USA > Illinois > Kendall County > Genealogical and biographical record of Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois : containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 26
USA > Illinois > Will County > Genealogical and biographical record of Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois : containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 26
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three miles south of town. Mr. Tait was very fond of flowers and had so many plants on his place that it became known as Flower Hill. Sep- tember 28, 1848, he took out a patent for the land. September 27, 1851, he made his final payment for the property, the purchase price for the one hundred and twenty acres being $477. By trade he was a stone mason, but his prefer- ence was for farm pursuits. On first settling in Chicago he spent a short time with a brother there, and later became connected with a Mr. Barnett in stone contracting. For some years af- terward he engaged in the building of the locks on the canal at Wellington, Canada, and the locks on this canal. After completing that work he settled down on the farm where he remained until his death, October 6, 1878. His wife spent the last eighteen months of her life with our sub- ject and died in his home March 28, 1882. She and her husband were members of the First Baptist Church of Joliet and were active Christian workers.
When a boy our subject had no extended op- portunities for acquiring an education, but he lost no chance to gain the knowledge he felt would be necessary to him in life. Farming duties early and late engrossed much of his time; hours of work were long and the labor often wearying, but books or newspapers that came in his way were eagerly read in order to gain the varied information and news from the outside world. Being a young man of frugal habits, he soon was in a position to buy a farm. He pur- chased eighty-five acres in Jackson Township from a Miss Cook, who later became the wife of Elder Solomon Knapp. Here he devoted himself to his chosen occupation, beginning in his new home the life that brought him happiness, honor and success. The land upon which he settled was almost unbroken prairie, but his energetic management soon yielded him good crops; and the improvements upon it were a monument to his skillful labor. Upon this place he made his home until his life work ended, May 3, 1896. During the last twenty years of his life lie suffered from the effects of a sunstroke. On account of his poor health he and his wife spent much time
in travel, and in 1895 extended their travels as far as Alaska, visiting Sitka, Juneau and other points of interest. For years he was a member of the school board of his district, and his efforts proved helpful in promoting the condition of the school. At fourteen years of age he connected himself with the First Baptist Church of Joliet, with which he was afterward identified, and his wife has been a member of the same church for thirty years or more: In politics he was a Re- publican. He served as supervisor and collector of Jackson Township one term.
October 12, 1858, Mr. Tait married Miss Cath- erine Shutts, a native of Columbia County, N.Y., born September 19, 1840, and a daughter of John and Catherine (Cole) Shutts. She was one of a family of six sons and three daughters, of whoni the following besides herself now survive: Henry, an attorney of Oregon City, Mo .; Samuel, of Jo- liet; John, who lives in Chicago; Cassius, a grocer in St. Joe, Mo .; Peter, an attorney in Joliet; and Frank, a farmer in Rooks County, Kans. Mr. Shutts came to Joliet September 13, 1855. He purchased one hundred acres of land on the pres- ent site of the Swedish orphans' home, and there he resided up to a few months before his death. His last days were spent in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Tait, where he died September 6, 1899. His wife had passed away December 21, 1878. Both were earnest members of the Central Presbyterian Church. For a number of years he served as supervisor of Joliet Township. He was a man of considerable local prominence and was recognized as one of Will County's represent- ative citizens.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tait six sons and three daughters were born, all but one of whom are still living. John and Magnus are en- gaged in the fruit business and in cattle ranching at Phoenix, Ariz .; Margaret is the wife of Oscar Laraway, a farmer of Joliet Township; Thomas is engaged in farming on Puget Sound, in Wash- ington; Fred is a partner of Magnus in cattle- raising; Cassius is on the home farm in Jackson Township; Sarah and Robert reside with their mother. Since November, 1898, the family home has been at No. 706 Richards street, Joliet.
John Theiler
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
JOHN THEILER.
OHN THEILER, who was engaged in busi- ness in Joliet since 1857, was born in Canton Luzerne, Hassle Amt Entlebuch, Switzer- land, December 8, 1829, a son of John and Bar- bara (Wicke) Theiler, also natives of that can- ton. In 1847 his father brought the family to the United States and settled in Chicago, where he died seven years later, at fifty-four years of age. His wife also died in that city. They were the parents of six sons and four danghters, nine of whom came to America and four are now living. Two of the sons, John and Joseph, make their home in Joliet, and another son, Anthony, is a farmer near Troy, this state. An uncle (Anthony) is still living in Switzerland, and is now eighty- five years of age. The grandfather, John Theiler, was a farmer in Canton Luzerne, where preceding generations also lived. So far as known, all members of the family have been Roman Catholics.
