Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 73

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

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John F. Ross grew up on his father's farm, attended the local schools and also the Rushville High School, and had his training for his profession in the medical department of Washington University at St. Louis. He graduated M. D. in 1905, and then spent a year as interne in the Washington Heights University Hospital. Doctor Ross located at La Prairie in Adams County in 1906, and for the past ten years has enjoyed a very large and successful prac- tice. He is a member of the State and Medical societies, the American Medical Association, is affiliated with La Prairie Lodge of Odd Fellows, and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Golden. He votes as a republican, but has had no time to meddle with politics as a means of advancing himself to public office. On June 1, 1905, he married Miss Esther L. Smith, of St. Louis, Missouri. They have one daughter, Winifred, born November 17, 1909.

FRED A. BENEDICT is a retired resident of Quincy, owning and occupying a very attractive home at 501 Broadway. He built that house himself three years ago, and it is a real contribution to the architectural surroundings of the Court- house Square. Mr. Benedict has spent most of his active life as a farmer, but has always been a practical mechanie, and that knowledge and skill stood him in good stead in farming as in other affairs. He has been a resident of Quincy for the past nine years. He came here from Marion County, Missouri, where he still owns a fine farm of 120 acres known as the Judge Barney place. He was owner of this farm for twelve years before retiring and turning its management over to his sons. The farm is a valuable one, with a splendid equipment of buildings, well improved and well stocked.

Mr. Benedict was born in Marion County, Missouri, in February, 1858, and grew up on a farm and had his education in the common schools. He reached his majority without capital and started out empty handed to make his own way in the world. Without help from any one he has accumulated a modest competence, has always been a hard worker, and has every reason to be satisfied with his efforts and the influence he has exercised in his community.

He was twenty-two years of age when his father, Fred S. Benedict, died at the age of seventy-three. His father was also a lifelong farmer, a native of Pennsylvania, and son of Fred A. Benedict, who died in Pennsylvania in ad- vanced years. Fred S. Benedict grew up in his native state and became a river boatman, serving as mate on an Ohio river boat. While thus engaged he married at Meadville. Kentucky, Miss Martha Erwin. She was a native of Kentucky and of a Southern family. Six of their children were born in Ken- tueky: William, Henry, Elizabeth, Jane, Charles and Ellen. Then, in 1854, the family came down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Quincy, and crossed over the river into Marion County, Missouri, and bought the farm where Fred S. Benedict and his wife spent the rest of their years. After they went to Missouri four other children were born: Lucy, Frederick A., Louisa and Isabel. Those born in Kentucky all grew up and married, and one of them, Charles, is still living, now a resident of Texas. The four children born in Missouri are all living, all married and have children.

Fred A. Benedict married in Missouri Miss Millie Hamilton. She was born in Knox County, Missouri, February 10, 1856, was reared and educated there, and was a splendid woman, her husband. children and a host of friends

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paying tribute to her worthy qualities and cherishing her memory. She died at the home in Quincy, August 19, 1918. She was the mother of three children. Annie is the wife of Oren Fellinger, of Quiney, and her two daughters, Mar- garet and Vera, are now school girls. The son Albert owns and occupies an eighty acre farm in Marion County, Missouri. He married Ethel Johnson, of that county, and his children are Wesley and Alberta. The third child and second son, Frederick S., farms his father's place in Missouri. He married Myrtle Davis, of Marion County, and they have a son, Frederick A.

Mrs. Benediet had a cousin Rev. Thomas Seott, a noted minister of the Baptist Church. This minister baptized Mrs. Benediet in that church, later performer the marriage ceremony which made her Mrs. Benedict, and recently preached her funeral sermon. With good reason, therefore, he could pay a heart- felt tribute to her beautiful character and her lifelong devotion. Mr. Benedict is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.

WILLIAM VOLLBRACHT, of Camp Point, is president of the William Voll- bracht Company, dealers in seeds, grain, wool, harness, farm implements, wag- ons, furs, carriages and other commodities. It is a business which has been built up on the basis of a successful commercial service, growing in extent and importance, and carefully managed and directed by members of the Vollbracht family. The business was established in 1895 in a small way, and was con- ducted as a firm partnership under the title of William and H. F. Vollbracht until incorporated in its present form in 1915. At the present time the com- pany maintains three branches or establishments, one at Camp Point, one at Barry and one at Ursa.

