USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 26
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rived in New York after a voyage of four weeks on the water. He made his way direct to Mo- mence, Illinois. His cash capital consisted of fifty dollars and he set to work to find employ- ment but he could not speak a word of English and when he applied for work in the different blacksmith shops he was refused employment. He eventually secured employment on a farm, where he drove an ox team to the breaking plow. He also worked for a short time for the Indiana, Illi- nois & Iowa Railroad Company, doing construc- tion work. In 1872 he arrived in Peotone, where he was employed at his trade. He was industri- ous and economical and at length saved the capi- tal which enabled him to engage in business on his own account. He then purchased the black- smith business of Peter Schlander, and worked at his trade until 1890, and he still owns the shop. which is now being conducted by hired help. In the latter year Mr. Hinrichs engaged in the dairy business. For a few years he shipped the prod- ucts of his dairy to the Chicago markets, but he now has a milk route in Peotone, delivering milk and cream to the residents throughout the vil- lage, keeping sixteen cows for this purpose. His business has now reached extensive and profitable proportions and returns to him a very gratifying income. He is likewise engaged in farming, hav- ing seventy acres of land within the corporation limits of Peotone, and in addition to operating this tract he also leases one hundred and sixty acres, employing four men to assist him in the condnet of his varied business interests. Mr. Hinrichs is a very busy man, often working twenty hours a day, and through his well directed efforts he has acquired a comfortable competence and a good property.
Mr. Hinrichs has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Minnie Schroeder. their marriage being celebrated in 1873. She was a daughter of Fred Schroeder, a resident of Mat- tison, Illinois, and her death occurred in 1878. There were two children of that marriage but both are now deceased. For his second wife Mr. Hin- richs chose Ida Berthling, a daughter of Henry Berthling, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Hinrichs gives his political support to the republican party and for two terms served on the village board. He is a member of the Ger- man Lutheran church, while his fraternal rela-
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tions are with Modern Woodmen camp, No. 1405, at Peotone.
Mr. Hinrichs has never regretted his emigra- tion to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought, and, having util- ized the means at hand, has gradually worked his way upward from a humble financial position until he is now numbered among the influential and enterprising business men of Peotone.
ROBERT T. WELSCH.
Robert T. Welsch is a general contractor with shop at No. 410 Linden avenue, in Joliet. He has been closely connected with building interests in this city and has been the architect of his own fortunes as well. He came to Will county with a capital of only twenty-seven dollars and is to- day one of the substantial residents. He was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1860, and is a son of Karl and Paulena (Henchel) Welsch, who were likewise German people. The father is a cabinet maker by trade.
In early life Robert T. Welsch served an ap- prenticeship with a carpenter and learned the trade. The business opportunities in the new world attracted him and in 1882 he came to Amer- ica, making his way at once to Joliet. He built a whole row of houses on Mississippi avenue, ex- tending from Second to Third street, and in one summer erected fourteen residences and took the contract for the erection of the Sehring brick block and also built the lower story and other- wise improved the First Lutheran church. Hc erected the residence of James Cushing on Rainer avenue, drawing plans for the structure. In the winter time he engages in making frames and throughout the year he employs three men, while in the summer season, while building operations are in progress. he has a much larger force of workmen. He has also bought and sold property on his own account, building seven houses on Richard street and twelve houses on Gonesy ave- nue, and built up Sherman court, ninety by two hundred and sixty-four feet, and as the years have gone by, has made for himself a place among the successful contractors of the city. He also erected the residences of John Brooks and John Kline,
and thus many of the substantial structures of Joliet stand as monuments to his skill and enter- prise.
Mr. Welsch was married in Joliet to Miss Hulda Gierich, who was born in Saxony, Germany, and came to America in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Welsch have four children: Arno, Selma, Roland and Walter, all attending school. The daughter has finished the high-school course and has also attended business college.
Mr. Welsch spent two years in school after coming to Joliet and thus mastered the English language. In politics he is a republican but has never sought or desired office. He is, however, in- terested in the success of his party and belongs to the German Republican Club and also holds mem- bership with the Modern Woodmen and with the White Cross and for twenty-four years has been a principal officer in the German Lutheran church. He has never had occasion to regret his determina- tion to seek a home in the United States. He is a self-made man, owing his prosperity entirely to his earnest labor, his perseverance and his dili- gence. These are qualities which any one may cultivate and which always lead to success.
MRS. HENRIETTE SASSE.
For almost a half century Mrs. Henriette Sasse has made her home in Will county and during that time she has become widely and favorably known. Her childhood and youth were passed in Ger- many, for she was horn in Bentheim in the prov- ince of Hanover, April 13. 1824, a daughter of Dr. Frederick William and Dorothy (Lolffes) Mosel. She is the second in order of birth in their family of eight children and the only one of the number now living. Three of her brothers and one sister came to America but one of the former afterward went to Africa, where he prac- ticed medicine until his death. Mrs. Sasse had the advantage of a good education in her native country. After completing the common-school course she attended a young ladies seminary where she was graduated. She has always kept well informed and is today a remarkably well read, bright and active old lady despite her eighty- three years.
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On the 15th of April, 1852, Miss Henriette Mosel gave her hand in marriage to Frederick Sasse, who was also a native of Germany, born in Breisin Bruch, Hanover, February 21, 1823, and there grew to manhood. In June after their marriage they came to America and first settled in Wilmington, Illinois, where they spent one year. At the end of that time they removed to Jackson township and during the following seven years Mr. Sasse was engaged in farming there, after which he purchased a farm in Channahon township, making his home thereon for thirty years, his time and attention being devoted to the work of the farm. On selling that place he re- moved to Elwood, where he purchased a nice home, and there passed the remaining years of his life, dying on the 9th of October, 1902. Upright and honorable in all that he did, he had the con- fidence and esteem of the entire community and his death was deeply deplored. Mrs. Sasse was a member of the Reformed church of Holland in Germany and after coming to America united with the Presbyterian church, in the work of which she has ever taken an active part. Her earnest Christian life has gained her many friends and she is highly respected wherever known.
MERRITT O. CAGWIN.
The name of Cagwin has been associated with the history of Joliet from the earliest epoch in its development, Merritt O. Cagwin, then a lad of eight years, coming with his father's family to Will county in 1836. He was born in Brockport, New York, May 14, 1828, and comes of Scotch ancestry, the family being established in America, however, prior to the Revolutionary war, in which the great-grandfather of our subject was a sol- dier. His son. Thomas Cagwin, a native of Mas- sachusetts, rendered military aid to his country in the war of 1812. Ile married Eunice Joslyn, who was also of Scotch lineage, and from Massa- chusetts they removed to Oneida county, New York, subsequently establishing their home near Brockport in Monroe county, where Thomas Cawgin purchased a farm of four hundred acres lying partly within the corporation limits of the
village. From this land he platted a portion of the town and he continued to reside there until his death, which occurred when he was sixty years of age.
Abijah Cagwin, father of Merritt O. Cagwin, was born in Onedia connty, New York, May 19. 1807, and spent his youth in that and in Monroe county, where he learned the trades of tanning and shoemaking. After reaching man's estate he conducted a tannery at Brockport but suffered a severe loss in the destruction of his plant by fire in 1834. He then determined to try his fortunes in the new but rapidly developing west and in 1835 came to Illinois, the following year bringing his family. At the land sale in Chicago he pur- chased a tract of land lying just east of Joliet on Hickory street and then again making his way eastward he bought the necessary equipments for a sawmill, which he shipped to Chicago and thence conveyed by wagon to Joliet. Soon afterward he began the manufacture of hardwood lumber and on the 4th of July, 1836, surrounded by a crowd of patriotic citizens who came for more than twenty miles, he sawed the first board used in the building of one of the first frame houses in Joliet. There were few sawmills in this part of the country, so that his new enterprise received a very liberal patronage, and he continued success- fully in the manufacture of lumber for fifteen years. His worth and ability being recognized by his fellow citizens, he was called to public office and for eight years served as justice of the peace, during which period he also engaged in the pur- chase, improvement and sale of real estate in Joliet. On retiring from the office of justice of the peace he was elected county judge and sat upon the bench for a long period, receiving the endorsement of both parties at the elections. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case. and he was widely recognized as one of the able county judges of Illinois at an early day. Later he engaged in the grain trade and in merchandis- ing on what is now North Chicago street near Cass, his being the first business place in that sec- tion of the city. For many years he was a grain merchant of Joliet and his business proved an ex- cellent market for local producers. At the same time he improved lands and carried on farming and thus the extent and importance of his busi-
MERRITT O. CAGWIN.
