Keiser, Cobus J.


HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
AND

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.

Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia 1879





Page 130

COBUS J. KEISER who is largely interested in the business affairs of Mt. Olive, is a native of Germany, and was born at Holtland der Neucks, Hanover, September 4th, 1841. His father was John H. Keiser, and his mother's maiden name was Geske Wilms Heien. His father was a farmer, who had five children, four sons and one daughter, and Cobus J. Keiser was the second. In 1854 the family emigrated from Germany to America. The winter after their arrival here was spent in Madison county, and in the spring of 1855 they settled in Staunton township, one mile south of Mt. Olive. His father had owned land in Germany, but emigrated to America with the view of benefitting his family and giving his children homes of their own. He bought one hundred and twenty acres of land south of Mt. Olive. A few months after settling there, he died )on the 6th of September, 1855), leaving a widow and five children, the oldest of whom was sixteen years of age. Mr. Keiser's father was a man of industry and many excellent traits of character. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and brought up his children to industrious and sober habits.

He was very temperate, used tobacco in no shape, and regulated his life by the strictest principles of sobriety. He had a strong natural love for music, and took much delight and comfort in the indulgence of his musical tastes. He was particularly fond of the flute, and played upon it with great skill. He was the leader of the musical services in the church, and his assistance in this direction was important. He was thirty-nine years of age at the time of his decease. After her husband's death, Mr. Keiser's mother took charge of the family. She is a woman of superior strength of mind and business management, and was more than usually successful in raising her children. She is still living, comfortably situated in this life, as far as this world's goods and comforts are concerned, with the satisfaction of knowing that her sons have grown up to become useful citizens and men of mark and influence.

Mr. Keiser was thirteen years old when he left Germany. He had acquired a good elementary education in his native country, and went to school but little after coming to Illinois, till 1863, when he became a student at the state university at Springfield. He attended the university two years, when his health became bad, and he returned home. He was living on the farm, and was employed in its management till 1866. On November 9th of year he married Mary C. Nieman, the oldest daughter of John C. Nieman, one of the earliest German settlers of Macoupin county. Mrs. Keiser was born January 21st, 1848. She was brought up in the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran church, with an earnest desire to lead the life of a true Christian and during her married life has exhibited all the excellent traits of character which made a good wife and kind mother.

During the year 1866, in partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Nieman, Mr. Keiser erected the store which he still occupies, and in the spring of 1867 began a general merchandising business. The same spring he was appointed postmaster, and has held that position ever since. On the opening of the Toledo, Wabash and Western railway in 1870, he received the appointment of general ticket and freight agent at Mr. Olive (the station was then called Drummond), and performed the duties of that office till 1877, when he was obliged to resign from the press of his other business engagements.

The history of Mr. Keiser is principally a record of the business enterprises of Mt. Olive; for he has been the active spirit which has set in motion the various movements which have benefitted and built up the town. He was one of those principally instrumental in opening the coal shaft, which has been the chief source of the prosperity of the place. The enterprise was first started in 1874. On the organization of the company, he was elected superintendent, and assumed the active business management. The mines were successfully opened in 1875, and since then the works have been enlarged and perfected. The second shaft was completed in the spring of 1879. A superior quality of coal is obtained , and the working of the mines has been an important factor in the growth and development of Mt. Olive. Mr. Keiser is one of the twelve original stockholders, who have owned the works since the beginning of the undertaking, and his business habits and executive ability have principally contributed to the success of the enterprise.

In his efforts to build up the town of Mr. Olive, Mr. Keiser saw that a flouring mill was much needed, and accordingly in 1876, in partnership with Henry Prange, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars, he built the Anchor Mills. These mills have been operated successfully, and produce a grade of flour which enjoys an excellent demand in the market. The firm under which the mercantile business has been carried on has, since January 1st, 1878, been known as Keiser, Niemeyer & Co., composed of Mr. Keiser, William Niemeyer and William Wellenbrink.

Mr. and Mrs. Keiser have been the parents of four children; three, named Lydia, Emma and Ida, are now dead; Paulina, the only one now living, is about two years of age.

From the time he was old enough to take any interest in political affairs, his sentiments have inclined him to support the principles of the Republican party, whose candidates and measures he has supported from 1864, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln for President. He is not, however, a partisan but a man of much liberality of mind. He carries no prejudice into politics, and has always felt himself free to vote for the best men for office when only local issues were involved. Since 1865 he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the town of Mt. Olive, and also from the same date has acted as President of the board and Mayor of the city. The lot on which stands the town hall and library was donated by Mr. Keiser, and is one of the most valuable building sites in Mt. Olive. The upper part of the building is used as a library and reading room, and the lower part as a town hall. He has been intimately connected with the business interests of Mt. Olive in other capacities, and has held various positions of trust and honor, performing the duties of all of them in a manner which has won the regard of the community, both for his business ability and strict integrity. With the Evangelical Lutheran church he has been connected from boyhood. He was chosen superintendent of the Sunday schools connected with that church at Mr. Olive when only eighteen years of age, and so acted for about four years. He has taken an active part in advancing the interests of the Mt. Olive congregation, and assisted materially in building the present church edifice. It may be said in justice, that to him, more than any one else, is due the present prosperity of Mt. Olive.


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