The Breese Journal from Breese, Illinois • 1

and its Citizens to Of the Devoted Breese Interest The E. J. MAHLANDT Journal and Community Always For Development Progress Vol. 16, No. 1.

Oil Gas Activities In Clinton and Surrounding Counties The records in the office of Circuit Clerk H. H. Schlarmann tell a highly interesting story relative to oil prospecting activities in Clinton County. A review of the filing of the various kinds of instruments covering all the angles of game such as leases on land, assignments, agreements etc. will no doubt be of much interest to readers of the Journal, so this has been prepared 'starting with October 1, 1936.

First there is an agreement between Thomas R. Kerwin and Aloys Schiermann. Unless stated otherwise all of the following listings pertain to oil and gas leases signed by the owners of land in al parts of the county: John H. Brun to T. R.

Buell. Herman Ellerbusch, William Potthoff, Ben Tharp to Ohio Oil Co. Cephas and Marvel Adams to G. N. Kahlert.

H. W. Galey to Gulf Refining Co. J. C.

Welch to A. E. Hempen. Edw. Brown et al to J.

C. McGaffigan. Kelly E. Burkett, Fred Goldsmith, J. H.

Jones, Annie Hediger, Paul Fischer, L. B. Lindsey, Henry Hediger Laura William to J. C. McGaffigan.

J. D. McLaren to G. W. Kleiboeker.

Aterling Potts, Amanda Wheritt: to J. C. McGaffigan. Mary Rohr to William R. and Jos.

Murphy. Mrs. Aug. Timmermann to E. J.

Goldschmidt. Gustave Kleine, Richard Meryen, W. P. White, Henry Burmeister, Frank Opolony to Ohio Oil Co. John Geiger to Fred P.

Osborn. Frank G. Becker to B. K. Wherry.

Joseph Langhauser to J. H. Roberts Leo H. Gross to H. H.

Webster. Martin Holtgrave, Antonia Timmeramann, Anna Muehling, Elizabeth Holtgrave, James E. Young to E. J. Goldschmidt.

Charles Lanham, Fred Hartmann, Dena Heinzmann to Shell Petroleum Co. Ben J. Hustedde to E. J. Goldschmidt.

Anna, George and Joseph Eversgerd to Leo Gross et al. John Lanham, Lowell Belcher, S. F. Carter, Emma Roper, Laura M. Wortmann, John Mason, Mrs.

Luelle Quick, John O'Neill, Reuben Gilley, H. H. Schlarmann, Philip Brown, James Jensen, E. L. Sharp, Howard Quick, Charles Crowder, Charles Pigg, Oscar Dukes, Delphis Hawkins, John Williams, Wiley Adams, Nic Kreitler to G.

N. Kahlert. Irvin Noller, Frank Conroy, Edward Ahlf, Henry Faber, Martin Wessel, Albert Buehler, William Wessel, Kathryn Sharp, Walter Quick, Charles Wurm, Martin Klein to Carter Oil Co. Ben Isaak, Adolph Boeing to E. J.

Goldschmidt. Martin Fritz, Henry Schleper, nes Lohmann, Max Cohen, John B. Kues, George Feldman, John Hollenkamp, Anton Peltes, Frank Strubhardt Mary Wellen, Richard Harpstrite, Gerhard Wesselmann, Edward Harpstrite, Leo B. Richter, Herman Schonhoff, Edna Sayre, August Gieseke, John Feldmann, Andy Hinsenbrock, Laura Hetzel, William Kimutis, Mary Feldmann, Oscar Walburger Boeing, Aloys Schmidt, Albier Gebhardt, Anna Motke, Theo. Koelker, Henry C.

Dall to Sun Oil Co. Mrs. Anna Beckmann to E. J. Goldschmidt.

Louis Kleysteuber, J. H. Heinzmann Steve Vahlkamp, Joseph Heinzmann, Chris Heminghaus, George W. Carter, Mamie Hester, Gustav Hahn, Anna Faught, to Fred P. Osborn.

Thelma Lotta, Fred Ahlf to Ohio Co. Amanda Kleinboeker, Jesse A. Walker, Roy Murray, Sam E. Davis, H. J.