While still a mere boy, our subject began to make his own way in the world. His first occu- pation was as a farm hand. In 1847 he accon1- panied his parents on the sailing vessel "Boston," from Havre to New York, landing after a voyage of thirty-five days. From New York he pro- ceeded up the Hudson to Albany, thence by - canal to Buffalo, and from there by boat to Chi- cago. Going out on the prairie, he helped to put up hay. Later he worked in a packing- house, then in a lime-kiln. The fall of 1850 found him in Joliet, and during the winter he worked in George Woodruff's distillery at Three Points. In the spring he went back to Chicago,
then returned to Joliet in the fall. In 1853 he settled permanently in this county, buying a farm on North Broadway, which later be- came Saengerbund park. For three years he made his home on that place, meantime improv- ing and cultivating its fifty acres. He then sold, and opened the store which he has since con- ducted. Until 1862 his location was on North Hickory street, but he then bought a store at No. 110 South Bluff street, and later built on adjoining ground, so that now he has a frontage of seventy-five feet and a depth of eighty feet, with four floors. This large business has been built up through his energy, perseverance and determination.
In 1892 Mr. Theiler assisted in incorporating the E. Porter Brewing Company, of which he has since been a stockholder and director. He has a number of valuable real-estate interests, among these being fifteen acres of his old farm on North Broadway, now known as Theiler park. He also owns twenty-two acres adjoining City park, and easy of access via the West park street cars and the Rock Island Railroad. This property hc expects to plat and sell in lots. Until 1896 he adhered to the regular Democratic organization, but its adoption of a silver plank caused hini to join the ranks of the gold-standard Democrats. For two terms he served as alderman from the old Twenty-third (now the Third) ward. For many years he has been treasurer of the Saenger- bund. At one time he served as president of the Sharpshooters' Association, and he has taken a number of prizes for his skill as a marksman.
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His membership is in St. John's Roman Catholic Church, but he also attends and supports St. Patrick's.
The marriage of Mr. Theiler, in Joliet, united him with Miss Lizzie Fender, who was born on the Rhine in Alsace, and in 1846 came to Joliet in company with her father, Michael Fender, who was a gardener here. Mr. and Mrs. Theiler had five children who attained mature years. Of these, John, who was a prominent business man of Joliet, died in February, 1899, and Joseph is now a merchant of this city. The daughters are Mrs. Mary Scheit, Mrs. Louisa Wenner, and Lizzie, also of this city.
AMES G. HEGGIE, a well-known business man of Joliet, where he has resided since 1875, was born in Scone, Perthshire, Scot- land, October 18, 1853. His birthplace was the estate of Scone, now owned by the Earl of Mans- field, and renowned in history as the place where all the kings of Scotland were crowned. His father was born in the county of Fife, and en- tered the employ of the Earl of Mansfield when a young man. He was engaged in contracting, taking charge of the improvements on the place. As leases on the estate were always made for a term of nineteen years, at their renewal consider- able work was necessary. In religion he was connected with the Free Presbyterian Church. At the time of his death he was eighty-one years of age.
The wife of John Heggie was Margaret Smith, a devout woman, of great energy and firmness of character, who died at eighty-four years of age. She was a daughter of Sergeant Henry Smith, of the English army, and was born on the Island of Sicily (her father having been on military duty there at the time of her birth). Her brothers were also military men. One, John Smith, took part in the Crimean war, and another, Henry, died while on duty in India. The children of John and Margaret Heggie were named as fol-
lows: Jessie, who is the wife of James Simpson, of Chicago; John, our subject's business partner; Mary, deceased; Isabelle, Mrs. Dixon, of Scot- land; and James G. The last-named was edu- cated in schools connected with the free church in Scotland, supplemented by attendance at an academy. . For four years he worked in a lawyer's office. At the expiration of that time he entered the office of the surveyor of taxes, where he re- mained for a year, and until he came to America.
In 1873 Mr. Heggie crossed the ocean, going to Dekalb County, Il1., where he worked on a farm. From there he came to Joliet, and, having a taste for mechanics, he secured employment with the Joliet Steel Company. After two years in the boiler shop he was made foreman of that department. He remained with the company for seventeen years, during which time he retained the fullest confidence of his employers.
Forming a partnership with his brother in 1892 Mr. Heggie opened a business of his own, having the largest boiler-manufacturing plant in the city. In 1899 they erected a still larger plant, located on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad; this is one of the largest and best ap- pointed plants of its kind in the entire state. The success with which it has been conducted re- flects the greatest credit upon its owners and speaks volumes for their ability and perseverance. The brothers have done a large amount of work for the contractors on the drainage canal, as well as the officers of the sanitary district, and their relations with all have been the most agreeable.
In national affairs Mr. Heggie is a Republican. He has never sought political preferment nor been active in politics. For three terms he served as alderman from the first ward, to which he was twice elected on the Republican and once on the Democratic ticket. Fraternally he is con- nected with Mount Joliet Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; in this he has held all the offices except that of master. He is interested in some gold property near Deadwood and is vice-president of the Her- cules Gold Mining Company. His residence at No. 906 Irving street was erected in 1881, and is modern in all of its appointments. The residence adjoining was built by him at the same time. He
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
owns several houses, most of which he built. For six years he was director of the People's Homestead & Loan Association.
December 31, 1878, in Chicago, Mr. Heggie married Kate, daughter of William Fraser, a na- tive of Inverness-shire, Scotland; she was born in Hamilton, Ontario, but came to the States at an early age. Mr. and Mrs. Heggie are the parents of eight children, namely: John Fraser, who is in his father's shop; Thomas Melbrun, who has a taste for mechanical engineering and is directing his studies toward that occupation; James Moir, who is in the shop; William Ross, Robert Bruce, Fred, Jeannette Marguerite and Gordon Alexander.
OSEPH LABO is engaged in the florist's business in Joliet. In the spring of 1898 he bought two acres of land at Raynor and Mason avenues and built a greenhouse. Since then he has built up a large business in cut flowers, nursery and decorative plants. His greenhouses contain twelve thousand square feet of glass and are stocked with the choicest vari- eties of plants. In addition to his regular work as a florist he has had considerable demand for his services as a landscape gardener, and has dis- played taste and talent in this line of business. Desiring to equip his greenhouses with the latest improvements, he has bought a gasoline engine, and uses steam and hot water for heating purposes.
Born in Cologne, Germany, May 21, 1868, our subject is a son of Theodore and Sophia (Mauch) Labo, natives of the same city, where the pater- nal grandfather was a stone mason and the maternal grandfather, Dominicus Mauch, an ex- pert mechanic and manufacturer of scientific instruments. The father, who was a talented pianist, organist and violinist, played the grand organ in the Colonge Cathedral for years and also taught private pupils. Hc died in his native city when seventy-one years of age. His wife is still living in that place. They had only two
children, of whom the daughter still remains in Cologne. The son, our subject, spent six years in the Cologne Gymnasium, where he studied German, English, French and Latin. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to the trade of florist and landscape gardener in his native town, and after two years he began travel as a journey- man, working in various German towns. In 1887 he entered the Seventh Artillery of Cologne Battery No. 8, in which he served for one year. His knowledge of foreign languages led to his promotion from the ranks to an official position. After retiring from the army he went to England and worked at his trade there, later was similar- ly engaged in France and Ghent, Belgium.
Coming to America in 1892, Mr. Labo was employed in a large nursery at Rochester, N. Y. In the spring of 1893 he went to Chicago, and for eighteen months worked in Lincoln Park under Superintendent Pettigrew, who recommend- ed him to Warden Allen at Joliet. In this way he was appointed to the position of florist at the state penitentiary. He continued there until February 1, 1899, when he resigned in order to devote his entire attention to private business affairs. While at the penitentiary he laid out the front lawn and made the lily pond, transforming the grounds from their unattractive condition to a beautiful spot. He is a member of the Society of American Florists and takes a warm interest in everything pertaining to his occupation. In religion he is identified with St. John's Roman Catholic Church. He is a member of the Joliet Saengerbund. By his marriage in New York City to Miss Margaret Fisher, a native of Cologne, he has one son, Theodore.
