiney, and by his marriage to Effie Wilson has two sons. Joseph H. is associated with his father in business, and married Elizabeth Fritz, their family consisting of one son and one daughter. Otto is a meat cutter with Beiler Brothers, and married Carrie Willhock, and has a son and daughter. Clara is the wife of Frank Wattering. Olivia lives at home. Edward is married and has one son. Maria is living at home. Theodore, a machinist, and Cecelia, a student in St. Mary's Academy, constitute the younger children. The family are all members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Geers is a democratic voter and for two years served as alderman and had places of re- sponsibility on several of the important committees. He is affiliated with the Western Catholic Union.

OSCAR W. SHANNON. A live, wide-awake young man, full of push and energy, Oscar W. Shannon, of Quincy, is identified with the business life of Adams County as a representative of various prominent insurance companies, and is widely known in the sporting world through his connection with base ball activities and as lessee of Baldwin Park. He is a native born citizen, his birth having occurred May 7, 1884, in Quincy, where his father, the late James T. Shannon, settled in 1872.

James T. Shannon was born, bred and educated in Delaware. As a young man he entered the railway service. and gradually worked his way upward until made conductor on a passenger train, being thus employed after coming to Illinois on the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad. While in the service on the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City branch, he was accidentally killed at Green City, Missouri. He married Mary Belle Ross, who was born in Kentucky, and died in Quincy, Illinois, in 1907. Of the seven children born of their union three have passed to the life beyond, and the following named are living : Effie May, of Seattle, Washington; Bertha, wife of William Corley, also of Seattle: Oscar W., with whom this brief sketch is chiefly concerned; and Mary, wife of William Gronert, of Chicago.

Exhibiting as a boy not only decided literary tastes. but much business ability, Oscar W. Shannon at the carly age of fourteen years entered the journalistie world, and for three years thereafter edited and published The Little Gem, a weekly newspaper, said to be the smallest that ever passed through the United States mail. He met with rare success in his venture, having when he discontinued the publication of his paper, 2,200 paid subscribers at 25 cents per annum, the greater part of his profits, which amounted to $1,000 per year. coming from the advertising section of his sheet.

On his retirement from journalism Mr. Shannon, then a youth of seventeen years, entered the Union Business College, from which he was graduated two years later. The ensuing four years he was employed as stenographer and bookkeeper by an insurance firm. Forming then a partnership with Mr. Hofer, he was engaged in business under the firm name of Ilarry F. Hofer & Company for four years, after which he bought his partner's interest in the concern. Mr. ITofer in the meantime had been actively interested in the financial affairs of the Quincy Base Ball Club, and Mr. Shannon served as its secretary for three years. Realizing the possibilities of the association, Mr. Shannon then bought the Quincy Ball Club, and soon afterward astonished the athletic world by giving for the insignificant sum of $2 a book entitling the purchaser the privilege of witnessing sixty-seven ball games, it being the first and only time that priec was ever known in organized base ball. Mr. Shannon sold his interest in the club in 1917, and is devoting a part of his time to Baldwin Park, of which he has been the lessee for the past two years. Under his regime horse racing has been revived in this section of the state, and on his Baldwin Park track the half-mile record was broken in 1917. Mr. Shannon is still actively engaged in the insurance business, handling every branch of insurance, and is largely patronized throughout Adams and surrounding counties.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

William Booth

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Mr. Shannon married, October 5. 1916, Charlotte Walbring, of Mendon, Adams County. Politically he is a democrat; fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; and religionsly both Mr. and Mrs. Shan- non are Episcopalians.

WILLIAM BOOTH. The name Booth has been a familiar one in Gilmer Town- ship for many years, and has always suggested traits of sturdy industry, good citizenship and sterling integrity which are invaluable assets to the community as well as to the individuals possessing them.

The late William Booth, who died at the Booth farm July 12, 1904, was one of the oldest men in the county at the time of his death. He was born at Feversham, near London, England, July 12, 1813, and lived to the age of ninety- one, dying on his ninety-first birthday. The Booth farm where he spent most of his active life in Adams County is situated 21%, miles south of Paloma in Gilmer Township, and within one mile of the county farmn.

