USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 21
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Of the twelve children born unto our subject and his wife, six are living, namely: Emma, the wife of Fred Buchmeier, a resident of Joliet ; Lena, the wife of Henry Buchmeier, who operates her father's farm; Dena, a young lady at home; Mary, the wife of William Paulding, a resident farmer of Green Garden township; Anna, the wife of Fred Godervest, who operates one of the fath- er's farms ; and Amelia, who is engaged in teach- ing in Monee township. Mr. Pape and his family are members of the Reformed Lutheran church, of which he has heen a trustee for the past ten years. Ile has always given his political allegi- ance to the democratic party, and for one term served as justice of the peace.
Mr. Pape is one of the oldest residents of Monee township. When he came to Will county much of the land was still unclaimed, the homes of the set- tlers were widely scattered, the nearest mill was at Joliet, and one could go for a long distance with- out coming to a habitation. Wolves were still numerous in this section of the state and worked great havoc among the sheep. Many of the farm products were marketed in Chicago and Mr. Pape and his wife have frequently started to that city at nine o'clock at night with a load of potatoes. Few men of Will county are more familiar with its early history than is Mr. Pape, for he has spent the greater part of his life within its borders, cover- ing a period of six decades, and during the years which have since come and gone he has seen many wonderful changes as the work of progress and ad- vancement has been carried forward along various lines, and in this work he has not only been an in- terested witness but has been an active participant, so that he deserves prominent mention in a his- tory of this character.
GEORGE S. GREENWOOD.
George S. Greenwood, engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits on section 19, New Lenox town- ship, was born in the state of New York in 1838, his parents being John and Mary Ann (Brown) Greenwood. The father was born in England and his life span covered seventy-four years. He came to America in 1833 and after residing in the east for several years removed with his family to Will county, Illinois, in the fall of 1841. The voyage to the new world was made on a sailing vessel and after six weeks spent upon the water he landed at New York. For about five years he continued to reside in the Empire state and thence came to Will county, settling in New Lenox township, where he resided for three years, and then removed to Joliet township. He followed the occupation of farming, thus providing a comfortable living for his family. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He was also a member of the United Brethren church. About two years prior to his death he re- moved to the city of Joliet, where his remaining
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE S. GREENWOOD.
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days were spent in retirement from labor. His wife, who was born in the state of New York, died upon the old home farm in Joliet township when sixty-four years of age. She was a worthy Chris- tian woman and also held membership in the United Brethren church. George S. Greenwood is the only surviving member of a family of twelve children. His father was married twice, the sec- ond union being with Sarah Huston, who removed to Ohio after her husband's death. The twelfth member of the family was a son of the second mar- riage. The brothers and sisters of our subject were Mary Ann, John, William, Jane, Harvey, Llewellyn, Benjamin, Sarah, Alfred and Aaron, twins, and Charles.
George S. Greenwood was only three years of age when brought by his parents to Illinois, so that he was reared in Will county, spending his boy- hood days upon the home farm in Joliet town- ship, while in the district schools near by he mastered those branches of English learning which usually constitute the curriculum of a public school. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age and then began farming on his own account by renting land in New Lenox township. From his father he inherited the farm upon which he now resides. His time and energies are given to the further cultivation and improve- ment of his place and everything about the farm is kept in good condition.
Mr. Greenwood was married in 1860 to Miss Matilda King, who was born in Will county, Illi- nois, a daughter of George and Sarah King, who died when Mrs. Greenwood was only three years of age. Unto our subject and his wife were born six children, but three died a short time after birth, while George K. died at the age of one year and eleven months, and John when eleven months old. The only one now living is Jane, the wife of Charles Myers, a resident of Fullerton, North Dakota, and they have five children.
After losing his first wife in 1901, Mr. Green- wood was again married, in 1903, his second union being with Mrs. Hannah J. Holden, who was born in Will county in 1846 and is a daughter of George and Lucinda (King) Campbell, old and honored residents of this county. Her father was a native of New York and from that state removed to Ohio. In 1842 he came to Illinois and settled in Joliet township, Will county, where he spent the most
of his life, though he died in Missouri in 1896. His wife was born in Ohio and came with her par- ents to this county in the '30s, making her home here until called to her final rest in 1873.
The present Mrs. Greenwood first married Ben- jamin Squires, who died in 1886, and by that union had nine children : Arthur, now a resident of St. Louis, Missouri; Joseph, of Joliet, Illinois ; Eva, who married William Gillespie, of New Lenox, and died in 1893, at the age of twenty-two years ; Annie, wife of Frank Long, of New Lenox ; Sadie, wife of Lewis Walter, of St. Louis ; Bessie, who died in 1892, at the age of thirteen years ; Mabel, wife of Herman W. Tohtz, of St. Louis; and Benjamin and Oscar, who also make their home in St. Louis. For her second husband Mrs. Greenwood married Thomas Irvin, who was killed in the cyclone at St. Louis in 1897, and her third husband was Richard Holden, who died in 1904. She has eighteen grandchildren.
Mr. Greenwood votes the republican ticket and his position upon public questions of moment is never an equivocal one. He has served as road commissioner and is now a township school trus- tee. He has been a resident of Will county since the fall of 1841, covering a period of two-thirds of a century, and few residents of this part of the state have longer resided within its borders. He became familiar with its history as an eye witness of the events which have left their impress upon its annals, and well deserves mention among the carly settlers.
FREDERICK RUESCH.
Frederick Ruesch is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to Will county, his birth having occurred in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Germany, April 21, 1854. His parents, John and Anna (Sass) Ruesch, were likewise natives of the fatherland, whence in 1872 they emigrated to the new world, taking passage on the steamer Ger- mania, which sank on a subsequent trip to this country. The father was not long permitted to make his home in the new world, for his death oc- curred six months after his arrival, he being fifty- seven years of age. His widow was left in very limited financial circumstances and the care of her
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family in a strange land. She survived for a long period, her death occurring in 1905, when she had reached the extreme old age of ninety-three years, for her birth occurred in 1812. Previous to her marriage to Mr. Rusch, she had wedded a Mr. Blevernecht, by whom she had a son and daughter, Rudolph and Dora, both of whom reside in this country. By her second marriage she became the mother of two sons and three daughters: John; Frederick, of this review; Sophia, deceased; and two daughters, who died in infancy. Mrs. Ruesch was a devoted member of the German Lutheran church.
Frederick Ruesch, the second son of his fath- er's family and the younger of the two surviving members, was educated in the schools of Germany, where he was reared to the age of eighteen years, when, in 1872, he accompanied the family on their emigration to the United States. Landing at New York, he made his way from that city to Mokena, Illinois, where he remained for four months, and from there made his way to Joliet and secured employment in the rolling mills. He entered the mills March 1, 1873, and, his ability being rec- ognized, he received successive promotions until at the time he severed his connection. March 1, 1902, he had worked his way up to a responsible and remunerative position, receiving as high as two hundred and eighty dollars per month.
During the time of his employment at the mills he carefully husbanded his earnings, which he in- vested in two hundred and forty acres of land. this constituting a valuable and well improved farm. After a continuous connection of twenty- nine years in the mills, he removed to his farm, for the close confinement had somewhat impaired his health. He then engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits, in which he is meeting with very gratifying success, being accounted one of the leading farmers of New Lenox township. He is systematic and methodical in carrying on his work, using only the latest improved machinery to facil- itate the work of the fields and following the most progressive and modern methods in his work, so that his labors are rewarded by rich and abun- dant harvests each year, thus adding greatly to his financial resources.
Mr. Ruesch was married to Miss Minnie Duvel, who was born in Mechlenburg, July 23, 1855, a daughter of John Duvel. Her parents are both
now deceased, having passed away in this country. They were devoted members of the German Lu- theran church. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight daughters and three sons, namely : Annie, the wife of Conrad Smisser, who is engaged in the plumbing business at Evanston, and by whom she has one child; Carrie, the wife of Paul G. Thurm, the present assistant post- master of Joliet, and by whom she has one child; Minnie, deceased ; Geneva, who is acting as book- keeper for a leading firm of Evanston; Fred and Sophia, who are at home; William, who is pur- suing a course in pharmacy at the University of Illinois ; Henry, who is attending school; Bertha and Augusta, twins, born October 20, 1894; and Ethel, who completes the family.
Reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, Mr. Ruesch is still identified with that denomination, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He came to this country when a young man and, losing his father soon after, he was dependent upon his own re- sources from his early manhood. He possessed the determination and enterprise so characteristic of the German race and with a courageous spirit be- gan life in the new world. Owing to his ability and close application his worth was soon recog- nized so that he won rapid advancement, which placed him in a responsible and remunerative po- sition, so that he was enabled to invest in valua- ble farming property, which now supplies him with a good living and many of the comforts of life, and also permits him to give to his children good educational advantages. He is a public- spirited man, loyal to the best interests of his adopted country, and is today numbered among the leading citizens of his locality.
JOSHUA PIPER.
Joshua Piper, now living retired in Peotone, where he owns a nice home, is the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Will county, from which he derives a good annual rental. ITe was born in Cornwell, England, March 22. 1848, a son of James Piper, who was born in Devonshire, England, March 30, 1820. He was married to Miss Grace Found, who was a native
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of Cornwall. In 1851 the father emigrated with his family to Canada, where he was engaged in farm- ing near Fort Hope, eighty miles east of the city of Toronto. In 1866 he made his way to Illinois, set- tling first in Kankakee county but after a residence of two years there he made his way to Peotone township, Will county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and forty-seven and one-half acres in Kankakee county, continuing agricultural pursuits until a few years prior to his death when he retired and spent his remaining days with his children, dying at the home of a daughter in Chicago. He lies buried in the cemetery at Peotone. His wife preceded him to the home be- yond two years, and she was two years his junior. The father was numbered among the pioneers of Will county and he gave his political support to the republican party, while both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
.Joshua Piper is the third in a family of nine children, the other members of the family being: Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens, a resident of Kankakee; Mrs. Sarah J. Hall, who lives in Goodland, Indi- ana : Ellen. the wife of Henry Day, a resident of Chicago; Richard. who died in Chicago, June 17. 1889; Mrs. Emma Ridabock, a resident of that city; Fannie, the wife of George Godell. who makes her home in Kankakee ; Mrs. Mary Wilson. who also lives in Kankakee county; and William Piper. living on the old homestead farm in Will county.
Mr. Piper was a little lad of only three years when he accompanied the family on their emi- gration to the new world. He was reared to farm life, while in the common schools he acquired his education. He gave his father the benefit of his services on the farm until he had attained his ma- jority, when he started out in life upon an inde- pendent venture. He had a capital of two hun- dred dollars, with which he made a payment on eighty acres of land at forty dollars per acre, go- ing in debt for the remainder. He prospered in his undertakings and at length was enabled to liquidate his financial obligations and add to his landed possessions until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, from which he derives a good income. Four years ago he retired and removed to Peotone. where he re- sides in a comfortable home.
On the 11th of September, 1870, occurred the marriage of Mr. Piper and Miss Mary Jane Day, who was born in England, a daughter of George and Fannie (Jenkins) Day, who emigrated to America when the daughter was but three years of age. The father located first in Ohio but after a few years took up his abode in Kankakee county, Illi- nois, on a farm, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Piper have been born seven children, namely: James Henry, who wedded Laura Gilkerson and resides on a farm in Peotone township; George, who wedded Jennie Simpson and now operates the old home- stead farm; Rose, who died January 14, 1907; Wil- liam, who died when fourteen months old ; Roy, who wedded Miss Elsie Jackson and lives on a farm belonging to his father; Arthur, at home; and Alvin, who died at the age of four and a half years.
