Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 45

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 45

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WILLIAM Loos. One of the family names that has been longest identified with Adams County and which bears a record of many interesting and impor- tant activities is that of Loos. One of the family is Mr. William Loos, an active farmer for many years, but now living retired at 515 South Twelfth Street in Quincy.

He is a son of Michael Loos, who was born in Frankisch Grumbach, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, September 16, 1815, and died in 1872. He grew up and received his education in Germany. He worked there in a slate quarry for the father of John Speckhart, one of the prominent citizens of Adams County. Mr. Speckhart paid Michael's passage to America at the same time that Speck- hart himself came to this country. Michael left Germany just before the call to service in the regular army. In Melrose Township he married Mary Walt- hous. She was sixteen years of age at the time of her marriage and had come to this country from Bieberau, Hesse Darmstadt, at the age of four years. Her parents were Henry and Elizabeth Walthous, who lived on Mill Creek in this county for a number of years. Henry Walthous after the death of his wife built a log honse at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Loos, and lived there until his death at the age of eighty-four.

Michael Loos was first employed in a brick yard in Quincy and during the winters worked in the porkhouse. He often told his children how he shoveled bones into the river, and frequently filled farmers' wagons with them simply to get rid of what was then a waste by-product. In this way he worked for about six years. After his marriage he bought eighty acres of land now owned by his son William. It was in the woods, only a few acres cleared, and he took his wife into a rude log house. It contained one room, and was overrun with mice. Michael Loos later sent money back to Germany to pay the passage of his parents, Peter and Barbara Loos. Peter Loos was a skillful carpenter and built for his son a good log house, and helped build several other houses and barns in the neighborhood. In the course of time Michael Loos had his farm cleared off and he built the present house and barn on the place. William Loos recalls well when the present house and barn were built, since he was then wearing his first trousers, and while crossing a branch to show them to the car- penters he fell in the water and got wet. Michael Loos kept adding to his holdings until he had 231 acres, most of it improved and under cultivation dur- ing his lifetime. He was noted as one of the best and most successful farmers in that neighborhood. When he first bought land he borrowed $100. The note he gave was discounted so that he received only eighty dollars in cash, but he paid interest on the entire $100 at the rate of ten per cent, which was then not uncommon in such financial transactions. Several of Michael's broth- ers came to Adams County. One of them, John, was a tailor at Quincy where he died. Fred lived on a farm in Fall Creek Township but later moved to Carroll County, Missouri, where he died. Louis was crossing the Mississippi River on a skiff when it was overturned beside a big boat and he was drowned, his body never being recovered. Michael Loos and wife spent their last years on the old farm. His widow survived him until April, 1912, passing away at the age of eighty-four.

Mr. William Loos was born October 25, 1852, in the log house on the old farm, the structure which his grandfather had built. For a time he and John Hass were in the picture framing business in Quincy, then he worked for his brother Fred on a farm. At the death of his father his brother Philip secured the old homestead. Later William Loos with the aid of his mother bought out the interest of Philip, securing 118 acres of the old farm. His mother remained as his housekeeper until Mr. William Loos married, May 22, 1881, Miss Anna Geberzahn. She was born in Nassau, Germany, June 4, 1860, and was sixteen

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years of age when she came to New York City with her sister. Mr. William Loos continued farming actively until 1913, when he retired and moved to Quincy, but still owns the old farm. He is a democrat and has filled several offices in his township.

Mr. and Mrs. William Loos have an interesting family of children: Mary, the oldest, is unmarried and lives at Tacoma, Washington. Thomas, of Quincy, married Elsie Leppert, and has one child, Allen William Frederick Loos. Emma is the wife of Charles Politsch, of Quincy. David, a farmer at Marblehead, married Elva Brown, and had three children, Gerry, Joseph and E. Leroy, the latter of whom died at the age of eighteen months. Mathias now lives on the old home farm and by his marriage to Margaret Bock has three children, Roger William, Velma Anna Elizabeth and Calvin. The five younger children of Mr. and Mrs. William Loos are Ernst, Joseph, John, Lillie and Pauline. It is a matter of pride to the family that three of the sons are helping the gov- ermnent in the war. Ernst is now in France with Company L of the Three Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment of Infantry. Joseph is with Head- quarters Company of the Second Regiment of Infantry. John is in the em- ployment of the government as a plumber at the Roek Island Arsenal.

LOUIS A. SCHUTTE is now proprietor of one of the oldest industries of Quincy. A few years ago he succeeded the older firm of Henry Schutte Sons, manufacturers of furniture, sash, doors and blinds, and all classes of high grade exterior and interior finish for stores and dwellings. It is a highly spe- cialized concern, and turns out much of the best grade of work done by any factory along the Mississippi River. The factory is at 1218 South Ninth Street. Mr. Schutte furnishes a large amount of woodwork used in shops, stores and homes.

This business was established by his father, Henry Schutte, more than fifty years ago. At first it was little more than a cabinet maker's or carpenter's shop. Henry Schutte had his home on the same lot with his factory, and there his children were born and reared.

Henry Schutte was born in Germany in 1839 of Protestant German parents who spent their lives in the old country. He lived there until he was eighteen years of age, when he took passage on a sailing vessel and started for the United States. The boat eneountered severe storms, and it was fourteen weeks before he was landed at New Orleans. From there he went up the river to St. Louis, and a few weeks later came to Quincy. Here he learned his trade in the furni- ture factory of Mr. Singer. When his apprenticeship days were finished he started on his own account at Eighth and Jackson streets, and two years later moved to the corner of Adams and Ninth streets. When he began work furni- tnre making was almost entirely a hand process. When he did introduce ma- chinery it was horse power and he continued to use horse driven machinery for twenty-five years. He was an expert workman, and took a great deal of care in turning out finished products, for which there was a demand as large as he could furnish. From time to time he introduced better machinery, and Mr. Louis Schutte about four years ago installed electric power in the factory.

Henry Schutte died November 28, 1910, at the age of seventy-two. After coming to Quincy he married Miss Rica Hagerbaumer. She was born in Ger- many in 1846 and was about ten or twelve years of age when her parents came to the United States and settled at Quincy. Her father. William Hagerbammer, died in Quiney March 4, 1901, and her mother died here a number of years ago. They were members of the Salem Lutheran Church, as were Henry Schutte and wife. Mrs. Henry Schutte died June 1, 1907. All these older people are now at rest in the Green Mount Cemetery.

Henry Schutte and wife had nine children, two of whom, Frank and Emma, died in childhood. Henry, Jr., is now a farmer on South Twenty-fourth Street in Adams County and has two sons, Walter and Gustave. Edward is also a farmer, living on North Thirty-sixth Street, and has two sons, Edwin and

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Arthur, Edwin being a soldier. The next in age is Mr. Louis Sehutte. Wil- liam, formerly associated as one of Henry Schutte Sons, is a resident of Quiney and is the father of five sons, Alfred, Irwin, Elmer, Clarence and Earl, Alfred being in the National Army. Lena is the wife of William Miller, a farmer in Payson Township of this county, and they have nine children. Charles is a woodworker living in Quincy and has a family. Anna married Louis Reiek- sick, an Adams County farmer, and they have two sons and a daughter.

Mr. Louis Schutte was born at the old home, on the site of his present fur- niture factory, December 9, 1868. As he grew to manhood he was educated in the city sehools, and served a thorough apprenticeship at the eabinet mak- ing and furniture trade. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty he worked in the Loeher furniture factory. He then joined his cousin, William Schutte, in the old plant of his father, and they were actively associated from 1897 until 1903. At that date William Sehutte took over the business, and Louis Schutte remained in his employ until 1907. In that year Mr. Louis Sehutte sueeeeded to the ownership, and has continued the business with inereasing prosperity.

In 1893, at Quiney, Mr. Schutte married Miss Catherine Spilker. She was born in Quiney in August, 1869, and was reared and educated here. Her par- ents were William and Elizabeth Spilker, both natives of Germany, and eom- ing to America when young. They were married in Quiney and her father died twenty-five years ago, while her mother is still living in Quincy at the age of seventy-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Sehutte have one son, Louis H., who was born in this city July 11, 1901, and after completing his edueation in the grammar schools went to work for his father, and is now diligently aequiring a knowledge of the furniture manufacturing business. The family are all mem- bers of the Salem Lutheran Church. Mr. Sehutte is a republican.

WILLIAM H. HEIDBREDER. The successful manufacturing enterprises in operation at Quincy have long been among the city's most important interests, and an old established house here is the Gem City Stove Manufacturing Com- pany, with which William H. Heidbreder is secretary and has been identified continuously sinee 1886.

