A continuous residence of forty-seven years in Illinois has given H.
C. Dettmers the opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the
resources of the state, and being a man of good business sagacity, he
applied himself in such a way as to become financially independent. He
acquired an established reputation as a competent and reliable business
man and he and his wife are now living retired in the enjoyment of the
comforts and many of the luxuries of life, in a beautiful home which
occupies forty acres in Cahokia township. He is a native of Hanover,
Germany, born August 14, 1843, a son of George and Mary Elizabeth
(Johnson) Dettmers, both of whom were born in Germany. The mother died
in the old country but the father came to America in the ’70s and died
in Macoupin county about 1893.
H. C. Dettmers grew to maturity
in his native land and there received a good common school education. In
1865, at the close of the Civil war, when many bright young men were
attracted to the northern states from foreign countries, he decided to
cast his lot with the republic and, accordingly, crossed the ocean,
landing at New York April 12th of the year named. He came direct to
Alton, Illinois, and readily secured employment in the mercantile
establishment of Joe Sting & Sachtleben. He gave such good satisfaction
to his employers that he continued with the firm for thirty-one years, a
record of faithful service that has seldom been equaled in this part of
the country.
In 1868 Mr. Dettmers was married to Miss Mary
Trintje and to this union six children were born, four of whom survive,
George, Herman, Mary and Minnie. The mother of these children died
January 15, 1902, and in October, 1902, Mr. Dettmers was married to Mrs.
Henry Cordum, whose maiden name was Miss Rika Mohlman. She is a native
of Germany and a daughter of Richard and Wuebke (Bruns) Mohlman. The
father died in Germany about 1851 and in 1866 the mother came to America
with her family of six children, locating at Gillespie, Illinois. The
daughter Rika was married at Gillespie in 1868 to Henry Cordum, also a
native of Germany and a son of Louis Cordum who came to the United
States with his family when the son Henry was a small boy and settled in
Macoupin county, Illinois. Here Henry grew to manhood and beginning
practically without a dollar, acquired two hundred and forty acres of
land in one of the most productive regions in Macoupin county. He died
in 1893, leaving his family in affluent circumstances. He was a democrat
in political affiliation but never an office seeker, although highly
influential in party councils. He served for many years as a member of
the school board and also was an active worker in the Lutheran church
and a liberal contributor to religious and charitable objects. In the
family of Mr. and Mrs. Cordum were nine children, six of whom are now
living, namely: Louis, a farmer of Cahokia township; Henry, a merchant
of Gillespie; Fred and Edward, who are also engaged in farming in
Cahokia township; Hannah, the wife of John Weyen, of Cahokia township;
and Minnie, who married W. Osterkamp, also of Cahokia township.
After the marriage of Mr. Dettmers to Mrs. Cordum they lived for a year
at Alton and since that time have resided in their home in the country,
Mr. Dettmers having retired from active business affairs. He and his
wife are members of the Lutheran church and fraternally he is identified
with the Odd Fellows, being also a member of the Alton Turnverein. A man
of fine address and genial characteristics, he can claim many friends in
Macoupin county. Mrs. Dettmers is a woman of many admirable and
attractive traits of character and the home over which she presides is
one of the pleasantest in this section, being the abode of cheerfulness
and hospitality.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 270-271.
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