Madison County, Illinois - Chapter 8, 1882

I HE Western States of the Union contain a large proportion of naturalized citizens and their descendants. The inexhaustible richness of the lands along the rivers of the West had been heralded in Eurojjc even before the beginning of the jiresent century. The first foreigners seeking a home on the banks of the Mississippi and ilissouri, were a number of French colonists arriving here within the first half of the 18th century, settling near the missionary depots at Kaskatkia and Cahokia. Among these first arrivals we find several Swi.ss and a few Germans from Alsace - Judy Dumoulin, Eugel, Schoenberger aud others. The Judys, nativ s of Switzerland, were among the firrt permanent settlers of this county, and their descendants are to this day well known citizens of the county. Traces of French efforts at colonization in this county are fouiul at the prtsent site of Alton where Jean Baptiste Cardinal had built a cabin probably as early as 1785 (Madison County Gazetteer.) A number of land claims were located along the INIississippi River from the mouth of Wood River down towards Venice, by French colonists, but very few of whom seem to have improved them. Nicholas Jarrot, a Frenchman of distinction, is found among the early settlers in Madison county ; his home, however, was never permanently located there. The records of the county of 1815 contain a list of names of men subject to road labor, and among them but very few foreign names are met. The few Europeans who had found their way to JIadison county before or during the first decade of its organization, made no effort to have colonies or settlements of their own, such as are found in St. Clair aud Randolph counties or elsewhere. The Judy family mentioned above, had become thoroughly Americanized before they settled in the county. Even the orthography of their family name - Tschudy - a name so well known in their native Switzerland, had been lost sight of and changed into "Judy" before the coiiiiuenceiupnt of this century. The name ajipeais in the records of St. Chiir county of 1793. Jacob Judy and Samuel Judy presented or filed their claims for land grants, 200 acres each, one as an equal part of a Virginia Improvement Right and the other of a " Cahokia head" right on the 11th November, 1798. Among the enrolled militia of St- Clair county in actual service of the United States in 1783 and 1790, we find Samuel Judy and Jacob Judy, jr. They received each a land grant of 100 acres, a so-called militia right, which they afterwards located in sections 32 and 33, T. 4 - 8, Madison county, together with two other militia rights bought of Louis Bibaud and Barie La Flamme. In 1799, at an election held at Cahokia " to vote for a representative for to be sent to the General Assembly of the territory, Jacob and Samuel Judy voted for Shadrach Bond, who defeated his opponent, Isaac Darneille by a vote of 113 against 11. Voting was done viva voce, and the well-preserved tally sheet of said election is on file in the Clerk's office at Belleville.

George Barnsback, another foreign-born pioneer of Madison county, is made the subject of the following sketch by Hon. Gustav Koerner, of Belleville, in his work "The German Element :"

" One of the first German settlers in Madison county, if not the first, was George Berensbach - Barnsback. He was the son of a highly respected family at Osterrode, and had received a thorough education. An employee of a commercial house, he gave up his position without the consent of his parents and embarked for America in 1797. He landed in Philadelphia, a lad of sixteen years. He soon .strayed over to Kentucky and traditon has him serving a season as overseer of a plantation. We doubt it, because of his youth. After a stay of two years, he became homesick and embarked for Hamburg and was shipwrecked at Dover, barely saving his life. His reception at home was most cordial, the fatted calf was slaughtered in honor of his return. However he had breathed the air of America, ana would not remain in Europe. In 1802 he returned to Kentucky, rented a plantation and erected a distillery. But Kentucky was too small for him. He brought his lamily to Illinois to what is now Madison county. Here he devoted himself to farming, and a number one farmer he was. In the war of 1812, he took service with other volunteers to protect the settlements against the Indians, the allies of the English, and remained in the field for fully two years. In 18-5 he went to Germany to collect an estate to which he had i'allen heir. Returning he resolved to go to Missouri, where he bought a large plantation in St. Fran(;ois county. The system of slavery disgusted him most thoroughly and in 1830 we find him back in Madison county. He was now nearly 50 years of age, and wanting rest, he devoted himself with zeal and success to agriculture, and left at the time of his death one of the best and most beautiful farms in the country. He was a tall man of powerful build with features betraying energy, and maintained an imposing appearance to his end. Hj participated with interest in the management of puljlic affairs, without seeking personal gains, filled various offices, oftiu against his wish, and became also to his dislike, a member of the legislature in 1846. The salary which he drew for those services was bestowed to his county for the benefit of the poor. lie was very accurate and insisted that obligations to him were strictly fulfilled, but was just as conscientious in his dealings with others. It is said that he never charged more than one half of the legal rates of interest on moneys due him. This explains the fact that when he died May 25, 1809, at the age of 87 years, he did not leave great wealth, but with it he left to his descendants the grand legacy of an incorruptible and excellent man.

After his second trip to Europe, several of his kinsmen - nephews - accompanied or followed him. All settled in the vicinity of their uncle, and one of them, Julius L. Barnsback, had become a Justice of the Peace, and a man of much importance and influence in the county. He removed to Edwardsville, where he engaged in commercial business with marked success. Sickness however, befell him and took him from the large circle of an interesting family and numerous friends before he had reached a great age."

