USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 22
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In the family were ten children, nine of whom reached adult age, namely : Roxanna and William L., both now deceased; Edwin H., who was a sol- dier of the Civil war, and is also deceased; Rox- anna J., who married James Mills and after his death became the wife of Alfred Mower; Emily Susan, the wife of Dow Manson, of Maine : George W .: Frank J., a resident of Peotone; Martha Ann, the widow of Horatio Gaines, a resident of Crete ; Freeman A., deceased ; and Julian, a retired farmer living in Steger, Illinois. Edwin H. Adams enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry as a member of Company F, in 1862, and was taken prisoner on the 11th of June, 1864. He was incarcerated at Andersonville and thence sent to Florence, where he died February 19, 1865, owing to the rigors and hardships of army prison life. He was then in his thirtieth year and was serving with the rank of corporal. His re- mains were interred at Florence. Frank J. Adams, born April 1, 1843, was also one of the boys in blue. He enlisted on the 31st of July, 1862, in Company G, One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and first went to Louisville, Kentucky, thence marching to Nashville, Tennessee, and on to Chat- tanooga. At the last named place he was wounded and remained there from September until the latter part of November unable to engage in active service. He was honorably discharged at Quincy. Illinois, June 22, 1865.
George W. Adams was reared to farm life and in his boyhood days attended the district schools The occupation to which he became familiar in his youth was that which occupied his manhood years until his retirement. He lived in Will town- ship from 1870 until 1892 and during that period successfully carried on farming until his labors had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to put aside business cares and live in honorable retirement, surrounded by the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The only interruption to his active work on the farm was during his service in the Civil war. On the 13th of September, 1861, when twenty years of age, he enlisted at Crete in Company F of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry and was mustered out December 29, 1862, at Newark, New Jersey, by reason of disability.
In 1870 Mr. Adams was married to Miss Mary Jane Lotz, who was born in Lockport, Will county, in 1844, and is a daughter of David and Corrina
(Farley) Lotz. Her father came to Will county from Pennsylvania, settling at Lockport in 1838. He was a carpenter and carbinet-maker and died in Lockport in 1846, at the age of thirty-four years. His wife came from the state of New York with her parents, Benjamin and Polly Farley, the journey being made in a wagon across the country in 1838. They settled first in Illinois and subsequently removed to Indiana. Mrs. Adams' parents had two children, her brother be- ing David Lotz, who died at the age of six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Adams has been born but one child, William Horace, who is now employed as a salesman in Chicago. He wedded Mabel Mellen, a native of that city, and they have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth.
Mrs. Adams is a faithful and devoted member of the Presbyterian church and he belongs to William Webb post, G. A. R. In politics he is a republican and has served as school director. In matters of citizenship he is always loyal and pro- gressive and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his village and county. For almost two-thirds of a century he has lived in Will county and is thus largely familiar with its history and development from the days of its early pioneer settlement down to the present. His life has been quietly passed, yet he has displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken good will and confidence.
FRED SEHRING.
Fred Sehring, deceased, who attained distinc- tion by a most successful business career, and who was accorded public honors in recognition of his patriotic and public-spirited citizenship, re- sided for many years at Joliet, where he estab- lished one of its leading industrial enterprises. His success was so marked that his methods are of interest to the commercial world and investi- gation into his life history shows that his work was characterized by unfaltering diligence, un- abating energy and the perseverance that never flags. A native of Germany, he was born in Langen, in the dukedom of Hesse-Darmstadt, De- cember 19, 1834, and began his education in the schools of that country, but when thirteen years
Fred, Siving
Fred Jehring Brewing lo. JOLIET, ILL.
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of age accompanied his parents, Weigand and Mar- garetha (Keim) Sehring, on their emigration to the new world in 1847. The Sehring family is one of prominence in the German-American citi- zenship of Will county. The parents settled in Frankfort township and the father turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he fol- lowed until 1854, when he removed with his fam- ily to Joliet and established and conducted a hotel. He had served as a soldier in the war of 1813 in Germany.
ment, owned by Henry Eder, which was estab- lished in 1862 by Anthony Scheidt and Joseph Stephans. Mr. Sehring remained at the head of the concern until his death. He was also a di- rector of the Will County National Bank and his business ability was widely recognized by those who knew aught of his career and witnessed his progress from a humble financial position to one of affluence.
