USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 13
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two years he was able to buy two hundred acres of his present farm, on section 4. Meriden township, which he has since increased in extent to three hundred and twenty acres. His wife owns two hundred and eighty acres and thus their united possessions are six hundred acres. He raises good stock, horses, cattle and hogs, and is one of the successful farmers of this region.
Politically Mr. Larabee has never allied himself to any party, as he prefers to be entirely independent. Both he and his wife are devoted mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of late years he has given his ballot to the Prohibition party candidates in national elections, as he believes that the liquor traffic is the paramount issue of the present day. Fraternally he is a member of the W. H. Thompson Post, G. A. R., of Paw Paw, Illinois.
WILLIAM T. M'KINNEY.
William T. Mckinney, a dry-goods merchant and one of the leading business men of the town of Earlville, Illinois, has been identified with the interests of this place for the past thirty-three years. He is a native of the Keystone state, born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1833, a son of William and Anna (McKitt) McKinney, who were born, lived and died in that county. The father was twice married and by his first wife had eleven children, of whom the subject of our sketch is one; by his second marriage there were four children. In his native county, near the town of Lewistown, William T. was reared, and in the common schools of the neighborhood he received his early education. This was supplemented by three years and a half in a newspaper office, where he served an apprentice- ship, which was equal to a schooling to him. Afterward he went to Philadel- phia, where for over twelve years he was a compositor on a newspaper. He remained in Philadelphia until 1866, that year coming west and taking up his abode in Earlville.
In the meantime. about 1853, a brother of our subject, H. T. McKin- ney, familiarly known as Hank McKinney, had come to Illinois and obtained a clerkship at Earlville. Not long afterward he engaged in the general merchandise business on his own account, and for several years, until the fall of 1872, he conducted a successful business here. Since that date he has been a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
When William T. Mckinney came to Earlville, March 4, 1866, it was to accept a position as a bookkeeper and clerk in his brother's store. After- ward he clerked for A. B. Breese, and after the death of Mr. Breese, in the spring of 1892, Mr. Mckinney became a partner in the business
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with Mrs. Breese. widow of his former employer, and since April 25th of that year has had charge of the store.
Mr. Mckinney is a man of many estimable traits of character and during his long residence in Earlville has gained the confidence and esteem of all who have in any way been associated with him.
FRANCIS CORLEY.
Francis Corley, the first engineer of the LaSalle city water works and electric light plant, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, November 18. 1852, and is a son of Martin and Sarah (Bigelow) Corley. His father was a farmer who emigrated from the old country to America, coming by stage from Chicago, in 1841, to Bureau county, and locating near Arlington. At that time there was but one house between Arlington and Peru. and the nearest market was Chicago, to which place the grain was hauled by wagon. Droves of deer were a common sight on the prairies, and often the table of the frontiersman was graced by a dish of venison, a luxury unknown at this time. Martin Corley was industrious and frugal, and soon became prominent and well-to-do. At the time of his death. in 1873, he was sixty-seven years of age, and owned five hundred and twenty acres of land. The country began to be more thickly settled about this time and he was chosen as a highway commissioner, and in the early days was a tax collector. His wife was Sarah Bigelow, who was a native of Vermont and whose ancestors were soldiers in the colonial and Revolu- tionary wars. One of her brothers. John Bigelow, a native of St. Albans. Vermont, was a large land-owner and died suddenly in Sacramento, Cali- fornia. in middle life, during his candidacy for the governorship of that state.
Francis Corley was reared on his father's farm in Bureau county, and received such educational advantages as were to be derived from the district schools at that time. He remained at home. helping with the work until he was grown to manhood. In 1890 he came to LaSalle to accept the position of engineer in the City Electric Railway. December 27, 1887. he was married to Miss Mary 1. McGann, a daughter of Thomas and Mary McGann. They have three children: Vivian, Louisa and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Corley are members of the Roman Catholic church. He is a strong Democrat in his political beliefs and takes an active interest in the success of that party. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. His residence is at the intersection of Eleventh and Marquette streets. LaSalle, where he has a comfortable home. Of his
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ten brothers and sisters, eight are still living, three brothers having served through the Rebellion. They are: Daniel, a member of the First Illinois Artillery, now a resident of Fremont, Nebraska; John, who served in the Second Missouri AArtillery, and now is a citizen of Peru; Stephen, of the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, is now a Montana ranch- man: Francis, the subject of this biography; Emma, wife of W. W. Grimes, of Denver, Colorado: Agnes, wife of Clinton Cassidy, of Arlington, Illi- nois; Miriam, wife of H. W. Loehr, of Hinsdale, this state; and Mary, wife of Thomas McDonald, a resident of Corley, a town in Iowa, Shelby county, named in honor of the family.
