USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 33
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Thomas H. Ratfield acted as conservator of the estate, until his father's death and cleared off the indebtedness, and following his father's demise he was made administrator. By buying the interests of the other heirs, he secured the old farm and was on it until he turned it over to his son, Alva J., and when this son went to Texas, another son, William L., took charge. Another farm owned by Mr. Ratfield S operated by his son Charles T. For the past five years Mr. Ratfield has been living on his farm of twenty acres, on which he erected his present residence.
On March 1, 1877, Mr. Ratfield was married to Emeline Eliza Collins, of Burlington, Kane County, Ill., a daughter of Leander and Jerusha Collins, of New York, who were married in Kane County. Later they went to Elgin, Il., and their old home, a picture of which is in Mrs. Ratfield's possession, was later used as a school, a church and post office. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ratfield have been as follows: Charles T., who is on the eighty-acre farm in Riley Township; Alva J., who is in Relotis, Tex., was a teacher at one time in De Kalb County, Ill .; William L., who is on the old homestead; Jesse James, who was a carpenter, died at the age of thirty-two years; Louis Seymour, served in the navy during the Great War, being one of the first to enlist from this region, was discharged and is now living at Gloucester, Mass .; and Merritt Irvin, who is at home. He possesses a mechanical talent and has taken a commercial course at the Elgin Business College. Mr. Ratfield has served as road commissioner for four terms, and as a
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justice of the peace. While a Republican in sentiment, for the past twenty-one years, he has voted the Prohibition tieket, one of three to support it in his township. His first vote was for a Greenback candidate. Mrs. Ratfield is a Republican, and she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ratfield, while not a member of this church, attends its services and gives it a generous support. He belongs to the Court of Honor, and he is also a member of the Community Club.
JOHN W. RAYCRAFT.
John W. Raycraft, one of the prosperous farmers of Greenwood Township, and one who stands very well in public esteem, owns 548 · acres of land, 400 acres of which comprise his homestead. He was born in Greenwood Township, October 27, 1847, a son of Wi liam and Mary (Flemming) Raycraft, natives of County Cork and the north of Ireland, respectively. In young manhood William Raycraft came to the United States, and after some time spent in different portions of Illinois, located in MelIenry County, where he entered 240 acres of land from the government. He died in California at the age of forty-four years, his wife surviving him until she was seventy-five years old. They had three children, but John W. Raycraft is the only survivor.
John W. Raycraft was reared in Greenwood Township and attended its schools, and learned to be a farmer. He was married to Johanna Ryan, who was born at Woodstock, a daughter of John and Mary Ryan. Mr. and Mrs. Raycraft became the parents of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are as follows: Lizzie, who is Mrs. S. J. Ogle; William F .; John; Joseph; Maude; and Robert. In addition to his 400 aere homestead, Mr. Raycraft owns 148 aeres in Hartland Township and carries on general farming upon an extensive seale. A Democrat, he has served as road commissioner for one year. He is a member of the Catholic church. A thoroughly experienced farmer, he is regarded as a model agriculturalist, and his advice is often sought by those who aim to conduct their farms in the best and latest manner.
MISS HATTIE READ.
Miss Hattie Read, one of the notable educators of McHenry County, under whose wise care and capable instruction many of the children of
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an older generation learned the fundamentals of English, and hold her memory close to their hearts. She devoted her life to her chosen vocation, and remained in the educational field until failing eyesight forced her to retire after half a century of strenuous effort. Her mind remained clear to the end of her life, and she lived happily at her home in Hebron.
Miss Read taught in a number of the schools of MeHenry County, and then was called to Wisconsin, where she taught in Lynn Township and at Lake Geneva, and also at Madison. Always ahead of her times, she used many of the methods in her work which then were an innovation, but now are accepted as essentials. Her old pupils took pleasure in visiting her and giving her little attentions that in a measure paid back her devotion to them in days gone by.
DAVID REDPATH.
David Redpath, one of the honored residents of Woodstock, and a man widely and favorably known, was born at Elizabeth, Jo Daviess County, Ill., February 15, 1845, a son of Alexander and Ann (Pringle) Redpath, both born near Pinkey, Scotland. Coming to the United States in young manhood, Alexander Redpath met a brother of Ann Pringle, and with him, joined Mr. and Mrs. Pringle who had already located in Jo Daviess County, Ill., attracted thereto by the opening of the lead mines. Another member of the Pringle family formed a partnership with his future brother-in-law, Alexander Redpath, and the two re- mained together for eight years operating a lead mine.
