Quincy Township (part 53 of 74)

Wn,LiAM D. Meyer is one of the leading manufacturers of and dealei-s in lime, crushed limestone, cement and other building materials, as well as wood and coal, at Quincy. The manufacture of lime has been associated with the Meyer family at Quincy for over fifty years, his father having conducted some of tlie pioneer lime kilns in Adams County.

Quincy is the birthplace of William D. Jleyer, where he was born September 11, 1870. He and his brother and sister were born opposite the old City Market at 622 Payson Street. His parents were William D. and Mary ileyer. His father was born near Berlin, Germany, and grew to manhood there, where he learned the trade of making rye coffee. At the age of twenty-one he came to the United States and found employment near Quiney as a farm laborer. He also worked in a local pork packing establishment for a time. In 1860 he began burning lime on the hills along the Mississippi River. One of his old lime kilns is still standing. He also handled imported cement, and was active in the business until he retired on account of failing health and in 1891 gave his sou William a start in the same business. He died Febiiiary 9, 1903, lacking only a few days of the age of seventy years. He married in Quiney Mary Beuholf Giesecke, who was born in Westphalia, Gennany, and came to America when a young woman. She celebrated her eighty-eighth birthday on ]\Iay 22, 1918. She lost her first husband, Mr. Giesecke, and several of her children during the terrible cholera epidemic at St. Louis in 1848-49. By her marriage to William D. Meyer, Sr., she had three children : Julia, wife of Fred Dralle of 804 Payson Avenue in Quiney, and mother of two daughters, ilary and Lillian ; and August P., who is a farmer in Ellington Township of this county and has two children, Harvey and Ella.

William D. Meyer was educated in the public schools of Quiney, and at the age of fourteen went to work learning the cooper's trade. He was employed for a time making barrels for his father, and at the age of seventeen was put in charge of the business as superintendent. Then in 1891 his father gave him a start in the business by establishing him in partnership with Mr. J. E. Koch in the lime business. This partnership was continued for ten years, at the end of which time Mr. Meyer bought out Mr. Koch aiid at his father's death acquired the interests of the other heirs and merged the two plants. He now has facilities for the manufacture of gi'eat quantities of crushed limestone, of commercial lime and of general building material products. Mr. ]\Ieyer gives much credit for the success of his business to his office manager and the latter 's daughter, who is the efficient bookkeeper of the establishment.

Mr. Meyer married Ella E. King, who was born in Quiney, daughter of ilichael King, a farmer of Melrose Township. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have four children : William F., who lives in Qtiincy and is married and has two children : Elmer, who was educated in St. Francis College and is a member of the ]\Ieyer & Peters Cement Construction Company ; Ruth, who was educated in the cit.v schools and the Gem City Business College and is now bookkeeper in the Illinois State Bank of Quiney ; and Dolly, a student in the Gem City Business College. Mr. Meyer is a republican and is affiliated with Lambert Lodge No. 659. Ancient Free and Accepted ^Masons, with the Royal Arch Chapter and with the Consistory, and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. He was formerly affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is also a meml)er of the Travelers Protective Association.

Joseph J. Lusk. Everj-one knows in a general way the revolutionarv changes effected by the introduction of horseless carnages as a means of transportation. But perhaps no resident of Quiney appreciates these changes more thoroughly from experience than Joseph J. Lusk, the veteran liveryman. Mr. Lusk entered the livery business at Quiney nearly forty years ago. He built up a splendid business, with the best of equipment and some of the finest of horses, and he .sustained it successfully when his active competitors numbered almost a score. It is his distinction that he and one other man alone have survived the competition of the automobile, and today the only real livery establishment that does not also boast a sign as a garage is that of Lusk, at 438 North Sixth Avenue.

For a quarter of a century he has had his location in that district of the city. At one time he maintained a large barn 50 by 180 feet. AVhen driving was one of the most popular pastimes he kept tallyhos and was also secretary of the Gentlemen's Driving Club at Quiney during the five years of its existence. The president of the club during that time was John Wisdom. Mr. Lusk was for twelve j-ears secretary and treasurer of the Livers'men's Association of Quiney, from the time it was organized until it went out of existence.

These clubs and associations served their time and went down as a result of the coming of the automobile. Mr. Lusk states that at one time Quiney had fifteen livery barns. Then as now it was Mr. Lusk's pride and ambition to serve his customers with the very best of rigs and be able to supply a service unexcelled in eveiy point.

]\lr. Lusk came to Quiney in 1879, and for several years was a buyer and dealer in horses. He was associated with the well know^^ old horseman of Quiney E. K. Sweet, and later bought Sweet's interest and establishment.

Mr. Lusk was born in Ohio March 16, 1843, but when six years of age his parents moved to Pike Count.y, Illinois, where he grew up and received his early education. His first occupation was that of druggist. He learned pharmacy in every detail and in 1875 moved from Pittfield, Illinois, to Camp Point in Adams County, and for the next four yeai-s was proprietor of the leading drug store of that town. Even after coming to Quiney he was for several years in the drug business.

Jlr. Lusk is honored as a veteran of the Civil war. He was a youth at the time and weighed less than 100 pounds, but managed to get enrolled in Company D of the Seventh Illinois Infantry and did clerical service until the close of the war, and his honorable discharge. He is an honored member of John Wood Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and is affiliated with the Elks Lodge of Quiney.

While a resident of Camp Point Mr. Lusk married in Quiney Mary Aron. She was born in Adams County, and was reared and educated here, her parents being early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Lusk have two children : John J. and Genevieve Aron. The son was educated in the Quiney High School and in the State University and is now doing a large business as a traveling salesman for the Globe Wernicke Company, well known manufacturers of library and office furniture. The territory he covers is through the Central West, including Illinois, Missouri and Northern Michigan. He is unmarried and is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Scottish Rite Commandery and the Temple of the Shrine at Springfield.

The daughter, Genevieve, graduated from the Quiney High School in 1909, spent one year in a finishing school in Virginia, and received her degree from the Illinois State University in 1917. She is now doing Government work as assistant county adviser of Domestic Science and Home Economics. Mr. Lusk is also affiliated with Bodley Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Judge Samuel Alexander Hubbard. An able and accomplished member of the Illinois bar, devoted to his profession. Judge Samuel Alexander Hubbard, of Quiney, has ever directed his mental and legal equipments to the benefit of his many clients, and now controls a large business, which is constantly increasing in extent and importance. A son of William J. Hubbard, he was born in Johnson County, Illinois, near Goreville.

Born in Alabama, October 2. 1837, William J. HTibbard was brought by his parents to Illinois when a child, and as a young man settled on a farm in the near vicinity of Goreville, where he was successfully engaged in agi'icultural pursuits for many years. He married Rhoda Ann Escue, a native of Tennessee, and of the eleven children born of their union Samuel A., the subject of this brief review, was the eighth child in succession of birth.

After completing the course of study in the public schools Samuel A. Hubbard entered the State Normal School at Carbondale, and was there graduated from the Latin and English department with the class of 1893. Having previously decided upon a professional career, he spent the ensuing three years reading law under the preccptorship of Judge F. M. Youngblood, of Carbondale, a lawv'er of prominence, and in 1895, at Mount Vernon, was admitted to the Illinois bar. In February, 1896, Judge Hubbard located at Mount Sterling, this state, where he built up a fine practice, being associated while there with various attorneys at different times, among them having been George

H. Lee, Wilson M. Raid, and former state's attorney W. I. ilanny. His success as a lawyer and his popularity as a man and a citizen was made evident in 1902, when he was elected judge of the County Court of Brown Count.y, a position of importance which he filled satisfactorily for four years. After coming to Quincy the judge was for a time associated in practice with the wellknown lawyer H. E. Scluniedeskamp.

Judge Hubbard married October 11, 1898, at Redfield, Iowa, Phebe Hammond. She was born in Earlville, La Salle County, Illinois, a daughter of Prof. H. E. and Azelia (Richardson) Hammond, and comes of early aud honored New England ancestry. Her father, a well-known educator, ha.s rendered most excellent and efiScient service as principal of different public schools. Five children have blessed the union of Judge and Mrs. Hubbard, namely : Karl, of Quincy; Vera; a boy that died in infancy; Lois; and Ruth.

Politically Jiidge Hubbard invariably supports the principles of the democratic pai-ty. He is a member of the State Bar Association aud of the County Judge Association. The judge is prominently identified with many of the leading fi-aterual organizations, being a thirty-second degree Mason ; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; of the Daughters of Rebekah ; of the Knights of Pythias ; the Modem Woodmen of America ; the Loyal Order of Moose; the Order of Eagles; and the Stags. He also belongs to the South Side Boat Club.

George Wood Govert. The name Govert has enjoyed a place of exceptional prominence in the Adams County Bar for a long period of years. George W. Govert himself is one &f the younger lawyers, but no less successful because his experience covers a shorter term of years than some of his professional brethren. He is a son of one of the veteran lawyers of Quincy, William H. Govert.