Mr. Piper gives his political support to the re- publican party and for six years served as road commissioner. while for twenty-one years he ac- ted as school director. Mrs. Piper is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and although Mr. Piper is not a member he attends and supports that church. of which he has been a trustee for several years. He belongs to the Modern Wood- men camp, No. 1405, at Peotone. Mr. Piper has ever led an upright life and bears an excellent rep- ntation for honesty and honorable conduct. In former years he worked hard and thereby ob- tained the property and competence that now en- ables him to rest in honorable retirement. He and his estimable wife have many friends both in Peotone and Will county and are numbered among its best citizens.
WILLIS A. HAZELTON.
The name of Hazelton has long been an honored one in agricultural circles in Will county, the fami- ly having resided here since 1854, covering a period of more than a half century, and since that time its representatives have been numbered among the leading and influential residents of this section of the state. Willis A. Hazelton. whose name introduces this record, is a native son of this county, his birth having occurred
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on his father's farm in Wesley township, Novem- practice of medicine at Baraboo, Wisconsin. Wal- ber 10, 1860.
llis father, Norman Hazelton, was born in Bennington, Bennington county, Vermont, No- vember 22, 1819, and died in Will county, No- vember 31, 1902. He was first married in Elmi- ra, New York, November 21, 1840, to Miss Lydia Fuller, who was born January 1, 1824. She sur- vived her marriage for only a brief period, pass- ing away April 29, 1842. The only child of this union, a son, died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Hazelton chose Almira Frost, who was born at Catherine, Schuyler county, New York, December . 1821, and their marriage was cele- brated at that place, March 20, 1845. In 1853 the parents removed from the east to Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, where they lived until 1854, in which year the family removed to Will county, settling on a farm in Wesley township. At the age of fifteen years the father went to Steuben county, New York, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade but he never followed that pursuit after his removal to the west, his occupa- tion here being in the line of agricultural inter- ests, which he followed until the time of his death. He was converted and joined the Methodist Epis- copal church when a youth of seventeen and ever after lived a consistent Christian life, being iden- tified with church work for sixty-seven years. The family of this worthy couple numbered eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom one daughter, Minerva, died in infancy. The sur- viving members of the family are: Charles N., who was born in Catherine, New York, July 2, 184%, was graduated from Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago and is now practicing his pro- fession at Morrison. Whiteside county, Illinois. Mrs. Mary A. Richardson, who was born at Paint- ed Post, New York, November 19, 1849, is now a resident of Burch, South Dakota. Martha G. who was born August 3, 1852. at Oswego, Kend- all county, Illinois, is now the wife of William Johnston, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Sovelon A., who was born in Wesley town- ship. Will county, May 8, 1855, is a farmer of that township and his sketch also appears on another page of this volume. Willis A. is the next in or- der of birth. LeGrand F., who was born March 21, 1864, also graduated from Hahnemann Med- ical College, at Chicago, and is now engaged in the
ter A., who was born April 20, 1868, is likewise a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College and is now engaged in farming at Girvin, Canada. where in connection with his brother Willis A., he owns a section of land in the wheat belt. The mother of these children passed away on the home farm in Wesley township, on the 21st of August, 1896. at the age of seventy-four years, eight months and fourteen days. Like her husband, she was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having been identified with that denom- ination for sixty years. She was a patient suf- ferer, having been ill for about eight months prior to her demise, but she bore her affliction with great fortitude. She was a woman of more than ordi- nary ability, was untiring in her devotion to her family and was a kind neighbor and faithful friend. Her funeral services were held at Wesley chapel, after which the remains were interred in Wesley cemetery.
Willis A. Hazelton, like the other members of the family, was reared on the old homestead farm, assisting his father in its operation during the period of his boyhood and youth, while in the public schools he acquired his early education. which was later supplemented by a course in the Evangelical College, at Naperville, Illinois. He remained with his father until the time of his marriage, after which he began farming on his own account. operating one hundred and forty acres of the old homestead farm, whereon he has since made his home. In addition to this prop- erty, Mr. Hazelton also owns landed interests in the wheat belt of Canada, where, in connection with his brother Walter he purchased a section of land in Saskatchewan county, while in 1905 he purchased an additional half section, their crop in the year of 1906 being one thousand bushels of wheat. Mr. Hazelton has always followed the occupation to which he was reared and is likewise engaged to some extent in the raising of stock. He is prospering in his undertakings and each year harvests good crops, for he follows the most modern methods in his farm work and uses the latest improved machinery in the cultivation of his land.
