A Prosperous Village
New Memphis is one of the old inland towns of Clinton county and is located one and one-half miles north of New Memphis station on the Louisville and Nashville railroad and about ten miles east of Mascoutah. It is four miles south and east of New Baden and is a thriving little incorporated village.
It has one large saw mill and machine shop, one large general store, two saloons, one blacksmith shop, one doctor, one carpenter, a church and school with an enrollment of over 60 pupils.
The surrounding country is rich in agriculture and the farmers and business men are prosperous.
New Memphis is beautifully situated on a slight elevation in the prairie, in the northwest quarter of section 5, town 1 south, 5 west. As early as 1862 the Lutheran denomination built a neat brick church here. The town was laid out in 1865, on March 29, by John SCHUCHMANN. A large brick flouring mill was built the same year by John SCHUCHMANN & Co., which was operated until it burned down in February, 1879. In 1865 John KELLENBERG built a house and opened a small store. In 1866, LUNT, PETERS and Co., built a large brick business house and opened a general store. F. PETERS was the first post master.
Among the business men are:
Peter A. KEHRER
Mr. KEHRER is a practical thresherman and a
manufacturer of hardwood lumber. He also operates a machine shop and does all
kinds of repairing. In connection with the above he is a dealer in new and
second-hand engines and threshers. The firm of which the above is head has added
automobiles to its list of stock and is doing a nice business in that line also.
The saw mill has been in operation for the past 20 years and custom and
commercial sawing is done, the wood being shipped all over the country. The
capacity of the mill is 4,000 feet daily. It is the largest building in the
little city, and from the accompanying reproduction, herewith published, a fair
idea of the size of the saw mill and machine shop can be readily gained. It is
located in the northeastern part of the town. Mr. KEHRER was born in St
Clair county in 1859 and moved to New Memphis in 1885. He was married in 1882 to
Albertina SCHUPP and raised seven children, all of whom are living. They
are four boys and three girls. The four sons are connected with the father in
business and two of the daughters are married. One is at home. Two of the sons
are married. They are John and Benjamin. Joseph and August live at home.
Louis OSTERWICH
Mr. OSTERWICH was born in Germany and is a
son of Christian and Charlotta OSTERWICH. He came to St. Clair county in
1870 and after remaining a year sent home for the old folks to join him. They
were greatly astonished at the great country of America and decided to remain.
When they arrived in St. Clair county they located at Mascoutah and remained
there one year. In 1871 they moved to Clinton county and have been residents of
New Memphis ever since. Louis has been one of the highway commissioners for
fifteen years and was a school director in New Memphis for nine years. He is
also police magistrate and has held that important office for 12 years. He is a
farmer and stockraiser and trader by occupation, and raises some of the finest
stock in the county. His farm consists of 100 acres and adjoins the little city.
He raises everything that can be raised in this section of the country on his
land, and a part of it is devoted to pasture where he feeds his cattle and other
stock. He has twelve head of cattle, all fine thoroughbred stock and from six to
eight head of horses and mules the year around. He also raises chickens which he
ships to St. Louis and other markets. He was married in 1886 to Elizabeth SAEGER
of New Memphis and is the father of eight children, all living. There are five
boys and three girls in the family and three boys and two girls live at home
with the parents, the others being married. The oldest is 33 years of age and
the youngest 13. Mr. OSTERWICH is one of the best known men in his
section of the county and has a host of friends.
The Park Saloon
New Memphis has two saloons and they are owned and operated by two brothers, Henry E. and George SCHUMACHER, enterprising young business men. Seven years ago Henry started into the saloon business in this manner. George started into the business in 1906 with Jess EISENHAUER and sold out a short time later to join his brother who had started another saloon on the next corner. After the transaction George and Henry bought out EISENHAUER and began to operate both saloons, which they have continued to do ever since. They handle Western beer on draught and all kinds of bottled beers, wines, whiskey and cigars. They were born in New Baden and are the children of C. L. A. and Louise SCHUMACHER, pioneers of the county. A brother, L. A., manages and owns one of the largest general stores in New Baden. Both young men are married and have children. They are highly esteemed by the townspeople and farmers who make New Memphis their trading place, and as they run only first class saloons they have an excellent patronage. George does a livery business in connection with the saloon and makes drives all over the southern and eastern part of the county. Both young men have excellent wives and fine homes. They re increasing the sales in the business wonderfully each year.
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The Clinton County portion of this Directory was
transcribed by Laura Baumhueter Cordingley.
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