William H. Govert, his father, was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, September 10, 1844, but grew up on an Illinois farm. He graduated with honors from Illinois College at Jacksonville in 1867, and in 1870 took his law degree from the University of Michigan. On being admitted to the bar he located at Quincy, where he formed a partnership with Joseph N. Carter vinder the name Carter & Govert. By the admission of Judge Joseph Sidley the firm became Sidley, Carter & Govert, and in 1888 Theodore B. Pape went into the firm, succeeding Judge Sidley. As Carter, Govert & Pape the firm was continued until Judge Carter's election to the Illinois Supreme bench in 1894. In 1872 William H. Govert was elected city attorney of Quincy, and in 1876 succeeded Judge W. G. Ewing as state's attorney of Adams County. With the exception of those two positions his time and energies have been chiefly taken up with the private practice of law and the management of extensive business interests. At different times he was connected as an officer and director with the Collins Plow Company, the J. R. Little Metal Wheel Company, the Quincy Corn Planter Company, the Gem City Stove Company, the Quincy Engine Works, the F. W. Menke Stone & Lime Company, the State Street Bank, the Ricker National Bank and the Quincy National Bank. September 25, 1873, William H. Govert married Miss Rosa F. Wood, of Jacksonville, Illinois. They were the parents of three children, George Wood, Anna, wife of Herschel Earhart, of Quincy, and Edith, wife of Boyd Castle.

George Wood Govert was born at his mother's old home in Jacksonville, Illinois, June 24, 1874. He attended the Quincy public schools and in 1895 graduated from him father's alma mater, Illinois College. He received his A. B. degree from Yale Univer.sity in 1896, and in 1900 completed the law course and was given the LL. B. degree by the University of Llichigau. On returning to Quincy he took up practice with his father and became junior member of the firm Govert, Pa'pe & Govert. About 1908 this firm was dissolved and he has since practiced as head of the firm Govert &. Lancaster. He is also president of the Collins Plow Company and vice president of the Gem City Stove

James M. Bufpington. The service by which James M. Buffington is l^est known throughout Adams County is his long continuance in the office of county recorder, the duties and responsibilities of which have been borne by him with utmost efficiency for ten consecutive years. Prior to coming to the courthouse Mr. Buffington was a successful teacher, and was also supervisor from his native township.

He was born in Beverly Township of Adams County May 13, 1872, a son of Oliver P. and Elizabeth (Penny) Buffington. His father, who was bom at Chambersburg, Pike County, Illinois, in 1832, has spent his long and industrious career as a practical farmer and is now living retired in Beverly Township at the age of eighty-five. The mother, who was born at Whitehall Plantation in Louisiana, died December 25, 1898. In their family were eleven children : George W., of Barry, Illinois; Jennie, living at home; Lilly, deceased; John, of Hamlet, Nebraska ; Oliver P., Jr., a farmer in Beverly Township ; Ray, deceased ; James M. : Harry, of Sparkman, Arkansas; Bert H., of Pike County, Illinois; William, of Beverly Township ; and Sidney C, of Beverly Township.

James M. Buffington gi-ew up on his father's farm, and is one of the farmer boys of the county who have been promoted to positions of executive trust and responsibility. He attended local schools until he was seventeen and then went to teaching, a vocation he followed eight years. His fellow townsmen in Beverly Township elected him supervisor, and the four years spent in that office gave him much experience in handling public affairs. Mr. Buffington was elected county recorded in 1908, and by repeated re-elections his administration of the affairs of office has been endorsed and his further tenure of office is subject almost entirely to his own will and judgment, since his popular support is thoroughly united and sufficient to give him a majority whenever he appears as a candidate.

Mr. Buffington has been an active worker in democratic ranks, is a member of the iMasonic Order and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In May, 1905. he married Miss Ethel Kelly, also a native of Beverly Township. They are the parents of two children, Elizabeth and Ray Monroe.

John William Heney. Sixteen miles northeast of Quincy and a mile south of the village of Paloma is one of the most complete and adequate farm homes in Adams County. It has a situation convenient to everj-thing, has fei-tile land, long and capably tilled and with resources' carefully conserved, and in the aggregate represents the labors and the good judgment of its owner, John William Henry, whose name further serves to recall one of the old established families of the county.

]Mr. Henry was born in Liberty Township of this county April 8, 1863, a son of Alexander and Julia A. (Jlorgan) Henry. Alexander Henry was born in Londonderry County, Ireland, in 1820. At about the age of twent.y, in company with a sister Jane, he came to the United States and soon afterward located at Quincy. His sister about 1842 became the wife of John Callahan. She spent the rest of her life in Adams County. Alexander Henry was employiug himself as a farm hand, but had made little progress toward independence when in 1850 he joined several other young men on a partnership basis and together they acquired an equipment of five yoke of oxen and wagons and other facilities and started overland for California. They made the jouimey in the summer, and encountered many Indians and buffalo, but had no serious dangers attending their progi-ess. One of their oxen, which had become footsore, they sold to an Indian for $5. On ari'iving in California Alexander Henry worked in mines one year, and afterwards had a claim which netted him $40 a day. This was reaUv fictitious prosperity, and at the end of eighteen months, when he returned, he brought back just about as much as he could have earned and saved had he stayed in Adams County. The return voyage was made by the way of the Isthmus of Panama. His ship was becalmed six weeks in the Pacific and provisions became scarce and he anticipated .starvation before he Avould see land. He walked partly across the Isthmus and was carried bj^ boat down the Chagres River. Passing the Gulf of New Orleans, he came up the Mississippi and was on the Mississippi at a period of high waters and during an epidemic of cholera. On reaching St. Louis the waters were so high tliat all business along Front Street was contracted in the second stories of the buildings. Returning to Adams County, Alexander Heniy bought land three miles southeast of Liberty, what is now known as the Lew Miller farm. It was partly improved and under his labor and management it became a really first class farm. In 1879 he bought the David Pierce farm in Gilmer Township, ten miles from Quincy. He was occupied with many large interests in his later years, and finally retired to Quincy, where he died July 24, 1895, when seventy-five years of age. He had married Julia A. Morgan upon his return from California. She survived him ten years and died at the age of seventytwo. Alexander Henry used his surplus means in later years to make judicious loans which largely increased his capital. He served as supervisor of Liberty Township, was a democrat in politics, and always liberal in support of church and charitable enterprises. He and his wife had seven children : Rachael, who died at the age of sixty-two, the wife of Thomas D. Pierce; Charles M., who lives at Paloma; Mary, wife of 0. H. Lawless, of Paloma ; John William ; Anna, wife of W. 0. Washburn of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania ; Elizabeth, who for many years taught school and is now a professional librarian ; and Harriet, a graduate in medicine who formerly practiced in Quincy and is now the wife of Dr. W. B. Short, of Peoria, Illinois.

John W. Henry has always kept pretty close to the scenes and activities of his boyhood, and has had little disposition to seek the excitement and adventure of distant scenes. He was reared and educated in Adams County and lived at home to the age of twenty-six, being a partner with his father four years. At that time his father bought 240 acres known as the Cumberland Samuels farm in Gilmer Township, and the son took the active management for three years. At the end of that time he became owner of 160 acres, while his sister in Pennsylvania owns the ;'emaining eighty. Mr. Henry has steadily improved and increa.sed the value of this farm, and one of the mo.st recent additions to its comfort is the good home that was built in 1917. Mr. Henry may be said to specialize in Jersey Red hogs, and for a number of years has marketed between 100 and 200 head. He also keeps cattle and turns off about a carload every year. He is a democratic voter without any personal interest in politics.

At the age of twenty-eight Mr. Henry married Mary Horn, daughter of Peter G. and Drusilla "(Stahl) Horn. Her parents had a farm three miles north of Fowler in Honey Creek Township and both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have one son, Charles S., who is still at home. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Paloma and Mr. Henry is one of the church trustees.

C.\RL Edwin Epler has been a member of the Quincy bar continuously since 1880, though through a wide range of services liis name has become familiar to the profession all over the state. He was one of the leadei-s in organizing the Adams County Bar Association, and has for many years been a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

He is a son of the late Judge Cyrus Epler, vvlio for nearly a quarter of a century was on the Circuit Bench in Morgan County, and his was one of the most honored names in the Jacksonville bar. Judge Cyrus Epler was horn in Indiana November 12, 1823, came to Illinois at an early age, and after his admission to the bar rapidly gained distinction both in his profession and in politics. He was a member of' the State Legislature. From 1872 to 1897, a period of twenty- five years, he was judge of the Circuit Court at Jacksonville. He continued practice until a year before his death, which occurred July 9, 1909, at the age of eighty-seven. Judge Cyrus Epler married Cornelia M. Nettleton, w-ho was born in Ohio in 1834, daughter of Dr. Clark Nettleton. Judge Epler and wife were married in 1852 and their companionship w^as not broken until his death more than fifty-five years later, ilrs. Cyrus Epler died in March, 1916.

Carl Edwin Epler was born at Jacksonville, Illinois, November 20, 1857, the third among the seven children of his parents. He grew up in Jacksonville, finished his work in the local public schools, graduated from Illinois College in 1876 as valedictorian of the class, and then for one year was a student in Yale University, from which he received his blaster's degree in 1877 and the degree of LL. B. at Michigan University in 1879. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in June, 1879, and in 1880 came to Quincy. The next year he was elected city attorney, an office he filled three years. From 1886 to 1889 Judge Epler was a partner of Col. William Berry, one of the honored members of the Adams County Bar who died May 6, 1895. Among other noteworthy items of Mr. Epler 's career it should be mentioned that he was compiler of the Quincy City Code of 1885. As city attorney he also handled some important litigation, including the city bond cases and the old waterworks contract, and not only carefully safeguarded the interests of the city but secured new and more favorable agreements. He wa.s also instrumental in police court reform, and drafted the ordinance which made the police magistrate a salaried officer instead of being paid by fees. It was due to Mr. Epler that Quincy first floated a refunding bond issue of $150,000 at the then remarkably low rate of interest of 4I/2 per cent.

