JOHN HEBERER was one of the pioneers of Monroe County, Ill. A native of Darmstadt, Germany, he was born in 1812, and in 1832, at the age of twenty years, crossed the Atlantic to the New World. He took up his residence in Monroe County, Ill., locating near Red Bud, where he entered land from the Government, making a settlement farther south than any other resident of this locality up to this time. He then turned his attention to the development of the wild land, and transformed the raw tract into rich and fertile fields.
Mr. Heberer was twice married. He first wedded Miss Frick, whose people were among the pioneer settlers of Illinois, and two children were born unto them. John, the eldest, is now a resident of Perry County, where he is extensively engaged in farming. Kate became the wife of Peter Wicklein, and died, leaving six children. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Heberer wedded Mary Scharaville in St. Louis. The marriage was celebrated on the day following their first meeting. They became the parents of six children, viz.: William, a farmer; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-one; Charlie, a farmer of Jackson County; Alexander T. D.; Edward, who is now engaged in the real-estate business in Red Bud; and Adam, an agriculturist of Jackson County.
The family resided in Monroe County until about 1880, when the farm in that locality of two hundred and eighty acres was sold, and they came to Red Bud. Here the father died in 1884, and the mother two years later. They were prominent members of the Lutheran Church, to the support of which they contributed liberally. Mr. Heberer was one of its most active workers, doing all in his power for its advancement. In 1860 he joined the ranks of the Republican party, of which he became a stanch advocate, and for four years he acceptably tilled the office of Justice of the Peace. His life was one well worthy of emulation, and his loss throughout the community was deeply mourned.
Alexander Heberer was born in Monroe County in 1857, and was there reared and educated. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until he had attained to man's estate, when he began selling fruit trees for the Samuel Bayles' Nursery Company of St. Louis. He was thus employed for three years, after which he spent one year as a farmer. In the meantime he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Waldmann, by whom he has four children.
In 1883 Mr. Heberer went to Jackson County, where his brothers had previously located, and purchased one hundred acres of land, to the improvement of which he devoted his energies until his return to Red Bud, in March, 1893. He here purchased the Dunn Brothers' livery stable, and now has the largest livery stock in the city. His vehicles are of the finest, and he has some good horses. From the public he receives a liberal patronage and is now doing a good business, which he well merits. Mr. Heberer is a member of the Treubund of Red Bud. Both he and his wife were reared in the Lutheran Church and are people of worth, who have many friends throughout this community.
Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois, published in 1894, page 305.