Quincy Township (part 64 of 74)

April 18, 1879, in Melrose Township, Mr. Frederick married ]\Iary A. Keim. Nine children were born to them, seven sons and two daughters, and eight are still living. A brief record of these children is perhaps the best reflection of the honor and worth of their parents. The Frederick home has a sen'ice flag of two stars, indicating two of the brave sons who are fighting for the honor of their native land. The oldest of the children is Albert V., a ean:)euter by trade, now living at Davenport, Iowa, is married and has two sons, Ralph and Roy. Albert is a republican. Anton C, the second son, is one of the prosperous young farmers in IMelrose Township, is married and has two sons, named George and Roma. Lambert, the third of the family, was educated in the common schools and is a prosperous merchant at Twenty-Fourth and State streets in Quincy. William George is foi-eman in the shipbuilding industry at Seattle, Washington, and is married but has no children. Carl Ji. is a practical farmer of Melrose Township, is married but has no children. The two sons in the army are Samuel J. and Beu.jamin J., twin brothers. Samuel has been in the regular ai-my for seven years, holds the rank of first sergeant and at this writing is stationed at Camp Greene in North Carolina. The other son, Benjamin, is alreadj- in France with the American Expeditionary Forces. The youngest of the family is the daughter Eva, wife of Robert Burroughs, and tliey live at Seattle, Washington, where Mr. Burroughs is an electrician in the shipbuilding yards.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick performed a great deal of self denying industry in order to give their children good practical educations and otherwise equip them for the serious duties and responsibilities of life. ^Irs. Frederick was born in Adams County December 19, 1853, daughter of Valentine and Mary (Ulrichs) Keim. She is one of five children, three sons and two daughters, four still living, the oldest being Christopher, formerly a farmer and now a resident of Quincy ; Mrs. Frederick, second in age ; Valentine, a prosperous farmer living with his family in ^Montrose Township ; and William, a farmer in Melrose Township.

Valentine Keim, father of Mrs. Frederick, was born in Germany and when nineteen years of age came to the United States and settled in Adams County. He had very little capital but advanced to rank among tlie first-rate farmers of the county, and he was a member of the German Lutheran Church. He died at the age of fifty-seven, and he and his wife now rest in the Green Mount Cemeteiy, where one of the appropriate monuments mark their graves. His wife was also a native of Germany and was sixteen years old when she came to this country. She lived to the age of seventy-five.

When Mr. and Mrs. Frederick began their married career they had a very simple equipment and had to deny themselves practically all the luxuries. They lived as farmers in Melrose Township for about forty years and now that their children are grown they are led to enjoy the comforts and quiet of a happy home and the products of their little farm of forty-one acres, which is just at the city limits.

Mr. Frederick is a republican in national affairs but endeavors to exercise his ballot to help elect the man best fit for office in township and other local offices. He and his wife are members of the Salem Church of the German Evangelical Association.

William F. Dingersen. Perhaps to no one nation does America owe more for the successful development of its farms than to Germany. No better or finer class of people ever came to this country than the German colonists of forty to sixty years ago. On the broad prairies and in the forests of the West, in peace and in war, in everj' branch of human endeavor and human achievement, by brave and honest service they made compensation for the land of their adoption.

One of these families in Adams County is represented by Mr. William F. Dingersen, who was born in Westphalia, Germany, October 10, 1855, son of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Arenbrink) Dingersen. Of the children only two are now living, Louis and William. The former was for many j'ears engaged in the teaming business and is still living at Quincy and has a family of eight children.

Gottlieb Dingersen brought his family to the United States in 1875. They left the old country on the steamship Bremerhaven, landing in New York and coming thence to Quincy, Illinois. Gottlieb Dingersen was a farmer, and he and his wife were members of the Salem Lutheran Church at Quine.w He died at Quincy in 1884 and his wife in 1889, and both are now at rest in the Green Mount Cemetery.

had accordingly been educated in the German schools and was ready to take up the real work of life on reaching Adams County. Here he spent six continuous years in the employ of a German farmer, beginning without capital and without experience, and gradually putting himself in a condition to be master of his own destiny. During his first yeai-s in this country he worked during the winter months at .$5 wages and in the summer was paid $12 a month. He has always been an agriculturist except for twelve years when he did teaming for the Limestone Company of Quincy.

On February 27, 1883, 'Mr. Dingersen married Miss ]\Iary A. EUermann. To their marriage have been born nine children, three sons and six daughters. Eight of the children are still living: Laura E. is the wife of William >s'euer, a farmer of Melro.se Township, and they have two children, Elsie and Elmer. They are members of the Salem Lutheran Church and in politics ^Ir. Neuer is a republican. Walter G. is a practical farmer of Melrose Township, and by his marriage to Mrs. (Render) Timme has one son, Frederick. Lydia R. is the wife of John Eckenkamp, a farmer of Fall Creek Township. They have two sons, Lawrence and Adelbert. William is a farmer of ^lelrose Township, and was called into the service of the United States Army but was granted an honorable discharge. Carl is now in the service of his country in France. The younger children, all at home, are : Marj' L., Edna H. and Flora E. Edna and Flora are still in school, in the sixth grade. All the children have been given the best of advantages in the local schools and all have been confii-med in the Salem Lutheran Church.

Mrs. Dingersen was born in Quincy May 19, 1863, daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Worman) EUermann. It will be noted that the parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Dingersen bore the same Christian names and a further coincidence in the family histoiy is that both Mr. and Mrs. Dingersen are the youngest children of their respective parents. Mrs. Dingersen was educated in Quincy, attending the German schools of that city.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dingersen lived at Quincy for twelve years and in 1897 they courageously faced the future and went in debt for their present home of 160 acres. They labored hard and faithfully and out of the proceeds of their toil thej^ were able to add another forty acres, all in Melrose Township. At one time they bore the burden of debts amounting to .$6,000, but have gone steadily ahead scaling their oliligations down and at the same time carrying on good improvements in the way of building of barns and other structures, and the entire farm now stands clear of debt and a monument to their industry. Mrs. Dingersen has borne a noble part in all this work, not only as a kind and affectionate mother, but as a home maker and provider in every sense of the term.

Mr. Dingersen is a republican and has upheld those principles steadily since casting his first vote for James A. Garfield. The family are members of the Salem Lutheran Church at Quincy and Mrs. Dingersen is active in the Ladies' Aid Society.

Albert E. Heckle has had the good fortune to call Adams County his home from birth to the present time, and his life's activities have been chiefly expressed through the business of farming, of which he has made a notable success. He and his wife have a fine homestead known as Evergi-een Fruit and Dairy Farm, located just a mile from the city limits of Quincy in ^Melrose Township. This farm is splendidly adapted to fruit and all kinds of grain, and in its present care and improvements it represents years of labor and study on tlie part of Mr. and Mrs. Heckle.

Mr. Heckle was born at his present home April 30, 1884. He is the youngest of the ten children, three sons and seven daughters, born to Joseph and Anna Mary (Mast) Heckle. The three living daughters are: Clara, who was educated in the parochial schools, is a member of St. Mary's parish and lives with her parents at 1101 Adams Street in Quincy; Frances, who was similarly educated and also lives with her parents; Rosina, who was educated in the parocliial schools and is the wife of A. Ed Kupp, a fanner near Hannibal, Missouri, and they have two sons, Carl and Herbert, and a daughter, Mary Ann. Albert E. Heckle had a twin brother, Alfred, now deceased.

The Heckles and Masts are among the oldest and best known German families of Quincy and vicinitj-. Joseph Heckle, who is now living retired in Quinc}% was bom in Baden, Germany, in February, 1837. His parents were Theodore and Mary Anna (Meyer) Heckle. Mary Jleyer's parents were farmers, millers and bakers. All the children of Theodore Heckle and wife were born in Germany. In 1851, at the age of fifteen, Joseph Heckle came to the United States with his married sister, Mrs. Mary Anna Rush. They took ship at Havre, crossed the ocean in four weeks to New York, ti-aveled up the Hudson River to Albanj-, thence by rail to Buffalo and again by boat to Detroit. Joseph Heckle lived in the county near Detroit with the Rush family for one year, and then went into the city and learned the trade of wood worker in a wagon shop. In 1854 his father, Theodore, and other members of the familj' joined him in this country, and all of them in the spring of 1855 started west to Iowa. They bought a partly improved farm in Scott County of that state, and later secured Mississippi bottom lands fourteen miles south of Davenport, where Theodore Heckle laid out an addition to the Village of Buffalo. Mrs. Theodore Heckle died in 1863, at the age of fiftv-four. In 186-4 Theodore Heckle came with his family to Quincy, Illinois, and lived here until his death in 1878, when past eighty-one. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church.

In 1860 Mr. Joseph Heckle married at Quincj', in St. Boniface Church, Anna ilary Mast. She is a member of the prominent Mast family, one of whom was the first German settler at Quincy. She was bom in Melrose Township August 4, 1843, a daughter of Casper and Rosena (Dold) Mast. Casper JIast was bom in Baden, Germany, in 1815, and came to Quincj' in 1835. A brother of Casper ]\Iast was ]\lichael Mast, who is distinguished as the first German settler of Quincy. ^lichael was born in 1797, and located in Adams Count.v in 1829. He was a tailor by trade, and had come to the United States in 1816. For a time he lived in Old Mexico, but in 1829 he came up the Mississippi River and sought a home on the frontier at what is now Quinc.v. For a number of years he was in business in the city, and died here a bachelor in 1852. Michael Mast and some of his fellow German colonists M'ere the founders of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Quincy. Casper IMast and wife were married in that church in 1841. The father of Casper Mast died at Quincy in 1849, during the cholera epidemic.

Mr. Joseph Heckle some years after his marriage was able to buy twentyeight acres in ilelrose Township, included in the present place of his son Albert, and he kept adding to that and improving until he had a good farm of about eighty-eight acres. In 1910 he retired from the farm and has since lived in his fine brick home at 1101 Adams Street. He and his wife are active members of St. Mary's Church. On June 19. 1910, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, surrounded with children, grandchildren and a host of friends who delight to honor them. Joseph Mast is a democrat in politics. For a number of years he was trustee of the schools of his home township.

Albert E. Heckle gi-ew up in the countrs' near Quincy and had a good education in the parochial schools and in St. Francis Solanus College at Quincy. On October 25, 1910, at the age of twenty-six, he married Miss Frances C. Delabar. They have two young daughters, Rita IMarie and Rosalia Frances.

:\rrs. Heckle was bom at Quincy, at 1020 Hampshire Street. June 29, 1886, daughter of Constantine and Mary Magdalene (Nadler) Delabar. She is the youngest of their five daughters, four still living: Hannah, who was educated in the parochial schools, was a skilled dressmaker and is now the wife of Anton J. Jansen, a grocers' merchant living at 1228 Broadway, Quincy. Mr. and Mi-s. Jansen have five children, one son and four daughters, and all are members of St. Boniface parish. Dora, the second sister of Mrs. Heckle, \va.s well educated and was the wife of Frank J. Altnix, who is in the wholesale grocery business and lives at 1635 Broadway. She died October 19, 1918. They were members of St. Francis parish and had five children, three sous and two daughters. Kate Delabar married Ed J. Helmer, a business man at Quiucy and a resident at 911 Spring Street. They had one son.

Mrs. Heckle after completing her education in the parochial schools turned her talents to work as a modiste, and she and her sister were employed in the large Quincy store of Halbaeh & Schraeder. Mrs. Heckle also had a good business training in the National Business College.

After their marriage Mr. and ]Mrs. Heckle moved to their farm aud together they have carried on the work aud solved the problems of life as they have come up, and have made for themselves a happy home, gained many friends, aud are people who uphold all good things in their locality, ilr. Heckle in national affairs is a democrat, but supports the man rather than the party in local offices. OfiSce holding for himself has not been one of his active desires or ambitions. He and his wife are supporting members of St. Marj''s Church and its various societies. They have prospered as business-like farmers and enjoy the comfort and pleasure of a touring car. They have a home that is the abode of hospitality and good cheer aud is frequented by their many friends.

EDW.^iED Dennis Humphrey. One of the oldest homesteads in IMelrose Township is the Humphrey farm of 100 acres, known as Hackberry Farm, situated in section 20. It is now owned and occupied by Edward D. Humphrey, who represents the third generation of this notable family in Adams County.

One of the noblest men in the county's citizenship was the late Edward F. Humphrey, who died April 5, 1917. Edward F. Humphrey was born at Simsbury, Connecticut, November 25, 1823, and was in his ninety-fourth year when he died. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and was seventeen years old when he came with his father, Alexander Humphrey, in 1840 and settled in section 20 of Melrose Township, Adams County. This is the old farm which has been continuously under the Humphrey management for over three-quarters of a century and was obtained originally in a practically virgin state. From the standpoint of fertility and improvements it ranks with the best farms in the county. Alexander Humphrey was born in September, 1791. The first home of the Humphreys in this county was a typical log cabin, and it stoood only twenty-five or thirty rods from where the present modern residence is.

The late Edward F. Humphi'ey in the winter of his nineteenth year taught school and continued teaching for about ten years. He taught six years in the schools of Quincy and for two years of that time was principal of the high school. A number of men and women now in mature life remember him for his instruction to early lives. He always loved good literature and was a man well versed in books as well as in human character and affairs. He possessed a remarkable fund of energy, which kept him busy up to his final years. At one time he was an old time photogi'apher with Warren A. Reed at Quincy. After leaving his school work he engaged in the lumber business at Hamilton in Hancock County, and had charge of some lumber mills there.

Alexander Humphrey died May 1, 1865, and soon afterward his son Edward returned to the old homestead in Adams County and began fanning -ttdth his brother A. A. Humphrey. During his residence at Hamilton. Ohio, he served that city five years as mayor. The old log house on the Humphrey homestead made way to the stately brick residence which is still standing, and the brick was burned on the farm. It was at the time one of the most pretentious homes in the township. The farm gets its name Hackberry Farm from the fact that Edward F. Humphrey's brother Alexander set out in 1842 a hackberry tree, which was then a mere twig, but which with seventy-five years of growth lifts

Edward P. Humphrey began voting as an old-line whig, but was an early convert to the republican party. In the spring of 1S78 he was elected supervisor of Melrose Township, and for many years was treasurer of the school district. He was distinguished by a highly methodical mind and had the ability of the expert accountant at a time when that was hardly recognized as a special profession. His penmanship, still extant, looks like copperplate, and his old account books, which preserve their records up to the year 1876, show a neatness and legibility such as few modern bookkeepers could surpass. He was a member of the Congregational Church and seiwed as superintendent of the Sunday school at Hamilton, Illinois, and as soon a.s he returned to Melrose Township was elected superintendent of the Melrose Chapel Sunday School and filled that otiSce for about thirty years. He and his wife were laid to rest in the Melrose Cemetery.

Edward F. Humphrev married in 1850 Marv Ann Keves, daughter of Willard Keyes, of Quincy. She died April 20, 1853. On December 18, 1861, Edward F. Humphrey married Mrs. Martha E. (Dennis) Carey, widow of Thomas D. Cai'ey, of Hancock County. She was born September 6. 1833, at Peterboro, New Hampshire, and came to Illinois in 1858. She died in 1911. She was well educated and had taught school at Nauvoo, Illinois, and also in her home district.

Edward Dennis Humphrey, only son of his father and mother, was born in Hancock County, Illinois, October 7, 1868. However, his home has been in Adams County since early infancj% and here he was educated, supplementing his public school training with work in the Northern Illinois Normal at Dixon, and also by 2V2 years in the Illinois State Normal at Noi'mal. Illinois. He entered that school in 1890 under President John Cooke. 'Mr. Humphrey taught in one of the schools of JMelrose Township, and while that was a very congenial profession the most of his years have been spent in fanning and stock raising. He has done much to improve the grades of livestock in his community, and has some registered Poland China hogs and thoroughbred Jersey cattle.

June 21, 1892, Mr. Humphrey married Miss Irene Timmons. To their marriage were born four children, three sons and one daughter, all still living. The oldest are Leo and Leone, twins. Leone is the wife of Wilbur Coe, a Melrose Township citizen refeiTed to on other pages. Leo, who completed his education in the high school of Quiucy, which he attended two years, is a practical farmer in ]\Ielrose Township, is a republican, and an active member of Melrose Chapel. He married J\Iiss Alma Lepper, who is a teacher in the ]\Ielrose Chapel Sunday School. Elmer T., the second son, is a gardener in Melrose Township, was educated in the common schools and in the Gem City Business College, and he and his wife are members of the Melrose Chapel. He married Miss Elsa Hagerbaumer, and their two children are Elmer, Jr., and Vernon Edward. Verne L.. the youngest of the family, is one of the bright boys in the public schools of his home district and is now in the sixth grade.

Mrs. Humphrey was born in McLean County, Illinois. September 16, 1868, the youngest of six children, one son and five daughters. Her parents were James A. and Anna (Lawson) Timmons. Two of her sisters are still living, Lillie and Fannie. Lillie is the wife of J. H. Allred, a successful contractor at Kansas City, Kansas, the foundation for his business career having been laid as an expert mechanic and cabinet maker. Mrs. Allred was educated in the schools of Buffalo, Illinois. Fannie is the wife of Isadore Horner, of Kansas Citv, Llissouri.

Mrs. Humphrey was reared in McLean County, Illinois, until young womanhood. In addition to the public schools she attended the Normal Fniversity at Normal. She is an active church worker and has chosen a full share of responsibilities in maintaining the Red Cross work in this county.

Her father, James A. Timmons. was born in Ohio and when a young man went to ilcLean County, Illinois. He had a common school education and fol- lowed the life of a farmer. He was a stanch republican, and he and his wife were Methodists. He died in October, 1892, and both he and his wife now rest in the cemetery at Buffalo, near Sprin^eld. His wife was born in Ohio and died August 1, 1911.

For a number of j'cars Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have had their home at the beautiful old Humphrey place, and a more attractive spot it would be diffieiilt to find anj'where in Adams County. Their home is thoroughly modern. The house and the outbuildings are lighted by electricity, and there is running water for botli domestic and stock purposes. The power for this and other machinery about the farm is supplied by gasolene motors.

Mr. Humphrey is a republican and cast his first vote for William IMcKinley. He has proved one of the useful men of his township, and in that is emulating the example of his honored father. He is executor of his father's estate and administrator of his mother's property. In 1906 he was elected school treasurer of his district, and has taken pride in keeping the books and accounts as neatly and accurately as his father had always done. He was chosen a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1906, and has served as delegate in various county conventions. Mr. Humphrey is a prominent ]\Iason, having affiliations with the lodge at Quincy and in the Scottish Rite is a member of Lodge of Perfection of the fourteenth degree, Quincy Council of Jerusalem of the sixteenth degree. Rose Croix Chapter of the eighteenth degree and Quincy Consistory of the thirty-second degree. Both Mr. and Jlrs. Humphre.v are active members of Melrose Chapel and do much to siapport all church causes in that community. He was for a number of years superintendent of the Sunday school.