^Ir. Epler was elected state's attorney of Adams County in 1891 to fill the unexpired term of 0. P. Bonney. While in tliat office he conducted the prosecution of W. J. Jamieson for the murder of Charles Aaron. This case was finally carried to the Illinois Supreme Court, but the conviction was sustained and Jamieson was hanged. Mr. Epler was also the principal in the conduct of the noted Knox ca.se, which involved a shooting affray, and the several perjury cases which grew out of it.

In 1894 he was elected county judge of Adams County, and after a service of four years was re-elected in 1898 for a second time. His nomination to the county judgeship in 1894 was more than an ordinary event in local politics, since he defeated within his party a man who had served as county judge continuously for seventeen years. Recognition of Mr. Epler 's judicial qualifications was not confined to Adams County, and for several years at various times he was called to sit temporarily as county judge in tax cases in Cook County, Illinois. One of the distinctions of his official term is that he was the first judge in the state to pass on the validity of the inheritance tax law. His decision upheld that law and was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court. Judge Epler has been interested in various phases of reform and improvement of court procedure and methods, and the profes.sion has generally given him credit for passage of bills urged by the County and Probate Judges Association, as a result of which the time for filing of claims against estates and for contesting wills was reduced to one .year.

On retiring from his office of county judge Mr. Epler resumed private practice in January, 1903. He is a man of many interests both in and out of his profession, is fond of boating and automobiling, is a member of the Episcopal Church, a democrat in politics and has affiliation with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of R«d Men and other orders.

Elmer Lummis. The appointment of Elmer Lummis to the office of postmaster at Quincy was based on merit and full qualifications for that office. It is an ideal seldom realized in the civil service system when promotion from one grade to the highest grade becomes possible, and in the ea.se of Mr. Lum- mis it has occurred. He went into the Quincy postoffiee as a minor employe under civil service rules more than twenty years ago, and has covered practically every part of the service by practical experience. During his long connection with the postoffiee he has seen the introduction of many of its most important improvements, including free delivery, the inauguration of the parcel post service, postal savings and other features that have done much to broaden and extend the usefulness of the postal department.

Mr. Lummis was born on a farm in Gilmer Township of Adams County April 17, 1871, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Lawless) Lummis, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Grant Coimty, Kentucky. Both families were pioneers of Adams County, the Lawless family locating here as early as 1831 in Gilmer Township. Mr. Lummis' father died at the age of seventy-five, and the mother is still living at the venerable age of eighty-six. Joseph Lummis was a widely known man in Adams Coiuity, filled various minor offices, and from 1868 to 1870 was county treasurer. He and his wife had a large family of ten children : Margaret, widow of Leroy Meyers, of Gilmer township ; Henry Frank, who is manager of the Collins Supply Company at Quincy; James P., a resident of Augusta, Hancock County, Illinois : Mary, wife of Edward Sivertson, of Paloma, Illinois; Emma, wife of B. F. Cate, who occupies the old Lummis farm, is town.ship supervisor and deputy sheriff; John L., a merchant at Loraine ; Joseph Howard, of Paloma ; Elmer ; and Lilly and John, both of whom died in childhood.

Mr. Elmer Lummis remained at home with his father until he was twentyone. At that time the old farm was sold and Elmer, going to Columbus, Illinois, had experience in merchandising for ten months. Returning to Quincy he was shipping clerk with the Lummis Implement Company for a year. On January 20, 1894, he took the civil service examination for a position as clerk in the Quincy postoffiee. This was a special examination, and thirty-four took it, Mr. Lummis being one of the three highest in standing. He was then appointed to a minor clerkship and began his duties February 15, 1894. Since that date all his -work and interests have centered at the postoffiee and he has filled nearly every department. His last subordinate position was in charge of the stamp and registry division. Mr. Lummis was appointed postmaster by President Wilson on May 1, 191.5.

March 16, 1898, he married Josie Gray, a native of Adams County and a daughter of former sheriff? Richard Gray of this county. They have two sons, Joseph Gray and Harold Elmer. Mr. Lummis is a democrat, a member of the Masonic order and is on the official board of the Vermont Street Methodist Episcopal Church.

Will H. Sohm has a career of special interest to Quincy people because of his prominence in theatrical movements, and especially as associate director and manager of the Belasco Theater.

He is member of an old and prominent family of the eity, and was bom here June 2, 1872, son of Edward Sohm, the Quincy banker, whose career is sketched on other pages.

Will H. Sohm graduated from St. Francis College in the classical course at the age of eighteen and soon afterward became connected with his father in the latter 's china and glassware establishment. He made a good business record, but part of his time for twenty years was spent in promoting with an unusual degree of success both amateur and semi-professional theatricals. The theatrical business is his real forte, and he has shown exceptional judgment and gained a notable success during his. management of the fine Quincy house of amusement above named.

Mr. Sohm is independent in polities, with his family is a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and is a member of the Rotary Club of Quincy.

They have one son, Herbert B., born October 21, 1898, and now a student of Creighton University at Omaha, Nebraska, and in active military training.

William E. Kendall. The transfer business in a city of the size and importance of Quincy necessarily is an important one, second only as regards public convenience to railroad transportation service. For thirteen years, more or less continuously, William E. Kendall, a well known business man and a prominent political force of this city, has been identified with the transfer business, and during the most of this time has been the owner of the Quincy Transfer Company.

William E. Kendall was born at Quincy, Illinois, December 1, 1860. His parents were Franklin C. and Sarah (ilcCormick) Kendall, and his paternal grandfather was Lewis Kendall. The latter came to Adams Coimty, Illinois, in 1845, one of the early pioneers in the section, and his cabin was the first house in thq county built north of Quincy. He developed a farm from the wilderness and lived on the same until his death. Franklin C. Kendall was born in Ohio, came early from Warren County in that state to Adams County and died here in 1898. He married Sarah McCormick, who was born in Penn- and died in Adams County in 1896. They had five children, namely: John F., who is deceased ; William E. ; Harry, who is a resident of Kansas City and an engineer on the Quincy & Kansas City Railway ; Luella, who is the wife of Z. A. Lear, at Santa Barbara, California ; and Minnie, who died in 1895.

William E. Kendall had educational advantages that included a public school course and one in a business college, and when eighteen years old learned telegraphy and in 1880 secured a position as night clerk in the freight house of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway, and after leaving the yards was car accountant for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road, which had absorbed the former railway. In 1889 Mr. Kendall was made baggage master and when he retired from railroad life he had twenty-two years of honorable and appreciated service behind him and friends among the traveling public all over the country.

In 1905 Mr. Kendall embarked in the transfer business, and during the next six years built up the Quincy Transfer Company into one of the important business mediums of the city, sparing no pains to make it reliable and efficient. At that time s^nnptoms of failing health caused him to dispose of it for a time, but in 1914, with health re-established, he bought the business once more and with increased facilities has operated it ever since, his stables and garage being situated at 118-120 South Fourth Street, Quincy.

In the meanwhile Mr. Kendall had entered politics and his sterling character soon induced his political friends in the republican part.v to urge his election as alderman from the first ward, and to this civic position he was elected in 1893 and served continuously for the following eight years. During the entire period his public spirit and interest as a citizen never failed, while his sturdy support of commendable measures made him an unusually valuable public servant.

Mr. Kendall was married June 1, 1884, to I\Iiss Katherine Bower, a native of Illinois, and they have one son, Marcellus E., who was born July 3, 1888. Mr. Kendall has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years and belongs also to the Royal Arcanum and the Court of Honor.

Frederick William F. Schmiedeskamp. As the Schmiedeskamps have been identified with Quincy and Adams County for over seventy years, most people are familiar with the name and are also appreciative of the many excellent qualities in the citizenship of Frederick William F. Schmiedeskamp, who is now living retired in Quincy, and was formerly in the stove manufacturing business in that city and still later a farmer.

March, 1846, his parents, Frederick "William and Wilhelmina Henrietta (Brand) Schmiedeskamp, set out for America. Their proposed destination was Galveston, Texas. They reached New Orleans, and there were given the information that Galveston had neither churches nor schools, being a somewhat remote and pioneer community, and they therefore changed their minds and came up to Quiney instead. Along with them and from the same locality of Germany came Gottlieb Horning and family, Mr. Brockschmidt, 'William Meise and several others. Mr. Brockschmidt settled on a farm on Mill Creek. ]Mr. Horning was a blacksmith and had a shop in Quiney. Mr. Meise also remained in Quiney, where his daughter Charlotta became ilrs. Pfanschmidt and another daughter became the wife of Doctor Schmidt.