RANK L. BOWEN, president of the Star Publishing Company of Joliet, and editor of Joliet Sunday Star, is one of the well-known newspaper men of his city. In connection with George L. Erhard, in November, 1897, hecstab- lished the Joliet Sunday Star, the only Sunday paper published in the city. From the first the
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enterprise was popular and met with success. The paper takes a strong stand for the enforce- ment of law and order and for the election of men who will enforce the laws. In fact, the first shot that was fired in the campaign against the lawless element in the city was fired by the Star, and, while the paper has always been strictly non- partisan, its independent and brave stand for the right have caused both parties to seek to nomi- nate only men with clean records. The circula- tion is large and is not limited to the city. In1 size the Star is a seven-column, eight-page paper, containing forcible editorials as well as local and general news of interest. The publication is managed by a company, of which Mr. Bowen is president, and treasurer and manager. He also acts as agent for the Burnell Commercial Agency of Marshalltown, Iowa, and publishes their daily report for Will County.
Mr. Bowen was born in Greenwich, Huron County, Ohio, January 16, 1870. When he was a child his parents moved to Michigan. He was educated in the high school and college at Hills- dale, Mich., and the Grand Rapids high school, from which he graduated in 1891. In the fall of the latter year he entered the department of law, University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1893 with the degree of LL. B. During his university course he was a member of the Jeffer- sonian Society, and at the same time he took special studies in the department of literature, science and arts. In 1893 he was admitted to the bar in Michigan. He continued special study at the university, taking the post-graduate course in law, and the next year was given the degree
of LL.M. Going to Chicago in 1894 he spent a year in the office of Col. Robert Rae, a prominent practitioner at the federal bar in that city. From the time he was seventeen he had been interested in literary work, and in this way he had paid his expenses while in college.
In 1895 Mr. Bowen accepted a position with the Joliet Morning Post. After three months he was made city editor of the paper, and continued in that capacity until the paper was discontinued in 1896. From that time until the spring of 1897 he was connected with the Daily Republican on the reportorial staff. He was then elected . justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket, re- ceiving a good majority although the township was Republican. He took the oath of office in May, 1897, for a term of four years, and has since served with efficiency and satisfaction to all. Until the national convention of 1896 he was a Republican, but, being a believer in the free coin- age of silver, he could not follow his party in its gold standard platform, hence he joined the Democratic ranks. He has been a delegate to the city and county conventions of his party and in 1898 he was a delegate to the state convention at Springfield, where he was assigned to com- mittee work. He was also secretary of the con- gressional committee. He is identified with the University of Michigan Alumni Association, the Modern Woodmen of America and the North American Union. In religious faith he is a be- liever in Christian Science. His marriage, which took place in Chicago in 1895, united him with Miss Grace Bursmith, of that city, by whom he has one son, Frank L., Jr.
Johan Thiderfor
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
243
JOHN THEILER, JR.
OHN THEILER, JR. In every life there is some trait of character that individualizes its possessor. In Mr. Theiler this was found in his passionate devotion to music. With a natural talent for the art, added to and increased by study under the best teachers, he became him- self a musician of rare ability and was said to be the finest pianist in Illinois. Music was his soul, and in its study he passed the happiest hours of his life. For years he was organist at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, after which for a time he held a similar position at St. John's. When only seventeen he was able to direct a saenger- bund satisfactorily, and for twenty-five years he held the position of director of the Joliet Saenger- bund, but, on account of failing eyesight, re- signed the year before he died, although he still continued to be a prominent member. By the members of the organization he was loved as a friend, and his services, given without expecta- tion of financial returns, were deeply appreciated. He was director of the saengerfests held in Joliet in 1884 and 1893, which were the most success- ful affairs of the kind ever held in the city, and were participated in by members of singing so- cieties from every part of the state. In each of these organizations he served as state director. He also took a prominent part in saengerfests held in other states.
A son of John Theiler, Sr., our subject was born in this city August 3, 1858. He was edu- cated in Teutopolis (Ill.) College and St. Vin- cent's in Pennsylvania. When sixteen years of age he began to learn the business in which his father engaged, and about 1884 he was made a partner, the firm name being John Theiler &
Son. In 1892 his father retired and the name was changed to Theiler Brothers. In 1897 John sold to his brother and started for himself, on the corner of Jefferson and Chicago streets, where he built up a large trade. He was a prominent official in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and for many years was chief ranger in the order of Foresters. From 1879 until his death he was connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. At different times he served as secretary and treasurer of the Sharp- shooters Association, in which he won many medals for fine marksmanship. A man of public spirit, he aided local enterprises. Politically he was a gold Democrat. When twenty-one years of age he was elected assistant supervisor, which office he held for four years. In religion he was identified with St. John's Roman Catholic Church, and after his death, which occurred February 28, 1899, of la grippe, his body was laid to rest in the cemetery of this church.