On the 16th of January, 1855, Fred Sehring was married to Miss Louise Bez, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara Bez, who came from Würtem- berg, Germany, to America in 1853, settling at Joliet. Mrs. Sehring was ever a most faithful companion and helpmate to her husband and her assistance and encouragement was often his in- spiration and proved an important element in his business progress. Possessing a most kindly and benevolent spirit. she has become widely known in charitable circles, not because of any display that she was made, for she is entirely free from ostentation, but because her benefactions have been many and her kindly deeds almost without num- ber. No one has ever left her presence discour- aged and her charitable spirit is so broad that it knows no distinction of creed or nationality.
In spite of the fact that Fred Sehring had only eight months' instruction in the schools of Amer- ica, by diligent application he acquired a good English education and in early life laid the foun- dation of the broad knowledge that proved so help- ful to him in later years. He was a young man of twenty years when the family home was es- tablished in Joliet. Six years later, in 1860, he was appointed deputy elerk in the recorder's office, filling the position with marked capability, insomuch that he won public recognition and in 1863 was elected county treasurer. Two years later he was re-elected and continued the ineum- bent in the office until 1867, when he retired from the position as he had entered it-with the con- fidence and good will of all concerned. He then Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sehring were born the fol- lowing named: Maggie, the wife of Henry F. Piepenbrink; Henry, of the Sehring Brewing Company : Anna C., the wife of Dr. A. A. Poehner, of San Francisco, California; George F., cashier of the Fred Sehring Brewing Company, who was married in 1896 to Lonisa Kramer of this city: and Susan E. and Louis J., who reside with their mother at the family homestead. entered commercial life by purchasing an in- terest in the brewing firm of Joseph Braun & Company, which founded what is today one of the finest plants in the northwest. Upon the death of Mr. Braun in 1870 a change was made in the business, Mr. Sehring securing the active control and changing the name to the Columbia brewery. The success already gained continued during the ensuing years and Mr. Sehring concentrated all The family circle was broken by the death of the husband and father on the 2d of July, 1892. In the meantime he had figured prominently in public life, serving for eight years in the city vouneil of Joliet, to which he was elected in 1874. He was at one time democratie candidate for the state senate against A. O. Marshall, republican. and C. Frazier, the Granger candidate. The re- turns showed Mr. Marshall elected by a majority of twelve. Mr. Sehring contested the election. The matter was taken into the legislature, where one hundred and forty illegal votes were proved to have been cast against him and which were of his energy and attention upon the further de- velopment and upbuilding of the business, basing his actions upon such old and time-tried maxims as "Honesty is the best policy," and "There is no excellence without labor." In January, 1883, ow- ing to the success which he had already attained, he was enabled to incorporate the Fred Sehring Brewing Company, of which he became president. with his son Henry as vice president, his son-in- law, Henry F. Piepenbrink, secretary and treas- urer, and his son, Louis J. Sehring, as superin- tendent. The new corporation was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and at this time also pur- chased the brewery opposite their own establish- placed to his credit by the report of a majority of
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the committee on the contest. But the repub- licans and Grangers in the house combined against him, casting twenty-six votes for Marshall and twenty-three for Mr. Sehring. He was always a stalwart champion of those interests and meas- ures which were of benefit to the city and county and gave hearty co-operation to many movements for the general good. Fraternally he was a prom- inent Odd Fellow and a frequent representative of the local organization in the grand lodge. In Masonry he attained the Knight Templar degree in Joliet commandery, No. 4. He was a man of generous nature and kindly impulses, whose life was in many respects helpful to those with whom he came in contact, while his business record in its snecess should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others.