William Henry Wood. Widely known by the traveling public as propri-etor and manager of Wood Hotel, one of the leading hotels of Quincy, William Heniy Wood has acquired popularity as "mein host," being genial, accommodating and ever mindful of the needs and comforts of his many guests. He was born July 24, 1862, in Tiverton, England, a son of Abraham and Elizabeth Ann (Treble) Wood, who were born, lived and died in England.

Attracted by the wonderful reports of the prosperity to be obtained by the working man in the United States, William Heniy Wood crossed the Atlantic, and soon after landing on the American shore made his way to Galesburg. Illinois, where he remained for a while. Coming from there to Quincy, i\Ir. Wood on July 31, 1898, opened a dining room in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Station, and operated it .successfully for twelve years, gaining the good will, esteem and patronage of hosts of travelers. In the meantime he erected the Wood Hotel, a four-story, brick and stone building, 40 by 150 feet, containing 100 rooms, all being modernly equipped and furnished, and lias since conducted it on the European plan, managing it in an efticient and highly satisfactory manner.

Mr. Wood married, June 2, 1892, Alice Eraser, a native of England, and they have two children, Gwendolen Gladys and Dorothy Phyllis. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are consistent members of the Episcopalian Church. Politically Mr. Wood is a steadfast republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of the Benevolent ami Protective Order of Elks and of the Loval Order of Moose. Socially he belongs to the North Side Boat Club.

Frank Dick, treasurer of the well-known firm of Dick Brothers, and superintendent of its brewing plant, is connected officially with one of the active and thriving industries of Quincy, his home city. He was born in Quincy June 28, 1862, and has here spent his life.

His father, John Dick, was born in Germany and as a young man came to America, the land of hope and promise. In 1851 he located at Belleville, Illinois, and came to Quincy in 1856. In company with his brothers Jacob and

Mathew he started in the brewing and milling business, establishing the original firm of Dick Brothers, with which he w-as associated until his death in October, 1889. He married Louisa Steigmeir, a native of Ohio, and into their home seven children wei-e born, as follows : Amia, deceased ; Bertha, widow of August H. Glassner, of Kansas City, Missouri ; Emma, residing in Quincy ; Frank, of whom we write; Matilda, deceased; Ida, wife of P. L. Lampel, of St. Louis, Missouri; and John E., who died in April, 1917.

After his graduation from the D. L. Mussellman Business College Frank Dick worked in the office with his father for a year, and afterwards spent two years in the brewing plant, becoming familiar wdth its every department, and later worked in other breweries, making a thorough study of the more modern and scientific methods used in brewing. Owing then to changes in the Dick Brothers' business, Mr. Dick assumed charge of the brewing department of the plant. He was later made superintendent of the entire plant, which is one of the most extensive in the state, and is still filling that position, and is also treasurer of the compan^y. He is constantly increasing the interests of the firm, and through his influence the Dick Brothers "Pilsener" Beer was introduced to the trade.

Mr. Dick married, April 26. 1893, Rose E. Oertle, a native of Quincy, and their only child, Frank Joseph Dick, is a student in the University of Illinois. Independent in his political affiliations, Mr. Dick votes for what he deems the best men and measures. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Petek H. ilEYEK. A stimulating and encouraging story might be written concerning the efforts and enterprise of Peter H. Meyer of Quincy. Mr. ileyer is a fine German, thoroughly affiliated with everything American and for the good of Quinej', and belongs in that class of citizens whose work constitutes a real service as well as a means of livelihood.

Mr. Meyer was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1865. His parents lived and died in that country- and were farmers and Lutherans. He received his education in the old eountr.y and in 1892 started from Bremerhaven on the ship Oldenburgh, and landed in Baltimore in May. On the 29th of the same month he arrived in Quincy. He had learned the trade of baker in Germany and he found employment in Quincy in that line for four j-ears. Then, on May 16, 1896, he started his own plant. It was a very modest enterprise, all his baking being done in a large summer kitchen. He has kept adding to and developing his plant from time to time, and he still keeps the old shop as a reminder of former days. His present plant is in a building 40x69 feet. The full capacity of the plant is 20,500 loaves per da}'. Other equipment comprises two wagons for delivery purposes and a truck. On the same lot, at 1036 Jefi'erson Street, he has his residence, an eight-room, two-story house. In 1900 a fire that started nearby resulted in the total loss of his property, with only $100 insurance. He rebuilt at once, and put most of his equipment in a brick structure practically fireproof. Other buildings of his plant include a barn, and the entire property represents in a measureable degree the prosperity he has acquired since coming to Quincy, and all of it the result of a steady and thoroughgoing service.

On September 8, 1892, in Quincy, Mr. Meyer married Miss Hannah Heitkamp. She was born in the same province as her husband August 9. 1865. She was seventeen years old when her parents came to America. Her father, Frederick Heitkamp, is still living in Quiney and celebrated his eighty-second birthday February 9, 1918. Her mother is ten years younger. Frederick Heitkamp is a stone mason by trade, and the family for many years have been identified with the hard-working, honest and capable citizenship of Quincy. The lieitkamps and also the Meyers are active members of St. James Lutheran Church.

Mr. and Mrs. ]\Ieyer have eight living children : Anna, the oldest, is the wife of Charles Kaull, of Chicago. Ida is a well educated young woman still at home with her parents. Emma was the victim of a tragic accident at Quincy

June 15, 1915, when she met death in a motor cycle accident. "William F. was well educated in the city schools and is now employed in his father's shop. He was born January 21, 1894. Harry H. was born November 23, 1895, and since completing his schooling has also been associated with his father. Otto was born April 18, 1899, and is through school and is learning his trade under his father. Freda was born November 18, 1900, and is a graduate of the grammar school of Quincy. Irene, born jMarch 9, 1903, has also completed the grammar school course. Florence, the youngest, born May 13, 1905, is a student in St. James Lutheran pai'ochial school.

Charles Edwin Shank is widely known over the eastern part of Adams County as proprietor of a successful business as a florist and market gardener. He went into that business at Clayton thirty-five years ago, having no special experience as qualifications, though the Shanks have always had some special proficiency in handling and growing crops. Being active in mind and vigorous^ in body, and with a wife who was as enthusiastic and helpful in every branch of the business as himself, Mr. Shank rapidly acquired details, and though sometimes at considerable cost has made his experience count for real success.

Mr. Shank was born on the old Shank farm in Brown County, Illinois, September 5, 1861. He is a youngfr brother of the veteran horticiilturist Daniel Shank, and sufficient details of iiie family history will be found on other pages of this publication. Mr. Shank- remained. at home until reaching his ma,jority. He had a di.striet school education and began life for himself as a farm renter. He rented laud in Brown County for ten or fifteen years.

About 1891 he established his present business, at first as a fruit grower and gardener. He also conducted a small greenhouse for the purpose of growing flowers and propagating garden plants. After a few years he devoted all his time to gardening and small fruits on the thirtj'-two acre tract including his father's old home at Clayton. It was after some ten or fifteen years of varied experience in this line that he resumed the floraculture feature of his business. At present he has about 5,000 square feet of glass, and also a number of hot beds for the propagation of plants. His greenhouse is heated by a steam plant. He also cultivates some acres in truck gardening, and is proprietor of the South Side Cemetery, which was originally established by Ben Bryant. The cemetery comprises about three acres, and Mr. Shank has added some from his own farm.

Mr. Shank grows vegetaliles chiefly for the home market, and has built up a considerable specialty in potted plants. He has the only gi-eenhouse between Quincy and Jacksonville, and supplies a large trade in flowers to neighboring villages and towns. Mr. Shank has a neat home, located in the Village of Clayton, and is an active citizen of that community, having served several years as village trustee. He is a member and deacon of the Baptist Church and a worker in its Sunday school.

On May 15, 1889, Mr. Shank married Miss Frances :\Iay Bates, of Camp Point, daughter of Francis H. Bates. Mrs. Shank was reared and educated at Camp Point, and is as much at home in the culture of flowers and the running of the business as her husband. Mr. and I\Irs. Shank have three children. Marie is the wife of Roy B. Smith, a grocery merchant at Flint, ^lieliigan. Jennie is assistant cashier of the State Bank of Clayton and li\-es at home with her parents. Eeva is now a senior in the Clayton High School.

Francis H. Bates, father of Mrs. Shank, was born in Boone Comity, Kentucky', May 15. 1839, son of Horace and ^lary (Carpenter) Bates. He was eight years old when his parents moved to Brown County, Illinois, and he learned the trade of carpenter from his father. Later he took up mechanical engineering, and for a number of years was engineer of the Eagle ^lill at Camp Point. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I of the Eighty-Fourth Illinois Infantry, and was in service until mustered out with the rank of corporal in January, 1863. Mr. Bates died May 30, 1914. October 31, 1861, he married

]Mary J. Scott, who was born at Clayton in Adams County, March 18, 1843. She 'died October 29. 1910. Her father, Capt. William Scott, was born in Champaign County. Oliio, September 8, 1813, and for many years was a successful miller. In 1837 he enlisted in the regular army, and during the next three years was a participant in the Florida Indian wai-s. In 1842 he married Eleanor Misenheimer. In 1846 he raised a company for the war with Mexico. Captain Scott located in Adams County in 1854, and for many years was engaged in the milling business at Camp Point. A participant in two wars, he raised a company at the time of the rebellion, but on account of ill health served only nine months.