May 9, 1892, in Joliet, Mr. Theiler married Miss Theresa Flick, who was born in this city, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabetlı (Seiter) Flick, natives respectively of Alsace, Germany, and Lancaster, Pa. Her father was two years old when his mother died and eight at the time of the death of his father, Xavier Flick, M. D. Three years later he came alone to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade. For a period of four years he worked at his trade in the navy yards at Brooklyn, N. Y. Then going to Sid- ney, Ohio, he started a wagon shop of his own. His next location was Freyburg, Allen (now Auglaize) County, where he carried on a shop
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until his removal to Joliet, in 1857. In this city he started a boarding house. After a time he bought property, built on it, and continued here until his death, in March, 1872, at fifty-four years.
The marriage of Mr. Flick, in Freyburg, Ohio, in 1840, united him with Elizabeth Seiter, who was born at Millerstown, Lancaster County, Pa., September 30, 1821. Her father, Jarvis Seiter, a native of Baden, Germany, was a weaver of woolens and linens in Millerstown, whence in 1831 he removed to Freyburg, Ohio, and settled on land that he converted into a valuable farm. He died there when fifty-two years of age. His wife, Mary (Wise) Seiter, was born in Baden, Germany, and came with her father to this coun- try, settling in Lancaster County, Pa. Mrs. Elizabeth Flick was one of seven children, of whom three daughters survive, she being the oldest and the only one in Joliet. From ten years of age she was reared in Ohio. While she lacked educational advantages she became a good business woman, and successfully conducted a boarding house in Joliet until 1898. She is still interested in property in Freyburg, Ohio, where she and her husband bought land and platted an addition. She was the mother of five children: Joseph, deceased; Mrs. Mary Adler; Helen, wife of Louis Bellay; Mrs. Lizzie Lux, and Mrs. Theresa Theiler. Joseph G. Flick was the only son. . He was educated in Freyburg, Ohio. He came to Joliet with his parents and resided here until his death. He married Cath- arine Shey, now of Chicago. They were the parents of two children now living: Theresa, and Pius P. Flick, who is a business man of Chicago, and manager of the Granada Hotel in that city. A notable fact in the history of the Flick family is that for seven generations only one son reached maturity, the last one being Pius P. Flick. Mrs. Theresa Theiler was born at the family home, No. 116 South Bluff street, received her education in St. Francis' Academy, and from early life was an active member of St. John's Church, with which she is now connected. Her only son, John F., died at the age of one year. Upon the death of her husband she disposed of
the business in which he had engaged. She is a lady of generous disposition, charitable and kind-hearted, and willing to assist philanthropic enterprises and worthy people in need of aid.
ENRY A. RATHJE, who is one of Peo- tone's most influential men, was born in Monee Township, this county, March 28, - 1853, a son of Frederick and Lotta (Narges) Rathje, natives of Rodewald, Hanover, Germany. Of eight children born to their union only three are now living, Henry A., Louis (president of the Chicago City Bank), of Chicago, and Sophia, Mrs. George A. Weimann, of Frankfort, Il1. The father, who was born in 1824, grew to man- hood on a farm and in 1843 came to America, settling twenty-five miles west of Chicago in Dupage County, where he worked as a farm hand for about six years. Next he came to Peo- tone Township and purchased two hundred acres of land three miles north of Monee, where he em- barked in farm pursuits. Fifteen years later he moved to Peotone and opened a mercantile store, which was conducted under the title of Schroeder & Rathje for eleven years. For six years he was connected with the firm of Rogers Brothers & Harkin. On retiring from business he managed a forty-acre farm which he owned adjoining the town. He spent his last years in quiet retirement in Peotone. During his active business career he and Benjamin M. Lewis bought extensive farm- ing lands, which they improved and later sold. At the time of his death, April 14, 1891, he owned three hundred and eighty acres. From the establishment of the Lutheran Church in Peo- tone he served as one of its trustees, and he was also an active worker in the Sunday-school. Po- litically he was a Democrat. Several times he was elected town trustee and school director, and while at Monee he also served as road commis- sioner. His father, Frederick, a farmer, came to America in 1845 and settled on a farm in Dupage County, where he died in 1884.
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