E. J. LENZEN.
Professor Aegidius Joseph Lenzen is the well known music dealer and able instructor in vocal and instrumental music, located at No. 1917 Fourth street. Peru. LaSalle county, Illinois. He is a native of the beautiful Rhine country, having first seen the light of day in Linz, Germany, May 31, 1846. He was one of seven children, four of whom are living, born to John C. and Anna Barbara (Nelles) Lenzen. These children are: Aegidius Joseph, our subject: Theressa, wife of Robert Mossbach; Aloysius C. and Henry. The father was a cooper by vocation and plied his trade in his native country, having learned it of his father, Henry Lenzen, who was also a cooper and died in Linz in 1802, leaving four sons and one daugh- ter. He was married to Anna B. Nelles, whose father was born on the opposite side of the Rhine, in France, and fought in the battle of Waterloo and was a private under the great Napoleon. Although he resided in the town of Koenigsfeldt. he owned considerable land and was well off. In 1857, John C. Lenzen came with his family to America and located in Peru, where he worked at his trade. In 1888 the wife and mother died. aged about sixty-two years. The following year he returned to the fatherland, where he died in 1895. at the age of seventy-one years. Both were mem- bers of the Catholic church and esteemed by every one who knew them.
Professor Lenzen was a lad of eleven years when the family sought a home in this country. His primary education was received in the schools of Germany, noted for their excellence. After coming here he attended the public schools of Peru and later took private instructions under Pro- fessor Rheinhart. He first learned the cooper's trade, working at it until he was twenty-one. In 1869 he went with his parents on a farm and fol- lowed the life of an agriculturist for eight years more. This work, however,
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was not congenial to his taste and he returned to town and turned his attention to music, for which he was peculiarly adapted. He taught voice culture and also gave instruction on the cornet and all kinds of instruments, making a specialty of bands. He also furnishes musical supplies and instru- ments to those wishing to purchase, and carries a nice line of these goods.
He was united in marriage to Miss Teresa Kilduff, who has borne him six children-four sons and two daughters. These are Anna Lucile, Liszt Joseph. Verdi. Kent Anthony, Helen Teresa and Aloysius. The professor and his wife are members of the Catholic church, and he is a Republican politically. He has lived in Peru since 1857, or in the vicinity. and has made many friends here. Three years ago he purchased the pleas- ant home which he now occupies and where the casual visitor is sure of spending a delightful hour.
ADOLPH F. HERZIG.
Adolph F. Herzig, foreman in the machinists' department of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Works, LaSalle, is, like many of the employes of that establishment, a native of Oberhausen, Germany, born September 3, 1858. a son of Adolph and Mary (Kottenbach) Herzig, and one of a family of four children, whose names in order of birth are as follows: Adolph F .: Otto, a machinist of Chicago; Ida, married and living in Chicago; and Ewald, also a machinist of Chicago.
Adolph F. was reared in his native land, receiving there the rudiments of an education and learning the trade of machinist. For a time he was employed in a large steel works and later in the shipyard at Wilhelm's Haven. When a young man he left Germany, in order to avoid the army service required by law in that country, and came to America, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, February 22, 1879. From that city he immediately came west to Missouri and secured employment on a cattle ranch near Kansas City. He landed in this country without means and with but little education, knowing not a word of English, but during the year he spent in Missouri he learned to speak English and has since learned to read and write it: and while his advantages for schooling were limited he has in the broad school of experience picked up a fund of useful informa- tion.
Mr. Herzig's brother Otto came to the United States in 1880 and secured employment in the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Works in LaSalle, Illinois, and the same year Adolph F. joined him here and also entered the employ of this concern. Working together and saving their money.
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the brothers soon accumulated money enough to send for their parents, which they did in 1881. They came and settled in LaSalle, but soon after- ward removed to Chicago and there the father died, in 1885, at the age of fifty-three years. The mother then returned to LaSalle, where she now resides.