William Booth came to America with his parents at the age of thirteen. He started life with no capital and only his hands and his ambition to make him- self useful. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Shields. Their only child was Miss Eliza Booth of Paloma. On September 23, 1846, William Booth married Mary Ann Jeffery. She was born in England February 23, 1825, daughter of Richard and Mary Jeffery, who came to America and settled in seetion 10 of Gilmer Township. The parents of Mrs. Booth both died in advanced years in this county. One of their sons, James Jeffery, is now living near Oklahoma City.

After Mr. Booth's marriage they located on a farm near Coatsburg in Gilmer Township, moved later to another farm near Paloma and then bought the farm where his death occurred and where his son Wesley now lives. On the old Jeffery farm in about 1860 William Booth erected the comfortable old house which still stands there. He was a very active man in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Paloma, serving as class leader and steward.

The children of William Booth and wife were: Sarah, widow of William Lohr, a Gilmer Township farmer; William, who was assistant postmaster, merchant and during his last years telephone operator at Paloma, where he died unmarried at the age of sixty-six; Mary, widow of Marsh Fisher, of Gilmer Township; Amelia, Richard Wesley, Hannah and Stephen, all of whom reside at the old homestead ; and George, who is a railroad man with the Burlington Road at Galesburg.

The sons Wesley and Stephen have bought the interests of the other heirs in the old farm, and are associated as partners in its management, their sisters keeping house for them. Stephen also owns an adjoining farm of eighty aeres. These brothers are numbered among the progressive farming element of Gilmer Township. They are republican voters as was their father before them and the family all attend the Methodist Episcopal Church at Paloma. Stephen is a trustee and steward of this church.

EDWARD F. SCHULLIAN'S name is best known in Quiney through his long and active career as a merchant. Twenty years ago he established a general grocery store at the corner of Twentieth and Chestnut streets, and used such good judgment and prosecuted his enterprise with such energy that in a few years his business had an assured patronage and was performing a welcome service in the community. His success enabled him to build his present large store of stone and wood diagonally across from his old business home, and thus he is still at the corner of Chestnut and Twentieth streets, where he carries a complete line of staple groceries and meats and every year is extending the service of his store to new homes and larger patronage.

Mr. Schullian was born in Qniney at Eleventh and Hampshire streets in 1866. He grew up and received his education in the parochial schools of St. Boniface Parish and as a young man went to work for J. B. Sehott as a collar

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maker, but finally gave up that work to manage a garden and milk route in Quincy. He was in that line of business for about fourteen years, and then used his accumulated eapital in starting his grocery business, as above noted.

Mr. Schullian is a son of John I. and Mary (Schupp) Schullian, the former a native of Wuertemberg and the latter of Baden, Germany. They came over with their respective parents at different times and in sailing vessels. The boat that brought the Sehupp family was lost at sea before reaching port at New Orleans, and the family barely eseaped with their lives with a very meager stoek of clothing that could not be replaced fully until they arrived in Quiney. The parents of both John Schullian and his wife spent their last years in Quincy, and attained ripe ages, some of them dying when past eighty. They were early members of St. Boniface Catholic Church. John I. Schullian and wife after their marriage located in a small home in Quiney and for many years he was a stationary engineer in the employ of the old Gardner Governor Works. He died when past sixty, being survived by his widow several years. For a number of years they had their home in St. Francis' Parish. In their family were five sons and three daughters. The son Herman died before his father. Those still living are John, Joseph, Edward F., Frank, Anna, wife of Barney Brinks, Catherine, widow of Alexander Reardon, and Rose.

Edward F. Schullian married at Quincy Miss Margaret Fredericks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Fredericks, both of whom are now deceased. To their marriage have been born a son and daughter, George F. and Ruth M. George F., who was born in 1890, was educated at St. Rose Sehool, and since attaining his majority has been a member of the firm Sehullian & Company. He married Henerietta Brinks at Quincy, and they have a son, Norbet E., born in 1917. The daughter, Ruth, was educated in St. Rose Parish and is also a member of the firm and contributing to its success. All the family are members of St. Francis Church. Mr. Schullian is affiliated with the Western Catholie Union and he and his son are independent in politics.

LANDOLIN OHNEMUS has contributed to the commercial enterprise of Quiney as a grocery merehant, and has one of the well patronized and progressively managed stores at 2001 Brady Avenue.

