Effingham County, Illinois - Chapter 27, 1883 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 27

BISHOP TOWNSHIP - TOPOGRAPHY AND SURFACE FEATURES - COMING OF THE PIONEERS - THEIR HARD TIMES AND VICISSITUDES - THE EARLY I.MPROVEMENTS IN LIVING - ROADS, MILLS. ETC. - SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES - RELIGIOUS HISTORY - CHURCHES AND PREACHERS - THE VILLAGE OF ELLIOTTSTOWN, ETC., ETC.

TDISHOP TOWNSHIP lies in the eastern ---^part of Effingham County, and is bounded on the north, south and west, respectively, by the townships of St. Francis, Lucas and Wat- 8on,while its eastern boundary is J asperCounty. About three- fourths of the surface was originally prairie, the rest brush and timber land. The timber was in little groves, often of considerable length, and along the water-courses the greater part of which has long since dis- appeared before the settler's ax. The varieties consisted principally of walnut, hickory, sycamore, elm, ash, linden, a dense growth of underbrush and hazel. The prairie is mostly level, especially in the southern part, while in the north it is more undulating. The soil of the prairie is fertile, easily cultivated, and produces abuudaut crops, while the timber-land is more of a clayey nature and thin in some places, yet by proper cultivation it retiu'ns fair crops for the labor bestowed upon it.

Wheat and corn are the staple products, though all other cereals common to this j^art of the co'intry are raised more or less. Perhaps no better fruit-producing land can be found in the county, and fruit culture is receiving consideraV)le attention, and is rapidly coming to the front as an impoi"tant industry. Large orchards are to be seen on almost every farm of any note, and the varieties of fruit are among the best produced in the country. It is as an agricultural district, and a great deal of attention has of late been given to cattle-raising. There are a goodly number of stock farms, where can be seen blooded and imported stock. Farmers are fast learning that the improvement of their stock has become a safe investment, and considerable capital is expended annually in that direction.

There are two creeks, namely, Bishop and Salt, that run through the township; thetirst rises in Section 1, and flows southwesterly about four miles, when it takes an abrupt turn almost due west until it leaves the town ship. A branch of this creek has its source in Section 4, running south and uniting with the main stream in Section 29. Salt Creek flows through the northwest corner of the township, and furnishes ample drainage and sufficient stock-water to that locality. These streams are small, and during the hot months of very dry seasons dry up altogether, but diuring the spring freshets they become raging torrents, oftentimes overflowing their banks and sweeping away fences, bridges, and everything else of a movable nature. Crops are sometimes severely injui'ed by these overflows, whole fields of grain being frequently inundated and almost completely destroyed.

cabin in the timber, near the eastern part of of the township. This first settler was Samuel Bishop, after whom the township was named, but nothing definite concerning him could be learned. About this time, several squatters erected temporary habitations along the water-courses, but made no further improvements, spending all their time in hunting and trapping - a business which retiu'ned them a very fair profit, as the country at that time was full of game and fur-bearing animals. They remained but a short time, and left for the country further west, as soon as the permanent settlers began improving the lands. The next pei'manent settlement was made in the central part of the township, near the spot where the Catholic Chiu'ch now stands, by a German^ who came into the country about the year 1838. This man's name was Christian Reamen. He came from Germany, find made this township his first stopping place, where he continued to reside until his death, in the year 1878. He was a man of quiet, unassiuning "ways; attended strictly to his own business, and, by dint of hard labor, reclaimed a large tract of land from its wild state. A man named Westendorf settled in the same vicinity one year later, and improved a small farm adjoining Reamen's place. He was a German also, and left the " fatherland " for the purpose of bettering his condition and securing a home for his children in the New World. His hopes were realized beyond his expectations, as he, in time, became very wealthy, and owned much of the land that formerly surrounded his little claim, and which is now in possession of his two sons - George and Henry - highly respected citizens of the township. These were the only settlements made up to the year 1842. That year was marked by the advent of Elias Layton, Theophilus Wilson, William White, and Thomas White - all of whom came from Ohio, and were prominently identified with the early history of their respective communities. The fii'st named entered a piece of timber land near Bishop Point, in the eastern part of the township, where he still lives. . Wilson settled in the timber also, north of Layton's place, and made the first improvements on the farm where William 'Field now lives, to whom he sold it about twenty years ago and moved to Missoui'i. He remained in Missouri but a short time, returning again to Effingham County and purchasing a farm in the neighboring township of Watson, where he died about ten years ago. Several representatives of this family still reside in the county.

William White located a farm in the western part of the township, in Section 30, where he lived for fifteen years, when he sold the place and purchased a tract of land near Bi.shop Point, which was his home as long as he remained in the county. White was a noted character in the community, and was well known all over this and the adjoining county of Jasper. A very giant in statm'e, and endowed with the strength of a Hercules, he was universally feared by all, as he was in the habit of drinking a great deal and, when under the influence of the ardent, his passions were easily aroused, and nothing suited his fiery disposition better than a knock down. His neighbors, knowing his peculiar weakness (or strength), and having ample cause to fear his gigantic strength, were careful on such occasions to let him severely alone. Woe to the luckless fellow who replied to any of his insulting gibes, as he was sure to resent it in a manner that the ofifense was never repeated. Hosj)itality was a trait which he cultivated; anybody applying to him for food or shelter was never turned away from his door. The little brown jug was always trotted out, and a guest could offer him no deeper insult than to refn.se to drink, which he looked upon as a breach of hospitality. The guest was told, verj' decidedly, to choose which he preferred - a drink or a sound thrashing; and the red-eye was generally taken in preference to the pummeling, which all knew meant nothing less than a mashed head and broken bones. During the last years of his life, he became very dissipated, and when working on his farm kept a jug of whisky at each end of the field, and between the two, which he managed to drain before night, became so gloriously patriotic that his wife had to go on a regular hunt for him every day and pilot his tottering steps home. His death occurred a number of years ago. Thomas White was a brother of William, and, though not so rough a character, his name cannot be placed in the calendar of saints by any means. He was, like his brother, a man of great physical powers, and prided himself upon his strength, which was remai'kable. He settled near Bishop Point, and for a number of years engaged in the practice of medicine, belonging, as he often said, to the school of common sense, and was one of the very few who gi-aduated from their institutions. His medicines were digged from the earth, scraped from the bark of trees and boiled from their leaves, and when old and stubborn cases of malaria, then so prevalent in the country, baffled the effects of his botanic remedies, recourse was had to charms, signs, etc. , which generally effected (?) the desired cure. He left the township a number 'of years ago, and moved to a place culled Island Grove, in Jasper County.

Joseph Melson, John Tedrick, Isaiah Wall and a man by the name of Ai'mstrong were residents of the township as early as the year 1844. The first named came from Ohio and settled near Bishop Point on a farm which is present in possession of his widow. Tedi-ick entered land in Section 27, where he still lives at an advanced age. He originally came from Maryland and emigrated to Indiana when that part of the country was on the oiitskirta of civilization. His farm in this township is a model in the way of improvements, and the family are in affluent circumstances. Wall came from Ohio and improved a farm in Section 27, which he sold shortly afterward and with his family moved to Posey County, Ind. Armstrong located in Section 27 also, and was the first preacher in the township. He held religious services at a number of places in this and the adjoining settlements, but never organized any society. His neighbors are held responsible for the saying that his preaching and practice did not always harmonize, but his advice to his congregations, if not exactly Scriptlu-al was, to say the least, plausible, and savored very much of good sense, i. e. ' ' Don't do as Armstrong does, but do as Armstrong tells you." He ajripears to have been a great himter, and nothing gave him more delight than rambling thi-ough the woods in quest of the game, and so great was his love for the sport that he often carried his gun with him to church, and after preaching a long discoui'se on the ''sinfulness of sin," and the necessity of keeping the Sabbath holy, would go to the woods, spend the rest of the day at his favorite pastime and return at night well loaded with the fruits of his day's sport. At one time, while hunting along Salt Creek, night overtook him in the woods. The wolves, which were then plenty, gave him chase and soon overtook him, when he turned and shot two of them. This served as a check until he could load his gun, when another one was killed. His dog, in the meantime, was not idle, Imt rushed into the p;iek and was very soon ovei'powered and killed. Seeing his dog eaten up alive before his eyes, Armstrong clubbed his gun and made an onslaught on the fierce beasts, which at once tiu-ned upon him. Now ensued a struggle for life, and many of the wolves bit the dust before the vigorous blows of the gun, but being almost tired out, his savage enemies had the advantage, as others kept coming up all the time and joined in the fray. Armstrong's cries for help were heard by some parties who lived not very far away, and after fighting for almost an hoiu-, he was rescued. The wolves, seeing the other men coming, quit their intended victim and scampered away. Armstrong received several ugly gashes on the legs, arms and about the face and had his clothing almost stripped from his body. Roland Childs was a pioneer of Bishop, having come into the township about the year 1846. The place where he located is in Section 28, and is at present owned by Henry Smith.

