USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 38
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On the 14th of March, 1871, Mr. Alderman married Miss Eleanor Welch, who is the eldest in a family of four children, and they have be- come the parents of one son and two daughters, namely: George W., Eleanor Dystrup and Grace Phelps. After his marriage Mr. Alderman lo- cated on a small farm in Dupage township, which he had purchased the year previous. By industry and economy he prospered as the years went by and as his financial resources increased he kept adding to his property, until today he is the owner of an excellent farming property consisting of five hundred and forty acres on sections 22, 26 and 2℃, Dupage township. The fields are under a high state of cultivation and the buildings upon the place are neat and sub- stantial.
By his ballot Mr. Alderman supports the men and measures of the democratic party and never
MRS. A. S. ALDERMAN.
A. S. ALDERMAN.
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withholds his aid from any measure which he believes will prove of public benefit. Fraternally he is a Mason and Odd Fellow. He is one of the self-made men of the county, having started out in life in limited circumstances, and the snc- cess that he has achieved is due entirely to his excellent business ability, sound judgment and good management as well as his industry.
CHARLES H. WOODS.
Charles H. Woods, an extensive farmer of Wil- mington township, operating at the present time about four hundred aeres of land, was formerly a breeder of Poland China hogs and polled Dur- ham and shorthorn cattle. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, March 31, 1853, a son of John and Catherine (McCabe) Woods, the former a native of County Cavan, Ireland. They were married in that country, where they lived until aft- er the birth of their eldest child, when, in 1838, they emigrated to the new world on an old-time sailing vessel, which, after a long and tedious voyage of six weeks finally reached the harbor of New York. After spending about three weeks in New York city, the family made their way to Hartford, Connecticut, where they lived for one year, subsequent to which time they removed to New Haven, where they spent some sixteen years. The father was ticket agent at the latter place for the Hartford & Springfield Railroad Company. Hoping to enjoy better business advantages in the new west, he then removed with his family to Will county, the year of their arrival here being 1855. After spending a short time in Wil- mington, he removed to a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased, this being located five miles northwest of Wilmington. The land was all wild and unimproved when it came into his possession, and with the use of ox teams he soon broke the land and placed his fields under culti- vation. He also erected a house, in which the family lived in true pioneer style, enduring all the hardships and privations incident to an exist- ence upon the frontier. He prospered in his work and from time to time added to his landed possessions until at one time he owned four hun- dred aeres in Will county. He was actively en-
gaged in farming pursuits until 1881, when he retired from agricultural life and engaged in loaning money. He was a man highly respected in the community where he lived, and was a Jacksonian democrat but never cared for public office, as his time was fully occupied with his private business affairs. He was a communicant of St. Rosa Catholic church, at Wilmington. His death occurred December 13, 1893, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-three years, while his wife, surviving for only a short period, passed away October 3, 1894, when seventy-three years of age.
Of the four children born of the father's mar- riage, Charles H. Woods is the younger of the two surviving members, his brother being George Woods. Charles H. Woods was only two years of age when brought by his parents from his native state to Will county. He was reared to farm life, assisting his father in the operation of the homestead property, and in the common schools of Wilmington township acquired his education. Ite remained under the parental roof until he was married February 14, 1877, to Miss Mary K. Riley, who was born in Channahon township, Will county, Angust 27, 1854. Her parents, Thomas and Catherine (Carroll) Riley, were both natives of Roscommon county, Ireland, the latter a daughter of Patrick and Winnie (McGraw) Carroll, who emigrated from the old world to this country at an early day. Mr. Carroll lies buried in Vermont, while his wife was buried in Dresden Hill, Will county. He was a large landowner of Will county. His family numbered eleven sons and two daughters, including Mrs. Riley. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Riley were born four sons and three daughters, namely : Mary E., now Mrs. Woods: Margaret, who married James Martin, a resident of Channahon township : Bernard P .; Catharine; Thomas, who makes his home in Chicago; Michael, a resident of Chan- nahon township; and James, also a resident of that township. The father emigrated to the new world on a sailing vessels when a youth of nine- teen years. Arriving at Quebec, Canada, he there remained for nine years, after which he made his way to Boston, Massachusetts, where he spent two or three years, subsequent to which time he took np his abode in Vermont. Later, having heard favorable reports concerning the advantages to be
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enjoyed in the new and rapidly developing west, he came to Will county in 1838, locating on a farm in Channahon township. He purchased wild land. which he broke and developed with the use of ox teams. He also erected a honse, the lumber used in its construction being made from the trees which he cut ou his own land. He spent his entire life as a farmer, and gave his political support to the principles of democracy, although he never cared for office for himself. He was one of the first members of the Roman Catholic church at Dresden Hill. He was married after coming to this state, the wedding being celebrated at Joliet. His death occurred in Will county, December 11. 1890, when he had reached the age of seventy- three years, while his widow survived until 1905, passing away on the 16th of March of that year, being at that time seventy-five years of age. They were honored and respected pioneer settlers of this section of the state and were numbered among Will county's best citizens.