Adolph F. Herzig has been continuously in the employ of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company since he came here with the excep- tion of two years, 1885 to 1887, during which time he ran a machine shop of his own in LaSalle. At the end of the two years, on resuming work with the company, he was made foreman, which position he has since filled. He has an excellent reputation both as a skilled machinist and as a trusted employe, and it may be added that his success in life is due to his own efforts.
October 18, 1881, Mr. Herzig married Miss Kunigunda Seiwerth, of German birth and a native of his own town, and they have six children, viz .: Helena, Jacob, William, Adela, Adolph and Ferdinand.
The family belong to the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Herzig is a pronounced Republican in politics.
LEOPOLD C. JANZ.
America can boast of no better or more patriotic citizens than those which Germany has furnished her, and in every community throughout the length and breadth of this great land the sons of the fatherland are aiding materially in the working out of the problems of our nation and are contributing loyally to her prosperity. One of the leading German-Ameri- can citizens of Peru, LaSalle county, is the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch.
Born in Prussia, Germany, not far from the city of Jastrof, on the 17th of May, 1854, Leopold C. Janz is a son of Charles and Charlotte (Stark) Janz. Both were natives of the same locality as our subject, and it was not until 1892 that they came to the United States, here to pass their declining years. The father was a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation until he was well along in years, and now is living retired. having amassed a competence. He came from a representative family, and his brother Martin held the responsible position of mayor of the town of Osofge. Both of the grandfathers of our subject lived and died in Germany.
In his boyhood Leopold C. Janz obtained an excellent education in the public schools of his native land. When he was about fifteen years
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of age he began learning the shoemaker's trade, which he has followed ever since. In 1873, when in his twentieth year, he sailed westward to found a home and to dwell among the people of this great republic. Com- ing to Peru, he found employment at his trade. and worked for others until 1882, when he embarked in business on his own account, and has since carried on a flourishing trade, as a boot and shoe merchant. He uses his ballot in behalf of the Republican party and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
On the 22d of January, 1888, the marriage of Mr. Janz and Miss Josephine Schubeker, a daughter of Joseph Schubeker, of Peru, was sol- emnized. They have three children-Charley, Joseph and Clara. Their comfortable home, which is situated on St. Louis street, is owned by the estimable couple. In religious belief Mr. Janz is a Lutheran, while his wife is a Catholic.
CHARLES BRUNNER.
There is a lesson to ambitious and struggling young men in the story of the endeavors and triumphs of a leading manufacturer like Charles Brun- ner, of Peru, Illinois, who has made his way to a high position in the business world from a position of comparative helplessness and against formidable obstacles.
Charles Brunner was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany, March 5, 1841, a son of August and Johanna (Roth) Brunner, who had three chil- dren, one of whom. Amelia, is dead, and another of whom, Hermann, is a well known brewer of Peru, Illinois. The elder Brunner, who was a machin- ist and foundryman, had the management of an extensive manufacturing establishment in Germany and never came to America. Charles left school at the age of fourteen and was employed by a mercantile establishment three years, and in 1858 came to America and spent a few months in and near New York city. Then, in the spring of 1859. he came west and located in Peru. He began his career in Peru as a dry-goods clerk for about three years. Then, in partnership with William Rauch, he engaged in the grocery trade, in which he continued successfully about three years and a half. He disposed of his interest in this business, and in 1868, with others, under the name of Foote, Brunner & Company, established a machine shop, foundry and boiler works in Peru. In 1874 Mr. Foote, one of his partners, died, and Mr. Norman Snow acquired an interest in the business and the style of the firm was changed to Brunner & Snow. In 1878 Mr. Snow sold his interest to Mr. Brunner and retired from the firm, which has since been known by Mr. Brunner's name alone. Mr. Brunner has enlarged his
Charles Birmanes
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plant from time to time as demands for increased manufacturing facilities have dictated, and his establishment is not only the only foundry and machine shop in Peru but is also one of the largest of its kind in the west. It comprises a foundry, machine shop and boiler works, fitted up for the manufacture of specialties, of which Mr. Brunner is patentee, including the Brunner gas and gasoline engines, pulleys, clutches, shafting. boxings, hangers, pumping jacks, power pumps and all kinds of elevator machinery, and the Acme and Brunner scales, of which Mr. Brunner is the inventor.