Finley, A. Vierregge, Henry Heidiger, Luther Gum, J. H. Delay, Adele Dieckmann, D. D.

Simonton, Mattie Langham, Jennie Murray, Edgar Barcroft, W. B. Davis, George E. Gray, John G. Grote, August Curdt, W.

H. Michael, Henry L. Krebs, William Aldag, Fred Fauke Fred o- Hartmann, John Verdes, Louis Jantzen, Charles Hanke, John Michael, Wilbert Speiser, Malena Speiser, Edward Kasten, W. A. White to Gulf Refining Co.

Frank Gross to Ohio Oil Company. Henry Wildhaber, Joseph T. Hodapp, Frank -Korte, Joseph Pingster haus, Anton Endres, Aug. Tebbe, Ben (Continued on back page) BREESE, CLINTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1937 $1.50 Per Year DAMAGE SUIT AGAINST GREYHOUND J. Griggs Roberts, of Roswell, New Mexico, has filed a suit for for damages against the Capitol Greyhound Lines, of Illinois in the St.

Clair County Circuit Court at Belleyille. The plaintiff was injured in a wreck east of Breese on Route 50 the night of November 8th, last. He was passenger of an eastbound Greyhound bus. The driver of the same, Dean Phillips, claims a westbound truck crowded him, and he could not avoid being sideswiped unless he crashed through the guard fence and went down the embankment of the heavy fill across the Shoal Creek bottoms. One side of the bus was ripped off.

Roberts, who sustained a fractured skull, was in the hospital in Breese for several weeks. Nine other persons including the driver, were slightly injured. Among these were Miss Dorothy Brandt, Carlyle; F. H. Roxford, Centralia; four from Montana, one from California, and one from Washington, D.

C. With other passengers were, Mrs. H. H. Schlarmann, Carlyle; Mrs.

F. H. Roxford, Centralia; Mrs. F. Burmeister, Wilfred Burmeister, Centralia; and Mrs.

C. Stuemeyer, Hoffman. They escaped injury. Mrs. Anna Peek Dies in Aviston Hospital at The Age of 82 Mrs.

Anna Peek passed away in the Sacred Heart hospital at Aviston, at 5:35 p. m. Friday, at the age of 82 years. She had been a resident of that institution the past ten years, and was always in fairly good health, being up and around and enjoying life but for the week preceding her demise she was in bed, ill with gall stones, which caused her death. Mrs.

Peek was born a mile south of Breese on the Jos. Niebur farm, November 5, 1854, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kruep (nee Knies). She lived there until her marriage to Henry Knueve in 1871.

They lived at Aviston. One child was porn to them having died in infancy. Her husband died a year and a half after their marriage. On April 20, 1874 she was married to August Peek, and they lived at Aviston until a number of years later when they moved to the Peek farm miles east of Aviston, when the boys were oid enough ter the farming occupation. Eight children were born to Mr.

and Mrs. Peek, only one preceding the parents in death, being George, who died in 1906. The living are: Mrs. Jos. Nettermeyer, John Peek, Mrs.

Jos. Nieman, Mrs. Geo. Raterman, Mrs. Wm.

Raterman, Ben Peek and Mrs. Frank Richter, all of near Breese; she also leaves 33 grandchildren and one greatgrandchild, being Ralph, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Timmermann.

Her husband died. December 8, 1909. The deeds of kindness and sacrifices that Mrs. Peek performed throughout her lengthy life will linger in the hearts forever among those who knew her. A christian, with love for everyone and being happy in living for her children, she was loved by all.

Although having lived to a good age, yet. her departure is sadly felt, and we sympathize with the family. Mrs. Peek was a member of the St. Francis Church and the Married Ladies Sodality.

The body was kept at the Netemeyer home from which place the body was removed Tuesday morning to St. Francis Church at Aviston, where the ritual rites began at 9:00 o'clock. A Solemn Mass was read, in which Rev. Lohman, Rev. Peters and Rev.