He is member of a family that has been numerously identified with Adams County for many years. He was born in Ellington Township, not far from Quiney, on August 11, 1859, son of John George and Mary A. (Ohnemus) Ohnemus. His parents were both natives of Baden, and though of the same family name were not related. John George Ohnemns was born in February, 1832, and his wife a month later. Both were of Catholic ancestry. They came to this country when young people. John G. Ohnemus took passage on a sailing vessel, a small craft, but bringing 500 passengers from Havre to New Orleans. He arrived at New Orleans forty-two days later and in 1852 eame to Quiney. At that time he was in debt $35 and to support himself and repay his obligation he went to work cutting wood along the banks of Bear Creek near the Mississippi River in Adams County. His wife had come to Qniney to join her brothers Matthew, Conrad and Frank J. and her sister Frances. John George Ohnemus also had several brothers who were residents of Adams County, including Landolin, Theodore and Andrew. All of them became useful and hard working citizens, and all are now deceased exeept John George Ohnemus. The latter after his marriage went to work on a farm in Ellington Township, and by his industry and the co-operation of his good wife bought and paid for a farm of 160 aeres known as the old Ubanks farm. On that homestead he is still living at the age of eighty-six, and his wife died there September 7, 1905, at the age of seventy-three. They were married in St. Bonifaec Catholic Church at Quincy, and for a number of years were members of that parish. John G. Ohnemus has been a demoerat ever since he acquired American eitizenship. He and his wife had fourteen children. Among those now deceased were Elizabeth Mary and Mrs. Theresa Gebhart. Those still living

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are: J. George; Landolin; Mrs. Lillie Mallard; Frank; Caroline, who is the wife of Mr. Herring, and her oldest son is now in the Government service; Elizabeth, widow of Oscar Holmes, has a sou who is a lientenant in the Elec- trical Corps at Key West, Florida; Pauline, unmarried; Charles, who is at the old homestead with his father; John Michael, who with his brother Theodore works the home farm; and Frances, unmarried and living at home.

Landolin Ohnemus grew up and received his education in the country dis- tricts of Ellington Township and Quincy. In 1903 he came to Quincy and since 1905 has been successfully engaged in the grocery business. He is a live and progressive merchant and has identified himself with every movement of the local business men to promote the best interests of the city. His family are members of the St. Francis Parish, and he is affiliated with the Western Catholic Union and is a democrat in politics.

He married at Fort Madison, Iowa, Dorothy Mansheim, who was born near that city Angust 11, 1872. Her parents, natives of Germany, were Iowa farmers and are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ohnemus had six children : Walter, who died at the age of two years; Adolph, who is twenty years old and is now helping his father in the grocery business; Bertha F., a graduate of St. Mary's Academy ; Carl V., a schoolboy; J. Roy, also in school; and Eugene M., who was born in 1914.

RICHARD BURGIS STARR. The name of this prosperous farmer citizen of Mendon Township, whose home is 21% miles southeast of the village of that name, serves to recall some of the pioneer characters who gave their strength and fortitude to the founding of Adams County's most typical New England community, a community where New England ideals and principles have largely predominated down to the present time. Mr. Starr is the only son of the Adams County pioneer, Col. Richard William Starr.

Colonel Starr was born at Guilford, Connecticut, April 30, 1809. IIe was descended from Dr. William Starr, of Ashford, County Kent, England, who settled at Guilford, Connecticut, as early as 1640. At least one uncle of Colonel Starr served in the Revolutionary war. Richard W. Starr began teaching when only seventeen years of age. At the age of twenty-two, in 1831, he went to Erie, Pennsylvania, and resumed his work as a teacher there for about two years. In the fall of 1833 he made the long and toilsome journey to Western Illinois. Ile was attracted to Adams County no doubt by the pres- ence here of a Guilford, Connecticut, colony headed by Col. John B. Chittenden, who had come to this county two years previously and was the founder of the Village of Mendon. Arriving in this community Colonel Starr entered and bought 160 acres of Government land at the regular price of $1.25 per acre. He then started back for Connecticut. The entire distance he traversed on horseback, having as companions two other young men of old Connecticut, Chester Talcott and Henry Fowler.