Julius L. Barnsback is frequently mentioned by Dr. H. C. Gerke, Joseph Suppiger and Solomon Koepfli in their publications - 1831 to 1833 as a friend and adviser. He kindly v olunteered to assist them in the selection of lands, and acted as interpreter whenever the " Book-English " of his new friends gave out. Barnsback seems to have enjoyed their surprise at unexpected sights, which of course w'ere of constant occurrence, for life in the cities of Europe, differ so materially from life in the forests on the frontier. Koepfli complains at times of the sarcastic yet humorous remarks of Barnsback, made in German, in the presence of Americans and in regard to their appearance or surroundings, for, says Koepfli, we had to burst out in laughter and then could not explain, at what we had to laugh. Barnsback, who had done the mischief, would sit there, without the sign of a smile on his lips, sober as a judge, chuckling inwardly over our discomfiture ; yet he was so universally kind and amiable that our anger was but momentary. George Barnsback's name is not mentioned by the authors named above. He had probably not yet returned from Missouri. Julius L. Barnsback was the first German ever naturalized in the courts of this county, years after he had officiated as justice of the peace. A few Canadians had been naturalized in 1816 and 1817, as stated in the chapter on Civil History, but their names have disappeared from the rolls of the residents of the county. The Barusbacks have long since become as thoroughly Americanized as their family name of Berensbach had been anglicized into Barnsback. Their descendants are numerous, and several of them have been called to prominent political positions in the county. Speaking of politics, it should be stated, that the most numerous branch of the Barnsbacks are identified at present with the Republican party and only a few are found in Democratic ranks, but all are held in high regard by all their fellow citizens. The Barnsbacks are North Germans, and the characteristic features of that race are fairly represented in the family, to wit : self-reliance, firmness of mind and sagacity in judgment. Another feature of the North German is his immense will power, and incredible power of endurance. Besides it might be said, that the North Germans are rather reserved, or as they express it buttoned up to their throats. The German from the South of Germany is decidedly more amiable, though inclined to over estimate his powers of intellect ; " he knows it all, " as the saying is '- He is sanguine to a fault, laughs at difficulties, which his brother German from the North contemplates with sagacity, meets with firmness, and overcomes with cer'ainty, in nine cases out of ten, just as often as his brother from the south gets floored. The South German carries his heart on his tongue, and the north German his tongue in his brain. Though parts of one and the same nation, they differ more widely from one another than from foreign nations.

The Swiss have some of the characteristic features of the north as well as of the south German. His mountain home, surrounding him with many dangers, has made him cautious and vigilant besides. The Swiss are sometimes called the Yankees of Europe, because of their calculating shrewdness and active energy, as well as because of their familiarity, with self-government and popular sovereignty. The Swiss are largely represented in the foreign born population of our county, and were the first European colonists coming in great numbers to this county. The first arrival took place in 1831. The Suppigers and Koepflis, together with others, who followed them, are closely identified with the township bearing the Latin name of Switzerland - HELVETIA - the subject of their settlement is treated and commented on in the township sketch. Joseph Suppiger, and Solomon Koepfli were the first from the settlement to apply for and obtain letters of naturalization. Jacob Eggeu, of Highland, speaks of this settlement in his township sketch of 187t) as follows: Both families - Koepfli and Suppiger, came with the intention of making this a permanent home. They found in James Reynolds, then justice of the peace in the district, an excellent and most disinterested adviser. He had nothing in common with the indolent squntters and squirrel hunters, so frequently met with in 1830. True, he knew how to kill a deer as well as any one, but he was not a hunter only. He understood tanning and blacksmithing, could stock a plow or make a speech. Reynolds singled out Mr. Joseph Suppiger as the one best fitted to lead the colony, which was reinforced, during the spring fo 1833 by the arrival of Joseph Suppiger, and his brother Johann, together with their large families. Tscharner brothers and Jacob Weber of Glarus accompanied them. Joseph Suppiger, Sr., died within a few months of his arrival and was buried in Section 30 - T. 4 - 5; his was the first funeral in the colony. In the autumn of 1833 a number of young men from the fatherland made their ap- ; pearance in the colony, among them Jacob Eggen, William Hagnaner and John R. Blattuer, all of whom arc still living in the midst of the colony. Blattner became famous for his many enterprises, commencing with working on a canal, then making shoes - his trade, then Niraroding, shooting deer, etc. li

Next cultivating mulberry trees with a view of raising silk worms. The building erected for housing his silk worms, which - by the way - had hatched long before the necessary food was ready for their voracious maws, was converted into a tavern and became in time the most popular resort in Highland. The " Herre " (gentlemen of wealth and education, hal their casino at ths tavern) and here it was, where amateur tragedians performed the classic " William Tell," " Cabale and Liebe," etc., as related in the " Highlaml sketch. " Blattner was accumulating wealth and now engaged in manufacturing gunpowder. He was persuaded into the business by John L)ehrer, a practical powdermiller. Blattner made pjwder but once, but said he: It was the best powder ever made in Illinois, and the agricultural and mechanical association of Edwardsville awarded me a diploma, having a beautiful " ox " engraved upon it. Loehrer died and Blattner gave up the bu-iness. which had caused him the loss of fully SS.OOJ, the savings of many years of toil.

The accounts published of the growing and prosperous settlement, - by interested parties, Mr. E.;gen continues were overdrawn, and this becoming known in Europe, proved injurious to the colony. No arrivals, with probably the exception of the Statfelbach family, took place until 1840 - when some persons arrived, among whom the families Bardill, Marcut, Ruedi, Branger and Florin, fi)llowed in 1841 by a number of families from Baden and Wirtember', among whom the Trautners, Hotz, Spengel, Bader, Bender, Z)pf, Hammer, Plocher and others. These immigrants, says Mr. Eggen, were an industrious and frugal people, who, with but few exceptions, knew how to adapt themselves to the trying circumstances then existing, and how to work their way out of want into plenty. The very fact of the extremely low prices of provisions and stock worked in their favor to get started in opening farms. This settlement extended through Townships 3 - 5, 4 - ,5 and 3 - 6, and is the oldest and most important of the European settlements -n the county. The names of the colonists who settled in 3 - 5 and 4 - 5 have been mentioned; in 3 - 6 we find Theodor Miller, now no more, who represented Madison county in the legislature of 1870 to 1872. Jacob Leder came in 1837. Samuel Frey, Valentine Frey and Henry Frey arrived in 1840. They too are successful farmers ; in fact it is dificult to tell, who has not been a successful farmer among those, who arrived at an early day. Peter Frutiger, J. A. Kirri, Henry Ritterand Rudolf Baer arrived in 184-1. Henry Laengle, " mine host" of a splendid hotel afSt. Jacob, came to Madison county in 1846, settled first at Highland, then tried the state of Texas, returned to Madison county and located at St. Jacob. John Schmidt arrived in 1847, Jacob Willi in 1849.