Netemeyer took part. Interment I was in the Aviston Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandchildren, namely, Jos and August Peek, Otto Netemeyer, Victor Raterman and Alvis and John Niemann. The Journal joins in expressing its deepest sympathy to all the relatives and friends in their hour of sorrow. DOWN 1150 FEET The test well on the Martin Holtgrave farm a mile south of Beckemeyer is down 1,150 feet and prospects look good to get oil, in the lower sands if the sand is not as tight as the top sand was.

This well is being drilled by Goldschmidt Wise. Two Well Known Couples Married Fifty Years Ago in Double Ceremony Live to Celebrate Their Golden Anniversary Aug. Heichelbeck and Geo. Rautenstrauch Married to Matilda and Minnie Stockel, Sisters, 50 Years Ago. Standing, Mr.

and Mrs. Heichelbeck. For a couple to reach their 50th anniversary of married life is quite an event to be proud of, and one worthy of mention, but for two couples, married in a double ceremony, and all living to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary is indeed a very rare occasion; but such is the case of Mr. and Mrs. George Rautenstrauch of (land, and Mr.

and Mrs. August Heichlelbeck of Breese. We carried a story on this unusual event last week, but since then we have obtained a picture of the four jubilarians, and we want to carry a more elaborate story with same, and also about the second celebration held here Sunday. Sunday before last the first celebration was held at the Rautenstrauch home in Highland, the details of which were published in last week's issue. Last Sunday Mr.

and Mrs. Heichelbeck celebrated at their home here, with the following present: Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Hofsommer and daughter of Breese, Mr. and Mrs.

Wm. Heichelbeck, son Lloyd and daughter Lorraine, Mrs. Elizabeth Muening and daughter Ethel, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Burns and daughter Shirley and Geo.

Meier all of St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. H. D.

Potts and son Junior, daughter Gladys of East St. Louis, Mrs. Louise Rackaway of Trenton, Mr. and Mrs. Wm.

Stoeckel of New Baden and Rev. and Mrs. T. E. Beier of this city.

Walter Hecklebeck, a son, and his family could not attend, due to his recent rupture ailment, having just left the hospital at Highland, where he was confined 3 weeks. A daughter Mrs. Arthur Steffens, who lives four miles north of Stolletown was also absent, due to bad roads and weather. A very nice dinner and supper were served, and the occasion will with those present as a most happy lone for years to come. On Feb.

17, 1887, August Heichelbeck and Miss Matilda Stockel, and George Rautenstrauch and Miss Minnie Stoeckel, were united in marriage a double ceremony by Rev. Eilts, the Stoeckel farm, 3 miles north of Frogtown. Attendants for Mr. and Mrs. Heichelbeck were Guss Heithaus and Kate Heichelbeck, both deceased; for.

Mr. and Mrs. Rautenstrauch were Wm. Heithaus and Mrs. Louis Sanders.

Mrs. Heichelbeck and Mrs. Rautenstrauch are sisters. To Mr. and Mrs.

Heichelbeck eight children were born, three having passed away, namely, Elsie, 15, in 1914, Mrs. Milda Potts, 27, in 1923, and a daughter in infancy; the living are, Mrs. Arthur Steffens of near Stolletown, Wm. Heichelbeck of St. Louis, Eliz.

Muening of St. Louis, Walter Heichelbeck of Greenville and Mrs. Hofsommer of PILLOW SLIP EUCHRE The Breese Softball Association will give a pillow slip euchre on Tuesday, March 30th. All girl players and others interested are a asked to give 8 pair of pillow slips as a prize. FORMER BREESE PASTOR DIES SUDDENLY Rev.

C. Krickhahn, former pastor of the local St. John's Evangelical Church, passed away suddenly at St. Joseph Michigan, last Wednesday, at 3:50 p. m.

The funeral services were held Saturday in the Zion's Church, St. Joseph, which he founded, thence to the Brainbridge, Michigan church, of which he has been a member. Burial was at that place. Neighboring ministers were pallbearers. His death came unexpectedly, and was caused by a heart attack.

Rev. Krickhahn's appointment to the local church became effective October 22, 1916, and he served here 2 years and 4 months. During that time he was very active in the interest of the church, and it was through him that St. John's was able to remodel the church, make: it larger, and modernize it. The work that Rev.