At the time of his demise the business which he had established was continued by his sons and son-in-law and the Sehring Brewing Company is yet a strong combination in business circles in Joliet. The eldest son, Louis J. Sehring, who succeeded to the presidency and is still general manager of the business, was born in Joliet, April 12, 1858, and received his early business training under his father's direction. He afterward be- came an apprentice in the brewing house of Bern- heimer & Schmidt of New York city and of the Peter Schoenhofen Brewing Company of Chicago. Returning to Joliet in October, 1877, he was at once appointed superintendent of the brewery and has since been manager. His business record is unassailable, being characterized by probity, fair- ness and progressiveness. He is also interested in community affairs and from 1885 until 1887 rep- resented the third ward in the city council. His time, however, is given to business matters rather than to politics or recreation, although he does not neglect the latter.
Henry Sehring was born in Joliet in 1861, and having acquired his education in the public schools, entered the brewery at the age of seven- teen years and has since been connected therewith, serving as vice president since 1883. In 1889 he married Miss Katie Arnold, a native of Matteson, Illinois, and they have one son, Arnold Sehring.
The secretary and treasurer, Henry F. Piepen- brink, is a son-in-law of the founder of the com- pany and was born in Crete, Will county, in 1850. He has been prominent in county politics, serv-
ing as sheriff two terms previous to assuming his present position in 1883.
The name of Sehring has ever stood as a syn- onym for business activity and integrity in Joliet since the arrival of Weigand Sehring in 1847, and the present business has been developed along mod- ern lines and is a prominent enterprise of this character in northern Illinois. The very satisfac- tory and steady growth of the business since the Sehrings became connected with it is well illus- trated by the output of the plant at different pe- riods, namely: In 1868, starting with a capital of five thousand dollars and employing only five men, it was fifteen hundred barrels: in 1875 steam power was substituted for horse power and one of the first enclosed copper steam beer kettles was installed and sales were then three thousand bar- rels; in 1880, eight thousand barrels; in 1890, twenty thousand barrels ; and in 1900, thirty thou- sand barrels. Then the constantly increased de- mand for their product proved to them that the old plant, located at Bridge and Summit streets, was entirely too small, and in 1903 the company erected an entirely new and modern up-to-date brewing and bottling plant at the corner of Scott and Clay streets, covering an entire block, with an annual capacity of eighty thousand barrels. Their motto, "Not how cheap. but how good," is in keeping with their sales in the increase every year and their special brewings of bottled beers. Standard Pale and Home Trade, are known all over the county for their qualities-age, strength and purity.
W. B. CURTIS.
W. B. Curtis is a representative of the stone in- dustry of Joliet, which is one of the most impor- tant business enterprises of the city. He was born in Huntsburg, Ohio, in 1863, and is a son of Charles Curtis, who came from Ohio to Illinois in 1867, settling in Lockport. He bought a farm north of the town and built upon it and carried forward the work of cultivating and de- veloping the fields until his life's labors were ended in death in 1873. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Barnard, was born in New York and died January 30, 1907, at the age of
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seventy-four years and five months. They had his father, Ernest Luecke, purchasing eighty acres two children, W. B. and Irma.
W. B. Curtis attended the district schools and was graduated from the Lockport high school. He started out in life for himself at the age of eighteen years. In 1881 he came to Joliet and for four years was clerk in a drug store. For fourteen years he was then connected with the Illinois Steel Company, becoming foreman of the rod mill. Gradually he worked his way upward and when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account, he formed a partnership with W. W. Ross in the stone business. They bought a quarry two and one-half miles southwest of the city and for three years were engaged in quarry- ing fluxing. They now quarry much stone for building and other purposes and employ about thirty men. Their trade has grown to large pro- portions and they are now conducting a successful enterprise.
Mr. Curtis was married in Joliet in 1892 to Miss Emma Patterson, a daughter of J. G. and Mary (Harris) Patterson, who were natives of the north of Ireland and were of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have one child, Willard, four years of age. Mr. Curtis is a Knight Templar Mason and is in thorough sympathy with the teachings and purposes of the order. He main- tains an unassailable reputation in business circles and his energy and enterprise constitute the salient features of the success which has come to him.
JOHN LUECKE.
John Luecke, who since 1867 has been a resi- dent of Crete, has for the past twelve years been engaged in business as a contractor and builder and is now occupying a foremost position in this connection in the village where he resides. His birth occurred in Monee township in 1857, being the second in order of birth in a family of thir- teen children, whose parents were Henry and Gus- tina (Huckemeyer) Luecke, both natives of Ger- many. The father came to the United States in 1848 and took up his abode in Chicago, being employed on a canal. He had made the trip to the new world with his parents in 1854, when
of land, Henry Luecke began working on the farm, where he remained for several years. Fol- lowing his marriage he engaged in farming on his own account and eventually purchased and cultivated one hundred and sixty acres of land in Monee township. He was an enterprising agriculturist, capable and successful in the man- agement of his business interests, was a good neighbor and faithful friend and was warmly re- garded by all who knew him. He held member- ship in the German Lutheran church, was active and earnest in its work and for twelve years served as one of its elders. His political al- legiance was given to the republican party. Some time prior to his death he removed to Crete, where he lived retired throughout his remaining days, passing away in 1896, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife is now living in Chicago at the age of sixty-seven years and she, too, is a mem- ber of the German Lutheran church. Their chil- dren were Henry, John, William, Fred, Edward, Carl, Gustaf, Martin, Sophia, Mary, Emma, and others who died in infancy.
John Luecke was reared on the old home farm and attended the country schools. He assisted in the cultivation of the fields until eighteen years of age, when he left home and began learning the carpenter's trade. He has resided continuously in Crete since 1867 and after working in the em- ploy of others for some time hegan contracting and building on his own account, thus carrying on business for the past twelve years. In 1904 he formed a partnership with Henry Niemeyer under the firm style of Luecke & Niemeyer, which continued until March 1, 1907, and was then dis- solved, Mr. Luecke continuing the business. He has built the principal business blocks of the vil- lage, including the state bank building. He is also agent for the American Insurance Company and the Crete Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
In 1886 occurred the marriage of Mr. Luecke and Miss Louisa Wiebrock, now deceased, and their only child has also passed away. Two years after the death of his first wife Mr. Luecke mar- ried Sophia Ruhe, a daughter of William and Sophia (Koeller) Ruhe. Mrs. Luecke was born in Crete in 1865 and by her marriage has become the mother of six children: Adelia, Arthur,
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Helen, Selma, Walter and Norbert. The par- county, and in 1852 went to Rockford, Illinois. ents are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Luecke is in sympathy with the principles and purposes of the republican party, which he supports by his ballot, and for eight years he has served as village trustee and was also village treasurer. Few residents of Crete have so long been connected with its interests, and during the forty years in which he has made his home in the village he has always stood for its upbuild- ing and progress along substantial lines and co- operated in many movements for the public wel- fare.
JOIIN C. COWING.
John C. Cowing. deceased, made his home in Will county for half a century, being the oldest permanent resident of Peotone township, and he was largely familiar with the history of the county in that detail of life and experience with which none but actual participants are familiar. The more important events become a matter of record but the daily life of a community constitutes the real foundation of its history and with this Mr. Cowing was long conversant.
Ile was born at Lisbon, New llampshire, June 6. 1833, his parents being David and Polly (Jesse- men) Cowing. The father, also a native of Lis- bon, was born February 6, 1795, and became a minister of the Free Will Baptist church. Ile was married at Sugar Hill, Grafton county, New Hampshire, in 1814, to Miss Polly Jessemen, whose birth occurred June 24, 1995. They re- mained residents of the east until 1844, when they came with their family to Illinois, reaching Chicago on the 9th of November of that year. After a brief residence at Half Day, on the Des- plaines river in Lake county, Illinois. they re- moved to Chicago and both died at Elk Grove, Cook county, Illinois, the father on the 17th of September, 1848, and the mother on the 3d of March, 1850.