ABIJAAH CAGWIN.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
ness interests classed him with the representative men of this part of the state. He laid out and named Cagwin and Scribner streets, the latter being so called in honor of his wife, and the prop- erty still constitutes a portion of the family home- stead. Moreover, he figured prominently in finan- cial circles as one of the organizers of the Will County Bank, continuing as its president until he disposed of his stock, while Henry D. Higin- botham was vice-president and Benjamin Rich- ardson, cashier. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and in fraternal circles he at- tained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry. He was one of the prominent members of the Universalist church, aiding in its organization and continuing one of its liberal supporters until his death, which occurred October 2, 1890, when he was eighty-four years of age.
Ere his removal from the east, Abijah Cagwin was united in marriage to Hannah Scribner, who was born in Poultney, Vermont, and was a daugh- ter of Deacon Peter Scribner, of English birth, who on coming to America, established his home in New Hampshire, but afterward removed to Vermont, where he carried on farming and sheep- raising. He was accidentally killed by a fall from a tree when ninety-four years of age. His brother Samuel, who on coming to America settled in New York city, was the founder of Scribner's Maga- zine, long one of the standard periodicals of the country. Mrs. Cagwin died March 30, 1892, when eighty-four years of age. Mr. Cagwin had spent his last years in honorable retirement from business cares in this city and was widely known as a pioneer settler whose labors were of the utmost value in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has since been builded the superstrnet- ure of the present progress and prosperity of the county.
Merritt O. Cagwin was a young lad of eight years when the family traveled westward by team and wagon through Canada and Michigan to Illi- nois, reaching Joliet on the 8th of May, 1836, after one month spent upon the way. His edu- cational privileges were somewhat meager owing to the crude conditions of the schools in the west and to the fact that his services were needed by his father upon the farm and in the mill. He became his father's active assistant when ten years of age, and between the ages of fifteen and eigh-
teen years, was a clerk in the store which his father established. Later, he went to Chicago, where he entered the employ of his uncle, as auctioneer, and subsequently he traveled for two years. In the meantime he had improved his op- portunity for judicious investment by purchase of eighty acres of state land at a canal sale and upon this tract he began dealing in live stock. As his financial resources increased, he added to his orig- inal holdings, until he owned about four hundred acres lying east of Joliet, and in the development of his property he experienced the hard conditions incident to opening up a farm on the frontier. Attracted to California by the discovery of gold, he journeyed to the Pacific coast by way of New York and the Nicaragua route, landing at San Francisco in 1853, and thence making his way up the American river to the mines. Not meeting with the success that he anticipated, he returned home by way of Panama and New York, after a year spent in the Golden state. On again reach- ing Will county. he hecame connected with the grain trade, which he conducted for four years, when he exchanged his business for twelve hundred acres of land in Wilton township, whereon he en- gaged in raising high grade cattle, finding this a very profitable venture. During the period of the Civil war he served as town supervisor. In- tensely patriotic and loyal to the Union, he greatly desired to join the army but could not pass the required medical examination. He did everything in his power while at home, however, to uphold the Lincoln administration and promote the interests of the boys in the field and he donated ten dollars to each member of the first company that was or- ganized in his vicinity.
In the meantime, in January, 1852, Mr. Cag- win was united in marriage to Miss Ambrosia Higinbotham, who was born in this county, Octo- ber 1, 1834, and is a daughter of Henry D. Hig- inbotham. The Higinbotham family is of English lineage and during an early period in the settle- ment of America, representatives of the name re- moved to the Barbadoes. Later generations were actively identified with the progress of New Eng- land, where they prospered in the pursuit of such occupations as were then in vogue. Charles Hig- inbotham, who was the son of a captain of a whal- ing vessel, was born in Rhode Island, November 14. 1779. and in youth accompanied his parents to
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
Otsego, New York, where he married Gertrude Du- mont, of Westford, the daughter of a Revolution- ary soldier. Sometime afterward, he went to Alle- gan county, Michigan, and died August 18, 1844, while his wife passed away July 17, 1858.
Henry D. Higinbotham was the second of the four sons of Charles Higinbotham and was born in Worcester, New York, January 10, 1806. Reared on a farm, he early acquired a thorough knowledge of agriculture and also of blacksmith- ing. In 1831 he married Rebecca Wheeler, of Westford, New York, who was a native daughter of Canaan, Columbia county, that state. Soon after their marriage they settled in Oneida, New York, where Mr. Higinbotham followed black- smithing, but attracted by opportunities of the west he settled on Hickory Creek in Will county. Illinois, when it was still a part of Cook county, arriving in June, 1834. He entered from the gov- ernment, one hundred and sixty acres of land, two and a half miles east of Joliet, and as the years passed, he added to his property, which constantly increased in value. He soon became recognized as one of the foremost agriculturists of the county. thoroughly demonstrated the superiority of diver- sified farming and through his varied interests gained what was in those days a large fortune, placing most of his land-three hundred and twenty acres- under cultivation. He also owned and successfully operated a gristmill and not only won prosperity, but also an honored name in his business life. Socially he became a Knight Tem- plar Mason, and religiously was a Universalist. In 1854 he sold his farm and mill and took up his ahode in Joliet at what is known as the Higin- botham homestead at No. 1009 Cass street. He became a director of the Will County National Bank, but was not active in business life following his removal to the city, where he passed away March 13, 1865.
Henry D. Higinbotham was married to a daughter of Samuel B. Wheeler. a native of New England and a sister of Mansfield Wheeler, who settled in Will county in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Higinbotham became the parents of the following sons and daughters: Harlow Niles, millionaire merchant and business man of Chicago: Albert. who served in Scott's Chicago regiment during the entire Civil war and died in Joliet ; Mrs. Cag- win ; Mrs. Ann Eliza Demmond, of this city ; Mrs.
Gertrude Leddy and Mrs. Ellen Darwin, both of whom died in Joliet; and Charles, of Elgin.
After his marriage, Mr. Cagwin became one of the most extensive grain shippers of this part of the state. He purchased a grain elevator on the canal, which he conducted in connection with his father and subsequently he devoted three years to the grain trade at Wilmington, after which he built the White Cloud mill and manufactured flour. He also spent nine years in the grain busi- ness in Elwood and when he again located in Joliet, he bought the "Jesse" elevator on the west side. This he operated for some time and on selling out, he invested in a farm on Spring creek in Lockport township, three miles from Joliet, and gave his time to the superintendence and manage- ment of its one hundred and five acres, until 1891. He then again took up his abode in this city, leav- ing his extensive farming interests in the care of his son Harlow. On returning to Joliet, Mr. and Mrs. Cagwin took up their abode in the old Higin- botham homestead on Cass street. While living in Elwood in 1867, Mr. Cagwin lost his elevator through fire. He was, however, for many years one of the most prominent grain merchants of this part of the state, conducting his operations in Joliet and other cities and handling grain on an extensive scale.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cagwin were born five chil- dren. Albert E., who married Helen Stephens, resides in Kelso, Washington, where he is now mayor of the town. He is also engaged in the lumber business there, is editor of the Kelsonian, a successful newspaper, and is very prominent and influential in business circles. Alnieda is the wife of Winfield Pritz, a farmer, residing at LaJunta, Colorado. Helen R., makes her home in Joliet with her mother. Fred, who married Miss L. Burton and has been connected with the railway company at Michigan City, Indiana, until a re- cent date, has now purchased a farm in that locality and intends devoting his energies to agri- cultural pursuits. Harlow T. married D'Etta Lamphere and is engaged in farming four miles east of Joliet.