Krickhahn put forth here will never be forgotten. A sincere man, with his heart and soul in the work for the Kingdom of God, he was admired by people in all walks of life. We join the many friends here of the Krickhahn family, in extending sincere sympathy. A floral tribute was sent from St. John's as an expression of sympathy.

Some Land Owners Slow in Signing Up For Capitol Highway One section of the proposed Capitol Highway from Litchfield south extends from Highland south via. Trenton and New Baden to Route No. 15 west of New Memphis. After many years of promotional work the survey for the route has been completed from Highland to Trenton after a succession of material changes in the first ones made by the Illinois Highway Division engineers. But this does not end the story.

The releases for the 100 foot wide right of way are in the office of John T. Goldsmith, the head of the Highway Department in Clinton County. These are for the Highland-Trenton section in this county. The route hits No. 50 in the west part of Trenton and right in line with the present dirt.

road to New Baden. But the various owners of the land, eighteen in number, are not "crashing the gates' to sign up. It will require acres of land, and a number of owners are not exactly satisfied with the way the route cuts up their farms. The necessary money for the right of way purchases will come out of the county share of the Motor Fuel Tax funds. Only a few landowners have signed, and now County Supt.

Goldsmith says he. will recommend: to the County Road and Bridge Committee that court proceedings to condemn be started, or the project dropped for the present. A meeting of the Committee will be held this week. South of Trenton the survey has not been made, but the route will be along the present dirt highway crossing No. 11 at the Billhartz park, east of New Baden; and thence on to Route No.

15 west of New Memphis. The owners of the abutting land along the entire route have signed an agreement to take pay for the ground taken on the figure based on the assessed valuation. In other words they are ready to go, but the survey' has not been made. So real new highway construction work in this county, including the Centralia-Posey road, is some months off at least. WORK ON CURBING PROJECT STARTED Preliminary work for the curbing project in Breese is now being done with about 50 men on the job.

Surface sewers have to be laid deeper at a number of places, and this is now beling done on S. Third Street. Curbing will be done on Main St. from the hard road to South Fourth Street, and from the hard road on Clinton street south as far as funds permit. The cost to the city for material will be about $8,000, which a- mount it has coming from the State for motor fuel tax.

The W. A. is furnishing the labor, and $2200 towards the cost of material. The B. 0.

will widen the crosslings at Main and Clinton streets to a width of 40 feet. Mrs. Hy. E. Schmidt Passes Away Monday at Her Home Sitting, Mr.

and Mrs. Rautenstrauch. couple has ten grandchildren and one great grandchild, Shirley Burns. Mr. Heichelbeck is 74 years of age and his wife 68.

They were occupied as farmers following their marriage, living north of Frogtown, except 4 years spent on the Hofsommer farm miles north of Aviston. In 1900 they purchased the Stockel homestead and lived there until 1925 when they moved to Breese to retire. Last week Wednesday night they were agreeably surprised when the members of St. John's Church ered in their hall following Lenten services, and Mr. and Mrs.

Heichelbeck were escorted from the church to the hall to see the happy faces and tables with plenty eatables, and decorated with gold and white, and a beautiful wedding cake, decked with gold and white swans and a miniature bride and groom, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Hofsommer and daughter. Their son, William, and family, also surprised them by driving out from St. Louis to be present for the casion.

After all were seated their little granddaughter, Jeannette Hofsommer sang "Put on your old gray and the choir sang "When your golden hair has turned to. silver gray' and "Darling I am growing old." After luncheon the group sang several old songs and talks were made by different ones; Mrs. Heichelbeck told of their wedding day 50 years ago. She said it rained the same as it was doing that night and the roads were so muddy that the minister (Rev. Eilts) had to come on horseback and the next morning they had to use a shovel to get the mud out of the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Rautenstrauch, 80 and 70 years old, respectively, first lived on the Rautenstrauch place along the State road, near Shoal Creek, northeast of Breese. He and his wife lived there until 1914 when they moved into their new farm house along the Jamestown road, a mile and a half northwest, which they sold to Frank Schuette ten years ago. In 1919 they moved back to the homestead, but in 1921 they moved to Highland where they have resided since.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rautenstrauch were born eight children, a son having died in infancy. Those remaining are: Elmer of Long Beach, Cal, Harold of Los Angeles, Emil of East St. Louis, George of Breese, Mrs.