Mr. Brunner was married in 1861 to Elizabeth Rausch, a native of Peru, and they have five children: Amelia, Sidonia, Lillie, Jennie and Fannie. He is an influential Republican and has been five times elected as alderman of Peru, a sufficient indication of his personal popularity, and has served in that capacity ten years with an eye single to the public interests. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. He was made a Mason nearly thirty years ago and has advanced to the degree of Knight Templar and is a Mystic Shriner. He is identified also with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the order of Modern Woodmen of the World. He is a director in the company controlling the Peru Plow Works and in the LaSalle Pressed Brick Company, and is interested more or less inti- mately in other important industrial enterprises.
MARTIN L. GRIFFITH.
One of the prominent representatives of the journalistic profession in this section of the state is the gentleman whose name heads this brief notice. the well-known editor of The Gazette-Express, of Earlville, Illinois. He is numbered among the native sons of this state. his birth having occurred April 10, 1860, at Farmer City (then Mount Pleasant). De Witt county, Illinois. His father, John Griffith, a veteran of the civil war, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and in early manhood married Miss Ma- linda E. Clearwater, a native of Mount Pleasant, already mentioned, and a daughter of Nathan and Mary M. Clearwater, who came to this state from Indiana and were one of the first four white families to settle in that neigh- borhood.
In 1879 Martin L. Griffith commenced learning the printer's trade in the office of The Public Reaper, at Farmer City, and in 1885 pur- chased the plant, which he moved to Dana. Indiana, but sold it two years later. He went to North Dakota in 1889 and was there engaged in news- paper work for himself two years, and for the same length of time worked in the state printing-office at Bismarck. He returned to Illinois in 1893
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and the same year purchased The Gazette published at Earlville. Two years later the paper was consolidated with the Leland Express, owned by A. L. Hall, and the firm of Hall & Griffith conducted the paper known as the LaSalle County Gazette-Express; but on the 4th of February, 1899. Mr. Hall's interest was purchased by M. L. Griffith & Company, the com- pany being Dr. D. M. Vosburgh. The paper is now published by that firm, and is one of the leading journals of the county and a staunch sup- porter of Republican principles in politics.
Mr. Griffith is an able newspaper man, is a good writer and has a thorough comprehension of every department of the work, so that he is conducting the paper with consummate skill and ability. He is unmar- ried. His mother. four brothers and one sister are still living.
GEORGE HAFFELE.
No one is more deserving of success than is the man who begins the battle of life empty-handed and by honest toil, continued through a long period, accumulates a competence. Such a task, with the additional care and responsibility of rearing several children to maturity, fitting them to take part in the struggle for a livelihood, is no light undertaking; and the one who has successfully performed these duties is worthy of sincere re- spect, as in the case of the subject of this article.
George Haffele, now living retired from business cares, in Peru, is a native of Alsace-Lorraine, his birth having occurred in April, 1836. He is a grandson of John Haffele, who was a carpenter by trade and lived and died in Germany. The parents of our subject were John and Kath- erine (Harmesser) Haffele, both natives of Alsace-Lorraine. The mother was a daughter of Anton Harmesser. (She had a brother whose death was caused by the falling of a tree upon him.) Mrs. Haffele was one of six children, and by her marriage she became the mother of eight children. two of whom died in childhood, leaving two sons and four daughters. Our subject is the only survivor. The father, who did farming upon a small scale. died in Germany, in 1872. when sixty years of age. His wife departed this life some two years previously.
After he had gained a fair general education and had mastered the various branches of farming. George Haffele decided to try his fortune in America. Crossing the ocean in 1866 he took up his residence in Henry county, Illinois, where he found employment with farmers. He was in- dustrious and economical. and the result was that he soon had a little capital which he invested in ten acres of land. To this he afterward added
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another ten-acre tract, then twenty acres more, and by this time he was prospering, and spurred on to fresh efforts. As the years rolled by he was enabled to buy forty acres at one time, a farm of like size some time later, and finally eighty-five acres, thus making his possessions amount to over two hundred acres. On this homestead he reared his children and passed the prime of his life, winning the respect of his neighbors and ac- quaintances by his manly, upright conduct. He still owns the old place in Henry county, it being cultivated and managed by his son-in-law, Robert Clemens. While living there he did not neglect his duties as a citizen, and for fifteen years served in the capacity of school director. Until re- cently he has been firm in his allegiance to the principles of the Demo- cratic party, but since the issues of the last presidential campaign came up for the consideration of the people he has been independent of party lines.
In October, 1869, Mr. Haffele and Mary Clemens, a daughter of George Clemens, were united in marriage. Lizzie, their eldest-born, is the wife of George Rhode, and resides in Mendota, Illinois. Alice is the wife of Robert Clemens and is living at the home of her childhood. They have two sons and a daughter, namely, Harry, George and Mary Magda- lene. In 1889 Mrs. Mary C. Haffele, who was a devout Catholic, died at her home in Henry county, aged forty-six years. In 1892 Mr. Haffele married Mrs. Dora Meyerhoff, widow of John Meyerhoff, and she died the following year. October 18. 1894, Mr. Haffele and Mrs. Magdalene Siler were united in marriage. She was the widow of George Siler, and their two children, Mary and Clara, are both deceased. Mrs. Haffele is a daughter of Sebastian and Maria Magdalene (Dole) Gebhart, who died in Germany in 1858 and 1855, respectively. She continued to reside in the Fatherland until 1870, when the attractions of America led her to seek a home upon these hospitable shores. Following in the faith of his ances- tors. Mr. Haffele is a Catholic, as is also his wife.
CORNELIUS C. DWYER.
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Cornelius C. Dwyer, the genial and affable proprietor of the First Street butcher shop, at LaSalle, Illinois, was born at Arlington, Bureau county, this state, in 1863, a son of James and Mary (Murphy) Dwyer and a grandson of Cornelius Dwyer. His parents were natives of Ireland. His father was a farmer in the Emerald Isle and came to America about forty- five years ago, settling first in Ohio and later moving to Arlington, where they still reside. They are both devout members of the Catholic church,
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and are highly respected citizens, the father holling a number of township offices. Thirteen children were born to them, of whom ten are living: Cornelius C., Frank. James. John, Augustus, Dennis, Mary. Adelia, Cath- erine and Tessie.
Cornelius C. Dwyer attended the district school and remained on his father's farm until he was eighteen years old, when he began life for himself. He began by learning the butcher business in Arlington, and in 1886 came to LaSalle, where he worked in the butcher shop of P. Stuart until 1892, when he and his brother Augustus bought the business and con- tinued together two years. In 1894 Cornelius purchased his brother's in- terest and has since conducted the business alone. He has built up a large trade, his customers knowing that he is giving them meat from the best grade of cattle to be procured.
He was married June 28. 1893. to Miss Mary Morrissy, daughter of Larey and Mary Morrissy. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Marion, who died at the age of ten months; and Dorothy. Mrs. Dwyer died March 9. 1897, a sincere member of the Catholic church, as is also Mr. Dwyer. He is also an honored member of the Modern Woodmen and of the Court of Honor. He coincides with the Democratic party and takes an active interest in its prosperity.
OTTO KIESELBACH.
Otto Kieselbach, attorney at law and editor and proprietor of the Re- porter and the German Post. Mendota. Illinois, is one of the leading spirits of the town in which he lives.
Mr. Kieselbach is a German by birth and early association, and an American by adoption. He was born at Treptow on the Rega. Prussia, June 19. 1854. a son of Carl and Caroline (Jeske) Kieselbach and one of a family of nine children, four of whom lived to maturity, namely: August, of Koenigsberg. Germany: Otto, whose name graces this sketch; Hermine, wife of William Reiff, of Stettin, Germany; and Louis, who lives near Stettin. Carl Kieselbach, the father. was a soldier with the Cuirassiers from 1836 to 1839. By occupation he was a contractor and builder, as also was his father before him. The latter. Gottfried Kieselbach, was in all the Napoleonic wars. He died in Germany at the age of forty-seven years. In his family were five children who lived to adult age. The ma- ternal grandfather of Otto Kieselbach was William Jeske, who was a soldier under Napoleon, by occupation a farmer, and died in middle life, leaving six children. Carl Kieselbach died in 1896, at the age of seventy-
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