STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 133
Among the manufacturers and builders of Winchester may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, William F. Obermeyer. He is a son of Peter and Lucindia (Beasley) Obermeyer and was born in Winchester, Scott county, Illinois, August 22, 1857. His father, Peter Obermeyer, was born near Dingolfwa, Germany, June 1, 1834. At a very early age he was left an orphan, and suffered many hardships and privations. He had to work very hard, but he gained a fairly good education and earned money enough to bring him to America. When he was eighteen years of age he landed at New Orleans in 1852. He then came to St. Louis, and later to Pittsfield, Pike county, Illinois, where he was employed as a baker. In 1853 he came to Winchester and embarked in the same line of business for himself. After a while he closed this out and went to work as an apprentice under Coons brothers, who were at that time engaged in the manufacture of brick. He enlisted in the union army and served until 1865. Returning to Winchester he went into the merchant tailoring business with A. Biernbrauer, and, after a time, sold that out and purchased the Coons Brothers' brickyards and until very recently was engaged in that business. His mother is a native of Scott county, was born in 1839, and has lived in the county all her life.
Wm. F. Obermeyer was educated in the schools of Winchester. He learned the brick mason's and brick maker's trade under his father and for several years was engaged with him in the business. November 29, 1877, he was married to Miss Lucy Edmonson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Edmonson of Winchester. To them four children - two boys, Abner and Fred, and two girls, Mabel and Bertha, have been born. All are living.
With the exception of five years spent in Jacksonville, where he worked at his trade, Mr. Obermeyer has spent his entire life in Winchester. He has worked upon all the public buildings, and, as a contractor, has had to do with many of the business blocks about the town. He is at present engaged in contracting and building. In politics he is a republican and has held minor city offices. He is a member of the Baptist church, a good citizen and a very pleasant gentleman.