USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 23
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As above stated, Aaron Greenwood was a little lad of but five years at the time of his mother's death, after which he lived with an uncle in Eng- land until he was brought to the United States by his father in 1847. He had no school advan- tages during his youth, for he had to provide for his own support from a very early age, and in fact, although he was a youth of twelve years at the time of his arrival in the new world, he had not yet learned the alphabet. Reaching New York city, he made his way to Buffalo by the Erie canal, and to Chicago by way of the Great Lakes. He walked from the latter city to Joliet, for this was prior to the building of the railroads or the com- pletion of the Michigan and Illinois canal. After arriving in Will county Mr. Greenwood was bound out to a man by the name of Brown, with whom he was to remain until eighteen years of age, but in the spring following the seventeenth anniver- sary of his birth, he started out to make his own way in the world. He began to learn the carpen- ter's trade but abandoned that pursuit before he completed the trade. He was then employed on a farm by the month, the work all being done by hand. He planted corn when the sod had to be cut with an ax. and broke wild prairie, driving five yoke of oxen to the breaking plow when a mere boy.
On the 21st of March, 1861, Mr. Greenwood established a home of his own by his marriage on that date to Miss Sarah Harriet Noakes, who was likewise a native of England, born in Kent county, August 9. 1840. She was brought to America when only two years old by her parents, Thomas and Mary (Woollett) Noakes. On arriving in New York they there spent one year. after which they lived for a few months in Chicago, from which city they came to Will county, and located on a farm in Homer township. The father died
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when the daughter was but nine years of age, while the mother survived and passed away about thirty years ago, when she had reached the age of seventy-two years. Mrs. Greenwood is one of a family of twelve children but she and a sister Mrs. Mary Brown, who resides at Morris, Illinois, are the only surviving members.
Following his marriage Mr. Greenwood located on a rented farm, which he operated for three years, during which time he prospered in his un- dertakings, so that he was enabled to purchase a tract of ninety-two acres, situated on section 12, Manhattan township. The farm was partially improved when it came into his possession, but after taking up his abode thereon Mr. Greenwood added many modern and substantial improvements and placed his fields under a high state of culti- vation. As the years passed and his financial re- sources increased he added to his original hold- ings from time to time until his tract now em- braces two hundred and sixty-six acres, in addi- tion to which he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 11. of the same township. He made his home for twenty years on the farm which he first purchased, during which time he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and owing to the gratifying suc- cess which attended his efforts he was at length permitted to retire from the more arduous duties of life and purchasing a tract of thirty-nine acres adjoining the village of Manhattan, built a home thereon, in which he has lived for twenty-two years. He has, however, disposed of some of this property, having sold some of it in town lots. His landed possessions are extensive and bring to him a good annual rental. which supplies him- self and family with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
Of the two daughters horn unto Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood, the eldest. Martha, died when seven- teen months old, while the younger daughter. Alice, is now the wife of Edwin Cole, who resides on a farm east of Manhattan. They also reared an adopted son, Robert Greenwood, who is now a prosperous farmer of Bates county, Missouri.
For the past forty-one years Mr. Greenwood has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years served as one of its slewards, while at the present writing he is acting as treasurer of the church. He has also for many
years past served as a trustee and is filling that office at the present time. For many years he gave his political support to the republican party, but for the past eight years has voted the pro- hibition ticket, on which he was once a candidate for sheriff. For nine years he acted as school director, and for three years was a school trustee, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm and interested friend.
Mr. Greenwood has always lived frugally and economically yet is public-spirited in a marked degree, giving his co-operation and financial aid to many movements and measures for the public good. His life illustrates very clearly what may be accomplished if one has a strong will and a determination to succeed, for he started out when a young lad to face the responsibilities of life, having neither capital nor education, but through the years that have come and gone he has profited by every opportunity that has presented itself and has worked his way gradually upward until he is today numbered among the large landowners of Will county. Coming to this state during its pioneer epoch he can relate in interesting manner the conditions which here existed at that early period. for he has been a witness of the wonderful changes that have taken place as the work of im- provement and progress has been carried on along all lines. He and his wife are an honorable and honored couple, and have a large number of friends both in Manhattan and in Will county.