Mr. and Mrs. Bates had two children to gro^y up: Frances May, Mrs. Shanks, who was born March 23, 1866, and William Nelson, who was born October 29, 1869, now connected with the Quincy Casket Company.

Ch.vhi.es Alfred Lamb was one of the live and enterprising farmers of IMelrose Township, his home being three miles east of Quincy on State Street. He spent most of his boyhood in Adams County and afterwards lived with an Adams Countj- settlement in Chariton County, Missouri, for a number of years. He finally returned to Adams County and was proprietor of one of the productive farms and a citizen whose substantial character was regarded as an asset in the communit}\ His death occuiTed January 10, 1919.

Mr. Lamb was born in Morgan County, Illinois, November 5, 1859, and was brought to Adams County when five years old. His parents, Basil and Matilda (Kurby) Lamb, were both born in Mason County, Kentucky. They came to Illinois in 184(T, settling near Jacksonville on a farm, and in 1864 moved to Lima Township of AdanLs County, seven miles north of ilendon. Their farm was on Bear Creek. In the winter of 1879, thej' determined to join the large colony of Adams County people, mostly from ]\Iendon Township, who established homes in Chariton County, Missouri, and a new community center known as Mendon, named in honor of their Adams County home. Basil Lamb died there at the age of seventy-two and his wife at sixt.y-seven. All his business life was spent in farming. He was active in the Christian Church at Mount Hebron in Lima Township. Charles A. Lamb M-as the only member of the family in Adams Count.y and was the youngest of nine children. Three are still living. Mrs. IMarj' McAdams, Sophronia Lewis and John W., all living in Oregon.

Charles Alfred Lamb was twenty j-ears old when his parents moved to Missouri. He therefore had grown up and acquired his early education in Adams County. He was on the home farm of his parents to the age of twentyeight, and after his marriage he spent two years in Oregon and three years in Idaho as a farmer. He then returned to Chariton County, Missouri, and farmed there five years. That was a time of ups and downs, largely due to droughty conditions in Missouri, and several crop failures caused him to return to Illinois in 1891. He rented land in Adams County until he bought his present place in 1914. This is the old Nelson farm of eighty acres, for which he paid .$125 an acre. It is highly improved, lias good buildings, and Mr. Lamb followed general farming and orcharding. He had ten acres of bearing apple trees. Every year he fed from seventy-five to 100 hogs. He ser\'ed the comminiity as road commissioner.

At the age of twenty-eight he married Martha Ann Ruddell, a native of Chariton County, ilissoiu-i, but of Adams County parentage. She is a daughter of John D. and Urilla IMargaret (Nichols) Ruddell, formerly of Mendon Township, but natives of Ursa Township. Margaret Nichols' father was James Nichols, who came from the vicinity of Covington, Kentucky, to Illinois about 1834. Margaret Nichols was born on the old farm a mile north of Ursa in 1838. Her father donated the land for the New Providence cemetery there, and he died on his old farm at the age of ninety-two. His son, John Nichols, recently died at Ursa at the age of ninety. James Nichols married Mourning Ann Bowles, of Kentucky. She was the mother of Urilla Margaret, and was her husband's second wife. His third wife was Catherine Kixddell Henry, an aunt of John D. Euddell. She died at the age of eighty years. John D. Euddell's father was John il. Ruddell, also a native of Kentucky. He established a pioneer home two and a half miles northwest of Ursa. John M. Ruddell died at the age of eighty-eight. He was an elder in the Christian Church, and with Jesse Bowles organized the Christian Church there. His wife was Martha Ann Dunlap, a daughter of John Dunlap, one of the early settlers of Adams County from Kentucky. John D. Ruddell enlisted at Liberty in Adams County in Company B of the Fiftieth Illinois Infantrj-, and stayed in that organization until the expiration of his term, when he veteranized and continued fighting the rebellion until it closed. For his unusual qualities as a soldier he was promoted from the ranks to second and first lieutenant and at the close of the war was made captain by brevet. About 1866 he left Adams County and moved to Chariton County, Missouri, locating near Mendon, and that was his permanent home. He never recovered from the hardships of his army experience and died at the early age of forty years. His wife afterward married Ba.sil Lamb, father of Charles A. Lamb. The latter was about twent.v-six years of age when his father married a second wife, aud Martha Ruddell wa.s about eighteen. During the next two years they lived as members of the same family and until their marriage. After the death of Basil Lamb the widow spent her last yeai-s with Mr. and Mrs. Lamb and died aged seventy-eight August 24, 1916.

Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, Opal, the oldest, is the wife of George Horning, a rancher at Fort Pierre, South Dakota. They have one daughter, Martha. Harry Everett was born October 23, 1892, in Oregon, is one of the young men in Adams County whose names appear on the honor roll of those who gave their lives to the country in the great war. He enlisted for the na^'J' May 28. 1918, and wa.s at the Great Lakes Training School at Chicago, where he died September 2.5, 1918. He had passed creditable examinations for the position of paymaster a short time before his death. He was brought home and laid to rest in the New Providence Cemetery in LTrsa Towniship. Lena, the third child, is the wife of Avis R. Crank. Frank was in practice as a veterinaiy at Loraine, but is now attached to the United States Army as a veterinarian at Camp Hancock, Georgia. The j-oungest of the family is Carl Erwin, still at home.

JoHx B. Thom.\s is proprietor of the Walnut Grove Stock Farm, comprising 350 acres of land, part of it in Gilmer and part in Columbus townships, but situated in a body. This farm is sixteen miles east of Quincy and a mile south of Columbus. It is a farm well deserving of a distinctive title, and there are hundreds of successful stock men all over the Middle West who know the Walnut Grove Fai-m products, and by its many prize winners in the state and local fairs. Many of the old time residents of Adams County will easily identify the farm as the old Ben Rutledge homestead. The horse barn was erected by J\Ir. Rutledge, while Mr. Thomas has carried out the equipment on a thoroughly modern scale, erecting a cattle barn 50x70 feet, also hog houses, and in its improvements and arrangement alone this farm would easily be counted one of the finest in Adams County. Mr. Thomas completely remodeled the house, installing bath room and many other conveniences. He also erected a tenant house for his son, and there are few conveniences of the city which have not been introdncted into this country place. Mr. Thomas has liberally used cement in and around his buildings. The front yard is guarded from the road by a handsome cement wall, and all the walks are laid of concrete. He has two silos built of vitrified tile block. An inexhaustible supply of pure water is pumped by means of gasoline engines. Tlie high class livestock raised on this farm consists chiefly of the Aberdeen Angus cattle, registered, and the Dnroe Jersey and Poland China hogs. Mr. Thomas ships one or more carloads of cattle every year, besides selling many individual animals to stock men. For a number of years he has advertised his stock in the leading farm journals, and has exhibited them in the local fairs and the state fairs of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, and

John B. Thomas was born at LaPrairie in Northeast Township of this county March 24, 1862, a .son of E. P. and Lncj- (Dilts) Thomas. His father was born in Wales and was brought to this country when five years of age by his parents, who located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where thej- died soon afterward. He grew up in the home of an uncle at Cincinnati, learned the moldcr's trade, and followed it for a number of years. Later he engaged in merchandising at Cincinnati, and from that city moved to Kirksville, Missouri, a short time before the Civil war. He was a pronounced Union man, very outspoken of his opinions, and naturally suifered a good deal of persecution in a district where southern sentiment predominated. It was a much more congenial neighborhood in which he located during the first year of the war at LaPrairie, Illinois. He farmed in tliat township, later lived' in the Village of LaPrairie and operated the farm, and finally removed to Golden, where he was member of a company manufacturing bed springs under the name of the Golden Specialty Company. He finally became sole proprietor of this business. Failing health caused him to give it up. and after his wife's death he lived with his sons L. E. at Golden and John B. on the farm. He died at the age of eighty years. He married at Lawrenceville. Indiana, his wife being an Indiana girl. Her grandfather was a noted preacher in that state in pioneer times. E. P. Thomas served at one time as justice of the peace at Golden. He was a republican, a man of good education, and was something of a leader in every communitj- where he lived. His family consisted of the following children: L. E. Thomas, who owns a farm at Golden and is also connected with the Stock Food Manufacturing Companj- at Shenandoah, Iowa ; Aurora, who married B. F. Talbot, of LaPrairie, and died six years after their marriage ; John B. ; Mary, who after the death of her sister became the second wife of B. F. Talbot, now a contractor at Dallas, Texas.

