St. Clair County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1881 (part 10 of 13)

Samuel G. Smith

SAMUEL G. SMITH Was born at Wilmington, Delaware, August 30th, 1809. His father, John Smith, was born in Western Pennsylvania, learned the trade of a tanner and currier, and at Wilmington married Gertrude Gilpin, daughter of Abigail and Vincent Gilpin. The Gilpin family were Quakers, and lived in Wilmington during the Revolutionary war. Mr. Smith's mother was accustomed to relate how at the approach of the British the Quaker families of Wilmington buried their silver. After the battle of the Brandywine several wounded British officers were brought to their house for treatment. Mr. Smith's father had a large tannery in Wilmington, and built the first steamboat (called the ^tna) which ran on the Delaware as a packet between Wilmington and Philadelphia. He also operated a large rolling mill, five miles from Wilmington. Having lost a considerable part of his means by speculation in hides during the war of 1812-14, he removed to the West in 1819, reaching Carlyle in Clinton county July 5th. He built two large hewn log -houses on the old Vincennes and St. Louis road, two miles east of Shoal creek, and there kept a hotel for a number of years. In 1831, he settled in this county, near where the Pittsburg railroad descends the blufi", opened two coal pits, and hauled the coal to St. Louis. He subsequently moved to a farm in the Looking Glass prairie, and afterward to Lebanon, where he died.

Samuel G. Smith was married in January, 1835, to Orinda Bankson. Her father. Col. Andrew Bankson, was in the ranging service during the war of 1812-14. He was an old settler of St. Clair county, and afterward removed to Clinton county, where he died. Mr. Smith after his marriage was farming in Clinton county till 1846, and then moved to Iowa and settled on the Mississippi, fifteen miles below Dubuque. He there operated a ferry across the river for about twelve years. His first wife died in 1848, On the 2d of May, 1849, he married Mary Ann Peck, the fifth child of Rev. John M. Peck, whose history is referred to elsewhere. In 1858, Mr. Smith purchased the old place, known as Rock Spring, on which Mr. Peck settled in coming to St. Clair county, and has resided there since. Three or four remarkably fine springs on the farm gave the place its name. Mr. Peck's house is still us^d by Mr. Smith as a residence, and a building is also still standing, in which was published the Western Pioneer, the first religious newspaper in the West. This was one of the first printing offices in Illinois. Mr. Smith has eight children living : Mary, wife of Benjamin Moore, now living in Kansas ; John F., who died at the age of twenty-five ; Gertrude G., wife of Thomas Oliver of Chicago ; Andrew Clark Smith, who died at the age of thirty-eight; George W. Smith of Chicago ; William, James 0., De Witt Clinton, and Chester P. Smith, who live in this county ; Sarah Ann, the next to the youngest child, died at the age of eleven. Mr. Smith was first a Whig in politics, voted for Clay in 1832, became a republican when the party was first organized, and has belonged to that party ever since.

Oliver V. Jones

OLIVER V. JONES. This gentleman, editor and proprietor of the Lebanon Journal, is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Caldwell county, in that state, on the 28th of December, 1824. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors were from England. His grandfather, William Jones, was a resident of North Carolina, and a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His father. Fountain W. Jones, was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, and at an early age accompanied his father to Kentucky, and was raised in the latter state. He was married at Dover, Tennessee, to Mary Ann Vanlandingham, who was a native of Kentucky. Fountain W. Jones removed from Kentucky to Illinois in 1830, and settled in Gallatin county, near Shawneetown. He volunteered under Gen. Posey in the Black Hawk war, and served in the campaign of 1832. His company was commanded by Capt. Harrison Wilson, father of Gen. James H- Wilson.

The subject of this biographical sketch was the oldest of a family of nine children. He was six years old at the time of the removal of the family to this state. He was raised in Gallatin county, attending the ordinary common schools^ and having such opportunities for instruction as were common at that day. He had determined, however, to secure a good education, and by making rails obtained sufficient means to enable him to enter McKendree College in the spring of 1847. His studies were interrupted by his being obliged to teach school to secure the necessary means to allow him to prosecute his studies, but he completed the course, and graduated in 1853. After his graduation he was made tutor in mathematics, and was subsequently elected adjunct professor of mathematics and English literature. Afterward, in 1866, he was made professor of mathematics and astronomy. At the time of his resignation, in 1879, he had been connected with the college twenty-six years. During part of the year 1880 he was engaged as a Methodist minister on the Wisetown circuit, in Clinton and Bond counties. For some months subsequently he was a teacher in the Illinois Literary - and Commercial Institute, at Lebanon.

On the 18th of February, 1881, he issued the first number of the Lebanon Journal, which he is now publishing. A newspaper of this name had previously been published in Lebanon. He was married in 1858 to Miss Mary E. Crocker, a native of Lee, Massachusetts. By this marriage he had two children living, one son and one daughter. Since 1846 he has been a member of the Methodist church, and since 1867 has been an ordained minister of that denomination. He was first a democrat in politics, though in common with a great portion of that party he entertained free-soil sentiments, , and on the organization of the republican party he became a republican.

Prop. William F. Swahlen, Ph. D. who occupies the chair of the Greek and German Languages and Literature in McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois, was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, on the 19th of April, 1839. His father, the Rev. John Swahlen, was a pioneer minister of the German Methodist Church, and was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, December 25th, 1808. The family name is spelled in Switzerland, Zwahlen. John Swahlen came to America in 1832, and the succeeding year made his home in Cincinnati, where he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was the first member of the German Methodist Episcopal Society of Cincinnati - the first organization of the kind in the world. In 1838 he was sent to Wheeling, West Virginia, as a missionary among the Germans, and established the first German Methodist Episcopal Society in Wheeling. In 1839 he built a substantial brick church for his congregation, which was the first German Methodist Episcopal Church edifice ever erected in the world.

From that time the active years of his life were devoted to missionary efibrts among the German population. He founded many churches, and was the means of doing much good. He was subsequently stationed at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; was at Warrenton, Missouri, in 1842-43 ; Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 1843-44 ;

Sidney, Ohio, 1844-6 ; Baltimore, Maryland, 1846-8 ; Newark, New Jersey, 1848-9; New York city, 1849-51; BuflTalo, New York, 1861-3; Albany, New York, 1853-4; Baltimore, 1854-6; Brooklyn, 1855-7 ; Poughkeepsie, New York, 1857-8 ; Troy, New York, 1858-60; Philadelphia, 1860-2; Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1862-4; Poughkeepsie, New York, 1864-66; was presiding elder of the Philadelphia district, 1866-70, and was stationed in Baltimore in 1870-2. He has since occupied a superannuated relation, except in the year 1876, when he was pastor of a churcli in Philadelphia. He is now living at Evansville, Indiana. His efibrts were of great service to the cause of German Methodism. ' A correct estimate of his character and labors can, perhaps, be formed from a remark of Bishop Simpson, in his Encyclopedia of Methodism, that " long before the organization of the Church Extension Si)ciety, John Swahlen was virtually such an organization in himself."

He was married in the year 1838 to Ann Taylor Gibbons, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, who was descended from one of the early Quaker families, which made their home in Pennsylvania shortly after the first settlement of the colony by Penn. Her father was named John Gibbons. Her mother belonged to the Cope family, also connected with the early Quaker settlement of Pennsylvania.

William Fletcher Swahlen was the oldest of two children. He has a sister who resides at Evansville, Indiana. During his early life his changes of residence were frequent on account of the itinerant labors of his father, but in several eastern cities he had most excellent educational advantages. At Buffalo his instructor was N. P. Stanton, Jr., afterward Secretary of the State of New York. At Albany he attended the Albany Academy, under the principalship of George H. Cook and David Murray. At Baltimore he was a student at the Light Street Institute, where he had the benefit of two years' thorough instruction by Asbury J. Morgan. In 1856 and 1857, his teacher was Prof. Charles Anthon, of the Columbia College Grammar School. In the fall of 1858 he entered the Freshman class of the Troy University, of which the Rev. John McClintock, D. D., was then president. In 1860 he became a member of the Sophomore class of the University of Pennsylvania, where he pursued the regular classical course, graduating in July, 1863.

Immediately after his graduation he was elected Adjunct Professor of Greek and German in McKendree College, and took his place among the regular corps of instructors, in October, 1863. From that date to the present time, he has been uninterruptedly connected with the college faculty. In 1867 he was elected to a full professorship. ' He was married on the 29th of June, 1873, to Miss Carrie V. Hypes, daughter of Benjamin Hypes, one of the oldest residents of the town of Lebanon. There have been four children by this marriage; Ella Blanche, Walter Gibbons, (now deceased) ; Percy Hypes, and Arthur Essex. Prof. Swahlen, with one exception, is now the oldest member of the college faculty, and has assisted in giving McKendree its reputation for thoroughness of instruction. In 1870, at the annual session of the Southern Illinois Conference held at Lebanon, he was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal ministry, by Bishop Simpson, and in 1877 was ordained elder by Bishop Thomas Bowman. In 1866 he received the degree of A. M., both from the McKendree College and the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater ; anti in 1877, the degree of Ph. D., from the Iowa Wesleyan University.

Among the former prominent business men of Lebanon the name of Charles Blanck deserves to be perpetuated in the history of St. Clair county. He was born at Mai chow, in Mecklenburg Schwerin, on the 14th of December, 1833. The family had lived in the town of Malchow for several generations, and there was born Henry Blanck, the father of the subject of this sketch. He carried on the business of a cloth manufacturer. The first thirteen years of Mr. Blanck's life were spent in Germany. At the age of six he began attending a school connected with the Lutheran church, the studies in which he completed before leaving the old country. In 1846 the family emigrated from Germany to America, landing at New Orleans on the loth of October, 1846. From that place they came immediately to St. Louis, and after living two months in that city, became residents of Lebanon. Here, in the spring of 1847, Henry Blanck established a wool-carding machine, which he carried on for a number of years. He died on the 8th of April, 1876. His widow, whose name before marriage was Elizabeth Profke, is still living at Lebanon, and was seventy years of age in April, 1881.

Soon after coming to Lebanon, Mr. Blanck went to live with James M. Whittaker, with the object of learning the English language. He made rapid progress, and in after life spoke the English with so much correctness, and freedom from foreign accent, that it could not be told that he was not a native of this country. After remaining a few months at Judge Whittaker's he entered the store of Col. Hugo Wangelin, then in the mercantile business at Lebanon, and was employed by him two years. When sixteen he went to St. Louis with a view of obtaining a situation in that city. He was without friends, and remained at the hotel four weeks, sometimes lonesome and despondent, before he was able to secure anything to do. He was then given employment in a dry goods store, and remained four years in the same establishment. He was active and industrious, and pleased his employers so well that they regretted to dispense with his services, and offered him an increase of salary if he would remain. He had made up his mind, however, to go into business for himself, and in the spring of 1854 came to Lebanon, and purchased, partly on time, a small stock of goods from the firm of Sargeant & Wangelin, and embarked in business on his own account. His only capital at that time was some money which he had saved while in St. Louis. He kept this store in a frame building at the corner of St. Louis and Mill streets, and was afterward in business uninterruptedly at this location up to the time of his death.

and Mississippi railroad through St. Clair county. When he came to Lebanon from St. Louis he was a passenger on the locomotive which made the first trip over the road from East St. Louis to Lebanon, then the eastern terminus. The building of the railroad, and other circumstances, made business active in Lebanon, and Mr. Blanck prospered from the start. He made the best of his opportunities, and rapidly accumulated money. In 1858 the old frame structure in which he made his first attempt at a business career, was supplanted by a substantial brick building, which is still standing, though it was partly destroyed by fire after Mr. Blanck's death, and has since been rebuilt. He was married at Lebanon on the 1st day of January, 1855, to Miss Jennie Cape, who was born in Washington county, Missouri. Her father, William B. Cape, was a native of Virginia, and died in Washington county, Missouri. Her mother, Amy Carty, was bom in Kentucky, and is still living at Carrollton, in this state. The death of Mr. Blanck occurred on the 15th of April, 1878. He was' then in the forty-fifth year of his age, in the prime of life, and in the midst of a business career which up to that time had been more than usually successful.

He was well known as an enterprising and active business man. Though, with the exception of attending night-school in St. Louis, he had no advantages for instruction in this country, yet he had acquired by wide reading, a valuable stock of information, and was a good English scholar. While living in St. Louis he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the French language. He possessed refined tastes, and was a lover of music and works of art. He was identified in some capacity with the government of Lebanon for many years ; first as city register, then as treasurer, and afterwards as member of the board of aldermen, in which he served as chairr man of the finance committee. He was especially interested in the public schools, and was regarded as one of the most active members of the board of education. He was an honest, upright, and useful citizen, and a man who attached to himself many warm personal friends. His death was a loss not only to his immediate family, but to the community at large. He was generous in his disposition, charitable to the poor, and will long be remembered for his many good deeds. His grave in the cemetery at Lebanon is marked by a handsome monument, erected to his memory by Mrs. Blanck. He was a democrat, but took no active or conspicuous part in politics. He had been brought up a member of the Lutheran church, but in Lebanon attended, with his family, the Methodist church, from which he was buried. His oldest child, Ida Belle, is now the wife of James D. Baker, who is engaged in the banking business at Lebanon. The youngest, Amy Elizabeth, married Charles W. Harrison, of Belleville.

Summerfield Precinct

I HIS precinct lies in the extreme north-east corner of the county, the greater part being in T. 2 N., R, 6 W., with a strip one and a half miles wide and four long, from the north of T. 1 N., R. 6 W. It is bounded on the north by Madison county, east by Clinton county, south by Mascoutah, and west by Lebanon precints. The surface is a pleasantly undulating prairie, containing numerous high and beautiful building sites. The soil is rich and productive, and many fine, highly-improved farms may be seen within its borders. Several small streams, tributaries of Silver Creek, flow westwardly through the precinct, and furnish drainage to the lands and a supply of water for other purposes. There are several small patches of timber scattered over the territory, which supply the demand for fencing, etc. The Ohio and Mississippi railroad runs from east to west through the precinct, entering it on section 24 and leaving on section 28. The first settlements in this precinct were made prior to 1810, one mile south of the present site of Summerfield, in what is known as the Union Grove settlement. The earliest settler was Nathan Chambers, who located on section 33, near a small branch of Silver Creek, as early as 1806. Chambers was a man of some talent, and well adapted for the hardships incident to a frontier life. In 1811- 12 he built a fort on his place, which was known as " Chambers' Fort," where the neighboring families gathered for protection against Indian depredations. Mr. Chambers held several minor county offices in early times. We will mention the names of some of the earliest settlers in this vicinity : - Robert and James Moore, John Broom, William Padfield, Robert Farar, Samuel and Alfred Ryle, Henry Button, John Dew, a Methodist minister ; Thornton Peeples, also a Methodist minister ; Dr. Anthony W. Casad, Edmond Randle, Malcom Johnson, Peter Wright, Wm. Lunceford and Samuel H. Thompson - a noted Methodist minister. William Padfield was a native of Kentucky, and settled here in 1815. He had quite a large family, mott of whom married and left descendants. The sons were - Thomas, William R. (who lived in a fine residence in the suburbs of Summerfield) ; Henry, James R., a farmer, residing on section 34; Joseph, Hiram, and several daughters. Wm R. and James R. are the only sons now living. Mr. Padfield was a zealous member of the M. E. Church, and for a number of years had a camp-meeting ground on his farm. Joshua Barnes was an early settler, and also an early Methodist preacher and school teacher. Among the earliest settlers north of Union Grove may be mentioned W. W. Roman, Wm. Frazier, Michael Keith, J. McKeg, John Lord, Mr. Anderson, Joseph Schrougham, John Marney, Capt. Morris, Preston Utley, James Paydon, and others. The following are the land entries in this precinct in 1814, as taken from the county records : Daniel Simons, S. W. i sec. 33, 160 acres, Sept. 26; George Nichols, N. E. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 15; Pleasant Nichols, N. W. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 15 ; Nathan Chambers, S. W. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 15; Francis Swan, S. E. i sec. 34, 160 acres, Sept. 16. The above are in T. 2 N. R. 6 W. Francis Swan, N. E. i sec. 3, 153 im acres, Sept. 16 ; Nathan Chambers, N. W. i sec. 3, 154 acres, Sept. 15 ; Robert Frazier, N. E. i sec. 9, 160 acres, Sept. 10; John Brown, N. W. i sec. 10, 160 acres, Nov. 24; John Nichols, N. E. i sec. 4, 154 /oo acres, Sept. 26; Henry Hutton, 8. W. i sec. 4, 160 acres, Sept. 10, are in T. 1 N. R. 6 W. John Wordsworth, who resides on section 16, is a native of Clinton county, Illinois, and settled in St. Clair in 1830. G H. Appel, a farmer on section 35, was born in Germany, and came to this county in 1834. John H. Calbreath, who resides on section 11, is a son of William Calbreath, who settled in this county about 1804^5. He was born here in 1825. Judge James Whittaker, an honorable citizen who resides in the northern part of this precinct, was an early associate judge, and has held other minor offices.

The first school-house was erected of logs in Union Grove at a very early date, and schools were held there for some time before other school-houses were built in this precinct. A church was also built in this settlement by the Methodist denomination about 1820 ; but soon after it was completed it was set on fire by some evil-disposed parties, and completely destroyed. It was soon replaced by another, even larger and better than the one before. The first mill was built by William Padfield in section 2 of T. 1 N., R. 6 W., about 1826. It was an ox mill, and the largest of the kind at that time in this part of the country. The building was about 60 x 80 feet, and five stories high. It was a grist and saw mill, propelled by ten oxen. Padfield's mill was known and patronized by the settlers for thirty miles around. Mr. Padfield also had a blacksmith's shop and store at this point, and at that early day there was considerable trading done here. The store was kept by Thomas Padfield, and was opened as early as 1818.

Frederick Hecker arrived in the United States in autumn, 1848, a voluntary exile. Hecker was born in Eichtersheim, Baden, September 28th, 1811, had received a splendid education, became a most distinguished jurisprudent and ardent politician. Hecker was the acknowledged leader of republicanism in south Germany, organized as such, an insurrection against the existing monarchy, in the spring of 1848, was defeated at Kandern, and fled into Switzerland. After a brief stay, he emigrated t ) America. Another revolutionary attempt, promising a better success, re-called Hecker to Europe, where he arrived in July, 1849, just in tinie to learn that his most cherished dreams of freedom and popular sovereignty would have to remain dreams for ages yet. Hecker returned the same year and settled in this township, near Summerfield. His home was known as the most hospitable one far or near, and of the thousands that came in the course of years to pay their respects to the revolutionist and philosopher, not one departed but was most favorably impressed with the amiability of host and hostess. Hecker died on the 24th of March, 1881, and was buried on the 28th. His funeral was the largest ever witnessed in St. Clair county. A dozen states sent delegations, and the friends that participated in the solemnizing of the day, are to be numbered by thousands.

Village Of Summerfield

This place, like many others in the west, sprang into existence with the building of the railroad through this part of the county. It was laid out in the spring of 1854, by Thomas Casad and B. T. Kavanaugh. At the time it was laid out, the site was covered with a gr >wth of small timber and underbrush ; not a house was within its limits. The first building was erected by Samuel S. Casad, soon after the survey was made, in the spring of 1854. It was a small one-story frame dwelling, situated on block eight, lot four, and is still standing, and forms a part of. Peter KuUmann's store-house. In one room of this building, Mr. Casad kept a small stock of general store goods, and it was only a few months until a post-office was ^tablished, and Mr. Casad was appointed post-master.

Samuel S. Casad was not only the first resident of the village, but also the first merchant, and did much toward building up the place. He soon erected a second house, on the lot just north of the first, and the following fall, John Wakefield, Eev. Thornton Peeples and Dr. Walker, each erected dwellings about the same time. Dr. Walker was the first resident physician. The present large steam flouring mill was being built in 1854, and a blacksmith shop was also opened in the same year. In the spring of 1855, Andrew Hall and Thomas Casad erected sevej-al tenement houses, and this y&ir the population was considerably increased. A twostory frime building was erected by H. Beetle, who opened a hotel, the first in the place. Mr. Casad continued the only merchant until the completion of a store-house by Rev. Thornton Peeples, in the summer of 1856, when Bradford & Brother, of St Louis, laid in a stock of clothing. The next store-house was built by John Wakefield, early in 1857, and that spring Wakefield & Phillips opened a general stock of goods. In the same year Eev. Thornton Peeples erected another store, and a general stock of goods was opened in it by the firm, Peeples & Dew.' This year a broom factory was erected by a stock company, composed of enterprising men, and operated successfully by Haven & White for several years. In a severe storm the building was blown down, and was never rebuilt. There were several stores and minor enterprises establi hed in 1 857 and '58, and since then the village has grown gradually, and like all places, there have been numerous changes in the business circle. S. P. Dew, Joseph R. Padfield, John M. Casad, Charles Wakefield, Henry Ruth, George Bumb, John Schupp, Dr. A. W. Casad, Garret and Jacob Vogt, Charles L. Dew, Julius- Winkler, Joseph Trenz, George Peters and Jacob Schuster, were among the early residents, and business men not above mentioned.

The first school was a private one, taught in the rear of Rev. Peeples' store-house, in the summer of 1856, by Miss Lucy E Dew. It was a three-months' subscription school. , The first public school building was erected in 1860. It is still standing near the new one, and is now being used by the German parochial school. It is a brick, one story high, 36x40 feet, with two rooms, and cost, when built, $4,000. The present fine brick structure was erected in 1874, at a cost of $10,500, including furniture. It is 40x60 feet, and two stories high. The entrance projects from the main building and runs above the roof, forming a tower, in which swings a bell. It has four school-rooms and employs four teachers.

The Methodist denomination built the first church, which was completed in 1857. It was constructed of brick, in size about 40x60 feet, with basement, where the public schools were first held. This building was torn down in 1874, and their present fine brick church was built on the same spot.

The German Methodist church was erected in 1864. It is a brick building, about 24x36 feet. The Evangelical Lutherans have a brick church about 30x40 feet, which was erected in 1865.

A coal-shaft was sunk at this point several years ago, but was never successfully worked. Coal was discovered at a depth of three hundred and eighty feet ; the vein, however, was but three and a half feet in thickness, which was too small to be profitably worked, Summerfield, situated as it is in the heart of a rich and populous farming district, makes it a good point for shipping and general mercantile business. The precinct and village together have a population of 1 ,676, both well supplied with churches and schools, which are liberally maintained. Summerfield has two secret societies ; the Summerfield Lodge, No. 342, A. F. & A. M., was chartered in 1860, and has a membership of twenty-four. The Summerfield Lodge, No. 163, A. O. W. M., was chartered March 12, 1880, and has twenty-eight members. Both societies are in good working order.

The Summerfield Mills as stated above, was built in 1854, by Casad, Wakefield & Co. In 1859 it was purchased by C. Eisenmayer, the present owner, who enlarged the building and capacity. It is an excellent mill, and contains seven run of burrs and six pairs of rolls, with a capacity of manufacturing two hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day. Several fine brands of flour are manufactured, most of which is shipped to the eastern states and to various parts of Europe. The building is about half brick and half frame, five stories high. Everything is well arranged, and it is among the best mills in the county. A large cooper shop is carried on in connection with the business. Employs in all about thirty-five men

In 1880 Ruth & Whitaker erected an elevator on the railroad, just east of the depot. It is constructed for handling all kinds of grain, and haa a capacity of 5,000 bushels storage.

One of the oldest residents of St. Clair county, was born two miles and a half south of Summerfield, on the 30th of September, 1821. His ancestors formerly lived in Maryland, and from there moved to Kentucky. His great grandfather emigrated from England and settled in Maryland. His grandfather, whose name was Wm. Padfield, was born in Maryland, and during the Revolutionary war served in the American army as the driver of a provision wagon. His father, Thomas Padfield, was born in Maryland, in the year 1792. In 1793, when he was not yet a year old, the family moved to Kentucky, and settled in Christian county, near Hopkinsville. They were among the early residents of that part of the state. Thos. Padfield was one of the Kentucky soldiers under Gen. Hopkins, in the war of 1812-14. He took part in Harrison's campaign against the Indians, and was present at the battle of Tippecanoe. He came through Illinois as early as 1811, and that year also visited St. Louis.

In 1815 Mr. Padfield's grandfather moved with the family from Kentucky to Illinois, and settled about three miles south of the present town of Summerfield, on the place which was afterwards the residence of Col. Fred. Hecker. Mr. Padfield's grandfather made the first improvements on the Hecker farm. He died at this place at the age of seventy-five. The settlement in this neighborhood, called Union Grove, was one of the earliest in that part of the county. Mr. Padfield's father was twenty-three years old when the family made their home in Illinois. Soon after his arrival he opened a store at Carlyle - the first one ever in existence in that town. After carrying on this store for three or four years, the goods were moved to Union Grove, where Mr. Padfield's father continued the business. Thomas Padfield was married at Carlyle to Temperance Hill, daughter of Major Isaac Hill. She was born in Georgia. Her father, Major Hill, was in the war of 1812, and during that campaign commanded a fort near Greenville, in Bond county.

This is the fort near which Tom. Higgins had his celebrated fight with the Indians, and Mr. Padfield's mother was in the fort at the time of the encounter, which was in plairf view of the garrison. Major Hill also served in the Black Hawk war.

After his marriage, Thomas Padfield settled two miles and a half south of Summerfield, on a farm now owned by W. R. Padfield. He moved to Summerfield in 1869, and died in November, 1873. His wife had died previously in 1863. He was a man of industrious habits, and his time was constantly spent in some useful employment. He was first a member of the Whig party and afterwards a Republican.

W. R. Padfield was raised in the country, and attended the oldfashioned subscription schools, held in log school-houses with puncheon floors and slab benches. He went to school as much as he had opportunity, but most of his education was obtained at home, nights, without instruction, by the light of a brushwood fire He was married in June, 1853, to Miss Caroline Alexander, daughter of John Alexander. The Alexander family came to Illinois from Pennsylvania, and settled near Shiloh. She died of consumption within a few months after her marriage. Mr. Padfield engaged in farming on his father's old farm, two miles and a half south of Summerfield, and lived there till he moved to his present residence just west of Summerfield in 1880. A view of this place appears on another page. He owns three hundred and fifty acres of land south of Summerfield. Beside his residence adjoining Summerfield, he is the owner of considerable property in that town. His second marriage took place in the spring of 1863, to Anna Kleiu, a native of Manheim, Germany. She died in the spring of 1874. His present wife, to whom he was married in the spring of 1875, was Elizabeth Klein, a sister of his second wife. She was born on the ocean while her parents were coming to this country. Her father is Powell Klein, of Mascoutah. He has two children by his last marriage, whose names are Damon and Sideros, the former now five and the latter less than a year old. Mr. Padfield has been a member of the Republican party ever since it first started, and voted for Fremont in 1856, the first Republican presidential candidate. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Summerfield. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1874, and has filled that position with satisfaction to the people. One of the characteristics of his administration of this ofiice has been his desire to have parties to a suit settle their disputes without litigation, and in this he has been generally successful.

Dr. Edward Parks Bland

DR. EDWARD PARKS BLAND Is a resident of Summerfield precinct, and was born in Amelia county of the Old Dominion, on the 13th of December, 1813. The family to which he belongs was of English origin, and occupied a good position in that part of Virginia The subject of this sketch was raised in Virginia. He acquired a liberal education, and for a time was a student in William and Mary College. Soon after leaving college he came west, and reaching the neighborhood of St. Louis, took charge of a school at Bridgeton, St Louis county, Missouri. He was only temporarily engaged in this occupation. Having made up his mind to enter the medical profession, he entered the old McDowell College in St. Louis, and attended lectures during the winter of 1846-7. He began practice in St. Louis county, Missouri, but in 1848 became a resident of St. Clair county; and undertook the practice of his profession at Fayetteville. He was a resident of that place for seven years, and then in the year 1855, removed to Mascoutah, where he was engaged in the practice of till 1861.

While living at Mascoutah he married (on the 9th of April, 1856,) Julia Ann Padfield, daughter of Thomas Padfield. The Padfield family was one of the earliest to settle in the north-eastern part of St. Clair county. Mrs. Padfield's great-grandfather was born in England, and on coming to America settled in Maryland. In 1793 her grandfather, whose name was William Padfield, moved from Maryland and settled in Christian county, Kentucky. Her father was born in Maryland, and was not a year old when the family moved to Kentucky. He was in the war of 1812-14, served in General Harrison's campaign against the Indians, and was present at the battle of Tippecanoe. He is said to have opened the first store that was ever in the town of Carlyle. He married Temperance Hill, daughter of Major Isaac Hill, who was one of the fir.-t settlers of Carlyle, and a soldier both in the war of 1812-14 and the Black Hawk war.

Dr. Bland, in 1861, became a resident of the town of Summerfield, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1870 he moved to his present residence in section 35, T. 2 N., R. 6 W.

He has since retired from the practice of his profession, and has been engaged in farming. Dr. Bland has taken an active interest in politics. He was warmly attached to the democratic party. His views have been thoroughly honest and sincere, and of that advanced and positive type which characterized all his mental convictions. During his active life he was a man of much mental activity, and formed his views regardless of the opinions of others. He possessed a mind of great candor, and was free, outspoken and fearless in the expression of his sentiments. He cared little for papular favor. As a physician, he had a good reputation, and was regarded as a man of broad and liberal education.

His two children are - Edward Parks Bland, Jr., and Richard Lee Bland, who are now living at home and employed in the management of the farm. The former received his early education from his father, was for a time a student in McKendree College, and graduated from a commercial institute in St. Louis.

James M. Whittaker

Who has been a resident of St. Clair county since 1838, is a native of Delaware, and was born November 20, 1816. The family is of English descent. His great-grandfather, Henry Whittaker, emigrated from England to Delaware in 1640. His grandfather, James Whittaker, and his father, Henry Whittaker, were born and raised in Kent county, Delaware, near Dover. The Subject of this sketch was the second of a family of six children. His mother, whose maiden name was Sallie Miller, was a daughter of Conrad Miller, and belonged to a German family which had lived in Delaware for several genera tions. Judge Whittaker was raised in Deleware. For a short time he attended school at Dover, the capital of the state. In 1838, then in his twenty-second year, he came West. In the winter of 1838-9 he taught school on Ridge Prairie. In March, 1839, he married Mary Penn, daughter of William and Rhuma Penn. He soon afterward went to farming on Ridge prairie and in 1844 moved north-east of Lebanon. Since 1853 he has resided on his present farm in section two of township two north, range six west. He is the owner of about a thousand acres of land, part of which lies in Madison county. He has eight children, six sons and two daughters. He has always been a democrat in politics. In 1858, under the' old system of couuty judges, he was elected associate judge, and filled that office four years. He was elected as representative from St. Clair county in the Thirtieth General Assembly in 1876, and served during the session of the legislature in the winter of 1876-7.

Joseph K Padfield

One of the old citizens of the north-eastern part of the county, is Joseph R. Padfield, who was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, four miles and a half south of Summerfield, on the 24th of September, 1820. The Padfield family is of English descent, and at an early date emigrated from England and settled in Maryland. Particulars of the early family history may be found elsewhere in the biographical sketch of W. R. Padfield. In 1793 Mr. Padfield's grandfather moved from Maryland to Kentucky. William Padfield, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Kentucky in the year 1796, was raised in that state, and obtained an ordinary education in the common schools. In 1815 the family moved to Illinois and settled at Union Grove, four miles and a half south of Summerfield. William Padfield in 1818 married Mahala Barnes, who was born in Christian county, Kentucky, whose family came to Illinois at about the same time as the Padfields. He lived on a farm south of Summerfield till his death in 1849, at the age of fifty-three. He had ten children, of whom only three are now living. Of those living, Joseph R. Padfield is the oldest. James R. Padfield, another son, r^ides in Mascoutah, and John B. Padfield still lives on the old homestead farm. Joseph R. Padfield, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was raised in the same part of the county in which he was born, and obtained his education in the early schools of the neighborhood, which, like all the country schools in the county at that time| oflTered inferior educational advantages.

He was married on the 23d of April, 1844, to Susan Tipton, who was born in Carter county, East Tennessee, and was the daughter of James I. Tipton. After his marriage Mr. Padfield went to farming for himself three miles north-east of Mascoutah, and then moved to a farm two miles and a half south of Summerfield. From 1857 to 1864 he lived in the town of Summerfield, and while living there filled the oiBce of constable. In 1864 he moved to his present farm, a mile south of Summerfield. He is the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land. He has four children, whose names are as follows : Martha, now the wife of Joseph Utly ; Matilda, who married Nathan Fyke, and two sons, Crittenden and Lee, who reside at home. He was first a whig in politics, but after the breaking up of the whig party voted for Douglas for president in 1860, and has been a member of the democratic party ever since. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of Summerfield lodge, No. 342. He is now one of the oldest residents of the county, and has always sustained the reputation of a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, and a useful member of the community. His name appropriately finds a place in this book as one of the old settlers of the county.

Mascoutah Precinct

JHIS precinct is situated on the east side of 'the county, and contains nearly seventy sections, mostly fine agricultural lands, originally about one third timber, but at present not over one fifth of the area is timber. The land lays rolling, and is considered the best of wheat land, and that staple is the principal produc'C'. The precinct is made out of part of four congressional townships as follows : Town one south SIX west, one south seven west, one north six west, and one north seven west, and is bounded on the north by Summerfield, Lebanon, and Shiloh, on the west by Shiloh, Belleville, and Fayetteville, on the south by Fayetteville and St. Clair precincts, and on the east by Clinton county. Silver Creek passes through the western part, from north to south. The Kaskaskia river touches four sections, in the south- east part. Jackson and Rayhill Sloughs drain the east part of the precinct and empty into the Kaskaskia. Loup creek is in the west part of the precinct, and empties into Silver C reek. The first settlement's here were made along the timber edges near Silver Creek, by settlers from Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia, as early as 1810. It is said several of the first families came here on horseback, and brought what little furniture and hoasehold goods they possessed on pack horses, a few used the wagon of that day, a description of which can be found in another part of this work. On the east bank of Silver Creek, in the north-east quarter of section 24 stood Fort Petersburg. It was here near the site of this old Fort, where James Anderson, Sr., built his first cabin upon coming to the territory of Illinois in 1810. Two years later he removed upon the section east, being nineteen, where he lived a number of years ; his death occurred about forty -five years ago. He left three sons : James, Martin, and Abraham ; the latter lived the life of a bachelor. James and Martin improved farms in this vicinity. James Anderson, Jr., was quite a prominent citizen in the county for a number of years, filling the office of County Commissioner, and for some time was a captain in the Black Hawk war. He removed to Bates county, Missouri, a number of years ago, where he died. Robert Abernathy settled in the north part of the precinct on section nine, about 1810. Sept. 10, 1814, he entered 320 acres of land in this section. Miles Abernathy, son of Robert, settled in the south-east part of section seven, one mile east of his fathers in 1815. He put up a cotton gin here the following year, the first in this part of the county, and the settlers for many miles around came here to get their cottons ginned. It is said that some of the larger farmers here raised as much as four and five acres of cotton every year. Job Vanwinkle settled in this neighborhood about 1810 or 12. He entered the south-east quarter of section eight, September 10, 1814. Jas. Bankson and Thomas Crocker settled here about the same time. They entered one hundred and sixty acres each, September 10, 1814. Bankson's was the southeast quarter of section twelve, and his cabin stood near the bank of Silver creek. Crocker entered the south-east quarter of section eighteen. Thomas Kinghton was one of the early settlers on Silver Creek, he entered the north-east quarter of section twenty-five, September 29th, 1814.

Jonathan Gaskill settled one-half mile east of Kinghton's, and December 24, 1814, entered the north-east quarter of section thirty. James Gilbreath settled one-half mile south of Kinghton's, on Silver Creek, and December 29, 1814, he entered the northeast quarter of section thirty-six. William Rittenhouse settled on the west bank of Silver Creek, as early as 1810 ; he settled on section twelve, in the south-western part of this precinct, September 12,

1814, and entered the south-west quarter in the above section. Rittenhouse improved a farm here, where he resideS until his death. His son. Darby Rittenhouse, well known to the old settlers of this county, resided on this tract until about 1852, when he died. Isaac Quick entered the north-west quarter of section seven, January 2,

1815, one-half mile north-east of where Rittenhouse settled. As early as 1825 Moses Hering bought this tract of land, where he lived until about 1837. He then joined the Mormons, and went to Missouri. He afterwards returned to this precinct, where he died. Paul Zugweiler bought out Hering about 1837, and settled on the place. Joshua Clark entered eighty acres on the east side of Silver creek, section twenty-four, extreme south-western part of the precinct, September 17, 1814, where he improved a farm. John Steel started an improvement near where Joshua Clark settled, about the same time. Brice Virgin, a native of Kentucky, settled on section six, a short distance south-west of the present town of Mascoutah, in 1810. He resided here until his death. His sons, William, Hiram and Brice, settled in the same vicinity, and raised families. William Virgin served in the war of 1812, and was in the government employ as a ranger until 1815, and was also in the Black Hawk war. He died on the same section where his father first settled, in 1855. He left his family in very good circumstances. Green Baker settled on section nine, west side of the Jackson Slough, prior to 1824, where he resided until his death- William McNail settled on the west side of Loup Creek, section thirty-five, as early as 1818. He was a ranger here in the war of 1812. He lived here until after 1847, and then moved to Washington county, Illinois. His son, Washington McNail, settled on section eight, south of Mascoutah, about 1832; he left the county the same year his father did. James Reed and John Ward settled on the north side of Hazel Creek, section two, as early as 1818. Lemuel Dupuy located on section twelve, south-east part of the precinct in 1817 or '18. He here improved a good farm, and was one of the prominent farmers in this part of the county in the early times. He was a zealous member of the M. E. Church, and the itinerant preachers of that denomination held meetings at his house. Before 1820 he fitted up a camp-ground here, and for many years there were regular meetings held near his residence every year. He was an honest and very conscientious man. It is said of him that, in the early settlement of Illinois, the corn crop in the northern part of the state was an entire failure ; and the settlers for seventy and a hundred miles north came down into " Egypt " to buy corn for seed, and while old man Dupuy could have received 40 and 50 cents per bushel for his corn on hand, he would not take more than 25 cents per bushel, and would not sell to one man more than four or or five bushels. Speculators could not buy corn of him at any price. He died on the place he improved, and left many friends and no enemies. Three sons of his, George, William and Lemuel, improved farms in the same neighborhood as early as 1825. Simeon Wakefield settled where F. Perring now lives, near Strassburg, as early as 1810. He moved to Iowa about twenty-five years ago.

John Jackson, a native of St. Clair county, settled on section seventeen, south of Mascoutah, about 1828, where he lived until 1835 ; he then moved to Missouri.

Major H. G. Brown, Jarvis Jackson, and George Rayhil) were the only settlers on the Shawneetown road between Middleton's ferry on the Kaskaskia and Silver Creek in 1830. Major Brown served in the Black Hawk war.

Joseph Land settled on section 18, south-west of Mascoutah, as early as 1825. He improved a farm here and afterwards moved to Mascoutah, where he died. His father, Moses Land, was a Revolutionary soldier, and pensioned ; and for a number of years he made a trip to Kentucky once a year to draw his pension. He always made this trip in a one-horse wagon.

William Padfield, jun., settled on section 9, in the north part of the precinct where John B. Padfield now lives. In 1812 he came from Kentucky with his father, who settled two miles south of Summerfield. William Padfield resided on this place until his death, which occurred August, 1849. He left a family of twelve children to mourn his loss, seven sons and five daughters. Only three of the children still survive, and they are residents of the county.

Henry Hutton settled on the same section, just north of Padfields, about 1810, and died on the old place. None of his descendants now reside in the county.

There were no settlements made in the north-east part of Mascoutah Precinct until after 1830. It is a fine rolling prairie, and in the early times (so say the old settlers) could be seen deer, fifty and seventy-five in a drove.

George Swaggard, a native of St. Clair county, was born at East St. Louis in 1821. Has lived in this precinct since 1833, and followed farming for the past twenty years. He has lived in the village of Mascoutah.

Elisha Bagby came to Mascoutah precinct in 1831 with his widowed mother, Nancy Bagby, who bought one hundred and sixty acres of one Samuel Crane, situated three miles west of Mascoutah. This tract of land is now owned by Henry Staub.

Among the first Germans that came to this precinct was John Knobeloch now living on section 27, in the west part of the precinct. He came here in 1831, returned to Germany the same year, and the year following came out with his father and father's family, and settled on the above section. Balthasar Knobeloch, a brother to John, lives in the same section. Thomas, another brother, who came out in 1832, lives two miles west of the old homestead in Belleville precinct.

Peter Fries, now keeping a hotel in Mascoutah, has lived in the county since 1833, and was a great hunter in the early settlement of this county, and now in the bar of his hotel can be seen nailed to the wall, many deer heads that Peter, in his young days, laid low. He is jovial and talkative, and loves to relate his experience of the early times in this county, and of the exciting deer and wolf chases.

John Barth, jun., came from Germany to this county in 1835. He was accompanied by his wife and family of five children. He settled two and a half miles south-west of the present town of Mascoutah. His son, John Barth, jun., now owns the old homestead.

In 1837, Philip H. Eisenmayer came to Mechanicsburg, and in 1839 he returned to Germany, and in the same year returned with his two brothers, Conrad and George C. Fritz Hilgard, Chris. Heinberger Conradi, and the three Eisenmayer brothers were the first Germans to settle in the village of Mascoutah. George C. Eisenmayer; in 1839, bought sixty acres of land what now constitutes his additions to Mascoutah, at six dollars per acre, and is now the part of town that lies between the depot and the business part of the place. The Eisenmayers have contributed their share toward making Mascoutah what it is to-day, and are prominent in the community. Philip H. is the present Mayor of the town.

The town was laid out by T. J. Krafft and John Flanagan on the 6th of April, 1837, and under the name of Mechanicsburg. It contained then two blocks of six lots each, and three blocks of twelve lots each, and one -block not laid out in lots. It was called then the mill lot. Samuel Dixon lived directly south of Postel's mills, and built the first house or hut in the present limits of Mascoutah. Dixon was a hunter.

After the town was laid out, Samuel Mitchell built the first house a log cabin, and erected a saw mill here. F. Hilgard, T. J. Krafi't, and Benjamin J. West laid out an addition to Mascoutah containing seventy-two lots March 29, 1839 ; here the name of Mascoutah is made a matter of record, and is perhaps the date the name of the town was changed. Other additions to the village are too numerous to mention. West Mascoutah was laid out by H. F. Teichman, 36 lots January 28th, 1857. Dr. Brewington was first trader or merchant at Mascoutah ; remained but a few months. Lewis Hauk, a son of Hauk of the Belleville Zeitung, was the first child born in Mascoutah. Hauk published a work on chancery and dedicated it to Judge Sidney Breeze, at present a member of the bar at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Dr. Smith, son-in-law of Major Brown, was the first practicing physician in the precinct. First school-house and church was erected at the site of the present town-hall, north of Postels mills. Nathan Fike was the first postmaster : Brewington's store was purchased by Fike & Crownover. E. Bagby took charge of said store in 1842, and succeeded N. Fike as postmaster. Bagby was an appointee of President Harrison, and this accounts for the fact that he remained in office but a few months. Hilgard, Couradi & Heini-i berger bought the old Mitchell mill about the year 1835 ; they added a flour bolt that was run by hand power and ground wheat on the same stone they ground corn meal. They built a a^ond store building corner of Main and Jefierson streets, some few years afterwards. Conrad and Philip Eisenmayer purchased the mill property in 1839. They soon afterwards took in as partner, Philip H. Postel, and enlarged the mill to a great extent and became exporters of flour ; this, mill stood about two hundred and fifty feet south-east of where the Postel mills now stand. The old mill in about 1850 was moved to Clinton county. The second mill erected near the old site now known as the Postel mills was built by Andrew Eisenmayer and Philip H Postel, in 1848 and 49 ; since then at different times it has been added to and improved until now it is one of the largest and fifty barrels per day, now owned and run by Philip H. Postel. There are two other large mills in Mascoutah with a capacity of two hundred and two hundred and fifty barrels per day ; one run by Sehlinger & Schubkegel, and the other by Kleekamp & Hussman. August George has a small custom mill here, and Philip J. Postel has a corn mill with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per day, he makes corn meal exclusively of an extra quality. The shipments of flour from Mascoutah amount to fifty car loads per week, a greater part of this flour is exported to Europe, different parts of England, Germany and France. The growth of Mascoutah was slow until the German emigrants began to come in after 1840, from that time until 1860 its growth was steady ; the town is substantially built, mostly of brick, the principal business being on one long street ; it is the third town in size in the county, now having a population of 2,576, with several first-class stores, a German weekly paper, hotels, livery, with every convenience of a first-class trading point, good schools, and six churches, some of which would be a credit to a much larger place ; the denominations are as follows, that have buildings : German Catholic, German Methodist, German Lutheran, German Evangelical, Christian and Methodist.

Knights of Honor, Mascoutah Lodge, No. 1927, received its charter August 25th, 1880, and has a membership of forty-two. The four lodges meet in one hall, a large, well arranged and well ventilated, and nicely furnished room, 45x50 feet. Mascoutah has one railroad, the Louisville and Nashville, this road passes through the center of the precinct, from east to west, and Mascoutah is situated in the exact center of the precinct, surrounded by a fine agricultural country, and may be put down as one of the enterprising towns of St. Clair county.

Was laid out by Joseph Moll and others, March 19th, 1857, and contains ten lots ; it is situated two and a half miles north of Mascoutah, on sections eighteen and nineteen, on a small tributary of the Silver Creek ; its location was too near Mascoutah to ever grow to much of a village without any railroad facilities.

High Bank was a paper town, laid ofi", by Edward Pensoneau, June 3d, 1857, and embraces the south-west quarter of section twenty-two, town one south, range six west ; it was beautifully situated on the north bank of the Kaskaskia river, and it is said by some eastern capitalist to have looked well on paper, as Pensoneau had a fine plat drawn oS" with steamboats plying on the river, and the town shown up as one of much business and commercial importance'; with this plat and good talk it is said that NarcisseTensoneau and George W. Pulliam, of this county, efiected the sale of many lots in the east. The purchasers have never realized much on their investment.

Is a lineal descendant of a long line of derman farnicr.s, who i'or several generations lived in the village of Hasshjcii, Kiiein Pl'altz he was born July 11, 1818, and which ground is distinguished as having been the scene of many battles waged lictween the French and German people, dating as far back as 14G0. On the old home place his father, Jacob Postel, killed a wolf in the harvest field, with a grubbing hoe - a singular fact treasured with other scraps of family recollections. His father, George Postel, died June 10, 1836, so that much of the care of the family devolved upon Philip H. In 1841 he determined on a visit to his relatives, the Eisenmayers, who had several years before located in Mascoutah, St. Clair county, 111 He landed in New York in the latter part of June of that year, and made his way to Philadelphia, thence to Pittsburg, by canal and railroad, which place he reached in July. Whilst on the way, a dam in the canal broke, and tlius a holiday was given the passengers. Mr. Postel availed himself of an opportunity oHLired of cutting clover, which he did on the 4th of duly, receiving as pay the sum of twenty-five cents. From I'ittsburg he went to St. Louis, by boat, theuce to the home of his relatives. For a time he gave himself up to the enjoyment of friendship, and on November 20, 1841, in connection with the ]']iseumayers, he bought a saw-mill on Richland creek, two and a half miles north-east of Red Bud. At the time the Eisenmayers were owners of a saw- mill in Mascoutah. In the division of labor which followed Mr. Postel was to take charge of the new acquisition, whilst the three parties, Conrad and Philip Eiseumayer and himself, were to jointly own both mills This mill was patronized by people from a distance of seventy-five miles. This arrangement was soon changed by Conrad Eisenmayer taking full ownership of the Richland creek property, whilst Philip Eisenmayer and Postel took hold of the Magcoutah mills, with Postel in charge of the corn-mill. He has ever since been engaged in the milling business, sometimes alone, at others, with different parties. From 1846 to 1850 he was in partnership with Philip and Andrew Eisenmayer, as equal partners, under the firm name of Postel & Eisenmayer- The corn-cracker was unequal to the demand made by an increasing population ; so in 1850 this firm concluded to erect a more commodious and better mill, and at once set about the enterprise by opening a brick -yard- on the site of the present home of Mr. Postel. The mill was built during this and the following year. A year after, the firm dissolved partnership, Philip Eisenmayer retiring from the same. In 1856 the owners sold out to Fike, Land & Co., because of the illness of Conrad Eisenmayer. Mr. Postel had acquired a great taste for the business of milling, besides having been in its pursuit quite successful ; hence in 1857 he built another mill in the western part of the town, which was at the time of its completion justly styled the " Pride of Southern Illinois." Unluckily for him, it was destroyed by fire, consequent upon an explosion of the middlings, August 21, 1862 In October following he formed a co-partnership with Mr. Tiedemann atO'Fallon, in the ownership of the O Fallon mills, under the firm name of Tiedemann & Co., and which arrangement existed to the entire satisfaction of all concerned for a period of thirteen years. In 1867 Mr. Postel bought the Mascoutah Star mills in connection with his brother-in-law, Jacob Eisenmayer, who died August 19, 1873, thus leaving the property to him. Since then he has, by aid of his sons, managed these mammoth mills successfully. Thus, step by step, from humble beginnings he has gained a firm financial footing and amassed a reasonable share of property. Much of his success in life, after his parents, he attributes to the salutary influence of a teacher, Jacob Reither, whose school he attended in early youth. Reither was quite distinguished in. his profession, and by the force of a strong moral character, left his impress for good on many who attended his instruction. His memory is revered by many who owe him much for the measure of success which has attended them through life. Mr. Postel's marriage to Miss Mary Eisenmayer, which took place September 4, 1842, was not without its attendant romance. He and his intended bride rode horseback from Mascoutah to the Richland Creek mills, where the bride's brother lived, a distance of thirty miles, to be united in the bonds of wedlock. In preparing himself for the wedding, he took temporary possession of a black broadcloth cap of George Grasser's and a pair of boots of Andrew Eisenmayer's. His intended bride wore a fifty cent hickory bonnet, the nicest he had ever seen. Thus attired, they crossed the intervening valleys and prairies to her brother's, where the wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Done. On their return, Mrs. Postel fell from her horse, greatly alarming her ; but fortunately she was not injured. Thus, their journey through life together was commenced in a primitive way. In 1848, Mr. Postel, attended by his wife, returned on a visit to Germany. They left home February 4, 1848, attended by a brother-in-law, Lorenz Leibroch, by wagon from St. Louis, thence by river to New Orleans, thence by a cotton ship, leaving New Orleans on St. Patrick's day, for Germany. They reached their home, on the 14th of May, quite unexpectedly to their parents, who hailed them gladly. Mrs. Postel was looked upon as the first woman to re-cross the ocean from among all those who had come to this country from the Rhein Pfaltz. They returned here the same year, coming up the Mississippi by the last boat to make the trip before the close of navigation for the winter, December 16th. Fortunately, too, they left New Orleans, just in time to escape the cholera which visited its ravages upon that city. The year following Mascoutah was visited by the terrible scourge of cholera, and amidst it all Mr. Postel kept on at his work, only leaving it to attend to the wants of the dead and dying. Of his relatives six succumbed to the fell destroyer, and were borne to their last resting-place. He was taken down himself at last ; but, thanks to a strong constitution, and, he thinks, to an exchange of remedial agents largely employed at the time, he survived. These were trying times in the vicinity of Mascoutah. There were six funerals the first day of the scourge. The next year emigration set in afresh, new industries were opened and a brighter future opened her generous doors. Mr. Postel took out his naturalization papers in Belleville in 1846, when Theodore Engelmann was clerk. He says he enjoyed the blessing of an American passport to the fullest extent upon the occasion of his European visit during which time the revolution was threatening trouble in Germany. As he passed certain police ofiicers, he simply showed them a note-book in which were American entries, and on the last page of which was the signature of an American consul. His thought was " How good it is to be an American citizen." Politically, Mr. Postel is an ardent and representative republican ; he has affiliated with the party constantly since its organization, with Gen. John C. Fremont as its standard-bearer, in 1856. In 1880 he was elected by a handsome vote as a representative in the 32d General Assembly, from the 49th or St. Clair county District. As a representative he has proved himself worthy the votes given him, and thoroughly competent to discharge the duties devolving upon the position. He is an active and faithful member of the German Methodist church. The credit of erecting the first altar in the state of Illinois for that faith belongs to the Eisenmayer family with himself A kind and indulgent father, a man of generous impulses, he has the respect of all. Of his family seven children are living - Elizabeth, Mary, Philip H., Jr., George, Anna, Louisa and Julius. Philip H., the first, as he is called for distinction, and Andrew, are numbered among the dead. Andrew died of smallpox at the age of three years.

Having now passed the age of sixty-three, he has no desire for public emoluments, and although surrounded by many of the luxuries of life, he looks back on the years that were full of struggles and hardships as the happiest in his life. The same cheerfulness of disposition, which he possesses in an eminent degree, has always sustained him, and he says he felt quite as contented when riding a mule up the streets of Mascoutah, years ago, which had just been attached by a creditor, (a wealthy citizen of Belleville) as he does now when driving a fine carriage. A man of great integrity of character, of marked executive ability, of generous impulses, Mr. Postel has concributed much to the upbuilding of Mascoutah.

About a mile east of Mascoutah, in the enjoymeut of a most elegant country home, lives one whose life's labors have been crowned with a success deserving more than a mere mention. One who illustrates, in an eminent degree, what can be accomplished by perseverance and an aim in life. James H. Richardson was born in Staffordshire, in sunny England, on the 25th of June, 1825. When about one year old, he was brought by a widowed mother to America, who located in the city of Philadelphia, where she married and remainsd until James was about six years of age, when she removed to Westchester, a village in Cliester county, I'a. Here it was that he gained a rudimentary education in a private school, such as abounded in those days. His stepfather, a teaclicr and surveyor by profession, after locating here liecame a merchant in china and glassware. At the age of twelve bo engaged his services to a farmer relative, who lived near the vilhigc This opciied to his young mind a new field of usefulness, and determined liim to become an agriculturist. He labored faitlifuliy, attended school during the winter, and spent his .summers in the usual labor of a farmer boy. He did not see that it would be possible to ever own a farm if its purchase depended ujion such labor, hence he determined on learning a trade, and apprenticed himself at eighteen years of age to a carriage maker at Marshalltou, some four miles distant, where he remained four years. v\.fter which he obtained employment in the machine shops of Pennock Brothers, Kennett Square, where he aided in the construction of the first graindrill ever made in America. From here he went to Bridesburg, to work in the machine shops, devoted chiefly to the manufacture of cotton and woolen mill machinery. Was attracted thither by an increase of wages offered. The work too required greater skill than that in ordinary machine shops, and to it Mr. Richardson proved himself fully equal. He remained here one year, and returned again to his former place in the shops at Kennett square, at the earnest solicitation of the proprietors. Having laid by some money, and thinking to secure a farm, he made his way west in 18-18, wliere he purchased a beautiful tract of land about three miles east of Mascoutah, which he yet owns. Nature has done much for the place, and in its selection Mr. Richardson's love of the beautiful is strikingly displayed. In 1849 golden visions came from tlie Pacilic slope, the begira had set in, and Mr. Richardson, in company with a party of about eighty persons, started on the overland route to the fields of gold. The trip was replete with interesting incidents. After keeping together for some time, twenty of tlic number, more pushing than the rest, Richardson among tliem,) left the larger party behind, and reached California a full month in advance of their more plodding friends. They called tlieir little company " Ben," and the subject of this sketch was Captain of "the Bens;" in this capacity it was his place to ride ahead and make selection of suitable camping grounds. Once, when thus in advance of his companions, he came to Scott's bluffs, great massive walls of rock, with a passage between, so narrow as to prevent a horse, once started through, from turning around to retrace his steps. Prompted by curiosity he determined to see what was beyond, and rode through to an opening be could see ahead of him. Here he found an encapment of .Pawnee Indians. Some of their number, who were guarding their horses, scowled ujiun him. With great presence of mind he boldly rode by them to the tent of the chief, bade him " good cheer," but the chief deigaed no reply to the salutation. He dismounted, and passed into the tent where the chief's daughter was engaged upon some bead-work She at once took an interest in him, and motioned to him to follow, while she showed him trinkets of various kinds. On the fire was a kettle, in which a dog was being prepared for dinner. Richardson thought that should the chief conclude to treat him as a friend he would ask him to dinner, and the prospect of having to eat dog was n9 ways pleasing. The invitation was extended, and Richardson bethought himself of some crackers he had with him, which he shared with the daughter, and motioned his company was waiting for him, and left, greatly relieved. The long, tedious trip ended, the party reached the El Dorado, and commenced mining operations. Here his skill as a mechanic was illustrated in the mines by his making the first cradle for the washing of gold ever invented. This expedited the business of goldwashing, enabling one man to do the work of ten as done by the process then in vogue in the mines. The subject of this sketch did well, but after getting cleverly started he concluded to return to Illinois on a visic, fully determined that it should be only a visit. At San Francisco, the company with which he started found passage by steamer risky, owing to the prevalence of cholera on board, hence they took passage on a sail vessel, the " Powhatan." The vessel was without sufficient ballast, and when a few days out was at the mercy of trade winds, which drove her to sea a distance of a thousand miles. Provisions grew scatce. The daily allowance was made a biscuit and a pint of water. These failed, and the passengers, in their extremity, determined on casting lots the fol. lowing day as to which should become a sacrifice to satisfy the hunger of the others, but before the plan was carried into execution land was espied. Once landed, they constructed rude carts, on which to transport their eflfects across Central America, which they accomplished after four weeks of suffering, reaching Graytown, where they took ship for Panama, thence across the gulf to New Orleans. He reached St. Clair county in mid-winter, 1850. Not wanting a repetition of his late experience, he engaged his services to Jacob Rentchler, who was making drills, having bought the right for the State of Illinois for the manufacture of the " Pennock drill." On the 14th of February, 1851, he was married to Miss Maria Rentchler, daughter of hid employer Jacob and wife, Elizabeth Rentchler. By this union there have been eleven children, seven of whom are living. In the spring after marriage he moved to the farm, where he yet resides, and commenced those improvements which have made it one of the best in St. Clair county. His family are interesting and accomplished. All the advantages of school, music, etc., have been bestowed upon them. In politics Mr. Richardson has always been an uncompromising democrat.. He makes no profession of religion, but in his daily walk strives to live up to the golden rule of doing unto others as he would be done by. His home, a view of which is elsewhere given, is one of the most elegant in the county, and is a full realization of his fond dreams of boyhood days, when he determined on the life of an agriculturist. He is fond of agricultural literature, and avails himself of every means for enhancing farming interests. A kind and indulgent father, a loving husband, his home is one filled with evidences of happiness.

Charles Karch

Living about five miles south of Mascoutah, in the centre of an elegant and highly improved farm of two hundred acres, is Charles Karch. He was born about two miles west of Mascoutah, June 2d,

1843. His parents, Ernst and Catharine Karch nee Catharine Seip, came to America from Germany in 1833, among the early emigrants who have done so much in behalf of the development of St. Clair county's resources. They located on Dutch Hill ; thence to what is now Shiloh precinct, where Charles was born ; thence to the place where he now lives in 1850. His education was acquired chiefly in private schools, having attended the public schools in his neighborhood but six months. He was united in the bonds of matrimony to Mary Heberer, October 17th, 1867, by Squire Lischer. By this union there have been three children. H. Gustavo, born Sept. 24th, 1868 ; Mary Laura C, born Aug. 6th, 1871 ; and Charles Adam, born March 17th, 1875. Mr. Karch has always followed his avocation of farming, in which he has met with deserved success. His fellow-citizens have repeatedly made him school director, a just recognition of his services in behalf of the cause of popular education. He has also been elected township treasurer, a position he now holds. Politically, he has always been an ardent, uncompromising republican, having cast his first presidential ballot for the martyred Lincoln, and his last for Gen. James A. Garfield. Whatever Mr. Karch takes hold of, he prosecutes with all his might. This earnestness and perseverance compels success. A model farmer, he is surrounding himself with all the comforts of rural life. A live, wide awake citizen, he is respected of all, and deserving of all the honors they may confer upon him.

In 1818 George Rayhill and wife Sarah, Virginians, the one a native of Botetourt and theother of Hampshire county, Va., located about two and a half miles of east Mascoutah, on an eminence overlooking an extensive and beautiful prairie. Here it was that J. J. Rayhill, who yet lives within a mile of the old homestead, was born March 4, 1824. He had witnessed the tranformation of a wild prairie into cultivated farming lands ; the influx of people, until neighbors,once at great distances, are on every hand. The departure of the Indians, the disappearance of deer and other game are things within his recollection. His earlier education was limited, as was the opportunity for acquiring an education. William B. Davis was his first teacher. In 1850 his farm life was broken up by his determination to try that of a miner in California. He left home in company with about thirty others, April 9, 1850, and by ox teams they made their way across the plains and Rocky Mountains to the land of gold, consuming six months in making the trip; here he remained for nearly four years. He returned home, by the Nicaragua route taking passage on the steamer Pacific at San Francisco and the Northern Light, after crossing the isthmus for New York, thence to the old homestead, when he purchased, partly with his earnings while absent, the farm which is now his home. He was married to Adeline Pitts, May 7th, 1856, by Rev. Wm. W. Mitchell. By this union there have been four childen born, as follows : Charles Edward, April 18, 1857 ; Virginia M , Jan. 5, 1859 ; George, Aug., 9, 1861 ; Sarah Adeline, Nov. 21st, 1864, Of these two are living and two are dead. George, a young man of much promise was accidentally killed by the discharge of his gun while crossing a fence when out 19, 1880 ; Sarah A. died Nov. 6, 1866. Mrs. Rayhill died Nov. 29, 1865.

Mr. Rayhill is a thrifty, industrious farmer, who has, by economical habit and energy, amassed considerable property. Politically he is a republican. Although active in politics he uniformly refuses to hold office, and beyond having been trustee for his home school district, has held none. He has so arranged his affairs that be can now spend the evening of his life in ease and comfort.

Amonc the represcutative men of Mafccoiitali is I'^redcrirk Dil.i,', who was tie fourth of a f;inii]y of oiglit chililiTii, liorn to Joliii Nicolaus Dilg and wife, whose maiden name was ]\alhariiie Ilaiicnstein. His parents lived in J5olauden, Oerniany, where liis mother was born, June 24, 180G. In 1845 they moved to America, reaching St. Louis the same year. His father selected a farm a mile and a half south of Mascoutah, on which lie lived nnlil \^W1, when ho moved to Mascoutah. Here Frederick ]Jilg attended school until 1857, when he went to clerk in a drug-store iu Belleville, where he remained until 1859. In January, 18G0, he entered the office of the " News Letter," a paper established in Mascoutah, which in 1861 was consolidated with the "Belleville Advocate." Here he remained until the breaking out of the war, whereupon he enlisted with the three months' men, as a private in company D,9th Illinois regiment. Before the expiration of his term of service he reenlisted in June at Cairo tor three years or during the war. Was made corporal, soon after 4th sergeant. He vertcranized at Decatur, Alabama, in INIarch, 18G4. In front of Atlanta he was promoted for bravery to the 1st lieutenancy of his company. In 1865 he marched through South Carolina towards Richmond in command ol' the company, the captain having been killed in February of that year. Was commissioned captain the same year. Upon the close of the war, the high esteem of his company for him was manifested in the presentation of an elegant sword at Louisville, Ky. Cn the IGth of June, 1868, he was married to Miss Sophia Hauser. By this marriage there have been five children born, four of whom are living. They are Eugene H. Dilg, born July 10th, 1871 ; Lillio L.,l\rarch 19th, 1873; Alfred, December 8th, 1877, died July 23d, 1878 ; Theodore, born January 16th, 1879, and Irwin F., March 24th, 1880. Captain Dilg was appointed postmaster at Mascoutah, April 10th, 18G9, which position he has held continuously since. At the time of this appointment he was a dealer in books and stationery, to which business he added a job printing office in 1870. In 1875 he commenced the publication of the " Anzeigcr," which he still continues. His father was born in Gellenheini, Cermany, October 8th, 1807, and now resides in New York.

Joseph Griffen

Among the residents of Shiloh valley is Joseph Griffin, a view of whose farm and residence appears on another page. He is a native of the county, and was born in township one north, range seven west, within a short distance of where he now resides, on the 17th of February, 1832. His father was Joseph Griffen, and his mother's name before marriage was Mary Foulks. A biographical sketch of his father, Joseph Griffen, may be found elsewhere. His father settled in that part of the county in 1828, was an industrious man and a good citizen, filled for a time the office of Justice of the Peace, and died in October, 1873. The subject of the sketch was raised in the same locality where he was born. When he was five years old he went to New York to live with his uncle, Isaac Griffen, who resided at Greeneville, in Greene county, of that state. The principal reason of his going to New York was the state of his health, which in his boyhood was very delicate. It was hoped the change of air and climate would strengthen his constitution. Returning to St. Clair county at the age of nine. He attended the common- schools, in which he secured the elementary part of his education, and when nineteen years old entered McKeudree College, at Lebanon, in which institution he was a student about a year.

After leaving college he had his home with his father, and was employed on the farm until his marriage, which took place on the 3d of August, 1860, to Margaret M. Shaw, who was born at Castleton, Vermont, and was a resident of Lebanon at the time of her marriage. After his marriage he engaged in farming for himself on section twenty-three of township one north, range seven west. The death of his first wife took place on the 5th of August, 1861, one year and two days after their marriage. She left one child, ^ Margaret Rebecca, which died at the age of five weeks. His second marriage took place on the 27th of February, 1866, to Belle Murdaugh, who was born in St. Clair county, in the neighborhood of Ogle's station, five miles west of Belleville. Since 1860 Mr. Griffin has been living on his present farm, engaged in the honorable pursuit of agriculture. He has six children by his second marria,ge. Their names in the order of their ages are Mary Alice, Clara Addie, Henry Boon, Madgie Belle, Walter Joseph, and Charles Hamilton.

In his political sympathies he was in early life, like his father, a member of the Whig party, but the agitation of the slavery question made him a Republican, to which organization he has belonged from a time previous to the war of the rebellion. He has taken no active part in politics, nor has he ever been a candidate for any public office, being content to live the life of a quiet and peaceful private citizen. As a representative of the old American population of the Shiloh valley, one of the fairest portions of St. Clair county, which has now well-nigh been crowded out by the incoming of later settlers, his name deserves a place in this book.

John Barth

In the year 1834 there came to this country, from Nassau, Germany, John Barth, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch. He had fought under the elder Napoleon for eleven years, stood before Moscow when that city was in flames, gathered from the ruins all the molten gold, he could carry, but reached his home with none of the spoils. In reaching it he encountered great difficulty, his horse having to swim the Lome in advance of pursuing Cossacks. He was a man of remarkable strength, and great determination. After coming to this country he was noted as being a useful member qf society, aiding and encouraging public improvements. To him belongs the credit of the first donation of land for a church and school in Mascoutah. A man of fine character, his death, which occurred May 8th, 1877, was regretted by all. John Barth the second, as he is called by way of distinction, received a common school education. He was married to Catharine Koob June 7th 1849, by whom he had thirteen children, nine of whom are living She died Dec. 13th, 1874. He was afterwards married to Catharine Lines, June 23d, 1875. Her maiden name was M. K. Beither. Mr. Barth has been eminently successful in his vocation of farming, and has by his energy added farm to farm until now he has twelve farms, all within a radius of twelve miles, and readily accessible from his home place. He is a member of the Evangelical church, also of the order of Odd Fellows, holding his membership with Humboldt Lodge, No. 282, and of the Encampment. Politically he is a democrat. Office he does not desire, preferring the quiet enjoyment of farm life. He takes rank as one of the leading agriculturists of St. Clair county.

Peter Seibert

PETER SEIBERT Was born April 24th,. 1844, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. His parents, Balthaser and Catharine Seibert, came to America in 1852, and made their way directly to St. Clair county, where in 1853, they bought land three miles east of Belleville. Peter, who was then but eight years old, remembers distinctly a battle during the revolution in Germany, occuring four or five years before. He was sent to the common school in the home district, and afterwards to Belleville, whtre he acquired sufficient education to successfully prosecute his chosen business that of farming. He" was married to Catharine Eidmann, Sept. 6th, 1868, by whom he had five children. Five years ago he bought the farm about four miles south of Mascoutah, where he now lives, and which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. Politically he is an ardent republican. It is his boast that every president, for whom he has cast a ballot, has been elected. His first presidential ballot was cast for General Grant. Although active in political affairs, he prefers a quiet life to office. He has been (and now is) a school director for the past four years. In agriculture he takes great pride, and has done much for the promotion of agricultural industries, especially in the way of improved horses for all purposes. In all home afiairs he takes great interest, and is always to the front in all matters calculated to benefit the public. Energetic and pushing, he is meeting a full share of success. Mr. Seibert is yet in the prime of life, he has made his influence felt for good in his neighborhood, and with his practical views of life and determination, he is destined yet to accomplish greater results.

Anton Sehlinger

Among the leading industries of Mascoutah are the Emerald Isle Mills, elsewhere shown in this work, and of which the subject of this sketch and Philip Schubkegel are proprietors. Anton Sehlinger was born in Baden, Germany, Feb. 13th, 1837. He was brought to America by an uncle, Joseph Schlndler, in 1852, with whom he lived on a farm for nearly thirteen years. The farm was located about three miles east of Belleville. In 1863 his uncle, in company with Clement Schindler, built the Emerald Isle Mills, and in 1864 he was made manager and clerk. This occupation suited his tastes better than farming, and in 1866 he became a partner. He was married to Louisa Faust, Jan, 23d, 1866. By this union there have been sevfsn children, fiye of whom are living, namely;

Mr. Sehlinger is a highly-respected citizen, a successful business man, ever ready to encourage any enterprize calculated to add to the prosperity of his adopted village. In politics he is an unwavering republican. Although politically active, he works for the general, not for his personal, advancement. He has served his fellow-citizens as member of the town board acceptably. In religion he is a Catholic, and in its advocacy he is zealous and earnest. A description of the mills, of which he and Mr, Schubkegel are proprietors, together with view, may be found elsewhere in this work.

A third interest, held by heirs of Joseph Schindler, the former proprietor, was sold on the 11th of June, 1881, under orders of the court, himself and partner being the purchasers, on a basis of $36,- 000 for the mill.

Francis Perrin

All countries of the civilized globe have made their contributions to free America, and representatives from many of them are found in St. Clair county. The first to seek and find homes were of French extraction, and at intervals ever since the location of Cahokia, representatives of this nationality have followed. In the year 1833 George and Susan Perrin, from Lorraine, France, crossed the sea, bringing with them their six children, landing at New Orleans, after a voyage of sixty-three days, thence up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, which point they reached March 20, 1833. Soon after they located in Dutch Hollow, about four miles north-west of Belleville, where Francis hired out to Elijah Badgley, to work in a brick-yard, which he did for three months, at three dollars per month. The following summer, 1834, he again engaged in the same service, this time serving only two months, at five dollars per month. He then apprenticed himself to Anthony Marslofi", a cooper, with whom he remained eighteen months, receiving at the end of that time eighty dollars. This eighty dollars was the foundation for what has become a handsome fortune. With it he rented land of the Badgleys, and, in connection with his brother, Nicholas Perrin, senior, farmed it. At the same time, his love for trading found play in the purchase, sale, and exchange of stock. This arrangement with his brother was continued for fourteen years, during which time they passed from the position of tenants to that of land-holders. He was married to Mrs. Catharine Pfeiffer, a widow lady, who came to this country in 1831. The ceremony took place on the 25th day of November, 1844. By this union there has been six children, four of whom are now living - Nicholas, Terisa, Rosalie, and Franklin. Of these Franklin is a young and promising member of the Belleville bar. Francis Perrin moved from Dutch Hollow to Ridge Prairie; thence in 1853 to Looking Glass Prairie, where he now lives. Here he has a farm of seven hundred and fifty acres of most excellent and well-improved land. Mr. Perrin is an excellent example of what may be accomplished by perseverance and the exercise of tact. Born in France, May 19, 1820; brought to this country when yet but a lad ; working for wages ; - he has gradually, step by step, acquired a competency in life. He takes great pride in his family, and in their education. Sent Franklin to McKendree college, Lebanon, and afterwards to Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., to fit him for his profession. Politically he is a straight-out republican, always ardent in his support of friends who may chance to be candidates. He has been kept in office as school trustee for the last fourteen years. He was raised a Catholic, and adheres to the faith. He says his patriotism is inherited. His father was a soldier under Napoleon, because he loved his country. He believes in teaching his children the principles of patriotism as well as mathematics or the sciences. He is locally noted for quaint sayings, often advisory in character, which have struck home with many a hearer. His father died, full of years, after having seen his sons raised from hardest struggles to gain a livelihood to independent positions. His death occurred in the month of March, 1876 ; his mother had preceded the father to the grave nearly two years, having died July 28, 1874. Mr. Perrin has the respect of all his associates and neighbors. He loves to talk of the rough times when men like himself were engaged in hewing out fortunes for themselves.