USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 29
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In 1861 occurred the marriage of John Kolstedt and Miss Helen Ress, who was born in Germany in 1840 and came to the United States in 1856 with her sister, locating at Bloomingdale, where she was married. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kolstedt have been born ten children.
The parents are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and for many years Mr. Kol- stedt has taken a very active part in the work of the church and was one of the organizers of St. Paul's church in Monee. He has contributed most liberally to its support and done all in his power for its growth and development. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fel- lows. He is a charter member of the local or- ganization of the latter at Monee and has filled all the chairs in both fraternities. In politics he is a republican, recognized as one of the strong and stalwart leaders of the party in Will county. He was, with the exception of one or two brief periods, supervisor of Monee township for sixteen years, was school director for many years and has been a member of the lower house of the state legislature for two terms. While in the general assembly he gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement bearing upon the welfare of the state at large or his con- stituents and in his legislative career manifested a spirit of devotion to the public good most com- mendable. When he came to the county he had but little capital. Today he is one of the most prosperous and wealthy residents of Monee town- ship and, moreover, is held in the highest esteem because his life has ever been characterized by sterling principles of manhood, by business activ- ity and integrity and by public-spirited citizen- ship.
SAMUEL ROSE.
Samuel Rose, engaged in the practice of law and in the conduct of a real-estate and insurance business at Crete, was born in County Carlow, Ire- land, in October, 1845, and is the second in a family of four children whose parents are John and Mary (Ormsby) Rose, both natives of County Carlow. The father was a man of education and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. Coming
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to the United States in 1850, he located in Wash- ington township, where he bought a soldier's war- rant for one hundred and sixty acres of land, lo- cating the same on section 3, Washington town- ship. There he spent his remaining days and prospered in his business undertakings. He held membership in the Episcopal church and gave his political allegiance to the republican party. which organization elected him to the position of highway commissioner. He died, however, in 1858 at the comparatively early age of thirty-eight years, while his wife survived until 1877 and passed away at the age of sixty-five. She, too, held membership in the Episcopal church. Their four children were Beecham, now deceased ; Sam- uel: Charlotte M., who has passed away: and John A., of Chicago, who is general attorney for the Chicago Union Traction Company.
Samuel Rose, brought to the United States when a youth of five years, acquired a district- school education and through the periods of vaca- tion and after putting aside his text-books assisted upon the home farm until 1874. Thinking to find commercial pursuits more congenial, he then re- moved to Beecher, where he conducted a general mercantile store and also engaged in dealing in baled hay for six years. He then returned to the old homestead, where he remained until the fall of 1893, when he took up his residence in Crete. In 1876 he began reading law and by diligent study became proficient as a representative of the bar. although never having been admitted to the har. Locating in Crete. he established an office and has since engaged in practice in connection with the conduct of a real-estate and loan busi- ness, meeting with more than ordinary success in those lines.
Mr. Rose has been twice married. On the 8th of January, 1877, he wedded Abbie White, who was born in Champaign county. Illinois, and died July 14, 1896, at the age of forty-six years. They had two children: Everil E., now deceased; and Blanche E. For his second wife Mr. Rose chose Annettte J. Hewes, the widow of Benjamin F. Hewes and a daughter of Zebediah Dewey, cousin of Admiral George Dewey. She was born in June, 1845, and in 1857 accompanied her parents on their removal from the state of New York to Will county, Illinois, the family home being established in Washington township. She is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church and on the 8th of September. 1891, she gave her hand in mar- riage to Mr. Rose.
Of the Masonic fraternity Mr. Rose is an ex- emplary representative and both he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star. He is un- faltering in his advocacy of the republican party and upon its ticket has been elected to various local offices, capably serving as justice of the peace for eight years, as trustee of the schools for thirty years and as a member of the village board of health. His aid has been an essential factor in the conduct of various interests which have been beneficial to the village and he is widely known as a public-spirited citizen. His friends, too, are many, owing to a social, genial nature which prompts on his part a kindly interest in his fel- lowmen and thus his life is an exemplification of the utterance of Emerson that "the way to win a friend is to be one."