HENRY BERTHLING.
Among the substantial and influential citizens who were formerly actively engaged in farming pursuits but who are now spending the evening of their days in well merited rest in Peotone, is numbered llenry Berthling. He is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to Illinois, his birth having occurred in Mecklenburg, July 5, 1837. His parents, August and Sophia (Apzel) Berthling, were likewise natives of the fatherland, and in 1860 came with our subject to this country. The father died at the home of the latter in 1864, when he had reached the age of sixty-three years, while the mother survived until 1880. when she, too, was called to her final rest,
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having reached the age of seventy-four years. The father was a laborer in Germany and while there engaged in building a bridge received injuries from which he never fully recovered, so that he was thereafter unable to do hard work.
Henry Berthling is one of a family of eight children, of whom three died in Germany, while one sister preceded the family to this country four years, and four of the number came to America with our subject, but he has now only one living sister, Mrs. Christ Peal, who resides in Beecher, Will county.
The boyhood and youth of Mr. Berthling was spent in the fatherland, where he acquired his education in the public schools. He learned the miller's trade and was holding a good position in Germany when he decided to come to America. He accordingly, with the other members of the family, took passage on a sailing vessel, and after a voyage covering seven weeks and four days they landed at Castle Garden, New York, whence they made their way to DuPage county, Illinois, where lived a sister of Mr. Berthling. The family were in very limited circumstances at the time of their arrival in this state, but with the aid of friends they gathered together enough furniture to estab- lish a home. Mr. Berthling found employment in a store, where he worked for a few months at two shillings per day and his dinner and supper, and with this meager wage he provided for his own support and also cared for his parents. Later he was employed at farm labor for one year. receiv- ing for his services only eighty dollars per year. Through the assistance of others he then rented a tract of land and began farming on his own account. He worked from early morning until late at night in his efforts to gain a start in life and his labors were rewarded with excellent suc- cess. In addition to carrying on general farming he was also for five years engaged in the dairy business and in this met with gratifying success. ITe lived frngally and economically. so that in 1880 he was justified in making purchase of eighty acres of land in Peotone township, this tract being located a mile south of the village. The following year he took up his abode on the property. having in the meantime made many im- provements which greatly enhanced the value of his farm. He made his home thereon for eleven years, when he purchased eleven acres of land in
the village of Peotone, and resided there for eight years, subsequent to which time he purchased an- other place in this village, where he is now living retired. His rest is well merited, for all that he possesses and enjoys today has been won through his own labor and good business management.
Mr. Berthling has been married three times. He was first married in Germany, in 1858, to Miss Louise Orintz, whose death occurred in 1861. Ilis second union was with Mrs. Charlotte Wol- lenbach, whose death occurred December 11, 1901. Their union was blessed with six children, of whom three died in childhood, while the living members are: Sophia, the wife of Fred Griffel, who resides in Iowa; Ida, the wife of C. D, Hen- dricks, a blacksmith of Peotone; and Mary, the wife of William Koehneke, a resident farmer of Will township. The present wife of Mr. Berth- ling was Mrs. Mary Janssen, of Monee, their mar- riage being celebrated three years ago.
Mr. Berthling gives his support to the repub- lican party where national issues are involved, but at local elections he votes independently, cast- ing his ballot for the men whom he deems best qualified for office, regardless of party affiliation. Ile served as school director for eight years. Ile holds membership with the German Lutheran church, in which he has held office for the past twenty-one years. The first few years of his resi- dence in Illinois were very hard and trying ones for Mr. Berthling. but he noted the advantages that were here to be enjoyed, and utilized his op- portunities so that he gradually worked his way upward toward the goal of success and is now able to spend the evening of his days in rest from further toil. He can now review his past record with just pride for the position to which he has attained has been worthily and honorably won.
