William H. Werse, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Brushy
Mound township, was born in Carlinville, Macoupin county, on the 18th of
October, 1869. His parents were Daniel and Dorothy (Lance) Werse, the
father of German and English extraction and the mother of German. Daniel
Werse was born in the fatherland and there his parents died when he was
a very small boy. He was taken care of by friends of the family with
whom he lived for several years, but in his very early youth he
emigrated to the United States, landing in New York city. There he
learned the brick mason’s trade, remaining a resident of the American
metropolis until he was twenty-five years of age. He then came to
Carlinville, continuing to follow his trade until his death in 1885. For
his wife Mr. Werse chose Mrs. Dorothy (Lance) Hundtmark, the widow of a
farmer, and a native of Germany. She is still living and makes her home
in one of the oldest houses in Carlinville. To Mr. and Mrs. Werse seven
children were born, as follows: William H., our subject; Annie, the wife
of Charles Mackler, an automobile dealer of Chicago, Illinois; Minnie,
who married William Myers, a blacksmith of Carlinville, Illinois;
Pauline, the wife of Robert Moore, superintendent of schools of Macoupin
county; Zenie, the wife of John Flynn, who is a painter and paperhanger
of St. Louis, Missouri; Theodore, who is a barber of Springfield,
Illinois; and Eddie, who died in May 1893, at the age of fifteen years.
William H. Werse was reared in this county and at the usual age
entered the public schools, where he mastered the common branches. While
still in his early boyhood he entered the meat market of John Straub,
where he worked off and on for five years, attending school in the
winter. As he was only sixteen years old at the time of his father’s
death, and the eldest of the family, much care and responsibility early
devolved upon him. He subsequently left the meat market and went to work
as a farm hand, following this occupation until he was twenty-three.
After his marriage he began farming for himself on the J. G. Custer
place, containing eighty-six acres, which he cultivated for six years.
At the expiration of that period he was elected highway commissioner and
resided in Carlinville during the three years of his term, while for two
years thereafter he followed his trade. In 1906 he decided to return to
agricultural pursuits and rented Mrs. VV. A. Long’s farm, containing
eighty-four acres in Carlinville township, that he is still operating.
On the 28th of April, 1894, Mr. Werse was joined in wedlock to
Miss Cora Greenwood, a daughter of Isaac and Minerva (Barnard)
Greenwood. Mrs. Werse was born in Macoupin county, as were also her
parents, her father’s birth having occurred on a farm west of Plainview.
The mother passed away when Mrs. Werse was about a year old, but the
father is still living and engages in farming east of Binnell, Illinois.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Werse: Annie, who is
fifteen years of age, living at home and attending the Oakwood District
School; William, who is a lad of five years; and a baby, not yet named.
In religious matters Mr. Werse affiliates with the German
Lutheran church and his wife with the Baptist. Fraternally he is
identified with the Modern Woodmen of America of Carlinville, and Mrs.
Werse with the Royal Neighbors, the ladies auxiliary of the same
organization. Political matters have always engaged the attention of Mr.
Werse more or less, his support being given to the republican party. He
is now serving his second term as school director in district No. 74 of
Brushy Mound township, and he is also acting as senate committeeman from
his township, while for three years he was commissioner of highways for
Carlinville. Success is attending the efforts of Mr. Werse who, in
connection with general farming, raises a good grade of stock and also
feeds cattle and hogs for the market.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 436-437.
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