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JULIUS HUEGELY.
The milling interests of Nashville, Illinois, are very extensive, the city being located in the center of a great agricultural district, and prominent among those who have identified themselves with this industry may be mentioned. Julius Huegely, the youngest son of John Huegely, and one of the successors of his venerable father in the management of the interprise founded and developed by the latter during the thirty-seven years of his active connection with Nashville affairs. Julius Huegely was born near the site of the big Nashville mill, March 27, 1870.
John Huegely was born November 11, 1818, in Hassloch, Bavaria, Germany, and his parents being in rather humble circumstances, he was given only limited educational advantages, and as a lad was forced to go out and make his own way in the world. Mr. Huegely remained in his native country until he had reached his majority, and then started for the United States, arriving at New Orleans March 9, 1840. Looking about for work with which to earn money to enable him to journey
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further north, he secured employment at sawing wood, and thus earned passage money to Monroe county, Illinois, where he obtained work with Mr. Sauers, father of the proprietor of Sauers Milling Company, Evansville, Illinois. He continued with that gentleman for two years, and then entered the employ of Conrad Eisenmayer, who conducted a water mill at Red Bud, Illinois, his wages there being twelve dollars per month. Subsequently he removed to a farm near Mascoutah, Illinois, but soon thereafter engaged with Ph. H. Postel, and continued with him until 1853, which year marked the forming of a partnership with Ph. H. Reither, they purchasing the saw and grist mill at Nashville. In 1860 the old mill was replaced by the present structure, which at that time had a capacity of two hundred barrels, and in 1871 Mr. Huegely bought his partner's interest and enlarged and remodeled the mill from time to time until it is now a modern plant of five hundred barrels capacity. In 1890, feeling that he was entitled to a rest after his many years of industrious labor, Mr. Huegely turned over the active management of the venture to his sons, John Jr., and Julius, and his son-in-law, Theodore L. Renter, who have since conducted the business. The success which attended the efforts of Mr. Huegely in his private affairs led the citizens of his community to believe that he would be just as able to manage the business of the public, and he served for some time as associate judge of Washington county and as delegate to the Republican national convention in 1864 which nominated Abraham Lincoln for his second term as president. For about sixty-two years he has been a consistent member of the Methodist church. Although he is in his ninety-fourth year, Mr. Huegely is hale and hearty, in full possession of his faculties, and an interested observer of all important topics of the times. A self-made man in all that the word implies, he has so conducted his affairs that they have helped to build up his community, and no man is more highly respected or esteemed.
Julius Huegely attended the public schools of his native place and spent three years in the Central High School and Wesleyan College of Warrenton, Missouri, rounding out his preparation for efficient service with his father by taking a course in a St. Louis commercial college. His connection with the big factory began in 1869, when he came into the accounting department, and since the retirement of his father this department of the concern has fallen to him, largely, as his portion of the responsibilities to be borne by the new regime.
On August 17, 1904, Mr. Huegely was married in St. Louis, Missouri, to Miss Cora Wehrman, of Champaign, Illinois, daughter of the Rev. Charles Wehrman, a minister of the Methodist church, stationed at Ogden, Illinois, and a native son of the Fatherland. Mr. and Mrs. Huegely have had two children: Julius Wallace and Charles Russell. Mr. Huegely is a director in the First National Bank of Nashville and of the Nashville Hospital Association, and is president of the Nashville Pressed Brick Company. His political affiliations have been fashioned after his elders, and the interests of the Republican party have ever claimed his attention. He has served as secretary of the county central committee and was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1900 which nominated Colonel Roosevelt for President McKinley 's second running mate. As a Mason he was worshipful master of the Blue Lodge for four years and high priest of the Chapter eight years, representing both bodies in the Illinois Grand Lodge during his incumbency of the chairs. He is a Knight of Pythias and has clung to the teachings of his parents in spiritual matters, being a faithful attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church. His home is one of the residences in the cluster of homes in the atmosphere of the parental domicile, in
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accordance with the plan of the father in gathering his children about him for a happy and contented termination of the parental lives.