The hardware interests of Mount Olive find a very capable
representative in Louis Simmering, one of the town’s enterprising
business men and public-spirited citizens. He is a native of Germany,
his birth having occurred on Christmas day, 1848, and a son of Frank and
Dinah (Deickmann) Simmering, natives of Hanover, Germany. The parents
spent their entire lives in the land of their birth, where the father
held a government position, being the tax collector in his district.
The boyhood and youth of Louis Simmering were spent in his native
land, where he obtained his education and later learned the blacksmith’s
trade. In 1868 he took passage for the United States, landing in New
York city with a capital of eight dollars. He came directly to Illinois,
spending the first two months of his residence in the state in
Montgomery county, whence he came to Mount Olive, where he has lived
continuously for forty-three years. After locating here he went to work
at his trade, which he followed as a journeyman for eight years, then
established a shop of his own. He continued to operate this place until
1897, when he recognized the excellent opening afforded here for a
hardware store, so withdrawing from the shop he opened a store in the
building adjoining the one he now occupies. As he increased his stock to
meet the demands of a rapidly growing patronage he was forced to seek
more commodious quarters so removed to his present stand, one door east
of his old place, in 1903. Mr. Simmering has always been one of the
progressive citizens, ever taking an active and helpful interest in all
community affairs, and it is very largely due to his enthusiastic
cooperation that it was found possible to organize the Mount Olive Cold
Storage, Ice & Fuel Company in 1907. He was at that time appointed
president of the company, and has ever since most efficiently served in
this capacity.
In 1876 Mr. Simmering’s plans for a home of his
own had their consummation in his marriage to Miss Catherine Schwing, a
native of Canada of German extraction. Mrs. Simmering’s parents were
both natives of the fatherland, whence they emigrated to America and
located in Canada, coming to Macoupin county in 1869. Eleven children
were born to them, eight of whom survive: Mary, the wife of Fred Proel,
of Chicago; Otto, who works for his father; Hermina, the wife of William
Haxhold, of St. Louis, Missouri; Emma, the wife of Fred Meyer, of Mount
Olive; and Elmer, Frieda, Edwin and Esther, all of whom are at home.
They are all members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which
Mr. Simmering is an elder. His political allegiance is given to the
democratic party, and he has always taken an active part in all
municipal affairs. He has served as township trustee, while for two
terms he was mayor of Mount Olive, and he was at one time president of
the council. Although he is a most active business man and has many
demands made upon his time by his various personal interests, he has
always found ample opportunity to meet all the requirements of good
citizenship, by giving his aid to forwarding every progressive movement
introduced in the community.
Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 578-579.
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