At Guilford, Connecticut, April 27, 1834, Richard W. Starr married Sarah Robinson Benton. She was born October 11, 1811, and was a niece of Colonel Chittenden, whose wife was a Robinson.

Immediately after their marriage they started west to their new home, a wedding tour such as was not unusual in that time and generation, but one involving more hardships than most bridal couples of the present day would care to endure. The entire journey across half the continent to Adams County was made by water. Accompanying them were several other Con- necticut people, including some members of the Benton family. There is an interesting letter extant, dated at Quincy, June 12, 1834, which recounts the interesting features of this journey and serves to tell how it was possible at that time to travel from Connectient to Adams County entirely by water. Of course a railroad journey for any part of the distance was out of question. The first stage was made by boat over the Long Island Sound, thence up the Hudson

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River, from Albany to Buffalo by the Eric Canal, across Lake Erie probably to Cleveland, where they re-embarked on a canal boat down the Ohio and Erie Canal to Cincinnati. Thence they went down the Ohio River and came up the Mississippi to Quincy. It was a voyage of a month, involving three weeks of constant travel and a week spent in the transfer points along the way.

During his previous visit to the county Mr. Starr had contracted with a man to erect a cabin on his land. But as is often the case the contractor had failed to perform his duty, and not a single stick of timber had been cut for the purpose. In absence of such a shelter Colonel Starr and his bride lived during the summer with her unele, Colonel Chittenden, three miles away. The husband spent many busy days in building his cabin and by fall it was ready for occupancy. The following winter was a very severe one, and as the house was not tightly constructed the snow frequently drifted in and covered the floor. Their situation was also a lonely one, and their nearest neighbor was the Chittendens three miles away. But both of them were strong and vigorous, in the prime of life, and had the determination and courage that enabled them to endure and make a cheerful lot of their pioneer circumstances. In the thirteen years that Colonel Starr was permitted to live he put forth strenuous exertions and improved his land in many ways. In 1841 he erected a com- fortable frame house. He had had some experience in surveying and possessed a set of instruments, and was therefore frequently asked to perform work of this kind. He assisted in platting the Village of Mendon, which was originally called the Bear Creek Settlement and later Fairfield. The events of the Black Hawk war were still fresh, and every western community had its military organization. Mr. Starr was active in such matters and Gov. Thomas Curtin in 1841 appointed him colonel of the Thirty-seventh Regiment of Militia. He held that rank and responsibility until his death. His sword is still owned by his son. A vacancy also occurred in the district representation of Adams County in the State Legislature, and in 1839 Colonel Starr was appointed to fill that vacancy. He became a member of the first Legislature that met in session at the new capital at Springfield, and was there when Abraham Lincoln was also a member of the House and Stephen H. Douglas state senator. During the '30s, as is well known, Illinois like other western states had entered upon a great program of internal improvement. The tasks undertaken were greater than the meager resources of the state justified, and furthermore much reck- less appropriation and expenditure had been permitted, so that about the time Colonel Starr entered upon his legislative career railroads and canals had come to be regarded as an expensive luxury. Therefore, in 1840, when he was a candidate for re-election he made his platform one of opposition to further railroad grants and increased taxation, and on that platform he was easily elected. He was also re-elected in 1842. His name appeared on the whig ticket, and he was an active partisan of that party. Colonel Starr died in 1846. His death was the result of a chill following overheating in the harvest field. He came of a family noted for its longevity, both his parents living to past ninety, and his untimely death therefore ent short a career which was just be- ginning to be useful. He possessed a keen mind, and it was well enltivated by extensive reading. Colonel Starr had a fine collection of books. such as was seldom found in the country homes of Illinois at that time. It included a copy of the Iliad, Plutareh's Lives, the Works of Joseplins, one or two histories of Rome, and was also rich in the standard English authors, including Shakespeare, Cowper, Burns and Byron. All these books he knew as few men now know them, and his conversation as well as his formal utterances from the public platform were adorned and elucidated by ready quotations from his favorite authors.

Colonel and Mrs. Starr had four children: Susan Maria, who died in in- fancy: Sarah Cornelia, who lives at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, widow of Walter R. Kingsbury; Caroline Elizabeth, who resides at Oak Park, Illinois, widow of Moses J. Fitch ; and Richard Burgis. the only son.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 35

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