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HENRY T. KLOPPENBURG - Henry T. Kloppenburg is extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick in Springfield where he has conducted th business for eighteen years. His plant is well equipped and his business methods are such as insure success, for he is systematic, earnest and persistent.

Mr. Kloppenburg was born in Springfield, November 13, 1858, a son of August Kloppenburg, whose birth occurred in Wevelsburg, Westphalia, Germany, March 10, 1829. The father spent about eighteen years in his native country and then crossed the Atlantic to the new world about 1850, being attracted by the opportunities of this country. He landed at New Orleans and thence proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis where he spent about two years, working in a sugar refinery. In 1851 he made the overland journey to California, crossing the hot sandy plans which lay between him and the Eldorado of the west. For three years he engaged in mining upon the coast, after which he returned to Illinois and established his home on a farm in Pleasant Plains township, Sangamon county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for two years. He next settled in Springfield, where he established a brickyard which was then a small enterprise, but gradually he built up a growing business which has now assumed extensive proportions. He became one of the active business men here, prominently identified with manufacturing interests until 1885, since which time he has lived retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was married in Springfield, September 21, 1856, to Anna Smith, also a native of Germany, who died in this city, October 25, 1893. Of their family of five sons and three daughters six are yet living. In order of birth they were as follows: Henry T., is the eldest. John Married Bertha Diedrich, of Bloomington, Illinois, and died September 17, 1897, leaving two children, Edith and Carl. August, who is engaged in the harness business in Springfield and lives on North Sixth street, married Alice Fogerty, of this city, and has one daughter, Alice. Matilda is the wife of Colonel J. F. Hefferman, who is engaged in the insurance and real estate business in Bloomington and has been a member of the legislature for the past two terms. They have three children, Clara, Ralph and Ruth. Margaret is the wife of Edward E. Donnelly, a prominent attorney of Bloomington, and they also have three children, Marie, Edward and Catherine. Carl is unmarried and resides in Chicago. Marie is deceased. Joseph is unmarried and is engaged in the drug business in Beaumont, Texas.

Henry T. Kloppenburg was educated in the German schools of Springfield and in St. Francis College at Quincy and he also pursued a course in the Springfield Business College. He learned the trade of manufacturing brick with his father and in 1885 he became his successor and has since operated the plant. He burns on an average of five kilns per year, producing about two hundred thousand brick in each kiln. He manufactures regular building brick and finds a ready sale for his product in Springfield and Sangamon and adjoining counties. He also operates a farm adjoining Camp Lincoln, owning a valuable tract of land of sixty-six acres. On the 8th of November, 1883, in Bloomington, Mr. Kloppenburg was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ensenberger, who was born in Vincennes, Indiana, but was reared and educated in Bloomington. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Rose, leo, Harry, George and Paul. Politically Mr. Kloppenburg is a stanch Democrat and proudly cast his first vote for General John W. Hancock. Political office, however, has had no attraction for him as he has preferred to give his attention to his business interests. He and his wife were reared in the Catholic faith and still adhere to that church. The history of Springfield's growth and development is largely familiar to Mr. Kloppenburg, for during forty-five years - or throughout the period of his entire life - he has lived in this city. He has a wide acquaintance here and the circle of his friends is extensive because his life has been such as to win for him the good will and respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact.