USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 18
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mittees. Reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, he has given his earnest sup- port to this denomination, but always broad-mind- ed and liberal toward other church denominations, believing in the fatherhood of God and the broth- erhood of man.
The position held by Mr. Mecham among the professional men of Joliet is that of a successful business lawyer, a man of scholarship, high moral character, sound judgment and unswerving in- tegrity. In business Mr. Mecham has been emi- nently successful. For more than three years he was one of the chief factors in financing a large mining company, which is highly successful, and at present is president and general manager of the Sultana-Arizona Copper Company, a corpora- tion with a most promising future before it. He is prominent in both business and social circles and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.
The marriage of Mr. Mecham, which took place in Joliet in June, 1892, united him with Maude Frances, daughter of Samuel and Helena Hill, prominent pioneers of this city. Mrs. Mecham is a lady of brilliant mind and highly esteemed for her noble Christian character. She received an excellent education in Joliet and is a graduate of the high school. With an especial talent for music, she has devoted much time to this art and is known among her many friends as a fine pian- ist. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Mecham are Samuel Marion, Althea Ruth and Louise Hill.
THOMAS CONNOR.
Thomas Connor, now living retired in Braid- wood, was for many years extensively and suc- cessfully engaged in commercial pursuits and was widely known as a dealer in live stock. He was born in Roscommon county, Ireland, May 8, 1832, and his parents, Thomas and Bridget (Wauldorn) Connor, were also natives of the Emerald isle. The father died in that country during the early hoyhood of his son Thomas and the mother de- parted this life in Braidwood, Illinois, May 14, 1885. They were the parents of six children but only two are now living, the brother of our sub- ject being William Connor, who is living retired
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in Morris, Illinois. After losing her first husband the mother became the wife of Patrick Carroll and they had six children but all have passed. away. The father of our subject was a farmer and. cattle-buyer in Ireland and the family were com- municants of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Connor was reared in the land of his na- tivity to the age of ten years, when, in 1847, he came to the United States on a sailing ship which was six weeks and three days in making the voy- age. He crossed the Atlantic with his mother, stepfather, two sisters and one brother, landing at Quebec, whence they made their way to Montreal, Canada, and afterward to Lebanon, New Hamp- shire, where they spent six months. They then removed to Hanover, Vermont, where a year was passed, after which the family started by wagon to Whitehall and thence proceeded by canal to Troy, New York, and over the Erie canal to Butfalo. At the last named place they boarded a steamer bound for Chicago and after reaching that port proceeded over the Illinois and Michi- gan canal to Joliet.
From early boyhood Thomas Connor has been dependent upon his own resources for a liveli- hood. He worked as a coal miner for about twelve years, during which period he saved his earnings, so that in 1870 he had capital sufficient to enable him to engage in the meat market business at Braidwood in partnership with his brother Wil- liam under the firm style of Connor Brothers. They also engaged in buying cattle and hogs for their market for about thirty-five years and as he prospered in his undertakings Mr. Connor made judicious investment in land, becoming the owner of a half section in Reed and two farms, one of eighty acres, the other of one hundred and sixty acres in Custer township. He also owns a half interest with his brother in one hundred and sixty acres in the same township. He has two hundred and forty acres of land in Kankakce county, together with three quarters of a section of coal lands on which the Drue coal mine is 1 )- cated. It is now being operated by the Joliet & Wilmington Coal Company. In the spring of 1906 Mr. Connor took a trip into the gulf section of Texas and bought four hundred acres of fine land well adapted to the raising of fruit, cotion and rice. In 1904 he erected a fine residence in Braidwood, where he is now living retired, his
extensive property interests bringing to him a very desirable annual income.
