Biography - John F. Mautz
JOHN F. MAUTZ. The gentleman whose biographical sketch we take pleasure
in here writing, resides on section 31, of Rural Township, Shelby County,
and also owns land in section 32. He belongs to the nationality which is
beginning to tinge American life so largely with its sterling qualities, and
to show in a better physical development which has resulted from the
commingling of the American and Teutonic nations. Our subject was born in
Wurtemberg, Germany, April 3, 1840. He is a son of George and Rosina
(Shantz) Mautz, the former born in Wurtemberg, in 1802, and the latter,
February 18, 1808.
Our subject's father was a farmer by calling and he of whom we write early
learned the best methods of making the ground produce the best in fruits and
vegetables, cereals and stock. After the marriage of the parents of our
subject, they devoted themselves to the rearing of their large family, which
numbered eleven children. They were brought up under the best conditions,
having received that best of inheritances from their parents, robust
constitutions, blood that flowed through their veins in swift purity, and
intelligences that were undimmed by vicious associations or habits. The
brothere and sisters of our subject are in name as follows: Gottleib,
Rosina, Christian, George, Barbara, Lewis, John F., who is our subject,
William, Jacob H., David and Thomas. Gottleib died in Shelby County in 1879;
Rosina married Christian Eberspacher; she died in November, 1866, and left
four children to her bereaved husband; Christian was for many years a
prominent man in Rural Township; he was for sixteen years Justice of the
Peace, and now resides in Prescott, Nevada County, Ark.; George died in
Shelby County in 1863; Barbara married John Haberlein, and died in 1865,
leaving one daughter; Lewis was killed by a bull in Cowley County, Kan.;
William resides on the homestead; Jacob H. and David live in Rural Township;
Thomas resides in Shelby County.
All of the family of children of which our subject was one were born in
Germany. Our subject was but eleven years when, in 1852, the family
emigrated to the United States, landing in New York harbor April 1. The
journey across the three thousand miles of water required only nineteen
days. The family at once went to Zanesville, Ohio, and soon after settled in
Fairfield County, Ohio. In 1854 they came to Shelby County, this State,
first settling in Rose Township, where they rented land which they operated
for some years. They then purchased section 32, in Rural Township, and later
purchased one-half of section 31. Success followed their agricultural
efforts, and as the young people matured they were encouraged to start out
in life for themselves. The father died February 3, 1872. The mother
followed him January 15, 1891. They were kindly, Christian people, and their
simple, honest lives infused a spirit of kindliness and generosity into all
with whom they came in contact. They were members of the Swedenborgian
Church.
Our subject, J. F. Mautz, came with his family to Shelby County, and in
1861, he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion to fight for the flag, which
had already become dear to him as a symbol of freedom, which he could not
enjoy so fully in his native land. He was mustered into service, and joined
Company H, of the Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and remained with his
company for four years, re-enlisting at the end of his first term. During
his military career he was neither wounded nor taken prisoner, nor was he
confined to the hospital. He was a participant in many battles, and the side
of military life, which, to one who has never seen battle, but only read and
dreamed of the glorious display that is an accessory, had a seriousness to
him, which was an outcome of bitter personal experience. He was in the
battles of Jackson, Tenn., at the siege of Vicksburg and at Little Rock,
Ark. In 1864 eight companies of the regiment to which our subject belonged,
were taken prisoners, only Companies H and F escaping. Our subject was
mustered out of service in October, 1865, and he returned to Shelby County
November 19, 1867, he was married to Matilda Kull, who was born in Fairfield
County, Ohio, in 1847.
After marriage Mr. Mautz settled with his wife upon the land whereon he now
resides, at that time raw prairie. Now it is one of the finest places in the
county, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of beautifully cultivated
land, and upon it are fine buildings that are in the best of order. The
original of our sketch and his wife have four children, whose names are as
follows: William, Albert, Julius and George. Mr. Mautz casts his vote and
influence with the Democratic party, under which he has held several
positions. He has been Supervisor for three terms, and indeed, has held all
the local offices. Both our subject and his wife are members of the
Evangelical Church.
Extracted 29 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 623-624.