Mr. Hazelton was happily married, February 6, 1884. to Miss Elizabeth J. Johnston, who was born near Joliet October 5, 1861. a daughter of
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Joseph and Mary C. (Miller) Johnston. The father was born in Leadhills, Wigtonshire, Scot- land, July 1, 1833, and acquired his education at Muirkirk, Scotland. The motl.er's birth oc- - curred in Pennsylvania, Jannary 11, 1834, and their marriage was celebrated November 10, 1859. Mr. Johnston emigrated to the new world in the spring of 1833, taking passage at Liverpool on the sailing ship Columbia on the 2d of June of that year, and after a voyage of six weeks and three days reached the harbor of New York. From that city he made his way at once to Joliet, Will county, reaching his destination on the 30th of July. He made his home in that city until 1859, when he removed to Jackson township, where he farmed for one year, subsequent to which time he removed to Manhattan township, where he purchased a farm, on which he made many im- provements, and thereon made his home until 1816, when he disposed of his property and bought a farm of seventy-two acres in Wesley township. which he improved and added to until he owned one hundred and twelve acres. He continued farming operations until 1893, when he retired and removed to Wilmington. where he has since made his home. While living in Wesley township he served as road commissioner for six years and has served for three terms as justice of the peace in Wilmington. his last election being on the 27th of April, 1905, and he is the present incumbent in that office. In politics he is a republican and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lin- coln. Mr. Johnston was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death occurred No- vemher 8, 1893, leaving to mourn her loss two daughters and one son, of whom Mrs. Hazelton is the eldest. her sister being Esther A., who is now the wife of Thomas Carns, a resident of Chicago, while her brother is Martin Johnston, who resides in Joliet and is superintendent of the Joliet & Chicago Electric Railroad. After losing his first wife Mr. Johnston was married a second time, December 10, 1895, to Miss Annie Gall, who was born in Bridgeworth, Shropshire, England, March 3, 1864, and there is one daughter by this mar- riage.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born a daughter and two sons: Florence E., who was horn October 2, 1887; Ernest N .. who was born July 21. 1891 ; and Lester J., who was born Janu-
ary 21, 1896, and died at the age of three years. Mr. Hazelton served for six years as school di- rector and the cause of education has ever found in him a warm and helpful friend. He also served as road commissioner for nine years, and his po- litical support is given to the men and measures of the republican party.
Mr. Hazelton has spent his entire life in Will county, covering a period of forty-six years, so that he has become widely and favorably known. He is public-spirited in a marked degree, is loyal in citizenship and faithful in friendship, and both he and his wife are hospitable people, highly re- spected in the community where they reside.
GEORGE W. ADAMS.
George W. Adams is a retired farmer and a veteran of the Civil war living in Peotone. He was born in Vermont, in 1841, and is a represent- ative of old New England families. His father, HIorace Adams, was born in Massachusetts, in 1801, and departed this life September 5, 1877, when in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He came to Illinois in 1837, casting in his lot with the pioneer residents of the county. He entered land in ('rete township, and after working on his claim for a time he returned to Vermont. In 1845 he brought his family to the new home which he had prepared in the west. remaining upon that farm until 1865, when he sold the property and bought another farm in the same township. Eventually he sold the second place and removed to the village of Crete, where he lived for about two years prior to his death. He was a good farmer and business man, who prospered in his undertakings. He kept a large number of cattle and brought his fields under a high state of cul- tivation, keeping in touch with the advanced meth- ods of farming, as experiment, scientific knowl- edge and invention improved upon the system formerly in effect. In politics he was at one time a whig and after the dissolution of the party hecame a stanch republican. His wife, Mrs. Kath- erine Adams, was born in Massachusetts, Decem- ber 6, 1806, and died March 4, 1893, in her eighty- seventh year. She was a member of the Congre- gational church and was a worthy Christian woman.
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