USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
ERNST WUNDERLICH.
Ernst Wunderlich, a resident of Joliet for more than a third of a century and for many years engaged in the marble and monument busi- ness, being now located at Nos. 804 to 808 North Hickory street, was born in Fleissen Kries Eger, Germany, November 3, 1848. His father, John Frederick Wunderlich, was also a monu- ment sculptor and died in his native town at the age of forty-five years. His son Ernst remained a resident of the fatherland until in his twenty- first year, when, thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he came to the United States in 1869. He did not tarry on the eastern coast, but made his way at once to Illi- nois and settled at Joliet, where he has since resided. He was here employed at his trade until 1874, when he opened business on his own ac- count. After three months he removed to No. 804 North Hickory street, where he has since remained, his business house now covering three numbers. In the establishment of the new en- terprise he brought to the undertaking an excel- lent knowledge of the business and superior skill in workmanship and from his place have been sent out some of the finest monuments ever made in Will county. He has been accorded a liberal patronage, which he well merits by reason of his skill and ability and his honorable business meth- ods.
On the 3d of August, 1869, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Wunderlich and Miss Margaret Gei- pel, a native of Germany, who had been a school- mate with her husband in her girlhood days. She
.
516
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
was a daughter of John Geipel, a well known farmer of Fleissen, who died in his native coun- try at the age of sixty-six years. She came to this country about three months after the arrival of Mr. Wunderlich. Unto them have been born twelve children, of whom eleven are yet living : Albert, who died at three years of age; Mrs. Emma Steiner, the wife of James Steiner of Joliet : William, a leading undertaker of this city, who married Minnie Faust; Minnie, now the wife of Dr. H. G. Schuessler; Ernst H., who is in business with his father; Amelia, at home; Arthur G. and Edward J., who are also assisting their father; Laura, who is with her parents; Walter C. and Alfred F., who are connected with the marble business; and Milton Joseph, who is attending school.
The family attend St. Peter's German Luther- an church, of which Mr. Wunderlich has been a member continuously since 1869. Seeking the broader outlook and better advantage of the new world in the days of his early manhood, he has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for in America, where labor is king, he has developed a business of large and profitable proportions and thus made a good home for his family.
FRANZ OFFERMANN.
Franz Offermann, who is living on section 32, Joliet township, was born in Germany in 1830 and though he is now in comfortable financial cir- cumstances he started out in life empty-handed. His father, Hubbard Offermann, spent his en- tire life in Germany, as did the mother. Mrs. Catherine Offermann. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters.
Franz Offermann pursued his education in the schools of his native country and remained in Germany until 1857, when he bade adieu to friends and fatherland and crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He took passage on a sailing vessel which was forty-two days in making the voyage. Landing in New York, he continued on his westward-way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and, while there, in order to earn a living, he chopped cordwood, receiving about two shillings per cord.
He afterward made his way to Joliet, spend- ing two weeks in the city, and later continu- ing his journey on foot to the vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri. He worked as a farm hand near that city for about two years and after the outbreak of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for aid to crush out the rebellion, enlisting at Belleville, Illinois, in 1861 as a member of Com- pany B, Twelfth Missouri Infantry. He partici- pated in several skirmishes, proceeded southward to Jackson, Mississippi, and was afterward at Vicksburg and Lookout Mountain. At St. Louis, Missouri, he was mustered out, having made a creditable record as a valiant and fearless soldier. He then started for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pur- chasing a ticket to that place, but when he ar- rived at Joliet he decided to stop here.
Six weeks after his arrival he was married and then began farming on his own account, purchas- ing ten acres of land about three miles southwest of the city in Joliet township. Later he disposed of his first tract of land and bought a larger farm and to this he has added until he is today the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of rich, cultivable and productive land on section 32, Jol- iet township. He has a good farm here, well im- proved, and in its care and development he dis- plays excellent business qualifications and thor- ough understanding of the best methods of carry- ing on agricultural interests.
