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HERMAN H. BECKEMEYER,
now serving his fourth year as postmaster at Beckemeyer, has spent the greater part of his life in Clinton county, and has contributed his full share towards promoting its educational and industrial interests, in the meantime gaining for himself the reputation of one who deserves the confidence and trust of his fellow-men. Coming from substantial German ancestry, he was born April 27, 1859, in Saint Louis county, Missouri.
His father, the late Christian Beckemeyer, was born in Westphalia, Germany, May 9, 1822, and was there bred and educated. Immigrating with his family to the United States in 1857, he located in Saint Louis county, Missouri, where he was for five years employed in tilling the soil. Coming to Clinton county, Illinois, in 1862, he settled near the present town of Beckemeyer, which, upon its organization, was named in his honor. Purchasing a tract of land, he carried on general farming. with good results until his death, December 20, 1880. He became well known throughout the community as a man of sterling integrity, and was held in high esteem by his neighbors and associates. He never assumed citizenship, but his political sympathies were with the Republican party. Religiously he was a member of the German Evangelical church. He married, in Westphalia, Germany, in 1846, Christina Poss, a native of that city, and to them eight sons and one daughter were born, Herman H., the youngest child, being the only one born on American soil. The mother, who attained the venerable age of eighty-six years, passed away in 1902.
But four years of age when his parents moved to Illinois, Herman H. Beckemeyer received his preliminary education in the public schools of this county, and having completed his early studies at the Illinois Normal School, in Normal, Illinois, he taught school for a number of years in Clinton county, being successful and popular in his pedagogical work. For a short time Mr. Beckemeyer conducted a small general store, and is now engaged in the insurance business to some extent. In 1908 he was appointed postmaster at Beckemeyer, and has since filled the office most efficiently and satisfactorily.
A stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Beckemeyer has held various town offices, and from 1901 until 1908 was one of the trustees of the Carbondale Normal School, having been appointed to the position by Governor Yates. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Rebekah Lodge; of the Modern Woodmen of America; of the Royal Neighbors of America, and of the Loyal Americans. True to the religious faith of his parents, he is a member of the German Evangelical church, and for many years was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday-school.
Mr. Beckemeyer married, November 26, 1881, Miss Annie M. Ackmann, of Breese, Illinois, and of their union two children have been born, namely: Professor Harry J., of Hillsboro, Illinois, and Dr. Albert W., of Sedalia, Missouri.