The Fields were a prominent family of this township, and have been identified with all movements calculated to advance its material prosperity. Ambrose Field, father of William and Dr. Field, located in Section 31 about the year 1847. He came to this part of the country from Edgar County, to which place he moved from the State of Kentucky when Illinois was in the infancy of its existence. Ho died in the year 1855, a victim to the cholera, which raged through the country at that time. The place where he settled is owned and occupied by Andrew Bogart. Dr. Field, one of the first physicians in the southern part of the county, came with his father from Edgar County and engaged in the business of school teaching, prosecuting his medical studies in the meantime. He entered a piece of land in Section 30, on which he moved and made some improve- ments, but his practice increased so rapidly that he was compelled to quit farming altogether and devote his whole attention to his profession. He resides in the village of Elliottstown and has a large and remunerative practice. Samuel Field located near Bishop Point, where he still resides. John W. Field purchased land near the village of Elliottstown, which is still in his possession. He is at present -Justice of the Peace, an office which he has acceptably filled for several years. The foregoing list comprises the most prominent settlers of the township down to the year 1848, though there may be others entitled to a mention whose names we were unable to learn. Since 1848, the influx of population has been steady and constant; the land has all been taken up and improved; good roads have been established throughout the township. Comfortable, and in some cases, elegant farm residences have taken the places of the primitive pole cabin and board shanty. Villages have been laid out, schools established, neat schoolhouses erected at proper intervals, commodious temples of worship built, and everything bespeaks the prosperity with which the citizens of this part of the county are blessed.

Life in this country forty years ago was entirely diiferent from what it is to-day. In nothing are the manners and customs of the people similar to those who first introduced civilization into the Western wilds. The dwellings, clothing, diet, social customs, in fact, everything, has undergone a total revolution, and it is a difficult task to give our youth anything like a just idea of the manner in which their fathers lived and prosjaered in the days when the country was a wilderness. Game of all kinds then infested the woods and prairies, and furnished the table of ihe early settler a plentiful supply of fresh meat. Venison was no rarity, but was a staple article of food, deer being so numerous as to cause great injury to the crops, and hence were killed even when not needed for food.

The first mill in the township was a very diminutive affair, operated by horse-power, and erected by IVIr. Ai'mstrong, an early settler, near his jilace of residence in the southern part of the township. The grinding af)paratus rested on a large oak stump that had been smoothed off for the purpose, and was covered by a rude shed, the frame work of which consisted of foiu- forked poles, stuck in the ground, on which rested the roof. The mill ground very slow, but made a fair article of meal, and was extensively patronized by the citizens of this and neighboring townships. It was in operation about ten years, and did a great deal of business for a mill of its capacity. Dr. White erected a small horse mill shortly after he came to the township at Bishop Point, which was in operation about fifteen years. It was a decided improvement on the first named, having better machinery, ground faster, and made a better article of flour and meal. It was kept running day and night for some time, people often coming many miles with their grists, and remaining two days, and sometimes longer before their turns came for grinding. Both of those old mills disappeared long since, and not a vestige of either remains to mark the spots where they stood. No other flouring mills were built in Bishop until the year 1871, when a man by name of Lambert erected one in the western part of the townshij). This was a combination mill, operated by steam, and did a flourishing business for several years. It was torn down in the spring of 1882, and moved to the town of Wheeler, where it is at present in operation.

place in the year 1848, and was held at the residence of Levi Jacobs, aL early settler who came into the county about ten years previous. The number of votes cast was not large, nor all confined to Bishop, as the county was at that time made up of precincts. The township has been strongly Democratic ever since its organization, giving that ticket, at the last Presidential election, over 100 majority.

The cause of education received the early attention of the pioneers of Bishop, and to-day its fruits may be seen in the intelligence and culture of the descendants of the early and honest settlers. Though in the first settlement there were a great many influences that worked against the development of a general system of education - neighborhoods were thinly settled, money scarce, and people generally poor, no schoolhouses, no public fur;d, no trained and qualified teachers, no books, and nothing of the present system was at the hands of the pioneers - yet they organized schools, their children were taught, and grew to manhood and to years, wiser and more learned than their venerable sires. The date of the first school in Bishop Township was not learned, nor the name of the first teacher. A school was taught near Bishop Point, at an early day, by Samuel Field, a man who threw a great deal of enthusiasm into his profession, and gave his patrons universal satisfaction. A neat brick house was built at the Point in 1853, ii, which the first public school in the township was taught by Mr. Field the same year; he was afterward followed by James Gillenwaters, who was among the successful teachers of the township. He taught here several years, and was untiring in his efforts to bring the schools up to a high standard of excellence. There are at {iresent five frame schoolhouses in the township, well furnished.

The wages paid teachers in Bishop average from $'20 to $40 per month, which all concede to be much too low, as first class teachers cannot be procured at such figures. The people are fast realizing that a few dollars per month in a good teacher's salary is not at all to be considered or compared to a poor school in the hands of a cheap, but incompetent instructor. There are in addition to the public schools of the township, two parochial schools, under the control of the Lutherans and Catholics respectively, both of which are reputed in flourishing condition.

The first religious services in Bishop were conducted by Elder Stephen A. Williams, a pioneer preacher of Union Township, at private residences and at schoolhouses. He was a member of the Christian Church, or, as they are more commonly known, "New Lights," and organized the first society of that denomination in the county. The Methodists held services throughout the township during its early history, but never had a permanent organization. The southern and western parts of the township were settled principally by Germans, the majority of whom are connected with the Catholic and Lutheran Churches, each denomination having a flourishing congregation near the village of Dieterieh.

St. Aloysius Eoman Catholic Church dates its history from the year 1859, at which time a meeting was called for the purpose of taking steps toward the erection of a house of worship. It was decided at this meeting to erect a temporary frame structure, and a soliciting committee was appointed which soon succeeded in raising several hundred dollars, when an order arrived from Bishop Junker to either build a substantial edifice, suitable for a house of God, or none at all. This order served as a check on the building, and

It is H fine brick edifice, 40x60 feet, and cost, when completed and furnished, the sum of $7,000. In the fall of 1865, Rev. lii-oeger held the first services in the new building with great pomp and ceremony. The first regular pastor was Father Nazarias, who had charge of the church but a few weeks. Father Mauritius, at that time rector of St. Joseph's College, was next appointed pastor, and succeeded during his pastorate in paying off the greater amount of the church's indebtedness. Fathers Aloysius, Chrisostomus, Eustachius, Clementinus and Marcus have had charge of the congregation at different times.

Twenty families comprised the original membership, which has since increased until there are now 350 active members belonging to the church, and it is considered one of the most flourishing parishes in the diocese of Alton.

The necessity of having a denominational school south of Salt Creek had long been felt by the Catholic families living here, as the distance to the nearest school, Teutopolis, was too great to be traveled by the children of the neighborhood. Forty acres of gi'ound were purchased for school purjsoses, in the year 1852, and a suitable log house erected. Mr. Hulls was the first teacher, in which capacity he served until the year 1854. From 1854 until 1863. the following teachers successfully taught one term: Repking, Nieuaher, Borgman, Klinkhammer, Wernsing (the present County Treasurer), Peters, Ackersmann, Gottesleben and Baltenweck. In 1803, Mr. Hei.nieier taught with great success, and continued with the school until 1872. C. H. Guithues was then appointed and followed his vocation until 1880, when he resigned, and was succeeded by his son.

Theodore Guithues, who still holds the position. A new building was erected in the year 1877, a short distance from the log structure. It it, built of brick, cost $1,000, and is in every respect a model of neatness and comfort. At present there are sixty children attending the school.

St. John's Lutheran Church was organized in the year 1800, by Rev. Mr. Dickman, with a membership of about fifteen families. The schoolhouse northeast of Elliottstown served as a meeting place, until their first house of worship was erected. Their present neat edifice was built in the year 1876, at a cost of $1,600. There are now about forty communicants connected with the church. The present Trustees are H. Helmbrecht, G. Gerth and J. Woltmeiu. Rev. G. Wagner is the pastor now in charge. A parochial school was established the same time the church was built, and has been in successful operation ever since. They have a good house, and the average attendance is about sixty pupils. The difierent pastors have had charge of the school as instructors.

The Village of Elliottstown. - This town dates its history from June 17, 1854, at which time the ground was surveyed into lots by County Siu-veyor R. A. Howard, for Smith Elliott, proprietor of the land. An addition was made to the original plat a few years afterward of a number of lots lying south of the main street in Lucas Township. A short time after the survey was made, several dwellings and business houses were in process of erection. There were a couple of buildings on the town site before the groimd was platted, belonging to Dr. L. J. Field and E. A. Elliott. The former stood on the corner now occupied by George Dye's hotel, and was used for the threefold pvu-pose of dwelling, doctor "shop" and post office. The last named is still standing and was formerly U8ed as a dwelling and storeroom. It is at present occupied by Mrs. Higgins as a residence. The post office had been established at this point several yeai-s before the town was laid out, with Dr. Field as Postmaster, a position he held for over seventeen years. It was not on any regular route, and the proceeds of the office were supposed to be sufficient to pay for cairying the mail. Sometimes, however, pay from this source fell short and the deficiency had to be made up from private means of the Postmaster, who in this way lost over $00 during his term of office. About the time the town was contemplated, a storehouse was built and stoclied with a miscellaneous assortment of merchandise by Robert Evans, who, for some two years, did a very handsome little business, which served as a good advertisement for the place. A second store building was erected about the year 1854 by John Marble, who kept a general line of merchandise, with a barrel of "Old Johnson County" to make his variety complete. He continued his business but one year, when he disposed of his stock and moved into St. Francis Township. The building was afterward torn down and removed to a place east of Teutopolis, where it is still standing. About 1855, H. L. Smith started a third store, which was kept in the house where Mrs. Higgins now lives, and for a while carried on a good trade. Dr. Field kept a store in one room of his residence for two years, which he operated in connection with his medical practice. The latter having grown to so considerable extent, and finding he could not do his mercantile business justice without interfering with his profession, he closed out bis stock, after having sold goods for two years. Since the town started, the following firms have done business here at different intervals : Sloan & BaiT, William Hunter,

