USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 41
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August R. Dick was educated in Saint Francis' College, and subsequently learned the brewing and milling trade under his uncle's wise supervision. In 1902 he became secretary in the old firm of Dick Brothers, and subsequently, after the death of the two remaining members of the firm, the present firm of Dick Brothers was established, its members consisting of one son of each of the former members of the organization. The new firm sold the milling plant and has since confined its activities to the brewing business, which it carries on suc- cessfully, its large plant covering one whole block and being amply furnished with buildings for all departments, including a brewery, ice house, bottling house and warehouse. As president of the company, Mr. Dick is devoting his time and energies to the development and advancement of its interests, and is widely recognized as a practical and successful business man.
GEORGE WILLIAM MENKE. In the building material line few firms at Quincy have made more substantial progress than the F. W. Menke Stone & Lime Com- pany, of which George William Menke is president. It was founded many years ago by his father and on such a sound basis that it has continued to expand
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until its plant covers a wide area at Quiney and has the best of transportation facilities. George William Menke became president of the concern on the death of his father, having previously been secretary, and has been identified with the business all his aetive life.
George William Menke was born at Quincy, November 6, 1858. IIis parents were Frederick W. and Louisa (Wulfmeyer) Menke, both of whom were born in Germany, the father on August 12, 1832, and twenty years later he eame to the United States and by way of New Orleans and the Mississippi River reached his objective point, Quincy. Illinois. This city remained his chosen home during the rest of a busy and useful life. He became a leading factor in the stone industry and for many years was the contractor entrusted with the construction of numerous publie buildings as well as private residences not only at Quiney but in neighboring eities. He became a man of importance also in local polities and in 1899 was urged to become the republican candidate for mayor. He served in numerous offices of trust and responsibility and his ap- pointment as one of the commissioners of the insane asylum at Peoria, in 1897, was very generally commended because of his high personal character. In 1855 he was married to Louisa Wulfmeyer, who died at Quincy June 28, 1916, and the following children were born to them: Amelia, who is the widow of Frank Hagenbruch, of Los Angeles, California; George W., Edward H. and John H., all of Quiney; Annie, who is the wife of Edward Ruff, of Quincy ; Frederick C .; and Benjamin, who died in infaney.
George William Menke attended the public schools and then took a com- mercial course in the Gem City Business College, following which he began to assist his father and has continued in the stone and lime business ever since. Inheriting business tendencies, he has developed his talents and is now num- bered with the sound, reliable, judicious men of business here.
Mr. Menke was married in November, 1884, to Miss Sophia H. Brelim, who was born at Warsaw, Illinois. They have three children, two sons and one daughter, namely : Edgar; Helen, who is the wife of William Rupp, Jr .; and Ralph B., all of whom were educated here and still reside at Quincy. The family attends the Congregational Church. Politically Mr. Menke is a repub- liean and fraternally is a Mason. He has never accepted any publie office but every moment that promises to be beneficial to the eity may be sure of his interest and, if his judgment approves, of his hearty support.
JOSEPIT J. MICHAEL. The prominent, progressive and useful citizens of Quiney have no more worthy representative than Joseph J. Michael, who, though now practically retired from active pursuits, is officially and financially connected with many of the leading business organizations of eity, and is ever a generous contributor to projeets tending toward the betterment of the community. A native of Quincy, his birth occurred March 25, 1856.
Herman H. Michael, Mr. Michael's father, was born in Hanover, Germany, and as a child was brought by his parents to America. Brought up in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, he served an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, which he after- wards followed for a time in Chicago. Coming from there to Quincy about 1852, he continued as a cooper until the introduction of machinery for making barrels, when he retired from business. IIe continued his residence in Quiney, however, until his death, November 8, 1909. He married Bernardine Klathe. who was born in Oldenburg, Germany, and died, May 14, 1917. in Quiney. Nine children blessed their marriage, as follows: Joseph J .: Anna, wife of Fred Ruten, of Quincy ; John B., whose death occurred October 18, 1915; Eliza- beth, living in Quincy : Rev. William Michael, pastor of a church at Carlin- ville, Illinois: Henry H., of Quincy; Mrs. Katherine Brinks, of Quincy ; and Frank and Edward. who died in infancy.
Wishing to partly pay his way through college, Joseph J. Michael worked when he had leisure, being employed during the summer of 1868 in his father's cooper shop. During the summer of 1869 he worked for Flachs & Reiman in
& Michael
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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their soap factory on Cherry Lane, and during 1870 was employed as gardener in Henry Bull's greenhouse. Taking up brick laying, Mr. Michael served an apprenticeship of three years, from 1871 to 1874, and as journeyman from 1874 to 1877, during which time he helped build church and college buildings in Carthage, Illinois. While employed as a journeyman worker he lived as best he could, sleeping many times in hay mows when in the country. For several years during the winter months of his journeymanship as bricklayer he worked in the pork-packing establishment of Vanden Boom & Blomer in all its various departments. During the year 1877 Mr. Michael was shipping clerk in Bonnet Duffy & Company's Stove Foundry, and the following year began work as a building contractor, during the years 1878 to 1881 ereeting many buildings in this city and in Creston, Iowa. IIe next entered the office of the pork-packing firm of Vanden Boom & Blomer for one year. From 1882 to 1913 he was engaged in business as meat packer, being junior member of the firm Blomer, Wolf & Michael, the plant being located on Front Street between Washington and Payson Avenue. At the end of eight years Mr. Wolf retired and the busi- ness was continued under the name of Blomer & Michael until January 10, 1899, when they applied for incorporation papers under the name of Blomer & Michael Co. On February 14, 1913, their packing plant was destroyed by fire and not rebuilt. Since that time Mr. Michael has lived retired, devoting his time and attention to his private affairs. He resides at his attractive home at 1535 Broadway, which he built in 1892.
Mr. Michael is vice president of the Mercantile Trust and Savings Bank, director of the Broadway Bank; president of the Michaelman Steel Con- struction Company; a stockholder in the Ricker National Bank, seeretary of the Quincey Grocery Company and director of the Germania Publishing Com- pany.
Mr. Michael has been twice married. He married first Katherine Altmix. She died June 5, 1896, in early womanhood. She was the mother of six chil- dren, namely: Joseph, deceased ; Hubert J., with Swift & Company of East St. Louis; Clara, with the Mercantile Trust & Savings Bank, Quincy, Illinois ; Roman W., in the Navy; Gertrude, a graduate of the Loyola University School of Sociology, holds a position as social service worker with the Lincoln Dis- pensary connected with the Chicago School of Medicine and Surgery, Chi- cago ; and Paul, deceased. Mr. Michael married second, June 24, 1897, Elizabeth Tushaus, a native of Quincy, and of their union five children have been born, namely: Genevieve, a son Edward who died in infancy, Pauline, Henrietta and Josephine. Religiously Mr. Michael is an active and valued member of St. Francis Church, and prominent in its affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Western Catholic Union, St. Francis Men's So- ciety, St. Mary's Hospital Ambulance Society and St. Aloysious Orphan Society, Administration Board. Mr. Michael has been in poor health for the past six years. Only recently, by taking an X ray of his viscera the nature of his ail- ment was discovered and he is now convalescing.
HERMAN H. HENHOFF. The kind of public spirit which constantly plans for the community welfare and is prodigal of personal time, means and energy in getting the plans carried out are characteristics of Herman H. Henhoff's citizenship in Adams County. Mr. Henhoff is one of the most successful farmers, fruit growers and gardeners in the vicinity of Quincy, but the sue- cessful management of his enterprises has also been accompanied by a constant readiness to leave his own interests and work heart and soul for something he thought his township or community ought to have. It is the manifestation of that spirit which makes him so valuable in his present office as supervisor of Riverside Township.
