Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 76

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 76

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The factory at Columbus, the proprictor of which is Simon H. Brakensiek, is equipped and specialized for the manufacture of sorghum molasses. Thirty or forty years ago, all over the states in the Mississippi Valley, nearly every home laid in its annual supply of sorghum molasses to supplement the rather scarce and high priced brown or refined sugars made from sugar cane. But to the younger people of the present generation sorghum molasses might be said to be almost unknown. Its delicacy and richness of flavor many would elaim far superior to the cheap molasses and syrups manufactured in enormous quan- tities and largely from by-products.

Mr. Brakensiek has therefore performed a valuable publie service in eon- tinuing the manufacture of this rare product, and such is the renewed apprecia- tion of it today that he could readily find a market for ten times more than his plant can produce. With the exception of about five years Mr. Brakensiek has followed this specialty ever since he reached manhood. He learned the art under his father, who was a pioneer molasses manufacturer in Adams County. Simon H. Brakensiek has been in the business for twenty-five years in Columbus Town- ship, and for the past eight years his plant has been in the Village of Columbus.

His plant is thoroughly modern and up to date, though it does not involve any of the extensive machinery found in sugar refineries and factories. The sorghum cane is crushed between rollers, and the juices are separated and re- dueed in vats much after the manner of the manufacture of maple sugar. Naturally Mr. Brakensiek has introduced many improvements, and his long experience has given him a masterly skill, enabling him to judge just the proper time for working up the cane, and he keeps his trained eye upon every subse-

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quent process until the molasses is sealed in cans under an appropriate label of his own device. His plant has a capacity of 150 gallons a day, and during the grinding season in the past year he has made over 100 gallons a day. The sorghum is placed and sealed in one gallon tin containers, and he has brought about such improvements and refinements in the process of manufacture that it is asserted the molasses will remain unimpaired in quality and flavor for twenty years. Mr. Brakensiek has about 150 customers who take all the capacity of his plant, and at the end of the season in 1918 he began preparations to double his capacity so as to meet the increased demand. Mr. Brakensiek has fourteen acres of land near the village, and besides his plant he cultivates all the available acreage in sorghum cane every year.

He was born in Columbus Township January 18, 1862, a son of Gottlieb and Henrietta Brakensiek. His parents were born in Germany and were married in Quincy. They lived for a number of years in Columbus Township, and the mother died at Carthage, Illinois, in 1883. Gottlieb Brakensiek died at the home of his son Fred September 14, 1890. As already noted, he was a sorghum maker in Columbus Township, and Simon worked as a boy around the mill and evap- orating pans, learning every branch of the business. During that time he acquired his education by attending the Lost Prairie District School in Liberty Township. In Ellington Township Mr. Brakensiek married Miss Anna C. Krieger. She was born in Quincy February 24, 1865, and was reared partly in Quincy and partly in Ellington Township and attended school there. Her parents were Henry and Charlotta Krieger, natives of Germany, who came to the United States when young and were married in Quincy. Her father was a painter and died when about thirty-five years of age. Her mother survived many years and passed away at Hoopston, Illinois. She was three times married, and had children by her first and last husbands.

Mr. and Mrs. Brakensiek have five children. Roy E., the oldest, is a contrac- tor in cement work at Indianapolis, Indiana. He married in Columbus Town- ship Bessie MeCann, and they have a son, Frank. Virgil S. Brakensiek, like the other children, was born and reared and educated in Columbus Township, and he is now an employe of the Burlington Railway. He married Lila Wheeler, of Columbus Township, and has one daughter, Grace. Aldo M. is still at home and working for his father. Alva E. has finished his school work and is also at home. Harry, the youngest, is now in the Quincy High School. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Brakensiek is one of its stewards. He is a republican, and has filled the office of township assessor and has been a member of the School Board.

ARTHUR FRANK MORRIS, whose life has been devoted steadily and quietly to the routine business of farming on the old Morris homestead in Payson Township, has a very interesting ancestry, and it can be said that his life and character have measured up to the worthy ideals of this substantial American stock.