FRED ERNEST RUPPRECHT.
Fred Ernest Rupprecht, superintendent for the E. Porter Brewing Company, at Joliet for the past five years, was born in Heidelberg, Germany. in 1871. He spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native country and then. thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to America in
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1886. He had previously learned the trade of a brewmaster and he followed that pursuit in the east and in Chicago before coming to Joliet. He has a brother who is superintendent of a brewery in Baltimore, Maryland. For five years Mr. Rupp- recht has been connected with the plant at Joliet as superintendent and brewmaster. Here is man- ufactured keg and premium bottled beer, which is furnished to the local trade and for shipment as well. The capacity is forty-five thousand barrels. Mr. Rupprecht devotes his entire attention to the business and the enterprise under his management has become a profitable one. IIe came to Joliet to work for the E. Porter Brewing Company under Mr. Leser, and succeeded him as superintendent. passed away at the age of sixty-five years. While living upon the farm Mr. Smith received his mail and did his trading at Plainfield. He served as assessor, collector and in other local offices and was always active in democratic circles. He was widely recognized as a prominent and prosperous farmer and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Universalist church. In their family were ten children, of whom three daughters are deceased. The record is as follows: Arvilla was married in New Hampshire to a Mr. Ken- nison and both died in Kendall county, Illinois, several years ago. Ann Eliza became the wife of Mr. Starkweather and after his death wedded William Hughes, now deceased. She passed away Mr. Rupprecht was married in Chicago to Miss Lizzie Schafer, who was born in Germany and was taken to Chicago during her infancy. They now have two children, Josephine and August. ten or twelve years ago in Kendall county, Illi- nois. Minerva married a Mr. Pierce, of New Hampshire, and both died in Vermont. Lucena is the widow of John Van Dyke, of Kendall Mr. Rupprecht is a Mason, having taken the de- . county, Illinois, and now resides in Jolict. Helen became the wife of Horace Johnson, of Kendall county, now deceased, and resides with her sister in Joliet. Jerome T. is the sixth of the family. Nelson is living in Santa Barbara, California Milton died in California about ten years ago. Solon is a farmer residing in Santa Barbara, California, where he is serving also as justice of the peace. Frank, living in Santa Barbara, is assessor there and is engaged in the wharf busi- ness.
grees of the lodge, chapter, council and command- ery at Joliet and he also belongs to Medinah Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine at Chicago. He holds membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Joliet and with the Brew Masters Association at Chicago. Since coming to Joliet he has made a creditable record as a business man. He has in- stalled considerable new machinery, which he is now operating and has developed the business along modern progressive lines.
JEROME T. SMITH.
Jerome T. Smith has resided at Plainfield for the past nineteen years, at which time he retired from his farm in Kendall county. He came to Illinois on the 4th of July, 1844, with his father, mother and the other members of the family. He was born in the town of Hanover in Grafton county, New Hampshire, April 22, 1831, and is a son of David and Sarah (Jacobs) Smith, both of whom were natives of the Granite state. Upon coming to Illinois they located on a farm in Na Au Say township, Kendall county, where the parents resided until called to their final rest. the death of the father occurring in 1875, when he was seventy-eight years of age, while his wife
Jerome T. Smith spent the first thirteen years of his life in the east and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Kendall county, Illi- nois, in 1844. In early life he worked by the month as a farm hand for nine years, after which he invested his earnings in forty acres of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. Success attended him and as his financial resources increased he added to his property until he owned a finely improved farm of two hundred acres. which is now being cultivated by his son, W. T. Smith. The father remained in active life until about nineteen years ago, when he removed to Plainfield, where he now owns and occupies a comfortable home.
Mr. Smith was married in Kendall county, Illi- nois, on the 29th of April, 1856, to Miss Eliza- beth Bronk, who was born in New York and was brought to Illinois by her parents, when four years of age, the family locating in Kendall county.
JEROME T. SMITH AND FAMILY.
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She was born in the town of Queens on the Hudson, and her parents, Ephraim and Char- lotte (Van Dolson) Bronk, were farming peo- ple. They continued residents of Kendall county until called to their final rest. Their fani- ily numbered five children: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Smith; Peter A., a farmer residing in Will county ; Mrs. Mary Brown, a widow living in Will county ; John, whose home is in Kendall county ; and Amelia, the wife of Solon Smith, a brother of our subject and a resident of Santa Barbara, California.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Smith have been born five children. Helena H. became the wife of Frank Wenell and died February 23, 1899, while Mr. Wenell died in May, 1902. They left three children. Frank, Sarah and Myrtle, who are residents of Chicago. Sarah Smith became the wife of Willard T. Brown, of Will county, and they have two children, Ruby and Lee. Willard T. married a daughter of Samuel Spangler and re- sides on the old homestead farm in Kendall county, which he purchased from his father ser- cral years ago. Lottie A. is the wife of Frank Spangler, who is residing near Plainfield, and they have two children, Alvina and Ida. Josie married Howard Geist, a mail carrier of Joliet.
In former years Mr Smith gave his political allegiance to the democracy but is now a stanch supporter of republican principles. He served for eight years as alderman of Plainfield and has ex- ercised his official prerogatives in support of many progressive public measures. In his religious views he favors the Universalist church. His life has been marked by sturdy devotion to duty and in his business interests he has displayed energy as well as honesty and thus acquired the handsome competence that now enables him to live retired.
JOHN HAYDEN.
Among the prominent residents of Florence township is John Hayden, who is numbered among the pioncer settlers of Will county, for, although only about four years of age when brought to Illinois, he has lived in this part of the state for more than a half century. He has
therefore been a witness of much of its growth and development and as the years have passed by he has so directed his labors that success has resulted, and his methods are of interest to the business world. He has always based his busi- ness principles and actions upon the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and in- defatigable energy.
Mr. Hayden is a native of Whitefield township, Lincoln county, Maine, and a son of John and Hannah ( Kinsilla) Hayden. His father was born in County Carlow, Ireland, and after reaching adult age was married there to Miss Kinsilla, whose birthplace was in the same locality. They remained residents of the Emerald isle until 1836, when they came to America, setting out on Easter morning from Key Ross and after a safe voyage landing in Quebec, Canada. A short time later they made their way to New York state and thence to Gardiner. Maine, while subsequently they removed to Lincoln county, that state, where they resided until 1850. Believing that he might improve his financial condition by removing to the middle west. John Hayden came to Illinois in 1850, and for several years thereafter remained in Joliet. He then lived at Spencer for a time. and in 1860 settled upon the farm in Florence township, which is now occupied by his son Dan- iel. His industry and persistency of purpose made him a prosperous farmer and he eventually became the owner of an entire section of land in addition to what he gave to his sons. He like- wise owned property in Chicago and his life rec- ord stood as a splendid example of that of the self-made man, for he came to the new world empty-handed and his capital was very limited when he arrived in Illinois. He possessed a strong purpose and unfaltering enterprise, how- ever, and here he gradnally worked his way up- ward until he became one of the prosperous resi- dents of the county. He was himself a well educated man and knew the value of mental dis- cipline and training so that he looked carefully after the training of his children, both in school and at home. He never sought public honors or office but gave his political support to the de- mocracy. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church, and he died as one of its devout communicants, April 5, 1889, at the age of sev- enty-seven years, while his wife passed away Feb-
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ruary 28. 1890, when seventy-five years of age. They were the parents of nine children, namely : Mary, Daniel, Catherine, Bridget, Thomas, John, Hannah, Burnett and Anna S.
John Hayden, brought to Illinois in early boy- hood, became familiar with farm life in this sec- tion of the state and as soon as age and strength permitted he became a factor in the development and improvement of his father's land, and throughout his entire life has followed agricul- tural pursuits.