John B. Thomas spent his boyhood days at LaPrairie, partly on the farm and partly in the village, and attended common schools there. Though regarded as one of the most succes.sful stockmen in the county, Mr. Thomas has had a varied experience in different lines. During his youth he spent three years working in a butcher shop. Another year he was in the store of his uncle at Moberly, ilissouri. For two years he was employed bj^ E. G. Hoji; in Houston Township. While his wages during that service amounted to only -$200 a year, ]Mr. Thomas con.siders the period one of the most memorable in his life, since while there he found his wife in the daughter of Mr. Hoyt. After leaving Mr. Hoyt's employment Mr. Thom.as determined to get a better education and attended normal school at Bushnell, Illinois. With this training for teaching he accepted a school in the Washington District of Northeast Township, and was in that school eight .years and two years in Houston Township. In the Washington District he directed the studies and growing capabilities of his pupils, some of them from the time they began learning the alphabet until they had completed the eighth grade. Mr. Thomas was a teacher out of the ordinary. He was concerned not only with the imparting formal literary instruction but also encouraging the talents and latent powers of the boys and girls under him, and when a boy showed some special talent or inclination Mr. Thomas was quick to foster that disposition, and thus he was responsible for guiding many young men and women into useful spheres of aetivit}'. Even now some of his old pupils meet him occasionallj' and always express deep acknowledgment and gratitude for their early associations with him. During the ten years he was engaged in teaching Mr. Thomas spent his vacations in different lines of work. One factor of his .success was his freedom from that form of pride which frequently prevents young men from making themselves useful. He worked on a railroad section for a time, also sold farm machinery, and when not otherwise employed worked as a farm hand. He finally entered business for himself as a marble and granite salesman at Golden for one year. He then bought a half interest in the business and two years later became sole owner. For three or four years he traveled as salesman for his business, and at the same time kept his "workmen employed in his shop, and later had three other salesmen on the road.

After eleven years in that line he retired and moved to jMonroe City, ^Missouri, having acquiredan eighty acre farm at Shelbina, Missouri, which he afterward sold and bought 132 acres at ilonroe City, Missouri. "With his home in the city he supervised the farm and also carried on a general real estate agency. Mr. Thomas has bought and sold lands and negotiated land deals in many states in the Sliddle West. After six years he moved out to his ^Missouri farm, and operated it under his own supervision until 1907. During that time he had developed a place of 240 acres, and the success which has attended his Walnut Gi-ove Farm in Adams County might be said to be a continuation of the work he has already instituted in Missouri.

This brief record is sufficient evidence that 'Sir. Thomas has been an exceedingly busy man, and it is not strange, therefore, that he has had no time for politics, and in fact his inclinations do not run in that direction. Several years ago he refused to be a candidate for the Legislature. He is a republican Voter. However, Mr. Thomas has many other interests outside his farm and business. He and his family are all active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Columbus. He is past mai5ter of Golden Lodge of Masons, has sat in the Grand Lodge several times, and is a charter member and was venerable consul of the Camp of the Modern Woodmen at Golden, and has attended as a delegate several state and national conventions, including those of St. Paul and Washington. He has also been a delegate to the Anti-Saloon League Convention at Washington, being one of the forty Illinois delegates. These broader movements have aroused much of Mr. Thomas' enthusiasm and co-operation, and he has frequentty been a speaker in gatherings of different kinds. He keeps well informed on the activities of church, Sunday school, temperance and other social and educational activities.

Mr. Thomas was twenty-four and his bride was twenty-two when he and Miss Margaret Hoyt were married. IMrs. Thomas is a daughter of the late E. G. Hoyt and a granddaughter of Capt. E. B. Hoyt, one of the prominent pioneers of Adams Count}-. E. G. Hoyt was born in Orange County. New York, December 27, 1835, ancl arrived in Adams County with his parents July 6, 1843. He was one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers of Houston Township many years, and died at Golden at the age of seventy. Mrs. Thomas was born on the Hoyt homestead in Houston Township, and was well educated in the local schools.

A brief record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas is as follows : Harry B., who is a farmer in Columbus Township, and by his marriage to Pearl Wilhoit has a son. Donald; Benjamin Franklin, who is a.ssociated with his father in the Walnut Grove Stock Farm, married Hazel Wilhoit : Eddie H.. who rents part of the home farm, married Nina Haley and has one child, Ruth ; Grace E. is the wife of Granville Luramis, who is in the LTnited States army with special assignment to automobile duty; Luther E. and Fred L., the youngest members of the family, are students in the Quincj^ High School.

Hon. Charles R. McNat, of Ursa, is the present state senator representing the Thirty-sixth District, including Adams, Calhoun, Pike and Scott counties. There has been no time within the past half century when such an office has carried greater responsibilities and corresponding honors than in the period of the great World war. It will be no small distinction in after years to say that Mr. McNay was a member of the Illinois Senate during this critical period in the nation's history.

His substantial qualities of American citizenship are unquestioned and are based upon not only his individual career but an ancestry that has been American for more than a century. His grandparents, Andrew and Jane jMcNaj', came from the Scotch Highlands and settled in Kentucky about 1815. It was in Pendleton Count}', Kentuckj-, that John McXay, father of Senator McNay, was born October 6, 1818. For fully eighty years the JIcNay family has been ideutitied with Adams County. John ilcNay and his brother Andrew came here in 1837. Two other brothers, William and James, were also early settlers in the county. John McXay settled four miles northwest of Mendon, and it is in the northwestern part of the county that the activities of the family have been especially pronounced. The mother of these brothers also spent her last years in the county. John McNay was a highly prosperous farmer and o-ivned 200 acres of land, still held in the estate of his heirs. He died August 22, 1896. John McNay married Amanda James, who was born in Boone County, Missouri, January 18, 1832, and at the age of sixteen came to Adams County with her parents, Adam and Amanda James. John and Amanda McNay were married May 5, 1850. She died IMay 4, 1918. After her husband's death she had left the' farm, and she died at Ursa. They were active members of the Franklin Baptist Church near their homestead, and both were laid to rest in the burying ground of that churchyard. John McNay was a democrat. They had three sons, Daniel F., who was born in 1851, was a farmer and died at Quincy in 1915, being deputy sheriff at the time of his death ; Mitchell M., a retired farmer at Ursa ; and Charles R.

Charles R. McNay was bom at Mendon January 28, 1859, and received a good education, attending the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, for several years. At the age of twenty-four, on December 23, 1882, he married Miss Olive Miller, daughter of William E. Miller of Marcelline, now deceased. She was twenty years of age at the time of her marriage. Mr. McNay then began farming in Lima Township, remained there four years, and then for two years was engaged in general merchandising with U. K. Miller under the firm "name of ililler & JIcNay. On November 4, 1888, Mr. McNay lost his wife, and about that time he gave up the store business and entered the field where his abilities have been most successful, as a dealer and shipper of livestock.

Four years after the death of his first wife he married at Quincy ilary D. Welshons, daughter of John and Martha (Tranf) Welshons. Her parents came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Adams County about 1840. Her father was a miller at Lima and in other places in the county, and died here at the age of forty-seven. Her mother survived nearly forty years and she passed away at the age of seventy-nine. Mrs. McNay was born at Lima.

After his marriage Senator McNay resumed farming in Lima Township for four years and vigorously prosecuted his enterprise as a stock buyer. That has been his main business for over a quarter of a century. He has been one of the leading shippers of hogs and cattle to the markets of St. Louis and Chicago, and has concentrated hundreds of thousands of carloads of stock at L^rsa preparatory to further shipment. His headquarters have been at Ursa for twenty years, and it has been his practice to ship about 200 carloads of stock every year, chiefly hogs. He has also handled a number of fine horses.

His qualifications as a public leader have not been less pronomiced than in a business way. He has been accustomed to bearing public responsibilities for many years. He served five years as assessor of Ursa Township, was on the school board, was supervisor six j'ears and chairman of the board three years, and in 1914 was elected on the democratic ticket to the State Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Campbell S. Hearne in the Forty- Ninth Session. He was re-elected in 1916. In the 1914 primaries he carried every precinct in Adams County, including Quincy, and the same popularity followed at the general elections and this performance was repeated in 1916. Senator McNay has been entrusted with much of the important work of the committees and on the floor of the Senate. He has served as a member of the committees on appropriation, agriculture, livestock and dairying, charitable, reformatory and penal institutions, county and township organization, public utilities, revenue and finance, waterways, etc. Long before he took a seat in the Senate he had been a strenuous advocate for good roads. The good roads movement in Illinois is now at its culminating point, and is only temporarily delayed by the exigencies of the war. Senator McNay has used all the influence he possesses personally and from his district to lay a solid and substantial basis for really good roads in Illinois, and the legislation in that direction now pending and certain to pa.ss within the near future has no abler advocate than the senator from the Thirty-sixth District.

Senator MeXay has filled all the chairs in the Odd- Fellows Lodge and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Modern Woodmen of America.

He is the father of three sons. Clyde, a son by his first wife, is now private secretary to the general manager of the Missouri Pacific Railway in the general offices at St. Louis. Rue W. completed his education in Harvard College and was connected with a commission house in the National Livestock at St. Louis imtil he enlisted in the navy for the World war, and is now a wireless operator. Carl F. is still at home, attending high school.

Henry Wood Strickler, an Adams County pioneer, who is perhaps most widely known for his devoted labors covering a period of over forty years in behalf of the Church of the Brethren, is now living superannuated at his home a half mile south of the Village of Loraine.

He was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1836, son of Jacob D. and Rhumy (Wood) Strickler. The Stricklers are descendants of William the Silent, through Frederick Henry and King George II. The famih- originated in some of the older provinces of Germany and Switzerland. They early embraced the simple doctrines of religion similar to the English Quakers, and the first of the name to come to America were from a German Canton of Switzerland and reached Pennsylvania soon after 1722. One of four brothers settled in Philadelphia, one at Lancaster, one at York and the fourth, Abram, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His son Jacob moved to the Susquehanna River, became a Mennonite minister and moved to Virginia.