Lloyd & Kennedy, Lloyd & Wilds, Sloan & Floyd, George Dye, W. H. Hyden, F. B. Schooley. The business of the town is represented at present by Merry & Sons, who keep a very fine store, with a stock of goods representing a cash value of perhaps $2,700. George Dye keeps a di'Ug store and handles a line of groceries also. He is the good-uatured proprietor of the only hotel in place, a good one by the way, and we mean no reflection on him when we call his place the "Dye" House. Dr. Field was the first physician in the town. Drs. Abbott, Hughes, Sloan. Johnson, Lessem-, Shindle and Larabee have at different times during the town's history ministered to the afflicted of the village and surrounding county. Dr. T. J. Dunn, a son-in-law of Dr. Field and a regularly gi-aduated M. D., is at present located here and is gaining a large and lucrative practice. The first blacksmith shop in the village was built by John V. Bail, in the year 1855. He worked at his trade here for two years, when he sold his shop and moved to the village of Watson, where he has been ever since. A shop is run at present by John Dye. G. W. Baty built a steam flouring and saw mill combined, in the year 1854, and operated it about five years, when he sold it to a Mr. Patterson. The mill blew up a short time after Patterson purchased it, killing him instantly, and tearing the mill to shreds. Nobody else was hurt, though several had very narrow escapes. A steam saw mill was operated in the village several years, by Samuel Field, but at present there are no mills or manufacturing establishments of any kind in the place. There were in the village during its days of infancy several saloons - ginshops, sample rooms, or, to be more explicit, "hell-holes," which had a demoralizing effect upon the town and entire community, and gave the place a bad reputation abroad. These cancers were removed a number of years ago, and fortunately for the good sense, intelligence and morality of the citizens, nothing of the kind has been permitted since. A man named Jim Green finally kept whisky by the barrel, which he retailed from his residence, causing the better disposed citizens a great deal of annoyance, but all their eflbrta to induce him to quit the business were fruitless. During the progress of a great temperance revival which took the country by storm, some parties thought they could further the cause by destroying Green's whisky barrel, and accordingly went to work with that object in view. The barrel was kept in his smokehouse, as they supposed, right over the well, at least they had seen cer( ain parties go there for the purpose of sampling the "creature." Fired by the holiness of their mission, these cold water disciples crept cautiously up to the barrel one night, and after placing their sentinels on the watch, in order to insure safety, proceeded to bore a hole in the cask which contained the hated poison. The hole was bored, but fearing detection the templars did not wait to see the result, but went to their i respective homes, cheered no doubt by approv- | ing consciences for the part they had taken in the great work for humanity. The next morning the entire contents of Mrs. Green's brand new barrel of soft soap was found in the well, and nobody knew who bored the , hole. I

The first school in EUiottstown was taught > by .John Russ. He began in the fall of 1856 and continued three months. The house in which this term was taught was a small frame building erected for the purpose, and was the only house of the kind in the town for eighteen years. Among the different teachers who taught in this building were the following : Samuel Field, who kept one of the first schools in the township ; H. B. Keploy, now ne of the leadi ng lawers of Effingham, and W. B. Hannawalt. The old house was replaced in 1874 by the present building, which was erected at a cost of about $S00. The first school in this house was taught by Dr. T. J. Dunn. Present teacher is Mi-. J. M. Britton who has an interesting school of about fifty pupils.

The Baptist Church is the oldest religious society in EUiottstown, and was organized by an ecclesiastical council which convened for that purpose at the residence of Smith Elliott, March 27, 1852. The principal actors in the organization were Elders J. H. Larkin, G. W. Barcus and Stephen Blair. At this meeting, articles of faith were adopted, rules of order accejsted, and the following names eni'olled as members: Smith Elliott, Emily Elliott, L. J. Field, Frances Field, George Baty. Mary E. Baty, John B. Strife, Elizabeth Field, Margaret Arnold, Isaac McCroom and William Gordon. Of this number but two or three are now living in the village. The little congregation held their first meetings at Elliott's residence for one year, when the schoolhouse was secured for that purpose, and used as a place of worship until the year 1858. Their present handsome and convenient edifice was erected in that year, at a cost of iS2,000. The house is frame, dimensions forty by sixty feet, and will comfortably seat over three hundred people. Elder G. W. Barcus was called to act as pastor at the first meeting, and served in that capacity, at different intervals, iov twenty years. He was a man universally respected for his piety, and did as much if not more than any other pastor toward building the congregation and leading the members toward the higher life. He is now a resident of Kansas, where he moved in the spring of 1882. Of the other pastors who ministered to the church were Revs. Eeed, Patton and Chris, and othors. In the early days of its history, the church was a strong oraranization, and was greatly strengthened by niimeroiis revivals, during the progress of which many were converted and their names enrolled on the church records. There have been over one hundred members at different times, but many have died and others moved away until now there are but about forty names on the chm-eh books. There has been no preaching for some time past, and a general decay seems to have fastened itself upon the once flourishing society.

The Christian Church of Elliottstown was organized in 1866, by Elder Henry Vandooser, with a membership of twelve or fifteen persons. The organization was effected at the schoolhouse, where for two years their services were held, when the use of the Baptist Chiu'ch was secured, where the congi'egation met for worship two years longer. The church grew prosperous, and its membership increased very rapidlj'. The members are united as one in their social and religious relations, and six years had scarcely passed from the date of their organization, when they found themselves sufficiently strong to build a house of worship of their own. Their building is a convenient and comfortable frame structure, and represents a capital of about $1,500. Elder Thomas Wall was the first pastor, and served one year. His successor was Elder Barlow Higgins, who remained with the congi'egation tbe same length of time as his predecessor, and was followed by the present pastor, William Gordon, of Watson, who is now on his fifth year's work with the church. The present membership is about seventy. The elders of the church are Barlow Higgins, Jesse Melson, F. B. Schooley and Wilfred Fields. Deacons: John Dye, George Dye and William Layton.

The Trustees are John and George Dye and Frank Poe. A Sabbath school, numbering some eighty or a hundred pupils, is among the most interesting and progressive features of the church. F. B. Schooley is the Superintendent, and also one of the earnest workers of the congregation.

Delia Lodge, No. 525, A., F. & A. M., was organized at the village of Winterrowd. in Lucas Township, in 1867, and the organization moved to this place a couple of years later. The charter was granted by Jerome

E. Gorin, at that time Grand Master of the State, and the following names appear as charter members: Phenis Palmer, K. G. Scott, C. -M. Scott, Washington Winterrowd, John C. Palmer, David Palmer, L. G. Field, David C. Kershner, John A. Barr, George W. Sloan, B. L. Palmer, Andrew Wiles, J. W. Hourigan and Waymack Merry. First officers were, Phenis Palmer; W. M.; R. G. Scott, S. W. ; and W. Winterrowd, J. W. The several offices are filled at present by F. B. Schooley, W. M. ; J. F. Poynter, S. A\'. ;

The little village of Dieterich, or Dieterichsburg, is situated in the northwest corner of the township, on Section 13, and was laid out by M. Dieterich, who owned the land. It was surveyed by C. A. Van Allen, County Surveyor, January 8, 1881. This town is an outgrowth of the Springfield, Effingham & South-Eastern Railroad, which was recently completed through this part of the county and which has given new stimulus to the agricultiu'al interest of this tovmship, by bringing good grain markets to the people's doors. There are at this station, three warehouses, operated by Jennings & Minor, M. Dieterich and M. V. Parks. Their business has largely increased during the past year, and at no other small point in the cou^nty were as many bushels of wheat handled in 1881 and 1882. The place boasts two stores, which are kept by James Prather and Henry Habing; two blacksmith shojis, where John Sonnenberg and William Richards work at their trades: two brick yards are in successful operation, by Habing & Field, and several new houses will soon be erected. John Richards was the first Postmaster, hav ing been appointed when the office was established, in the year 1881. The office is now kept by Dr. Chapman.

A village called Graceville was siirveyed and platted February 5, 1881, by C. A. Van Allen, County Surveyor, for John Grace, owner of the land. It occupies a portion of ground in Section 13, joining Dieterich, and both places go by the latter name.

WEILER & MKYER, dealers in clothing, weiler, Rhine Province. Prussia, June 13, 1855. gents' furnishing goods, hats, shoes and trunks, Max Meyer was born in Hamburg, Germany, one door north of Zimmerman & Snyder, November 10, 1859. The above firm commenced Altamont. Herman Weiler was born in Ott- business iu Altamont February 15, 1883.