Mr. Henhoff is one of the native sons of Adams County, and was born here February 19, 1866. His parents were Frederick and Anna (Tappe) Henhoff. His father was brought when a child from his native Germany and the Henhoff
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family sought as their new home in the new world Adams County. Here he grew to manhood, being educated both in the English and German languages. He was a successful farmer and gardener and a member of the German Luth- eran Church, as was his wife. In polities he voted as a republican. When he left home to earn his own way his first wages were 25 cents a day. He sacri- ficed comfort, economized, worked early and late and subsequently accumulated a fine farm of 160 aeres in Ellington Township. He was a man of honor and respected by all. He and his wife are now at rest in the Green Mount Ceme- tery, where a family monument marks their resting place. His wife was also born in Germany. She made herself known not only through her family but to a large community as a kind and affectionate mother and ever ready to help the poor and needy. They were the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, seven of whom are living and all residents of Adams County except a daughter, Mattie, wife of Frank More, who resides at Springfield, Illinois.
Herman H. Henhoff was reared on his father's farm and as a boy acquired a practical knowledge of field and garden culture and fruit growing, which has ;been his own chief industry in life. After the common school he attended Nor- mal School at Wilmot, Iowa.
March 13, 1895, Mr. Henhoff married Miss Laura R. E. Bredeweg. Three children were born to their union, two sons and one danghter. Two are still living. Raymond G. is actively associated with his father in gardening and fruit growing. He is a republican and a member of the Lutheran Memorial Church at Quincy. The daughter, Mabel, was educated in the common schools and one term in the Quiney High School, and is still at home. She is a member of the Lutheran Memorial Church.
Mrs. Henhoff was born in Adams County February 4, 1872, daughter of Garrett and Minnie (Stieghorst) Bredeweg. She was one of eight children and all are living in Adams County except Anna, wife of F. W. Schulte, now a retired resident at St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Henhoff's mother was from Bil- dorf, Germany, and her father came from one of the provinces of Holland, and both are now deceased. They crossed the Atlantic in the days of sailing vessels and were from eight to eleven weeks on the voyage. Mrs. Henhoff was educated in the common schools of Adams County and has been indefatigable in all her duties as a home maker and as a member of her social community.
Mr. Henhoff east his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison and has always heen a staneh supporter of republican principles. He has been selected as a delegate to county conventions, and has long been recognized as a valuable man to his party. For three terms, nine years, he served as highway commis- sioner. A great deal was done during that time to forward the work of good road building and maintenance, and whether officially or as a private citizen Mr. Henhoff has been a steady advocate of good country highways. He also served three years as a school trustee. In 1918 he was re-elected to the office of township supervisor, and has used his influence in that office to promote many progressive improvements. Under his administration the fine concrete bridge on Fifth Street was built at a cost of $2,280.
Mr. and Mrs. Henhoff are members of the Lntheran Memorial Church at Quiney. Their beautiful farm is just a mile from the city limits of Quincy. It comprises twenty acres, a large part of which is devoted to the growing of fruits and intensive cultivation of erops. It is well named Maple Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Henhoff have also worked hard, have earned the comforts and luxuries of life, and have made a wise use of their means. They are both fond of travel and in 1909 accompanied by their children they toured the country to the Pacific Coast, visiting the cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Salt Lake City, also Berkeley and Oakland and Catalina Island. This was a journey which gives them constant pleasure of recollection.
WILLIAM ALANSON EDWARDS. Prominently engaged in farming, one of the most enterprising and progressive men of Riverside Township, well educated
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and still eager to inerease his fund of practical general information, carnestly interested in the public affairs of his township and county, William Alanson Edwards has exemplified during his life many of the best, the most admirable and most useful traits of character and attributes of citizenship.
He was born in Adams County March 6, 1865. His father, Paul Edwards, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 12, 1820, and was very young when his parents brought him to Adams County, Illinois. This county was then only a few years distant from its frontier conditions. He grew up here in pio- neer environment, was educated in the common schools, for a number of years was in the wood business and his first landed estate comprised sixty acres in what is now Riverside Township. His home there was a four-room brick build- ing. Quincy nearby was a small village. He lived a life of strenuous activity and yet attained an age which made him at the time of his death, on January 19, 1912, one of the very oldest men in the county. He was almost ninety- two when he passed away. He began voting as a whig and later was a stanch republican, though he had no interest in politics for the sake of office holding. He proved a stanch friend to the public schools. He married Mary Ellen Platt, who was born in Ohio. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Quincy. Both parents are now at rest in the Woodland Cemetery, where a monument marks the spot. Of their seven children, the only son was William Alanson. Four of his sisters are living and all residents of Adams County.