This branch of the Morris family is descended from the Robert Morris who came from England to the American colonies prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in Maryland. It was a son of the brother of this Robert Morris whose name appears as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Robert's son Lovell was born about 1762. He married Mary Zigler in 1788. In 1795 he moved to Virginia, and seven years later to Hog Run in Licking County, Ohio. During the War of 1812 he and three sons, John, William and Charles, were under the command of Major Tupper in the army of Gen. Wil- liam Henry Harrison. Lovell Morris and wife both died in Licking County when about sixty-five years of age. There is an interesting old account of Mrs. Lovell Morris, and following the language of the time it should be here set down. Her religion was of the primitive emotional nature, the old shouting kind. So pronounced was it that many were shocked and she was excluded for

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some years from the communion until the spirit of real religion produced such a revival that hundreds embraced the same heights of ecstasy, and then she was recognized as possessing the true essence of the Divine Spirit.

William Morris, second son of Lovell Morris, was four years old when the family moved to Licking County, Ohio, in 1801. He married there Charlotte Purdy March 26, 1826. In 1838 he came to Payson, Adams County, Illinois, and that date places him among the real pioneers of this county. He lived a long and useful life and died at his home in Payson June 11, 1870, aged seventy- two. His wife died March 15, 1878, aged seventy. William Morris was a whig, later affiliating with the republicans, and in religion was an ardent Methodist. His own career was noteworthy and he also has the honor due to being father of several worthy sons. His children to reach maturity were: William Harri- son, born April 22, 1837, and died December 9, 1912; George, born August 1, 1839, died February 6, 1879; David, born October 27, 1841, died January 11, 1910; and Richard, born May 8, 1844, died June 5, 1906. Of William Harri- son Morris special comment is reserved for a later paragraph.

George Morris, the second son of William, graduated in medicine at Cin- cinnati and saw three years of active service as an assistant surgeon in the Union army during the Civil war. Later he practiced at Craigstown in Adams County until the close of his life. He married Mary E. Beebe, who died at St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1884. Their son Alvin A. is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and is now a successful attorney at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

David Morris, the third son of William, was also a soldier in the Civil war and afterwards was an inspector of customs at San Francisco during the Cleve- land administration. He died at Oakland, California. Richard Morris, the youngest of the four sons, served through the Civil war, though being very young when that struggle started, and afterwards was a farmer in Western Nebraska. He died at Farmington, New Mexico. He had two sons, William H. and Edward, and the latter is with the American Expeditionary Forces in the great European war.

William Harrison Morris was born April 22, 1837, and was one year old when his parents located in Adams County. He grew up at the old home in section 21 of Payson Township, near Pigeon Creek. The old house built by his father is still standing, and is one of the most spacious in the country, having been erected when material was abundant and cheap, and when people cared more for roominess than comfort and coziness.

September 19, 1861, William H. Morris married Miss Jennie Fowler. They were married nearly forty-five years at her death April 15, 1906. In 1862 Wil- liam H. Morris located on the farm now owned by his son Arthur F., and in 1883 erected the present residence there. He was a stanch republican, and latterly gave stanch support to the prohibition canse. He and his wife were Baptists. He was held in high esteem and enjoyed an extensive acquaintance. His wife is kindly remembered by a host of people in Adams County. He and his wife had three children, Edgar, Minnie aud Arthur Frank. Edgar is a well known commission man, of the firm of Stacy & Sons of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is one of the best known apple men in the county. regarded as an authority on that subject. Minnie is the wife of Emmor E. Thompson, a well known citizen of Payson, concerning whom more is said on other pages of this publication.

Arthur Frank Morris was born on the farm where he now resides February 15, 1869. He received a common school education in the local schools and in Payson High School, then attended the Illinois State Normal for two years, after which he taught school for several years. Since then he has given his time and energies to the cultivation and improvement of the farm, which is regarded as one of the best in this rich and prosperous agricultural community.