William Fred Schmiedeskamp was a mason by trade and for many years was a successful building contractor in Quiney. He built the old home on Fifth Street adjoining the Horning residence. He was also contractor in the building of the old Salem Lutheran Church on Seventh and Jersey streets. He put up many residences in and around Quiney. His later home was on Fifth between Ohio Street and Payson Avenue, and he lived there until his death at the age of seventy-two. His widow survived him about twenty years and passed away at the age of eighty-three. He was a strong republican in politics, began voting as soon as he could acquire American citizenship, and was deeply interested in democratic processes, though he was never an aspirant for public office. He was one of the leading members of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, at first worshiping in the church which he erected and later in that at State and Ninth streets. He w-as an officer for many years in the church. His life career might largely be described by three interests, his home, his business and his church. He and his wife had only two children to reach maturity and they are still living, Frederick W. F. and August, the latter occupying the old home in Quiney.

Frederick "W. F. Schmiedeskamn after getting his education in the local schools served an apprenticeship of three years learning the molder's trade. After that he worked eisrhteen years at the trade and about 1870 became a stockholder in the Excelsior Stove Works, now one of the largest companies of its kind in Quiney. About 1884 Mr. Schmiedeskamp moved to a farm in Concord Township, four and a half miles southwest of Clayton Village and five miles southeast of Camp Point. He acquired 239 acres, and made of it as good a farm as could be found in that localitv. He still owns 235 acres. It has been improved by the erection of a new house, various barns and other buildings. Mr. Schmiedeskamp directed its productive activities for twentv-five years, but since 1909 has been retired. His son John now handles the farm. Mr. Schmiedeskamp built his comfortable city home at 308 North Twentyfourth Street. He has used his capital to invest in and handle a number of farms all over Adams County, and of the various places that have passed through his hands he still owns one of eighty acres in Mendon Township. He has visited in other states, but has never found general agricultural conditions that satisfied him (|uite so well as those in Illinois. ^Mr. Schmiedeskamp is a republican, has had that political faith since early youth, but does not hesitate to support the man rather than the party when the situation demands such a course. He is a member of the Vermont Street IMethodist Church.

June 20, 1878, at Quiney, Mr. Schmiedeskamp married Miss Louise Germann, daughter of Philip Germann. Philip Germann came from Germany in 1848, joining a brother in this country. After a few months in New York he came on to Quiney, where he was a shoemaker by trade, biit for many years was associated with his son Henry in the druQ- business at State and Ninth streets. He died at the age of seventy-one. Mrs. Schmeideskanip was born at Quincv and was educated in the common schools. ]\Ir. Schmiedeskamp married his first wife in 1Sf).5, Henrietta Luecking, of Quincv. She was the mother of five children: William Ilei'man, in the creamery business at Quiney: Lydia,

By his present wife Mr. Schmiedeskamp has eight children : Henry, a Quincy attorne.y ; Fred, a Montana rancher ; John, on the old home farm in Concord Township; Lola, wife of Rufus E. Morley, of Riverside Township; Anna, wife of Steven E. Lawless, of Liberty, cashier of the Liberty Bank; "Walter, a farmer in Ellington Township ; Edna, wife of Dr. Henry F. Lafler, a chiropractor at Quincy; and Carl, who is a student in the law department of the University of Michigan and during 1918 was a member of the reserved officers training camp in that university.

Charles T. Hewes. Active in his profession as a doctor of dental surgery for over thirty-five j'ears, Doctor Hewes has had honors and distinctions corresponding to the length of his professional service. He has been prominent as an official of the Adams-Hancock County Dental Society, is well known to the members of the state organization as a regular attendant at its meetings and frequently on the program for the reading of technical papers, and has attended manv conventions of the national association, including that held at Chicago in 1918.

Doctor Hewes graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia with the class of 1880. Even in the field of general medicine the advance and progress has not been so great since that time as in dental surgery, and with that advance Doctor Hewes has kept pace by constant study and contact with the leading men of his vocation. On graduating he returned to his old home at Payson in Adams County, where he practiced iintil 1887. Since then for thirty years he had had his offices in Quincy, and for the past fifteen years he has had offices in the Sterns Building.

Doctor Hewes, who was born at Paj'son in Adams County June 18, 1857, represents two very well known families of pioneer times, the Hewes and Avises. Doctor Hewes is of Welsh ancestry. His parents were George and Sarah A. (Avise) Hewes, both natives of New Jersey, the latter bom about twenty miles from Philadelphia. In 1836 George Hewes and wife came West, making the trip by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Quincy. One of the incidents he often told of his first experiences at Quincy was being ofl'ered a corner lot at Fifth and Maine streets for a hundred dollars. After a year he took his family to Hancock county, and had his home near the Mormon settlement. Occasionally a letter arrived from his people back in New Jersey and it cost the price of a bushel of wheat, twenty-five cents, to get such a letter from the postoffiee. George Hewes subsequently returned to Quincy, and in the early '40s went to Payson, where his services as a blacksmith were in great demand. He was first employed there to fix up the windmill that ground the grain for the community. The residents desiring the local services of a blacksmith agreed to move his goods from Quincy to Payson as an inducement for his location. For many years he followed his trade, but finally retired to a farm near Payson and died there in the spring of 1877. He was born in January, 1812, and his wife was born in September of the same year and lived ten years longer, pa.ssing away in 1887.

Both the Hewes and the Avise families in New Jersey were Episcopalians of the low church branch. When Jesse Avise came to Quincy in the early '30s, he was one of the most active leaders in establishing a low Episcopal Church, and he and his daughter, Mrs. George Hewes, were charter members of that church, now known as St. John's. Some of the early services of this church were held in Mr. Avise 's house. Jesse Avise was the first vestryman.

Doctor Hewes was one of a large family of brothers and sisters. His brother Rev. M. A. Hewes, who was born in Quincy, entered the ministry of the Methodist Church and had a long and active career. He died in 1914, leaving a family. The second of the family was Mrs. Rebecca Kay, who lives with her family at Los Angeles. Samuel E. Hewes was a soldier in the Civil war from 1861 to 1864, afterwards was a merchant and farmer at Payson, and finally died at Quiney, where his widow and daughter still live. Sarah E. is the wife of William McK. Gooding, a retired Methodist minister at Champaign, Illinois. George, Jr., is a farmer in Western Kansas and is married and has a family.

Doctor Hewes married at Payson Mary E. Sinnoek, who was born there and grew up in that community. Doctor and Mrs. Hewes have five children. Clarence Avise is a graduate of the Quiney High School, of Illinois University in the civil engineering course, and is now connected with the engineering department of the Missouri Pacific Railway, with headquarters at Kansas City. He married May Goodwin, of Sedalia, Missouri, and their children are Charles and Helen. Floyd S., the second son, is a graduate of the Quiney High School and the State University, taking the civil engineering course at the same time with his brother and is now a civil engineer with the Santa Fe Railway stationed at Amarillo, Texas. He married Rena Middaugh, and they have a daughter, Martha Louise. Charles K., third son, graduated from the Quiney High School in 1908, from Illinois University in 1912, and specializing in chemistry, was given his master's degree in 1914. He is now chief superintendent of the General Petroleum Company at Los Angeles, California. He married Marjorie Kilburn, of Rockford, Illinois, a graduate of Rockford College and Illinois State University. Lois E. Hewes is a graduate of high school and of Lombard College at Galesburg with the class of 1918. The youngest of the family, Mildred, is a graduate of high school and normal school and for three years has been a teacher in the Quiney public schools. All the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Vermont Street. Doctor Hewes is affiliated witli the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and with the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a republican.

James Asbuby Mitchell, M. D. It would be hard to conceive of a more exacting standard and measure of a man's service and usefulness to a community than thirty-seven years of continuous work as a physician. That has been the distinction of Doctor Mitchell, who since 1881 has been located at Ursa, and has been the standby and resource in time of trouble to nearly all the families of that community, including children and children's children.

Doctor Mitchell was born in Lewis County, Missouri, on a farm. May 26, 1854, and represents one of the old established families in Northeastern Missouri. His father, James P. Mitchell, was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1815, and was reared in Ohio, and in 1836 as a pioneer entered land in Missouri. A few years later he enlisted and served in the Mexican war under the command of Gen. Sterling Price, participating in the battle of Monterey. He was a strong Union man, though when the war came on he went on the bond of some Southern sympathizers who were captured by General McNeil, and taken to Palmyra. He also studied law and was admitted to the bar and served about twelve years as county judge and as county surveyor for twelve years. He was a member of the constitutional convention after the war in 1865 at St. Louis. He worshiped in the Christian Church and lived a life of commendable usefulness and honor. He died in 1916, at the remarkable age of 101. The maiden name of his wife was Mary E. Asbury, who was born in Pendleton County, Kentucky, and went as a child to !Missouri. She died at the age of fifty-six.

Doctor Mitchell grew up on his father's farm, attended Monticello Seminary and also the State Normal School at Kirksville. Before entering normal school he had taught one year and for three years afterward followed the some profession. His preparation for medicine was made at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, where he graduated in 1881. Through the influence of Doctor Byrd of Quiney he located in the same year at Ursa and in that community has been a resident throughout the subsequent years. In that time five other physicians have come and gone in the community and three of his contemporaries died at Ursa, Dr. John C. Pearson, Dr. W. "W. Wooley and Dr. J. F. Fletcher.

Doctor Mitchell is active in the Connty and State Medical societies and in the American Medical Association, and has given all his time to practice and the service of his people. He is examiner for a nnmber of fraternal and old line in.suranee companies. He has filled the chairs and has represented his lodge of Odd P'ellows in the Grand Lodge, and is also a member of the Woodmen, the Court of Honor and the National American. Though a republican voter he is no politician.