In the meanwhile Alexander Redpath and Ann Pringle were married, and subsequently located on a farm near Marengo, near that of his brother-in-law, Patterson Pringle, which was about two miles north of the city. Here Alexander Redpath died in 1872, aged sixty-six years. His widow survived him for some years, dying when eighty-four years old, at Marengo. Alexander Redpath was not desirous of public honors, and devoted himself untiringly to his own affairs.
David Redpath attended the schools of Marengo, and the Jennings Seminary at Aurora. He was married (first) to Janet Purves, who died after bearing him three children, namely: Lizzie, who is Mrs. Wallace D. Echternach of De Kalb County, Ill .; Grace, who owns and operates a portion of the old Purves homestead in Seneca Township; and William P., who was an infant at his mother's death, is a leading farmer of
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Seneca Township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In 1879 David Redpath was married (second) to Mary A. Lindsay, who died after twenty-five years of married life, leaving three children, namely: Charles L., who is on the old Alexander Redpath homestead in Marengo Township; Margaret, who is with her father; and Frances M., who is Mrs. D. B. Boyle, Jr., lives at Marengo. The present wife of David Redpath was Mrs. Marian Cassel, widow of James Cassel, and a daughter of William and Janet (Lindsay) Scott, and she is a niece of the second wife of Mr. Redpath. There are no children of this marriage.
Until recent years David Redpath was engaged in farming in Me- Henry County, but realizing that he had reached the time of life when it was expedient for him to the comforts of life, he retired to Woodstock, although he spends his winters at Zephyr Hill, near Tampa, Fla. During the Civil War Mr. Redpath served his country as a soldier, being in the One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Infantry, and a portion of the time was in Kentucky guarding the forts from attacks by guerrilla bands. The Redpath family is one of the old ones of MeHenry County and its history is interwoven with that of the section in which its representatives have lived for so many years.
GEORGE W. REDPATH.
George W. Redpath, who is now living retired at Marengo, was formerly one of the successful agriculturalists of his township, and is a man widely known and universally respected. He was born May 12, 1859, on the old Redpath homestead two and one-half miles northeast of Marengo, and is the youngest of his father's family. He was reared on this farm and sent to the local schools until he was eighteen years old, at which time he had the misfortune to lose his father. Then, in com- pany with his brother, Robert, who was seven years his senior, he bought an eighty-acre tract directly north of Marengo, and this partnership continued for nine years, the two carrying on dairying and farming. About ISSO, they bought the Hutchinson farm of 232 aeres, and re- moved from the old home in which they had been living, to it. This second farm was near their first one. In 1885, George W. Redpath sold his interests to his brother, who six years later, losing his health, retired to Marengo, and died there in the fall of 1918. His widow and one son, Thomas, still live at Marengo.
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George M. Redpath bought 200 acres of land in Riley Township, six miles south of Marengo, known as the Searles farm, and lived there until he lost his wife through an accident, and he then rented the farm and located at Marengo, where for ten years he was engaged in buying stock, and also for three years handled humber and coal in partnership with E. E. Seward. Selling his interests, Mr. Redpath then returned to the farm, and spent five years on it, but when his son married, he was able to relieve his father of the duties of management, and Mr. Redpath once more located at Marengo. For thirty years he has been interested in fire and life insurance in partnership with J. C. Tanner, they purchasing the Mead Insurance Agency. Mr. Redpath still owns 140 acres in Riley Township, one and one-half miles southwest of his homestead, as well as the latter property, and is in very comfortable circumstances. While engaged in farming he paid special attention to dairying during his earlier years, but later raised more cattle and hogs, shipping them in large quantities to the Chicago markets. While voting the Republican ticket, he is not a public man.
When he was twenty-nine years old, Mr. Redpath was married to Nellie Albee of Seneca Township. Her death was a tragedy, which plunged the whole community in mourning, and she left a six-months old son, Harold Everett, who is now conducting the homestead. He was married to Eda Keeney, and they have one son, George Germaine. Harold E. Redpath now owns 120 acres of his own.