Effiitgham City And

CHRISTIAN ALT, Sr., farmer, P. 0. Effingham, was born, iu 1822, in German}', son of Christian and Katharina (Bechtholdt) Alt, natives also of German}-; he was a farmer, and died in St. Clair County, this State, in 1853; she died January 3, 1874, in this county; they were the parents of two children, both boys. Our subject received his education in Germany. He was married, in St. Clair County, this State, September 22, 1853, to Anna Maria Scharth, born in Germany, daughter of Adam and Eliza Scharth, natives also of Germany. Jlr. and Mrs. Alt have eight children - John, Christian, "Henry, Louisa, Fritz, Katharina, Caroline and Wilhelra. Three of the boys are married. Our subject came to this county in October, 1865, and has since resided here. He was a miller up to 1880, since which year his oldest son has run the mill, although our subject still holds an interest in it. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

CHRISTIAN ALT, Jr., expressman, Effingham, was born in St. Clair County, this State, Jan. 25, 1857, sou of Christian and Anna Maria (Scharth) Alt, natives of Germany, are farmers and are living in this county; they are the parents of eight children. Our subject received his education in his native county, and also in Effingham. He was married, in Effingham, June 24, 1879, to Jlisa Mary Koester, born February 19, 1860, in Germany, daughter of

Conrad and Christina (Ritterborn) Koester. na tives also of Germany, and are living, he in Effingham and she in Germany. Our subject worked in his father's mill, and in 1872 went into the employ of A. Sewart, in a general store. He afterward worked in several other stores, and December 1, 1881, he entered the employ of H. G. Habing, who is agent for the Adams and Pacific Express Companies, and also for the Wabash Railroad, the work pertaining to the latter office of which our subject has charge. Mr. Alt is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is Independent in politics.

JOHN ALT, miller, Effingham, was born in St. Clair County, 111., February 14, 1852, son of John and Mary (Scharth) Alt. He was thirteen years of age, when his parents removed to this county and settled in Effingham, and our subject engaged in fiirmiug until he was eighteen. His stepfather bought the Old City Mills about 1866. About 1870, our subject entered his present mill, and remained five years, when he took a general Western tour, stopping in California for one and a half years. He returned in November, 1876, and in the spring of 1877, bought an interest in the City Mills, and has run them ever since, increasing its capacity and improving its machinery. Its present capacity is .seventy barrels per day. Flour is manufactured by the new process, and the mill turns uot several brands - a "Patent," "Straight,"

Biographical

"Gold Dust" and "No. 1." They do a merchant and exchange business, and the products of the mill find sale in the local market. The firm name is John Alt & Co., our subject being in partnership with his step-father. Christian Alt. The City Mills burned in 1868, and were rebuilt in 1869 at a cost of $10,000. It is a three-story frame, 35x50, with engine-room attached; engine is thirty-five horse power, and the mill require altogether five men. Subject was married, in October, 1877, to Miss Letitia Wade, of Btflngham. The}' have one son. Mr. Alt's father died in St. Clair County, this State, when he (subject) was eleven months old.

CHARLES 0. ANDERSON, merchant, Effingham, son of Enoch Anderson, was born in Shelby County, III., January 3, 1862. He served one yea.r as clerk in Chicago, 111., and two years with Eversman & Speck. He came to Effingham City wlien three years of age, and has been raised aud educated in the public schools. He bought the confectionery and restaurant of W. H. Duddleston in September, 1882, and has since conducted the business under the firm name of C. 0. Anderson & Co., near the post olfice, carrying a full line of confectioner}', fine fruits and oysters and ice cream, in their respective seasons. His parents were both natives of Sweden, and came to the United States in 1861.

JONATHAN A. ARNOLD, teacher, Effingham, was born in Jasper County, 111., November 8, 1845. He was educated in the public schools of his native county, and attended one year at St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis, this county. He came to this county in 1863, and clerked in a store in Teutopolis for Venemann & Co. for four years, and afterward three years in Effingham for Van Norman Bros. About 1871, he began teaching in Liberty Township, this county, and lias been teaching about seven months per year in the. county ever since. In December, 1881, he was appointed Superintendent of Schools of this county to serve an interim between two terms of one year. He received the nomination at the Democratic primary, in April, 1882, for the same office for a term of four years. He had served as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for three years when appointed, and had served as Supervisor for several years in Banner Township.

E. AUSTIN, dairyman, P. 0. Effingham, was born August 29, 1842, in Hancock County, III., son of Seneca and Julia (Burnett) Austin, he, born in 1798, in Orwell, Vt, was a lawyer, editor and farmer, and died in Effingham, in May, 1880; she, born in Dayton, Ohio, August 29, 1812, and died May 8, 1873, in Delhi, Ohio. They were the parents of four children. Our subject received his education in Campbell County, Ky. He was a farmer in early life, also taught school, and learned the painter's trade. He was married in Campbell County, Ky., October 17, 1861, to Miss Susan L. Winter, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 23, 1841; daughter of William and Nancy J. Winter, he a native of England, and she of Kentucky, both born in 1798. Mr. and Mrs. Austin have nine children -^Harry B., Charles, Cornelia, Frank G., William, Gustavus, Calvin, Julia and Gertrude. Our subject came to Illinois in 1 862f and resided for three years in Jasper County. He then came to this county and worked at the painter's trade for two years. He then purchased sixty-five acres of land near the town, and now has 105 acres, on which he has a dairy, market garden and a good orchard. Mr. Austin is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Republican.

HON. WILLIAM H. BARLOW, attorney at law, Effingham City, was born in Munfordville. Hart Co., Ky., July 26, 1839. At the age of twelve, he came with bis parents to Charleston, 111., where he lived until 1868. He was educated in the public schools, and spent about two years in Kenyon College, before entering the army. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and went out as private. lu July, 1862, he was promoted to Assistant Quartermaster, witti tlie rank of Captain of volunteers, and was in tlie Missouri Department until tlie latter part of 1862, joining Gen. Sherman, at Memphis, Tenn., in December, 1862, and served for some years on Logan's staff, and was with that army in its various changes, and was on Gen. Sherman's staff during the last six months of the war. After the war closed, in July, 1865, he was ordered to the sea coast, where he remained until October following, when he was ordered to Florida, as Chief Quartermaster of the State, with headquarters at Tallahassee; and January, 1866, was ordered to Fort Garland, Colorado, and was mustered out of service by special order from the War Department, No. 550, November 13, 1866, being the last of the volunteer officers of Army of Tennessee mustered out. On being discharged, Mr. Barlow went immediately to the Law Department of the University of Jlichigau at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated March 25, 1868. and came to Effingham on the 20th of May following, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1868, at Charleston, 111. He has been in active practice of his profession here ever since. July 20,

1868, he formed a law partnership with Benson and Virgil Wood, which lasted until November 1, 1875, and has since been alone. He was Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee in 1870, and in 1871 was appointed United States Assessor for the Eleventh District of Illinois, and held that office until it was abolished. He was a member of the Republican State Central Committee of Illinois from 1870 to 1878, and was a delegate from the Fifteenth Congressional District of Illinois to the National Republican Convention, at Chicago, in 1880, and was one of the famous '- 306." He was the late Republican nominee for Congress in the Seventeenth Congressional District of Illinois. He was married, March 11,

They had one child, now deceased. His father, John P. Barlow, was born in Virginia, removed to Kentucky when a boy, and resided in Hart County until 1853, engaged in merchandising. He came to Charleston, 111., in 1853, and resided there until 1869, when he came to Effingham, and" is now living with subject in his seventy -seventh year.

H. BECKMANN, furniture, Effingham, was born in Germany January 6, 1838, son of Bernhard and Mary (Brinck) Beckmann, natives also of Germany; he, born in 1780, and died in his native country in 1840; she, born in 1783, and is still living in Germany. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. Our subject received his schooling in his native land, whei'e he also learned the carpenter's trade. He came to the United States in the fall of 1868, coming to this county, where he has since resided. He was married, November 5, 1868, in Etfingliam, to Miss Caroline Bussemeyer, born in Germaii3' in 1843, daughter of Henry and Mary (Meckmau) Bussemej'cr, natives also of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Beckmann have had five children, four of whom are living - Bernhard, Augusta. Mary and Clara. During the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, our subject was in the German Army, a member of the Thirtyninth Fusileers. In 1866, he was in the Austrian war, and was engaged in the battles of Schaffenburg and Hammelburg, and two other minor engagements. Mr. Beckmann has been in the furniture and undertaking business for four years, and has a good stock of goods. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in polities is a Democrat.

EZRA H. BISHOP, merchant, EfBngham City, was born in Hardy County, now West Virginia, February 10, 1837. He came with his parents to this county when in his fifth year. They first settled in Summit Township, at Blue Point, where the father opened a farm and resided there about three years, and then removed to Freemanton, a village on the old

National Road, where he kept a small store and practiced medicine. Our subject grew up in the village, and went to one of the delapidated schools of that day about three mouths in winter, and, at fifteen, began teaming and hauling produce to St. Louis, and brought merchaudise back. His father brought the first steam-mill to the county, which he located at Fremanton about 1851 or 1852. It was both a grist and saw mill, aud a carding machine being attached to it also. After the mill came, our suliject hauled logs and cord wood until about 1855 or 1856, when the mill was sold. He remained on the farm until of age, and continued farming for himself until the war broke out. He came to PJtflngham in 1863, and, in 1865, he began clerking with A. Stewart, and continued as salesman and bookkeeper with him for fourteen years, and, in March, 1880, opened a dry goods store for himself on Jeflierson street, where he has since done a successful business. His father, Jacob Bishop, was born in Virginia, but spent his earl^- life in Ohio, where he married Sarah Hook, of Licking County, that State. He came to Effingham County October 1, 1841, where he passed the remainder of Ms dajs. He died in 18G8, in his fifty-ninth year. He was the father of eleven children - John W. (a farmer in this couuty), Ezra H. (suliject), Melissa 0. (wife of Joseph Young, of this count}'), and Sophrouia E. (wife of John Kelker, of Pueblo, Colo). Our subject's father studied medicine in Ohio, with a view to self-improvement, and, after coming here, without auj' intention of practicing, was drawn into a large practice. He had but little means when he came, but was quite successful. He and his family were Methodists, and he was for manj' years a local preacher.