Mrs. Offermann hore the maiden name of Susan Korst. She was born in Germany in 1825, came to the United States with her brother, was mar- ried in Joliet in 1864 and died in 1896 in the faith of the German Catholic church, of which she was a devoted communicant. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Offermann were born two sons. Joseph is employed in the Spot Cash store in Joliet, having been with the firm for a number of years, and is regarded as a splendid young business man, hav- ing the entire confidence of the house which he represents. Nicholas, the younger son, lives with his father. In 1892 he married Matilda Schweizer, who was born in Joliet in 1873, and acquired a good common-school education here. Unto this marriage there have been born six children : Viola, Joseph. Frederick, Alfred, Margaret and Henri- etta.
Mr. Offermann gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a member of the Ger-
MR. AND MRS. FRANZ OFFERMANN.
519
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
man Catholic church. He was a faithful soldier of his adopted country at the time of the Civil war and has always been loyal to its interests and its welfare, while in this locality, where the greater part of his life has been passed, he is known as a public-spirited man as well as a suc- cessful farmer.
JOHN MCCLELLAN.
John McClellan, who died December 12, 1906, in Plainfield township, was born at Colerain, Franklin county, Massachusetts, November 16, 1826, a son of Michael and Jane (Patterson) Mc- Clellan, both of whom were natives of the old Bay state, and there lived and died.
Mr. McClellan was the last surviving member of a family of eight children, and was the only one of the family who ever came to Illinois. He was reared and educated in his native state and there engaged in farming to the age of twenty- nine years, when he located in Will county, ar- riving there in February, 1856. He first operated rented land in Plainfield township, but two years later, in 1858, having made a selection of land, purchased a tract on section 29, Plainfield town- ship. He cultivated that farm for a decade, and in 1868 disposed of the property and invested his money in a farm situated on sections 22 and 23, the same township, where he continued to make his home until his death. The house was built in 1850 and is the oldest frame structure on the Plainfield and Joliet road. Mr. Mcclellan was for inany years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm, and his enterprising spirit and untiring efforts brought to him a very desirable and grati- fying success. For twenty-three years he made his home in the village of Plainfield but for several years prior to his death lived retired on his farm, the place being operated by his son.
It was prior to his removal to the west that Mr. McClellan was married, his union being with Miss Arathusa Brown, their wedding being celebrated in Massachusetts in 1850. She was born in that state and died in Will county, in April, 1905, when she had reached the advanced age of seventy-eight years. She was devoted to the interests of her family and was a lady of many excellent traits
of heart and mind, winning friends wherever sbe went.
Mr. McClellan was in early life a supporter of the whig party but upon the organization of the new republican party joined its ranks. He served for twenty-one years as road commissioner but aside from this held no public offices. He was not identified with any church organization but was an attendant upon the services of the Congre- gational church, to which he gave his support.
The only child of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan is Edward R., who is now operat- ing the homestead farm. He married Miss Carrie McAllister, a daughter of Captain Edward McAllis- ter, of Plainfield township. Their marriage has been blessed with two daughters and one son, Inez Arathusa, Vera Aileen and John Raymond. Mr. McClellan is identified in his fraternal relations with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias, at Plainfield. The members of the Mcclellan household are highly respected throughout Plainfield and Will county and deserve prominent mention in a work of this character.
BERNARD G. VAUGHAN.
Bernard G. Vaughan is superintendent of the Illinois Match Company, which was organized at Joliet about 1901 by T. C. Cadwallader and B. J. Metzger, while later L. A. Sherwood and Fred Bennett were admitted to a partnership in the business. The present officers are: Colonel Fred Bennett, president; B. J. Metzger, secretary; T. C. Cadwallader, vice president; L. A. Sherwood, manager and treasurer; and B. G. Vaughan, su- perintendent. The company manufactures parlor matches. The plant was destroyed by fire No- vember 29, 1905, but was rebuilt in 1906. The buildings are of brick and stone and are equipped with the most modern improved machinery for carrying on the work. The company owns its own lighting plant, steam power and heat. There are several buildings for the different departments, including a main building eighty by one hundred feet, a stick department fifty by eighty feet, en- gine room and machine shops forty by eighty feet, a chemical department twenty-six by forty feet, and a box machine room for the manufacture of
520
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
paper boxes twenty-six by forty feet. There are also two warehouses, one fifty by eighty feet and the other sixty by eighty feet, while the commo- dious office room is twenty-six by forty feet. All are of brick and are fireproof structures with auto- matic sprinkler, engine hose, fire pump and other improved methods for fighting fires. There are about one hundred employes outside of the office and ten or fifteen men are employed in cutting timber. The plant is located along the line of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad and thus fine shipping facilities are secured. It stands just out- side the city limits to the north and the capacity is about one thousand gross of matches per day. The product is handled through jobbers, none of it being sold to the retail trade, and practically all shipments are made by carload.
Mr. Vaughan has thus been engaged for the past three years. He is thoroughly practical in the conduct of the business and has designed sev- eral machines which have been great improvements upon the old methods of work employed. He was formerly with the Continental Match Company and also with the Pennsylvania Match Company and another company of similar character in the Keystone state, spending some seven years in Pennsylvania. He has devoted most of his life to the business of manufacturing matches and is thoroughly acquainted with the trade in every particular.
Mr. Vaughan was born in Maine in 1871 and was there reared and educated. After putting aside his text books he became connected with the business of manufacturing matches and has so continued, constantly promoting his efficiency through broad experience and investigation. He is married and resides on the west side of Joliet. Socially he is identified with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, having joined the organization in the east.
CHARLES B. GARNSEY.
Charles B. Garnsey, deceased, was for many years one of the leading lawyers of Joliet. He was born in Livingston county, New York, Octo- ber 25, 1842, and was a son of N. B. and Emily Garnsey. He obtained his literary education in
the schools of the east and pursued his legal stud- ies at the Union College of Law, now the North- western University Law School, from which he was graduated in 1862. It was in May, 1859, that he came west and located in Joliet. When the country became involved in Civil war he en- listed, July 30, 1862, in the One Hundredth Illi- nois infantry and remained in the service until the close of hostilities.
In 1865 Mr. Garnsey began the practice of law in Joliet and soon won distinction as one of the ablest members of the Will county bar. He was deputy collector of internal revenue from 1867 until 18:1. The office of corporation counsel was created for him in 1826 and he was elected county judge in 1882, serving on the bench until 1890. In 1903 he was elected circuit judge and was fill- ing that position at the time of his death, which occurred April 1, 1905. He acted as corporation counsel for the Joliet Iron & Steel Company from its organization and took an active and helpful part in its development until it became the Illi- nois Steel Company. He remained with the latter corporation as counsel until he went upon the bench in 1903 and was connected with the enter- prise at the time Lord Leith was at the head of the Joliet Steel Company. He was also counsel for the defense in all of the important sanitary cases which were tried in this district and was secretary of the old Joliet & Lockport Railway Company. In fact, he was recognized as one of the ablest members of the bar in this part of the state and his opinions were received as authority on canal and water laws of this state. His mind was trained in the severest school of reasoning and investigation and few men had more intimate knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence. He prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care and his ability was manifest in his able han- dling of important litigation and in the excellent results which attended his efforts.
On the 4th of November, 1867, in Wilmington, Illinois, Judge Garnsey was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Henderson, a native of Herkimer county, New York. Her father, John D. Hender- son, was a man of much prominence in Will county at an early day. He came to Illinois in 1846 or 1847 and was one of the engineers on the con- struction of the Jackson street dam in Joliet. He afterward removed to Wilmington, where for a
521
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
long period he made his home, becoming one of the leading and influential residents of that sec- tion, leaving the impress of his individuality for good upon public thought and action. He was a brother of Judge Hugh Henderson and died in the year 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Garnsey had two sons, John H. and Charles B.
