McDonough ILGenWeb

SEIBERT, Theodore F., a well-known retired merchant residing in Bushnell. McDonough County, Ill., was born in Washington County, Md., on September 24, 1844, a son of John and Susan (Leight) Seibert, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. John Seibert came to McDonough County in 1868, and followed farming. Theodore F. Seibert is the oldest of a family of eight children. In boyhood he attended the public schools in the vicinity of his home, but leaving the home farm in September, 1862, was employed in the general store of Joseph Winger & Son at Clay Lick, Pa., for eighteen months, receiving fifty dollars as compensation for his first year's work. Then severing his connection with this firm, he was employed by Thomas Bowles & Son to take charge of their store at Welsh Run, Pa., where he remained until he came to Illinois in the winter of 186.5-66. He here found employment in 1866 as clerk for J. Cole & Co., dry-goods merchants of Bushnell. They sold out to Plecker, Hunt & Company, and he worked for the new firm until his marriage, afterward forming a partnership with his father-in-law and his brother-in-law under the firm name of Aller, Seibert & Company, which was continued for two years. He then assumed the business alone and for thirty-five years carried on general merchandising. At the end of this period he traded the store for a farm in Fulton County. The concern is now known as the "Boston Store." Mr. Seibert has three farms in Bushnell and Walnut Grove Townships, besides several residences and store buildings in Bushnell. He also has 475 acres in Illinois and 320 in Nebraska.

On Christmas night, 1868, Mr. Seibert was united in marriage with Emma Aller, who was born in Rosemont, N. J., and came to McDonough County in her childhood. At the time of her marriage her father, Emanuel Aller, was a resident of Bushnell. Mr. and Mrs. Seibert have one living child, Nola Blanche. Their oldest daughter, Ada, died at the age of seventeen years, and their son, Fred Aller, when eighteen months old. Politically, Mr. Seibert is a supporter of the Republican party, and has served as School Trustee of his township for twenty years. Fraternally, he is identified with the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of P. and A. O. U. W. The subject of this sketch has been one of the most successful merchants in McDonough County, his industry, energy and thrift having made him the possessor of a handsome competency, which he is now enjoying in leisurely retirement.

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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, pages 999-1000, extracted 30 Jul 2020 by Norma Hass.