Another German colony, or at least the nucleus of one, may be observed in the Marine settlement as early as 1833. Hon. G. Koerner makes mention of Dr. Gerke, the founder of this colony as follows: "He was an unco;nmonly wellinformed and liberal-minded philanthropist. He possessed, theoretically, at least, even a thorough knowledge of agriculture. He became widely known by a work published by him in 1833. It (this work) treats of all phases of life in America, and was, in many respects, an instructive compilation of the contents of the best works, published on the subject. He was the father of the talented printer, Philip Gerke of St. Louis, etc." Koernvr. The work of Dr. Gerke coutain.s a vast amount of original matter, and is by no means a mere compilation. The writer of this sketch d'les not hesitate to express his admiration of the author of the work. lu fact it is but just to say, that H. C. Gerke, LL D., was one of the most distinguished foreigners that ever made their home in this county. He was a North German, born at Hanover in 176-5. His first effort at Emigration was made in 1790. It failed on account of insufficiency of funds, - but the idea of making the United States his home was never given up. He made the institutions of the United States^ the social life, the pursuits of its people, the subject of the most searching studies, and was comparatively no stranger when he reached the shores of the United States in 1831. He spent the best part of two years in examining personally into American life, in the cities and on the frontier alike. His observations are laid down in a volume called by him : " Der Nordamerikanische Bathgeber." (N. A. Guide and Adviser). This work of Mr. Gerke is probably the best on the subject published prior to 1 840. Mr. Gerke was a close observer and accurate chronicler ; he saw everything, and made mention thereof at the proper place. He understood the laws of the land as thoroughly as any American jurisprudent^ and the system of government, from the local authorities of a village up to the federal affairs. He knew the magnitude of the American commerce, and how it was managed. He corresponded with the publishing houses of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore ; he was posted to perfection on the inland trade, means of transportation and costs. He came to Illinois late in 1831, and pronounces the state the best for agricultural purposes between the Mississippi and the Atlantic Ocean. He takes notes of the price of land and the price of products, and accounts for their lowuess very properly. He even says that farm products would still be lower, for says he, all produce the same, and every youth, as soon as he is twenty one years old, sets up in farming. Thus constantly increasing productions, without improving the means of transportation to markets. Not satisfied with knowing the value of farm products, he goes into A. R. Skidmore's cabinet-maker shop at Edwardsville to ascertain the prices of all articles of furniture, and learns that a "good workman in this trade earns $1 00 a day and found," - while painters get but 65 cents. J. W. Chenoweth tells him, that he makes common chopping axes for S2 50, and broad axes for S5.00, ploughs 25 cents jier lb., shoes horses new for §1.50, resets old shoes for 50 cents, and irons wagons at 15 cents per pound. He pays his journeymen from $20.00 to $cO (.'0 per month, " finds " them, or allows them to work on shares in profits. J. C. Bruner, the hatter must tell him, that hats of first quality, all beaver, are worth $14.00, of second fiuality $10 00, of thjrd quality $8.00, of fourth quality .$6.50 and fifth quality $4. 50 ; and that his journeymen's wages for making the same ready for coloring are $2.00, $1.75, $1.50, $1.25, or $1.00 each, etc., etc.

The doctor studied the difference in the productive power of bottom and prairie lands with great attention, for he had years ago, quit the law and directed his attention to agriculture with great success, for, says he, what I lost during the Napoleonic wars and other misfortunes, I have all recovered by agriculture, the noblest pursuit men can follow. (He was an honorary member of the State Agricultural bureau of Great Britain). Not being satisfied with his observations as to the component parts of the bottom and prairie lands, he took a sample of each to Europe, and had a most careful chemical analysis made there of them by Professor Dr G. Sehmeisser, Hamburg, in 1833. Before returning to Europe the Dr bought a large tract of land in the Marine settlement, where his son, William H. Gerke, remained. The contents of the work of Mr. Gerke are manifold and comprehensive. He seemed to have seen everything ; he attended church in the stately cathedrals of New York and Baltimore, and Sunday-school in a log cabin in Madi.son county. He was not pleased with the subjects taught in the latter, and emphatically objects to the following questions asked there, to wit: "Who is the devil? What is the devil's character? W^hy was Jesus tempted by the devil ? Where did the devil take Jesus? What did the devil say to him ? And what did Jesus say to the devil ? The Dr. speaks very intelligently about all the diflTerent denominations of Protestants in the United States; he had found time to study their history, organizations and dogmas. He turns his attention to the schools next, eulogizes the public school sy>tera of the eastern states and expresses a hope to see it introduced in Illinois. He has sat on the rough bench of the log-school-house of Illinois, has spent days in seminaries and colleges, and is conversant with the system and the workings of the national military school at West-Point, where he spent several days on his return to New York. He measures the distance between the tires of an American faim wagon in Illinois, finding it to be 60> inches exactly, and then goes east to inform himself on the tariflT; speaks of Henry Clay's new tariff bill as intelligently as a professional could, and denounces the sixteen amendments to the constitution proposed by the South Carolina nuUifiers. The doctor returns to Europe iu order to arrange his business there for a permanent settlement in America, whose land and people he has studied and learned to love. He published a beautiful poem about the land of his longings iu a Hamburg paper. He returned to M'adison county in 1834, and located in Heron's Grove, Looking Glass Prairie, where he died in 1842. Gerke was 66 years of age, at the time of his first journey through the Uuited States, a man of uncommon vigor and great determination. His countrymen in Madison county have never had a better or more prominent representative among them than the doctor was.

Dr. A. F. Beck, a native of Canton Berne, in Switzerland, arrived in 1834 and located permanently in the Marine settlement, on what is now known as the Brockhaus farm, where he remained until death called him hence - in 1844. Two sons of the doctor - Alfred and Alexander - are citizens of Highland. A. Ruf and F. Starhli, also men of wealth, had come with Dr. Beck, but they were dissatisfied with the general aspects of matters in the settlement. The coranuiuieaiions which they had received at home, had led them to expect much more than reality grunted, hence they concluded to return to their native Switzerland. The Marine settlement received most valuable additions in the persons of the Waage, Schmidt, Voight families as early as 1836 or 1837. E. L Yoight died in 1862, C. C Waage in 1866. Andreas Schmidt, Erasmus Schmidt, Julius Voight, surviving sons of the families mentioned above, have been successful in their pursuits. Henry C. Heuer removed his family to the settlement about the year 1814. His surviving son, Henry A. is held in high respect by all. Henry Leutwiler, George Accola, Henry Inibs (dead since 1864), August Iberg, Samuel Iberg and William Jlay arrived about the same time. Four or five years later we find John Eikniann, Valentin Ottwein, Frederick Wenz and his brothers Jacob, and Louis, Philip and George Volk, Christian Schoeck and others. John Neudecker and H. H. Elbiing came a few years later. John Ntudecker has been a very successful business man. H. H. Elbring stands high in the estimation of all. A few miles north of Marine is another German settlement in what is called the Handsbarger neighborhood, the founders of which wereSylv. Utiger, Gustav. Kaufmann, Gottlieb Messcrli, the Daibers, Huerlanders and otLers. Utiger was a Swiss. Several sons survived him, the oldest of whom, R bert D. Utiger, represented his township for years in the board of supervisors. George Schmitt, from Alsace, France, came in 184.5, settled in Alhambra, where he died in 1873. John Wetzel, reared in the celebrated " Latin settlement in Shiloh Valley, St. Clair county, came into the above colony about the year 1849.

