Macoupin County
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Biography - THE SHALE BRICK and TILE WORKS

The Shale Brick and Tile Works, of Carlinville, is one of the most important of the industries of Macoupin County. It was incorporated in 1898 with D. T. Michaels as president; H. C. McBride, secretary, treasurer and manager; and D. T. Michaels, H. C. McBride, and J. C. McBride as members of the board of directors. They immediately after began the manufacture of shale brick for building purposes and drain tile from shale, the best grade of tile made in Central Illinois, from 4 to 12 inches in size. They also manufacture building, street paving and sidewalk brick, and eight by eight sidewalk tiling, and the demand in this county for these products is in the main supplied by this company. They have convinced many of the farmers that tiling is necessary to the successful cultivation of a wet piece of ground, and the many who have acted on their advice are now reaping rewards in the increased production of their lands. It was first looked upon as a venture by agriculturists, but has safely passed the experimental stage and hundreds of letters, testifying to the benefits of tiling have been received from farmers throughout this and adjoining counties. This company employs some 18 men during the busy season and has an output .of 2,000 12-inch and 10,000 four-inch tile per day. The plant is a flourishing one, in which the citizens of the county take pride.

H. C. McBride, who has attained a high degree of success as secretary and treasurer, and manager of the Shale Brick and Tile Works, was born in Taylorville. Christian County, Illinois, December 26, 1874, and is a son of James C. and Mattie (Wheeler) McBride. The McBrides are of Scotch descent paternally, and were pioneers in the settlement of three States, — Virginia, Tennessee and Illinois. From this family have come hardy and gallant soldiers for nearly every war fought in this country. Two of this family fell at the time of General Braddock's defeat in the French and Indian War; William McBride participated in the battle of New Orleans during the war of 1812; and Andrew McBride was one of the gallant soldiers who gained independence from Mexico for Texas. There were five brothers and six sisters in the family that lived in Patrick County, Virginia, and of this number James McBride is the one from whom our subject is descended. He was one of the first white men to emigrate from Virginia to Tennessee, going as early as 1754. His grandson, John McBride, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Tennessee and married Mary Handlin, who was of Irish descent on the paternal side, and of Welsh on her mother's side. Among the children born to them was Thomas W. McBride. Thomas W. McBride, grandfather of the subject of this biography, was born in Montgomery County, Tennessee, May 27, 1822, and spent his boyhood days at work upon the farm there, attending school during the winter months. When he reached his 16th year he concluded to come to Illinois, and located in Greene County in April, 1838. He engaged in farming by the month for some years, at the same time attending school during the winter months, and in 1842 he began for himself. He put in crops and in the fall of the same year engaged in teaching school, and the two branches of business were combined by him for two years in Barr township, Macoupin County. In 1845 he rented a piece of land and farmed it and was soon, by dint of hard labor and economical living, enabled to enter an 80-acre tract in the east part of Barr township. From this humble beginning he arose to a station of influence in the county, becoming a man of large means. He moved to Carlinville in 1854, and in 1855 moved to Girard where he bought an interest in the first flouring mill erected there. He remained there until March, 1860, when he removed to section 1, Nilwood township, purchasing a farm of 160 acres, which he conducted the remainder of his days. In politics, he was an ardent Democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk for President in 1844. On September 19, 1844, he was united in marriage with Marjorie Wiggins, a native of Kentucky and of English descent. To them were born the following children: James C, father of our subject; Aveline, wife of F. L. Starkey, a farmer living near Girard, Illinois; John, who married Fanny Harrington; Emma Jane, wife of E. S. Terry, now a resident of St. Louis, Missouri; Alice, wife of John Stead; George; Nona, wife of Charles Duff of Bloomington, Illinois; Minnie (Crandall), a widow; and Sophronia. Fraternally Thomas W. McBride was a Mason, having joined the order as early as 1852.

James C. McBride, who is a prominent attorney-at-law of Taylorville, Illinois, was born in Macoupin County, near Barr's Store. He received a careful preparation for the legal profession and was admitted to the bar in this State. He has been very successful as a lawyer and is one of the influential men of Christian County, Illinois. He is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is a member of the Masons and the Odd Fellows. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He was united in marriage with Mattie Wheeler, by whom he has four children, as follows: Willis Brammer; Horace Carroll; Elmira, wife of Albert Buckley of Christian County; and Marcella.

H. C. McBride attended the common schools and later the high school of Christian County, Illinois, after which he took a commercial course in the Springfield Business College. In 1898, he became identified with the Shale Brick and Tile Works and has displayed exceptional ability as manager of the company. He is a man of the strictest integrity and by his fairness and honesty in all transactions has gained the highest respect and confidence of the people.

In 1901, Mr. McBride was united in marriage with Isabel Wheeler, a daughter of Jehu Wheeler, who was a prominent farmer of Macoupin County. Two children, — Claribel and Carroll Jehu, were born to bless this union. Mrs. McBride is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Paternally, Mr. McBride is a Mason and belongs to a number of fraternal insurance orders. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, as were his forefathers.


Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 251-253.


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This page was last updated 07/01/2022