For more than sixty-five years Adams County has been the home of the Vollbracht family. It was founded here at Quincy in 1852 by William and Mary (Wagner) Vollbracht, who came from Germany with their family and in early days lived in a log house which is still standing as a landmark of pio- neer times in Quiney, between Ninth and Tenthi streets on Kentucky Street. Later, this worthy couple moved into the country to a farm, and both died here.

One of their children was the late Henry Vollbracht, who was born in Ger- many, November 1, 1836, and was sixteen years of age when brought to this country. He learned the trade of tailor and followed it for eight years in Quiney. One of his customers during that time was Governor Wood, for whom he tailored a eoat. Abandoning the trade, he took up the business of farming. In 1862 Henry Vollbracht married Louise Zeiger. Their family of six children consisted of Mary, Louis, Christ, William, Sophia and Henry. Henry Voll- bracht was a democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife died in 1872, and his last years were spent with his son William at Camp Point, where he passed away March 29, 1916, at the venerable age of eighty years.

William Vollbracht, president of the William Vollbracht Company, was born in Columbus Township of this eounty November 17, 1868. His early life was spent on a farm, and he was identified with farming activities until he was about twenty-five years old. His education was acquired in the public schools. In 1895 he came to the Village of Camp Point, and began on a small seale his business as a dealer in agricultural implements, wool, grain and other commodi- ties. In 1916, upon the incorporation of the company, he erected a large uew warehouse at Camp Point, 40x80 feet, with basement. The company has all the facilities and experience for handling a large volume of the trade in three of the important agricultural communities in this section of the state.

Mr. Vollbracht served as postmaster of the Village of Camp Point from 1914 until 1917, when, owing to the fact that both of his sons entered army service, he resigned to look after his private business affairs. He is a demoerat , and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

May 25, 1892, Mr. Vollbracht married Anna E. Omer, of Clayton Township, daughter of Peter Omer, one of the early settlers of this county. Peter Omer was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, March 25, 1822, a son of Peter and

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Rebecca Omer, and settled in Adams County in 1847. He became a successful farmer and large land owner in Clayton Township. Peter Omer was three times married, and the mother of Mrs. Vollbracht was Sarah Ann Marsh, whom he married in 1854.

Mr. and Mrs. Vollbracht are the parents of two sons and one daughter. Arthur E., born in 1893, a graduate of the local schools and of the Maplewood High School of Camp Point, is secretary of the William Vollbracht Company and formerly had charge of the business at Barry. He is now serving in Company D of the One Hundred and Thirty-Ninth Machine Gun Battalion. He married Gladys Chase, daughter of O. E. Chase, a Pike County farmer. The second son. Roy William, born in 1895, is also a graduate of Maplewood High School, is treasurer of the company, and has charge of the local business at Camp Point. He is now in the officer's training school with the Eighty-Eighth Divi- sion at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He married Emma E. Hunter, daughter of Hugh Hunter, of Camp Point. The only daughter, Florence, born October 18, 1899, is a graduate of the Maplewood High School and is now a student at Knox College at Galesburg.

William Vollbracht is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. His son Arthur is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Barry, while his son Roy belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Camp Point.

LAMBERT HUBER. One of Camp Point's most useful citizens is Lambert Huber, who came here thirty-eight years ago, a young man with much skill and proficiency as a carpenter and cabinet maker, but with no capital to speak of, in faet his cash possessions at that time aggregated not more than forty dollars.

He was born in Germany July 2, 1858, and during his youth in the old country received a common school education and finished his apprenticeship at the trades above mentioned. When he arrived at Camp Point he took service with the firm of Liggett and Batschy, then the oldest business firm in the place, and for years D. E. Liggett and Casper Batschy had handled nearly all the building industry done in that community. They also operated the only lumber yard in the town. Casper Batsehy located at Camp Point in 1857 and four years later formed his partnership with Mr. Liggett.

After being with this firm five years Mr. Huber utilized his experience and his modest savings to set up in business for himself as a contractor and bnilder. The really distinctive and high elass building done in Camp Point for thirty years has been largely handled through Mr. Huber. Only a few of his more important local contracts ean be mentioned. He erected the Fraternity Build- ing, the Christian Church Building, did the inside work on the People's Bank Building, and was a contractor for practically all the modern residences of the town. In fact there were no modern buildings in Camp Point when he located there, and his business and personal skill have constituted an indispensa- ble service in the improvement of the community. Mr. Huber has his own home on York Street, where he owns several residences, one of them occupied by his son Charles. In 1912 he built for himself the finest home on the south side of Camp Point. In building this home he put into effeet many of his individual ideas and tastes. The rooms below were finished in oak, while upstairs the trim is all in walnut, a timber now of almost priceless value. Mr. Huber maintains a complete shop, not only for general carpenter work, but for the finest cabinet and other forms of wood work, especially interior finishing. He makes nearly all woodwork except sash and doors. He has planing and molding machinery, and has a force of skilled workmen under him.

Mr. Huber became an American citizen soon after locating in Adams County, and has steadfastly supported the republican tieket for many years. For three years he was a member of the village board and has also been a member of the school board. Fraternally he is affiliated with Benjamin Lodge, No. 197. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Camp Point Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Exkalibur Lodge, No. 299, Knights of Pythias, and Camp Point Lodge, No. 215, Independ-

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ent Order of Odd Fellows, and also the local camp of Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Huber is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

December 14, 1884, he married Miss Christine Decker. She was born in Ohio, but was brought when a child to Adams County in 1872 by her father, Andrew Decker, who was one of the prosperous farmers of the county but is now living retired. Mr. and Mrs. Huber had eight children : Frank, deceased ; Charles, a resident of Camp Point ; Lawrence, Bernard and Helen, all deceased; Clifford ; Harold ; and Verna.

ANTON PADAVIC has been one of the enterprising business men of Quincy for over ten years. He came here for the purpose of establishing the local agency of the Eliza Brewing Company of Peoria. He developed a large busi- ness for this concern and successfully managed it for seven years. He then took over as manager the Gem & Savoy film theaters and was in the theatrical and amusement business at Quincy for three years. He finally sold his theatrical interests and established a tent and awning manufacturing business at 333 Hampshire Street. This industry he has already developed to successful propor- tions, and gives employment to several people and manufactures goods for which there is a widespread demand.

Mr. Padavic came to Quincy from Missouri, where for a number of years he was in the brewing business. He is a native of Croatia, Austria, born June 13, 1867. He is of Slavie ancestry and his parents spent their lives in the mountainous district of Austria near the Adriatic Sea. His father was in the timber business and cut large quantities of the heavy timber in that section, shipping the lumber from a local port to many of the cities and countries of the Mediterranean. Both parents spent all their lives there and died when quite old. A brother of Anton, Luke Padavic, succeeded to his father's business and when last heard from was still conducting it successfully.

Anton Padavic grew up in the mountainous and heavily timbered districts of Austria, and acquired a practical knowledge of the lumber business. At the age of twenty he began a three-years service in the field artillery, and one year after the close of his military career, on May 15, 1892, he married a neighbor girl, Frances Snyder. She was born in the same locality and is three years her husband's junior. Her parents were also Slavic people and her father died when past ninety years of age. He was a timber worker and cabinet maker.

In 1893 Mr. Padavic, leaving his bride behind, embarked on a vessel at a local port on the Adriatic, and after thirty-four days of voyage landed in New York. His first destination was Streator, Illinois, where he found employment in the local coal mines. Three months later he was able to send for his wife, who traveled by the same route and was also thirty-four days on the ocean. Their first child, Mary, was born May 17, 1894. From Streator, Illinois, they moved to Iowa at Centerville, where a daughter, Margaret, was born in July, 1896. The next two children, twins, John and Golda, were born in Gallup, New Mexico. Golda died when five years old at Macon, Missouri. The youngest child, Anton, was born at Novinger, in Adair County, Missouri, June 8, 1906. These children were all well educated in the public schools of Quincy and the Gem City Business College. Mary is the wife of Harry Walker, and they live in Cincinnati, where Mr. Walker is employed by a large steel company. Mar- garet is bookkeeper for the Pearson Manufacturing Company of Quincy. John is a young man of much business ability and is with the E. M. Miller Carriage Company of Quincy. Anton, Jr., is a student in St. Boniface School. The fam- ily are all members of St. Boniface Catholic Church.