December 13, 1896, he married Ina Wilson, of Kinderhook, Illinois. They have one daughter, Vera, born September 15, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are

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identified with the Payson Congregational Church, of which he is a deaeon. He is a member of Payson Lodge No. 379, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

RICHARD S. CURRY. Probably no one family contributed more of the phys- ical energy and the sterling citizenship which built a community than the Curry family in Clayton Township. As a family they came into the wilds of Western Illinois more than eighty years ago. Some of the sons and daughters comprising the second generation were children at the time of the settlement in Adams County, and only a few of them are still represented in the active citizenship, one being Richard S. Curry, who for many years has lived retired at Camp Point.

The responsible head of the family at the time of its settlement here was Thomas Curry, who was born in Kentucky March 2, 1802. He married Malinda Murphy, who was born in Kentucky November 6, 1807. They made the memo- rable journey from Kentucky to Western Illinois in 1836 and settled in Clay- ton Township, Adams County. Thomas Curry acquired 320 acres there, and also some timber land, and he direeted his efforts toward the reelamation of his land and the general improvement of the country. He was prospered, and spent many years in comfortable retirement in the Village of Clayton, where he died in 1891, at the venerable age of ninety. His wife died at the age of seventy-two. Thomas Curry began voting as a Kentucky whig, was an admirer of Henry Clay, and subsequently became allied with the republican party. He and his wife were active members of the Christian Church. A brief record of their numerous family is as follows: Benjamin Allen, who was born in Ken- tueky May 8, 1825, and became one of the leading citizens of Clayton Town-

ship, an extensive land owner, a manufacturer and merehant, and honored with many publie offices: Mary, who was born September 17, 1826; Susan, born February 25, 1828; Richard S .; William, who was born July 30, 1833; Sallie, born January 4, 1835, still living as Mrs. Bradley; Christopher, born Novem- ber 9, 1836, became a farmer in Clayton Township and reared a large family of children; Naney Ellen, born October 1, 1839; Henry Harrison, born July 8, 1841, who served three years as a Union soldier; James T., born July 13, 1843; Sampson O., born April 22, 1845; Pauline, born April 14, 1847; and Daniel O., born February 23, 1851.

Richard S. Curry was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, January 22, 1830, and was six years of age when the family moved to Clayton Township and established their home in an old log house in section 32. From that home he went during the winter seasons to attend the neighboring schools, and his early training brought out all the hardy virtues and accomplishments of the frontier youth. After attaining manhood he bought eighty aeres in Clayton Township, land which he subsequently sold to his father-in-law, and then bought 124 acres of the old homestead in section 32. That was considered a high class farm at the time, and commanded the price of $70 an aere. However, land values inereased wonderfully during Mr. Curry's ownership, and when he sold the place in 1917 its approximate value was $200 an acre. Mr. Curry has lived retired from the active responsibilities of farming many years, having moved to Camp Point Village in 1885. He had one of the good homes of the Village, which was burned in 1911, and he at once rebuilt it. Mr. Curry is a republican and served on the school board while living in the country. For many years he has been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been a sustaining member of the Christian Church.

September 1, 1853, Mr. Curry married Miss Mary Virginia Booth. She was born in Virginia Mareh 24, 1834, daughter of Milton Booth, who was one of the early settlers of Adams County. Mr. and Mrs. Curry were married nearly thirty years before the death of the wife in 1881. She was the mother of seven children : Susanna Jane, born May 18, 1854; Anna M., born January 12, 1858, died January 30, 1875; John Marcus, born December 7. 1861; Sarah Ellen, born October 14, 1863; Harriet M., born Mareh 13, 1866; Lottie B., born

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December 12, 1867, now deccased; and Desdemona, born September 3, 1874. On December 20, 1883, Mr. Curry married for his present wife Miss Susan Lewis. She was born on the old Lewis homestead in Adams County December 2, 1849, daughter of Henry M. and Sarah (Kelley) Lewis, members of a promi- nent family elsewhere mentioned in this work. By his second wife Mr. Curry has one child, Cora Armenia, wife of William E. Stecher, of Camp Point. Mr. and Mrs. Stecher have one child, William Curry Stecher.