Hortensa McDonald of Dixon, and Mrs. Ben Kentner and Mrs. Julius Kuhner of Highland. There are four grandchildren. We are very happy to publish this good news on the above-named couIples, and in congratulating them, we (hope that they may live many more happy years together, and that health and prosperity be with them.

A GIRL A 101-pound girl was born to Alderman and Mrs. Wade at 8:30 Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. Wade now have a son and two daughters.

We extend our congratulations. Mrs. Henry E. Schmidt passed a- I way at her home in the east end of this city Monday morning, at 4:30 o'clock, at the age of 71 years, 2 months and 7 days. She had been in failing health since last October, and after Thanksgiving she became seriously ill, since which time she has been confined to her bed.

During the first week in February she was a patient in the local hospital but upone her request was removed back to her Hardening of arteries and spinal trouble caused her death. Mrs. Emilie W. Schmidt, nee Gerdes, was born in Stone Hill, Mo. December 15, 1865.

Her parents were Henry Frank Gerdes and Johanna Gerdes, nee Giesselmann, who came from the suburbs of Berlin, Germany and settled at Stone Hill about 1864. They resided there for seven years on a farm, after which they moved to St. Louis, for two years, whence they moved to Breese, where the deceased lived ever since. Mrs. Schmidt was christened by Rev.

Haas, the father of the former pastor here for 17 years. She was confirmed by Rev. Wulfmann. April 29, 1886 she was married to Henry E. Schmidt by Rev.

Wm. Stoeffel, pastor of Emmanuel Church of Trenton, as St. John's congregation was without a pastor several months. She was the mother of ten children; three preceded her in death, namely Oscar 5 weeks old, Elsie 18 months and Harold in 1914 at the age of 26; surviving her is the husband, the sons Edward Herbert Fred A. and Alfred Schmidt, all of Breese, and the daughters, 'Mrs.

Olivia Gaines of St. Louis, Mrs. Hilda Means of Nameoki and Mrs. Emily Vermaelen at home; also a half sister, Mrs. Mina Schoenfeld of Breese, three sons-in-law, four brothers-in-law, three.

daughters-inlaw, eight grandchildren and one great grand child, being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Heaver. Mrs. Schmidt did not take part in any social affairs, but was one who thought so much of her household duties and family, that she was content to be at home in the peace and quietude of her happy domicile.

One of her greatest joys was taking care of flowers; she almost worshipped them, and was often heard to say, "If I cannot be among my flowers I do not care to live." A religious woman, attending church throughout her life, she largely devoted her life to the raising of her children so that they too would follow in the footsteps of the Lord. A good-hearted person, with sympathy for the unfortunate and love for her family, she was always admired, and her death brings sadness to many. Deceased was a member of the St. John's Church, and of the Ladies Aid Society. She was always ready to lend a willing hand in church activities as well as for her friends and neighbors.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the local St. John's church having begun at 2 o'clock. Rev. T. E.

Beier officiated. Interment was in St. John's Cemetery. Pallbearers were Elmer Schroeder, Mike Thien, Frank Ahrens, Gustav Meissner, Herman Pohlmann and James Perkes. The Journal extends sympathy to the bereaved family.

OIL FOUND ON THE FRANK GROSS FARM The producing territory of the new Bartelso oil pool in Santa Fe township has been extended three-fourths of a mile north by the drilling in of a good well on the farm of Supervisor Frank Gross. The contractor is Seth McGee working for Newton Ward, of Webster Groves, Mo. The pay dirt was found at a depth of 1018 feet. It may make 100 barrels a day or better, but this will not be determined until it is given a shot. Several weeks ago the same firm drilled in a duster on the Langhauser farm mile north of this location.

The Gross farm of 120 acres is across the road north from the Trame farm where the discovery well was drilled. The forty acres between the new well and the Trame farm is under lease to the Ohio Oil Co. This company paid cash bonus of $300 acre for this tract..