Judge Garnsey was a member of Bartleson post, G. A. R .; of the Army of the Cumberland Soci- ety ; of the Illinois State Bar Association ; and in Masonry attained the Knight Templar degree, be- ing a member of Joliet commandery, No. 4. En- dowed by nature with strong intellectual force, he developed his talents and energies with the pass- ing of the years and won for himself a most favor- able recognition as a representative of the legal profession in Illinois.
JOHN HENDERSON GARNSEY.
John H. Garnsey, son of Judge Charles B. Garnsey, was born in Joliet, August 15, 1868, and was largely educated by private tutors. His alma mater is the Northwestern University of Chicago and on completing the law course he was graduated with the class of 1890. For six years thereafter he devoted his tine and energies to the newspaper business, spending most of that period in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Atlanta, Georgia. Returning to Joliet in 1896, he entered upon the practice of law and is now attorney and general counsel for the Bates Machine Company and local counsel for the Illinois Steel Company, in addition to which he has a large general prac- tice.
Mr. Garnsey is a valued and popular repre- sentative of various social and fraternal organiza- tions. He belongs to the Hamilton Club of Chi- cago, the Commercial Club of Joliet, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of the War of 1812, the Army of the Cumberland Soci- ety and the Order of the White Cross, of which he was the first supreme commander. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian, while it is a well known fact that his political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party.
On the 28th of December, 1897, Mr. Garnsey was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Mason,
a daughter of T. A. Mason, and they now have one child, Charles Truman Garnsey, born October 5, 1898.
JOHN BELL HOWE, M. D.
Dr. John Bell Howe, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in l'eotone, was born in Winnebago, Minnesota, in 1875, his parents being George Hutchins and Ilarriet Newel (Foote) Howe. The father was born in the state of New York and was a practical machinist and inventor of considerable note. lle invented a straw binder and single apron for the Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Company. This machine won first prize at the agricultural exhibit at the Paris Exposition. He made much money, but was never economical, and while he did not amass great wealth he was yet worth forty thou- sand dollars at the time of his death, while from his inventions his family received a royalty of ten thousand dollars per year for ten years. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and took a most active and helpful interest in its work. He was broad-minded and very charitable and gave freely of his means to the poor and distressed. He was interested in fraternal organizations and was an ardent and stalwart republican. His death occurred in 1889, when he was forty-three years of age. Mrs. Howe, who bore the maiden name of Ilarriet Newel Foote, was born in northern New York and, like her husband, came of English ancestry. She was first married to a Mr. Whitney, by whom she had one daughter, Lillie, now the wife of Andrew MeLean, a machinist of Hoosick Falls, New York. She afterward married George Hutchins Ilowe and still survives him, making her home in Chicago, at the age of sixty years. She, too, is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. By her second marriage she had three children : Kittie, the wife of Dr. Benjamin Mc- Burney, a physician and surgeon of Austin, Illi- nois; John, of this review; and Smiley, who is engaged in the practice of dentistry in Chicago.
John Bell Howe completed his literary educa- tion in the high school of Hoosick Falls, New York, and after two years' study under private in- struction he passed the examination before the
522
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
New York state medical regents in 1891. He af- terward entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College in 1892, and was graduated therefrom in 1895. Dr. Howe located for practice in Vinton, Iowa, where he remained nine months, and in April 1896, he came to Peotone, where he has since remained, his success here passing beyond his ut- most anticipations. He has been accorded a most liberal patronage and his success in the medical profession only comes to him in recognition of ability and skill and is an indication of his high standing.
On the 22d of July, 1897, Dr. Howe was united in marriage to Miss Ida A. Schroeder, who was born in Peotone in 18:3, and is a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Conrad) Schroeder. They have two children, Marjorie and Eleanor, aged, respectively, eight and three years. Mrs. Howe belongs to the German Evangelical church.
The doctor holds membership with the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities, and likewise has membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Gtobe and the Yoemen of America, being state examiner for the last named. He is a socialist with broad humanitarian principles and in the line of his profession he is connected with the Will County and Illinois State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. Actuated by laudable ambition in all of his professional career Dr. Howe has made a most creditable record and has won more than local prominence, while his success has been most gratifying.
WILLIAM H. SCHEIWE.
William H. Scheiwe is a retired farmer, making his home in Crete, to which village he removed ten years ago. Ile was born on a farm in Crete township, July 15, 1856, a son of John S. and Mary ( Wehmhoefer) Scheiwe, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence the father emnigrated to America in the early '50s. Ile was a poor man and it was the hope of bettering his financial condition that led him to seek a home in the new world. Upon arriving in this country he at once made his way to Chicago, where he arrived with but fifty cents in his pockets. He first secured
employment on a farm near the city and was there married to Miss Wehmhoefer. During their residence in that city the father was once ill and the mother provided for the support of the fam- ily and also earned the money with which to pay her husband's doctor bill. The family later re- moved to Crete township, settling on a farm of forty acres, which was covered with timber. At that time the village of Crete contained but one store. The father built a log shanty upon his land. in which the family took up their abode. It was a erude building and he often had to shovel the snow out of the house in the morning before he could build a fine. He, however, was a successful farmer and prospered in his undertakings, event- mally becoming owner of five hundred acres of land. His death occurred on the farm in 1890, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years, while the mother survived and also passed away on the homestead farm, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. Both parents were consistent members of the Lutheran church and both took an active part in the organization of the church at Eagle Lake and also at Crete. Their family numbered five children : Henry, who resides at Eagle Lake; Sophia, the deceased wife of J. O. Meyer, of Iroquois county ; William H., of this review ; John, who died at the age of one vear ; and John, the second of the name, who makes his home on the old homestead property.
William H. Scheiwe was reared on the old home- stead farm, being early trained to the duties of the fields, while in the winter months he pursued his education in the district school near his father's home. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-six years, when he began business on his own account. He pur- chased from his father a tract of one hundred and ninety-three acres, situated in Washington town- ship, which he placed under a good state of culti- vation and improved with good buildings. He carried on general agricultural pursuits, meeting with very desirable success in his undertakings. About ten years ago, because of impaired health, he abandoned business pursuits and removed to the village of Crete, where he has since made his home. He is everywhere known as a reliable and straightforward eitizen and is numbered among the highly esteemed mnen not only of the village where he resides, but also throughout Will county.
523
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
In 1883 occurred the marriage of Mr. Scheiwe and Miss Anna Meyer, who was born in Crete township, Will county, July 19, 1865, a daughter of John D. Meyer, who is now deceased. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two sons. John, the eldest, pursued his education in the com- mon schools, this being supplemented by a four months' course in a business college. He is now acting as a clerk in the Bank of Steger. He is an exemplary young man and one in whom his em- ployers place the utmost trust and confidence. Wil- liam is still under the parental roof and is now attending school.
Mr. Scheiwe and his family are members of the Lutheran church, and he gives his political sup- port to the republican party, but is not active in local ranks of his party. During his earlier life Mr. Scheiwe worked persistently and energetically to acquire a competence and he is now enabled to spend his days in honorable retirement. Both he and his family are highly respected in Crete and their home is noted for its gracious and warm- hearted hospitality.
ELRY G. SPANGLER.
A beautiful and modern country residence, standing in the midst of a well improved farm of two hundred and fifteen acres situated on sec- tions 19 and 20, Jackson township, is the home of Elry G. Spangler. He is a native son of this township, born on his father's farm, June 21, 1860, a son of Henry and Rachel (Grove) Span- gler. The father was born in Summit county, Ohio, February 26, 1837, and in 1858 he located in Will county, taking up his abode on a farm in Jackson township, following general agricul- tural pursuits here until 1889, when he removed to Joliet, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred in September, 1897, while his wife, surviving for only about a year, was called to her final rest in February, 1898. They were the par- ents of five children, four of whom survive, name- ly: Samuel M., who resides in Manhattan town- ship, Will county; Elry G., whose name heads this sketch; Alvin O. and Mrs. Frank Brown, both of whom also reside in Jackson township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.