JOHN W. SHERRICK, now a retired resident of Camp Point, gave several of his youthful years to his country as a soldier of the Union, and came home from that great conflict on crutches. The major part of his active life was spent in Houston Township, and as a farmer and land owner his energy and resourcefulness brought him ample rewards and insured his independence and comfort in later years.

The old home of the Sherrick family in Houston Township was in section 20, and many acres of good land in that locality were redeemed from the wilder- ness by the Sherricks. John W. Sherrick was born in Fayette County, Penn- sylvania, April 3, 1842, son of Martin and Susanna (Strickler) Sherrick. His father was born in Fayette County in 1815 and his mother in 1819. They were married in Fayette County in 1837 and in 1844 Martin Sherrick came to Adams County and bought land in Houston Township. In 1846 he came here with his family and was one of the industrious farmers of that community until his death in 1875. His widow survived him over thirty years and passed away in 1907. Martin Sherrick was a republican, and served in various local offices, including justice of the peace. He and his wife were both active in the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He was affiliated with the Masons. In their family were seven children, and the two still living are John W. and Joel D.

Four years old when brought to Adams County, John W. Sherrick spent his boyhood in the environment of Ilouston Township. Besides the advantages afforded by the district schools there he attended school at Quincy during 1858- 59. It was his great privilege while at Quincy in 1858 to be a boy witness and auditor of one of the great debates between Lincoln and Douglas held in that year. He thus came under the spell of the great Illinois statesman, and it was a matter of patriotism as well as civic duty that impelled him to take up arms for the Union when the war came on. He enlisted in Company II of the Seventy-Third Illinois Infantry, was mustered in as a sergeant, and later was promoted to second lieutenant of his company. He was with the army of the Cumberland in most of its campaigns from October 8, 1862, until Chicka- mauga, where he was wounded and returned home on a furlough for two months. He then rejoined his regiment and was discharged June 25, 1865. After his honorable discharge and some recuperation Mr. Sherrick taught school in Adams County, and in 1865 became an independent land owner, pur- chasing 180 acres, 160 acres of prairie and 20 acres of timber. The cultiva- tion and improvement of this land forthwith occupied all his time and labor, and the fruits of his enterprise he reinvested in other land until he became owner of 670 acres, which he still retains. He remained a resident on his farm until 1889, and since then has lived in Camp Point and in later years has more and more relieved himself of the active share and responsibilities of business. On coming to Camp Point he bought twenty acres in and adjoining the village, but has since sold all but four acres, which surrounds his beautiful home known as the Seaton Place.

Mr. Sherrick is a republican in politics. While in Houston Township he served as road commissioner. He is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, with Lodge No. 197 of Masons, with Camp Point Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and it is interesting that he took his first degree in Masonry in Febru- ary, 1865, at Huntsville, Alabama, while still in the army. Mr. Sherrick attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

On August 11, 1862, fifty-six years ago, Mr. Sherrick married Miss America

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Woods. She is a member of one of the oldest of Adams County families, being a sister of Samuel Woods of Quincy and a daughter of Samuel and Amanda Woods, who came to Adams County during the carly '30s. Mr. and Mrs. Sher- riek have two daughters, Susie and Lucy, the latter still at home. Susie mar- ried Rev. A. K. Byrns, who is now pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Bloomington, Illinois. Rev. and Mrs. Byrns have one daughter, Guinevere, a student in the Bloomington High School.

ALOIS J. BLICKHAN, M. D. Representing one of the stanch older families in the history of Quiney, Doctor Blickhan was born and reared in this city, has spent most of his active years here, and for over a quarter of a century has filled a place of great usefulness in the community as a capable physician and surgeon.

He was born at the old family homestead on State Street in Quincy, June 25, 1866, son of John and Louise (Lambood) Blickhan. His eleven brothers and sisters were all born in the same house on State Street. John Bliekhan was a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and came to Quincy in the early '40s. He was a carriagemaker by trade and founded in this city the Blickhan Carriage Manufacturing Company, a substantial industry that he prosperously conducted for many years. John Bliekhan acquired considerable property and spent his last years practically retired. The mother, a native of France, came to the United States as a child and is living in Atlantic City, New Jersey, aged eighty- seven years.