SAMUEL BLATTNER, Effingham City. Prominently identified among the busiBess men of this place is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of

Knetingen, Canton Argau, Switzerland, and was born November 13, 1831. He is a son of John Blattner, who was born in 1797, in Switzerland, his occupation that of a tailor; came to the United States in 1834, and died in Madison County, 111. Anna Blattner, the mother of our subject, was born in 1804, in Canton Argau, Switzerland, and died in Highland, Madison Co., 111. There are thirteen children in the family, seven of whom are now living. Mr. Blattner went to school only a part of three months, in Highland, 111. He is mainly self-educated. He came to the United States in 1834. He first landed in New York, then went to St. Louis. From there he went to Madison County, 111. He worked on a farm there till he was nineteen years of age, when he learned the blacksmith's trade in Highland, 111., where he was married, June 6, 1854, to Miss Anna Keaser. who first beheld the light of the world in Switzerland, in February, 1828. She is a daughter of John and Barbara Keaser, both of whom were born in Switzerland. Mr. Blattner has one daughter, named Barbara, born in 1855, in Highland, III. She was married to Mr. Albert Gravenhorst, whose father is the editor of the German paper known as the Effingham Volksblat. Mr. Blattner enlisted in the Second Missouri Infantry, Company K, May 19, 1861. He was in the battles of Booneville, Mo. ; Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville and Stone River, where he was wounded, and after that be served in the Invalid Corps, doing provost duty in New York State until he was discharged, September 10, 1864. In religion, our subject is a Lutheran; also an old Jeffersonian Democrat. After the war, Mr. Blattner came to Edgewood, Effingham County, in which place he went into the liquor business, which he continued after coming to Effingham. 111., in 1878. He

JOSHUA BRADLEY, marble dealer, Effingham, was born in Jackson County, 111., October 10, 1823 ; came to Efflingham County in April, 1843; bought an improved tract of land of John G. McCann in Section 29, in what is now Summit Township, and still owned by subject. He paid S150 for the improvement and afterward entered it at different times until he acquired 180 acres. Subject devoted his attention to farming until 1858, when he removed to Effingham and engaged in stonework. His father was a stone-cutter and mason in Jackson Countj-, 111., and made tombstones there, and suliject learned that business. In 1846, he began making and furnishing gravestones out of sandstone, and some are still standing at Freemanton and Ewington which are in good condition after thirtj-six j-ears of exposure. He quarried the stone, some on Coon Creek, Mound Township, and dressed them himself; also, made grindstones when they were desired; worked at this in the fall, also worked on the stone-work of the Illinois Central. In 1858 moved to Effingham and remained until 1861, when he went back to his farm until 1864, when he again came to Effingham and engaged in the marble business, continuing here until 1868, when he moved his stock to his farm and carried on marble business and farming until 1875, when he removed to Altamont and established a business in connection with his son John H. Bradley, and continued there until February 1877, when he again went back to the farm and remained there for two years. In the fall of 1879, he re- * moved to Effingham where he had formed a partnership with James A. Flack and Daniel Safford, and has since continued the marble works on Main and Railroad streets, under the firm name of Bradley, Flack & Safford. Mr. Bradley attends to the outside business of the firm and the remaining partner's attend to the shop interests. The father of our subject, James H. Bradley, was born in North Carolina and raised in Middle Tennessee, and came to Illinois about 1818, settling with his father in Jackson County. He married Miss Martha Hughes, daughter of James Hughes. She was born in Randolph County, in the Territory of Illinois, in October 15, 1804. She was raised three miles northeast of Kaskaskia, and was acquainted with all of the principal Indians in that part of the State. James Hughes came with some of his family from Kentucky about the beginning of the century. From Reynolds' History of Illinois, we learn that James Hughes taught an evening school, which brought ex-Gov. Reynolds and other j'oung men from five miles around in that vicinity to prepare for college. James Hughes was a Major during the war of 1812 and the Indian troubles in ranger service. One of his sons held all of the principal offices in Randolph Countj-. Mother of subject died at the age of forty-one in Jackson County, and his father died in Jackson on his homestead in Bradlej- Township in 1866. He served as Justice of the Peace for about twelve years, and had seven sons and seven daughters, five of whom are now living. Subject was married in March, 1843, to Mrs. Matilda S. Flack, widow of Milton Flack, by whom she had one son, James A. Flack, now a partner in present firm. His father was born otx the Four Mill Prairie, in Perry County, 111., where his father had settled in pioneer times. Mrs. Bradley was the daughter of Andrew Bourland, who died at Vandalia, where he was Justice of the Peace and Postmaster at Vandalia, 111., at the time of his death in 1842. Subject has four sons and two daughters bj' his marriage, one daughter and one son dead. Those living are : Benjamin F., of Effingham; Joshua F., of Bonham, Texas; John H., of rfTerre Haute, and Mary V., wife of A. J. Gloyd, of Williamsville. 111.

WILLIAM S. BRADLEY, tie contractor, Effingham, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., October 9, 1835. He was six years old when he came with his uncle, Morris Bradlej-, in 1841, to this count}-. He rode behind his uncle on horseback from Tennessee, being eight days on the wa}-. His uncle bought land in Mason Township, where he (uncle) resided until his death about 1876. Our subject grew upon the farm and lived with his uncle, going to school three miles distant, across the creek in Mason Township, near the side of the Wabash Church. He woi-ked on a farm b}' the month until they began the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad, on which he worked three years. He then bought new land and opened up a farm near IMason, and still owns land there. He farmed with good success until 1875, when he began working in timber, and has been a tie contractor since, working from fifteen to twenty-five men for the last five years. His parents died when he was three years old, and they died about six months apart, and he was cared for by an aunt, until he came to this count}'. He was married, ip 1857, to Miss Rowena Brockett, daughter of James Brockett, one of the first settlers of the county. They had two sons, both living. Mrs. Bradley died September, 1871. Our subject was married a second time, Februarj- 7, 1876, to Miss Minerva Martin, daughter of Moses Blartin. They have one daughter.

THOMAS H. BRAND, proprietor California House, Effingham, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, April 20, 1825. He came to United States, in his fourteenth j'ear with his older brother, and settled at Flo3'd Hill, Oneida Co., N. Y., and lived with his brother there on a farm until 1849. In that 3'ear, he was sent bj' Emmonal Potter, of Floyd Hill, N. Y., to California - the contract was that Mr. Brand was to give Mr. Potter one-half of all he made in the mines for two years, and Mr. Potter to pay his passage except $50. Subject sailed around Cape Horn, and was 157 days from New York City to San Francisco, Cal., ten days being spent in the port of Valparaiso, Chili. On his arrival, Mr. Brand worked in the mines for three years; and had acquired considerable money, but lost $1,800, all he had, as did many others, as the venture proved a failure. They had to paj- $2 per pound for flour, and high prices for other things. At the end. of the two j-ears, Mr. Brand had nothing, and the fourth year he engaged in the gardening business with James L. Halstead at Volcano, in Calaveras County, Cal. The gardening was a great success, and he sold potatoes at 50 cents per pound, and some hills contained eighteen pounds. Mr. Brand came home via the Nicaragua route in 1853, and returned to his native county, and, although not legall}' or morally responsible to his benefactor, he paid his heirs $500, and still holds receipt for the same. In the spring of

1853, Mr. Brand went to Rock County, Wis., where he bought an improved farm of about seventj--five acres, which he sold to his brother in the fall of 1853, and having met James Baldwin, of Utica, N. Y., while in the mines, he was induced by a liberal offer by him to cross the plains California, and proceeded as far as Louis, when he gave up the project and settled at Edwardsville, 111., where he stopped for a short time, and then went to Clark County, Mo., where he bought and opened up a farm in

1854, and remained there until the war broke out and bj- hard work was in good circumstances. In 1861, he enlisted in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry under Col. Bishop, and -served until he was discharged on account of disability. He sold his stock after his discharge, and removed back to Edwardsville, 111., and in 18G4, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry under Col. Springer, and served until the close of the war, and returned to Edwardsville, 111. Mr. Brand bought a farm in Madison County, 111., which he conducted for some time. In 1869, he came to Effingham, a' d leased the building now known as the '- California House," of Gilmore & Watson, and afterward bought, and conducted it as a restaurant for a time, and has run it as a hotel for many j-ears. He has enlarged it until it has at present twenty -two rooms with dining-room, sample rooms and office. It has been run under the name of the California House for the past eiglit years. Mr. Brand came here in September, 18G9, and, in October of that year, while trying to blow the soot out of the chimney with powder, it exploded in his face, putting out both of his ej'es. He was married in 1853 in Oneida, N. Y., to Miss Harriet .S. Mason, of Floyd. N. Y. They have six children living, and four deceased.

