Biography of Christian Pilger of Beardstown, Illinois

Christian Pilger, a live man and old citizen of Beardstown, was born in Waldeck, Prussia, in 1836, and came of a good old German family. His father, Fred Pilger, was at one time Mayor, as had been his father and grandfather before him. The same office is now held by one of the sons in the town of Berick, where the family has lived. The father and mother of our subject, were good Lutherans and lived and died in their native country. They had a family of eleven children, five of whom came to this country, three of whom are yet living. He came to Beardstown in June, 1855, a young man twenty years of age. He was engaged as a bench tailor for some years, when in 1873, he, with Henry Garm started in business as merchant tailors. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Captain John M. Johnson and Colonel James W. Judy, commanding. He was engaged in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Nashville, thence down to New Orleans, across the Gulf of Mexico to Mobile, and was in all the battles of that section. In all this military duty our subject escaped wounds or capture, but twice suffered sunstroke. He was Corporal of his company when discharged, August 13, 1865. Since his return he has been a live member of the place. In 1882, Mr. Pilger’s business was carried on for two years under the name of Pilger & Huge, at which time Mr. Pilger assumed sole charge of the business until 1889. Mr. Pilger is now engaged in the real-estate business, is a Notary Public, and carries a number of lines of insurance. He is agent for the Equitable Building & Loan Society, of Peoria, and is City Clerk of Beardstown. He has been very successful in life, and has amassed a good property in this city. The spot on which his office now stands was formerly the old house site of Mr. Thomas Beard, who first settled here, established the ferry, and later laid out the town. Mr. Pilger was for years the proprietor of the Pilger block on the corner of State and Main streets. He is a worker for the Boys in Blue, and is a charter member of the McLane Post, G. A. R. No. 97, of Beardstown, was its first Quartermaster, and has held the position nearly ever since. The Sons of Veterans of this place also named their camp in his honor. He has been for many years a member of Cass Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M., and has taken an active part in it.

He was married in this city to Miss Margaret Schuman, born in Baden, Germany, and came to this country when eighteen years of age. Her parents also came to Beardstown and died here consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Pilger are parents of but one daughter, an accomplished young lady, a leader in social circles and now the wife of William F. Stanley, foreman in the paint shop of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company of this city. ^[1]Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 368-369.

Return to Biographical Review index