A well-known and respected citizen of Jacob, Emanuel Bellmann is one of
the leading general merchants of the place, and is serving acceptably as
postmaster. A native of Missouri, he was born June 18, 1880, in Perry
county, coming from German stock. His father, Henry Bellmann, was born in
Germany, February 27, 1839, and there learned the trade of cabinet maker.
Coining to America when about twenty-five years old, he located in Perry
county, Missouri, and for several years followed his trade at Altenburg,
that state. Subsequently buying a tract of land nearby, he improved a good
farm, on which he has since resided. He is a man of worth and integrity, a
sound Democrat in politics, and a devout member of the German Lutheran
church. He married, in Germany, Engle Wichen, and of their eight children
Emanuel, of this sketch, is the sixth child in order of birth.
Growing to manhood in Perry county, Missouri, Emanuel Bellmann was educated
in private and public schools, completing the course of study in the grammar
grades. Acquiring a thorough knowledge of agriculture while young, he spent
several years of his earlier life on the home farm. Coming to Jackson
county, Illinois, in 1901, he was for four years employed as a clerk in a
store at Neunert, where he became familiar with the details of the business.
In 1904 Mr. Bellmann, in company with Mr. Schweizer and his elder brother,
opened a general store in Jacob, and within the next few years built up a
substantial trade. Buying out the interests of his partners in 1910, Mr.
Bellmann has since conducted the business alone, and in addition to dealing
in general merchandise carries a special line of undertaker's goods and is
engaged in the undertaking business. In 1904 he was appointed postmaster at
Jacob, receiving his commission on September 22, and has since served in
this capacity.
Mr. Bellmann married, in 1904, Martha Bochme, a
daughter of Lewis Bochme, a Perry county Missouri, farmer, who served as a
soldier in the Federal army during the Civil war, and to them three children
have been born, namely: Stella, Cordelia and Elmer. A Republican in
politics, Mr. Bellman is now serving as treasurer of his home district
school. He is a regular attendant of the German Evangelical church, of which
he and his wife are valued members.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, page 1497.