St. Clair County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1881 (part 6 of 13)

J. C. WILDE RM AN. Prominent among the names of early settlers about the bsautiful Turkey Hill district will be found that of George Wilderraan, father of the subject of this sketch. George Wilderman raised a large family, nine in number, of whom J. C. Wilderman was the eighth in order of birth. This family has furnished some of the best, most energetic and most highly respected citizens of St. Glair county. Their chief occupation has been that of farming, in which calling they have excelled. J. G Wilderman, or " Gal.," as he is familiarly called by his neighbors and friends, was born June 22d, 1827. At the time the Kickapoo Indians were still camping around the borders of civilization, farmers were making for themselves homes along the water-courses ; the prairies were left to their long grasses and bright flowers, so that Mr. Wilderman has witnessed great changes around the home of his youth. His first teacher in the common schools was William Davis, honored in memory as having been the instructor of many of our representative men of to-day. Here Mr. Wilderman received the rudiments of an education, and in 1852 determined on yet further improving himself, he entered Shurtleff Gollege, at Upper Alton, where he remained but one session. On his return he pursued the work of his life, that of farming, and bought the place where he now lives the same year. He was married to Margaret 0. Mc Bride, daughter of William J and Dovey McBride, by Rev. J. H. Holloway, April 22d, 1856, and built a residence on his farm about two miles south of Freeburg. By this marriage there liave been born to him six children, five of whom are living. He takes great interest in agricultural aflairs, and possesses one of the best cultivated farms in his neighborhood, a farm of three hundred and forty acres in extent, adorned by an elegant home mansion and creditable out-buildings. ' He is a stockholder in the St. Glair Gounty Agricultural Society, in whose work he takes pride. Politically Mr. Wilderraan is a tried and true Republican. Tried, in that when his party friends thought the interests of his party would be best subserved by his becoming their candidate for the Gounty Commissionership in 1880, in the face of a large democratic majority, he made the race. Despite the vaunted strength of the opposition and their boasted majority of over a thousand votes, he was only defeated by a paltry one hundred and twenty-two votes- True, in that he has remained steadfast to the colors from the organization of the party in 1856, with Fremont as their standard bearer until now. His first ballot was cast for General Taylor, the whig candidate for the Presidency, in 1848, and ever since he has seen no reason for changing front, but believes in being identified with the great party of progress. In educational matters he has ever been active, and repeatedly has served his fellow-citizens as school-director. In religion he is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes deep interest in every effort made to extend the usefulness of church or Sunday School. He and his wife have heeded the Macedonian cry, and are members of the Southern Illinois Missionary Society, also of the American Bible Society. Mr. Wilderman can look back over a life well spent, and one whose labors have been crowned with success. Thirty years ago he started out with a clear head and willing hands, to erect a home. He owned not an acre of land ; had, however, means sufficient to give him a start, and grandly has he improved that start. Surrounded by an intelligent family, in an elegant home, in the midst of a large and productive farm, he is prepared to enjoy the evening of life in peace and comfort. His oldest son, Hugh H. Wilderman, born January 26th, 1857, was married to Roselle Moore, daughter of Capt. L. W. Moore, Feb. 12th, 1879, and is now living on the farm in which Wilderman

Station stands. He attended his home school, and supplemented the course by attendance at McKendree College for two years, then at Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, where he graduated in June, 1876. He is a member of the American Bible Society. Although a farmer, his natural field of labor seems to be mechanics, as he is possessed of rare inventive genius. The other children of Mr. Wilderman are William Norris, born April 21st, 1859; Adie, born August 22d, 1861, died March 22.1, 1873; Julius T., born March 10th, 1884; Emma W., born January 3d, 1868, and Olive E., born July 26th, 1870.

PETER HERMAN, Jr. Among the live, wide-awake, enterprising business men of Freeburg none deserve better mention than the subject of this sketch. It is men like him that build up the country. In his especial line of buiinssj nothing new, possessed of real merit, escapes his attention. A merchant, he keeps up his stock of goods to meet the demands of the trade; a dealer in agricultural implements, he makes himself familiar with their work, and - having been raised on a farm - he well knows the adaptability of each and every class of agricultural machinery he handles to do the work for which it is designed. More merchant or dealer than an agent, he selects the best and keeps it in stock. Peter Herman, Jr., as his name indicates, is of German origin ; was born on Twelve Mile Prairie, about four miles south of Freeburg, July 24, 1848, where his father yet lives on an extensive and beautiful farm. His advantages for acquiring an education in his earlier youth were meagre, being such as a winter sesssion of the public schools afforded. His summers were passed in farm labor. In early manhood his father sent him to the State Normal University, at Normal, Illinois, where he fitted himself for the profession of teaching, which he followed for five years. As a teacher he succeeded, as his retention so long in the same locality attests. Mercantile business had for him its attractions, and in 1676 he entered into a co-partnership with Jacob Etling in general merchandize in Freeburg. The same year he visited the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and returned amazed at the grandeur of his country. He has travelled quite extensively in this country, having visited twenty-eight States and several territories of this Union. His travels have greatly aided his judgment of men, besides, rendering him familiar with his native land. He was united in the bonds of matrimony January 2 1 , 1874, to Margaret Reinheimer, a daughter of Frederick Reinheimer, an old settler and retired farmer, of this county, by whom he has one child, Frederick William Herman, born October 13, 1875. In the year 1880 he bought out his partner's interest in the mercantile business, and has since managed it alone. His specialty is dealing in agricultural implements, which he keeps in great variety. By his business tact and straightforward course he has established himself in this particular branch of trade, and customers rely upon his recommendation of any machinery he offers in the market. After convincing himself by observation that it was the best he commenced the sale of Osborne's harvesting machines, and now has the great satisfaction of knowing that farmers who have bought of him have realized all he promised in their behalf. In his establishment may be found such standard implements as Buford plows, and, in behalf of the ladies, sewing machines, in stock, in variety to suit. In short, Mr. Herman knows the demands of his home market and spares no pains to meet them. In behalf of every undertaking calculated to benefit his vicinity he enters with the same energy and zeal that characterizes him in the prosecution of his own business ; hence, all good public enterprises find in him a friend. In his political faith he is an unswerving democrat, although his participation in politics is confined to voting and giving private counsel. He is known as a man of generous impulses ; has made a successful merchant, and is a good representative of the progressive and enterprising men of this county who are of German parentage, and who retain the same frugal, industrious habits of that nationality.

Joseph P. Smith

The gentleman whose name heads this biography first saw the light of day near Georgetown, March 3d, 1841. His grandfather, John Smith, was a native of Lincoln]county, Maine. He brought his family west to Ohio in 1816, and in 1818 moved them to|t{iis county and settled in the vicinity of Georgetown. The land, then unimproved, he cultivated, and made a farm, and remained there umtil his death. He married in Maine, and had five sons. Benjamin J. Smith is the only surviving son, and Sarah, wife of W. W. Johnson, is the only surviving daughter of that marriaige. Kobert J., the father of Joseph P., was born in Lincoln county, Maine, Nov. 27th, 1814, and was but four years of age when the family came to Illinois. He grew to manhood here, and remained a citizen of the county until his death, which occurred March 21st, 1866. On the 16th of January, 1840, he married Mary McCulley. She was born in St. Clair county, Oct. 22d, 1820, and died Aug. 7th, 1878. Her parents were natives of Virginia, and were also among the early settlers of the state.

By this marriage there were six children, viz., the subject of this sketch, John J., Kussell B., Sarah C, Clarinda J. and Mary E. All are living except John J., who died Dec. 26th, 1876. He married Sarah Eittenhouse, and left four children. Eussell B. married Margaret E McGuire, and have four children. He is a farmer, and resident of Franklin county. Ills. Sarah C. is the wife of George R. Tate, a farmer of St. Clair county, and have five children, one son and four daughters. Clarinda J. is the wife of T. O. Holcomb, a merchant of Oakley, Macon county. Ills. They have two sous and one daughter. Mary E. is unmarried, and a resident with Mr. Holcomb.

The subject of this sketch is the oldest of the children. He was raised upon the farm, and attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and their received a good English education. In his youth he was in ill health, and was physically unable to do hard work, and therefore commenced at an early age to teach school. He taught for nine winters successively. His health improving he abandoned teaching and resumed farming. He remained at home until 1869, when he removed to a farm near Freeburg, in this county, and commenced farming on shares. In 1873 he purchased the farm on which he now lives, and has made that his home to the present. On the 9th of September, 1869, he married Miss Ellen E. Adams. She was born near Freeburg, St. Clair county, and there died Nov. 1, 1873. There was one child by this marriage, that died in infancy. On the 4th of January, 1876, he married Miss Ruth M. Chesney, his present wife. She was born in St. Clair county, Oct. 14, 1856. By this union there were three children. The eldest, Delphia Eloise, was born September 28, 1876, and died August 17, 1877. Glenn RoUin, born April 9, 1878, and Vinta Blanche^ the youngest, was born April 12, 1880. Mr. Smith is one of the substantial farmers and good citizens of St. Clair county.

