St. Clair County IL Genealogy

Biography of Henry Babel

Henry Babel, deceased, formerly proprietor of the celebrated springs which bear his name, and which are now the property of his widow, was born near Hanover, Germany, on August 2, 1826. In 1845 he immigrated with his parents to America, and settled in Lebanon, Illinois, where his father and mother both died within a year. After their decease Henry went to St. Louis, Missouri, and on October 8, 1849, he married Miss Elizabeth Holadway, a native of Tennessee, a descendant of Scotch ancestry on her father’s side, and English on her mother’s. Early in May, 1850, Mr. Babel and his … Read more

Biography of Hon. Orlando B. Ficklin

Hon. Orlando B. Ficklin, attorney at law, Charleston; he was born in Kentucky Dec. 16, 1808, being the son of William and Elizabeth Kenner (Williams) Ficklin, both of Virginia. His early education was obtained in country schools, in Kentucky and Missouri, except about one year, which he spent at Cumberland College, located at Princeton, Caldwell Co., Ky., under the auspices of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His parents having removed to Potosi, Washington Co., Mo., he commenced the study of law with Henry Shurlds of that place, who was afterward elected to the Circuit Court bench, and at a later period … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William R. Parker

William R. Parker, deceased farmer; born in Anderson Co., Ky., March 27, 1823; he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 1828, where he lived until 18 years of age, when he went to St. Clair, Co., Ill., and engaged in fanning two years, then to Minnesota, where he followed logging, rafting and milling for three years; returning to Illinois, he, with his brother, worked at blacksmithing one year, when, in 1848, he engaged in farming in Edgar Co., which business he followed until 1854, when he removed to Coles Co., and rented land, which … Read more

Biography of Louis J. Oatman, M. D.

Dr. Louis J. Oatman, physician and surgeon of St. Louis, was born December 13, 1874, in O’Fallon, Illinois, a son of Dr. Charles R. Oatman, whose birth occurred in Belleville, Illinois, and who was of French descent. The grandfather was Dr. Christopher Lorenzo Oatman, a native of Alsace, France, when he came to America in 1832, settling in Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois, where he resided till the time of his death in 1846. He was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and practiced his profession as a well known and capable physician and surgeon of … Read more

The Osage Massacre

When the treaty council with the Osage at Fort Gibson broke up in disagreement on April 2, 1833, three hundred Osage warriors under the leadership of Clermont departed for the west to attack the Kiowa. It was Clermont’s boast that he never made war on the whites and never made peace with his Indian enemies. At the Salt Plains where the Indians obtained their salt, within what is now Woodward County, Oklahoma, they fell upon the trail of a large party of Kiowa warriors going northeast toward the Osage towns above Clermont’s. The Osage immediately adapted their course to that pursued by their enemies following it back to what they knew would be the defenseless village of women, children, and old men left behind by the warriors. The objects of their cruel vengeance were camped at the mouth of Rainy-Mountain Creek, a southern tributary of the Washita, within the present limits of the reservation at Fort Sill.

Duby, William – Obituary

Baker, Oregon William Duby, former chairman of the Oregon State Highway commission died at his home in Baker last Tuesday night and funeral services were held at the Christian Church, Baker, Friday afternoon, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Duby was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. In August 1861, said the Baker Democrat Herald. He went to Nebraska with his mother in 1865 and lived in the eastern part of that state until he was 22 years old. Mr. Duby was married to Mary E. Bissell in Wahoo, Saunders County, Nebraska, October 5, 1895. The young couple … Read more

U-Z Surnames – 1818 St. Clair County, Illinois Census

Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves Updike, Tilbert 168 01-01-00-00 Valuntine, Franceway 168 01-08-00-00 Vanosdol, Simon 168 14-05-00-05 Vanosdole, Richard 168 01-08-00-00 Vanwinkle, Job 168 01-07-00-00 Varner, Abraham 168 01-05-00-00 Vaudry, Dunn 168 02-03-00-00 Vaudry, Louis 168 02-02-00-00 Vaudry, Margerit 168 00-09-00-00 Venturs, Asa 168 01-05-00-00 Vineyard, Philip 168 01-05-00-00 Vineyard, William 168 01-02-00-00 Virgin, Brice 168 02-05-00-00 Virgin, William 168 01-03-00-00 … Read more

Biography of Paul Klein, Hon.

Hon. Paul Klein. In the record of business achievements of Allen County’s citizens, the name of Paul Klein occupies a most conspicuous place. His admirable efforts have not only contributed to the growth and development of Iola, of which city he had been a resident since 1903, but his career in regard to public service had been a decidedly creditable one and places him high in the esteem of his fellow citizens. He was a pioneer homesteader in Kansas in 1886, when he located in Ness County, and his life had ranged in its scope from residence in a sod … Read more

Biography of Theodore F. Ismert

Theodore F. Ismert, president of the Ismert-Hincke Milling Company of Kansas City, Kansas, is a director and controlling factor in the great milling industries of the Missouri Valley. He and his family have been prominently identified with flour milling in this and other states of the Middle West for over half a century. The Ismerts are of French lineage. Theodore F. Ismert was born at his father’s home in Lebanon, Illinois, February 10, 1866, the oldest of five children. Only two are now living, his sister being Mrs. Hincke. Their parents were John and Amelia (Berrard) Ismert, both natives of … Read more

Biography of Bernhard Warkentin

Bernhard Warkentin was born June 18, 1847, in the Village of Altonan, situate in Southern Russia, just north of the Crimea. His parents belonged to the Mennonites–followers of Menno Simon, a sect originating in Holland, migrating to Prussia, thence to Russia in 1783 when the Turkish government ceded to Russia the Crimea and Empress Catherine h of Russia induced them to colonize her new possession by offering them allotments of land, religious freedom and immunity from military service for 100 years. His father, Bernhard Warkentin, Sr., was born in Southern Russia in 1816. His mother–nee Tiesen–was born the same year … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Farrar

J. W. Farrar, farmer and stock; P. O. Mattoon; the subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina, near Charleston, March 4, 1827. He married Miss Ann M. Talbot Oct. 12, 1851; she was born in Henderson Co., Ky., Oct. 9, 1832; they had eight children, two living, viz., Joseph F. and Lizzie A. He lived about eighteen months in South Carolina, when, with his parents, he moved to Perry Co., Mo., where he engaged in the warehouse and wood business; he lived here with his parents about six months, when, with his grandparents, he went to Illinois and … Read more

Biography of Irving H. Boemer, M.D.

Dr. Irving H. Boemer, a St. Louis physician, with offices 1n the Metropolitan building, was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, September 13, 1889. His father, Henry Boemer, was also born in St. Clair county, while the paternal grandfather was a native of Germany. Henry Boemer is now living retired and makes his home in St. Louis. In early manhood he wedded Katherine Merod, who was born in St. Clair county and is a representative of an old French family. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boemer was celebrated in 1887 and they became the parents of two eons … Read more

The Didier Family of Prairie du Rocher Illinois

Our country, which has been called the melting-pot of nations, has received citizens from every quarter of the known world. All races and peoples have sent their representatives to swell the numbers of our population. And of all these nations none has done more for America than France. Who can ever forget that it was the courageous Frenchmen who first penetrated the wilds of the new world, and, not content with a mere sailing along the coast, ascended its rivers and explored the interior of an unknown and dreaded wilderness? They settled vast areas such as the Mississippi Valley, which … Read more

Biography of Alonzo Leo Fitzporter, M. D.

Dr. Alonzo Leo Fitzporter, physician and surgeon of St. Louis, in which city he was born July 23, 1884, is a son of Dr. John L. Fitzporter, who passed away June 15, 1915, at the age of seventy-six years, having long figured prominently as a representative of the medical profession in this city. Dr. A. L. Fitzporter attended the parochial schools of St. Louis and afterward became a student in the St. Louis University, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1906 and then entered upon his medical course, winning his M. D. degree in … Read more

S-T Surnames – 1818 St. Clair County, Illinois Census

Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves Schenbarger, Batise 166 02-04-00-00 Schenbarger, Lawrence 166 02-03-00-00 Scott, Alexander 166 01-08-01-00 Scott, John, Jr. 166 01-01-00-00 Scott, John, Sr. 166 02-06-00-00 Scott, Joseph 167 01-08-00-00 Scott, Samuel 165 03-05-00-00 Scott, Samuel 166 01-08-00-00 Scott, William, Jr. 165 01-10-00-00 Scott, William, Sr. 165 01-08-00-00 Sharp, Jonathan 165 01-01-00-00 Sharp, Samul 165 01-03-00-00 Shook, Aaron 165 01-05-00-00 … Read more

Biography of Mark A. Leftwich

One of the well known newspaper men of the state is Mark A. Leftwich, proprietor of the Coweta Times-Star. He was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in May, 1852, a son of Thomas and Maria (Warwick) Leftwich, natives of Virginia. The father was an extensive planter and he served as Major in the Confederate army for three years. He was discharged at the termination of that time, because of poor health and he then went to Missouri, locating in Carrollton, Carroll county, where he became a dentist. He practiced there, enjoying substantial success, until his death, at the age of … Read more

Biography of Francis Xavier Paquet

FRANCIS X. PAQUET. – Francis Xavier Paquet, son of Joseph Paquet and Marie Madaline Godant, was born in the parish of Saint John, about thirty miles west of Quebec, at the junction of the Jacquarka river with the St. Lawrence. Joseph Paquet was a stonemason by trade, but lived on a farm and took jobs of stonework. He was the father of eighteen children, nine boys and nine girls. F.X. Paquet, the sixteenth child in order, was born on the fifteenth day of January, 1811. He learned the trade of shipbuilding at Quebec, being apprenticed to Peter Labbe when not … Read more

Biography of Frank Dekum

For many years the subject of this sketch has occupied a commanding position in the commercial and financial history of Portland. His career and achievements forcibly illustrate what may be accomplished by one who pursues earnest purposes and makes right use of his opportunities. Coming to Portland before it had outgrown the limits of an insignificant hamlet, he has grown with its growth until to-day he is one of the leading men of finance in the metropolis of Oregon. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 5, 1829. At the age of eight years he accompanied his parents to America, … Read more

Biography of Alexander T. Primm, Jr.

Alexander T. Primm, Jr., widely known as a substantial citizen of St. Louis, thoroughgoing, reliable and energetic, is now a vice president of the J. Kennard & Sons Carpet Company, having entered the employ of the company on October 2, 1882. He was born in Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois, April 12, 1864, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of that locality. His ancestral history is an interesting one. The Primm family are descended from Alexander De La Pryme, a gentleman of the town of Ypres, France, who was granted a patent of gentility by the … Read more

Biography of Millard Fillmore Wood

Millard Fillmore Wood. A little more than forty years age Millard F. Wood came to Montgomery County, a young school teacher. While he taught school for a time, he also interested himself in improving a homestead claim, and afterwards advanced rapidly in business and also in politics. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Ideal Supply Company. An Illinois man by birth, he was born at Aviston, Clinton County, November 12, 1850. His grandfather, Wiley Wood, was born in Virginia in 1791, and was a farmer and one of the early circuit riders of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In … Read more