New Horizons Genealogy

"Specializing in New England and New York Colonial American Ancestry"


Biographies of Prominent Families
Town of Quincy
Adams County Illinois

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley


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Biographies of Prominent Families of Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, extracted from, The History of Adams County Illinois, Containing A History Of The County-Its Cities, Towns, Etc. A biographical directory of its Citizens, and portraits of early settlers and prominent men.


Abel Adams Biography

ABEL ADAMS (deceased); residence of widow, 640 Jersey street; was born in Frankfort on the Rhine in 1833; came to the United States in 1848 and located in Quincy; married Miss Maiy Schrader in 1851. She was born in Prussia in 1827. They had one child, Amelia, now married. He was a tailor by trade, which he followed for ten years, then went into the wine business in Warsaw, where he lived five years and cultivated a vineyard, then moved to Quincy and opened a wine house. He died in 1876, leaving his widow comfortably provided for.


Joseph Adamy Biography

ADAMY JOSEPH, wholesale liquors, 523 Hampshire street; residence, 425 north 5th street; was born in Munster, Westphalia, 1834; located in this county in 1854; married Miss Caroline Hoffman in 1865. She was born in Beardstown, Ill., in 1840. Their six children are Charles, Matilda, Emma, Edward, Carrie and Joseph. He is a Democrat. He has been in this present business since 1865.


John S. Agey Biography

AGEY JOHN S.,livery and sale stable, 318-320 Hampshire street; residence, southwest corner 3d and Kentucky streets; born in Indiana county. Pa., in 1832; went to Muscatine, Iowa, in 1855, and to Mt. Pleasant in 1856. He went to Lee county, Iowa, in 1860 and enlisted in the 14th Iowa Vols., Co. D; Sept. 28, 1861, appointed orderly sergeant; promoted to 1st lieutenant March 25, 1862, and captain, Jan. 1,1863, when his regiment was reorganized; was captured at Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and made his escape at Macon, Ga. He and six other soldiers made their escape in two skiffs down the river and reached the Atlantic Ocean, where they were picked up by the war steamer Wamsutta and turned over to Commander Goldsborough, June 27; arrived at Fortress Monroe July 4. They reported to Gen. Wool in Baltimore, who sent them to Washington, where he met Senator Browning and others. He was promised a position on the staff of Gen. Herron and reported to him at Chicago, July 4; was soon after appointed Quartermaster of the paroled prisoners Aug. 2, which he held until the reorganization of his regiment in 1863; was mustered out November, 1864, at Davenport. He married Mary A. Laird at Fort Madison. She was born in Lawrenceburg, Ind. They have two children, Clara and Pearl L. They are members of the M. E. Church. Republican.


William Ahern Biography

AHERN WM., contractor; residence, Jersey, between 8th and 9th streets; born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1823; came to the United States in 1843, located in New York, then in New Jersey, and in Quincy in 1847. He married Catherine Smith in 1851. She was born in County Cavan, Ireland. They have seven children, EUie, Patrick, John I., Margaret, Katie, Eddie, and William; are members of the Catholic Church. He has been engaged in general contracting since 1850; does railroad contracting, grade work, etc.


William Ahland Biography

AHLAND WM., flour and feed store, 11th and Hampshire streets; born in Germany in 1853; came to the United States in 1872. He was brought up on his father's farm in Germany. He is an industrious, hard-working, honest man.


Henry Allen Biography

ALLEN HENRY (deceased); born in Washington, D. C:, 1825; came to this city 1847; married Miss Kate A. Wescott, 1850. She was born in Philadelphia, Pa., 1828. Their two children are Walter, born 1858, and K. Adella, born 18G5. Mr. Allen was in the milling business, being proprietor of the Centre Mills in this city at tlie time of his death, April 5, 1876. He was an upright, conscientious man, a good and kind husband and father, loved by his family and friends, and respected by all who knew him. He passed from this life in close communion with his church, being a strict and practical member of the Episcopal congregation.


John Altmix Biography

ALTMIX JOHN, grocery and produce, 1,027 Broadway; residence, corner 20th and Vine; was born in Prussia, 1825, and came to the United States, locating in Cincinnati, 1852, in Indianapolis, 1853, and in Quincy, 1854. He married Miss Catherine Kettler in 1858. She was born in Hanover in 1832. Their children are Clara, Catherine, Frank, Amalia, and Stephen; are Catholics. He is Democrat; was elected Supervisor in 1874, and re-elected every term since up to date, 1879.