GODLOVE CHARLES SEIFERT, M.D., is successfully practicing his profession in the village of Cantrall and is considered one of the best physicians in this part of the county. He is a native of Saxony, Germany, and was born August 22, 1846, to John C. and Christina Seifert, who were both of German origin. They emigrated to America in 1849 and located in Sheboygan, Wis., when it was in a wild condition and Indians still living there. The father was a pioneer farmer of that section of the county, and is still residing there in the enjoyment of the competence procured by his early labors. He is a man of sterling character and is a worthy member of the Lutheran Church. His wife, who was also a consistent Lutheran and a truly religious woman, died in 1868. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are now living.
Dr. Seifert was scarcely three years old when his parents brought him to this country, and therefore he has known no other home, and reared and educated under out institutions he is as loyal a citizen of the United States as if he were native and to the manor born. He was reared in the pioneer home of his parents in Wisconsin, and his early school days were passed in the primitive schools of that State, that were conducted in a log schoolhouses, which he attended three or four months of each year. After he was ten years old he went to the Grammar School in Sheboygan for a year, and then to the Union schools, and was a student there for about five years. He was thus well fitted for the calling of a teacher and taught three terms in his old neighborhood. After that he spent one year in the copper mines of Northern Michigan.
In 1865 our subject entered Addison Seminary, in DuPage County, Ill., as he was ambitious to advance his education. He was a close student there two years, and in 1867 was engaged to conduct a German-Lutheran school at Springfield. He was quite young for such a responsible position as the school had an enrollment of one hundred and fifteen pupils. While he was teaching here he began reading medicine with Dr. W. H. Davis, one of the leading physicians of this city. He afterward entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in May, 1871, with high rank for scholarship.
After leaving college the Doctor was with his old instructor, Dr. Davis, in Springfield, a few months, and he then opened an office at Athens, in Menard County, where he was actively engaged in his profession for nearly three years. At the expiration of that time he again returned to Springfield, and a year later removed from that city to Cantrall, where he has since remained with the exception of about a year spent in the drug business at Jacksonville. He has gained a good reputation as a skillful, conscientious practitioner and has secured a lucrative practice.
Dr. Seifert was wedded to Miss Jennie Bekemeyer, of Springfield, May 1, 1873. To them have come six children, namely; Carrie (deceased), Millie, Charles H. (deceased), Otto H., Carl W. and Harry B. Both the Doctor and his wife are among the leading members of the Christian church and are earnestly interested in its every good work. He is a Democrat in politics and is public spirited as a citizen.