JUDGE GEORGE J. COWING.
George J. Cowing, recently elected county judge of Will county, has been successfully en- gaged in the practice of law in Joliet for over twenty years. He was born on the 25th of March, 1859, in Peotone township, this county, and is a son of the late John C. Cowing, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. The judge acquired his early education in the public schools and continued his studies under private instruction for a time. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one years he engaged in teaching in the district schools and with the money thus earned he began a course of study in the Northwestern University in 1880, but his incessant labor had impaired his health and he was obliged to temporarily discontinue his col- legiate work. He went to Colorado in the spring of 1881 and spent fifteen months in that state, returning in time to enter the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor in the summer of 1882. He there pursued the regular course and was graduated in 1884, one of his classmates being Ilon. Richard Yates, afterward republican governor of Illinois.
GEORGE J. COWING.
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Again Judge Cowing found it necessary to spend several months in recuperating his health, which had once more become impaired by reason of his close and unrelaxing attention to his stud- ies. He finally entered into practice at Joliet in connection with the firm of Olin & Phelps, but a year and a half later he opened an office of his own at No. 311 Jefferson street. It was not long afterward that he formed a partnership with Colonel J. B. Fithian, under the firm name of Fithian & Cowing, and they were soon at the head of a large and growing practice, both being men of recognized ability in their chosen profession. This partnership was dissolved in 1889 and Judge Cowing became connected with the Hon. Benjamin Olin, the partnership being maintained until the latter's election to the office of county judge. Judge Cowing next formed a partnership with George W. Young in 1892 and continued in active practice until his election to the bench, on the 6th of November, 1906. He was the candidate of the republican party and received a large majority. In the practice of law Judge Cowing demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with intricate and complex legal problems. He has trained his mind in a severe school of reasoning and analysis, is logical in his deductions and clear and accurate in his conclu- sions. With precision he marshals all of the forces bearing upon his case and yet never fails to recognize and give due prominence to the most important points in his case-that upon which the decision finally turns.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Judge Cowing and Miss Stella Titsworth, a daughter of H. M. Titsworth, of Aurora, Ilinois. Unto them have been born four children: Luella A., Glenn L., John C. and G. Jessemen. The parents are members of the Richards Street Methodist Episcopal church, of which the Judge is a trustee. He belongs to Matteson lodge, No. 175, A. F. & A. M .; Paul Revere lodge, No. 371, K. P .; and Mound City camp, M. W. A. In all of these or- ganizations he is popular because of his devotion to their principles and his exemplification of their purposes in life. The profession which he has chosen as a life work finds in him a devoted fol- lower and one who takes deep interest in the science of the law as well as in its practice as applied to litigated interests of the day. He is
constantly broadening his mind by reading and investigating and he is well qualified to fill the office to which he has been chosen.
WILLIAM C. GRANT.
William C. Grant, who makes his home in El- wood, has spent his entire life in Will county, be- ing born at Reed's Grove. December 5. 1839. His father, John Grant, was a native of Scotland, born March 12, 1816, and came to America in early life. In 1838 he married Miss Rosannah Lamping, whose birth occurred in New York state on the 18th of February, 1821, and the same year of their marriage they located in Will county, Illinois, where Mrs. Grant died April 16, 1843. Our subject is one of two children born of this union. His sister, Isabella, died Novem- ber 26, 1842. The father was again married in March, 1844, his second wife being Mrs. Adeline Kelley, by whom he had four children: John A. and James M., both residents of Joliet : Mrs. Margaret Bush, of Elwood ; and Mary, who died in September, 1851. The father died on the 12th of September, 1854.
William C. Grant was reared and educated in this county and remained on the home farm until the spring of 1866, when he entered mercantile business in Elwood and followed that occupation for a number of years. At the pres- ent time he is a salesman for the Yorkville Drug Company, of Yorkville, Will county, and also acts as a substitute mail carrier on the rural service.
On the 18th of April, 1861, Mr. Grant married Miss Rhoda Bridges, of Steuben county, New York, who died January 21, 1904, and he was again married July 21, 1905, his second union be- ing with Harriet A. Bridge, who was also born in Steuben county, New York, in October, 1842. There are no children by either marriage.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Grant affiliated with the republican party and continued to vote that ticket until ten years ago, since which time he has supported the prohibition party, being a strong temperance man. Religiously he is an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Since 1877 he has filled the office of justice of the peace and his decisions
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have always been fair and impartial. For forty years he has made his home continuously in El- wood and no man in the community is more wide- ly or favorably known.
JAMES MILTON THOMPSON.
Professor J. M. Thompson, who has been a suc- cessful director of music in the city of Joliet for fifteen years and whose labors in this art have done much to establish a high standard in mu- sical taste in that city, received his training under some of the ablest musical artists of the country. He was born in Townsend, Ontario, Canada. His father. Henry Thompson, was a native of Aber- deenshire, Scotland, and came to America in his twenty-first year, engaging in the occupation of farming as his life work. Five years later Ursula Sinclair, a native of Shetland, became his wife. They were blessed with prosperity and were ranked among the foremost agriculturists of the province. Their beautiful old home, a splendid stone build- ing. is among the best to be found in the township in which it is located. As has been intimated, the family is of Scotch lineage. The grandfather of Professor Thompson was a sturdy Scotchman who for years was manager on the estates of Lord Aberdeen. Aberdeenshire. The maternal grand- father was a notable character and served as an officer and ship eaptain.
Professor Thompson acquired his early educa- tion in the common schools of Townsend, Canada. and afterward pursued a preparatory and business course at Woodstock College in Ontario, Canada, in 1884-5. In the year 1886 he entered Hillsdale College in southern Michigan, giving his attention largely to the study of music and literature. He was a prominent member of the literary scoiety of the college, and his chalk talks in rhyme were among its most interesting features, given from time to time on its programmes. In the Theadel- phic Manuel of the college, Mr. Thompson is re- corded as a prize winner in an oratorical contest. While music claimed the greater part of his time and attention, his literary work enabled him to become a most successful teacher and business manager. It is said that a successful musician is never an able business man, but the life record of
Professor Thompson disproves this statement. While in college he made rapid advancement in his art and was one of the foremost choir lead- ers in the college city. He was also assistant to local teachers in the conservatory during 1890-1. For five years he was untiringly devoted to his work and was graduated in June, 1901, from the conservatory of music.
Immediately after leaving college, Professor Thompson began the study of methods of teach- ing music in the public schools, as a student in the National Music School under Dr. Luther Whiting Mason, a distinguished instructor whom the empire of Japan engaged from Boston at an enormous salary for a term of five years to vital- ize the musical interests of the empire, less than twenty years ago. Dr. Mason took his staff of teachers from Boston to Detroit for the summer seasons, and thus Professor Thompson had the benefit of instruction from that distinguished teacher. In the autumn of 1891 he went to Chi- cago and continued the study of voice and sing- ing with J. Harry Wheeler at the Auditorium. School music was fast finding its way into the middle west and while in Chicago Professor Thompson thoughtfully considered the mattter of locating in Keokuk. Iowa. or in Joliet, Illinois, hoping to become musical instructor in the public schools of those cities. At length he determined upon Joliet. While musie did not become a de- partment in the Joliet schools until September, 1892, Mr. Thompson was encouraged to locate in that city in the beginning of the year and do studio work. Accordingly he established his studio in Jannary and the outlook was most promising and gratifying. Since that time he has figured prominently in musical cireles in Will county. There are no institutions in Joliet in which the citizens take so deep an interest or feel so just a pride as they do in their public schools, and espe- cially in the music department under Professor Thompson, in which most excellent results have been attained. His methods of procedure are along definite educational lines. Through the constant changes in the teaching forces of the public schools, he has kept the music department on a high plane and the fundamental conception of mental and vocal bearing of Joliet voices can be traced to the school work. Ilis eminent qualifi- cations recognized by the highest authorities, are
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not more appreciated than his intelligent and con- scientious zeal in the performance of his duties and which is manifested by the esteem and respect entertained for him by both teachers and pupils, not only in the public schools but in the Joliet Conservatory of Music as well.
Soon after locating in Joliet Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Annie M. Clouse, who was also reared in the province of Ontario, Canada, and belonged to a well known family there. She was a student in the college which her husband attended, and with him shares in the great love of music which is always one of the attractive fea- tures of their home. Four sons and two daughters have come to bless their union: Cyril C., Milo M., Harold H., Jennie Marie, Vera Darling and William Leslie. Professor Thompson's home and its surroundings are not only evidence of good taste, but of wise judgment and foresight in pro- viding for his family. There is no more beauti- ful location in Will county than Hillsdale Place. which stands on an eminence on Washington street, commanding a most excellent view of Hig- inbotham's and East Side parks, Oakwood and Mt. Olivet cemeteries, as well as the beautiful val- ley and woods that border Hickory creek.
In addition to his accomplishments in art lines, Professor Thompson is an expert farmer and land- scape gardener and his leisure hours are prefer- ably employed in cultivating and beautifying the nine acres of excellent land which he purchased and in the midst of which stands his comfortable and modern residence. In this he has the co- operation of his sons, who are benefiting by the training thus received. In public regard Profes- sor Thompson occupies an enviable position and his circle of friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
REV. FATHER PETER O'DWYER.
Rev. Father Peter O'Dwyer, in charge of the Catholic church at Wilmington since October, 1905. was born in the county of Tipperary, Ire- land, June 29, 1863. his parents being Thomas and Catherine (Doyle) O'Dwyer, both of whom were natives of County Tipperary. Father O'Dwyer of this review was the fifth son of the
family and attended Mount Melleray Seminary, in Waterford county, Ireland. He afterward be- came a student in All Hallows College, from which he was graduated in 1888, and then canie to the United States to enter upon the active work of the priesthood, being appointed to St. Mary's parish in Chicago. In 1894 he was ap- pointed to St. Rose of Lima parish, where he re- mained until 1898, when he was transferred to the Sacred Heart church in Joliet. continuing there until 1900. He afterward became pastor of St. Patrick's church at Lemont, where he con- tinued for five years, and in October, 1905, was assigned to his present charge by the Most Rev. James Quigley. archbishop of the Chicago dio- cese. Liberal education, conscientious purpose and consecrated zeal well qualified him for the holy calling and under his guidance the different churches with which he has been connected have made steady and substantial progress.
GEORGE HENRY EICHENLAUB.
George Henry Eichenlaub, traveling agent for the Continental Bridge Company, his home being in Peotone, was born in Alsace-Loraine, Germany, in 1851. His father, Michael Eichenlaub, was also a native of that province, where he spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. He married Elizabeth Werner and died in Ger- many in March, 1904. at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife is still living there at the age of seventy-six. They were members of the Con- firmed Lutheran church.
George H. Eichenlaub was reared in his native village to the age of fourteen years and attended the public schools from the age of six. The favor- able reports which he heard concerning America and its business advantages awakened in him the desire to try his fortune in the new world, and accordingly, when fourteen years of age, he started out in life on his own account, crossing the Ai- lantic to America. He made his way to Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. and for six months lived with an uncle. He then came to Peotone town- ship. Will county, Illinois, and worked on a farm for his uncle, George Eichenlaub, being employed by the month for three years, but desiring that
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his labors should more directly benefit himself he rented a farm. Subsequently he did contract road work, at the same time managing his farming operations. In 1868 he came to the village of Peotone. where he has since lived. In 1905 he built a beautiful concrete residence of the nibble stone order. He is now traveling agent for the Continental Bridge Company, having works at Peotone, with main offices at Chicago.
Mr. Eichenlaub was married in 1878 to Miss Nettie Morrison, a daughter of Alton Morrison. She died in 1893 at the age of forty-five years, and Mr. Eichenlaub has since wedded Laura Wash- burn, who was born in Union county, Ohio, in 1860, and is a daughter of Oliver and Hannah (Danforth) Washburn, the former a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Eichenlaub have three daughters. The parents attend the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Eichenlaub is also iden- tified with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. His life has been characterized by un- faltering diligence and perseverance, by laudable ambition and firm determination, and although he came to the new world empty-handed he has made steady progress and is now comfortably situated in life.