The German settlement, south of the town of Troy, with its thrifty foreign born population, also belongs to the earlier period of the European settlements. Here are found John Liebler, a resident since 1840, John Widicus, Andrew Langenwalter, Andreas Fehmel, the Schmidts, Loyets, Schwarz, and others. Who does not remember the kindhearted, benevolent old Mr. Bertram, who died but a fewyears ago. Among the foreign born population of Troy, we mention Andrew Mills, Esq., a highly respected native of the Emerald Isle. Andrew Mills came to the county about the year 1841. His fellow-citizens have time and again honored him with official positions, in all of which Mr. Mills has proved himself worthy of the confidence of the people. And as justice of the peace, who could command jaeace as emphatically as the old Squire ? Frederick Gcrfen has lived in Troy since 1851 ; he is a skillful mechanic and successful dealer. Gustav Vetter, the proprietor of the Troy City Mills, came there about ^0 years ago. His sterling quali. ties as a citizen have repeatedly secured to him the highest political position in the village. Charles Schott, M. D., a learned and skillful physician, has made Troy his home since 1870.

Collinsville, city as well as township, has also a numerous population of foreign birth ; a few French, some Irish and Bohemians and many Germans.

1838 ; Fred. Koehler located on section one, in 184:3 ; Gottlieb Meyer, on twenty-second, in 1846. William Blume, H. Blume, Winter, the Wittes and others, laid the foundations of the prosperous Pleasant Ridge settlem.nit; J. and H. Wendler located on section thirty-five, in 1847, and another Wendler opened a blacksmith shop in Collinsville in the same year ; C. A. Ambrosius, Charles Kreider, Fisher Heinecke, came a few years later. C. W. Krome, for many years a justice of the peace, came to the county in 1850, from Louisville, Kentucky, where he had resided since his arrival from Germany. Hon. W. H. Krome, member of our State Senate from 1>*74 to 1878, is the only surviving son of the Squire. C H. Pabst, the merchant, is an old resident of Collinsville, and so are J. C. Kalbfleisch and John Kuhlenbeck. H. H. Kuhleubeck, a brother of John, was clerk of the Madison county circuit court, from 1868 to 1872 ; he also hailed from Collinsville, and is now a resident of Colorado. The manufactories of Collinsville, flouring mills, distilleries, coal mines, zinc works, etc., etc., were to some extent started by naturalized citizens, among whom was Dr. Octavius Lumaghi, a distinguished Italian. Augustus Finke, for several years city attorney and justice of the peace, is of foreign birth. Captain A. Xeustadt, attorneyat-law, is an Austrian by birth. He is one of the most active men among the leaders of the Republican party.

A large number of Bohemians have of late settled in this and adjacent townships, and Captain Neustadt, one of them, has kindly volunteered to give us the following sketch : numbering about five hundred in this county are true descendants of the ancient Czeks, aribustand industrious people, whose highest ambition is, to have and own their home and fireside. Tired of military de-potism, and an overbearing and oppressive ari-tocracy, they converted their scanty means into money and emigrated to this country, where the institutions and the laws do not smile on the rich and frown on the poor. They did not expect to find rivers of nectar, and the soil covered with manna, but a land where they may enjoy the fruits of their labor. They arrived and were not disappointed. They were naturalized and became citizens as soon as the laws of the state would permit them to do so, and when in the late war their dear adopted fatherland was in danger, 22 of their small number immediately took up arms in defense of the glorious stars and stripes. One became Captain and one 1st Lt.

Martin Smola, Wenzl Smola, Paul Smola, ilathias Scheibal, Jos. Berka, Joseph Kalina, Joseph Czerny and Blazius Bulkacame to this county in 1851 ; in 1852 they were followed by Franc Kubat, Joseph Rossipal, Joseph Engel, John Drozda, Simon Marsthaiek, Mathias Schwetz, Joseph Sedlaozek, John Fperster, and Joseph Zahradnik; in 1853 by Martin Kraus, Mathias Czerny, John Peshta, Albert Janeczek, John Primas, William Primas, Prokop Ilabada, Jakob Mottel, Mathias Kagek, John Krieger, Joseph Blaha, iuifl John BuUan ; in 1854 and 1855 A. Ntustadt, Wenzl Skala, Joseph Krakora, Joseph Dworak, John Duban, Wenzl Scheibal, John Stiparck, Wenzl Bandhauer, Mathias Wozteth, Mathias Kratz, Mathias Sashck, Franz Lishka, Peter Slodola, John Petrashck, John Topina, John Czihak, Franz Kessel, Albert Kneisel, Wenzl Tischler, Joseph Wacek and Mathias Zahruba.

The center part of the county, the " Goshen " of America, had attracted a number of foreigners, even during the pioneer period, as stated heretofore. The naturalization records of the county introduce John Murray, a former subject of his majesty, the king of England, defender of the faith, etc, as the first European naturalized in Madison county. Mr. Murray, a Scotchman of education and wealth, made this part of Madison county his home in 1820. His attention had been called to the resources of Illinois by Birbeck's publications. Mr. Murray, together with his family, journeyed from Virginia to Illinois during the fall of 1820, and arrived at Shawueetown, in " ague time." He left the town at once, " plodded his weary way to Goshen," and made his home near William Otwell's farm on the road leading from " Edwardsville to Isom Gillham's bridge on Cahokia Creek" - where he found his countrymen, George and Samuel Davidson. Mr. Murray brought some capital with him, and at the suggestion of IMr. Davidson invested a part of it in founding a hrewcry in 1821, on his farm. This institution was operated for several years, but did not prove to be profitable, and was in consequence abandoned. Farming was next resorted to. In 18-.^7 Mr. Murray resolved to revisit Europe, but was taken sick before he reached the sea. He died in New Orleans ; his family remained in Edwardsville until 1834, when they removed to Upper Alton. Mrs. Murray is now in her eighty-third year, enjoying physical and mental health to a rare degree. She is the pride and joy of her only surviving son, C. A. Murray of Alton, who is carrying his threescore as lightly and elegantly as ever a mortal did before him. C. A. Murray was sherifl'of Madison county from 1852 to 1854.