William H. Heidbreder was born at Quincy, Illinois, May 14, 1868. His parents were J. Herman and Anna (Junka) Heidbreder, who were the parents of eleven children, the survivors of the family being: Walter A., who is assist- ant cashier of the State Street Bank, Quiney ; William H. ; Mrs. Clara M. Spriek ; ITarry J., of Quincy; Minnie, now Mrs. Christopher Seifert, of Quiney; and Alma, who is the wife of M. M. Hess, of Canada. The parents of the above family were natives of Germany. In 1831 the father, then a boy, aeeompanied his parents to the United States and to Quiney. and shortly afterward was left an orphan. There are few of the older residents here who do not remem- ber some of the hardships the youth bravely and courageously overeame and how his progress was steady in its path from a humble position to a foremost place among the city's most able and most respected citizenship. For a num- ber of years he was eashier of the State Street Bank, of which he was one of the founders. He was a man of high principles and left an unblemished record behind him. He died in 1907.

William H. Ileidbreder was educated in his native city, and on completing the publie sehool course, spent a year in the Gem City Business College. In 1886 he entered the employ of the Gem City Stove Manufacturing Company as bookkeeper and has never since severed his relations, the esteem and eon- fidenee that he entertains for his associates of so many years standing being entirely reciprocated. Through one advance after another Mr.' Heidbreder has become secretary of this large concern and is recognized as one of Quincy's stable business men.

William H. Heidbreder was married October 2, 1899, to Miss Anna C. Hoel- scher, who was born at Quincy, a daughter of Bernard Hoelscher, one of the old and respected citizens. They have two children, a son and daughter:

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Willis H. and Ruth Florence. Mr. Heidbreder and family are members of the Lutheran Memorial Church at Quincy. He is identified politically with the republican party because he is in sympathy with its principles, but he is not unduly active, as business interests him more than party struggles for public preferment, in which direction he has no ambition.

GEORGE W. MORGAN. Seventy years ago the Morgan family from Kentucky came into Adams County. There are several interesting personages of this name in the subsequent history of Richfield and adjoining townships, and it is also worth while to note in general the value of their residence and the effective- ness of their labors in reclaiming a large tract of land from the wilderness and in promoting those benefits which the people of the present generation enjoy. It cannot be too frequently emphasized that what is today is in a large degree the product of the past. Fertile fields, easily cultivated, and responding with huge erops, are in many cases a product of the most strenuous toil on the part of the first possessors of the land. George W. Morgan has a notable record himself as a clearer of land in Adams County. Many rich acres had the woods and brush removed, the stumps pulled and the wild soil tamed by his direct effort. That is not the least of his claims to distinction as one of the pioneers. Mr. Morgan has for many years lived retired from the heavy activities of farm- ing, and is now a resident of Plainville.

He was born in LaRue County, Kentucky, September 3, 1835, and as a boy he doubtless saw many times the same scenes upon which Abraham Lincoln looked out as a child, since both were natives of the same county. His father, Charles Morgan, was born in the same County of Kentucky May 18, 1805. In 1847 he brought his family to Illinois, coming to Adams County from St. Louis. His wife's brother, Frank Gilkey, was at that time living in Richfield Town- ship. Charles Morgan acquired a tract of 160 acres in section 17 of Richfield. This was heavily timbered land and he built a log house in which he lived until his death. In the meantime he had cleared np and put in cultivation fully fifty acres. He died February 21, 1897, in his eighty-second year. He was a member of the Christian Church and in politics a republican. In 1831 he married Nancy Redmond. She died April 20, 1839, the mother of five children, noted briefly as follows: Mary Jane, who married Joseph MeMellen, and died when past sixty years of age: Julia Ann married Alexander Henry and died when past fifty ; George W. is the third in age: John went to Kansas when a young man, and is now living in Los Angeles, California; Franklin also went to Kansas and died in that state when past seventy. On October 26, 1840, Charles Morgan married Elizabeth Gilkey. She was a remarkable woman in her vitality, and at her death March 19, 1907, was in her ninety-ninth year. Six children were born to her, but the only one to reach maturity was William, who lived a bachelor and died at the home of his brother George in Richfield Township March 28, 1914. He was born Jannary 6, 1843.