ALBERT T. RANDALL.
Business circles of Channahon find a worthy representative in Albert T. Randall, a well known merchant who is dealing in dry goods and gro- ceries, and his methods are such as insure him a liberal patronage. June 2, 1837, was the date of his birth and the place of his nativity was Brecksville, Ohio. In the paternal line he is de- scended from English ancestors who crossed the Atlantic about 1640, while the Russell family, from which he is descended in the maternal line, was established in America about 1660. The Randall family was represented in the Revo- Intionary war and also in the war of 1812, while Albert T. Randall and two of his brothers were valiant soldiers of the Civil war. Thus the fam- ily has an excellent military record.
John T. Randall, father of our subject, was a native of New England. He lived with his par-
ents in Vermont until ten years of age, when the family removed to the state of New York, where he resided until 1835. In that year he went to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he was united in marriage to Miss Beulah S. Russell, continuing a resident of Ohio until 1839, when he returned to his old home in New York. There he resided until 1849, which year witnessed his arrival in Will county, Illinois. He was one of its early settlers and took up his abode in Troy township, where he lived for five years, when he removed to Channahon township, where he continued to re- side until called to his final rest on the 30th of November, 1882. He was born in Orleans county, Vermont, August 2, 1815, and was there- fore sixty-seven years of age at the time of his demise. His wife, who was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, April 24, 1815, and whom he wedded in Ohio, September 4, 1836, survived him for about nine years, passing away September 16, 1891. They were the parents of six children, of whom Albert T. is the eldest. The others are: Oscar Randall, now deceased; Gresham A. Ran- dall, who is living in Elkhart, Indiana; Laura A., who has passed away ; Mrs. Mary A. Warren, who resides at No. 6347 Drexel boulevard, Chicago; and Joseph R., also deceased.
Albert T. Randall was educated in the public schools. He accompanied his parents on their various removals through the period of his mi- nority and when twenty-one years of age went to Wisconsin, where he lived with an unele for two years. He then returned to his father's home, but continued there for only two months, for at the outbreak of the gold fever in Colorado he made his way to Pike's Peak, hoping to rapidly realize a fortune in the mines of that district. He re- mained there for seven years and it was while in Colorado that he espoused the Union cause and joined the army, enlisting on the 9th of Septem- ber, 1861. He was assigned to duty with Com- pany H, First Colorado Infantry, and served until after the close of the war, when he was mustered oui and honorably discharged December 14, 1865.
Mr. Randall was married April 30, 1863, to Miss Annie Tollard, who was the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, her parents being Henry and Rachel Tollard. Three of this number are yet living, two brothers, Thomas and William Tollard, being residents of St. Joseph,
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Missouri. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Randall have been here as early as 1834. Harry De Meritt located born three children: Mrs. Maud Weese, whose birth occurred August 22, 1866, and who is now living in Joliet; John T., who was born Deceni- ber 18, 1870, and is living in Mannsville, Indian Territory; and Mrs. Laura A. Chase, who was born September 16, 1812, and is now living in Quincy, Illinois.
After the close of the war Mr. Randall re- turned to Channahon township and was engaged in farming until 1890, when he turned his at- tention to merchandising, establishing a dry-goods and grocery store in the village of Channahon. He has since conducted this enterprise, with the exception of one year spent in St. Joseph, Mis- souri, and with the exception of that period has continuously been a resident of Channahon town- ship since the close of the war. He owns eighty acres of rich and productive land on sections 17 and 18 and he has in the village a well stocked store, carrying a carefully selected line of goods which brings to him a liberal patronage. Ile sup- ports the republican party and has been super- visor, collector, assessor and justice of the peace, remaining almost continuously in public office for a number of years. In the discharge of his duties he is ever prompt and faithful and is a most public-spirited citizen. Local progress and national advancement are causes both dear to his heart and in days of peace he is as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battle-fields of the south.
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