George M. Redpath was married (second) to Ruth MeKinney of Marengo, a daughter of E. F. MeKinney, an old merchant of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Redpath have one daughter, Frances A., who is attending the Marengo High School. Mr. Redpath is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and has held that office for five years. His recreations are automobiling and fishing.
WILLIAM REDPATH.
William Redpath, one of the most progressive young farmers of Sencea Township, was born November 17, 1875, a son of David and Janet (Purvis) Redpath, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. William Redpath was with his father's people until he was eight years old, and then joined his father, with whom he remained until seventeen years of age, at which time he began working for neighboring farmers, for three years being with August Swager of Marengo, who
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paid him $17 per month. Then, for a year, he was in partnership with his brother-in-law, when once more he worked by the month. Subse- quently he became his father's tenant and as such conducted the home- stead. Then, on November 22, 1899, he was married to Emma A. Wilcox, a daughter of John Q. and Arilla Wilcox, whose farm is located one-half mile west of Mr. Redpath's farm. She was born April 4, 1875, so is about the same age as her husband. Following his marriage, Mr. Redpath rented a farm owned by his uncle, and then in 1902, bought his present farm of 160 acres, paying $64 per aere for it. This land has a branch of the Kiswaukee running through it, and it is admirably adapted for dairying. In 1916 Mr. Redpath rebuilt his house, and invested $4,000 in new buildings, now having silos, a barn with base- ment 40x60, with twenty-four feet posts, and an addition 32×36 feet. He has a fine supply of water, which is piped to all the buildings. There are stabling accommodations for 100 head of cattle. His herd runs from ten to forty head and his cattle are high grade, as he breeds from a thoroughbred bull. Each spring he sells cattle and running horses, brood sows, and other stoek, although he eaters to the needs of dairy- men. He also feeds hogs. For the past three years his residence has been at Marengo, but he supervises all the farming operations.
Mr. and Mrs. Redpath are the parents of five children, Ira, Irma, Ione, Irlene and Ina, all of whom are at home. He does not take any active part in politics. Without question Mr. Redpath is one of the most progressive men of this section and one who is thoroughly alive to public interests.
HENRY REHORST.
Henry Rchorst, now deceased, was an able farmer, excellent business man and respected eitizen, whose operations were mainly centered in Richmond Township. He was born at Munster, Westphalia, Germany, December 24, 1845, and died at Richmond January 24, 1895. In 1862 he came to the United States and went alone to Bassetts Station, Kenosha County, Wis., spending the subsequent winter in farm work, and in the spring he came to MeHenry County. In 1865 he was married to Mrs. Christina Elfers, and lived on her 160-acre farm located on the state line until her death in 1870. They had three daughters, namely: Lydia
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Rchorst, who is of Richmond; Mary, who is Mrs. Peter Olsen of Salem, Wis .; and Anna K., who is Mrs. Edwin Haldeman of Spring Grove, III. By her former marriage, Mrs. Rehorst had four children, namely: Lena, who married John Kolthoff of New Hampton, lowa, where she died; William Elfers, who lives at Richmond; Christina, who married Frank Rosenerans, died at New Hampton, Iowa; and George Elfers, who lives in Richmond Township.
After his wife's death, Mr. Rehorst rented the Elfers farm for five or six years. On February 11, 1873, he was married (second) to Mary E. Kasken of Wheatland, Wis., a daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Bucher) Kasken, both natives of Westphalia, Germany, and carly settlers in Wisconsin. In 1879 Mr. Rehorst bought the Robert Turner farm of 200 acres, two and one-half miles east of Richmond, and two miles north of Solon Mills, to which he later added until he had 260 acres. This farm is still owned by his widow. After buying the property he improved the buildings, doing something each year. He had other interests, forming a partnership with James Westlake to operate the Washington Cheese Factory, one mile away from his farm, but later sold his share in it. While he did handle sheep, he made milk his leading feature. Two years prior to his death he retired to Richmond. Prior to leaving his native land he connected himself with the Presbyterian church, and ever continued a faithful member of it; and helped to build the church of that denomination, in his neighborhood. For years he served on the school board.