In 1722 Abraham Stewart and Abraham Strickler, brothers-in-law, of Chester, Penn.sylvania, settled in Fayette County. They acquired a joint claim to 1,200 acres of land, and in 1789 Stewart deeded his share to Abraham Strickler. Henry Strickler, son of Abraham, Sr., was the grandfather of Henry Wood Strickler of Adams County. This Henry married Frances Stewart, daughter of Abraham Stewart, who was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, and sister of Hon. Hamilton Stewart, long a prominent member of Congress. Henry Strickler set out a large orchard on the old estate, and for a number of years manufactured brandies and wines. Becoming convinced of the evils of intemperance, he cut down the orchard and removed all traces of his former occupation. He was a blacksmith liy trade and for some years he packed coal on a mule a distance of ten miles for his shop, though there was a nine-foot vein under his own farm. Henry Strickler died January 14, 1840, at the age of .seventy-seven. His old home was willed to his son Henry, Jr., who died February 10, 1894, and from him it passed to his son George W., whose widow still owns the old place.

Jacob D. Strickler, father of Elder Strickler, secured a one-third share in the estate. Within the recollection of Elder Strickler the first sale of coal without the land was sold for cooking manufacture by his father. That was the first sale in the great Pittsburg district for cooking. Jacob Strickler died in Pennsylvania at the age of eishty-one. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren or Dunkards. His wife, Rhumy Wood, was a daughter of Capt. Abina Wood. Captain Wood was born July 7, 1777, in Cumberland County. New Jersey, son of Jonathan Wood, who remained a Royalist during the Revolutionary war. Abina Wood inherited the old farm, but for many years was a navigator and was sailing master for vessels owned by the noted" Stephen Girard

Heni-y Wood Strickler arrived at Quincy IMareh 13, 1854. His brother Lewis had come to Adams County in March, 1851, and Henry lived with his brother in Honey Creek Township for two years. On June 6, 1856, he married Nancy Jane Hai-dy, who was born February 24, 1835, in Keene Township of Adams County. Her father. Baptist Hardy, made the second purchase of land in Keene Township, this land being in section 36. He helped to organize the county into townships, and was the first supervisor of Keene Town.ship. He married Tamar Patterson, of Tennessee.

Henry W. Strickler was 50 cents in debt w^hen he reached Quincy. He had to borrow 50 cents at St. Louis to pay his fare, and the first two days work he did was cutting hazelbush at 50 cents a day. On Saturday afternoon he walked nine miles to repay his creditor. He then continued work for three months at $13 a month, and continued in this general way until his marriage.

He set up his home in section 29 with 117 acres of uncleared land and went in debt for the entire purchase. His first home was a little house of poles and boards containing two rooms. His first home was burned in 1876, and he then built the house which is still standing and is a credit to the community. He acquii-ed 217 acres and made it one of the fine farms of the Township, ilr. Strickler retired from farming in 1906, after having spent fifty years on one place.

He first took up the ministry of the Church of the Brethren in 1876, when he w^as ordained, and for over thirty years he gave much of his time and energies to the work. As is customary in this church, the ministers serve without salary, and Mr. Strickler went even further than that and paid practically all his expenses even when on evangelical trips to distant communities. His first church was at Liberty, but in 1881, through his efforts, was organized the church at Loraine of fourteen members. Many of the early meetings of this denomination were held in school houses and other public buildings, and also in the barn and house of Mr. Strickler himself. The church at Loraine was begun April 1, 1882, and was dedicated November 16, 1882. The house was built by his own hands, and he furnished three-fourths of the money for the building. Elder Strickler was in charge of several other churches in surrounding counties, and he did evangelistic work in all the states from Pennsylvania west to Nebraska. Six years ago he was given the position of a superannuated minister. His wife, who died April 26, 1911, after they had lived together fifty-five years, was an assistant elderess and equally zealous in church work. 'Sir. Strickler was ordained an elder or bishop of his church December 22, 1881. He has been a delegate to annual conferences some thirteen times and has attended more than twenty district conferences. He is a fluent speaker, thoroughly learned on Gospel and Bible history, and is a writer who wields a facile pen in both prose and^verse.

September 9, 1914, Elder Strickler married for his second wife Mrs. Eliza Hooker, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His five children by his first wife are' as follows : Baptist H., who is a minister also, married Ida Ecldy now dead, and he lives with his father; Emma, wife of M. F. Curless, of Keene Township; Charles, a railroad man living at Loraine, married Addie Baggerly; Fannie, who died at the age of thirty, wife of William 0. Thompson ; and Henry C. who married Florence Turner and lives on the old home farm.

Frank Shriver. Of the men in the prime of life who are carrying the hea^y burdens of Adams County agriculture one whose position deserves special mention is Frank Shriver of Ursa Township. He is proprietor of a fine farm of 160 acres in section 32 of that township. The land is well drained and rolling, and has every improvement that a first class farmer needs. The buildings are all substantial, including a modem eight-room house. Mr. Shriver bought

He is a native of Adams County and has lived hei'e all his life. He was born in Mendon Township January 11, 1871. As a boy he attended the local schools there and his early training led him to take up and successfully conduct the business of farming. His parents were Louis and Catherine (Wagamann) Shriver. Both were born in about the same locality of Germany, were acquainted as children, and were married after they came to Adams County, on March 5, 1857. They had little or nothing to begin on, and going into the woods of Mendon Township they practically hewed a farm out of the wilderness and by hard work made a substantial living for themselves and their children. They had two farms in the township. They died on the second place, in section 26, the father on May 13, 1890, at the age of seventy, and the mother on August 19, 1896, aged sixty-foiir. They were laid side by side in the cemetei-y in Mendon Township. Both were devout Lutherans and the father was a democrat. Of their children Henry is now deceased, and left a widow and one son and three daughters ; Louis is a resident of Ursa Township, is married and has two sons; Leonard is a widower living in Ellington Townsliip, and the father of two sons and two daughters; AYilliam died in infancy; Louise Catherine lives in East St. Louis, widow of Victor Waddick, and has a son and daughter; another daughter, Catherine, died in infancy.

Frank Shriver married in Mendon Township March 23, 1898, Miss Mattie Myers. She was born in Mendon Township December 3, 1878, and she and her Imsband were schoolmates in the Elm Grove School. Her parents were John H. and Emma (Evans) Myers. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania of German ancestry, and was brought to Quincy when young by his parents. He grew up and married in Quincy, where his wife was born. Emma Evans was of "Welsh parentage. John Myers after his marriage started fanning on a small place, but in course of time developed a good home in Mendon Township. He died there in 1913, when sixty-three years of age, while his widow is still living. Both were members of the United Brethren Church at Fowler. ]\Irs. Shriver has two brothers and two sisters still living. Etta lives in Adams County, the widow of William Daugherty, and has one daughter. Frank is a farmer in Mendon Township, is man-ied but has no children. Samuel also a Mendon Township farmer, is the father of one son and two daughters. Gertrude is the wife of E. B. Dudley, of Mendon Township, and they have one daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Shriver have a daughter, Ada M., born June 1. 1902, now in the .second year of the Quincy High School. Their son, John Willis, was born February 26,'l906, and is now in the fifth grade of the country schools, ilr. Shriver is a democratic voter.

Frank J. Tenk, vice pi-esident of the Tenk Hardware Company, has with his older brother, Rudolph, now president and treasurer of the company, been identified with this monumental business of Quincy from early boyhood.

Mr. Tenk was born in Quincy May 12, 1878, has always lived here, and was educated in the parochial schools and the Gem City Business College. Even when in school he acquired mi\ch knowledge and experience in the store of his father and uncle, and about twenty years ago became one of the active members of the firm. He was finally elected secretarA- of the corporation, and a few years ago became vice president, in charge of the sales department. I\Ir. Frank J. Tenk is a master of sales organization, and has done much to extend the fame of his house over all the territorj^ of the Mississippi Valley.

He married Adelaide Hoeveler, of Chicago. Mrs. Tenk was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and finished her education in a convent, supplemented by two years of travel in Europe. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Curry) Hoeveler. Her father was born in Germany and died twenty-five years ago. Her mother was a native of Scotland but was reared in America, and is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Tenk. ;\Ir. Tenk has always been active in all movements for the promotion of Quiuey's welfare and growth. Pour daughters have been born to their marriage : Virginia A., a student in the Sacred Heart Academy at St. Louis; ilaiy A. and Ruth, both students in St. Marj-'s Convent at Quincy: and Clara L.

Rudolph Tenk. In the Commercial Historj- of Quincy "The House of Tenk" takes a prominent place, because it has done much to bring before the people of the Central Mississippi Valley the prominence of Quincy. For half a century the influence and power of this house has been gi-owing throughout the Mississippi Valley. Thousands know Quincy as the home of the Tenk Hardware Company.

The business was established in 1865, now more than half a centur}- ago, by two brothers, Henry and John H. Tenk. They were men of sturdy character, of good business ability and judgment. They started modesth' with a small capital, which consisted of the savings accumulated during their boyhood dajs, and with which they started a small retail hardware store.

The finn was known as H. & J. H. Tenk. Their first location was at 516 Maine Street, which is two doors east of what is now devoted exclusively to tlie retail branch of the business. In 1874 they removed to 512 Maine Street. About 1880 they started a wholesale department, which has shown constant growth, and every year has witnessed some important increase and extension.