On the 14th of May, 1865, Mr. Connor was married to Miss Susan McCann, who was born in Tyrone, Ireland, January 1, 1836, and is a dangh- ter of Henry and Mary ( McCarney) McCann, both of whom were natives of the Emerald isle and were married there. The father came to the United States in 1849 on a sailing vessel, landing at New York city. He thence made his way to Joliet, where he was first employed on public works. In 1858 he sent for his wife and five chil- dren and they came to the new world on a sail- ing vessel. which dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, whence they proceeded westward by rail to Joliet. In the meantime Mr. McCann had carefully saved his earnings and purchased a farm in Will county, near Joliet, whereon he spent his remaining days engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He was a school di- rector for many years and was interested in the growth and upbuilding of the community. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he was a member of the Roman Catholic church. He died in 1885, at the age of seventy- eight years, while his wife survived until 1891, passing away at the age of eighty-two. Three of their children are now living: Bridget, the wife of Felix McCann, of Minnesota ; Mary, the widow of James Riley and a resident of Joliet ; and Mrs. Connor.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Connor have been born eleven children : Mary, the widow of James Dunn ; Catherine, the wife of John Moffit; Nellie, who became the wife of Thomas Kasher and died at the age of thirty-three years; Susan, the wife of Patrick Linskey : Thomas, who died at the age of eight years; Henry, who died when six years of age; Annie, the wife of Michael Vickers ; Agnes, Lucy, Ada and Blanche, all at home.
The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. In polities Mr. Connor is inde- pendent, voting for the best man regardless of party affiliation. He has served as highway com- missioner in Reed township and has been school director for four or five years. He has made an excellent record in the business world and his life shows what may be accomplished by firm and earnest purpose guided by sound business judg- ment and keen discrimination. Starting out in
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life when but a boy as an employe in the coal mines, he has made steady and substantial ad- vancement until he is today one of the prosperous residents of Will county with extensive invested interests which bring him a gratifying annual in- come and enable him to enjoy life in comfort and ease.
THE BARRETT HARDWARE COMPANY.
The Barrett Hardware Company from small be- ginning has developed into one of the most prom- inent commercial enterprises of Joliet. The bus- iness was established by W. F. Barrett, who in 1851 opened a hardware store. In 1872 he was joined by his son, John O. Barrett, in a part- nership under the firm style of W. F. Barrett & Son, which relation was continued until the se- nior's death in 1879. In the meantime a disas- trous fire had occurred, in which the store was burned out. Immediately on the erection of the Akin block the business was installed therein and both father and son bent every energy toward the development of the business, but at the death of the senior partner there were left many debts which the young man discharged. When this was done little remained. The necessities of the business proved a stimulus for even greater ef- fort than he had previously put forth and he closely studied every means for the development of the business and the promotion of its growth along substantial lines. That his policy and sys- tematic methods were effective is shown by the fact that at the end of the first year the profits were four thousand dollars. The trade continued to grow as the result of the honorable methods of the firm and the reasonable prices which were offered the public. On the 11th of March, 1883, the store was removed to its present commodious quarters and the firm of Barrett & Sons was or- ganized December 19, 1891. The personnel of the firm at the present time stands: John O. Barrett, president; Edwin M. Moore, vice presi- dent : and Edward C. Barrett, secretary and treas- urer. In addition to the extensive salesrooms, there are commodious offices for the proprietors, managers, stenographers and bookkeepers, and a department for the plumbers and gas fitters and
builders hardware sample room. Another room contains the contractors' and garden tools and gas stoves, while the entire basement of the Mun- roe block, together with nearly all of the second floor and the entire third story are occupied for storage or shops. The men who are the head of this institution have wrought along modern busi- ness lines, keeping in advance of the trade suffi- ciently to make the object of patronage a desir- able one to the public, and today theirs is the foremost house of this character in Joliet. Em- ployment is furnished to seventy-two people and the weekly pay roll is over ten hundred dollars. The Barrett store would do credit to a city of much greater size than Joliet, and the Barrett Hardware Company wherever known is honored for its unassailable business methods and straight- forward dealing.
John O. Barrett, the president of the company, whose intense and well directed activity has re- sulted in the upbuilding of one of the largest commercial enterprises of the city, has made a record such as any man might be proud to possess. It excites the admiration of his fellow townsmen and the respect of those who have in any way been connected with him in business transactions. Never incurring obligations that he has not met nor making engagements that he has not filled, he has won the unqualified trust of the business public and his name has become a synonym for commercial integrity and enterprise.
John O. Barrett was born in this city, March 16, 1851, and is a son of W. F. and Clamana Barrett, the former a native of Lenox, Massachu- setts and the latter of Holley, New York. Re- moving to the middle west, the father was for many years connected with the business life of Joliet as a hardware merchant. His son, John O. Barrett, acquired his education in the public schools and at the age of sixteen years entered his father's store, in which he received thorough training in business methods, particularly those bearing upon the hardware trade. He closely ap- plied himself to the mastery of the business in both principle and detail, and in 1872 was ad- mitted to a partnership under the firm style of W. F. Barrett & Son. From the beginning of his connection with the house he worked earnestly and persistently, formed his plans readily and was determined in their execution. As stated,
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when he took charge of the business after his father's death, serious commercial and financial conditions confronted him. but with renewed pur- pose and energy he took up the task of building up the business and won large profits the first year. Any merchant recognizes the fact that this must have demanded close and unremitting at- tention to the business in every detail, but the result justified the effort that was put forth. Mr. Barrett has long been elassed as one of the most prominent and representative business men of the city and is now a member of the board of directors of the Merchants' Association of Joliet. In 1891 he assisted in the organization of the Joliet Na- tional Bank, of which he has since continuously been a director. He is a man of keen diseern- ment, who readily solves intricate business prob- lems and recognizes and utilizes opportunities.
In 1872 occurred the marriage of John O. Bar- rett and Mary C. Warren, who died December 19, 1904. On the 7th of July, 1906, he wedded Mrs. Cora Clarke. His social relations are with the Union Club and the Commercial Club. En- dowed by nature with sound judgment and an ac- curate, discriminating mind, he has feared not that laborious attention to the details of business so necessary to achieve success, and this essential quality has ever been guided by a sense of moral right which tolerates the employment only of those means that will bear the most rigid exami- nation by a fairness of intention that neither seeks nor requires disguise. It is just and mer- ited praise to say that as a business man he ranks with the ablest, as a citizen he is honorable, prompt and true to every engagement, and as a man he holds the esteem of all classes of people.
Edwin M. Moore, vice president of the com- pany, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, February 16, 1862, and is a son of the Rev. E. G. and Sarah A. Moore. He entered the services of W. F. Bar- rett & Son in August, 1879, at the age of seven- teen years, with a salary of three dollars per week. Ile started in with such duties as filling nail bins, taking care of the lamps, which were
then used to light the store, driving their one- horse delivery wagon, and continued with the house as clerk in various positions such as ship- ping clerk, bookkeeper, ete., until January, 1886, when he accepted a position as head clerk with the firm of Holmes & Cady. In June, 1890, he
returned to the employ of the Barrett Hardware Company as salesman, John O. Barrett was at that time greatly overworked and found that Mr. Moore was capable of doing considerable work that he had been compelled to do. In recognition of this Mr. Moore has been gradually promoted as buyer and store manager, and in January, 1901, he was honored by election to the office of vice president of the company. His long experience in the establishment well qualified him for the duties which devolve upon him in this official connection. He is thoroughly conversant with the trade and, moreover, possesses considerable executive force and discernment. On the 26th of October, 1887, he married Miss Harriet H. Hin- man, who died February 14, 1906, leaving four children.
Edward C. Barrett, secretary and treasurer of the company, and a brother of John O. Barrett, was born in Joliet, February 16, 1864. He en- tered the store in 1885 and his connection there- with has been continuous to the present time. He was specially trained in the shop work, having served as an apprentice, and he now has super- vision of the shops. This department of the busi- ness has been constantly increased in its scope. Edward C. Barrett was married in January, 1895, to Miss Antoinette Hobbs.
MICHAEL KAHN.