Mr. Hayden was married in early manhood, on the 24th of February, 1876, to Miss Bridget Ber- gan. a daughter of Martin and Hester (Welch) Bergan. Her father, who was born in 1803, in County Kilkenny. Ireland, came to the United States in November, 1847, crossing the Atlantic to New Orleans, whence he started northward with his family. The river froze, however, so that he was not able to reach Joliet, Illinois, until April, 1848. He purchased eighty acres of raw land in what was then Trenton township, but has since been divided into Green Garden and Manhattan townships. He improved and op- erated a farm for some years, being very success- ful, and he added to his original holdings until he had three hundred and twenty acres of land. At different times he was called to public offices, filling a number of township positions. Ile put up the first schoolhouse in his district and aided in the building of various churches of the locality. He always voted the democratic ticket and was a devout member of the Catholic church, in the faith of which he died February 3, 1892. His wife, who was born November 3, 1805, in County Kilkenny, Ireland, departed this life July 29, 1895. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are now living: Michael, who re- sides upon the old homestead farm in Manhattan township: John, who has become quite wealthy and spends much of his time in travel: Nicholas, who is living in Nebraska; Mrs. Hayden ; Daniel, who is engaged in the hardware business with his brother Martin at Manhattan; Martin, who is a member of the firm just referred to, and who married Catherine Cunningham, by whom he has three children ; and Annie, the widow of Thomas Kelly. She has one daughter and resides with her brothers, JJohn and Michael, on the old home- stead.
Mr. Hayden took his bride to his farm, and for many years he continued actively in the work of tilling the soil and developing the fields. He also raised some fine blooded horses of Norman and trotting stock and was able to exhibit some of the choicest animals in this part of the state. He became well known as a breeder and as a most excellent judge of horses, and this branch of his business as well as the cultivation of the fields proved very profitable to him. He is now largely leaving the management and operation of the farm to his sons, while he is enjoying a well merited rest. He owns six hundred and forty acres in the home place.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hayden were born six chil- dren, five sons and a daughter, and four of the sons are graduates of St. Viateurs College. at Bourbonnais, Illinois. John, the eldest of the family, was graduated from the engineering de- partment in the class of 1895. He has built an elevator for handling corn on the home farm, it. being operated by a steam engine, the only one in the county. He also put in the first steam plow in the county and installed the steam heat- ing plant in his father's home, the first put in any residence in Will county outside of Joliet. Dr. Daniel B. Hayden, the second member of the family, was a student in St. Viateurs College for ten years, winning the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. He also spent four years as a student in Georgetown Medical School, at Washington, D. C., from which he was graduated in the class of 1904. He also did six months' post-graduate work in the Chicago Post Graduate School and is now successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Chi- cago. William S. Hayden, the third son, was graduated from St. Viateurs College in the class of 1902, having completed the English literary conrse, and is now farming on the old homestead. Martin G., a graduate of St. Viateurs College of the class of 1905, afterward devoted a year to the study of theology and is now in Rome, Italy, fitting himself for the priesthood. Anna, a young lady, eighteen years of age, is now attending the academy of Our Lady at Longwood, at Chicago, where she has spent four years as a student. Edmund is at present attending the public schools near his father's home. The sons, John and Wil- liam, are operating the home farm. In 1905
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they fed eight hundred sheep and they feed from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of cattle each year, shipping their stock to the Chi- cago market. They are young men of good busi- ness ability and energy and are worthy successors of their father in the agricultural and stock-rais- ing interests of Will county.
Mr. Hayden gives his political allegiance to the democracy. For twenty years he served as commissioner and for twelve years has been su- pervisor of his township, in which position he is still the incumbent, having been re-elected in the spring of 1904. He is the vice president of the Will County Old Settlers Society and belongs to the Roman Catholic church. Few men have more intimate knowledge of the history of the county, for during fifty-six years he has been a witness of its growth and progress, noting the leading events which have left their impress upon its an- nals. His name has ever stood ror business en- terprise and business integrity, and as a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of the county as well as one of the valued pioneer citizens who well deserves mention in this volume.
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