Macoupin County

Ephraim Beldam is living on a good farm on section 15, Bunker Hill Township, about one mile north of the city of Bunker Hill, at which place he recently settled and where he owns seventy acres of good land well improved. Dr. Beldam formerly lived in the city of Bunker Hill. He has lived in the county for fifteen years and has owned different farms and conducted them successfully. Dr. Beldam came to Bunker Hill from Kansas City where he was variously engaged during eight years in the poultry and egg business and dealing for a time in horses. Dr. … Read more

Julius Behme, Jr. This gentleman who is the original of this sketch owns a good farm located on section 21, Nilwood Township. He is of German parentage and birth and now is in the meridian of life, having been born April 2, 1840, in Brunswick, Germany. The early years of his life were spent in his native place where he received the drill in technical as well as mental education that is an indispensable adjunct in German school life. When fifteen years of age he emigrated with his parents to America. His father was Julius Behme, and his mother Anna … Read more

Benjamin A. Beckner. Virginia has for years boasted of being the birthplace of some of our most prominent men and indeed it is no small honor to have given to the world such men as Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Clay and Lee. There is always a satisfaction in associating one’s self, even in a remote way with those who have accomplished so much in making our country one of the grandest that time has ever known. Our subject, who resides on section 14, North Otter Township, is a native of Virginia. His father, John Beckner, was also there born and his … Read more

Lewis F. Becker, of the firm of J. G. Becker & Son, contractors and builders, was born in St. Louis Mo., July 1, 1854. He is the eldest son of J. G. and Catherine Becker, of whom we read more in the father’s sketch which precedes this. He was only seven years old when he came to Virden with his parents and here he attended the public school steadily until he reached the age of fifteen. He then commenced work with his father at the carpenter’s trade and when he reached his majority became a partner with his father in … Read more

John George Becker of the firm of J. G. Becker & Son, of Virden, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1828, June 15, being his natal day. His father, John Phillip Becker, was born in the same locality in 1800. His parents spent their entire days there, and the father of our subject followed farming all his days, and smelt his entire life in his native home, dying there in 1874. Four of his children came to America. Frederick lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louis F. went to California in 1861, and the last heard of him was from Salt … Read more

Proprietor of the Staunton Nursery, which is located on section 29, in the town of Staunton, is numbered among the early settlers of the county of 1856, his residence here comprising a period of thirty-five consecutive years. Of German birth, he first opened his eyes to the light of day in the city of Bremen, January 24, 1830, and before he had attained his majority he came to this country. His father. Cornelius Bechtel, was also a native of Bremen, and became a leading wholesale merchant of that city, where he successfully carried on operations, becoming a wealthy man. He … Read more

The name that heads this sketch is that of an extensive German-American farmer and stockraiser, who is one of the large land owners and wealthy men of Dorchester Township. The place whereon he lives is one of the finest farms in the southern part of this county, his homestead embracing four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, most of which is under a high state of cultivation, and all well stocked with a high grade of cattle and swine. Our subject has built upon his place a series of farm buildings that compare favorably with any in the county, … Read more

It is a question whether there is any people on earth who have the varied experiences afforded by travel, of the Americans. The West has been constantly beckoning with alluring hand to golden fields that promise opulence to the enthusiastic seeker. After the mighty Father of Waters had been crossed by eager seekers for the golden treasures of the earth, Pike’s Peak flashed fascinating gleams of opalescent light in the eager eyes of the Western traveler. Then California, like the sirens of the sea, induced weary travelers to leave their homes and come overland to partake of the intoxicating delights … Read more

Mrs. Martha (Maze) Bates. Our readers will be both pleased and profited to read a life-sketch of this mother in Israel who has for so many years exerted an influence for good, not only in her home and church, but throughout the whole community. Her devotion as a wife and mother and her long and faithful membership in the Shiloh Baptist Church, which has lasted almost fifty years, as well as her active interest in public affairs, have placed her in the fore front of the women of Macoupin County. She still resides at the old homestead which her husband … Read more

President of the Carlinville Coal and Mining Company, is a native of Carlinville and has from his early manhood been engaged in business here. He was born March 20, 1858, and received his early education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen he entered Blackburn University at Carlinville, where he carried on an advanced course of study. After leaving school he worked at the carpenter’s trade with his father until 1874, then assumed supervision of the work at the South Carlinville coal shaft, of which his father was proprietor. Since 1883 he has had full charge of the … Read more