REV. ANTHONY ZURBONSEN. There were the attractive River Ems playfully meanders through verdant pastures, meadows and well-tilled acres of West- phalia's fertile soil, skirting in its course at times tinted heatherland and fragrant pinery, some fifteen miles distant from the ancient, venerable and historic city of Muenster, is situated on its eastern bank a provincial town of about seven thou-

Ever faitfully Yours A. Turbone Pastor St. Mary's

LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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sand inhabitants, all frugal, industrious and economic people. It was Waren- dorf, the birthplace of our subject. The history of this city dates back for more than a thousand years. For several centuries the ancestors of Rev. A. Zurbonsen have resided here, a number of whom have arisen to honor and distinction both in church and state, and in fact the Zurbonsen family has always enjoyed high esteem and prominence among the old time-honored families of that city.

Rev. Anthony Zurbonsen is the fourth and youngest son of Calistus Zur- bonsen and Elisabeth née Suelfstedde (a native of Hanover), and was born August 15, 1860. His early childhood was spent amid the happy surroundings and chastening influences of an ideal Christian home. The mother died when but forty-six years of age, in 1876, while the father attained the patriarchal age of ninety years, dying in 1907.

Having graduated from the primary schools of his native place and not yet fifteen years old, our subject came to America in 1875 to be placed in St. Joseph's College of Teutopolis, Illinois, there to enter upon a course of classical studies which ultimately were to culminate in his ordination to the priesthood. After the prescribed five years' curriculum he was admitted to the higher studies of philosophy and natural sciences in the Grand Seminary of Montreal, Canada, 1880-82, which after a two years' course was to be superseded by that of theology at St. Francis' Seminary of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1882-85. On June 29th of the latter year his long cherished ambition, to enter the ministry and to con- secrate his life to God and fellow-men, was happily realized, for on that mem- orable day Father Zurbonsen was ordained a priest by the Most Rev. Michael Heiss, D. D., late Archbishop of Milwaukee. From that day and year to the present date he has zealously worked in the diocese of Alton, where every one who has ever come in contact with him will readily attest to his disinterested priestly activity. In all charges wherewith the bishop has ever entrusted him he has made good. A host of friends, both clerical and lay, Catholic as well as Protestant, wish him continued success.

The various parishes which Father Zurbonsen presided over as pastor since his ordination are the following: Grant Fork, Madison County, from 1885 to 1888; Staunton, Macoupin County, from 1888 to 1898; Ashland, Cass County, from 1898 to 1899; Raymond, Montgomery County, from 1899 to 1906; Quincy, Adams County, from 1906 till the present time.

Among the notable achievements accomplished during this time may be ent- merated the founding of "Ascension" parish at Mount Olive, the erection of a rectory at Raymond, together with the purchase of additional church property in that place and a beautiful cemetery site at Ashland. He became the first resident priest of Staunton, where the present rectory was built through his efforts. Beautifying and improving the parochial holdings in Quincy is the work of more recent years, while the erection of a parish school with modern equipment is in contemplation.

In leisure hours Rev. A. Zurbonsen has occasionally turned his attention to literary pursuits. Thus in 1894 appeared an illustrated pamphlet under the title "From Illinois to Rome"; in 1903, "Rambles through Europe, the Holy Land and Egypt"; in 1904 a devotional "Ave Maria"; 1915, "Diary Pages"; and 1918, "In Memoriam, or Clerical Bead Roll of the Alton Diocese," together with numerous smaller contributions to periodicals or magazines.

Besides, our reverend author has proved himself an extensive and observant traveler. In 1893 he visited Germany and Italy; 1903, Palestine; and 1908, the British Isles and Scandinavia. Father Zurbonsen is chaplain of Quincy Council No. 583, Knights of Columbus.

WILLIAM LESSMAN. The business of farming has been the pursuit and chief interest of William Lessman during his active career. He is a native of Adams County, and has prospered in the community where he grew up as a boy and is looked upon as one of the prominent farmers and stock men of Houston Town- ship.

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Mr. Lessman was born in Liberty Township of this eounty, October 15, 1859, a son of Henry F. and Dorothea (Poppe) Lessman. His parents were both born in Germany, his father in 1823 and his mother in 1834. Henry F. Less- man came to America and settled at Cineinnati, Ohio, in 1851. Dorothea Poppe was taken to the same eity when a girl. Soon after their marriage in Cincin- nati they came west to Adams County, loeating on a farm in Liberty Town- ship, but spent their last years in Columbus Township. Henry Lessman owned a farm of 320 acres. He voted as a republican and was a member of the Lutheran Church. His children were: Lizzie and Anna, both deceased ; Wil- liam ; Edward ; George; Lonise; Lena, who died October 7, 1915; and Mary.