WILLIAM EDWIN BUCKNER, the oldest child of Josiah and Lorana (Henry) Buckner, was horn in Larkinsburg Township, Chi}- Co., 111., September 24, 185G. His birthplace was known as the Joseph Henry farm, three-fourths of a mile from the present town of Edgewood, in Effingham Count}'. His parents lived on this place for one year, and then moved to Edgewood, which was then just being built, in consequence of the Illinois Central Railroad, which was then, in' the year 1856, completed, when his father built the first house of this thriving little town. His parents, after remaining here two years, moved to the town of Mason, where they resided for two years more, when, in the fall of 1860, thej' again removed to their former home in Clay Count}-. They stayed here during the fall and winter of 1861, when, in the spring of 1862, the}- moved back to Mason. At this time his father enlisted in the throe-months' service, subject to Lincoln's first call. He joined Col. W. H. L. Wallace's Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which afterward made itself famous on many a hard-fought field. His position was second drummer, he being the first assistant to the famous James B. McQuillan; served out his time, and in the fall of 18G2, went to White County and joined the Eighty-seventh Regiment, Col. John E. Whitney, uncle of our subject, as Drum Major. This regiment was afterward known as the Eighty-seventh Illinois. Now, for three years young William had fun, his principal amusement being to play the truant from school. He went to school just when it pleased him, uU the arguments to the contrary notwithstanding. His time was spent while out of school in going to the creek to bathe, riding on the cars, feats at pugilism with his playmates, playing soldiers, and joining many an innocent band of young marauders on the various apple orchards throughout the neighliorhood. The orchard belonging to good old "Granny Ruflfner" escaped, the secret being a huge mastiff which she kept at her house, and whose bark and fierce look at once struck terror to the heart of the young Buckner. After the war was over, his father returned home, and in the spring of 1866, the family moved to a farm north of Mason, where for most of the time the subject of this sketch resided with his parents, until the spring of 1880, when he came to Effingham and entered the office of Cooper & Gillmore, to complete his law studies, which had been commenced some four years prior to this time. His study of the law was begun in 1876 with the Hon. H. B. Kepley, with whom he studied for four or five mouths, when he went back to the farm. Here for the next few years was a struggle for him. Possessiuj; a great desire to complete his law studies, he worked early and late, using all his spare time of mornings, noons-nnd evenings in study. It was during this time that he read over Blackstone, Kent and Parsons on Contracts. During the spring, summer, fall and winter of 1878, he in this way read Parsons on Contracts three times. Parsons has always been his favorite law-writer. The winter of 1870 and 1880 was spent in teaching the home district school at $25 per month. This money was used in helping to complete his law studies. He re- mained in the office of Cooper & Gillmore until August, 1881, when, at Mount Vernon, 111., he passed a successful examination before the Appellate Court, and was admitted to the bar, he being one of the twent3'-six out a class of thirt}'- four. After his admission, he settled in Vandalia, where he remained for four months, returning to Effingham and opening an office in the Register Building in March, 1882. His first case in the circuit was the defense of three fellows for highway rohberj', in which he was unsuccessful, the proof against them being so strong as to prevent an acquittal. His law reading has been quite extensive, Blackstone, Kent, Parsons on Contracts, Chitty. Goidd and Stephen on Pleading, Greenleaf on Evidence, Bishop on Criminal Law, Storj' and Adams on Equity, Stor3- on Equity Pleading, Reeves on Domestic Relation, Danille's Chancery Practice, Washburn on Real Property, besides several minor works, man}- of them having been read and recited a number of times. He cannot boast of a long line of royal ancestors. His grandfather, Philip Buckner, was a sturdj' old Kentucky farmer, who moved to this count}- in 1835, where our subject's fathei-, Josiah Buckner, was born, August 1, 1835, and who has since pursued the occupation of a farmer, till 1881, when he removed to the city of Effingham, where he has since resided. His mother was Lorana Henry, the oldest daughter of Joseph Heur}-, who was a sou of Elijah Henry, who also was a Kentuck}- farmer and blacksmith, and who moved from Kentucky to Lawrence County, Ind., and thence to this State, in the latter part of the decade of 1840, or the beginning of 1850. Elijah Heni-y is known and esteemed by mauj' of the oldest citizens of this county for the many excellent varieties of fruit trees which his nursery at Mason contained. Manj- of the oldest and best orchards in this county were grown from the "Henrj' Nursery." Josiah Buckner and Lorana Henry were joined in the bonds of holy matrimony, in the city of \

St. Louis, May 4, 1855, for the simple and wellknown reason that the paternal of Lorana objected to Josiah paying his attentions to their daughter, much less allowing them to be married at home. But. like a gi-eat manj- marriages whicli have been contracted under similar difficulties, the old folks relented, and clasped the young and happy couple to their bosoms on their return home. The old gentleman at once decided having Josiah to live on the farm with him, and started him in life as best he was able. Mrs. Buckner is a grand-daughter of the man who was Heur}' Cla5''s blacksmith. Their union has been a happy one, being blessed by seven children - William E., Jemima J., Levi L., Henry C, Franklin F.. Philip 0., Aurora. Of these, two - Jemima J. and Henry C. - passed away to that better and happier land in their infancy.

HENRY E. BURBACH, saloon, Effingham, was born on the River Rhine, town of Cologne, Prussia, December 2, 1835. His father's name was Joseph Burbach. he was born in the same place about the year 1806. He now resides in Milwaukee. His mother's name, before marriage, was Catharine Bodden; she was also born in the same place in 1808; she died in 1841, and was buried there. There were three children in the family, one boj- and two girls. Subject was educated at a common school. In 1854, while at the age of nineteen, he came with his parents to America, and settled with them in Milwaukee, where he learned the cooper trade. He worked at the business one year as a journeyman, and, in 1851, removed to New Brunswick; after a stay here from fall until spring, he went to St. Joe, Mo.; from there to New Orleans and St. Louis. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Catharine Seamon, of Chicago. She was born in Prussia. Her father's name was Michael Seamon, who was born in Prussia. Subject enlisted in Ninth Illinois Cavalry December 27, 1861; was promoted Orderly Sergeant, and served during the war, and, with the exception of a brief period, was with his regiment during all their marching and fighting. He was discharged December 9, 1864. His children are Lena, Kate, Margaret, Henry and Joseph. After his discharge from the service, he returned to Milwaukee, where, after a short st.av. he went to Chicago, and engaged in keeping a boarding-house. He came to Effingham in 1870.

GEORGE BUSSE, farmer, P. 0. Teutopolis, son of Gerhard and Maggie (Uphouse) Busse, was born in this couutj- in 1851. He is the fifth child of the family which consists of nine children, all born in Illinois except Henry, who was born in Ohio. His father has always farmed, both in this and the old country (Germany). On arriving in America, he settled first in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained some six j-ears; previous to his removal to Illinois, he had purchased fortj' acres through the colony agency, and, after his arrival, bought sixt^- acres adjoining his first purchase. He came to America in 183-1, and was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1840. Mr. Busse, the subject of this sketch, was married in Eftingham County, in 1867, to Miss Mary Wesling, of the same county, but who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have three children - Louie, Henry and Bidy. Mr. Busse was educated in Teutopolis. He is a farmer bv occupation.

SAMUEL CAMPBP^LL, lumber dealer, Effingham, was born in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, July 31, 1832. He was engaged in thegrocery business before the war, beginning at sixteen years of age, and continued until 1862, when he joined the Armj' of the Cumberland, and was sutler for the Ninetieth Ohio Regiment until 1864, when he returned home and engaged in the hardware business in Somerset until 1871, when he removed to Effingham, where he has been engaged in the lumber and milling business ever since. In Jul}-, 1879, he located his present lumber yards near the track of the Vandalia line, near which he owned and conducted a saw and planing mill. He removed the saw-mill in Mav, 1882, to Watson Township, where he bought a tract of timber and is engaged in the manufacture of lumber for this market. The milling interest employs fourteen men. Our subject was married in 1854 to Miss Sarah Kuhns, of Perry County, Ohio. The}' have three sons and six daughters living - Albert H., James V., William, Mar}', Callie, Emma, Rosa, Laura and Mabel.

WILLIAM BREWSTER COOPER, attorney, Effingham, born in Plymouth, Mass., March 8, 1835, son of William R. and Emeline (De Pallies) Cooper. His ancestor, Joseph Cooper, came over in the year 1640, from England. He was a farmer and weaver, who settled in Plymouth and married Elizabeth Brewster, daughter of Elder William Bi'ewster, who came over in the Mayflower, and the original homestead of his is in possession of his descendants by the Cooper family. Subject is the fourth generation from JosepTi Cooper, and the fifth from Elder William Brewster. His paternal grandmother was Lucy Taylor, daughter of Lucy Standish, a descendant from Miles Standish, of the Mayflower. For many generations the family were Whigs and Unitarians, and his father became an ardent Abolitionist, and a conductor on the "Underground Railroad. " Subject was the first Democrat in the family, and lived in the East until fifteen years old. He was prepared for the junior year in Harvard College in the private academy of Charles Burton, still teaching in Plymouth, Mass. He entered the senior class, and graduated in 1851. Of all the graduates from the founding of Harvard to 1851, Mr. Cooper was the youngest, except one other, and stood No. 13 in a class of over one thousand members. After leaving school, he came West to Denmark, Iowa, then a small country hamlet of about three hundred people, and site of a Congregational Church and academy. Subject clerked in a store for a short time, and came to Illinois in the fall of 1852, and taught school that winter near Rushville, Schuyler Co., 111., and studied law during that winter by personal effort, and was admitted to the bar at Canton, Mo. , in May, 1853, and immediately afterward at Rushville, 111. During the summer, he taught the academy at Clayton, 111., a Presbyterian institution, and one of his pupils was Rev. Leonard W. King, afterward Professor of Tuanguages in University of Virginia. At the expiration of term of school, he went to Salem, Iowa, where he located for practice, and got some legal work to do in surrounding country towns. He came from Salem directly to Ewingtou, this county, in May, 1854, and began the practice of law as the partner of W. J. Stephenson, who shortly after removed to Clay County, 111., the partnership still existing. Mr. Coop)er was but nineteen years old when he caiue, and at once took the lead, and gave to the Effingham bar its distinctive character. He was married, in December, 1855, to Miss Jane Iddings, of Salem, Iowa. There are two children (sons) living of that marriage, and three dead. The first wife died in November, 1865, and Mi-. Cooper married, December 2, 18G9, Miss Harriet' E. Leith, of Mason, this county, by which union there are two daughters and a son. Mr. Cooper brought the first printing press to the county, and started the Effingham Pioneer, printed at Ewington. He is Strongly Republican.

