Meint Arkebauer, one of the substantial citizens and for
many years one of the most successful farmers of Mount Olive township,
Macoupin County, owning almost 400 acres of land in sections 10 and 11, was
born in Hanover, Germany, September 8, 1828. He is a son of Harm and Annie
(Johnson) Arkebauer.
The father of our subject was born in Hanover,
Germany, in 1798, and died in Illinois at the age of 60 years. The mother,
who was born in Germany in 1802, was killed accidentally on the Wabash
Railroad, at the age of 80 years. Their children were: Mrs. Anthia Shoen, of
Mount Olive; Meint, of this sketch; Mrs. Martha Ross, of Mount Olive; Mrs.
Gerdje Garrels, a widow, of Mount Olive; and Mrs. Trintje Whitehouse,
deceased. The father of this family was always an agriculturist. In
religious belief he was a Lutheran.
Our subject was 18 years of age,
when with his parents he embarked on a sailing ship at Bremen for the United
States. After a voyage of 15 weeks, the party reached New Orleans, having
been detained four weeks in England for repairs to the vessel. The first
winter was spent in St. Louis, and in the spring settlement was made in
Madison County, where the family lived nine years, our subject working, in
the meantime, for different farmers, by the month. In 1855, Mr. Arkebauer
settled on the present farm, where he has practically resided ever since, a
four-years residence in Kansas being mainly on account of a chance of
profitable investment. He owns a fine farm of 400 acres in Smith County,
Kansas, in addition to his extensive holdings here. His Macoupin County
property is very valuable, 80 acres of it being within the city limits of
Mount Olive. Mr. Arkebauer has improved his property with good, substantial
buildings, and has made it one of the most desirable and attractive farms in
the county. Until prevented by poor health, he was a very industrious man,
and accumulated his possessions through his own efforts.
In 1857 Mr.
Arkebauer married Tette Keiser, who was born in Germany and died in Macoupin
County, Illinois, in 1874, aged 36 years. They had six children, of whom the
following are living: Johanna, the wife of Fred Droste,.who operates the
home farm — they have nine children; Hermina, who is the wife of Henry J.
Gehner, Jr., of Cahokia township, Macoupin County; Anna, who married Charles
Kueneth, of Mount Olive township, and has five children; and John, who has
five children and lives on the Kansas property. Mr. Arkebauer has 27
grandchildren.
When he first came to the county, our subject was a
Democrat, but later both he and his father became identified with the
Republican party. He has taken a deep interest in the educational affairs of
the section, has held school offices for many years, and has been a liberal
contributor to the building of both churches and school houses. When he
first came to Mount Olive, the present flourishing little city was but a
hamlet, and Mr. Arkebauer, by his intelligent cooperation, has done his part
in bringing about the present prosperity. He is one of the leading members
of the Lutheran Church.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 361-362.
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