William A. Edwards grew up on the home farm in Adams County, and sinee leaving school has given his primary attention to fruit growing and gen- eral farming.
On November 1, 1892, he married Miss Anna B. Summers. To their mar- riage were born seven children, two sons and five daughters, all but one of them still living. Bessie L., Edna P., Eva V., Paul Richard, Letha and Stanley Roy comprise their names. Bessie is the wife of Raymond Kireher, an agri- culturist living in Ellington Township. Mr. Kircher is a Catholie. Edna and Eva have both completed their education in the common schools.
Mrs. Edwards was born in Adams County December 6, 1867, being the seventh of ten children, four sons and six daughters, both to Richard and Louisa (Triplett) Summers. Eight of these children are still living, four residents in Adams County. Her sister Alice lives at San Jose, California, wife of Thomas J. Streeter, and she is the mother of two children; Cornelia, also living at San Jose, is the wife of Ebenezer Stowe, a commercial traveler ; Isaac R. is foreman on electric lines and lives near East St. Louis, and has one son who is fighting with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, while another is in Washington, D. C. Charles A. Summers is an agriculturist and stock raiser at Bowling Green, Missouri, and has three children.
Richard Summers, father of Mrs. Edwards, had his home in Illinois from the age of fifteen. He owned land both in Melrose and Ellington townships. He acquired property in the latter in 1850 in what is now Riverside Township. He was born in 1818 and died in 1889, aged seventy-one. Politically he was a republican. His wife was a native of Pike County, Illinois, but grew up in Adams County. She was born January 1, 1832, and died in April, 1894. Both are now at rest in Woodland Cemetery.
Mrs. Edwards was edueated in the common sehools and at Chaddock College at Quiney one year. She has always had a keen intellectual interest not only in her home but in affairs about her. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ed- wards have worked together and cooperated in the establishment of their beau- tiful home and the rearing of their children. Politically Mr. Edwards is a republican, having east his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine. He has served as school trustee and tax collector. Both he and his wife are members of the Ellington Presbyterian Church and he is one of the official members. Mrs. Edwards is a member of the Woman's Home Improvement Association and of the Red Cross. Mr. Edwards as one of the leading fruit growers is a. member of the Adams County Farmers Improvement Association. Their beau-
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tiful farm, known as Maplehurst, lies two miles north of the city of Quiney, and it is a home in every sense of the word as well as a center of industry. They have a modern country residence, heated by furnace, lighted with acety- lene plant, have telephone, rural route delivery, and a touring car, thus com- bining the advantages of the country with those of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are people of cultivated minds and tastes, one evidence of which is a handsome collection of books constituting a library of about 300 volumes.
SELDON G. EAREL has lived in Adams County eighty years, was a pupil in some of the old time subscription schools, and is not only one of the oldest resi- dents but for many years one of the most industrious citizens of the county. He proved capable in the management of his business affairs as a farmer. and has made his prosperity of value not only to his family but to the community. Mr. and Mrs. Earel are among the oldest married couples in the county, having lived together as man and wife for over sixty years. Mrs. Earel is a native of this county, and the recollections of both perhaps travel back as far as those of any other living citizens.
Mr. Earel was born near Athens, Ohio, November 22, 1836. His birth occurred only four years after the Black Ilawk Indian war. IIe was a soldier in the Civil war and the family has a notable military record. Grandfather James Earel was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being a soldier under General Lafayette. His serviee entitles any of Mr. Earel's children to membership in the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. James Earel, Jr., father of Seldon G., was a native of Maryland, was reared there and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. For that service a grant of land was given him by the Government, located in Missouri. He was educated in the primitive schools of his day. After his marriage he brought his family to Adams County in 1838. He was one of the homesteaders of that period, acquiring eighty acres in Colum- bus Township. His first home there was a log cabin. James Earel, Jr., also served in the Mormon war and during this duty was at Nauvoo, where the Mormons had the center of their colony and started the erection of their temple. James Earel, due to exposure, contracted a cold or pneumonia and died in 1846. His wife, who was a native of Virginia, where she married, died in 1885. Both were members of the Baptist Church, and both are now at rest in graves on the old farm, where a monument marks their resting place. They were the parents of ten children, four sons and six danghters. Of these Seldon G. Earel was the eighth in order of birth and the only one now living.