John C. Cowing was seventeen years of age at the time of his mother's demise, after which he made his home in Richmond, MeHlenry county, Illinois, for a short time. In the same year, however, he removed to Twelve Mile Grove, Will
He was married in Beloit, Wisconsin, December 29, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Bradshaw, of Rock- ford, Illinois, who was born in Derry township, Columbia county, Pennsylvania. January 31, 1834, and died on their farm at West Peotone, Will county, September 22, 1896. She was a lineal descendant of Judge Bradshaw, who was one of the members of the court that tried King Charles Il of England. Her father, George Bradshaw, was a teacher by profession in early life but afterward turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and on removing westward established his home at Rockford, Illinois. Some time later he removed to Lee county. this state, where his last years were passed. One of his sons, B. H. Bradshaw, was a prominent representative of the republican party, whose opinions carried weight in party councils and whose influence was an effective and far reach- ing factor in its success. He filled a number of positions of publie honor and trust and several times represented his district in the state legisla- ture.
In 1854 Mr. Cowing settled in the town- ship of Wilton, Will county, but on selling his property there removed to section 19, Peotone township, in February, 1855. His first investment in real estate made him owner of eighty acres of land, to which he added from time to time as his financial resources permitted until he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres. He afterward disposed of much of this, but still retained possession of one hundred and twenty acres. For a long period he continued active in the management of the farm but for some years practically lived retired. He spent the last three years of his life in the village of Peotone, where he died on the 14th of March, 1904.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cowing were born the fol- lowing named: Mary Luella, who was born in Wilton township, September 29. 1854. and died in Peotone, July 16, 1885; Albert H., who was born in Peotone, May 29, 1857, and is the oldest surviving male child a native of that place : George J .. who was born in Peotone township, March 25, 1859, and is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; John F., who was born in the same township, Feb- ruary 12, 1862, and died in Ann Arbor, Michigan, February 5, 1884, while a student in the law de- partment of the state university: Addie M., who
JOHN C. COWING.
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was born in Peotone township, April 4, 1866, and is now residing in Joliet; Herbert H., who was born in the same township, January 9, 1869, and died on the 21st of September following; Arthur B., who was born January 10, 1871, and is now engaged in the practice of law ; and James R., who was born May 25, 1873, and now has charge of the home farm.
In his political views Mr. Cowing was a stalwart champion of the republican party and was called upon to serve in various local offices, acting at dif- ferent times as constable, commissioner of high- ways and school director. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as steward and as trustee and he was the organizer of the first Sunday-school in his district. During his long residence in Will county he made a host of warm friends and was honored and respected wherever known.
AARON GREENWOOD.
Aaron Greenwood, one of the prominent and honored pioneer residents of Will county, may truly be called a self-made as well as a self-edu- cated man, for all that he today possesses has been acquired through his own diligence and per- sistency of purpose, while his knowledge has been acquired entirely through reading, investigation and experience, for he had no school advantages whatever. He is today, however, the owner of large landed interests in Will county, while he is living retired in a beautiful home, surrounded by several acres of land just outside the corporation limits of Manhattan.
Mr. Greenwood was born in Herefordshire, Eng- land, February 25, 1835, a son of John and Martha (Pritchard) Greenwood, who were likewise na- tives of that country, where the mother died when the sou was a little lad of five years. The father died in Will county in 1854, when he had reached the age of sixty-four years. He had pre- viously been married and had a family of six children by his first union, of whom one son, John. came to this country at an early day and for many years followed farming near Joliet, but he is now deceased. Mr. Greenwood also had six children by his second marriage, and after losing his wife
he came to America, bringing with him two sons, Aaron and his younger brother. They crossed the Atlantic in 1847, being forty-seven days in mak- ing the voyage. Aaron Greenwood was then a lad of twelve years, and he did the cooking for the family during their trip across the ocean. The sea was very rough at times and on account of the rolling of the ship the son experienced many difficulties in performing his duties as a cook. Upon his arrival in Will county, the father made his home with his son John until his demise.
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