SAMUEL CLARK, physician, Effingham City, was born in Piketon, Pike Co. , Ohio, October 22, 1831, son of John and Abigail (Sumner) Clark, he, born in Cumberland County, Ohio, in 1802, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1851; she, born in Peacham,

Caledonia Co., Vt., and died in Shelby County, this State, in December, 1876. They were farmers, and the parents of nine children - four sons and live daughters. Our subject received his early schooling in Portsmouth, Ohio, and attended a course of study at the Rush Medical College, Chicago, and also at the St. Louis Medical College, where he received his diploma. He was married, in Shelbyville, this State, February 2, 1858, to Miss Margia Harris, born in Shelbyville in May, 1837, daughter of David L. and Elizabeth Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had four children, two of whom are living - Dora, now the wife of James T. Potter; and John D., a lawyer by profession, being a graduate of Eureka College, and the Bloomington (111.) Law School. Our subject has always followed his profession. He practiced about twenty years in Ramsey, this State, about five years in Altamont, this county, and, October 5, 1882, he came to Effingham, where he intends to reside in the future. He is at present editor of the Democrat, a weekly journal published at Ramsey, this State. He is also a partner in a general merchandise store on the corner of Jefferson and Front streets, in which a full stock of goods is constantly kept. In politics, the Doctor is a conservative Democrat, voting always for whom he considers the best man.

AL ANSON CROOKER, landlord, Effingham, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., in September, 1812. He came to Lawreneebui'g, Ind., when a young man, and there married Agnes Henrietta Craig, and, several years before the war, went to Nashville, Tenn., where he lived twenty years, and while there his wife died, leaving four chil dren - Jacob, Phillip, Mary and Alanson - the youngest being eight years old when the mother died. The youngest son and daughter came North, and were raised by Mrs. W.

H. Blakely, of this county, who was their auut. Jacob and Phillip joined the Union army. Oui" subject married a second time, in 1862, to Miss Sarah Staats, daughter of Hiram Staats, of Effingham County. Two children were born of this marriage, of whom one daughter is living. Mr. Crooker parchased of William H. Blakely his pioneer homestead in old Ewington, which was said to be the first frame house built in the county. In this house, after financial reverses in Nashville, Tenn., Mr. Crooker moved in 1868, and lived there until April, 1881, when he moved to Effingham, and is now proprietor of the Tea Garden House on Banker street.

PHILIP CROOKER, salesman, Effingham, was born in Lawi-enceburg, Ind., in 1844. When one year old, he was taken by his parents to Nashville, Tenn., where he lived until the breaking-out of the war, when he went North and enlisted at Lawrenceburg, Ind., in the Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, for three months, and re-enlisted for three years in the same regiment, and served until the expiration of his term of service, with Gen. James Shields, whose forces were consolidated with the Army of the Potomac, in the First Corps, and, after the death of Gen. Reynolds, at Gettysburg, became a pai-t of the Fifth Corps. Subject was in battles of Philippi, Winchester, Greenbrier and Spottsylvania Coiirt House, and tv?o days' fight in Wilderness, and Cold Harbor, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysbm-g, where subject was taken prisoner and held four days, and recaptured, and the siege of Petersburg, Va., and was discharged in September, 1864, at Indianapolis, and was employed as messenger for the Adams Express Company from Nashville to Chattanooga for one year. He went to SL Louis, Mo., and entered the police department, and became

Clerk in the Fourth District, and promoted to Clerk at police headquarters, and finally became Sergeant, headquarters, at night. In December, 1872, he went to work for Samuel C. Davis & Co., and was salesman in their dry goods house; also traveled in Southern Illinois until 1881, wlien he entered the employ of A. T. Stewart & Co., of Chicago, remaining six months, and, July 1, 1881, he went to work for William H. Kellogg & Co., of St. Louis, Mo., and, July 1, 1882, he left the St. Louis house, since which time he has traveled for the main house of Charles P. Kellogg & Co., of Chicago, for sale of clothing, in Illinois and has resided in Effingham since May, 1881. He lived in St. Louis from 1866 to 1881, where he was married, in 1870, to Miss Emily Rudolph, of St. Louis.

WILLIAM CURSON, lumber- dealer, Effingham, was boi-n in Lincolnshire, England, April 12, 1832. At the age of eighteen, he came to the United States, and his parents settled at Batavia, Clermont Oo. , Ohio, where our subject served a three -years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and then moved to Shelbyville, Ind., in 1854, and worked as a journeyman there for five years, then moved to Delphi, Carroll Co., Ind , and began taking contracts there in 1859, and moved to Illinois in 1866. He bought 160, acres of prairie land in Lucas Township, which he improved for a short time, when he came to Effingham, where he formed a partnership with his father in 1866. and, under the style of Curson & Son, contractors and builders, continued until 1876, a period of ten years; put up the Presbyterian Chm'ch, two hotels at the railroad, and a large number of business houses and residences. The father died May 10, 1 876, and our subject formed a partnership with his brother, J. A. Curson, under the firm name of W. Curson & Bro. , in May, 1876, and engaged in contracting and building, and at the same time established lumber-yards at the corner of Washington and Banker streets, where they keep all kinds of dressed lumber and building materials. In April, 1882, he discontinued building, to devote his entire attention to the lumber trade, a ad, in May, 1882, established another lumber-yard on Jefferson and Willow streets. Their yards are supplied from the Chicago markets and the pineries of Michigan and Alabama. His father, Thomas Curson, was born in Lynn, England, in 1810; married Miss Maria Dennis, of Lynn, and had three sons, of whom subject is the eldest. The father came to the United States in 1850, and settled at Batavia, Ohio. He followed carpentering all his life. He was a Republican in politics, and served as Alderman in Delphi, Ind. Our subject served under the first call for threemonths' troops, in the Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was also in the Forty-second Indiana in the pursuit of Morgan when on his famous raid. Mr. Curson is a Republican, artd served two terms - -1876-80 - as Alderman of Effingham from the First Ward. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Sarah E. Wolfe, of Shelby County, Ind. They have seven children living.

JOHN DAUB, produce merchant, Effingham, was born on the River Rhine, Prussia, Germany, January 19, 1829, son of Peter and Margaret (Fronetz) Daub, natives of Germany, he a farmer, born in 1789 and died in his native country; she born in 1802, and died near New York City in 1870. They were the parents of three children. Our subject received his education in his native country, and came to the United States May 7, 1852, landing in New York. He traveled and worked in several States, and, in 1856, came to Waterloo, this State, and from there to the Southern States, where he stayed till the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he returned to this State and settled in Prairie du Rocher, where he resided till 1868, when he came to Effingham, where he was married, April 12, 1869, to Miss Agatha Bussemeyer, born in Prussia, daughter of Henry and Mary (Meekman) Bussemeyer, natives of Germany, he born in 1797 and died in his native land in 1861; she born in 1800, and is still living with her son. Mr. and Mrs. Daub have two children - Herman, born August 16, 1876; and Maggie, born November 24, 1878. Our subject has been engaged in the produce business nearly twentj^ years, and now has a large store. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican.

CAPT. HENRY A. DENTON, saddler and harness manufacturer, Effingham, was born in Meade County, Ky. , December 9, 1837. He learned the saddler's trade at Brandenburg, Ky. , and worked with his brother there and at Owensboro, Ky. He enlisted, August 12, 1862, in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry. He was elected First Lieutenant of Company C of that regiment, and promoted to the Captaincy February 4, 1863, and served till the close of the war, and was mustered out August 20, 1865. The Twelfth Kentucky was a part of Gen. Wolford's Independent Brigade, and was in the pursuit of Morgan in Ohio and Indiana, and was in the East Tennessee campaign under Gen. Burnside, and was attached to Stoneman"s cavalry during the Georgia campaign, and were in a large number of battles, and in the Saltville raid. After the war, he came to Paris, 111., in 1865, where he formed a partnership with his brother in the harness business, and continued thereuntil 1881. He came to Effingham in October, 1881, and took charge of the present shop for Mr. Joe Partridge. The shop employs three hands. He was married.

September 19, 1871, to Miss S. C. Partridge, l of Paris, 111. They have one son living - Guy P. - and two deceased - Kichard C. and Joseph R.