May 16, 1883, Doctor Mitchell married Elizabeth C. Patton, of Lewiston, Missouri. Of their eleven children nine reached maturity, William, Frank Patton, Ruth Ellen, Charles, James, Arthur, Zona, George and Russell.

Alfred A. Seehorn has been a man of affairs in Quincy for many years, was prominent in educational work during the early half of his active career and at one time served as county superintendent of public instruction of Adams County and later has proved his ability as a merchant. He now has one of the chief establishments in the county for farm implements, handling all classes of farm machinery, including wagons, buggies and the varied line of implements manufactured by the International Harvester Company.

He succeeded in business Mr. J. L. ]\Iartin, a pioneer dealer in agricultural implements at Quincy. Mr. Martin for a number of years represented both in the wholesale and retail lines, the McCormick Harvester Company, beginning back in the '70s, and M'as afterwards local representative for the International Harvester Company. Mr. Seehorn first entered the service of Mr. Martin in 1887 and on January 1, 1904, succeeded to the retail business.

Mr. Seehorn was born in Adams County October 1, 1860. He was carefully reared and liberally educated, attending the Payson High School and also Chaddock College. He taught his first school in Hancock County, Illinois, at the age of twenty-three and continued active in educational work for about fifteen years, chiefly in Adams County. In 1894 he was elected county superintendent of public instruction and filled that office one term, three years. He was then elected city superintendent of schools at Quincy and was in that office four years. Later he spent three years as a member of the board of education. Mr. Seehorn is a democrat, and that has been the political faith of the Seehorn family throughout all the generations.

Mr. Seehorn is a great-grandson of Nicholas Seehorn. a grandson of Gabriel Seehorn, and a son of Alfred Seehorn. This is one of the old families of German ancestry found in Adams County, and some of the facts in regard to their history are found in another part of this publication. Alfred Seehorn was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, June 30, 1822, and came to Adams County Avith his parents in 1831. He became a very successful farmer in Fall Creek Township of Adams County, and had over 300 acres of land there. As a family the Seehorns have been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Alfred A. Seehorn married in his native township of Fall Creek, Miss Laura C. Carr, who was born in that township March 7, 1864, daughter of Lewis G. and Rhoda (Inman) Carr. Lewis G. Carr was born in Missouri, and came with the Carr family to Adams County, Illinois, about 1832. Mrs. Seehorn 's mother was a native of Adams County, Illinois. Her father, Jonathan Inman, was one of the earliest settlers in the rural districts of Adams Countv'. Lewis G. Carr and wife had a farm in section 3 of Fall Creek Township and bdth died there, Lewis G. in 1913. The Carr family were members of the Christian Church.

Heney Renken. There are a number of things about the Henry Renken family which might well be copied and emulated b.v others. The members of the family have shown that spirit of co-operation which is not only productive of prosperity and furnishes the means of getting ahead in the world, but increases the happiness of life in general. The founder of the familj', the late Henry Renken, is now deceased, but all his three sons and two daughters maintain the close family ties, keep the old home farm in Honey Creek Township and operate it as a business partnership as well as a family concern.

The late Henry Renken and his wife. Tette (Mj-er) Renken, were both natives of Germany. He came to the United States when a young man, and after a short time at Alton came to Quincy in 1854. For several years he was employed by the Biddleson people and the Libbeys. Henry Renken in their employ had the distinction of carrying the last mail that went over a stage route from Quincy to Palmyra, Missouri, before the completion of the railroad. His chief ambition, however, was to own a farm, and he carefulh' invested all his savings in land, his first purchase being eighty acres, included in his present home place. He bought that for $2,400. He and his wife were married on that farm and their thrifty co-operation brought them abundant prosperity. Henry Renken had received some money from Germany, but it was lost in banks, so that he paid for his farm out of his own earnings. At the time of his marriage he and his wife had their lives insured, each in favor of the other, and kept the insurance in force until their property was paid for. That was a very unusual proceeding at that time, and indicates the spirit of progressiveness which was part of the character of Henrj' Renken and wife. From his first purchase his holdings grew until he had 330 acres, all in section 35 of Honey Creek Township, and all operated as one farm. This farm lies half way between Coatsburg and Paloma and along the right of way of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.

Henry Renken and wife were active members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a republican, and was honoi*ed frequently by his fellow citizens in public afi'aii's. He was township assessor, tax collector and school director for many years, until he refused to qualifj' for further service. He was one of the directoi-s of the Camp Point Fair for years from the time of its organization. On his farm he erected the principal buildings, the oldest part of the house being more than fifty years old. These improvements have been kept up and increased by his children. Henry Renken died Januarj- 7, 1903, at the age of seventy-two, and his wife passed away August 15, 1911, in her seventy-second year.

Their family of five children are Anna M., Margaretta C, "Wilke J., Albert and Henry. Wilke J. Renken was born on the old farm September 12, 1870, and has been part of the family circle continuously except for 3io years. At the age of twenty-nine he went west and saw a great deal of the country, being employed in different occupations in the meantime. Since then he has been associated with his brothers and sisters, and they handle the large farm by a perfect system. Most of the annual revenue comes from hogs. They raise a large number and market a cai'load or more every year. This is one of the farms in Adams County that are operated just as a business house is operated, with a complete set of books recording every department and operation. Each of the children has a personal account, but the farm itself is operated as one business. The three brothers are rather noted as expert rifle and gun shots, and Henry has won many trophies in contests of skill with the rifle.

William Arning. Some of the Americans of whom this country has had most reason to be proud were the thrifty, hard working and liberty loving Germans who came to this country during the decade of the '40s. One of those who so numerously settled in Quincy in that decade was the late William Arning, whose long life in the eity was a splendid exemplification of all the virtues of his race.

He was born in Lippe Detmold, Hanover, Germany, October 13, 1836. When he was nine years old his parents, Gottlieb and Sophia (Dicl^nan) Arn- ing, also natives of Hanover, set sail in a sailing boat from Bremen and after a voyage of a number of weeks landed at New Orleans. They| reached there in 1845 and then proceeded up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and on to Quincy, where Gottlieb Arning established a blacksmith shop and resumed the trade he had learned and followed in the old country. His shop was an institution in the city for forty or fifty years, and he applied himseK to his trade until old age came upon him. He died in October, 1895, at the age of eightysix, and his widow survived until 1898, and was eighty-four when she passed away. They were members of the Evangelical Church of Quincy, and in politics Gottlieb was a very ardent republican.

William Arning grew up in Quincy, acquired a common school education, and learned his trade under the supervision of his father. After a few years of running a blacksmith shop he started wagon making, but finally found that his extraordinary skill as a horse shoer demanded all his time and energies and he devoted himself exclusively to that business. For years he conducted a large and well appointed shop at 621 South Sixth Street, and there his hard work and reliable service brought him gi-adually a modest fortune. He was in the shop until he retired and had passed his seventy-fifth birthday when he died December 13, 1911.

The Evangelical Church of Quincy has many reasons to be proud of his long continued membership and active work. He perhaps more than any other member had to do with freeing it from debt and putting it on a sound financial basis. He was honored with the offices of trustee and treasurer of the church. In politics he was a republican.

At Quincy in 1858 he married Miss Henrietta IQocke. She was also a native of Lippe Detmold, Germany, where she was born in 1837. Her parents died there and between her nineteenth and twentieth year she set sail for the United States in 1857, was eight weeks on the voyage, and joined friends and kinsmen in Quincy. Soon afterwards she married Mr. Arning, and they lived and worked together so that their success was a mutual achievement. She died in December, 1916. She was also reared in the Reformed Church of Germany, but at Quincy was a member of the Evangelical Church.

Three children were born to this worthy couple, all daughters. Emily and Ida died in infancy. The only surviving member of the family is Miss Julia Arning, whose work for a number of years has identified her with the local schools of Quincy. She was born in Quincy, graduated from the high .school in 1893, and soon afterwards took up teaching. In 1913 she completed her course in the Western Illinois State Normal School at Macomb. She is now one of the teachers in the Fourth Ward School and she is a member of the church of her parents and is active in Red Cross work.

John H. Heidix)FF. One of the oldest wood and coal merchants in Quincy is John H. Heidloff, who established a wood yard at 612 North Fifth Street thirty-eight years ago and has been in continuous business at that old stand ever since. For a number of years he has also handled and distributed many carloads of coal, but so far as conditions permit specializes in the wood trade, and that amounts to 3,000 or 4,000 cords annually.

Mr. Heidloff has spent nearly half a century in Quincy. He was born in Kui-hessen, Germany, October 20, 1842, a son of Werner and Anna M. (Baiier) Heidloff, both of whom were natives of Kurhessen. They spent their lives there, where the father was a general workman and at one time served as mayor of his village. He died in 1870, at the age of sixty -five, and his wife in 1901, when seventy-nine years old. They were members of the Lutheran Church. In their family were these children : Jonas spent his life in Germany as a stone mason. Adam was the first of the family to come to the Ignited States and at Quincy married a German girl. He died here twenty-one years ago, leaving four children. Marj' also came when young to the Ignited States and at Quincy married Fred Bengert. She died in this city leaving a family of sons and daughters. Auna married Jacob Weid, and both spent their lives in Germany, where three daughters survived them. The next in age is John H. Werner is a business man near Neva, Illinois, and has a wife and several daughters.