By his second marriage Mr. Rehorst had the following children: Sylvia, who married Henry Vogel, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Nellie L., who was a teacher in the home school, is living with her mother; and Edith, who is Mrs. Clyde Wilson of Richmond. Mrs. Rehorst is a Presbyterian, but her daughters belong to the Con- gregational church. Mr. Rehorst was both a Chapter Mason and Woodman, and was charter member of the local camp of the latter, and his was the first death in that organization. He was buried with Masonie honors in the cemetery at Richmond. Mrs. Rehorst and her daughters are charter members of the Richmond Chapter, O. E. S., and Miss Nellie is secretary of the local chapter. After the death of Mr. Rehorst, Mrs. Rehorst erected her present decidedly modern residence on the site of the old one, in which Mr. Rehorst's last days were spent, and it is a credit to her ability and good taste as well as an ornament to the village of Richmond.
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CHARLES J. REIHANSPERGER.
Charles J. Reihansperger is one of the prosperous business men of West MeHenry, whose efforts have been successfully direeted toward conducting a hardware store, as the junior member of the firm of Donavin & Reihansperger. Charles J. Reihansperger was born at Chicago, April 21, 1891, one of the two children of John and Sarah (MeConley) Reihansperger, native of Illinois, the former of whom has for a number of years been a railroad engineer.
After attending the common and high schools of Chicago, Charles J. Reihansperger learned the trade of a tinner, completing his apprentice- ship in 1913. Two years later he formed his present partnership, and the firm carry a full and complete line of light and heavy hardware and plumbing supplies, and have a fine trade. Their stoek averages about $8,000, and is thoroughly up-to-date, while their work is excellent in every respeet.
In 1917 Mr. Reihansperger was married to Miss Julia Stuffell, a daughter of Simon Stuffell, one of the leading bankers of West MeHenry, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Reihan- sperger are members of the Catholic church. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. Politically he is a Republican.
ERNEST C. REIMER.
Ernest C. Reimer, senior member of the firm of Reimer & Lace. proprietors of the Algonquin garage and general repairing and machine shop, is one of the alert young business men of Algonquin, and comes of an old and respected family of MeHenry County. He was born at Huntley, this county, December 1, ISSS, a son of Frederick and Reka (Albright) Reimer, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1882, first stopping at Chicago, from where they came to Huntley, Ill., where the father was engaged in farming. They now reside in Algonquin. They became the parents of six children.
Ernest C. Reimer attended the common and high schools of his native place, and after learning to farm, took up the machinist's trade, and having mastered it, in December, 1914, formed his present connection with Claude C. Lace, the two doing a fine business in all branches of their business. They carry a stoek valued at $7,000.
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In 1917 Mr. Reimer was married to Miss Irene Schuette. They have one son, Edward C. Reimer. Mr. and Mrs. Reimer belong to the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican. Enterprising and skilled, Mr. Reimer has forged ahead, and rightly deserves the pros- perity which has attended his efforts.
CHARLES F. RENICH.
Charles F. Renich, president, treasurer and controlling stockholder in the corporation owning the Woodstock Sentinel, of which he is also editor, is one of the representative men of MeHenry County. He was born at Woodstock, December 19, 1871, a son of Frederick and Katherine (Stein) Renich, the former of whom was born in the Alpine republic of Switzerland. His parents were natives of Bern, Switzerland, and they had three sons, namely: Emil, Frederick and Edward. After the death of his wife, the paternal grandfather came to the United States to join his sons who had already reached this haven for so many foreign-born, but after he reached Pittsburgh, Pa., he disappeared and nothing was ever heard of him again.
His eldest son, Emil, who had received a university education, served in the Civil War, in a New York regiment, was wounded and confined in Libby prison. After the close of the war he went to Chicago, where he was married and there reared a family. For eighteen years prior to his death he was a Chicago letter carrier. His death occurred in 1896.
Frederick Renich, father of Editor Renich, was born in Bern, Switzerland, March 19, 1842. During his boyhood he attended the Industrial School at Bern, and there learned the trade of a confectioner, which he followed in different cities of his native land. In 1864 he left Switzerland for the United States, and came direct to Chicago after landing in this country. From that city he enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and was mustered out from that service several months later, in 1865, at the close of the war. Returning to Chicago he em- barked in the manufacture of cigars. On August 26, 1866, he was married to Elizabeth Stein of Chicago, and the following year he moved to Woodstock, where he continued to manufacture cigars. His wife died in the fall of the same year of his settlement at Woodstock, and he later married Katherine Stein.