Was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, June 27th, 1848. His father was a teacher, and what is remarkable to those in this country, where teachers are drifting here and there, is the fact that he occupied the same room for fortj'-eight years, teaching the boys of more than half a century ago, in turn their sohs, and yet again their son's sons. The subject of this sketch visited the Gymnasium from the age of twelve to nineteen, where he studied Latin, Greek, French and Mathematics. In 1873 he came to America, landing in New York city. May 10th, of that year; thence to Beaucoup, Washington county, Illinois, where he visited friends ; thence to Freeburg, where he became Principal of the Catholic school, a situation for which his European training had eminently fitted hira, and which he held from October 1st, 1873, until February, 1880, when he became Clerk in Reichert's mills, a position he yet holds. Mr. Becker was married to Catharine Eeichert, an accomplished daughter of Joseph Reichert, in May 1875 ; Rev. A. Wirtschoreck officiating. By this union there have been born three children. In 1880 Mr. Becker met with an accident, whilst in attendance upon the Millers' International Exhibition at Cincinnati, which once bade fair to terminate fatally. Whilst looking for friends he had occasion to pass by the engine, which he did just at the moment when an elbow of cast iron, a part of the main pipe, bursted. Flying fragments injured him severely. He was taken up for dead, carried to the Hospital, where he lay quite helpless for four weeks, when he was brought home. He is Director of the Freeburg Saengerbund ; a young man of great energy and promise.

The subject of this sketch was bom in the village of Grsenenbacft, Bavaria, Germany, June 21st, 1831. His father was a Lutheran minister. He acquired the rudiments of an education in the common schools of Germany, which he attended until the age of eleven years, when he was sent to the Gymnasium. At the age of 21, he entered the Univerty of Munich, where he obtained a classical education. He came to America in 1854, landed at New York, and first made his way to a brother in Pennsylvania, a Lutheran minister, thence to St. Louis, Mo., where he attended Pope's Medical college, and graduated in 1858. After graduating he located in Freeburg, and entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he has met deserved success. He was married to Rosa Ochs, a daughter of one of the early German settlers, of St. Clair county, October 15, 1860. He has by this union four children living. In politics the doctor is an ardent, unswerving republican. He has served his fellow citizens several years as President of the Board of Trustees of the village of Freeburg, and has been a moving spirit in all public enterprises, notably the Singing and Literary Association, of which he is now president. The doctor takes great pride in literature and in his profession. In his library are some rare works, which are his delight. In society he is affable, and courteous, hence has hosts of friends. Professionally he is careful, zealous,- and ever vigilant in answering the calls of duty.

Peter Hermann, Sr., was born in Meiningen, a village in Saxony, Germany, August 1st, 1820. His father, Nicholas Hermann, was the owner of a water power mill at that place, which he ran for many years. Peter attended school from the age of seven to fourteen, then worked with his father in the mill until he was eighteen, when he was allowed the privilege of six months' travel before reporting for muster duty, which he had to do under the laws of Germany. He concluded to come to America. Once here he neglected to return to his native land, for which his father had a penalty to pay, or hire a substitute for muster service which he did at a cost of about-$250. In 1843 his father followed him 'to this country. Peter, whilst traveling from New York westward, got out of funds at Pittsburg, Penn'a, and worked on a canal, wheeling a wheelbarrow for four months. With the start thus gained he went to St. Louis, Mo , thence to Randolph county. 111., where he had friends, who had written to him while yet in Germany. These letters induced him to come to America. Here he worked as a farm hand to gain a living for some time, when he went to Belleville, where he learned the turner's trade, remaining with his employer a year and ten months. His father reached Belleville in 1843, and at once bought 552 acres of land on Twelve Mile Prairie, where Peter still lives. Here it waa his parents died and are buried. His father died August 14, 1844, and his mother November 17, 1860 Peter Hermann was married to Elizabeth Lortz, March 13, 1844. By this union they have twelve children, eleven of whom are living. The following is a list of their names, with dates of their births : Ph. Hermann, December 22, 1844 ; Christina B., October 24, 1846 ; Peter, July 24, 1848; Catharine A., November 17, 1850; Anna E., February 14, 1853; Edward N., November 13, 1854 ; Louis, February 2, 1856 ; Emma Mary, February 10, 1859 ; Julia C, November 10, 1861 ; Frederick W., September 12, 1863; and Louisa Lenora, December 7, 1865. Politically Mr. Hermann is a liberal democrat; he does not believe in drawing party lines too tight in local affairs. He is a member of the Lutheran church. His wife, a most estimable woman, died December 14, 1876. Mr. Hermann has been fortunate in the acquisition of property, and is a liberal, and respectable citizen.

I HE greater part of this precinct includes what has been known, from the earliest settlement, as Ridge Prairie. It is high rolling land, with a sufficient amount of timber and water to make it desirable for agricultural pursuits ; and it early attracted the pioneer within its borders. It is irregular in form, and contains forty sections, or about 25,600 acres of rich productive land, nearly all of which is susceptible of cultivation. Situated in the northern part of the county, it is bounded as follows: On the north by Madison county, on the east by Lebanon, on the south by Shiloh and Lebanon, and on the west by French Village and Caseyville. The Ohio and Mississippi railroad enters the precinct on section 22, T. 2 N., R. 8 W., and traversing an eastern direction, it passes out on section 28, T 2 N., R. 7 W. There is also a short road, from O'Fallon to Belleville, which is a great convenience to shippers.

Early Settlers

As near as we can determine at this writing, the first settlement, in what constitutes O'Fallon precinct, was made by the Ogle family in 1802.

Captain Joseph Ogle, of English ancestry, was born in Virginia in 1744. He served in the Revolutionary war, where he was commissioned captain by Governor Patrick Henry, in June, 1777, and commanded a company of Virginia troops. He was married in Virginia to Drusilla Biggs, and had five children, viz. : Nancy, Catherine, Prudence, Benjamin and Joseph. After the death of "his first wife, he married Jemima Meiggs, by whom he had four children - Drusilla, Polly, Jacob and Jemima, all born in Vir- ginia. In 1785 he brought his family to Illinois, and first settled in what is now Monroe county, from whence, in 1802, he moved to Ridge Prairie, and located two miles west of the present village of O'Fallon. He was engaged in several Indian fights in this state. At one time he (and six other white men) attacked a party of nine Indians, who were on the war path, and killed seven of their number, only one white man being wounded. This occurred in Monroe county. He was a zealous member of the Methodist church. Though a man of but little book learning, he possessed a large practical knowledge, and was a brave and skillful leader in early Illinois. He owned several slaves when he came to Illinois, and liberated them. The Captain died on his farm Feb., 1821.

His son, Joseph Ogle, was born June 11, 1777, and came with his parents to this state. Married Lucinda Pulliam, July 12, 1804, soon after he located in this precinct. He had no children. Was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He was a good farmer, and a man of considerable information and influence. Died at his residence, September 14, 1846, aged sixty-nine years. His wife, the daughter of John and Margaret Pulliam, came from near Richmond, Va., and settled in Illinois in 1795, was a devoted wife and Christian - a member of the Methodist church. She died at their farm near O'Fallon, January 15, 1862, seventyeight years of age.

Jacob Ogle, son of Captain Ogle, also came with his parents to Illinois in 1785, and married Elizabeth Teter, and settled about two miles west of O'Fallon at an early date. He was a member of the Methodist church, a Justice of the Peace for many years, and a man of considerable knowledge, and very popular in the community. His principal occupation was that of a farmer, in which he acquired a good competence. In company with Rev.

James Lemen, he built and operated a -water-mill on Ogle's creek, three miles north of O Fallon. This was a rude afiair, and an insufficiency of water prevented much success in this enterprise. Mr. Ogle built a horse-mill on his place, with which he ground most of the flour for the settlement for several years. He was an enterprising and valuable man in his day, and much esteemed by all who knew him. He died at his residence. Two of his sons, George and Jacob Ogle, farmers, now living near O'Fallon, are among the esteemed and useful citizens of the county.

Some of the daughters of Capt. Joseph Ogle were married in Virginia, and the others who came to Illinois with him were married here. Nancy married L. Rutherford, in Virginia, and came to this state with her husband and the Ogle family in 1785. She died without issue. Catharine became the wife of Rev. James Lemen, Sr., in Virginia, and emigrated to Illinois, in 1786, and reared a large family. Prudence married Peter Casterliue, in Illinois ; Drufeilla married William Porter, in this state, and raised a family ; Polly, the wife of Gen. James Moore, married in this state, but left no children ; Jemima married Charles Matheny, who was an early resident of St. Clair county, and a pioneer Methodist minister in Illinois. She died in Springfield, Illinois, in 1858. Her husband moved to Springfield at an early day, where he filled some responsible positions, and died, much respected, before reaching a very old age. His son, James Matheny, of Springfield, who by marriage is related to Abraham Lincoln, is a prominent and able attorney-at-law. All of Mr. Ogle's daughters were members of the Methodist church.

Rev. David Badgley, a pioneer Baptist minister, was born in New Jersey in 1786, came in company with his brother, Anthony Badgley, to Illinois in 1796, and settled at New Design. In the spring of 1804 they settled in St. Clair county. Rev. David Badgley located on a three hundred acre " head right," occupying a part of Sec. 3, Tp. 1 N., R. 8 W., just south of the southern line of this precinct. With the assistance of Rev. Joseph Chance, he organized the first Protestant church in the territory of Illinois. He aided in forming a number of churches in the West, and died December 16, 1824. His descendants are numerous in this county. His children were - David, Ichabod, Job, Abraham, Rachel, Mary and Elizabeth, all of whom left large families. His brother Anthony settled on Sec. 34, Tp. 2 N., R. 8 AV. in this precinct. He had a family of eight children when he came here, viz. : Hiram, Butler, Diademia, who married David Aikman ; Nancy married Joseph Beer, an old settler ; Elizabeth became the wife of Thomas Beer, a brother of Joseph Beer. He moved to Iowa in ,1830. Adelina married William Abbott. These are dead, but all left descendants, many of whom are residing in this county. Eliza, resides with her husband, G W. Dixon, on Sec. 33, Tp. 2 N., R. 8 W. They have in their possession a powder-horn carried by Anthony Badgley, the father of Rev. David and Anthony Badgley, in the Revolutionary war. It has been in the family more than a hundred years, and is greatly prized by them. Simeon, the only son of Anthony Badgley now living, was born in this county iu 1805, and resides on the old homestead. He is possessed of a good memory, and delights in telling stories of the olden times. Having seen this country develop from a wilderness into one of the wealthiest and most influential states in the Union, he is naturally well-informed on its history, and has materially aided us iu the preparation of this work.

St. Clair county as any family that ever settled within its borders. Rev. James Lemen, Sr., who emigrated from Virginia to Illinois in 1786, settled and always resided in Monroe county, where he died. An extended sketch of his life is given in the Baptist Church History in this volume. His three eldest sons, Robert, Joseph and James, who settled here at an early day, were the founders of the Lemen families now residing in St. Clair county.

Robert Lemen, the eldest son, was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, September 25, 1783, and was brought with his parents to this state in 1786. He came near being drowned the second night after leaving Wheeling by flat-boat, down the Ohio river. Having tied up for the night, the water fell, and the boat being tipped by a stump, they lost most of their provisions and chattels. He was saved by a floating bed-tick upon which he was sleeping. The loss of nearly all their goods caused much inconvenience, but they pursued their journey regardless of the hardships and dangers incident to emigration in that early day, and landed at Kaskaskia July 10, 1786. They remained here a short time and moved to New Design, where they were among the first American settlers. Here Robert grew to manhood and married Hester Tolin, in 1805, and the same year moved and settled on Sec. 1, Tp. 2 N., R. 8 W-, where he resided until his death, August 24, 1860, aged seventy-seven years. He lived in the genuine pioneer days, and experienced the trials and privations of a pioneer life. He was a man possessed of an undaunted will, honest, active hands, clear judgment, an unceasing energy, and was regarded as a good citizen and firm Christian. His principal occupation was that of farming, though for many years he was a justice of the peace, and under the administration of John Quincy Adams, was appointed U. S. Marshal of Illinois; was a faithful officer and deservedly popular. He united with the Baptist church in early life, and was clerk of the Richland Baptist church for some time. When the Bethel Church, of which he was a constituent member, was organized in 1809, he was made Clerk, and served until 1845. He and his estimable wife were buried side by side in the Bethel cemetery. They had a family of fifteen children, only three of whom are now living, viz : - Gideon, Hester Bowler, and Emma Beedle. Gideon Lemen is a successful farmer, and resides just over the line, in Madison county, three miles southeast of Collinsville. Hester is the widow of B. F. Bowler, and lives near Alma. Emma is the wife of Joseph Beedle, a farmer, in Christian county, Illinois.

Rev. Joseph Lemen, son of Rev. James Lemen, Sen., was born in Berkeley county, Va., September 8th, 1785, and came with his father to this state, and grew up under the parental roof at New Design. He received a liberal education, for that early period. He united with the Baptist church in early life, and subsequently became a minister oi that faith. Was married to Mary Kinney, and settled at an early period on section one, T. 2, R. 8 W., in this precinct, where he purchased and made a fine farm. He had a family of foarteaa ciildrjii, all of whom, that reached maturity, became members of the Baptist church. Rev. Joseph Lemen was a devoted and active minister of the gospel. He preached for nearly a half century, and his field of labor extended from Iowa to Kentucky. In this long career he organized many churches, and won thousands to the cause of Christ. He was an able and vigorous pioneer-preacher, and did much to advance the cause of religion in Illinois. His death occurred at his residence, June 29th, 1861, aged nearly 76 years, and his well-worn frame was interred in the family cemetery, near their residence. A few years later his faithful and loving wife, Polly K. Lemen, was laid beside him.

Hi8T0R Yof St. Clair County, Illinois

and a Major in the late rebellion, is living at Odin, Illinois ; Isaac W., in this precinct; Eobert, in Collinsville ; "William, residlDg in this precinct, and Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Leslie, resides in Kansas.

Rev. James Lemen, son of Rev. James Lemen, Sen., was born at New Design, October 8th, 1787, and it is related from good authority, that he was the second white child born of American parents in the territory of Illinois ; Enoch Moore, being the first. He grew to manhood on a farm, a portion of the time, being applied to study under the instruction of Rev. John Clark, who was a liberal scholar. Mathematics and the higher sciences, including a course in theology, composed the curriculum. He professed religion in early life, and was ordained a Baptist minister about the time he arrived at manhood. He was the first ordained native preacher in Illinois. December 8th, 1813, he married Mary Pulliam, and the same year settled on section one, T. 2 N., R. 8 W., in this precinct. They had a family of eleven children born to them. For a little more than half a century he devoted himself to the ministry, and during that time he and his brother, Rev. Joseph Lemen, supplied Bethel church with pastoral services. He also traveled considerably, and organized several early churches in the west, and assisted in ordaining his father, and many others as ministers. He was a very liberal man, and besides gratuitous labor for the church, he gave of his own means fifty dollars annually, to religious and charitable purposes. Rev. James Lemen occupied several public positions, with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people. He was a member of the legislature under the territorial government when it met at Kaskaskia, and in the state legislature when the seat of government was at Vandalia, and state senator for two terms after the capital was removed to Springfield. He also served as a member of the constitutional convention, which framed the state constitution of 1818 ; and at a later day was chosen by informal ballot for United States Senator, but declined. In politics he was a Whig. As it was his desire to devote his time largely to the ministry, he finally withdrew from polities. He accumulated a fine property, on Ridge Prairie, where he died February 8th, 1870, aged 82 years, and was buried in Bethel cemetery, where £ve years later his wife, Mary, was laid by his side. Of his children now living are James Lemen and Mary Stebbins, residing at Hastings, Minn., Robert, at Cairo, 111., and Joseph B., on the old homestead in this precinct.

John Porter, a native of Ireland, came to Illinois late in the last century, and first settled at Cahokia. He afterwards located in the Ogle settlement, where he resided until death. William, David, Andrew and John were sons of his, and left a large posterity. He also had daughters, who married and had families. Dr. Joseph Oglesby was a Methodist preacher, and settled near the Badgleys in 1805. He was a man of vigorous mind, and a successful laborer in the cause. He subsequently moved to Indiana. Rev. Charles R. Matheny, who married a daughter of Captain Joseph Ogle, settled near his father-in-law in 1806. He was also a Methodist minister, a lawyer and politician. He moved to Springfield, and was appointed clerk of Sangamon county. Rev. Matheny was a faithful and devout Christian, and died at Springfield several years ago. Henry Mace was another prominent and well-known pioneer. He was born in Shanandoah Valley, Virginia, in 1776, and came at a very early date to Illinois, and located at Kaskaskia. He was a tailor, and followed his trade in that place. He married Drucilla Andrews, a daughter of James Andrews, who, with all his family, except Drucilla, were killed by the Indians. She was taken captive, and remained with them for over two years, when she was ransomed by the French at Kaskaskia. By this union there was one child, Elizabeth. She was married to James Tolly. After the death of his first wife, he was again married and had nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity. They are as follows: Susan, who married William Hilt, a patriot of the war of 1812, and an old settler in the county ; James, John ; Catherine married John Stites ; Sarah, the wife of Andrew Umbarger ; Lucy, who became the wife of George Hart ; Christena, the widow of J. B. Needles, a soldier of the Black Hawk war. Susan, Catherine, Sarah and Christena are all of this family now living, but they were all married and have left descendants.

Mr. Mace was also a soldier in the war of 1812. He lived for a time at Whiteside's Station, in Monroe county, and settled as early as 1810 in this precinct, on section 19, T. 2 N. R. 7 W., where he resided until a few years before his death. He died in O'Fallon. The Simpson family were also very early settlers. Rev. John Simpson was born near London, England, where he grew to manhood, and married Nancy Ann Ryder. He was educated a Baptist minister, and came as a missionary to America in 1780, and settled in Kentucky. At a later period he moved, and located in Monroe county, Illinois, where he engaged in the ministry. He reared a family, some of whom became residents of St. Clair county. Mrs. Nancy Hogan, who resided near Bethel church in this precinct, was a daughter of Rev. John Simpson. She was twice married. The first time to John Best, an old settler in the county. After his death she became the wife of Patrick Hogan, and raised a family. She died a few years ago at her residence, where she had lived for more than half a century. Rev. Gideon Simpson, a son of Rev. John Simpson, settled about three miles north of Alma, at a very early date, and raised a large family. He was a Baptist minister, and served as captain in the Black Hawk war. Rev. Joseph Chance, another Baptist minister, settled in th^ northern part of the precinct in 1807. He was born in Delaware in 1765. He married Jemima Morris and moved to Kentucky, where he professed religion and began preaching. He moved his family to Illinois, and located at New Design, in 1794, and then he came to this county. He raised a large family.

William Penn was another early settler in the vicinity of the village of O'Fallon. Some of his descendants are living, at this writing, in the county. David Sparks, David McFarland and Isaac Forman were also early settlers. Samuel Redman located on section 35 of T. 2 N. R. 8 W., where he resided until his death, and left a large posterity. Abraham Clark, who served in the war of 1812, settled the William Forquer place, very early. He afterwards removed to New Design. Samuel Dorris and Samuel Caruthers came in 1811. John Hendricks located in the south-western corner of T. 2-8 in 1812. The Stites family were early settlers in the vicinity of Alma.

About 1811, the settlers erected a block house for protection against the Indians, near the present site of Alma. Although there were frequent alarms in this section, the Indians never committed any serious depredations.

The first settlers in this precinct were a noble class of pioneers, and their families have always been among the honored and most respected citizens in this part of the state. The Ogles, the Badgleys, the Lemens and many others, brought with them the cheering ceremonies of a pure religion, and with prayer and religious worship they laid the foundation in the fear of God. The privations and hardships of pioneer life are fully detailed in the chapter on old settlers in the first part of this work.

Among some of the settlers of a later date may be, mentioned Merlin Jones, Sen, He settled on a farm two and a half miles south-west from Bethel church. He ^as an active member of the Baptist church, a man of liberal education, and became quite a prominent citizen. H e subsequently removed to Washington county, where he died in 1868. iJenjamin and Harrison Scott, brothers, and John and Paul Kingston, settled very early, just south of the present site of OTallon. They all left descendants here. The Begole family, residing in this vicinity, are descendants of Josiah Begole. He was born of Huguenot parents in Washington county, Maryland, March 25, 1792. In the the year 1805, he emigrated with his father to the state of New York, where he resided until the spring of 1819. In 1820, he came, via Detroit, Cincinnati, and the Ohio river, to this state, and from that year until his death he was a resident of St. Clair county. He died March 2, 1874. He was married March 2, 1824, to Mary Terry. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John M. Peck. Thus the day he would have celebrated as his golden wedding was the day he died. He lift a widow and nine children, six sons and three daughters. When he crossed the Ohio river into Illinois, he paid the last piece of money in his possession, a shilling, to ferry him across, but by industry and energy he became independent, gave all his children a good education, and settled them comfortably around him. Isaac Nearen, an old pioneer and soldier of 1812, was born in Maryland, and came to this state about the year 1800. He first resided in Monroe county, for a short time, and then became a resident of Turkey Hill. About 1807, he removed to Ridge Prairie, where he remained until about 1840, when he removed with his family, all but James, to Iowa. James Nearen is in his 77th year, and resides on section 11, T. 2, N.j R. 8 W. His wife, Nicene Gaskill, is a daughter of Jonathan Gaskill, a native of Vermont, who settled about seven miles south of Lebanon in 1810. They had three children, married and settled around them. George Pousch, a prominent early German settler in this precinct, is residing on section 11, He has raised a good-sized family, all of whom have settled around him.

Among the prominent and successful settlers of a later date may be mentioned Peter Bowler, who with his wife and family settled four miles north and one mile east of Q'Fallon. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and it was largely owing to his efforts that the Bethel church, in that day a costly one, was erected. He was an industrious and enterprising farmer, and an influential member in society. He died at a ripe old age on his farm on Ridge Prairie, esteemed by all who knew him. His wife, who was a devoted Christian woman, died a few years previously at the family residence. They had four sons - Benjamin F., George W., William P., and John 0. F. Bowler. They all united with the Baptist church, and were all farmers. Beujamin F. died at his residence, three miles north of Alma, in 1872, leaving a widow and several children, well provided for. George W. and family reside in O'Fallon, where he is a Justice of the Peace, which office he has faithfully filled for many years. The two brothers, John O. F., and Wm. P. reside in Madison county.

We give a few names of the parties now living, who became early residents, that are not mentioned above : S. S. Kirger, a blacksmith in O'Fallon, came here in 1821 ; John Eckertj residing on Sec. 32, is a native of Penna , and located here in 1839 ; W- S. Scott, was born in this county in 1836, and resides on Sec. 36 ; G. W. Darrow, born in the county in 1831 ; George W. Ogle, born herein 1818, and his wife in 1828, reside on Sec. 30; William Simmons, lives on Sec. 19, and was born in this county in 1834. J. M. Ogle, on bee. 18, was born in the county in 1834 ; B. F. Begole, was born here in 1828, and his brother who resides on Sec. 24, was born in 1825 ; Mary Smiley, widow of Matthew Smiley, is a native of Ohio, and came here in 1830 ; A. J. Cooper, was born in St. Clair in 1829, and resides on Sec. 1:3; Rebecca Forman, residing on Sec. 22, is the widow of the late Isaac Forman, who came here from Kentucky in 1820 - she became a resident of St. Clair in 1818 ; Warren Beadle, residing on Sec. 22, is a native of Ohio, and came here in 1818 ; Levi Piggott, a St. Louisian^by birth, came to this county in 1836 ; Amos Stites, whose father was a very early settler, was born here in 1830, and resides with his family on Sec. 33 ; Jackson Brake, of Greene county, Ohio, settled here in 1 818, and resides on Sec. 33. His widow, Mary Oglesby, was born in St. Clair county in 1817, and died in 1879; William J. Rittenhouse, also a native of the county, born in 1833, resides on Sec. 34 ; Thomas P. Owings, was born in 18.30, and lives on Sec. 25.

Thus we have given a brief history of some of the earliest and most prominent settlers. A full history of the churches and schools may be found in their respective chapters. The pioneer chapter fully details the trials and hardships of the early settlers, and much other matter of general interest may be seen in it. The census of 1880 gives the precinct a population of 3042, including the villages.

received its name in honor of John O'Fallon, a prominent and wealthy gentleman of St. L )uis, and at that time an officer of the Ohio «& Mississippi Railroad company. It is located on the W. i of Sec. 29 and the E i of Sec. 30, T. 2 N., R. 7 W., embracing one mile square. The first improvements were made by the O. & M. company, in 1854, and consisted of a depot and water tank. The first sale of lots was made at public auction May -13th, 1854. There were but few disposed of in this way, and they were divided among Frederick A. Carpenter, Hugo O. Sheerbanh, and two or three others, Anderson llmbarger erected the first dwelling, in the place, in the fall of 1855. It was a small frame building located on the corner of Main and Cherry streets, aud now forms the front part of the neat residence still occupied by Mr. Umbarger. The post-office was established the same year, and Mr. Urabarger was the first post-master. He was also the agent for the R. R. company. The second building was a residence and store room, erected by Henry S. Gordon, of Randolph county, in the fall of 1856. It was a frame structure, ihe main part about 18 x 30 feet, one story high, with an L, and kitchen in the rear. The front room was used as a store in which he placed the first stock of goods. Mr. Gordon soon sold out to his son-in law, S. Mace, who ran the business. The next house, erected by Walter Westfield in 1856, is still standing, where it was built, nearly opposite the depot. William Peach built a residence, one block north of the depot, in the same year. In 1857 Peach & Simmons erected the next (fifth) building. It was constructed of brick, about 30 x 40 feet, two stories high, and stood on the lot where John Shinton's saloon now stands. On the night of June 3d, 1863, it was destroyed by fire, and Levi Simmons built another brick, which is still standing. Peach & Simmons placed a complete stock of general goods in it as soon as completed. John and Robert R. Salter erected the store and residence now occupied by R. Kampmeyer, in 1867, in which they resided and kept store.

The next store was kept in the room of what is now Fischer's saloon, by Herman J. Blanck, in the spring of 1859. The building was erected the year before by Henry Stocker, for a hotel, and has always been kept as a public house. Henry Stocker, Phillip Schildknecht and John Distler, who located here in 1859, were the first German residents of the village.

In July of that year Dr. Columbus Hixson, became the first resident physician, and is still engaged ito practice here. In 1859 the following families were the only residents of the place : Anderson Umbarger, Wm. Peach, Mrs. C. Kolowlton, John Daily, John Salter, Dr. C. Hixson, Henry Stocker, Phillip Schildknecht, Cornelius Neville, Henry Farr, John Disler, C. Powell, Benjamin Orcutt, Henry Mace, and G. W. Rawson. From this date the village has grown gradually, and the population, as taken in 1880, was 960. About two-thirds are Germans, and they control the place.

Schools. - At the laying out of the village there was a small frame, district school-house, within its limits, where the children first attended school. The first school-building, erected in the village, was in 1861, when the main part of the present house was built. Since then an addition has been made to it. It is a brick structure. There are also two German parochial schools, both well attended.

Incorporation. - It was incorporated under the general law as a village January 27, 1874, and the first election for oflBcers held April 21, of the same year. The following were elected : Frank Poigne^, President ; Charles Tiedemann, Daniel Schafer, Thomas Mackin, John Feder, and John Powell, Trustees. The present board are Ertst Tiedemann, President; Evan Davis, Thomas Mackin, Joseph Landgraf, William Wittig, D. D. Gartside; Henry A. Schildknecht, Clerk; Herman Obst, village Constable. The Justices of the Peace are Philip Schildknecht, James Owens, and G. W. Bowler.

Cliurches. - The village is supplied with four churches. The Baptist church was organized in 1865, and their house of worship was erected the same year. The Methodist church was built in 1866. The Catholic in 1867, and the German Lutheran in 1879. They are all neat and commodious edifices.

Lodges. - The Royal Templars of Temperance was organized in February 1880. The Independent Order of Good Templers in February, 1881. The O'Fallon Lodge, No. 576, A F. and A. M., was chartered Oct. 6, 1868. Treu Bund, W. O. T. B., was organized May 6, 1871. The German Lodge No. 463, L O. O. F., organized in 1872. The 0 Fallon Lodge No. 431, I. 0. O. F., was chartered in 1869. St. Clair Lodge, K. of P. No. 40, chartered in 1875. German Lodge, K. of H. No. 878, chartered February 4, 1878. They are all well attended, and have a good membership.

Business Trade Of 1881

building was then only a small one, with but two run of burrs. It has since been enlarged to 65x75 feet, three stories high. The building is brick. It contains eleven run of burrs, with a capacity of 400 barrels per day. Mr. Tiedemann intends changing the mill to the Roller process this spring, which will enable him to compete with the best mills in the country. He also has in connection with the mill an elevator with a capacity of 60,000 bushels storage. The cooper-shop is 24x140 feet, frame. He employs in all about forty men. The mill is connected with two railroads, and with Belleville by telephone.

Hotels. - " O'Fallon House," Charles F. Fischer, proprietor. It is a neat frame building, near the depot, and is well conducted. "St. Clair House," Michael Bernhard, proprietor. "Farmer's Home," C. Link, proprietor.

Alma

Is a coalmining village, situated in section 25, T. 2 N., R. 8 W., on the line of the O. & M. railroad,and contains about 100 houses belonging to the Gartside Coal Company. The first shaft was sunk here by the above company in 1851. They now have three shafts. The average depth of the mines is a little over two hundred feet, and the vein is full seven feet. The coal is of an excellent quality. They employ in the operation of the mines about two hundred men. The company have a machine shop, a blacksmith shop and a carpenter's shop, and there is one general store, kept by Joseph Taylor, which constitutes the business. Ridge Prairie post-office is also located here.

There are also two more coal mines in this precinct, east of O'Fallon, the Van Court mine, and the Nicholas mine. The former was sunk in 1863 by Sharp and Thompson. It is now owned by B. J. Van Court, and operated by Savitz Brothers, of St. Louis. The mine is 207 feet deep, with a seven foot vein. The Nicholas mine was sunk about 1870, by Nicholas and McCoy. It is now owned and operated by Joseph Morris. The shaft is 212 feet deep, and the vein the same thickness of the above.

Joseph B. Lemen, sixth son and tenth child of Rev. James Lemen and Mary nee PuUiam, was born at the residence of his "parents in St. Clair county, Illinois, August 6th, 1836. His father's parents, Rev. James Lemen, Sen., and Catharine nee Ogle, in 1786 moved from Berkeley county Virginia, and settled in Illinois- They among the first settlers at New Design, Monroe county. Catharine Lemen was a daughter of Captain Joseph Ogle, who, with his -wife and some members of his family, had moved from Virginia to Illinois in 1785. Mr. Lemen and Mr. Ogle were both soldiers under Washington in the war for Independence. Joseph B. Lemen's mother was a daughter of John Pulliam and Margaret nee Stockton. They moved from near Richmond, Virginia, aad settled in Illinois in 1795.

The subject of this sketch grew up to the occupation of farming ; and received a common school education, and studied some of the higher branches when a boy. He taught school at eighteen years of age ; and afterward attended school at Shurtleff College, where he graduated in June, 1857. During the vacation following his first year at College he completed the studies included in the next year's course of study, and, after examination by the faculty, was promoted accordingly. While at Shurtlefi" College he assisted to organize one of the present literary societies of that school ; it was called the Philomathean Society at its organization. After completing his course at College he studied medicine, but only with the view to his own instruction, and not with a design to practice that profession. He also completed a course in the law with the view to practice that profession ; but circumstances eventually prevented him from pursuing the profession of his choice.

When the war for the Union began, he enlisted some two hundred soldiers, and purposed to enter the service himself, but his aged and afflicted parents, whose care fortune or Providence seemed to have devolved upon him in an especial manner, were objects of affection which made it difficult for a dutiful child to choose between duty to aged and infirm parents, and devotion to the demands of the country and flag. From this cause Mr. Lemen did not enlist in the service. He was, however, the soldiers' friend ; and on several occasions when young men, who wished to enlist in the army, but were owing small debts which they did not wish to leave unpaid, he settle! these debts out of his own funds, and never demanded any remuneration from these defenders of the old flag. This outlay amounted to several hundred dollars ; and in various ways, in contributions to our soldiers' needs, in the way of sending them special articles of food and comfort, he always gave .freely.

The same causes which prevented Mr. Lemen from entering the army during the war - namely, the care of his aged and infirm parents - were also those which prevented him from practicing the profession of the law, after he had qualified himself for that calling. They were living on their farm in the country, and desired that he should remain with them - a request he cheerfully complied with until their death. During this period he conducted the farm, and at intervals devoted some time to writing for newspapers and periodicals, and in other literary pursuits.

On November 23d, 1864, Mr. Lemen was married to Miss Nancie C. Scott, a daughter of Isaac Scott, who then resided on his farm 5 J miles north-east of Belleville. This union resulted in one child, Elmer S., an interesting bright boy, who died at a little past two years of age. For ten years Mr. Lemen has suflTered at brief intervals from malarial fever and its effects ; and for some years has experienced considerable trouble from a disordered condition of the stomach ; the combined effects of which confine him at home the most of the time- He has had the best medical aid, and while the treatment has been beneficial, he is yet laboring under a condition which causes any exposure or any degree of physical exercise to give much suffering. He has experienced large losses, to the extent of several thousand dollars, by becoming security for friends, and in other ways endeavoring to accommodate them : but from the rents from his farm and proceeds of his pen, together with the income from his wife's lands, he and his wife live in comforta,ble circumstances.

Mr. Lemen possesses studious habits ; and when able, he spends his time mostly at his library, or in writing for the papers and periodicals. His contributions are generally editorial matter. He is a republican, and in the election campaigns always assists his party and candidates through the press. He sometimes contributes a few articles on general topics to the newspapers of his personal democratic friends ; and among tlie newspapers he takes are always two or three Democratic journals. In 1872 some of his wealthy republican friends who endorsed the Greeley movement, tendered him a large salary to conduct a newspaper devoted to that cause, but he preferred the service of the party he had always supported ; and he has since been offered liberal salaries by some of the larger newspapers, to take control of their editorial departments, but declined on account of ill health.

From testimonials from some of the leading republicans of the state, his services as a writer, pending political campaigns, have been acknowledged as largely advantageous to the cause, as it is not unusual for these contributions to be copied from the papers in which they first appear into many other papers throughout the state, and to thus reach a large number of readers. For these services the leaders of his party ia St. Clair county, as well as many of his democratic friends, have several times tendered their support for local and legislative offices, but he prefers the disinterested position of a private citizen, where he can employ his time in more congenial pursuits ; and his pen, if necessary, in measures of public concern, untrammeled by the responsibilities of office. He is now, a few others, working through the press in the interest of leg. islative reform - to discourage the practice of too much law-making - with the view that if our laws could obtain permanency, the body of the people would soon come to understand them, and that causes for litigation would eventually become less frequent, which would give the courts more leisure for thought and accuracy in their decisions.

In the preliminary presidential contest of 1880, Mr. Lemen's editorial articles in the newspapers favored Gen. Grant for the republican candidate ; and his friends rallied at Chicago with " the guard for the old commander," but when Gen. Garfield was nominated, he supported him quite as loyally as he should have done had Gen. Grant been the nominee. He also supported every nominee on the state, congressional, legislative and county tickets ; and eirnestly urged the cause of each in the press, as worthy men to fill their several proposed offices : and this without personal derogation or a single ill-remark towards any of the opposition candidates.- In the local offices he frequently supports worthy democratic candidates, but on the occasion referred to, he supported the full tickets of his several party conventions from consistency, hav. ing urged that, as it was the presidential year, his party, for good efiect in organization and moral force, should make a full list of nominations. As to the general ticket of the opposition, Mr. Lemen held that the democrats committed a mistake in nominating a purely military candidate - Gen. Hancock - and that Hon. W. R. Morrison would have been a better selection for that party's standard-bearer. He had predicted in several of the journals of Illinois and elsewhere, that Mr. Morrison would be the democratic nominee; and, while that gentleman had a very respectable indorsement at Cincinnati, he is still of the opinion that if some of the opposition leaders of the west-had not made some very palpable mistakes in the preliminary canvass, that Mr. Morrison would have received the Cincinnati nomination.

On the question of labor and capital, Mr. Lemen holds there is no real conflict, and that there should be no friction. He always, in his own department of business, endeavors to pay his laboring men the best wages customary in such vocations, as he wishes to see the workingmen well rewarded for their toil. He also holds it as fallacious reasoning to assume that there- is ultimately any conflict between the intelligent labor of our hands; because such assumptions pre-suppose that the Creator made the brain the enemy of the hand, instead of its faithful ally - a theory evidently hostile to the unity and harmony of nature. On the question of temperance, he believe* this noble virtue must be enforced by self-government, and he does not favor sumptuary legislation as calculated to reach the evil it proposes to cure. He believes there is nothing lost by the practice of systematic benevolence;, and, since he commenced business, his contributions for eleemosynary and religious uses, including what assistance he gave to some of the soldiers, who were poor and in debt, amount to something over two thousand dollars. He is a member of the Bethel Baptist church, to maintain the expenses of which, he contributes in proportion to his means. He has, on various occasions, been elected as trustee in colleges and director in corporations; but has uniformly declined serving, as he was unwilling to assume the responsibilities which such trusts imply before

Usually, in addition to his literary pursuits, he has looked after the management of his farm in Ridge Prairie, some four miles northof Alma, where he and his wife now reside.

Benjamin J. Van Court

BENJAMIN J. VAN COURT Was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1820.' The ancestors of his father, Benjamin Van Court, came from Holland. His mother, Mary Lindsey, belonged to an Irish family. In the spring of 1839 the family removed from Pennsylvania to the West. A boat was constructed at Johnstown, Pennsylvania,'^ in which they journeyed by canal to the Ohio river, and thence down that stream to the Mississippi. At Cairo a contract was made with a steamer to tow their boat to St. Louis. Having mide their boat fast the steamer started up stream. Unfortunately, it proved too frail a structure for the strong current of the Mississippi, which it had but fairly struck, when it began to sink, the family barely escaping with their lives. All on board was gone in less than twenty minutes, the loss not being less than ten thousand dollars and no insurance. One trunk, containing three thousand dollars, in gold and silver went down with the wreck, and also a stock of groceries and liquors purchased six weeks previously in Philadelphia, at a cost of thirty-flve hundred dollars.

From St. Louis they proceeded to Rock Island and from that place to Prophetstown where their father had previously purchased a claim, and was there living. Finding no opportunity for business in that frontier town he returned to Rock Island, and in company with his brother, in July, 1839, with scant capital, took; charge of the Rock Island House. By the succeeding first of January their business had netted them three thousand dollars. Quitting Rock Island, from 1841 to 1843, they carried on the America House at Portsmouth, Ohio ; and in November, 1843, coming to St. Louis, Mr. Van Court opened the National Hotel at the corner of Third and Market Streets. Finding this house toosmall he, with his brother, leased the Missouri Hotel. The hotel business becoming unprofitable on account of the prevalence of the cholera, in 1850 he sold out the hotel and for the next two years was engaged, with great profit to himself, in the real estate business.

In 18-32 he undertook, with his brother, the business of trans-, porting passengers, bound for California, across the plains. They proposed, on reaching California, to put in about five hundred acres of wheat. A McCormick reaper, seed drills, plows, harrows,; a threshing machine, and machinery necessary to complete a flouring mill of two run of stones, were shipped from New York, via Cape Horn. On the 17th of January, 1853, he married Miss Amelia Midtnacht of Baltimore, and immediately afterward sailed, for California. He was one of nine hundred passengers on the steamer Winfield Scott, from Panama. Cholera and ship fever broke out, and one hundred and forty deaths occurred before arriving at San Franciso. He purchased a saw mill and engaged in the lumber business, while his brother attended to their stock and ranch. They had only been able to get in two hundred acres of wheat and barley which was cut with their McCormick reaper (the first in that part of Calfornia). Nine Indians formed the force for binding the grain. They worked for one dollar per day, while white laborers commanded four or five dollars. Their crop, which yielded thirty-five bushels to the acre, was hauled to Nevada, 28 miles, and the wheat sold for three dollars and a half and the barley for two dollars and a half a bushel.

He returned to St. Louis in 1855, and was elected a member of the City Council. He was one of the charter members of the Lumberman's and Mechanics' Insurance Company, and of the Merchants and Manufacturers' Saving Institution. He was an active member of the Masonic Order, and in 1850' when the various Masonic bodies of the city became incorporated in a Board of Trustees, he was elected the first president.

In 1856 or 57 he removed to his present home in Illinois. He assisted in the organization of O'Fallon Masonic Lodge, of which he was master for the first seven years of its existence.

He served as District Deputy Grand Master for five years, and at the present writing is one of the ofiicers of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, and Master of O'Fallon Lodge.

He is now engaged in farming and the business of mining coal. He has three children living, all daughters. A view of his residence, east of O'Fallon, appears on another page.

Among the early settlers of Ridge Prairie was Benjamin Scott who in the spring of the year 1828 took up his residence in section thirty-two of township two north, range seven west, where he lived until his death. He belonged to one of the pioneer American families to settle in Illinois, his father, Jehu Scott, having made an early settlement in the American Bottom, within the limits of what was then St. Clair, but is now Monroe County.

Jehu Scott was born in Maryland, and was raised at the town of Washington, Washington county, Pennsylvania. He learned the blacksmith trade in Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to Kentucky, and settled near Licking on the Ohio River. He there married a Miss Wilson. From Kentucky he came to Illinois. He reached Kaskaskia about the year 1797. He afterward settled near the farm of Judge Bond in the American Bottom, in the present county of Monroe, and there married in the year 1798 t^his first wife having died) Polly Kinkead, who was a native of Pennsylvania. She came to Illinois with her parents in 1786, then ten years of age. They came in company with the Ogles and Lemens, and other pioneer families. They descended the Ohio to Fort Massacre, and from there struck across by land to Kaskaskia, driving their stock with them. On this journey her father, James Kinkead, became separated from the company and was lost. Reaching Kaskaskia, and he not having made an appearance, his comrades started back to look for him. He was discovered on what was named from this circumstance, Kinkead's creek. He had been twenty-two or twenty-three days without any food except roots, leaves, and bark. He was in a famished and emaciated condition, and never recovered from the efiects of the exposure and lack of food. The Kinkead family first settled at the New Design and then located at Piggot's fort, in the American Bottom, a mile and a half west of the present town of Columbia, and lived within that fort seven years.

Jehu Scott moved afterward to the Teeger prairie in the Bottom, four miles north of Judge Bond's, and there established a blacksmith shop. He carried on that business for a number of years, and his services were brought into requisition for a considerable distance. It is said that he made the nails for all the cofiias in which the dead were buried for fifteen miles around. From Teeger prairie he moved to Harrisonville, and for seven years carried on his trade at that place. From Harrisonville he moved to a farm four miles and a half north of that town and lived there about twenty years. He subsequently lived with his children for a number of years, residing at Alton, near Freeburg, on the Ridge prairie, and died at the house of his son, Harrison Scott, in January, 1840. He was in the ranging service in the war of 1812-14.

Benjamin Scott was the oldest of a family of eleven children. He was born in the Teeger prairie, Monroe county, on the 23d of January, 1799. He was raised in the same neighborhood. He only had ordinary advantages for obtaining an education. The school facilities of that day were not of the best description. The schools were subscription schools, held for three months during the winter season in log school-houses with puncheon floors and slab benches. Greased paper pasted over an aperture made by leaving out a couple of logs, furnished the only excuse for a window. On the 27th of September, 1824, he married Clarissa Garretson, daughter of James Garretson, one of the pioneer American settlers of Illinois.

James Garretson came to Illinois in the year 1781 and settled within the present limits of Monroe county. He came with the first American immigration to the Far West, and is one of the men to whom credit should be given for founding the present great commonwealth of Illinois. Samuel Garretson, a brother of James Garretson, wa^ killed by the Indians during the border troubles in the early history of the territory. The family, for several years, lived near Piggot's fort, to which they were often obliged to resort to protect themselves against the savages. John Moredock, one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois who was noted as an Indian fighter, married a sister of Jacob Garretson. Mrs. Scott's mother's name was Mary Carr, daughter of Joseph Carr. The Carrs came from Virginia, first settled at the New Design, and from there removed to the American Bottom. Mrs. Scott was the fourth of a family of nine children. She was born on the 16th of February, 1806, in the American Bottom, seven (7) miles north of Harrisonville, in which locality she lived till her marriage.

After Benjamin Scott was married he settled in the American Bottom, on Moredock Lake. His farm sufiering much damage from high water during the years 1824, 1825, and 1826, he determined to abandon the Bottom and settle in a safer locality. In company with his brother, William Henry Harrison Scott, he came to Ridge Prairie, and purchased four hundred and eighty acres of land, for which twelve hundred dollars was paid. In the year 1828 he settled on this land. He improved a valuable farm, and lived there till his death. He was a man held in high estimation as a neighbor and a citizen, and he commanded the respect of the entire community. In his political opinions he was first a whig, and in the later years of his life, after the dissolution of the whig party, he acted with the democrats. He united with the old Bethel Baptist Church, of which he was a member for many years. He died on the 1st of September, 1877, at the age of nearly seventynine.

He was the father of eight children, of whom five are now living. The oldest daughter, Dilyou, married David Moore, and lives at Knob Knoster, Missouri ; the next child is Mary ; Sallie died in January, 1842, at the age of twelve ; John is now farming in Fayette county of this state; William S. lives on the old homestead ; James Wilson resides on a farm near O'Fallon ; Micha Ann died October 20, 1875, at the age of thirty-two; Lyman, the youngest, died in 1851, in infancy.

Elias Housee was boru in Washington county, Maryland, eight miles from Hagerstown, on the 29th of April, 1810. His father, Isaac Houser, was, on his father's side, of German descent, and was born in Washington county, Maryland, and married Barbara Mumma. Elias Houser was raised in Washington county, Maryland, on a farm. He had ordinary advantages for obtaining an education. His father carried on the distilling business, a highly respectable occupation in those days, and also owned a large mill, which may still be seen standing south-west of Hagerstown, not far from the battle-field of Antietam. Elias Houser learned both the milling business and that of a distiller, which he followed for some time previous to his marriage. He was married on the 12th of November, 18o3, to Eliza Malott, daughter of Col. Daniel Malott, who lived on an adjoining farm in the same neighborhood, eight miles south-west of Hagerstown. Col. Malott was of French descent. He derved in the war of 1812-14, and there gained his military title. He was a man of superior education, and occupied a prominent and influential position in the community. In early life he became profieient in surveying, and for a number of years was employed in surveying government lands in Ohio. He surveyed the lands on which now stand the cities of Chillicothe and Columbus in that state. He took an active part in public life, was a whig in politics, and held several public positions. He was twice sheriff of Washington county, Maryland, and held that office at the time of his death. He 'was a prominent Mason, and an officer of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Maryland.

first settled in Clark county, in north-we.st Missouri, making his home there when it was a rough, wild country, and the settlors were few in number. The conveuiencjs of civilization were scarce. The nearest mill was twenty-five miles distant. After living seven years in Clark county, in December, 1846, the family became residents of St. Louis. Mr. Houser was there employed most of the time in dealing iu wood, having a wood yard on Cass avenue. In 1854 he moved to Illinois and settled on a farm two miles south-east of O'Fallon. He has since lived in St. Clair county, and in 1872 became a resident of the town of O'Fallon. Mrs. Houser died on the 12th of September, 1880, at the house of her son, in St. Louis, at the age of sixty-five years, seven months and one day. She was a woman of good education and of an energetic and persevering disposition. She exercised more than usual care over her children, and was anxious that they should succeed well iu the world and reach positions of respectability and usefulness in society. At, however, much inconvenience and trouble to herself, she saw that they attended school and had opportunities for obtaining an education. She possessed many praiseworthy womanly qualities and Christian virtues. In early life she had united with the Lutheran church, but after coming to St. Louis became a member of the Methodist church, with which she was connected till her death.

There are now eight children living. The oldest, Daniel Malott Houser, is one of the proprietors of the St. Louis Glohe Democrat ; B. Cornelia, the oldest daughter, is the wife of Alfred C. Jones, of O'Fallon ; Sarah A. is the wdfe of Levi Simmons, who formerly lived iu ,0'Fallon, but now resides in St. Louis ; Claggett L. Houser is engaged in farming near Carlyle. in Clinton county ; Angelica

E., is the wife of John M. Houser, formerly of Bloomington, in this state, and now residing near Russell, Kansas ; Caroline M. marrried James M. McFarland, now a resident of Butler, Bates county Missouri ; Elias Houser, Jr., is engaged in farming near O'Fallon, and the youngest of the family. Ida Houser lives in St. Louis. Four besides are dead ; two died in infancy, one of whom, Medora M. was two years and a half of age. Franklin "Wesley, the sixth of the family, died in December, 1858, in his sixteenth year. Isaac Calvin, the third child, was a young man of energetic disposition. He served nine months with the 30th Illinois regiment during part of the years 1862 and 1863 in the war of the rebellion.

Iclias Houser, Jr

an illustration of whose farm, two miles south-east of O'Fallon, appears on another page, and whose portrait heads this sketch, is one of the enterprising young men of St. Clair county. He was born in the city of St. Louis on the 12th of February, 1853, and was next to the youngest of a family of twelve children. He was a year old at the time of the removal of his parents from St. Louis to the neighborhood of O'Fallon. He was raised in this county and obtai.ied his education in the public schools in the vicinity of his home, attending school at the old town of Shiloh and afterward at O'Fallon. For a short time also he was a student in McKendree college. After leaving school he went to work on the farm where he now lives. This farm, of which he is now the owner, is composed of two hundred and twenty acres of the valuable land characteiistic of that portion of the county. Mr. Houser is a gentleman of liberal ideas and progressive disposition, and though young in years is still known to many of the citizens of the county. He possesses an active mind and good business capacity, and in the opinion of his friends has those qualities which fit him to make his way successfully through the world. In his political viewls he is an earnest republican.

James Nearen

Was born in Monroe county, January 31, 1805. When two years old he came with his step-father, Isaac Basey, to the Ogle settlement on the Ridge Prairie, in St. Clair county. The first school he attended was on Ridge Prairie, in section eleven of township two north, range eight west, when he was about ten years old. The teacher was Isaac Enochs. At eighteen he hired out, receiving ten dollars a month wages, and getting his pay in State paper worth fifty cents on the dollar. He then learned the cooper's trade. During the winter of 1826-7 he was at Vandalia, where the last session of the legislature met, previous to the removal of the capital to Springfield. March 13, 1827, he married Nicene Gaskili, who was born near Owego, New York, Sept. 12, 1807, and was the daughter of Jonathan Gaskili and Elizabeth Allen. Her parents settled in this county, a mile and a-half from Mascoutah, in- October 1810. In May, 1827, Mr. Nearen went to Galena, where he worked six months as a carpenter. He came home with one hundred and thirty dollars in money, and bought eighty acres of land in section eleven of township two north, range eight west, where he now lives. The price was two dollars and a-half an acre, and he had to resort to the courts to get a good title. He paid fifty dollars on the land. The first crop of corn he raised he hauled to St. Louis with an ox cart, and sold for eighteen cents a bushel. It was fifteen years - though he worked hard and was as economical as possible - before the land was all paid for. He paid eight dollars an acre for the next forty acres he purchased. He now owns five hundred acres. He has had twelve children. The three living are Allen Alonzo Nearen, Caroline, the wife of B. G. Markham, and John C. Nearen. He voted for Andrew Jackson in 1824, and has been a democrat ever since. In 1832 he served in the "Black Hawk" war. His company was commanded by Capt. Simpson, and his regiment by Col. Thomas. After sixty days service he was discharged at Ottawa, on the Illinois river. He is now one of the oldest settlers of the county, and, with the exception of one year, has lived on his present farm since 1828. He owns the old place on which his stepfather, Isaac Basey, settled in 1807. He and his wife have lived together a longer period than usually falls to the lot of married couples. It is now fifty-four years since their marriage.

Joshua Begole, formerly one of the old residents of St. Clair county, was born near Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, on the 25th of March, 1792. The family was of French origin and belonged to the Huguenots, who were driven from France by the edict of Nantes, in 1685, and from that country emigrated to America. In the year 1805, Mr. Begole's father removed with the family from Maryland to New York, and in the latter state he resided till the spring of 1819, when he went to Detroit, Michigan, where, for a time, he was in the employment of Gen. Lewis Cass. In 1820 he went to Cincinnati, and from there came down the Ohio to Shawneetown, from which place he made his way to Kaskaskia. He found work on a flat-boat which navigated the Okaw river. He was at Carlyle when the company who owned the boat failed and suspended payment, leaving him entirely without means. He went to St. Louis in the hope of collecting the debt, and, while there, was employed by Gov. William Kinney, and came with him to St. Clair county. He worked on Kinney's farm one season, and afterward leased land and raised crops on shares. In 1826 he purchased eighty acres of land in section twenty-two of township two north, range eight west, paying for the improved land fifteen dollars an acre, and ten dollars for the unimproved, and having ten years' time in which to make the payment. He was married on the 2d of March, 1824, to Mary Terry. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. John M. Peck. Mrs. Begole's father, George Terry, was born in Virginia. Her mother, whose maiden name was Sallie Linton, was also born in "Virginia, on the south branch of the Potomac. Her parents started for Illinois immediately after their marriage, and settled in the American Bottom. Mrs. Begole was born in May, 1808. When she was three years old, her mother, who, after her first husband's death, married Elder Joseph Chance, moved to Ridge Prairie, (section fifteen of township two north, range eight west) where Mrs. Begole was raised.

Mr. Begole served eight years as justice of the peace. He made a good magistrate and married over forty couples. In 1857 he bought land in sections two and three of township two north, range eight west, and moved to that locality, where he lived till his death, which took place on the 2d of March, 1874, just fifty years from the date of his marriage. He was a member of the Bethel Baptist church, and was baptized by the Rev. Joseph Lemen, on the first Saturday in August, 1827. In politics he was, for many years, a member of the old Whig party, with which he acted till its dissolution. He was one of the early members of the republican party, in St. Clair county. During the war he was a strong Union man, and did all in his power to support the government in its efforts to destroy the rebellion. He was industrious and energetic, and succeeded in securing a comfortable portion of this world's goods. He was a useful citizen, a good neighbor, and a man whose private life was adorned with many Christian virtues. He had twelve children , of whom eight are now living.

The third child of Joshua and Mary Begole, was born in the Ridge Prairie, November 30th, 1828. He secured his education in the ordinary district schools, and lived with his father till his marriage, which occurred January 18th, 1859, to Huldah Price, who was born in Johnson county, Missouri, October 18th, 1838, and was the daughter of John Price and Miriam Lemen. Her mother was a daughter of Robert Lemen, one of the early settlers of the county. After his marriage he went to farming for himself. After living on the old homestead a couple of years, he moved to his present farm, in section twenty-six of township two north, range eight. He has six children : Mary Theodosia, Ida Cornelia, John Franklin, Cyrus Edgar, Bessie and Ford. Mr. Begole voted for Scott, the whig candidate for president, in 1852, and has been a republican since the formation of that party. He is a member of the Bethel Baptist church.

Cyrus 8. Begole

The youngest son now living of Joshua Begole, was born February 28th, 1842. He attended the district schools in Ridge Prairie, and in 1863 and 1864, was a student at Shurtleff College, Upper Alton. He was married May 12th, 1875, to Laura Begole, who was born in the city of Chicago. Her father, Bradley Begole, was descended from the old French Huguenot stock, and was a native of Mt. Morris, Livingston county. New York, and in 1849, became a resident of Chicago. Mrs. Begole's mother was Mary A. Cassidy. She was born at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 1836, when she was sixteen, her father, James Cassidy, settled where the city of Chicago now stands. That place was then inhabited by Indians only, and a few white settlers, and no one then supposed that it would become the site of a great commercial city, and thus Mr. Begole's father and grandfather lost the opportunity of making investments which would now return fabulous amounts of money. After his marriage, Mr. Begole went to farming on his father's old place, in section twenty-two, where he has since lived. He has two children, named Lemuel- Theodore and Archie Roland. He is a member of the Bethel Baptist church ; cast his first vote for President for Lincoln in 1864, and has since been a staunch republican.

Isaac Fokman, who died on the 29th of October, 1878, was one of the leading farmers of the Ridge Prairie. He settled there at an early day, and by industry and good business management, secured an ample fortune. Like many of the early settlers of Illinois, he was a Kentuckian by birth. He was born near Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 2d day of November, 1800. His father, Joseph Forman, was born in the year 1775, and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Landers, was born on the 12th of February, 1782. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of a family of several children. His early life was spent in Kentucky. The locality in which he was raised, ofiered not the best advantages for obtaining an education. The schools were usually of an inferior character, held in log school-houses, with puncheon flioors and slab benches, while a strip of greased paper pasted over an aperture made by leaving out a log on the side of the building furnished the only substitute for a window. In these rude schools the boys of that day acquired the elements of an education, and fitted themselves for the future duties of life. Mr. Forman succeeded in acquiring a good English education, and after coming to Illinois, for some time previous to his marriage, taught school.

In the year 1819, his father moved with the family from Kentucky to Illinois, and settled on Ridge Prairie, on section fifteen of township two north, range eight west. This is the location where Mr. Forman afterwards lived, and where his widow, Mrs. Rebecca Forman, now resides. At the time the family settled here, the land was wild and uncultivated. The older settlers had mostly confined their improvements to the edges of the timber, thinking the open prairie to be an undesirable place of residence. A number of negroes were brought along from Kentucky, and the work of improving a farm was vigorously commenced. After living here a year or two, Mr. Forman's father died, and the rest of the family, becoming dissatisfied with life on an Illinois prairie, moved back to Kentucky. Mr. Forman was about nineteen when he first came to this state. He returned with the other members of the family to Kentucky. After remaining there for some time, he went to Missouri and purchased a farm, on which he lived some years. He then purchased the interest of the other heirs in the laud on Ridge Prairie, on which he, with a younger brother, settled, and where he afterwards lived till his death.

He was married on the 22d of Dec. 1836, to Mrs. Rebecca Hardesty. Her maiden name was Beedle, and she was the daughter of Samuel Beedle, and Sarah Benham. She was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 2d of July, 1812. Her father was an early settler of that part of Ohio. She was five or six years of age when her father moved from Ohio to Illinois. The family settled in this county on section twenty-eight of township two north, range eight west, and Mrs. Forman was raised in that vicinity. When she was twentyone she married Richard Hardesty, who was also born in Ohio, and who died within a few years after their marriage.

Mr. Forman was a man of great energy and industry, and of a persevering disposition, which- enabled him to carry out his plans, and overcome all ordinary obstacles. He threw his energy into the work of improving a farm, and soon had a fine body of land under cultivation. He hadgiod bujiuess qualifications, and steadily accumulated property. He had been brought up on a large farm in Kentucky, in the midst of a fine stock country, and was early accustomed to the care and management of stock. As soon as he got his farm into the proper condition, and had sufficient means he turned his attention toward raising cattle and sheep, and up to a late period of his life ; when he became too feeble to give his active attention to the business, he was engaged, more or less, in raising and fattening stock. At the time of his death he owned large quantities of valuable land, and was one of the wealthiest farmers of that part of St. Clair county. On part of his farm he laid out the town of Forman, on the line of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, though on account of the proximity of other towns, the place never secured a vigorous growth. His death in October, 1878, was caused by a cold caught while in attendance at a camp-meeting.

Previous to his marriage he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; first uniting with old Shiloh church, and afterward joining the Methodist church at O'Fallon, when one came to be established in that town. He was devoted to the interests of the church, and was licensed as a local preacher. He was a man of earnest piety, and was a warm friend of the different evangelizing institutions of his denomination, especially the Missionary and Church Extension Societies. He recognized the importance of Sabbath-school work, and taught and superintended a school on the Sabbath in the school-house in the vicinity of his home. Throughout life bis habits were temperate, and he did all he could to encourage the principles of temperance in others One of his peculiar characteristics was his strong opposition to secret societies, which he believed often interfered with the interests of the church, and hindered the advancement of religion. He believed that nothing good should be kept secret, and that the spirit of the Bible was opposed to secret organizations.

In his politics he was a republican. Though raised in a slave state, he had no sympathy with slave institutions. He considered that the slave system was both unjust to those so unfortunate as to be held in slavery, and hurtful to the white population. These sentiments were imbibed in his early youth. His father entertained the same opinions, and this was one of the sources of the removal of the family from a slave to a free state. In his early life Mr. Forman owned slaves, but gave them their liberty. He thought it best for both the white and black race, that the negroes should be colonized in Liberia, or some other country where the climate suited their physical characteristics, and ample opportunity might be afforded for their education and development. He was a strong supporter of the republican party from its first organization till his death. During the war of the rebellion he was an ardent Union man, and his sympathies were warmly enlisted in the work of destroying the rebellion, and securing the perpetuation of free institutions.

He had three children, whose names are as follows : Mrs. Mary Price ; Eliza J., who was, born on the 2d of April, 1840, married Eobert James, and died on the 17th of April, 1867 ; and Catharine, who was born on the 16th of February, 1848, was married'*to Cornelius Colgan, and died on the 6th of April, 1870. A granddaughter, Ida May Price, also makes her home with Mrs. Forman. Mrs. Forman had three children by her first marriage. The oldest, Sarah Hardesty, died at the age of thirteen. The next, Lucy Hardesty, lived till the age of seven ; and the third, John Hardesty, was one year and six months of age at the time of his death.

A picture of the residence of Mrs. Forman appears among our illustrations. The farm is one of the best to be found in that favored portion of the county known as the Eidge Prairie, and does credit to Mr. Forman's judgment in selecting such a locality as the place of bis fiiture residence, and to his industry and taste in bringing it into a state of superior cultivation. As one of the old residents of the county, and a man whose energies were devoted to_ the development of its agricultural resources, his name well deserves mention in this work. In some respects he was a man of decided and inflexible traits of mind, but no man questioned his honesty or sincerity. He possessed a strong mind, a determined will, and a firm perseverance which well fitted him for life in a new country, and the labors of the hardy pioneer.

Chaeles B. Daeeow was born in the State of New York, September 19th, 1806. He was the son of Rev. Zadok Darrow, a Baptist preacher, who came to Illinois at an early date, and settled east of the present town of O'Fallon, where he had a farm, and also followed his trade of a carpenter. He was zealously devoted to the interests of the Baptist church, and preached somewhere every Sabbath. He frequently held service at the Rock Spring Seminary, founded by the Rev. John M. Peck, and also at the Richland Baptist church. He was pastor for one year of a Baptist church on the Horse Prairie in Randolph county. After becoming incapacitated from labor, and unable to preach, he moved to Collinsville, where his daughter lived, and died there of the cholera in the year 1849.

to Sarah Peach, daughter of William Peach. She was born in the State of Vermont, on the 27th of December, 1804. Her father moved with the family to Ohio when she was ten years old, and four years afterwards, about the year 1818, settled on the Horse Prairie, about four miles from the town of Red Bud, Randolph' county. After his marriage, Mr. Darrow settled a mile and a half east of O'Fallon. He died from a fever on the 28th of October, 1839. For a number of years he had been connected with the Baptist church, first with the Bethel church, and afterwards with the Rock Spring church, in which he was deacon. He was a whig in politics and a good citizen of the county, who lived a peaceful and honest life. He had six children. Lucinda, the oldest, is the wife of Charles Bridges. George Washington Darrow is engaged in farming in O'Fallon precinct. Lucy Lord married Daniel Dunavant, and is now decea3ed. Mary Amanda died in 1853, in the twentieth year of her age. William Augustus Darrow is farming in Lebanon precinct, and the youngest, Charles Brown Darrow, is farming east of O'Fallon. Mrs. Darrow is still living, and in the enjoyment of good health, at the age of seventy-seven.