Besides the large four-story building at 512 ilain Street, the company occupies a large four-stoiy building at 121, 123 and 125 South Fifth Street, also a large five-storj- warehouse located in the rear of the Fifth Sti'eet buildiug. In addition to this the company has another warehouse in the same block, and another one at Sixth and Jersey streets, with railroad side track.

Early in the year 1918 the Tenk Hardware Company bought the building and the stock of heavj' hardware of tlie Fischer Iron & Steel Company, in which building their wholesale offices and general wholesale department are now located.

The Tenk Hardware Company is toda.y the largest hardware business between St. Louis, St. Paul. Kansas City and Chicago. They employ regularly a force of ten traveling salesmen, and their force of employes consists of about sixty people.

In addition to their line of general hardware they carry a large line of sporting goods, and a very large stock of automobile accessories and supplies, including supplies for trucks and tractors, in addition to which they carry a complete stock of iron, steel, heavy hardware and blacksmith supplies.

The late Henry Tenk was president of the business until liis death. He was one of Quincy 's greatest business builders. More is said of him on other pages of this publication. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by the community it may be mentioned that lengthy resolutions of respect were drawn up by various organizations, including the hardware merchants of Quincy. Resolutions by these merchants were drawn up by a committee consisting of August C. Stroot, Julius L. Klemme and Charles H. Cottrell.

The president of the company at the present time is Rudolph Tenk, a son of the late Heniy Tenk. He and his brother Frank after finishing their education in the schools of Quincy literally grew up in the business of their father, and have been in active management during the last twenty years.

Rudolph Tenk was born in Quincy April 2, 1872. He received his education in the city schools, after which he entered the business where he has been engaged ever since. Owing to the close attention required by this growing business he has never found time to engage actively in outside interests, nor has he ever taken an active part in politics.

i\Iourit Stei'ling, Illinois. She is a daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Adams) Hagel. Her father was born in this country. Her mother was born in Alsace- LoiTaine, of German and French ancestors. She, with her parents, immigrated to this country when she was still a child. Mr. and Mrs. Tenk have two children, Gertrude E., who after finishing her course at the Notre Dame Acaderaj' of this city graduated from Notre Dame College in Baltimore, ilarylaud, and Pauline Ann, after completing her course at the Notre Dame Academy here is now attending the University of Chicago.

Frederick Eisenberg is a most worthy old time citizen of Adams County. He came here poor, married a girl who came from Germany at the same time, and by their thrifty co-operation and unceasing diligence they bought and paid for a farm home, provided for their children, and have lived to see them all comfortably situated and near enough so that there arc regular annual family gatherings every Christmas and holiday season. Mr., Eisenberg is now living retired on North Fifth Street in Riverside Township, just outside the city limits of Quincy.

He was born in Waldeck, Germany. January 3, 18t7. His early life was spent on a farm. He came to the United States in 1869 and was attracted to Adams County by the presence of his uncle, "William Eisenberg, who had come to Quincy several years before and was a teamster in that city. William Eisenberg, who died at the age oS seventy-two, married Mary Bangert. This uncle paid for Fred's passage, and the latter on reaching Adams County at once found farm work, his wages being .$14 in the winter and $18 in the summer. He went along in this way for four years, acquiring a knowledge of the American language and business conditions, and saving all he could with a view to marrying the girl who came over with him on the same ship, and who was also industriouslj' working with the same happy event in mind. Her maiden name was Louisa Miller, and she came from the' same locality of Germany. She was employed as a domestic in Quincy until November 11, 1872, when they were happily married.

Mr. and Mrs. Eisenberg started out a.s renters, having enough between them to buy household goods and a good team. For about eleven years they rented land, and then went in debt for a 120 acre farm on North Thirty-Sixth Street in Ellington Township. The purchase price was $100. That was a high price to pay for land at that time, and many friends tried to persuade ilr. Eisenberg, saying that he could not make it. But he did that and more, too, though it took many j'ears. He handled his land as a stock and grain farm, had to put in much of his profits for buildings .improvements, and it was fifteen or twenty years before he could feel relieved of debt. At that time he had a tine farm, and felt that he was more than recompensed for his labors and sacrifices. Eight years ago Mr. Eisenberg left the farm and has since lived on a small place, with every comfort desired by him and his good wife.

They had a family of ten children to reach maturity. Ida married John Ivessel and died in Missouri at the age of thirty-nine, leaving seven children. Fred is a farmer near Taylor, Missouri. Wilce, a twin brother of Fred, died at the age of nineteen. Charles is in the same vicinity as Fred. Mary married C. J. Hyer, of Payson Township. Henry also lives near Taylor, Missouri. Louis is a farmer in Fall Creek Township. Leonard has his home in Quincy. George is on the old homestead on Thirty-Sixth Street. Albert lives on Twenty- Fourth Street in Riverside Township. Mr. and ^Irs. Eisenberg also have twenty-two grandchildi-en. He is a democratic voter and a faithful and consistent member of St. John's Lutheran Church at Quincy.

Daniet^ Ertet. is proprietor of one of the first class money making diversitied farms of Columbus Township, located in section 5. It is well improved, with a substantial seven-room house, barn of large capacity, and the land not under

Mr. Ertel has lived on this farm since he was eighteen months old. It is therefore endeared to him by many associations apart from its actual value. He was born in the city of Quincy, on State Street, August 27, 1859, son of Daniel and Maria (Luckcnbiel) Ertel. His parents were both born in Gennany. They came as young people b.y sailing vessel to New Orleans and up the ]\Iississippi River to Quincy, and were married in that city. They lived there some years. Daniel Ertel, Sr., was a millwright by trade, but later took up general carpentry and house building for a number of years. Still later he moved to Columbus Township, bought a farm, put up a new house and other buildings, and besides using his mechanical skill to add value to the farm he was equally successful on the agi-icultural side. He bought more land from time to time until he owned about 400 acres in Columbus Township. His wife died there about thirty years ago. He passed away in 1898 at Quincy, where he had lived among his children for a couple of years. He was then eighty-five years of age, and retained all his faculties until his last serious illness. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church.

Daniel Ertel, Jr., was one of eight children, tive sous and three daughtere. One son and one daughter died after their marriage. The other six are all married and all have children. One of them lives in California, another in JVIissouri, and four are still in Adams County.

Daniel Ertel grew up on the old farm and attended the local schools. For many yeai-s he has owned in his own right 208 acres of the homestead, and most of the improvements are of his own making. In Camp Point Township he married Miss Maria Shuhart, who was born at Warsaw, Hancock County, Illinois, in March, 1867, but after the age of twelve completed her education at Camp Point. Mr. and Mrs. Ertel have two children, Beulah M. and Elmer E., the latter ten yeai-s of age. Beulah is the wife of Ilai'ry Heimbauch, and they now live on and own a 16b-acre farm in Cass County, Iowa. Mrs. Ertel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Columbus, and all the family attend worship there. Mr. Ertel is a democrat and has filled the office of tov\^lship clerk.

Julius Kespohl. One of the most accomplished and able business men of Adams County, Julias Kespohl is prominently identified with the commercial alfairs of Quincy, and as head of the mercantile house of Kespohl-Mohrenstecher Company is contributing in no small measure toward the progi-ess and prosperity of his home city. A son of the late Juliiis Kespohl, Sr., he was born in Quincy, August 4, 1871.

His father, Julius Kespohl, Sr., a native of AA^estphalia, Germany, when a mere child was brought to America by his parents, who settled first in St. Louis, ^Missouri, in 1851, and five years later removed to Quincy, Illinois.

After completing his higher education in St. Louis, the senior Mr. Kespohl was apprenticed to the dry goods Inisiness in Quincy, going later to St. Louis and returning to Quincy in 18G2. When only eighteen years of age he embarked in the retail dry goods business here on his own account in partnership with an elder brother, Louis, and Edwai'd Arntzen, a brother of Senator Bernard Arntzen. Later ilr. Kespohl bought out the interest of his partners and conducted the business alone until 1871, when he generously turned this established business over to two of his employes, Frederick W. Halbach and Henry H. Schroeder, and entered the exclusive wholesale dry goods business.

This business was a tremendous success from the very beginning, the organization including many men who aftenvards acquired a national reputation in the dry goods field, and the business was at one time recognized as the largest in the West outside of St. Louis. Missouri.

Later, when the firm of Field and Leiter of Chicago was dissolved, an effort was made to induce Mr. Kespohl to join with Mr. Leiter in organizing a new large wholesale dry goods business there, but his loyalty to Quincy influenced

He was one of the organizers and first president of the Quincy National Bank, and was appointed by the governor to represent the State of Illinois at the Vienna Exposition. He traveled extensively abroad, and while there was several times presented at court.

The maiden name of the wife of Julius Kespohl, Sr., was Fredrica Sien. She was born at Bad Saehsa, Duchy of Brunswick, and in 1852, at the age of four years, came with her parents to Quincy, where she is still residing. To her and her husband f6ur children were born, as follows : Anna, the wife of Otto A. Mohrenstecher ; Julius, the special subject of this brief .sketch; Ada, living at home ; and Margaretlie, the wife of Oliver B. Williams, of Quincy, Illinois.

Returning to the sub.ject of this "sketch,- Julius Kespohl, after a coi^rse in the Quincy High School he was graduated witli highest honors from both the classical and scientific departments of the Glenwood Military Institute at ^latawan, New Jersey. Returning to Quincy, he entered his father's store and remained there imtil 1899. Going abroad in that year, Mr. Kespohl took a post graduate course at University College, London, England, and later advanced his knowledge of philosophy and literature at Oxford University, Oxford, England.