John H. Heidloff was educated in his native village, and in 1869 he set out from Bremen in the ship "Rhine,"' landing at New York, and on the next day starting for Quincy, where he arrived December 17th, joining his brother and sister who had preceded him to this country. His fir.«t work at Quincy was with D. D. Meriara & Sou, aud for ten years he was engaged in the teaming business with this firm in the lumber trade. In 1880 Mr. Heidloff opened his wood yard and eighteen years ago he began dealing in coal. His office for twenty-eight consecutive years has been one of the city voting booths for all local, state aud national elections.

Mr. Heidloff has had his home in a substantial brick house at 414: Oak Street for thirty-two years. He married in December, 1869, Miss Anna Speiker, who was born in Wesphalia, Germany, August 4, 1850. Her parents, Francis and Theresa (Deomaun) Speiker, were natives of the same province, and her father died there at the advanced age of ninety-eight aud her mother at sixty-eight. They were members of the Catholic Chiirch. Iii their family were five sons and three daughters, all of whom grew up and married. Mrs. Heidloff" and her sister Theresa were the only members of the family to come to the United States. Theresa arrived in this city after ]\Irs. Heidloff, and has been three times married. Her present hu.sband is John Koenig and they live in St. Louis. Mrs. Heidloff came to the United States in 1867. She took passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen, aud from New York reached Quincy on July 24. 1867. This city has been her home for over half a century. 'Sir. aud Mrs. Heidloff have a family of ten children. Werner, a resident of Quincy is married, and has a son, Walter, now attending the city schools. William, who like his bi'others and sisters, was well educated in the local schools, is associated with his father in business, is married and has two children, Ruth and William, both in school. John, also with his father in business, has a family of five, Dorothy, Margaret, Elizabeth, Theodore and Milton, all school children. Frank is now in Spokane, Wa.shington, and is married but has no children. Carrie married Walter Gallamore, and they live in Spokane and have four children, Louise, Shirley. Forstena and Milton. Martha is the wife of John Herleman, of Quincy, and they have a son, Harold. Logan is a railroad man in Oklahoma and has two sons, Ralph and Howard. Elizabeth married Lawrence Gilhouse, of Quincy, and has a son, Robert. Clara is the wife of Cecil McSpaden, of Quincy. Lillian, the wife of Arthur Keen, of Quincy, has two children, Mildred and William. The familj^ are all members of the Lutheran Church and Mr. Heidloff is a republican voter.

Henry Germantst. Two of the best known and most useful citizens of Quincy are Mr. Henry Germann, vice president of the Broadway Bank, and his wife. Dr. Melinda Germann, who was not only one of the earliest physicians aud surgeons to practice medicine in Quincy, but in point of ability and attainments ranks among the first in the profession, irrespective of sex.

A native of Quincy, Heniy Germann was born November 4, 1850. His parents, John Phillip and Anna ]\I. (Brenner) Germann, were natives of Germany and established their home in Quincy in the year 1848. The former was a native of Hesse Darmstadt and his wife of Hanover. They came to the LTnited States as young people on sailing ve.ssels, were married and lived in New York City for two years, aud then established their home in Quincy. John P. Geraiann was a boot and shoe maker, and was in business at Quincy until the introduction of machinery for making boots and shoes took away his trade. In later years he assisted his son in the drug business and died at the age of seventy, his wife passing away at sixty-eight. They were reared as

Lutherans but in Quincy joined the Methodist Episcopal Churcli. Thej^ had a familj' of four children, all of whom are living at Quinc.v but one.

Hem\v Germann grew up in (Quincy, attended the public schools and the Bryant & Stratton Business College, and as a clerk learned the drug business and secured a license as a pharmacist. For a number of years he was with the old firm of Sommers & Metz, and when still a young man, with his father's assistance, he bought a drug store at Bushuell, Illinois. A year later a lire destroyed the entire establislunent without insurance. He took his losses calmly and coming to Quincy established himself in business at the corner of Eighth and State streets, where in course of time he made his store one of the best knowa: in that part of the city. After many years of business prosperity he finally sold his drug store and l)ecame one of the organizers and vice president of the Broadway Bank at 1717 Broadway. Mr. Germann is also a director of the Quincy Stove Manufacturing Company. In a public way he has given most of his time to local education, and is an independent republican in politics. He and his wife and family are all active members of the ^lethodi.st Church.

Dr. Melinda Germann was born in Quinej^ in 1863 and since girlhood has been known for her many brilliant qualities and abilities. She is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Achelpohl) Knapheide. Her parents were both natives of Germany and came to America when young people, in 1848. Both were poor, and it was by dint of hard and honest toil that they established a good home and reared their family in comfort. They married in St. Louis, where their first child wa.s born, and from there moved to Quincy, where Henry Knapheide established a business as a wagon manufacturer on State Street. He continued active in business there until his death at the age of si.xty years. His widow survived until 191.5, and was ninety-three when she died. Both were charter members of the Kentucky Street Methodist Church and Mr. Knapheide was a republican. Of their ten children six grew to maturity and are still living and are all married but one.

Doctor Germann made her first mark in the city when she was awarded the Morgan medal for the highest scholarship in high school. For one year she taught school, and in June, 1888, graduated with the medical degi-ee from the Quincy College of Medicine. Most of her studies were directed by Doctor Curtis, one of the best known old time physicians of Quincy. Her courage and determination in taking up a profession seldom followed at that time by women enabled her to pursue her studies in the greatest centers of medical learning. She spent two years abroad at Zurich, Switzerland, Paris and Vienna, and in 1913 she was again abroad, spending six months in the same cities where her former student work had l)een done twenty years earlier. In the meantime she has practiced in Quincy, and has done a world of good through her profession and through her deep personal interest in the social and material welfare of the community. She is a member of the County Medical Society, of the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and also of the Women's National ]\Iedical Society.

She ha.s the distinction of being the first woman ever elected a member of the Board of Education in Quincy. She was first elected in 1912 and is now in her third consecutive term. In the spring of 1917 an even gi-eater civic honor was bestowed when she was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors of the county, being the first woman to gain that honor at the polls.

For all their busy outside interests and services [Mr. and Mrs. Germann center their greatest affections in their two brilliant children, Hildegarde and Aldo. The daughter was graduated as valedictorian of the high school class of 1909, and then entered Vassar College, from which she was graduated as an honor student in 1913. She has many of the ideals and ambitions of her mother and in 1918 she finished her studies in Johns Hopkins Medical College at Baltimore, with the highest standing in scholar.ship of any of the women students, her graduation carrying with it also an appointment to the medical staff of the hospital. She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Academic fraternity, elected at Vassar College, and of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical fraternity, of which she is secretary, receiving that honor at Johns Hopkins University.

The son Aldo graduated from high school in 1912 and then entered Northwestern University of Chicago, where he completed the literary course and is member of the class of 1919 in the medical school. He too has had a number of scholarship honors and is a member of one of the leading medical fraternities. He enrolled his services for the war and -vvill qualify for a commission in the Medical Reserve Corps upon graduating. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha, elected at Northwestern University

Casper Anck is member of the firm Anck Brothers, manufacturers and dealers in meats at 1037-1039 Broadway in Quincy. Both the brothers, Casper and William, are proficient men in their line of work, have had a great deal of experience in past years, and in 1911 established their present factory, where they deal both wholesale and retail, and manufacture a considerable share of the provisions consumed throughout Adams County, which is their normal market territory. They manufacture various lines of meat products, including sausage and lard. About ten people find employment in their business, each week they kill about fifteen cattle, a large number of hogs, and their daily output of sausage is about 500 pounds and their weekly output of lard about 2,000 pounds.

The brothers have lived in this county all their lives. Casper Anck was born in Ellington Township August 17, 1875, and received most of his education in the district schools of Quincy, learning his trade after leaving school. He is a son of John and Isabelle (Neicie) Anck. His father was bom in Germany and when a young man came to the United States. His sister, Mrs. Theresa Frizie, had already located near Quincy. After coming to this county he met and married his wife, who was a native of Adams County of German parentage. After their marriage he took up farming in Ellington Township and when Casper Anck was twelve years old, in 1887, the family came to Quincy, where the father was employed in packing houses until his death in 1906, at the age of sixty-four. His widow is now living with her son Casper at the age of sixty-four. She is a Protestant, while her husband was a Catholic and a democrat.

Casper Anck, who is unmarried, was the second among his parents' children. Rosa, the oldest, is the wife of William Merrill, of Quincy, and has three children : Isabel, Wilbert and George. John, the next younger brother, lives in Quincy and is married and has a daughter Maria. Josephine is the wife of Henry Hedriek, of Rock Island, Illinois, and has one son, Walter. William is a partner with his brother Casper and is referred to on other pages. Dora married James Rose, of Quincj-, and has two sons and two daughters, Cora, Joseph, Mildred and Richard. Edward J. Anck, the youngest son is employed by the firm of Anck Brothers. He was born and raised in Quincy, is married but has no children and resides at 1014 York Street.

Pantalion Wekneth was a Quincy business man for nearl.v forty years. The activities through which he acquired success for himself and rendered his best service to the piiblic was as a meat dealer, and his methods of doing business and his personal character brought him many fast and loyal friends.

Mr. Werneth died at his home at 1650 Vermont Street ' October 31, 1911. He was then seventy-three years of age. He was born in Baden, Germany, July 21, 1838, of old German Catholic stock, a son of Hugo and Rosena Werneth, both natives of Baden. He was onl.v twenty-one months of age when his mother died, and he was reared and educated in Germany until fourteen years of age, when he accompanied his brother Simon to the United States. The sailing vessel which brought them over was many weeks in making the voyage. Their first location was in Wisconsin, at Manitowoc, and from there Pantalion

Wemeth came to Quincy. He learned the trade of butcher with Mr. Crowder, and later was in business with Mr. John Barth at the corner of Sixth and Hampshire streets. They bought that valuable corner and were associated until the death of Mr. Barth. At that time Mr. Werneth acquired the entire property and for thirty-eight years that was his business headquarters. He then located his market at 1706 Broadway, and the Wemeth market at that number is still continued. On moving his place of business he took in his son Fred as partner, and Fred managed the business after his father's death until quite recently. The late Mr. Werneth was a Catholic and a member of the Western Catholic Union. On May 10, 1881, at Quincy, he married Miss Anna Otte. Jlrs. Werneth, who with her family occupies the fine home of ten rooms which was erected nine years ago at 1650 Vermont Street, was born at West Point, Iowa, December 3, 1859. She was reared in Quincy from early girlhood. Her parents were Frank and ilargaret (KaufEtnan) Otte, both natives of Muenster, Germany. Her parents were married in the old country and their fii-st five children were bom there. In 1855 they came to the United States and bought land at West Point, Iowa, and six years later moved to Franklin, Iowa. Later they lived for two years at Adina, Missouri, and from there came to Quincy. ]Mrs. Werneth's father died in this city August 13, 1884, at the age of seventy-nine, and her mother passed away March 17, 1886, at the age of seventy-five. They were members of the St. Francis Catholic Church in Quincy. Mrs. Werneth was one of the ten children, all of whom reached mature age except one, and two .sons and three daughters are still living. Mrs. Werneth became the mother of five children. One, Clara, died in 1882 in infancy. Her son William was educated in the local business schools, is an energetic young business man aged thirty-four, and succeeded his brother as manager of the family meat market. He married Maude Schumate. The son Fred, who was educated in the Gem City Business College, is unmarried and is now connected with the commissary department of the Great Lakes Training Station. Carl, who was trained to the trade of butcher, is now a salesman with Swift & Company, packers. He married Genevieve Eckert and they have a daughter five years old. Marie is the wife of Edward Dorkenwald, of Quincy, and their daughter is Anna Marie. All the family are members of St. Francis parish.

Anderson E. Ad.\ir, living retired at Loraine, is a man of interesting experiences, has a most interesting family, and has deserved the success and prosperity that have attended his efforts in this county.

He was bom in Honey Creek Township June 30, 1862, son of John R. and Euseba (Tout) Adair. John R. Adair, a half-brother of Henry Adair, another well known resident of Adams County, died November 21, 1901, at the age of .sixty-five. He had lived retired several years at Camp Point. His first wife, Euseba, died June 20, 1873, on the farm in Honey Creek Township. For his second wiie he married Elizabeth Hudson, who died in June, 1898. John R. Adair was a farmer in Hpney Creek Township until he retired. He never filled a public office, but was verv^ active as a member and elder in the Christian Church, was noted as a local preacher, but never did that work for a salary or compensation. By his first wife he had five sous : Kelley, of Point Richmond, California ; Willis M. in the harness business at Loraine ; Anderson E. ; John M., a farmer in Ellington To\\^lship ; and Thomas Sherman, of Gridley, California. John R. Adair by his second marriage had four children : Robert, now in the Government service ; Charles, a farmer in Honey Creek Township ; Ann, wife of William Hendriekson, of Ursa Township ; and Curtis, a railroad employe living at Hannibal, Missouri.

Anderson E. Adair lived at home until he was twenty years of age. He gained much knowledge of practical farming while a boy, but his first ambition was to be a professional man and a teacher He attended Abingdon College under Professor Bruner, took a normal course, and at the age of twenty began teaching in the Prairie School of Jlendon Township. That was in 1881, and for the next nine years he gave his best energies to teaching. All his work as an educator was done in Adams County, and he was connected with four or five different schools in the northern part of the county. Several of his pupils became teachers. Mr. Adair took a very active part in teachers' institutes and all other movements associated with rural education.

January 25, 1885. while he was still a teacher, he married Miss ]\Iary Beer of Camp Point Township, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Piper) Beer. Her parents came when a young married couple from Westmoreland County, Pennsjdvania, and settled in Camp Point Township, where they lived until their death. Her father died about eleven years ago at the age of seventy-eight and her mother is now eighty-nine. They were man and wife more than fifty years, and for over half a century had occupied the same home.

When he gave up teaching Mr. Adair began farming in Honey Creek To'ttTiship. He had little capital to begin on, but with the encouragement of his wife and with his boyhood experience and the assets of good health, strength and ambition, he bought forty acres of land. It was what is described as unimproved land, but besides having no buildings or fences nearly every acre was covered with a heavy growth of brush and small timber, all of which had to be cleai-ed away before he could cultivate and raise crops. He made the first payments from his earnings as a teacher, but otherwise has made the land pay its own way and give him a living and more besides. Later he bought another forty acres, giving him eighty acres, and in the cour.se of time he had it imj^roved with a good substantial home and two good barns. In connection with his farming Mr. Adair for seven years operated a threshing outfit. Like his father he has not been ambitious to hold public office. Several years ago he retired to a good home in Loraine, but still looks after his farm. He was also administrator for his father's estate.

Mr. and Mrs. Adair had a family of four sons. Roy Kelley Adair, the oldest, was born August 17, 1885, graduated from the ]Maplewood High School at Camp Point in 1904, and from the Normal at Macomb in 1915. He began teaching in 1905, and continued that profession actively for twelve years, all in Adams County. For six years he was principal of the high school at La Prairie, and for two years M'as identified with the schools of Columbus. In 1916 he bought the Loraine Times and was commissioned postmaster of this fourth class office March 20, 1918. On August 10, 1910, he married Alma J. Cossart, of Camp Point. She was born in Hancock County, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Harris) Cossart, Solomon Harris, her grandfather, was the first white child born in Adams County, his parents being the first white settlers in this county. They migrated here from their original home in Tennessee. I\Irs. Eoy Adair graduated in the normal course from the Camp Point school and attended one term at Macomb Normal, after which she was a teacher in the county for three years.

Samuel Lee Adair was educated in the Camp Point schools, whei*e he took work equivalent to graduation, also attended the State Normal School at Macomb, the Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, and the Manual Training Department of the State LTniversity of Wisconsin. For nine years he taught in this county, six years at Quiney in the public schools, and three years in the ]\Ianual Training School of that city. He is now teacher of manual training in the Fairbury Towaiship High School, and recently had charge of the manual training course for the soldiers in the Manual Training Camp at Camp Sheridan. Samuel married ilaude Adams, a daughter of Prof. W. T. and Elizabeth Adams. Her mother died during her infancy, and she made her home with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gibbs. Professor Adams was a teacher for over thirty years, during the last of which he was county superintendent of schools in Polk County, Arkansas. To this union was born one daughter. Mary Jjlizabeth, the only grandchild in the family. Maiide Adams Adair, graduated from Coatsburg High School in 1907, attended Western Illinois State Normal at Macomb, 1907-1909, taught school at Coatsburg three years, in 1912 taught in the Ursa schools, and then at the Webster Junior High in Quiney.

Floyd Earl Adair was born March 21, 1889, graduated from the Gem City Business College of Quincy, Illinois, in business, shorthand and typewriting courses, and worked one year as bookkeeper and stenographer for the William Adams Contracting Company of Chicago, whose work at that time was at Hot Springs, Arkansas. His work completed there he returned home and took up the profession of school teacher and taught successfully in the Adams and Hancock public schools for three years. In 1913 he passed the civil service examination and was appointed rural carrier from the Loraine postoffice, which position he still holds. On June 11, 1913, he was married to Charlotte E. Fry, daughter of James M. and Cordelia (Adaif) Fry, of Loraine, Illinois. Mrs. Floyd Adair's parents still reside in Loraine, Illinois. Her father was a Civil war veteran. Mrs. Floyd Adair was educated in the Loraine public schools and was for several years a successful teacher in the public schools of Adams County.

Anderson Dewey Adair, the youngest son, is a trained automolnle mechanic and still lives at home. He was educated in the Loraine High Seliool, Western Illinois State Normal School, S. A. T. C. of Culver Stockton College, Canton, Missouri. He is a graduate of the Kansas City School for Auto Mechanics, and is engaged in the automobile business in Loraine, Illinois.

Charles M. Gibbs, now living retired at Coatsburg, has been a resident of that community for so many years that there is probably not a man, woman or child in Honey Creek Township who does not know him and has some kind memory of his work and good citizenship. Mr. Gibbs is perhaps most widely known through his long service as the local representative of the railroad at Coatsburg. He served the Burlington and Wabash railroad companies faithfully and all their patrons for half a century, and if any man deserves a pension for their long and faithful performance of cluty it is Charles J\I. Gibbs.