Michael Kahn, president of the Joliet Citizens Brewing Company, was born in Baden, Germany, September 28, 1862, a son of Jonas Kahn. Emi- grating to America in 1880, the father settled at Joliet and for twenty years was the leading whole- sale buteher and cattle dealer of this city. He died in March, 1898, after a most successful busi- ness career.
Michael Kalın was educated in the schools of Germany and came to this country when eighteen years of age, since which time he has been a resi- dent of Joliet. For nineteen years he was engaged in the cattle business, operating extensively along that line, and in 1903 he became one of the or- ganizers and promoters of the Joliet Citizens Brewing Company, of which he has been the president since its establishment. The building
MICHAEL KAHN.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
of the company was completed in 1905 at a cost of about two hundred thousand dollars, including equipment, and has a capacity of fifty thousand barrels annually. The equipments are all the lat- est, modern and up-to-date machinery and the quality of the beer manufactured unsurpassed. The brewer in charge has had all the advantage of instruction from the best brewmasters of Ger- many and of brewing schools in the United States. The product is shipped throughout Illinois and the business has been very satisfactory from the beginning, the patronage constantly increasing.
Mr. Kahn is a member of the Elks lodge and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was married April 21, 1885, to Miss Emma Zipf, of Joliet, and they have one child, Earl. Since becoming a fac- tor in the business life of this city, Mr. Kahn has made substantial progress through the judicious utilization of his opportunities, through careful investment and indefatigable energy.
WILLIAM BRANDT & COMPANY.
The firm of William Brandt & Company is well known in Peotone and throughout the surround- ing district as buyers and shippers of grain and live stock. The partners are William Brandt and his father, F. J. Brandt. The latter was born in Holstein, Germany, March 21, 1850, and his father, F. J. Brandt, Sr., was also a native of Germany, where he worked as a laborer. He came to America in 1880 and died at the home of a son in MeLean county, Illinois, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife bore the maiden name of Anna Diers, and was also a native of Germany, where her death occurred when she was sixty-five years of age. In their family were ten children, all of whom came to America, and nine of the number are yet living, but F. J. Brandt is the only one residing in Will county.
It was in the year 1870 that F. J. Brandt of this review came to the United States. He was then a young man of twenty years, and, thinking to have better advantages in the new world, he bade adieu to friends and fatherland and erossed the Atlantic to the United States. For four years he worked at farm labor and in 1874 he came to Will county, settling in Peotone township,
where he rented land. There he followed farm- ing until about two years ago, when he re- moved to the village of Peotone. He made his first purchase of land in 1898, becoming the owner of eighty acres, which constituted an improved farm in Peotone township. He now owns four hundred acres of valuable land, from which lie . derives a good income. He landed in America one hundred and twenty dollars in debt, for his passage to the new world, but he possessed a reso- lute will and determined spirit and as the years passed by he overeame the difficulties and ob- stacles in his path and achieved suceess by rea- son of stalwart and honorable purpose and un- flagging industry.
In 18:2 F. J. Brandt was united in marriage to Anna Yuhl, a native of Germany, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom six are yet living: William; Peter, who resides on one of his father's farms; Henry, who is also living on one of his father's farms; Mary, the wife of Fred Yunker; Emma, the wife of Christ Palow ; and Minnie, at home.
The eldest son, William Brandt, was born in this country, reared to farm life and educated in the public schools. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Minnie Kennedy, and they have two children, Margaret and Lydia. Two years ago William Brandt purchased an interest in the elevator now owned by the firm of William Brandt & Company. At that time the business was conducted under the firm style of Yung & Brandt. About a year ago F. J. Brandt, the father, purchased Mr. Yung's interest and the firm of William Brandt & Company was then organized. They do a good business, controlling a large trade in grain and live stoek, and make extensive shipments. The father is a member of the German Lutheran church and belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 1405, while in poli- ties both he and his son William are republicans, who stanchly endorse the party and its principles. They are wide-awake, enterprising business men and have gained a goodly measure of success in their operations in the grain and live stock trade in Peotone. F. J. Brandt may well be termed a self-made man, for he was not only empty-handed when he came to the new world, but was ham- pered by an indebtedness which he found neces- sary to incur in order to pay his way to the new
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world. Recognizing that this is a land of limit- less opportunities, he eagerly sought employment and as the years passed utilized the advantages in the best possible way and in the course of years became one of the substantial residents of his adopted county.