In 1901 he resumed his mercantile pursuits in Quinc}', becoming secretary and treasurer of the Kespohl-ilohrenstecher Company, a corporation comprised of his father, Julius Kespohl, Sr., his brother-in-law 0. A. Mohrenstecher, and himself, and one of the foremost mercantile establishments of its kind in the .state.

The study of European governments while abroad led 'Sir. Kespohl to see the many imperfections in our own government and its administration, and he became greatly interested in governmental reform. Realizing that much of the inefficiency and corruption in our government is due to the failure of citizens to discharge the responsibility of citizenship, Mr. Kespohl became active in politics with a view to arousing the voters to a realization of their civic responsibility. Through this activity in politics some public recognition came to him. and in 1904 he became superintendent of the Illinois Building at the St. Louis Exposition. In 1908 he was one of the two presidential electors-at-large on the republican ticket in Illinois and in 1909 was appointed by Governor Deueen as a memlier of the State Board of Equalization to succeed the late John S. Cruttenden deceased.

]Mr. Kespohl was influential in the republican party for many years, several times serving as chairman of the Adams County Central Committee, but in 1912, feeling completely out of sympathy with the dominant standards of the republican party and feeling that no relief from the corruption and inefficiency of government was possible through the medium of either of the old parties, he entered the movement for tlie organization of the progressive party and served upon its Executive Committee in this state, organizing some sixteen or seventeen counties in the western part of the state in its interest. In 1914 he became that party's candidate for Congress in the Fifteenth Congressional district.

He has been for many years a director of the Civic Improvement League of Quincy and the Quincy Park and Boulevard Association, and is a member of a number of national organizations such as the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the National Economic League, the League of Free Nations Association, the National Geographic Association, tlie National Humane Society and the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. He is a charter member of tlie local cliapter of the Red Cross Society, is on its Board of Directors and is a member of its Executive Committee. Fraternally ilr. Kespohl belongs to the A ncient Free and Accepted Order of Masons and the Knights of Pythias. Religiously, true to the faith in which he was reared, he is a Unitarian.

John C. Vogel, who is now living retired in his beautiful country home in Melrose Township, has been a factor in this section of Adams County' for many years. His associates speak of ilr. Vogel as a man, meaning thereby not only his physical strength but strength of determination, of purposeful conduct, and of notable public spirit disphued in his effort to advance wherever possible the welfare of the community'.

He is one of the older native sons of Adams County and was born here April 3, 1848, so that he is now at the age of three score and ten. He w-as the oldest of six children, three sons and four daughters, whose parents were Louis and Elizabeth ("\Yeidemann) Vogel. The other children are still living: Regina, wife of Adam Helfrich, of Quincy, living in Quincy, widow of Adam Shope; Elizabeth, of Quincy; Mary, wife of Joseph Eiff, of Quincy; and Anton, who is married and a farmer in ^Melrose Township.

Louis Yogel was born in Alsace, Germany. "When nine j'ears old he came with his parents to the United States, the voyage lasting for eight or ten weeks before they reached New Orleans. From there they came up the river to Quincy, and the family settled 120 acres of timbered land in Melrose Township. They endured the discomforts of life in a log cabin home for some years, and in clearing away the woods and tilling the land into cultivation they contributed a laborious and worthy share to what Adams County now represents in the way of agricultural development. Louis Vogel w^as educated in the German language and gave his active years to agricultural pui-suits. He was a democrat, and he and his wife were members of St. Antonius Catholic parish. His wife was born near the City of Bremen, Germany.

John C. Vogel was born and reared in Adams County and was educated in both the German and English schools. He had a comfortable home during his youth but when he started out in life for himself he took no capital with him and had to earn every step of advancement for himself. After he married he and his wife put up witli the barest comforts of existence until they could get and pay for better things, and the farm where Mr. Vogel lives today, comprising eighty-four acres of good land on the State Aid road, is a monument to the years of toil and self denial of both himself and wife.

In April. 1874, he married Miss Mary Kreger. Five children, three sons and two daughters, were born to them, and all are living. John C, Jr., who had his education in the parochial schools, has developed much ability as a practical farmer, is active manager of his father's estate, and en.joys a good name and reputation in the community. He married October 9, 1912, Miss Regina Meyer, who was born in Adams County August 13, 1881, and was educated in the parochial schools. Her father is a resident of Melrose Township. She and her husband are active members of St. Antonius parish, and he is a member of St. Anthony's Branch No. 51, while she is active in the Christian Mothers' Society.

The daughter Elizabeth is the wife of Joseph Sohn, of Quincy, and lias three children, Johnnie, Clara and Alice. The next in age, Catherine, married Fred Zehnle, a farmer of Melrose Township, and they have a little daughter, Irma. Anthony, the fourth child, is employed at the Soldiers' Home at Quincy, and married Miss Clara Talken.' Henry, the youngest of the family, is a farmer in Melrose Township, and by his marriage to Miss Catherine Wand has two cliildren, Boniface and Elizabeth. All the children are members of St. Antonius parish.

Mrs. John C. Vogel was born in Adams County in 185.5 and died November 2, 1892. She was a kind and loving wife and mother and poor people always found in her a friend in time of need. A handsome monument in St. Antonius Cemetery marks her last resting place.

A number of years ago ]\Ir. Vogel bought forty acres of his present farm, and later he bought the interest of other heirs, going heavily in debt, paying high interest, and only as a result of energy, toil and economy did he establish his present home and provide so liberally for his growing famil.v. He has always taken a keen interest in community improvements, especially good highways". He is a democratic voter and is a member of St. Nicholas Branch No. 1 of the Western Catholic Union at Quincy. His farm is well adapted to grain

Bernard H. Miller. By reason of a continuous service and work as a pharmacist and druggist for over fifty years, Bernard H. Miller undoubtedly is the dean of his profession in this city, and probably more people know his name and his store than any other local institution in the business district.

In his long and successful career a tremendous amount of energy' has been developed and successfully directed by this Qviincy man, who was born at Norden, Germanj', January 4, 1848, and was brought as an infant by his parents to America. The Miller family located at Quincy April 15, 1850. Here he first became conscious of the realities of existence. The playtime of youth was not long with him, and his schooling was confined to a few brief terms. One of his early experiences as a boy was selling newspapers on the McCune line of packets during the Civil war.

One of the most important dates in his history was March 1, 1864. It was on that day that he went to work in the drug store of Adolph Zimmerman at 504 Hampshire Street. The next fall he found employment in the laboratory of Jacob S. Merrill in St. Louis, and found opportunities for wider expei-ience and training later in the laboratories of E. J. Williamson in the same city. Mr. Miller was one of the original members of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Eeturning to Quiucy in 1866, he went to work as pharmacist for Rutherford, Hurlbert & Company, later with Sommer & Metz, until about three yeai^s later he formed a partnership with George Terdenge and bought a store at Ninth and Broadway. In 1874 the business was organized under the firm name of Sommer, Miller & Terdenge, and they established a store at 502 Maine Street, where they conducted the largest retail drug house in Quincy. Various changes have been made from time to time in the firm. In 1875 Allaert Sellner took the place of Mr. Sommer in the firm, and on January 1, 1884, W. H. Arthur bought out the Terdenge interest. On January 1, 1889. ]\Iiller & Arthur became sole proprietors of the business.

In 1900 the Miller & Arthur Drug Company was incorporated, electing B. H. Miller as president, which position he has held ever since. In 1916 the drug business of ililler & Arthur Drug Company moved to 520-522 Maine Street.

It is not alone through the drug business that Mr. Miller has made an impress upon the life and affairs of Quincy. He was one of the organizers of the original Board of Commerce. He was also a member of the committee which organized the public demonstration when the Quincy Soldiers' Home was dedicated, and for a number of years his services were called to the front to assist in making a success of practically every public demonstration and of public cause undertaken in the city. He was chairman of the committee which in ten days raised the fund of $100,000 for the Young Men's Christian Association Building in March, 1911.

Mr. Miller married twice. On June 6, 1872, he was married to Harriet Henshall, of Quincy, Illinois. They became the parents of two daughters and one son. The two daughters, Mrs. Cora A. Rapp, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Mrs. Toma H. Gilbert, of Chicago, Illinois, are survivors of this first marriage. The son, Bernard H., Jr., passed away in 1914. Mr. Miller's present wife was formerly Mrs. P. H. Connelly, of Red Bluff, California.

J. 'WiLLL\M Loos. The farm now owned and occupied by J. William Loos as his home and place of business is on the township line between Melrose and Fall Creek, his home being in the former township. Competent judges speak of it as one of the best farms in that productive section. It contains a set of splendid buildings, and much of the present condition is due to the industry and good judgment of Mr. Loos.

and several other members of his relationship are referred to on other pages of this publication. Mr. Loos was bom on the old Loos farm in this county August 8, 1870, and he is a son of Frederick Loos. He grew up on a farm, gained his education in the local schools, and at the age of twenty-four started independent farming as a renter. Then in 1896 he bought eighty acres of the William Wand farm of 200 acres. He had only $2,500 in capital and went in debt hea\'ily for the balance. He has made money through horses and cattle and general farming, and long since paid off his obligations upon it. He also has additional land formerly owned by his wife's father, William Speckhart. Mr. Loos remodeled the house and has continued many other improvements from the condition in which they were left by the former owner.