Charles Boeschenstein Jr. (1862-1952)
Newspaper Publisher; Banker; Edwardsville Mayor
Charles
Boeschenstein Jr. was born in Highland on October 27, 1862. He was
of Swiss descent. His parents were Charles Boeschenstein Sr.
(1829-1883) and Louisa Rosa (Leder) Boeschenstein, and his
grandparents were John M. and Anna (Singer) Boeschenstein of Stein
am Rhein, Canton Schaffhausen.
Charles Boeschenstein Sr. came to America in 1848 to join an uncle,
John Boeschenstein, who had arrived some ten years before, and who
was engaged in the mercantile business at Highland. He worked for
his uncle for some time, and then secured the contract to carry the
mail between Highland and St. Louis, and in connection with this
service, operated a stage line between the two points. This was
before any railroads existed through the county, and he made the
journey from Highland through Troy and Collinsville, to Illinoistown
(East St. Louis), crossing the river by ferry. The trip occupied a
day each way. In 1861, Charles Sr. was elected Justice of the Peace,
and held the position until his death. He also served as clerk of
the Board of Trustees of Highland, and was special collector of the
tax to aid in the building of the Vandalia Railroad. He was also a
member and secretary of the school board. Charles Sr. died March 23,
1883, and was buried in the Highland Cemetery.
Charles Boeschenstein Jr. attended the public school at Highland,
and Washington University in St. Louis. He was interested in the
printing business, and when fifteen years old, purchased a small
printing outfit and printed cards which were sold through boys he
hired to act as agents. He became the publisher of the Herald
newspaper at Highland, on August 20, 1881. The paper was founded by
business man in order to give the town an English publication.
Charles Jr. re-organized the plant, and the newspaper built up a
creditable circulation and business. Charles Jr. advocated through
the newspaper the construction of a telephone line between St. Louis
and Highland, by way of St. Jacob, Troy, and Collinsville. The
company agreed to build it, if citizens of the towns along the line
would subscribe $1,000 in return for coupons good for long distance
service. This was agreed to, and the line was built, it being the
original long-distance line through Madison County.
On January 26, 1883, Charles Jr. purchased the Edwardsville
Intelligencer, and merged the Herald with the Intelligencer. He
enlarged the paper from four pages to eight. On January 02, 1893,
the Intelligencer was changed to the twice-a-week format, and on
January 5, 1895, it was changed to every-other-day publication,
Sundays excepted. The daily news was inaugurated on January 14,
1907. He continued publishing the Intelligencer until December 01,
1916, when he sold the Intelligencer to Gilbert S. Giese and Charles
H. Spilman. He was one of the organizers of the Southern Illinois
Press Association in 1883, and was chosen secretary of that
organization. He was also a member of the Illinois Daily Newspaper
Association, and the Illinois Press Association.
Charles Jr. enlisted as a member of the Illinois National Guard in
1885, and served six years, during the last three of which he was a
member of the regimental staff.
Charles Jr. was elected mayor of Edwardsville on April 29, 1887, and
served two years. During his term, a contract was entered into for
illuminating the streets by electricity. He also organized the
Madison County State Bank, which opened for business on May 03,
1897, and served as its director and secretary. This bank was
consolidated with the Bank of Edwardsville on July 08, 1899, and he
was elected director, then vice-president.
Charles Jr. was one of the organizers of the Edwardsville Water
Company, and was chosen director and officer of the company upon its
charter in April 1898. In 1903, he succeeded in securing a donation
from Andrew Carnegie for the erection of a public library building,
which was constructed on the west side of the city park. He served
as one of the directors, and was made president of the library
board.
Charles Jr. was the first to suggest the idea of a public observance
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Madison
County, and advocated the erection of a suitable memorial in honor
of the early settlers. He was elected president of the Madison
County Centennial Association. The State of Illinois participated in
the centennial, unveiling a memorial monument on the public square
in Edwardsville.
On November 10, 1892, Charles Jr. married Bertha E. Whitbread
(1870-1947) of Edwardsville. She was the daughter of James and Mina
Rinne Whitbread. Her grandfather, John Whitbread, was a native of
London, England, who came to Edwardsville in 1842. John established
the stockyards at Venice. Charles and Bertha had three children:
Eleanor Boeschenstein Godfrey (1894-1978); Harold Boeschenstein
(1896-1972); and Charles Krome Boeschenstein (1898-1991). Charles
Jr. died on July 03, 1952, and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery
in Edwardsville.
Sources:
Centennial History of Madison County; 1912
Edwardsville Intelligencer, July 05, 1952
Find A Grave