Mr. Earel was two years old when his parents came to Adams County. Eighty years ago the county was just beginning its development. When the family came there were 500 Indians camped at West Quincy at different times, who came here to do their trading. The woods were full of deer, wolves and wild turkey, and Quincy, now a city of forty thousand, was only a village. Both Mr. and Mrs. Earel as children attended the old log cabin schools. They sat on the split log benches, received light for their studies from one long window at an end of the building, while at another end was a large fire place. They used the goose quill pen to write their copies, and one of the text books they especially remember was Webster's blue back speller.
Growing up in a pioneer environment, Mr. Earel naturally had the experi- ences and the occupations of the frontier. Many days he exerted his strength in the woods mauling rails at wages of 50 cents a day. The first land he bought was 160 acres covered with heavy timber in Columbus Township on McKee's Creek. He went in debt for that land, and he and his wife moved all their household goods in a wagon drawn by two horses. It was a cabin home with a clapboard roof, fireplace, with trundle beds for the children, and at night they had a dim light made from a wiek of twisted rags with one end in a saucer of grease.
On Christmas day, December 25, 1856, occurred the marriage of Mr. Earel and Miss Hannah M. Sammons, which was one of the interesting events of the community. Mrs. Earel was born in Columbus Township of Adams County
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October 10, 1838. Her parents were Isaae and Susan (Spenee) Sammons. Both parents were natives of Virginia, her father born in Greenbrier County. He was a farmer and died at his daughter's home in Adams County in 1893. Both are now at rest in Columbus Township. Mrs. Earel was one of ten chil- dren, all daughters but one. Her sister Abbie lives in Idaho, wife of Henry Johnson, a farmer. Her sister Laura Melvina is the widow of Mr. Belsford, a former judge of the County Court in Missouri. Emma is the widow of John Curry and lives in Harrisonville, Missouri. Olive is the widow of Theodore Seatheringill and lives in Chicago.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Earel were born six children, four sons and two daughters. Four of them are still living. Isaac J. is a sueeessful farmer in Burton Township and is a republican in polities. He married Miss Mollie W. Bredeweg and their two children are Rolla G. and Irma I. The daughter Mary A. is the wife of Dr. J. F. Cooper, of Hannibal, Missouri. Dr. Cooper has been a prominent citizen of Hannibal, is a physician, a democrat in politics, and was with the Americau army as captain in the medical service in France. Arlie M. is a successful real estate man in Quincy. He married Miss Ethel Chapman, and they have a daughter, Trula. His wife and daughter are members of the Methodist Church. Sala C., the youngest of the family, was educated in the com- mon schools and is a praetieal farmer in Riverside Township. He married Miss Edith Rood, and they have two children, Stanley and Velma. They are mem- bers of the Christian Church.
From the pursuits and occupations of his married life Mr. Earel was called away by patriotie duty when he enlisted in 1862 in Company F of the Seventy- eighth Illinois Infantry. This regiment became a part of General Buell's com- mand, and as second lieutenant he was with his regiment in some of the hard fought and strenuous campaigns until on account of illness he was granted his honorable discharge. One of the mementoes of the service he still preserves, a bomb shell which he picked up on the battlefield.
In 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Earel moved to Riverside Township. Here they erected a large brick residence which is one of the landmarks of that township and has been their home and center of family associations for over forty years. A num- ber of other buildings and improvements stand as evidence of his intelligent management as a farmer. Their home estate at present comprises twenty-five acres, devoted to the culture of fruit. They also own 200 acres in Ursa Town- ship, and recently sold a 160-acre farm in Burton Township for $12,000. Fifty years ago Mr. and Mrs. Earel were struggling to get a start, were living with the utmost thrift and economy, and all of this has borne fruit and given them an ample competenee for their needs and at the same time they have reared a splendid family of children. Mrs. Earel has been the standby of her husband in good times and bad, and Adams County presents no more beautiful illustration of the enduring ties that knit man and woman together in the long journey of life.
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