The Belleville Historical Society selected Henry Raab, a Master Teacher, and Jacob Brosius, an Inventive Manufacturer, as its 2026 Belleville Walk of Fame inductees.
After arriving in St. Clair County from Kronberg, Germany, in 1849, Brosius cofounded in 1856
Jacob Brosius (1824-1882) Inventive Manufacturer
After arriving in St. Clair County from Kronberg, Germany, in 1849, Brosius co-founded the Geiss and Brosius foundry in Belleville, which produced agricultural implements—some of patented design—and structural metal work. He established Belleville Oil Works in 1866, which used innovative technology to press oil out of seeds and nuts. The pond located at his Kronthal mansion provided the water needed to produce steam that flowed from his power plant through pipes of Brosius’s design to warm the county courthouse and residences beginning in 1879. To synchronize the time displayed by municipal clocks in Belleville, he ran electric wires to them from his electric clock. Brosius died just before his electric power plant began to produce electricity in Belleville in 1882.
Henry Raab (1837-1901), Master Teacher
Raab was a native of Rhenish Prussia, Germany, who came to the United States in 1853. He began a teaching career in Belleville in January 1858. During 1873-1882 and 1887-1890 he was the city school superintendent. He was elected Illinois State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1882 and 1890. He promoted fitness instruction, teacher training, and kindergartens. Raab was active in the German Turnverein movement, promoting physical fitness and mental growth. As Turnverein president he reinvigorated the movement in Belleville. For nearly 20 years he was the librarian of the forerunner of the Belleville Public Library and advocate for a public library. He served on the city library’s board of the directors. Raab was a founder of the Belleville Philharmonic.
Brosius and Rob will be inducted into the Belleville Walk of Fame at a public ceremony on the Belleville Public Square on Saturday, October 24.
More about the Belleville Walk of Fame
The Belleville Walk of Fame started in 2014 in observance of the city’s Bicentennial. It honors people who have made significant contributions to the history or renown of the city of Belleville. New inductees are selected by the Belleville Historical Society Board of Trustees and Advisors and approved by the Belleville City Council. Selected honorees meet the established criteria of “having made significant contributions to our city, region, or nation or who have brought fame to Belleville.”