The family of Robert Gordon arrived from Ireland in April, 1822, and made Edwardsville their home. Joseph Gordon, a son of Robert, was ordaiued pastor in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1842, and entered with great zeal upon the functions of missionary in Southern Illinois. He removed to Vandalia in 1848. Rev. Gordon was a good and very energetic man. His labors in advocating temperance and abstinence have made him famous throughout Illinois. Over 7,000 people, signed the pledge at his solicitation. He was nicknamed " Irish Pony " during that period. He died but recently - June 10th, 1882 - at Vandalia. A sister of Rev. Gordon was married to Matthew Gillespie, late of Edwardsville.

Samuel Burgess, Hugh Kerr, Robert Kelsey, Samuel Morrison, James Pullen, James Paterson, natives of Great Britain, came to the county about ten or twelve years later than the Gordon family. Martin Feehan, an Irishman preceded them ; William Gait, a Scotchman, arrived in 1845. David Morris, also a Scotchman, preceded him, having settled iu 1842, in township 5 - 7.

F. T. Kraflfl came to the United States in 1833, and made the Shiloh settlement iu St. Clair county his home. From there he came to Edwardsville, and engaged in mercantile business with great apparent success. He also interested himself in the political questions of the day, and became a man of considerable influence. He was very popular with both native and foreigti-b irn citizens, and was elected sherifl' of Madison county iu 1850. He met with great reverses in the latter part of his life, and died, comparatively speaking, in poverty.

F. A. Wolf also " graduated" in the Lateiner settlement at Shiloh, and to this day he assures us that the day.s, months and years, spent at the bachelor's roost on the Engelmann farm, formed the happiest period of his life. Latin farming, however, was not exactly profitable, as F. A. Wolf soon observed, and so he engaged in distilling. He came to Edwardsville in the year 1840, engaging in farming and fruitgrowing, and his vineyards were the most extensive and productive ones in the county. Three of his sons, F. W., A. P., and Otto, reside in our midst, and, are engaged in operating their extensive coal mines on the " rura paterna ;" a fourth one, Theodor, doctor philosophia;, an out and out " Lateiner," is professor of chemistry at the state unversity of Delaware. Many of our readers will also remember that valiant old Napoleonic warrior, Phil. Fix, as a member of the Wolf family. A number of immigrants from Alsace, France, among them the well known Gerber family, made Edwardsville iheir home at an early day.

The Bickelhaupt family, and the Ritters came to Edwardsville from St. Clair county, where they had at first located. Henry Ritter was one of the most energetic men of his time in our midst. He was a public-spirited man. Ritter opened the first coal mine in the vicinity, and of course managed it so as to pay him well. An amusing incident of his mining period may be related here. His miners, knowing what price coal commanded in those days, went on a strike for higher wages. Ritter granted them immediately. Two hours later a second strike was announce*!, and a higher price ; this time, it is ."aid, eight cents per bushel was demanded and allowed. In the afternoon of the same day the miners made a third strike again, demanding ten or twelve cents per bushel. Mr. Ritter went to the shaft to deliver the following message : " The hoisting apparatus of these mines will be removed within fifteen minutes; and all miners remaining in the pit longer than fifteen minutes, must provide their own means of getting up and out." This settled matters, and no further strikes occurred. Ritter was successful in all his pursuits; he was a most diligent business man, sober and sagacious. He died quite young, in 1870.

Frederick Bohm has been residing in township four - eight, ever since 1839 ; his farm in section nine, is one of the best in the vicinity of Edwardsville. His neighbor Henry Brockmeier, is also an old settler. C. W. Fangenroth, from Berlin, Prussia, came to Madison county in 1843. Fangenroth is an enthusiastic agriculturist, and one of the most zealous members of the farmers' club. His articles on scientific and practical farming are highly appreciated.

Hfiiry Engelhart, on the Springfield road, settled there in 1841, and is now an honored patriarch among his neighbors. Squire D. C. Scheer came a year later. His possessions in section fourteen, township five - eight, represent a model farm. In the southern part of the township we find the excellent farm of C. P. Smith, who arrived here in 1847, quite a youth. His father, a most prudent man and skillful Daechanic, had the satisfaction of seeing his only son becoming the architect of his own good fortune. C. P. Smith operated a saw-mill on his lands for years, and combinations and surrounding circumstances being very favorable, succeeded in amassing a large fortune; he is probably the wealthiest German farmer in the county, owning several farms in the most desirable parts of the county.

Conrad Leseman and Caspar Miller, both deceased, belong to the earliest settlers smong the Germans. J. G. Lautner arrived in 1839 ; he too is dead - in 1874. The Stullken brothers and J. B Kleine, sr., also belong to the earlier German immigration, and their most successful ones. Peter Schneider, Louis Hill, Frederick Weiss, and Louis Klingemanu, came somewhat later. Fred. Gaertner came to the United States in 1850. He became a resident of this county in 1858, is a successful merchant, and owns now a large and most desirable farm on the Spriugfield road. Gottlieb Stahlhut, Leonhard Eberhard and others belong to a later period. Henry Camman, John and Mathias Buchta, and Ernst Erbe, are the pioueer Germans in five - seven.

The foreign-born population of the old " Goshen" district has never assumed the character of separate colonies, and the process of Americanizing has been more ra.\m\ there than elsewhere. Marriages between natives and foreigners have been of common occurrence ever^iuce the first arrivals of the latter. The Germans alone have maintained some of the characteristic features of their nationality to a greater extent. There is a large number of German churches and schools in the townships mentioned, arid it is owing to the zealous and untiring labors of the German clergymen and parochial teachers that the German language has been preserved for almost two generations. Three or four efforts have been made to establish a German newspaper at Ed- but all failed. There seems to be no field for such an undertaking in this land of Goshen. Some German societies, " Vereine," however, were organized at Edwardsville ; the first or oldest of them, the " Turn Verein," has existed since 1858. The founders of this society were G. A. Wolf - brother of F. A., mentioned above, a most amiable and highly educated gentleman, who died in 1869. J. Hammel, now of Lebanon, C. W. Fangenroth, W. Thurnan, John Schlindwein, Ale.xander Kitter, Fritz Hansingcr, Emil Stoll, Alois Knaus, William Brackhaus, J. Brinkman, Jacob Bayer, Martin Ruprecht, George Hoehn, Bernhard Stier, Wm. Bender, Charles Weigel, G. Girnt, and John FWielandy ; the latter was subsequently Judge of the Probate Court of Coles County, Mo., and is now a member of the St. Louis bar. The present Mayor of the cily of Edwardsville, Alonzo Keller, is a native of Switzerland. His administration since 1877, has been a great success ; the streets and sidewalks of the city have betn greatly and permanently

Cotemporary with the Swiss colony of Highland, the nucleus of a German settlement was formed in township six - eight, near the present village of Prairie city, where F, Jleyer, a North German, entered a tract of land - 1831 - and subsequently opened a farm, which in time became the center of a prosperous settlement of Germans, many of whom now rank among the most successful farmers of the county. The Meyer farm is to this day owned by descendants of the family. The Germans are known to be less inclined than any other people to dispose of the homestead - the rvra paterna of Horace - and start out in search of another The following German families clustered around the Meyer settlement ; Adam Hoeh in 1842 ; Mr. Hoeh has befriended many new-comers, by disinterested advice, as well as ready and material help. H. Heyer arrived in 1843, Daniel Schmidt in 1847, Herman Wirsemann, Ludwig Pape, Carl Eugelke, Henry and Christian Knoche, Christian Kurthe, John Schoeneweiss, H. Thurmann, H. Dustmann, J. A. Scherf, Albert Kaiser, Fred. Dustmann, Henry Dorr, for years member of the board of supervisors of Madison county, Henry Rurnhold, Adam Mueller, Klein J. Schumacher, John Schaefer, the Helmkamp brothers and others followed in the course of a few years. Prairie City and vicinity is at this day an almost entirely German settlement, and can boast of one of the prettiest German church buildings in the county.

Besides this, or joining it, is found a prosperous settlement of East Frieslanders, started about the year 1846, by Hiam H. Kaiser, and E. C. Balster, Elke Eden, Martin Aljets and others.

A very large foreign-born population is to be met in the western part of the county, principally at Alton. Some, we may say many Europeans have so closely identified themselves with the growth and developement of this city from the very days of infancy, that personal mention is made of some of them in the historical sketch of Alton. Among the first foreign born citizens of Alton we find G. T Brown and Joseph Brown, Scotchmen, who were in Alton in 1836 ; the former rose from a printer's boy to the position of editor and proprietor of an influential newspaper, the Courier, was a lawyer of great merit and held for years a much coveted oflSce at Washington City. He was a man found worthy of the intimate friendship of the public men at the head of our national affairs and died loved and respected by a large circle of friends - 1881. His library contained the most valuable political works, and his collections of curiosities, many the presents of native and foreign explorers and tourists, are gems of treasure. Joseph Brown was mayor of Alton and subsequently of St. Louis. D. D. Ryrie, the banker, and J. A. Ryrie merchant, also Scotchmen, arrived in 1837, about the same time when their countryman Andrew Mather came to Alton, followed by Johu and David Mellen about the year 1840. James Patrick James Mitchell and Peter Robertson are also Scotchmen.

is a initive of England, arriving with his father in Alton about the jcar 1841. Andrew JNIaley, an Irishman, came to Alton about the year 1845. He had been for years previously, in the service of the United States, " wintering " several seasons in Florida. The comforts enjoyed there, while fighting the Seminole Indians, are by no means pleasant recollections. Mr. Slaley commenced his career in Alton as laborer. Diligence and economy, as practiced by him, secured him the friendship and assistance of influential men, and he is soon seen a successful contractor in the very town, where he had toiled as laborer.

John E. Coppinger, from Galway, Ireland, arrived in 1849. Mr. C. has occupied a prominent position in his chosen home for over a quarter century, and is now a member of the State-Board of Equalization of Illinois, f.r this, the 18th Congressional District. James Banuon arrived about the same time. He too has in a high measure, enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens, who time and again have elected him to responsible positions, which positions he filled to the satisfaction of the people and to the credit of himself. Thomas Biggins, a native of Mayo County, Ireland, has been an honored and influential citizen of Alton since 1849. R. C. Causley, deputy postmaster of Alton, arrived about the same time. Thomas Richardson, the blacksmith, arrived iu 1848, and John Redmond has betu a resident of the county since 1838.

The immigration of subsequent years brought large additions to the pioneer ranks. The historical sketches of city and township make mention of them, as far as they have participated in public life and business pursuits.

A few Pennsylvania Germans are found among the early settlers of Alton, as for instance a tavern keeper named Fleischmann. Jacob Schmeer was probably the first German to settle in Alton. He had a small baker shop which he sold to C'harKs Ubert in 1833. Ubert added a store to the bu.-iuess and was very successful. He died, quite young, iu 1840. Von Stein, a tailor, Holl and Poetgen, masons, J. Herman, J. Landenbergerand C. Walter arrived with Ubert. C. Heitzig, A. Ulrich and J. Wiedfeld, Germans, were then living in Upper Alton, operating a pottery. Paul Walter, Til. Bauer and Johann Forster arrived in 1832, and the latter started a German boarding house soon after. Mathias Schaub, Martin Fischbach and several of those mentioned above went to farming on Coal Branch as early as 1833. Fred. Hoflmeister, who had operated the former bakery of Ubert and connected it with a confectioner shop, erected the first German Hotel, now known as the Empire House, and it was here, the few Germans of Alton Feb. 18, 1849, held an enthusiastic public meeting to express iheir sympathies with the revolutionists of Europe and to raise funds to aid the political refugees in their flight to the United States. J. W. Schweppe presided. Dr. Humbert made motions, after motions, and Hornau kept the records. Dr. F. Humbert's native city is Frankfort one of the four small republics of the confederacy of Germany until 18G6. The Dr. had emigrated in 1833, at the time of the celehrated Frankfort "Attentate," an insurrection undertaken by intellectual youths against the existing order of things. The Dr. came to Upper Alton in 1S3G, was successful in his vocation and became an influential citizen. He identified himself most zealously with one of the political parties, was a prominent and leading man in their councils and is said to have secured the nomination of Robert Smith, the only Madison county man that ever represented this county in the House of Representatives in Washington City. The Dr. resides now at Alton Many incidents related here are taken from a centennial speech delivered and afterwards published by him.