All the four sons of Charles Morgan just mentioned were soldiers in the Union army. Frank and George W. were together as comrades in Company F of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, spent much of their time at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and were discharged on the same day. The brother John served in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois and was with the army until the close of hostilities. The half-brother, William, went into the army at the last call in 1864, and remained until the close. None of the boys were ever wounded or captured.

George W. Morgan was a boy when brought to Adams County, and he grew up on the pioneer farm in Richfield Township. He and his brother William finally bought out the interests of the other heirs and owned the homestead. Later George bought out his brother's interest, and eventually increased his holdings until he had 200 acres. He used the strength of his early days for clearing np much land. He bought at first thirty acres of timber, cleared it off, then bought another thirty acres, and in time a large and well proportioned

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farm had responded to his efforts. Mr. Morgan put down an artesian well on his farm, to a depth of 202 feet, and had an unfailing supply of water thirty feet from the surface. It is one of the best wells in the entire township. Of the 120 acres contained in the old homestead Mr. Morgan has sinee made a gift of that to his adopted son Fred Morgan, who still owns and occupies it. Mr. Morgan for fifty years lived on the eighty aeres of his own purchase, adjoining the homestead. His son Fred has built a fine home on the old place, and has increased his holdings to 205 aeres. Mr. George W. Morgan creeted a good set of buildings on his plaec. Six years ago he left it to live retired in Plainville. He has always been a steadfast republiean. His father was a demoerat until the Civil war, and then went over with all his influence and convictions into the republiean ranks.

At the age of twenty-four Mr. Morgan married Adeline Cleveland of Rich- field Township. She died when about thirty years of age, and none of her children reached maturity. On May 28, 1882, Mr. Morgan married Lydia Haws. She was born in West Virginia March 12, 1850, and came to Plainville with her parents at the age of seventeen. She was a daughter of George and Eve Haws, the former a carpenter, and both of whom died at Plainville. Mr. Morgan has no living children and his adopted son Fred eame into the Morgan home at infaney at the death of his mother. Fred was a son of John and Melissa (Cleveland) Proctor. He was earefully reared and trained, and some years ago received as his personal property the fine old Morgan homestead. Mr. Morgan presented him with that property about the time of his marriage. Fred Morgan married Maud House, and they have three sons: George Olan, now a student in the Illinois State University ; Kenneth, a student in Chaddoek Boys School at Quiney ; and Fred, who was born October 8, 1916.

Mr. George W. Morgan has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Richfield for sixty-five years, and his wife is also a member of the same ehureh. He is affiliated with William Larimore Post of the Grand Army at Plainville.

JULIUS C. STUCKMAN, a wholesale groeer of Quiney, was a boy when his father died, and immediately had to turn his energies to aceount in helping support his widowed mother and brothers and sisters. Even as a boy he mani- fested a keen ability as a trader, and has practically always been a business man. However, he had to work hard and exercise constant ingenuity and thrift in order to unlock the door of sueeess. He was an employee for many years, made good in all his positions, and finally established himself in business. He started with a modest stoek and in quarters only half the size of his present establish- ment, and has more than donbled his trade and has earned a comfortable com- petenee.

His establishment is located at the corner of Ninth and State streets, in a building 62 by 80 feet. As a jobber he distributes goods among the retail merchants of a large surrounding territory.

Mr. Stuekman was born on Washington Street in Quiney October 18, 1877, and had a publie school education only a few years. Before he was sixteen years old he went to work in the wholesale firm of J. A. Kespohl & Company, and during the next four years aequired much knowledge and experience that have been of value to him. He was then with the Warfield Grocery Company about a year, until the firm sold out to the Quincy Grocery Company. A little later he entered the serviee of Nicholas Kohl, a wholesale grocer, and was in his employ for nearly eighteen years as a salesman. His savings and his ex- perienee with this firm he capitalized when he went into business for himself.

His father, August Stuckman, was born in Preis Minden, Germany, in 1850. His parents were German Lutherans and both died in the old country when he was a small boy. At the age of fourteen he eame to the United States alone to join his two brothers, Henry and Simon, who left the old country in order to avoid enforeed military duty and located in Quiney. Here all the brothers

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spent the rest of their years. Henry and Simon never married. August Stuck- man completed his education after coming to Quincy, attending night school, and for a time worked as foreman for a large coal company, and later was salesman for the wholesale firm of Feckler & Figgan. He was with them steadily for twelve years, and was on a fair road toward prosperity when he was taken ill and died in 1887, at the age of thirty-seven. He was a Lutheran and very active in Odd Fellowship circles. In politics he voted as a republican. August Stuckman married in Quincy Lotta Meyer. Her parents came from Germany. She is still living at the age of sixty-six and is a member of the Salem Lutheran Church. Her children were: Lenna, wife of Fred Westerman and the mother. of two children, Alvin and Meryle; Julius C .; Charles, who died young ; Matilda wife of William Waldhouse, of Quincy; Charles, second of the name, who also died young : August W., who is living in Quincy and is married; Edward W., who makes his home with his brother Julius: and Walter, who died in boyhood.

May 12, 1903, at Quincey, Julius C. Stnekman married Matilda Holtman. She was born on Jefferson Street in Quincy and was well educated while grow- ing to womanhood. Her parents, William and Henrietta (Stucksick) Holtman, were born in Prussia, Germany, and came to this country when young, being married in St. Louis, and soon afterwards removing to Quincy, where they are still living, her father at the age of eighty-one and her mother at seventy-nine. They are members of the Salem-Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Stuekman have a daughter, May Matilda, born August 25, 1909, who has exemplified un- usual scholarship and is now a student in the fourth grade of the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Stuckman are members of the Salem Lutheran Church. He is affiliated with the Travelers Protective Association.

EDWIN MERLE OGLE. For thirty years the business of the railroad company at Paloma has been transacted through the medium of the Ogle family. Thomas P. Ogle was operator and station agent there twenty years, and Edwin Merle Ogle succeeded to those responsibilities and has been in active charge of the railway station for the past ten years.

Edwin Merle Ogle was born at Paloma December 12, 1888, son of Thomas P. Ogle. The latter was born half a mile south of Paloma, and married Lulu Hayden of New Canton, formerly of New London, Missouri. Thomas P. Ogle began his work as a railway employe at New Canton in Pike County, Illinois, and three or four years later was transferred to Paloma, where he was railway agent and operator from 1887 to 1908. He lives in Quincy.

Edwin Merle Ogle attended the Maplewood High School at Camp Point, and had some unusual opportunities to acquire a knowledge of telegraphy, since he spent much of his time as a boy around the station with his father. For a time he served as night operator under his father, and six months later became successor to the business at Paloma. He is active in all local affairs, is treasurer of the local chapter of the Red Cross and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ogle married April 5, 1916, Miss Golden Yeargain. Mrs. Ogle is a daughter of T. M. Yeargain and a member of that old and prominent family of Adams County, the complete records of the Yeargains being found on other pages.

WILLIAM D. MEYER is one of the leading manufacturers of and dealers in lime, crushed limestone. cement and other building materials, as well as wood and coal, at Quincy. The manufacture of lime has been associated with the Meyer family at Quincy for over fifty years, his father having conducted some of the pioneer lime kilns in Adams County.

Quincy is the birthplace of William D. Meyer, where he was born September 11, 1870. He and his brother and sister were born opposite the old City Market at 622 Payson Street. His parents were William D. and Mary Meyer. His father was born near Berlin, Germany, and grew to manhood there, where he learned the trade of making rye coffee. At the age of twenty-one he came to

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the United States and found employment near Quincy as a farm laborer. He also worked in a local pork paeking establishment for a time. In 1860 he began burning lime on the hills along the Mississippi River. One of his old lime kilns is still standing. He also handled imported cement, and was active in the business until he retired on account of failing health and in 1891 gave his son William a start in the same business. He died February 9, 1903, lacking only a few days of the age of seventy years. He married in Quiney Mary Benhoff Giesecke, who was born in Westphalia, Germany, and came to America when a young woman. She celebrated her eighty-eighth birthday on May 22, 1918. She lost her first husband, Mr. Giesecke, and several of her children during the terrible cholera epidemic at St. Louis in 1848-49. By her marriage to William D. Meyer, Sr., she had three children : Julia, wife of Fred Dralle of 804 Payson Avenne in Quiney, and mother of two daughters, Mary and Lillian ; and Angust F., who is a farmer in Ellington Township of this county and has two children, Harvey and Ella.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 45

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