Mr. Cagwin gave his early political allegiance to the democracy, but in 1860 joined the ranks of the new republican party, of which he remained a stalwart advocate until his death. He served as highway commissioner at an early day and laid
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out Cass street as a road and also opened up Wash- ington street. He likewise served as collector of Joliet township and as supervisor of Wilton town- ship. During his term as highway commissioner he made twelve miles of hard gravel road in the township. He was ever deeply interested in poli- tical questions and issues, as every true American citizen should be, and was most loyal in his advo- cacy of the principles of his party. His fraternal relations were with the Odd Fellows, and in his religious faith he was a Universalist. Whatever tended to advance the city in its material, intel- lectual, social, political and moral progress awak- ened his attention and received his co-operation. For seventy years he remained a resident of Will county, during which period it emerged from pio- neer conditions and took on all the evidences of an advanced civilization. Mr. Cagwin in his various business relations did much to promote public progress and to establish that commercial and in- dustrial activity whereon the growth and develop- ment of a community always depend. He dis- played excellent ability as a manager, together with keen business discernment and unfaltering energy, and whatever he undertook he carried for- ward to successful completion, while his methods were such as would bear the closest scrutiny and most rigid examination. Thus when he was called from this life, March 30, 1906, at the age of sev- enty-eight years, he left behind him an honorable name and a handsome competence the result of years of active and upright life.
Mrs. Cagwin now resides at the old Higinboth- am home in Joliet, at No. 1009 Cass street. The residence was one of the first built in the city and is, therefore, one of the old landmarks. Mrs. Cagwin, as a representative of the life of Joliet from pioneer times to the present, is deserving of prominent mention in this volume, while in cul- tured social circles she has always been accorded a place of prominence.
FREDERICK SCHEIWE.
Frederick Scheiwe is now living retired in the village of Crete but for many years was closely and actively connected with farming interests, to which is due the measure of prosperity that he is
now enjoying. His birth occurred in Crete town- ship in 1858 and he comes of worthy German an- cestry.
His father, Christof Scheiwe, was born in Ger- many and died in the year 1903 at the age of sev- enty-five. He crossed the briny deep to the United States in 1847 with his brother, John Scheiwe, who located in Crete township. For some time Christof Scheiwe worked on a farm for five dollars per month, being thus employed for about three years. He then invested his earnings in eighty acres of land in Crete township and as opportunity offered he extended the boundaries of his place until he had added to it one hundred and thirty acres. He also owned eighty acres in Washington township and his holdings likewise embraced more than four hundred acres in Iro- quois county. He was practically penniless when he came to America and through his industry and frugality he became a prosperous agriculturist. He was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends and bore an unquestioned reputation for business honor and integrity. Of the Evangelical Lutheran church he served as treasurer of Eagle Lake church for thirty years and did all in his power to promote the growth and insure the de- velopment of that organization. In politics he was always an ardent republican and filled the offices of collector and justice of the peace. In addition to his farming interests he engaged ex- tensively in feeding stock for the market and that proved an important element in his success. He married Sophie Luecke, a native of Germany, who died in 1894 at the age of sixty years. She came to the new world with her parents, who lo- cated in Monee township, and she too was a worthy Christian, holding membership in the Evangelical church. The eight children of the family were as follows: William. a resident farmer of Min- nesota : John, of Crete township; Frederick, of this review : Christ, a farmer of Iroquois county; Henry. farming in the same county; Gust, of Crete township : Sophie, the wife of John Tatge. of Washington township; and Lena, the wife of Louis Kuhlman. of Crete township.
Mr. Scheiwe was reared upon a farm and at- tended the district schools. He began farming on his own account about 1885 on his father's land in Iroquois county, where he remained for twelve years, purchasing and improving there one
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