William Lessman grew up in Liberty Township, attended public schools there, and has studiously devoted his energies since attaining his majority to the cultivation of the land and stock husbandry. For several years he owned a farm of 120 aeres in Columbus Township, but sold that and bought his present place in Houston Township in 1899. ITis home farm comprises 196 aeres, and he also has 160 acres in Chili Township in Hancoek County. Thus he has under his supervision 356 acres, and its management constitutes a task that is worthy of all that a man has in him of industry and thorough-going ability. Mr. Less- man like many of the progressive farmers of Adams County is giving mueh atten- tion to high grade livestock. He has some pure bred Polled Angus cattle and also a number of Duroc Jersey hogs.

He is a republican and a member of the Lutheran Church. December 14, 1887, he married Miss Mary Wilkey. She was born at Newtown in Burton Township of this county April 2, 1867, daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Gleaser) Wilkey. Her parents were both natives of Germany. Her father was born in 1836 and her mother in 1843. Her father arrived in Adams County in 1850, at the age of fourteen, and her mother reached here in 1849, at the age of six. They were married in 1866, and for over fifty years have had their home in Columbus Township. The celebration of their golden wedding anniversary in 1916 was a loeal event well remembered. In the Wilkey family were ten children : Mary, Frank (deceased), Rosetta (deceased), Daniel, Maltida, George, Albert, Walter, Frank and Charles. The last named, Charles, is now a member of Troop C of the Three Hundred and Fifth Cavalry Regiment, and before going abroad was at Camp Stanley, Texas.

Mr. and Mrs. Lessman have two daughters, Dora Elizabeth and Eva Amanda. Dora was educated in the Golden High School and is the wife of W. DeMoss. They have one son, Kenneth. Eva Amanda was edueated in the Golden High School and the Maeomb Normal, was a teacher for several terms, and is now the wife of Rial Irish. Mr. and Mrs. Irish have two children, Mary Kathleen and William Edward. Both of the sons-in-law of Mr. Lessman are farmers. Mr. DeMoss in Haneock County and Mr. Irish in MeDonongh County.

WILLIAM HAISTINGS. An easy but imperfeet method of representing the progress of half a century or more is to put at one end of the picture the old fashioned stage coach and at the other the flying machine. But it is not alone in transportation that progress has been made. Every vocation and industry have been subject to revolutionary changes, and nowhere is this more apparent than in agriculture and country life. There is special interest and value attaeh- ing to the eareer of Mr. Haistings, who in the last years of his life nominally called himself retired and resided in the Village of Mendon, because his career and experience refleets some of the most important developments that have oceurred during the last, sixty or seventy years in American rural life. Mr. Haistings died on December 10, 1918.

Mr. Haistings was a resident of Adams County for about seventy years. He was born in Southern Ohio, in Clermont County, May 18, 1836, more than eighty-two years ago. His parents were William and Nancy (Law) Haistings. At the time of his birth his parents were tenants on the farm of an old river captain and boat owner, Captain McLean. They lived there until 1847, when

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they came to Quincy and joined the brother of Nancy Haistings, William Law, who was then living 31% miles south of Mendon. William Haistings finally bought a little more than 100 acres of land near the Law farm and also adjoin- ing the farm of Captain Howden. William Haistings, Sr., bought this land for $4 an acre, and occupied it until the death of his wife, Nancy. It is now the home of Crow Brothers. After his wife's death its proprietor sold and moved to Grundy County, Missouri, where he had his home until his death. He died at an extreme old age. He was one of the early threshermen of Adams County and was so employed nearly every year of his residence here. He was an expert in handling machinery and was granted several patents on deviees of his creation, though he never succeeded in realizing wealth therefrom. He and his wife had seven sons: William; Samuel, who died in middle life, leav- ing a family ; Oliver, a farmer on Bear Creek in Adams County; Charles, who died leaving a family ; James, a farmer in Honey Creek Township; Alonzo and Lorenzo, both of whom live at Fowler, Illinois.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 73

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