Katherine Stein was born in Chicago March 14, 1846, a daughter of
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Charles Stein, who came to Chicago from Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834, and has the distinction of being the first German born pioneer resident of Chicago, which at that time was but a village of a few hundred people. Charles Stein was a successful business man, he and his family conducting one of the first hotels in Chicago, where thousands of pioneer settlers, coming into the Western country from France and Germany, many of them locating in MeHenry County, found their first stopping place after the long and wearisome trip in sailing vessels over the ocean, and from New York through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes to Chicago. The name of Stein was a house- hold word among many of the pioneer settlers of Queen Anne prairie and other parts of MeHenry County and in the latter days of Mr. Stein's life he spent many happy days visiting these pioneers of MeHenry County, who had received their first welcome in this new country at his hostelry in Chicago.
Frederick Renich's death occurred February 22, 1890, when he was forty-eight years of age, and he was survived by his widow and seven children, namely : Charles F., whose name heads this review; Charlotte, who is Mrs. P. Benjamin Anderson; Frederick L .; Mary E .; Edward A .; Amanda E., who is Mrs. D. Arthur Daly; and Katharine.
Charles F. Renich attended the public schools of Woodstock, and when he was sixteen years old he was taken into the newspaper office his father had acquired, and there learned the newspaper business, beginning from the bottom. His father dying when he was only a little over eighteen years of age, he succeeded to the management of the paper, then issued under the name of Das Volksblatt, and later his brother Frederick came into the business. In May, 1895, Mr. Renich formed a partnership with Benedict Stupfel of Woodstock, under the name of Stupfel & Renich, for the purpose of conducting a grocery business, but in a few years Mr. Stupfel retired, and Mr. Renich continued alone for a year, and then took as his partner Stark L. Hart.
In December, 1899, Mr. Renich was appointed postmaster of Wood- stock by President William McKinley, and he held it from 1900 until 1911, when he retired in order to devote himself to his newspaper work. He was twice reappointed by President Roosevelt. In January, 1906, he acquired an interest in and became manager and editor of the Wood- stock Sentinel, McHenry County's oldest newspaper. Later he pur- chased the stock of others until he is now almost the sole owner of the company, serving as president and treasurer of the corporation. During the period of the World War he served as chairman in three of the Liberty
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Loan sales drives in Woodstock, the people of which community pur- chased about $1,000,000 worth of bonds under his leadership. He also was an active participant in every other patriotic movement during the war, both through his newspaper and personally.
On November 14, 1894, Mr. Renich was married to Miss Luey H. Hennings at Barrington, Ill. Mrs. Renich is a daughter of Charles C. and Caroline (Mundhenk) Hennings, and she was born at Palatine, Hl., September 30, 1875. For nearly twenty years Mrs. Renich has held a responsible position at the Woodstock post office, entering her duties there first to assist her husband as postmaster at a time when the office was small and the pay of the clerks came out of the postmaster's salary. She has continued following her husband's retirement as postmaster and served through the administrations of Postmasters W. S. MeConnell and G. W. Frame, the latter being the present incumbent. Mrs. Renich has been active in social work, especially in the Women's Relief Corps and Eastern Star. In the former organization, besides being president several terms, she served three and one-half years as treasurer for the department of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Renich have a daughter, Florence, who was born March 14, 1896. She was a graduate of Wisconsin Univer- sity at Madison, and for the past four years has been employed as a chemist at the Victor Chemical works at Chicago Heights, Ill. Mr. Renich belongs to St. Mark's Lodge No. 63, A. F. & A. M., and several other fraternal orders. In politics he is a zealous Republican, and has always been interested in public matters.
PHINEAS A. RENIE.
Phineas A. Renie, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of MeHenry County, owns and conducts the only drug store at Union, and is recognized as one of the representative men of this region. He was born in Riley Township, McHenry County, February 10, 1867, one of the seven children of John A. and Malinda (Miller) Renie. John A. Renie was a farmer, but later became a blacksmith, but continued his farming, carrying both lines of business after he and his family located in Riley Township, McHenry County, in 1840. His wife sur- vived her husband until May 30, 1919, when she passed away at Marengo, then being over eighty years of age.
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