WILLIAM OHLENDORF.
William Ohlendorf has been very successful in his farming operations and is now one of the extensive landowners of the county, his posses- sions aggregating six hundred and forty-two acres. Though past seventy years of age, he is still enjoying good health and in spirit and inter- ests seems yet to be in his prime. A native of Germany, he was born in Ilesse-Homburg, De- cember 14, 1836. His father, Henry Ohlendorf, was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1852, being seven weeks on the water before reaching New York. It required two weeks to make the journey from the eastern me- tropolis to Will county. He left his family in Chicago for a week, while he came to Will county looking for an old friend and fellow countryman named Tatge. After selecting a location, he set- tled on a farm on section 34, Crete township. where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He had owned a farm in his native country and brought with him to America about seven thousand dollars. He purchased much land in this part of the state, adding to his posses- sions from time to time, and at his death left a large farm to each of his children. He passed away about twenty years ago, when seventy-four years of age. He held membership in the Ger- man Lutheran church and voted with the repub- lican party. His business success, nis enterpris- ing spirit and his devotion to the public good made him a valued citizen of the communtiy. He married Sophia Senna. also a native of Hesse- Homburg, and her death occurred when she was seventy-two years of age. In their family were seven children: Henry, who married Miss Ar- kenburg and lived on the old homestead, but both are now deceased ; Conrad, who wedded Dorothea Meier, who survives him and lives upon their farm
on section 34, Crete township; Christaf, who is living in Crete township; William, of this review ; August, who was a farmer of Crete township, but has passed away; Sophia, who is the widow of Henry Behrens, and who is now living with her son William; and Christine, the deceased wife of Conrad Oldendorf, who resides on a farm in Crete township.
William Ohlendorf of this review spent the first fifteen years of his life in the fatherland. He well remembers the ocean voyage to the new world, and the pioneer experience in this part of the state. He remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he married and began farming on his own account on one hun- dred and twenty acres of land given him by his father. He built the first dwelling on the place and has made it his home continuously since. In his business affairs he has been very successful and has added to his possessions until he is now the owner of six hundred and forty-two acres of valuable land. Ilis life has been one of activity and industry and he has always been noted for his good management. Though past seventy years of age, he still enjoys good health, save that he is suffering from a dislocated hip sustained in a runaway some time ago. He is, however. able to get about and help in the farm work.
In 1862 Mr. Ohlendorf was married to Miss Louise Arkenburg, who was born in Germany. September 21, 1845, the daughter of William Ar- kenburg, an early settler in this township. Mrs. Ohlendorf still attends to her own household, do- ing all the work herself. In the family are seven children : Emma, who was born January 1, 1864, . and is now the wife of John Scheiwe, a farmer of Crete township, mentioned elsewhere in this work; Augusta, who was born September 28, 1866. and died at the age of one year; Sophia, who was born June 15, 1868, and is the wife of John Meier, also a farmer of Crete township: Gustaf, who was born August 25, 1872, and is a graduate of Concordia College of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, and a business college at Rockford, Illi- nois, now farming in Crete township: Rose, who was born January 22, 1876, and is the wife of Gustaf Scheiwe, a farmer of the same township: William, who was born May 4, 1879, and is still at home; and John, who was born July 27, 1889, and died at the age of eight years.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
Mr. and Mrs. Ohlendorf are members of the Lutheran church and he is a republican in poli- tics, having always voted the party ticket, but has never sought or desired office. He has from the outset of his career concentrated his energies upon his farming interests with the result that he is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of Crete township, having substantial and valuable landed possessions. He is, moreover, one of the early settlers of the county and his memory goes back to the pioneer days when many evidences of fron- tier life were to be seen in the little cabin homes with their primitive furnishings and in the fields where crude farming machinery was used.
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