He was born in Tennessee, in McMinn County, September 4, 1837, and is of Scotch-Irish stock. His parents were Fleming G. and Rebecca (Baker) Gibbs. His maternal grandfather served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and lived to be a hundred and seven years of age. For eighty years he had active membership in the ilethodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gibbs' parents were both liorn in Virginia and the father went to Tennessee when a boy.

Charles M. Gibbs, who was one of four children, was reared and educated in Tennessee and had taught school there for seven or eight years before coming to Western Illinois. The presence of some friends in Adams County brought him to Coatsburg, and during 1863-64 he taught school in that village, having eighty or ninety pupils. He taught all the common brandies and in mathematics had a class in algebra. Some of his old pupils are still in the community, including the Gray boys. He also taught a school two miles north of Coatsburg.

it was in 1865 that ilr. Gibbs entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway as local agent and telegraph operator. That service was continuous for fifty years. For several years after he became a representative of the railroad company at Coatsburg there was no telegraph office. The first telegraph instruments he handled were the old tape machines, and it was some years before he took messages from the sounder. Jlr. Gibbs did his duty so efficiently that no action of his was ever a source of trouble between him and his superiors and no railway accident was ever traced to his failure to understand and properly interpret telegraph messages. Out of the fifty years he spent two years at the station at Paloma. He was finally retired with a pension at the end of fifty years, but in a manner of speaking, his connection with the Coatsburg station is still maintained, since his son is his successor. Mr. Gibbs did his railroad work long before the passage of the modern short hour labor laws and for years he handled all the business of the local station alone, and was on duty fifteen hours a day, not leaving the depot until he had received the mail from the Chicago train at nine in the evening.

In the meantime many other business interests occupied him. For twenty years he was associated with John Grigsby in the grain and livestock business, and he had a farm of eighty acres near Coatsburg which was extensively used for feeding cattle for the market. He was also interested in a general store. At different times Mr. Gibbs has been honored with oiSce as trustee of Coatsburg. He is a democrat, though often casting his ballot independently.

December 28, 1864, Mr. Gibbs married Miss Frances Mun-ah, a sister of Peter E. Murrah, a well known citizen of Coatsburg, elsewhere referred to in this publication. Mrs. Gibbs was born in Adams County March 3, 1843. To their marriage were born seven children : Mary Elizabeth, now deceased, married W. T. Adams, of Camp Point, and was the mother of two daughters, Mabel F. and Mary Maude. Mabel is now Mrs. John Mershan, wife of a lumber dealer in Oklahoma. Mary Maude when an infant was taken to the home of her grandparents Gibbs and reared there until her marriage to S. L. Adair, and she has one child. Minnie, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, is the wife of J. A. Marshall, a farmer in Columbus Township. Anna married W. J. Whiprecht, who is in the employ of the Missouri Pacitic Railway at St. Louis. William M. is a farmer three miles from Mendon in that township Luther C. is train dispatcher for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy at West Quincy and lives in Quincy. Charles Francis is the successor to his father as agent and operator at Coatsburg, and he married Lula Carlin. Clara Jane, the youngest of the family, married W. J. Shake, superintendent of a creamery at ^lacomb, Illinois.

Mr. Gibbs is a Mason and took his first degree in Columbus Lodge about fifty years ago. Mrs. Gibbs is active in the Christian Church. Mr. Gibbs has been infliiential in bringing several of his relatives to the county. His brother William E. Gibbs came here about forty years ago, and for fifteen years was a blacksmith at Coatsburg, until his death. He also served as president of the village board. William E. Gibbs left three children : Texas, Mrs. George Ertel, wife of a retired farmer at Coat.sburg; John C. Gibbs, who is chairman of the County Board of Supervisors of Adams County; and America, who lives in Oklahoma. Mr. Gibbs' cousin, John McMahan, now of Camp Point, came to this countj- when a young man and lived with Mr. Charles M. Gibbs until his marriage.

John Jacob Glaser has come to the venerable age of fourscore with a life record of commendable industry, integrity and honor in all his relations. The people of Columbus Township esteem him for his irreproachable character and also for the effective work done and the sacrifices he has made for his family and others.

Mr. Glaser was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 23, 1838, a son of John and Anna E. (Miller) Glaser. John Glaser was a blacksmith by trade, having learned that occupation in the thorough manner of an apprenticeship. In 1852 he and his wife and three children, Louisa, Elizabeth and John Jacob, left Germany, going from Hamburg to Hull, then to Liverpool, and at that English port embarked on a sailing vessel which seven weeks and three days later landed them in New Orleans. This boat carried more than 400 emigrants from Germany. At New Orleans cholera was then epidemic and people were dying like flies. The family and mo.st of the other pas.sengers hastily embarked on a boat bound up the Mississippi to St. Louis. Ten miles below that city the boat was held up for four days in quarantine. After a brief stop in St. Louis the Glaser family came on to Quincy, arriving in that city in August, 1852. John Glaser immediately found opportunity to establish himself as a local blacksmith, securing employment with Rogers & Cleveland. Four years later, on account of advancing years, he gave up his trade and moved to Columbus Township, renting for one j-ear the old Moore farm and for seven years lived on the Guthrie farm. He finally bought the ]\Ioore place of 135 acres from the widow Moore, and he lived there until his death about thirty years ago, at the age of seventy. His widow spent her last years with her son John Jacob and died in 1895, at the age of seventy-six. Both parents were splendid Christian people, and devout members of the Lutheran Church at Coatsburg. Thev were buried side by side in Columbus Cemetery. Onlj- one child was (born to them after they came to Adams Coimty, and he died at the age of four years. The daughter Elizabeth married Louis Wilkey, of Columbus. Louise is the widow of Henrj' Mullenhauer.

John Jacob Glaser was fourteen years of age when brought to Adams County. He grew up on a farm in Columbus Township, and after the death of his fatlier became administrator of the estate and carried out strictly the provisions of his father's will, providing for his sisters and mother. In 1875 he bought his present farm in section 18 of Columbus Town.ship, a half mile from the Village of Columbus. There he has lived in prosperity and comfort for over forty years, and has made one of the good country homes of that locality. He has a seven room house, excellent farm buildings, and the farm is now operated by his son Ernest.

At Canton, Missouri, more than fifty years ago, Mr. Glaser married Mary Glaser, of the same family name but not a relative. They were born in the same city of Germany, Mrs. Glaser 's birth occurring November 19, 1838. She also came to America by the same route as her husband, landing at New Orleans and coming thence to Quincy, arriving here in the fall of 1856. Her parents Avere John and Catherine (Miller) Glaser, who located near Canton, Missouri, and both died there when about eighty years of age. Her father was a carpenter by trade. This Glaser family were also Lutherans. Mrs. Glaser had three brothers, August, Jacob and Adolph. Two of them died young, and August is still living at Canton, Missouri, and has five living daughters, all unmarried, and had one son, John S., who died after his marriage, leaving one daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Glaser lived and labored together nearly fifty j-ears. She passed away at the old home in Columbus Township December 19, 1899. Mr. Gla-ser for many yeai-s has been a devout member of the Lutheran Church at Coatsburg, and his wife sat side by side with him in worship there throughout her life. Mr. Glaser and his sons are independent in politics. All the children were confirmed in the Coatsburg Lutheran Church.

Their oldest child, Amelia E., died when nine years old. Elizabeth E. married William Ihrig, and they live on a farm in Marion County, Missouri. Their three sons, Arthur, Roy and Elmer, are all unmarried and two are in the arm.y service, enlisting in Missouri regiments. They volunteered instead of waiting to be drafted, and are now overseas. Mr. and IMrs. Ihrig also have two daughters, Lillian and Clara, both at home. Martha Glaser married Herman Tillman, son of Rev. Richard Tillman, a Methodist minister. Mr. Tillman and wife are farmers in; Gilmer Township. Their two children], Esther and Karl, are both school children. Lydia L. Glaser, like the rest of the children, was educated in the schools of Columbus Village, and she remains at home solicitously caring for her honored father. The next in the family is Ernest, aboye mentioned, the responsible manager of the home farm. John Glaser is a graduate of the Illinois Normal University and for the past fifteen years has been a successful principal of schools. He is now located at Wild Rose, North Dakota. He married Emma Moellring, and their family consists of Paul, Ernest, Ruth and Vernon.

Heney C. Spbick, who for nearly thirty years has been a figvire in financial affairs in Quincy, and, who has been closely associated with men of substance and ability in this community, is at present the cashier of the State Street Bank. He has been with this institution since its organization and his work has been a very potent factor in its growth and development.

Mr. Sprick is one of ten children born to Henry and Sophia (Wilkening) Sprick, being born at Fontanelle, Nebraska, January 26, 1864. His parents were sturdy Nebraska pioneers wlio were very closely associated with the early development of their state. The father being especially prominent in political and religious affairs engendered in his son that stamina of character and

The boyhood and early school days of Heurj' C. Sprick were spent on the liome farm at Fontanelle where he remained until he came east to complete his education.

At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Sprick began his business career by taking a position with a wholesale implement firm in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1888 he purchased an interest in the produce and commission firm of Ostermann and Tremain located at Fremont, Nebraska. A year later he withdrew from this concern to return to Quincy, Illinois, where he had earlier attended school and from whence his father and mother had emigrated to Nebraska.