Doctor Bliekhan was a practical printer before he was a physician. He was educated in the public schools and in the Gem City Business College, but in the meantime had learned the trade of printer in the office of the Job Printing Company. As a journeyman he followed his trade in several different states. He was working as a printer in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1887, when chance brought to him some medical works, and a casual interest deepened into a profound study and eventually turned all his thoughts and ambitions toward the medical profession. Doctor Blickhan thoroughly earned every step of his preparation and promotion to professional success. For two years he attended Rush Medical Col- lege of Chicago and paid his expenses while in college by working as a printer. In 1890 he entered Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, where he graduated in the spring of 1891. He had earned a portion of his expenses at Keokuk as clerk in a hotel at Burlington, Iowa.

Since graduating from medical college Doeton Blickhan has been steadily devoted to a growing general practice at Quiney, and is skilled both in surgery and general medicine. He is a member in good standing of the County and State Medical societies and the American Medical Association.

Doctor Bliekhan married at Quincy Miss Nina Duker, a daughter of the late John IIerman Duker, who in his time was one of Quiney's most prominent busi- ness men and bankers. Doctor and Mrs. Blickhan have two sons: Norbith H. and Arthur, both of whom are students in St. Francis Catholic College at Quiney. The family are members of St. Boniface Catholic Church and Doctor Blickhan is a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, Council of Quincy, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Doctor Blickhan is the largest ice packer in Quiney, having large ice houses and the latest machinery for the conduct of the business. He has a beautiful home, has been quite an extensive traveler, is an interesting, companionable fellow and has been successful in his professional and business undertakings.

REV. ROBERT A. OMER. A long and active service in the Evangelical min- istry has distinguished the career of Robert A. Omer of Camp Point. It is significant that some of his most fruitful work has been done in his old home community where he was born and reared and where he still resides.

He is identified with this locality by some of the oldest family relationships of Camp Point Township. His father, Daniel Omer, a son of Jacob and Pris- cilla (Curry) Omer, was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, near Louisville,

Shakhan

LIBRARY of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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September 5, 1828. He was reared on a farm and in 1855 came to Adams County and located on land in section 24 of Camp Point Township, where he lived until his death. His first year in the county he rented land, then bought eighty aeres, and kept adding by other purchases until his estate at the time of his death comprised 500 acres. He was a republican, but never an aspirant to office, and he and his wife were very active members of the Christian Church. Daniel Omer died in 1910. He married Delilah Hoke, who was born in Ken- tucky in 1831, daughter of Leonard and Barbara Hoke. They married in July, 1851, and lived together as man and wife for more than half a century. Mrs. Daniel Omer died in 1903. They had a family of seven children : Robert Ayres; James Edward, now deceased; Osear Elsworth ; Ellis Rousseau ; Effie M .; and Fannie and John Crittenden, both of whom died young.

Robert A. Omer was born in Camp Point Township September 8, 1857, and grew up on the old homestead. He attended the country schools, the Maple- wood High School at Camp Point and Abingdon College one year. Another year he spent in Christian University at Canton, Missouri, and still another year in Eureka College at Eurcka, Illinois. He was a school teacher for two years in his early life and in 1881 was ordained to the Christian ministry. During nearly all his active years as a minister he has retained his home at Camp Point, and from there has looked after his charges in various surround- ing churches. For fifteen years Reverend Omer was engaged part of the year in Evangelical work, and during that time he preached in nearly every state of the Union, though chiefly in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. For a number of years he was pastor of the Christian Church at Camp Point and the most successful meetings he ever held were in this old community. He now devotes his time to preaching for churches in the immediate vicinity, holding occasional revival meetings and doing lyceum work during the Chautauqua season. His efforts and influence as a minister have brought more than 10,000 persons into the church.

Rev. Mr. Omer owns one of the fine homes at Camp Point and is also owner of eighty acres of the old Omer homestead farm and seventy aeres in another traet. He has always been interested in politics for the sake of good govern- ment in his home locality and is affiliated with the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias.

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 76

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