McDonough ILGenWeb

LAUGEL, John E., a substantial citizen and prosperous merchant of Bushnell, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Jasper County, Ill., in 1865. His father, Mathias Laugel, was a native of Germany, and his mother, Mary M. (Miller) Laugel, of Illinois. In his early years the subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of his neighborhood. After his school days were over he chose railroad work as his occupation, which he followed until 1899. He came to Bushnell in 1887, as local agent for the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad Company and for twelve years filled this position to the entire satisfaction of the company, its patrons and the general public. After relinquishing railroad work he was connected for three years with the Cassidy Commission Company, since that period having been engaged in the commission business on his own account. In 1890 Mr. Laugel was married to Serena Barnes, a daughter of Major A. E. Barnes, who was a merchant throughout his mature life. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the K. of P. During the management of the railroad agency and in the subsequent conduct of his mercantile affairs, the qualities displayed by Mr. Laugel have gained for him the reputation of being a man of sound judgment, good capacity and diligent application to business.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 931, extracted 15 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass.