USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 27
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Like his father before him, the subject of our sketch is a Republican, and although he has never aspired to office he takes an active interest in the issues of that party. He is a wide-awake, practical and enterprising farmer, who is meeting with good success as the result of his capable management of his business affairs.
F. METZGER.
For more than three decades the subject of this sketch, F. Metzger, has been a resident of LaSalle county, making his home in Ottawa. He was born more than fifty years ago in Germany, one of the family of four children of Robert Metzger. In his youth he had the advantage of a good education in the common schools of his native land, afterward emigrated to America and since 1867 he has resided in this county, where he is extensively engaged in handling beer, which he sells to the wholesale trade, receiving a large and , lucrative patronage.
At the age of twenty-six years Mr. Metzger married Miss Louise Schaef- fer, and they have three children-Mary. Robert G. and Joseph. The elder
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son is at this writing a student in the Indiana State University. Mr. Metzger is an enthusiastic Republican, taking an active interest in public local affairs, and as a public-spirited citizen he is highly respected. He is a member of the German Benevolent Society of Ottawa.
AUGUST LOCKE.
August Locke, the master mechanic for the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, LaSalle, is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born November 15, 1840. When he was a child of two years his mother died, and thus deprived of a mother's loving care he was taken into the home of an uncle in Dresden, Saxony, Germany, and there he was reared to manhood. His boyhood days were spent in attending the common schools and learning the trade of machinist. He worked at his trade as a journeyman for some time in the old country, and also held the position of foreman there in machine shops.
In 1872, at the age of thirty-two years, Mr. Locke came to America and located in Chicago, where he remained until the spring of 1875. In March of that year he came to LaSalle and entered the employ of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, as a machinist, and in November, 1877, he was promoted to the position of master mechanic, which important post he still holds.
Mr. Locke was married in Germany to Miss Caroline Batzlapp, and they have had seven children, four of whom are still living.
On coming to this country Mr. Locke espoused the faith of the Repub- lican party, and has given it his support ever since. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Turnverein.
RICHARD ZIESING.
Richard Ziesing, foreman in the furnace department of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, LaSalle, was born on a farm just north of Peru, Illinois, March 5, 1860, and is a son of Dr. Henry Ziesing, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of LaSalle county.
Dr. Henry Ziesing is of German birth and education. He was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. December 21, 1829, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Laudman) Ziesing. He completed a liberal literary education and then took up the study of medicine, following in the footsteps of his father, who was in the medical profession: pursued a course in the University of
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Giessen and graduated in 1851, before he reached his twenty-second year. After one year of practice in his native land, he came to this country, locating in the city of Baltimore in 1852. A year later he removed to Chicago, where he practiced a year and a half, and whence in the fall of 1854 he came to Peru, Illinois, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. During the civil war he served from January, 1865, to September of that year as surgeon of the Fifty-third Illinois Infantry. He is a member of the LaSalle County Medical Society, and the North Central Illinois Medical Society. Politically he is a Republican. For some twelve or fifteen years he has been a member of the board of education of Peru and has served several years as the president of the board.
Richard Ziesing was educated in the public schools of LaSalle and Peru, under a private tutor, and in the University of Illinois. While in the university he made a specialty of the study of chemistry. On leaving college in his junior year, he accepted a position as a drug clerk in a store in Peru, where he remained a year and a half, at the end of which time he entered the employ of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, as assistant assayer. a position he held for three years. He was then transferred to the practical furnace work, of the same establishment, and is now one of the foremen of this department.
Mr. Ziesing was married in Chicago, in 1884, to Miss Minnie Hibben, and they have two children-a daughter and son-Hester E. and Richard B.
JOSEPH SCHOTT.
An example of pluck and perseverance and the just reward which is accrued to these qualities is to be found in the life of Joseph Schott, who landed in America a poor youth, without friends, money, knowledge of the language spoken here or any of the advantages which the average young man takes as a matter of course in this "land of the free." Nevertheless, he possessed the spirit of a hero and a firm determination to succeed, at the same time being willing to work and to work hard at whatever he could find to do whereby he might earn an honest livelihood; and therein lies the secret of success.
Joseph Schott and his parents, John and Hedwig (Jachegyk) Schott, were natives of the same place. Krojanke, kreis Flatow, regierungbezirk Marienwerder, West Prussia, Germany. The father and mother spent their entire lives there, dying some years ago. John Schott held a very respon- sible position as gamekeeper and forester, having charge of a large tract of heavily timbered land belonging to the government.
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One of eight children, Joseph Schien we bom March 28, 1854, and received a good education in the public . me of fus fatherland. Later he learned the trade of harness maker, san ouf wpluisterer, and when eighteen years of age left his home and friends i seek løs fortune in the New Workl. Landing on the shores of Amportes ur e Che continued his journey westward until he reached LaSalle, whoy ue as perforce, obliged to halt, as he had but sixty cents lett Farlig ore to work of his trade immedi- ately, he accepted a position as & comumnamn damer in the yards of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zine Works, Boursin- o hunys a day at a dollar and a quarter a day. Before long he por cives place in the furnace room of the plant, and the Fourth of July 1850, sa orade memorable to hun by his being promoted to the post of night focus on the same department. Faithfulness and strict attention to dure seandi uy his being given the trustworthy position of day foreman in (888 wy si byen be is still acting. He has never been absent gulmy on account ofme , od lo been particu- larly fortunate in this respect, aw affoerthey to sul dor been Il more than two weeks in his entire lite- Sinne Inom - vores he has given his allegiance to the Republican partyz whose pour is he believes, has been largely the cause of the prosperity mot loch godine od dos brion since the close of the civil war.
On the 23d of June. 1873 Me Senon o sed Min Exe Perra, of LaSalle. She was born in Germany, oof far the the lesen to which our subject's childhood days were epgus, and go ved the accompanied her parents to the United States Her father, Georg & Cceen, who was a carpenter by trade. died in 1895, agel engfils-chirer posts un Hier mother who attained the same age, departed this lie mn 1867 100 varg at ille home of our subject, who was a kind and doritos son. Mire chor, who is one of three children, has become the mother of eight chile by her mariage. The family are identified with the Cafimhe choren of alsace lend x helping hand to those who are sick or in need of stay
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMANS
A successful business career reflects Freli muscle apon the individual who has achieved it but also open the commmuss in which he has pros- pered. The business interests of Christian Zimy may have licen indis- solubly entwined with those of l'ent and Then counts for more than half a century, and his name is one of the fi mewa at the portion of Illinois.
The paternal grandiasher of our subject vexe bom amd del in Fiernuy.
na Monstermane
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD.
and his maternal grandfather, who was a farmer, was at one time mayor of the village of Horkeim, and died when in middle life, in his native land. Michael Zimmermann, father of our subject, fought in the German army, under Napoleon, against Russia, and lost a brother in that memorable cam- paign. The father of Christian Zimmermann was born March 12, 1787. He had two brothers and one sister, and with them grew to maturity in Germany. After farming there for a number of years he came to the United States, in 1847. Locating at first in LaSalle, he later came to Peru, where he died of the cholera, June 28, 1849. His wife, whose maiden name had been Katherina Fredericka Kuhner, was born in the Fatherland, December 18, 1785, and died at Peru, September 28, 1872. They were Lutherans in religion, and were honest, upright citizens, respected and highly regarded by all. Six of their nine children have passed into the silent land; Mina is the widow of William Scherzer, a former jeweler of Peru; and Caroline is the widow of Otto Winheim.
Christian Zimmermann was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 30, 1823, and received a liberal education in the government schools. He was reared on a farm, and when old enough spent two years in the regular army. In 1847 he came to America with his parents and after spending a short time in LaSalle came to Peru, where he has made his home ever since with the exception of a period of ten years,-from 1856 to 1866,-when he was the proprietor of the Zimmermann Hotel in LaSalle. Selling out in the last named year, he returned to Peru, and in 1867 embarked in the lumber business, which has since claimed his attention. He deals in various kinds of builders' supplies,-lath, shingles, doors and blinds, sash and lime,- and has an extensive trade in lumber and coal. He owns farm lands in Minnesota and elsewhere, and has been very successful in his investments. In every sense of the word he is a self-made man, and he attributes his rise to wealth and prominence to hard and persistent work and application, coupled with common sense and a desire to meet the wishes of his cus- tomers.
On the 24th of January, 1854, Mr. Zimmermann married Miss Louisa, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Walter) Gmelich, all natives of Germany. The Gmelich family came to the United States in 1852, when the parents were well along in years, and. after visiting relatives in Ohio they came to Peru. The mother died here in 1869, aged about three-score and ten years, and the father died in 1872, when in his seventy-fourth year. They were members of the Lutheran church, and in that creed Mr. and Mrs. Zim- mermann were reared: but they are now members of the Peru Evangelische Lutheran church, which they assisted in building. Mrs. Zimmermann came to America one year before her parents. The eldest son of this worthy
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couple, Charley, was killed by the cars when he was a most promising young man of twenty-five years; and Robert, the third son, died at the age of sixteen and a half months. Christian, Jr., who has been in business with his father since a lad of twelve years, is now managing the affairs of the same, and has relieved his father of many of the responsibilities per- taining thereto. He wedded Anna Lassig and has two sons,-Arthur and Harry. Albert, the youngest child, is unmarried, and is a successful archi- . tect in Chicago.
Until recently Mr. Zimmermann was allied with the Democratic party, from the time that he received the right of franchise, but in 1896, believing in McKinley and the principles which he represents, he had the courage to turn his back upon his own past political record and cast his ballot for the great man of whom the whole nation is proud. For a score of years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Prior to his marriage he built a house on First street, and lived therein for a short time, and subsequent to his return from LaSalle he continued to dwell there until 1879. He then removed to a stone house, adjoining his present modern, beautiful home, which he built in 1894 and has since occupied. It is finely situated at the corner of Third and West streets, and is furnished with elegance and excellent taste.
CHRISTIAN ZIMMERMANN, JR.
Ever since he was a little lad of twelve years, perhaps, the subject of this article has been associated with his father in business. He is a practical man of affairs and for some time has been the manager of the extensive commercial interests of his senior, whose history appears at length in the preceding sketch.
The parents of our subject, Christian and Louisa (Gmelich) Zimmer- mann, have been residents of LaSalle county for over half a century and are numbered among her representative and honored citizens. Christian Zimmermann, Jr., was born in LaSalle, Illinois, January 31, 1857, and has spent his whole life in that town and in Peru. In this place he has been a resident for thirty-three years, uninterruptedly. His education was acquired in our local schools, and as soon as he was old enough he commenced working for and with his father. Their business relations have always been very harmonious and the younger man generously attributes much of his success in the financial world to the judicious training given him by the father. When the youth was found able to meet the exigencies of any
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situation, the senior man gradually withdrew in favor of the son, and thus the latter has learned every department of the business. The firm deals in lumber, lath, sash, doors, blinds, etc., and in addition conducts an extensive trade in coal and other fuel. Energy and keen, shrewd business sense are marked characteristics of our subject, and year by year he has been forging to the front.
In 1892 Christian Zimmermann, Jr., built a beautiful modern home on the corner of West and Fourth streets, and fitted it with all the comforts and conveniences of the times. The lady who presides over this attractive home was formerly Miss Anna Lassig, a daughter of Gustav and Eliza (Throne) Lassig. The marriage ceremony which united the destinies of our subject and wife was solemnized in February, 1892, and two bright little boys- Arthur and Harry-are the pride of the household.
Politically Mr. Zimmermann is affiliated with the Democratic party, and socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the German Evangelische Lutheran church.
J. C. CORBUS, JR., M. D.
Dr. J. C. Corbus, Jr .. numbered among the medical practitioners of Mendota, is one of the native sons of Illinois, his birth having occurred at Mulligan Grove, in Lee county, on the 3d of August, 1861. He is a son of Dr. J. C. Corbus, now the superintendent of the Kankakee Insane Asylum. He was only a year old when his parents removed to Mendota, and here he was reared and educated, attending the Blackstone high school, and with a broad knowledge of the English branches of learning to serve as a founda- tion upon which to rear a superstructure of professional knowledge he began the study of medicine, under the able direction of his father, who carefully guided his early reading in the science. Later he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Iowa, and on completing the course was graduated in the class of 1883.
After two years spent in practice with his father in Mendota he located in Troy Grove, Illinois, where he was engaged in the prosecution of his chosen profession for fourteen years, and then returned to his former home. Here, where he is so widely and favorably known, he has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice, his skill and ability being quickly recognized. It is an old saying that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country; but Dr. Corbus enjoys high honor even there also, for in the city where he was reared and where he has been known to many from
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early boyhood he has won a marked prestige as a representative of his chosen vocation.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Corbus and Miss Jeanie A. Wylie. In politics he is a Republican and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the order of Knights of Pythias. His genial qualities render him a social favorite, and he is a great favorite with a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
SAMUEL U. LAWRY.
Samuel Urban Lawry, a retired farmer and ex-merchant of Harding, is the present supervisor of the town of Freedom, LaSalle county. He is a native of the Empire state, born in Steuben county, New York, June 23, 1842, and came to LaSalle county with his father, James Lawry, in October, 1855. This journey was not effected as nowadays, by a fast-flying express train, but by lake to Chicago and the remainder of the way by slow-going wagons, to Harding. Mr. Lawry passed his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, without incident other than the experiences common to the freedom of boyhood life. When he reached his majority he rented land and took up the burthen of life alone. The civil war was on when he became of age and before its conclusion he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was on detail at Columbus, Kentucky, as clerk in the provost marshal's office, this detail succeeding that of carpenter, and he remained in the marshal's office until his discharge at the end of the war.
Upon his return he operated a corn-sheller and thresher for two years. With the funds he had accumulated up to this date, he bought the stock of goods owned at Harding by H. E. Billings. He was soon appointed the postmaster. Competition was so sharp for his competitor that he soon with- drew from the field and Mr. Lawry was seldom worried by fear of further opposition. He prospered in his new venture, maintained the good will of his patrons, remaining in business nearly a quarter of a century. He sold his interest to his partner, Willis A. Martin, with whom he had been associated since 1884. and retired from the care of mercantile life to the quiet of his farm near the village.
Our subject cast his first vote for a Republican candidate and has been identified with that party ever since. He has been chosen the school treas- urer of his town for sixteen years, and has been the supervisor of his town the past seven years.
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Mr. Lawry comes of English blood. His father was born in London, in 1808, and learned the pattern-making trade. He worked at the carpen- ter's trade in Steuben county, New York, and engaged in farming in Illinois. In 1884 he went to Kansas and died at Newton, that state, in February, 1899. He married Ann Harrison, a Pennsylvania lady, who died in Ophir township. in 1864. Mrs. Lawry also was born in England. Her children were: William, of Omaha, Nebraska: James, a farmer in Cloud county, Kansas: Walter, of the same state and county; Elizabeth, the widow of Elijah Batchellor, of Chicago; Samuel U., and Dr. Joseph, of Redding, California.
Samuel U. Lawry was married October 7. 1874, to Myra, a daughter of Freeborn Lewis. Mr. Lewis was born in New York, in 1809, and in early life was a river flatboatman on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, from Cincinnati to New Orleans. He lived in Dearborn county, Indiana, many years and was there married to Alletta Angevine, who is still living, in Sheridan, Illi- nois, at the age of eighty years. Mr. Lewis came to LaSalle county in 1865 and died here in 1888. His children are: Mary, wife of Quincy Wemple, of Sheridan; Ada. deceased; Mrs. Lawry and Freeborn Lewis, of Sheridan.
Mr. Lawry's children are: Carl C. and J. L. The former finished his education in the Ottawa high school in 1899. and the latter was educated in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago; he is also a stenographer at the Chicago Athletic Club.
DAVID ARENTSEN.
David Arentsen, a son of the late pioneer, Thorbjoren Arentsen, was born in South Freedom township, LaSalle county, on the old Arentsen homestead, now the property of Daniel Arentsen, the date of his birth being March 12, 1851. His early life was identical with that of other youths reared on the frontier and his school opportunities were in keeping with his time. From his father he learned the lessons of honesty and industry and by ex- ample was taught what true manhood is. When he started out in life on his own responsibility. it was as a farmer on a portion of the home farm. which later came into his possession and to which he has added by subse- quent purchase and improved, until now his farm is one of the best and most attractive in the township.
Mr. Arentsen was married April 5, 1877, to Sarah Olsen, a daughter of John and Ann (Halverson) Olsen, who came to this country from Bergen, Norway, in 1860. In the Olsen family were ten children, of whom four are
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now living, namely: Martha, whose first husband was Soren Eames and whose second husband was Oliver Grundy; Mrs. Sarah Arentsen; Josephine, the wife of Osman Tisdale, of Artesia, South Dakota, and Christ Olsen, of the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Arentsen have reared only one child, an adopted one, Ella Sophia Eames, a daughter of Soren and Martha Eames.
The Arentsen family are identified with the Lutheran church, and politi- cally Mr. Arentsen is a Republican.
URBIN S. ELLSWORTH.
Urbin S. Ellsworth, of Vermilionville. Illinois, has for years been a prominent factor in the affairs of township, county and state, and is too well known to need introduction here. A work of this character, however, would be incomplete did it not include some biographical mention of him. The history of his life, in brief, is as follows:
Urbin S. Ellsworth was born on his father's farm on section 31, South Ottawa township, LaSalle county, April 19, 1851, and is a son of the vener- - able pioneer citizen, William A. Ellsworth, of this county.
William A. Ellsworth is a native of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, born January 8, 1818, a son of Eliphalet Ellsworth, who was the son of a Revolutionary soldier. The Ellsworths figured among the prominent early settlers of this country. From the Connecticut branch of the family is our subject descended. One member of this family, Oliver Ellsworth, was the chief justice under President Washington, and this chief justice had a son, William Ellsworth, who was at one time the governor of the state of Connec- ticut. Eliphalet Ellsworth's grandfather was an ardent patriot during the American Revolution and fought the battles for independence along with his son. Eliphalet Ellsworth served a short time as a soldier in the war of IS12: after that war he settled in Pennsylvania and was for a number of years engaged in agricultural pursuits. His last years were passed in LaSalle county, and he is buried in the Vermilionville cemetery. His son, William A. Ellsworth, before he was of age came to this county, stopping first on Hopkins' Hill in South Ottawa township, where Philip Watts now resides. Here he went to work by the month, and when the canal grant came into market he claimed an eighty-acre tract of land on section 31, which he still owns. This land he improved, building thereon the first brick house erected in the county, making the brick himself. That was in the year 1844. He continued his residence here until 1856, when he removed to Deer Park. In boyhood his opportunities for obtaining an education were not of the
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best and he was practically thrown upon his own resources at the age of twelve years. That he has made a success of life is due wholly to his own efforts. He has amassed a competency ample for his family needs. When a young man he joined the Congregational church, and for more than sixty years has lived consistently with the tenets of that religious body. December 18, 1845, he married Miss Lydia, a daughter of John Clark, who came into LaSalle county from Holderness, New Hampshire, she being a native of the village of Campton, that state. Mr. Clark was a Scotch-Irishman, who re- moved with his family to Illinois and settled in LaSalle county in 1839, the year succeeding the advent of Mr. Ellsworth. To Mr. and Mrs. John Clark the following named children were born: John, a resident of Henry county, Illinois; Charles, who died in Missouri, leaving a family there; Moody, de- ceased; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of John Elliott, and Lydia. The children of William A. Ellsworth are: Ada L., the wife of Ransom Bullock, of Tonica, Illinois: Urbin S .; Orin W., a druggist of Keokuk, Iowa; and Sarah, wife of James D. Selah, of Ewing, Nebraska.
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