THOMAS DOBBS, farmer, P. O. Effingham, was born in Georgia, seven miles from Milledgeville, October 15, 1829. When three years of age, his jsarents removed to Tennessee, remaining a year, and then, about 1833, moved to Shelbyville, 111., where his father was engaged in blacksmithing until about the breaking-out of the Mexican war. Our subject aided his father in' the shop, at blowing and striking, until he enlisted, in 1840, in Col. Nabe's First Illinois Infantry, Company D, Capt. Reed, and went across the plains to Santa ¥6, N. M. They were sixty days from Fort Leavenworth to Santa F6, marched in file by the wagon trains, and suffered greatly from fatigue. They were ordered to join Gen. Scott, and I'eached Puebla, when peace was made. He was in the battle of Tous, where he was wounded in the breast. He then returned by the old Santa F6 trail across the plains. After his return from the Mexican war, he drove a stage from Collinsville to an Illinois town (now East St. Louis) for about six years, on different routes. He next worked on a farm near Jacksonville, for Julius Pratt, about four years. He was married at the age of twenty-five, and settled near where Beecher City now is, in this county, where he engaged in farming, and kept a grocery in Greenland till 1861. He raised a company, which was mustered into the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, July 3, 1861, and subject was elected Captain of this company, which was Company K. In November, 1S62, he was wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., by a cannon shot, in the leg, notwithstanding which he still remained with his company during the siege of Corinth, and going into the battle with a crutch and cane. He was also at Stone River and Perry vi He, Ky., after which his limb became so inflamed that he was compelled to resign. Of the 101 men that enlisted in Company K, there were but sixteen mustered out at the close of the war. Nineteen were killed and wounded at Pea Ridge, and all of the company received wounds but three. Capt. Dobbs returned home in November, 1862, and, in the latter part of 1863, he raised a company for the 100-days service, and went out as its Captain. It was Company D, of the One Himdred and Thirty-fifth Regiment, and he served with it until the expiration of its term, when the men were mustered out at Springfield. At the request of many citizens, he agreed to take charge of raising another company, to avoid the draft. He began on Saturday, and in ten days went out as Captain of this company, to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where his company became a part of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and he was promoted in a short time to the rank of Major, and, soon after, commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the One Hundred andFifty-fom-th Illinois, and remained in camp at Tullahoma, Tenn., until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Springfield, 111., in the fall of 1865. After the war, he settled permanently in Effingham, and was elected its City Marshal in 1866, and served in that capacity for eleven years until ho was elected Sheriff, in 1876, and re-elected in 1878, serving four years as Sheriff of Effingham County. He retired from office in 1880, and has since been engaged in farming. He was maiTied, first, to Elizabeth Miller, who died leaving one son. Peter, now a resident of Effingham. Our subject's second marriage was with Maggie Maxfield, who died leaving two daughters - Tuscombia and Savannah, both of whom are living. His third wife was a Miss

JOHN H. DUFFY, deceased, was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1829, son of Dan and Alice Mary (Rigney) Duffy, both born and died in Ireland. The father was a baker Our subject received his schooling in his native country, and came to the United States in 184:5, landing in New York, where he worked in a wholesale house. He was married, ia St. Louis, Mo., February 3, 1858, to Miss Mary Marten, born January 7, 1835, in Blount County, Tenn., daughter of O. D. and Jane Marten, both born in the United States. Our subject worked most of his life on railroads. He was foreman on the Illinois Central, and also worked for the narrow gauge railroad, in whose employ he was at the time of his death, which occurred October 11, 18S1, in Mason, this county. He left a wife and seven children - Patrick Henry, Sarah E., John R., Mary C. Martha M., Margueretta M. and Nancy Ellen. In politics, our subject was a strong Democrat; was a member of the Catholic Chn''^h^ and also of the Masonic_|raternity. Mrs. Duffy now keeps the St. Louis Hotel, situated on the southwest corner of the square, which offei's first-class accommodations to all.

GEORGE H,. ENGBRING, merchant and banker, Effingham, was born in village of Epe, Prussia, April 27, 1825, where he was raised on a small farm, and followed farming there until 1847, when he came, via New Orleans, to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in merchandising, and kept a grocery and notion store for twelve years. In the fall of 1864, he came to Illinois and settled in Effingham, where he bought property, and, in 1867, established a general store, and, for the last ten years, has been located at the comer of Third and Washington streets, the old stand of John Mette, where one of the first stores in Effingham was opened. Mr. Engbring keeps a general stock of goods, and conducts a good trade. September 1, 1881, he became a partner in the firm of Eversman, Wood & Engbring, which ojiened a private bank in Effijigham, and his interest in the institution is represented by his son William. Mr. Engbring has been a member of the City Council, and has served as Supervisor several years. He is one of the Trustees of St. Anthony's Church and School. He was married, in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 2, 1856, to Catharine Bodker, of Cincinnati, born in Prussia, and who was the school-mate of ouisubject in Prussia. They have five children - three sons and two daughters - Henry, a Professor of Philosophy in the Catholic College at Quincy, 111.; William, clerk in the bank; John, Mary and Anna.

DR. HENRY EVERSMAN. of Eversman, Wood & Engbring, bankers, Effingham, was born in Iburg, Hanover, Germany, February 23, 1837, son of Francis F. and Charlotte (Tieren) Eversman, he a physician, born in Alf hausen, Hanover, Germany, in September, 1807; she, in Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany, and is sixty-five years old - the father also living. They are the parents of three children. Our subject received his early education in the parochial schools of his native country and Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterward attended St. Xavier's College, of Cincinnati, for four years, and was also for three years a student in the Ohio Medical College of the same city. He also read medicine with his father, and, on March 1, 1861, he was appointed House Physician to Commercial Hospital, Cincinnati. In January, 1802, he was appointed, by President Lincoln, as Assistant Surgeon of Volunteers, becoming Surgeon after a service of six months. He was assigned to staff and hospital duty at Lexington and Louisville, Ky. , Cincinnati, Ohio, and for the last nineteen months of his service he was Chief Medical Officer at Johnson's Island. This was from February 1, 1864, to September I, 1865, at which latter date he returned home, and came to Effingham, engaging in mercantile business, in which he continued until September 1, 1881, at which date he became a member of the firm of Eversman, Wood & Engbring. They opened a private bank on the latter date, which has since been in successful operation, our subject remaining one of the managing partners. Mr. Eversman was married, October 28, 1865, in Teutopolis, this county, to Miss Caroline Waschefort, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is thirty-sis years of age. She is the daughter of John P. and Mary (Drees) AVaschefort, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Eversman have fom- childi-en - Louisa, Mary, Elizabeth and Henry. Our subject was Mayor of Effingham for two terms - 1870 -1871. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and also of the Catholic Church. In politics, he is a Democrat.

JOHN C. EVERSMAN, merchant, Effingham, was born in the city of Osnabruck, Han over, Germany, September 11, 1840. He was five years old when his parents came to Cincinnati, Ohio, whore he lived until 1852. He left Cincinnati, Ohio, May 5, 1852, and arrived at Teutopolis, 111., May 15, coming in wagons. The village of Teutopolis had then about ten houses, and Effingham was not laid out, having only two log cabins on the National road. Our subject was educated in the public schools at Teutopolis and Cincinnati, Ohio, and at St. Louis University, in charge of the Jesuits, and left school in 1859 to teach in the village, and continued for two six-month terms. He then entered the employ of Mr. Waschefort as a clerk in his store. He enlisted at the second call for troops, in July 1, 1861, for three years, in

Company B, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served with the regiment for eighteen months; was at Fort Heniy, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and other battles. He went with his company to Holly Springs, Miss., when he was transferred, by order of Gen. Grant, to the Department of Ohio, and reported to his brother, Dr. Henry Eversman, and served in the medical department as Steward, stationed at Lexington, Ky. , until his time expired. He was mustered out at Springfield in 1865, and returned to Teutopolis, where he taught a term of school, then entered the employ of Mr. John F. Waschefort, as salesman in his store at Effingham, where he has remained ever since. He was elected City Clerk of Effingham in 1881, for two years. He was also Chief of the Fire Department here for five years. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Frances Gibbons, of Paris, 111. She was born in St. John, N. B., the daughter of an English sea Captain. Mr. and Mrs. Eversman have one sou and one daughter living, and one son and a daughter died when young.

GEORGE H. EWERS, merchant tailor, Effinsham, was born in the town of Herzlake, Hanover, Germany, December 5, 1834. At the age of fifteen, he came, in company with his brother, to the United States, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio. His father was a tailor in Germany, and our subject served a two-years apprenticeship with him before coming. He worked at tailoring in Cincinnati, Ohio, from June, 1850, to 1863, as a journeyman. In the latter year, he removed to Oldenburg, Ind., where he established a tailor shop, vyhich he i-an two and a half years, with good success, and he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining there until 1867, and then came to Effingham in June of that year, and opened a mei'chant tailoring establishment on the north side of the public square, which he has conducted ever since, with good success. He employs three assistant journeymen, and carries a full line of foreign and domestic cloths and cassimeres, etc. He was married, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1857, to Miss Agnes Moemke, of that city, and has four sons and two daughters living - Frank, Anna, Mary, Charles, John, Joseph-

FRANK H. EWERS, Cashier Effingham Bank. Effingham, was born February 13, 1860, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (See sketch of George H. Ewers.) He was educated in St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis, 111., which he left at the age of eighteen to assist his father in tailoring, and. in October, 1880, was appointed Cashier of the Effingham Bank, where he still remains.

JOHN J. FELDHAKE, merchant, Effingham, was born in Douglas Township, Effingham County, August 15, 1850. He was raised on a farm until twelve years of age. He began at the age of fifteen to learn the tinner's trade, after which he entered a hardware store in Effingham, and clerked for one man seven years. He formed a partnership with his brother, the late Joseph Feldhake, in May, 1873, and continued about two years in the hardware trade, when he went to Waco, McLennan Co., Texas, and opened a hardware store, which ho conducted five years, and then sold out to his brother Barney, and returned in January, 1880, and established himself in the present store, under the old firm name, but our subject is the sole proprietor. His business room is lUO feet deep and twenty-five feet in width, and includes a large stock of hardware, stoves and tinware, employing two men in tin shop, located in second story, and one as assistant in store. His father, Josnph Feldhake. was a native of Prussia, Germany.