J. W. Schvveppe, now one of the leading merchants and a respected citizen of Alton commenced his Alton career in a baker-shop erected by George Fuls in 1836. Later, in 1841 when Fuls died, this shop was bought by F. W. Joesting and William Schweppe.

G. H. Weigler, also a pioneer among the Germans, came to Alton in 1838. His labors, hard and scarcely remunerative at first, his prudence and his energy have given him a most prominent position among the foreign population not alone of Alton, but in the county and state. He has been a member of the city council or city ofiices since 1854, occujiies now the chair of the financial and judiciary committees, and was justice of the peace time out of mind. He was a member of the House of Representatives of the 29th Assembly of Illinois - 1874 to 1876.

Hon. J. H. Yeager was born in Saxe-Weimar, in 1833, and came with his parents to St Louis iu 1834. He subsequently came to Madison county, studied law, graduated at Chicago, and commenced to practice at Alton in 1857. He was as member of the Legislature from 1866 to 1868, and of the senate from 1872 to 1874. In 1880 he was elected county Attorney of Madison county. Mr. Yeager is an excellent lawyer and an exemplary citizen. He has retained full knowledge of the German language, though he came to this country in the 1st year of his life, and is fully conversant with the classics of Germany. Rt. Rev. Bishop H. Damain Juncker, late Bishop of Alton, was horn at Finsingen, Lorraine, France in 1810, came with his parents to Cincinnati in 1824, where he studied theology, was parish priest at Chillicothe, and Columbus, Ohio, and was made bishop of Alton in 1857. He died there October 2d, 1868. H. Brueggeman, mayor of the city from 1879 to 1881, is a German by birth and a resident of Alton since 1856. John M. Tonsor has represented the township in the Board of Supervisors since adoption of township organization in 1876.

V. Walter, Henry A. Summers, Louis Biekel, Henry Fisch, J. H. Koehne, Lorenz Fahrig, J. J. Kopp, Germans, and J. W. Brain, Jonathan Quarton, John Curdie, Britons, are members of the earlier immigration.

The immigration from 1849 to 1864 brought thousands of people to the county, and Alton received a full share of it. The various nationalities are now represented iu all the various vocations of life. Mechanics, farmers, laborers, contractors, city-township-and county-oflicials, merchants, artisans, attorneys, physicians, even " bloated bond-holders " and coupon clippers, of foreign birth, are successfully competing with their native born neighbors.

in 1851 to organize their social Yereine. The celebration of the 4th of July, 185], was the first public festival arranged by the Germans, who flocked to Alton in great numbers. The festival was held in a beautiful grove on the Coalbrauch road. Kev. De Therdiug and G. H. Weigler were the orators. Elble's clarinet and Lehman's fiddle furnished the music for young and old. A militia company of St- Louis participated in the frolic, and our Altonians immediately went to work to organize a military company, naming it : Alton Jaeger company, 106 men, rank and file. It was officered by G. H. Weigler, L. Haagen and B. Ruenzi. In 1861 the company, commanded by Capt. John H Kuhn, entered into the federal service, as Company A - 9th III. Vol. The chapter on patriotism relates the brave deeds of the men and officers, and gives a list of the fearful losses the company suffered at Shiloh. Capt. Kuhn was promoted Major, and Emil Adams brought the surviving veterans home as their captain, at the end of the war. The " Turn-Verein, "organized in 1853, erected a beautiful building in 1868, and purchased a library of over 1000 volumes to furnish the means of mental culture to all members and friends^ Another Vereiu - Mutual Aid Association, has been a blessing to its members ever since its organization in 1856. The founders of this society are G. H. Wtigler, F. Fels, Charles Seybold, P. Sdilauder, Julius AVilhelms and Oberbeck. The financial condition of the association is solid, and all claims have from the beginning been promptly paid. Erwin Lodge No. 315 F. & A. M., with G. H. Weigler, Leonard Stutz, B. Elble, Henry Basse and J. J. Koenig as charter members was opened 1859, w'orking in German. There are two German Odd-Fellow Lodges in Alton, to wit : Germania Lodge No. 299 and Pestalozzi Lodge No. 367, opened respectively in 1862 and 1867. A German Encampment, Concordia No. 99, was founded in 1869. A " Maenner-Chor " (singing society) was organized in li'-67 and soon after consolidated with the old Turn-Verein.

A "Reform-Verein" was organized by the Germans of Alton in 1873 for the purpose of confronting and defeating the threatening prohibitionists.

The German Protestants of Alton organized in 1S49. The congregation erected a church edifice in 1851 and also built the first German school in Alton, corner Henry and 8th streets. The first German Catholic church was built in 1859. It was destroyed by the tornado of 1800, but immediately rebuilt, together with parsonage and school-house.

The first attempt at publishing a German newspaper, the -' Vorwaerts " (Advance), was made in 1853, the second. Die Freie Presse (Free Press) in 1854, by Schneider and Canisius, neither of which was a success. Reiss and Weigler commenced the publication of the "Beobachter" (Observer) in 1854, and continued it until 1865. The " Banner" has been published since 1866, (see article on press)

In township 6-10 we find but few foreign born citizens of the earlier immigration. R.J. Ingham, who died in 1881, settled there in 1835, Henry Ebbler, in 1841, Louis Masulli an Italian in 1845, and Julius F. Schneider in 1846.

In township 6-9 we mention Christ. Froark, 1848, William Bierbaum, 1849, and J- D. Heisel, a foreign born citizen of distinction, at one time clerk of the circuit court of ^ladison county - 1872 to 1880-and at present one of the members of the bar of this county.

In the American Bottom we find but few immigrants of a very early period, among them Caspar Varnhold, August Ruwisch, August Brandfs, Joseph Froehly, and R. J. Brown. ' Theod. Selb has represented his township in the board of supervi-sors for 5 terras in succession.

Further naturalization of foreigners 1849 to 1864: - Henry Scheer, F. J. Springer. Nich. Bickelhaupt, Gregor Hirsch, Rudolf Bircher, Adolf David, George Ruegger, political refugee of Switzerland, subsequently sherifiT of the county, Oliarlej Stsiaer, J,)nis B.irdill, J. B. Kirri, John Schumacher, Jacob Iberg, Henry Kuhlmann, Christ. Wedman, Paul Walter, Fred Buehler, D. Weisemann, Ca.spar Britt, Peter Britt, John Reisser, Christian Hirni, shipwrecked and drowned on the coast of England in May,

This closes the list of pioneer immigrants from Europe. There were undoubtedly many more immigrants than are mentioned here. The Constitution of 1848 granted the riwht of suffrage to all bona fide residents of the state, naturalized or not, and as the right of voting was with many the only coveted boon of citizenship, they never applied for naturalization papers.

These people have contributed their full share to develop the county to what it now is; they have helped to build your churches and school-houses, to open and cultivate the countless farms of a county, peer to all sister counties ; they have entered into the bowels of the earth to hoist up the treasures of the mines, and they have built your railroads ; and not that alone. When the government called for men to carry the flag of the republic against foreign enemies or insurgents and revolutionists at home, the foreign-born citizens responded readily and patriotically to rival with the native born in defending the republic and maintaining its integrity. There was a time when the native American thought the sacred institutions of his land endangered by a too numerous revolutionary element, filled with Utopian ideas, wholly foreign to the sober and stalwart American. The wild and confused utterances and doctrines of the French socialists and revolutionists, as for instance : " Property is theft," and many others of similar bearing, were calculated to create alarm. This feeling, together with a degree of envy harbored by indolent people, made itself most plainly felt when the revolutionists of 1849 were being naturalized in 1854 and 1855.

The hostility of the Know Nothing party against the foreign element, which led to serious difficulties in various parts of the country, was scarcely felt in Madison county, and the triumphs of that party here were of short duration.

The foreign born citizens have also shared to a most liberal extent, the honors of public life, bestowed upon them by the votes of their native neighbors and fellow citizens. Among the officers entrusted with the government of the county we find George Barnsback in 1819 as commissioner. Constant Rilliet,* in 1861-1862 as associate justice, Xavier Suter, his

*Rilliet wa."* born in Geneva, January 28, 1820, son of Col.Killiet, who while serving under Napoleon I was decorated on the battle-field with the Cross of the Legion of Honor. Billiet was a man of splendid education, master of nearly all modern languages; emigrated in 1848 and settled at Highland, where lie succeeded Adolph Olock, E-iq., ia the consulate of .Switzerland. The public schools of Highland are indebted to Rilliet for his successful efforts in that direction. Rilliet died on the lOlh of October,' 1802.

successor, was also a native of Switzerland, to which he returned in 1869, Anthony Suppiger of Saline township was associate justice from 1865 to 1869. Henry C. Gerke, a native born citizen of ISIadison county, but of German descent, was associate justice from 1869 to 1874. R. W. Crawford and John Bardill were members of the board of county commissioners in 1S74 and 1875. Fred T. Krafi'c, a German, was sheriff from 1850 to 1852 !Mr. Kratft belonged to the pioneer Germans of 1831. His first American home had been St. Clair county. He was a man of excellent qualities, popular, and loved by all who knew him. We have mentioned above the Barnsbacks as typical North Germans, and Krafft may be considered the typical South German. C. A. Murray, was sheriff from 1852 to 1854; George Reugger, a Swiss, from 1864 to 1866, and R. W. Crawford, an Irishman, from 1870 to 1872. Among the coroners we find P. F. Regan, an Irishman, from 1864 to 1860, Jonathan Quarton, an Englishman 1868 to 1870 and W. H. Greipenberg, a German 1872 to 1874. Walton Rutledge, also of foreign descent has been county surveyor since 1875. A. A. Suppiger, son of Anthony Suppiger the only survivor of the pioneers of the Swiss Colony at Helvetia, was superintendent of public schools from 1873 to 1877. B E. Hoffmann, was county clerk from 1869 to 1877. H. H. Kuhlenbeck, clerk of the circuit court from 186S to 1S72, J. D. Heisel from 1872 to 1880, when he was succeeded by William Daech, the present incumbent. Thomas Kennedy was treasurer from 1867 to 1875, and Adolph Ruegger since 1877.

The number of foreign born local and municipal officers is legion. Madison county has of course seen many of her citizens, native as well as foreign born, called to hold federal offices. A foreigner - Mr. Cauisius of Alton was appointed by Lincoln to the consulate at Vienna, the gay capital on the beautiful blue Danube, where he remained until 1S65, when he was recalled. - Later, after a lapse of years, during which he officiated as penitentiary commissioner, his consular star rose again, though with splendor lessened. The former consul general of Austria had to content himself with the simpleconsulate at Bristol, England. After a time he was transferred from the banks of the famous Avon to those of the obscure Geeste, at Geestemuende. His stay there was but brief, for others, ready to accept consular positions, looked with longing eyes in the very direction of Geestemuende, on account of its proximity to Bremeu and the pleasures of the

Bremen Rrathskeller. The doctor hastened to Washington to save his official head, but came too late. Pres. Arthur, though Geesterauenda was disposed of, concluded to retain the services of Canisius, sent him as consul to our very antipodes, on the Islands of the South Sea. There he resides now at a village called Apia, the capital of the Samoa Islands. While a resident of the county, Canisius was connected with a German newspaper, ])uhlishcd in Alton.

The process of americanizing the foreign element, slow at first, is now perceptibly advancing. The struggle to perpetuate foreign tongues has been brave and manly. Clergymen and teachers aided by journalists have made a noble and splendid fight to save and preserve the language spoken in the fatherland, and it is owing to their efforts and cease less laobrs, that the second and third generations have retained so much of the language of their ancestors.