Following his marriage Charles II. Woods began farming on his own account and at the present time is operating four hundred acres of land in Wilmington township. In former years he was also an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs. shorthorn and polled Durham cattle. In 1888 he built an elevator at Blodgett. and was engaged in the grain business until October, 1906, when he rented his elevator to William Shoemaker, who is now conducting business there, and Mr. Woods now gives his entire time and attention to his farming interests, in which he is meeting with very gratifying and desirable results, making him one of the prosperous and well-to-do farmers of Wil- mington township.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, as follows: JJohn, who died at the age of twenty-four years; George; Catherine; James, who died when a youth of sixteen ; Charles, Mary, Margaret and Francis, all still under the parental roof.
Mr. Woods gives his political support to the men and measures of democracy and is a com- municant of St. Rosa Catholic church at Wil- mington, while in his fraternal relations he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to River camp, No. 142, at Wilmington. While a public-spirited citizen, he has never cared for the honors and emoluments of office, prefer-
ring to concentrate his time upon his private busi- ness interests. Ile is wide-awake and progressive, and he and his family have a wide circle of friends, to whom the hospitality of their own pleasant home is freely and graciously accorded.
GEORGE W. ADELMANN.
George W. Adelmann, engaged in the livery and undertaking business in Lockport, was born No- vember 25, 1861. His father, Christopher Adel- mann, a stone-mason and contractor, came from Germany to the United States in the early '30s. and for many years was a resident of Will county. dying at Lockport at the age of sixty-five. His son George was a pupil in the public schools at South Lockport, and was reared to farm life, assisting his father in the cultivation and im- provement of the home farm until twenty-one years of age. Ile then started out in life on his own account, purchasing a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in Homer township, which he still owns and operates. He has brought it under a high state of cultivation and the place returns him a good income and golden harvests for the care and labor bestowed upon the fields. In 1889, however, Mr. Adelmann took up his abode in Lockport and purchased the livery business, which he is still conducting. In 1891 he built a fine two-story stone building for his livery which is a credit to Lockport and would grace many a town of larger size. In 1893 he further extended the scope of his labors by building an addition to the livery and in 1902 by opening an undertak- ing department. He has prospered as the years have gone by and his success is well deserved.
Mr. Adelmann was married June 25, 1881, to Miss Catherine Schall, of Lockport, a daughter of Edward and Mary Schall, the former a boat- man on the canal. They have four living chil- dren : Estella M .. at home; Walter E., who is with his father in business; Marie K., a student in the high school ; and Howard J., who is also in school. They likewise lost one son, William ("., who died at the age of eleven years.
Mr. Adelmann gives his political views to the democracy and for two terms has served as as- sistant supervisor. He belongs to St. Joseph's
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Catholic church at Lockport and has membership relations with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Catholic Order of For- esters, the Improved Order of Heptasophs and the North American Union.
CARL WILHELM STEIBER.
To those who know Carl Wilhelm Steiber and recognize in him one of the substantial and pros- perous farmers of Crete township, it is difficult to realize that when he landed in Chicago, on his way from Germany sixty years ago, he pos- sessed a capital of hut sixty-five cents. A life of industry has been crowned with success and his history proves that earnest oil is the best foundation upon which to build prosperity.
Mr. Steiber was born in Hesse, Germany, in March, 1827, and is therefore now eighty years of age. His parents were Henry and Mary Steiber, the former born in Hanover, and the latter in Hesse, Germany, both of whom were members of the Lutheran church and are now deceased. The father served as a soldier in the German army and made farming his life occupation. In the family were eight children, of whom Frederick came to the United States in 1844, settling at St. Louis, Missouri. He served as a soldier in the Civil war.
Carl W. Steiber and his brother Philip came to the new world in December, 1847, attracted by the favorable reports received from Frederick, and when Carl W. Steiber reached Chicago he had re- maining in his pocket but sixty-five cents with which to start out in life in America. He earned his first money here by chopping timber in La Salle county for ten dollars per month, and he worked in Illinois at intervals and drove a team on the Illinois & Michigan canal. He afterward spent about nineteen years in the employ of the Illinois & Michigan Railroad Company, acting as section boss a part of that time, and later he pur- chased a tract of land near Whiting, Indiana, where he did truck farming, peddling his products in Chicago, to which place he hauled them with ox teams. There he remained until 18:1, when he came to Will county and purchased two hundred and ten acres of land on section 21, Crete town-
ship, and began general farming. He prospered in this undertaking and later he purchased one hundred and fifty acres additional and subse- quently one hundred and thirty-five acres where his son William C. now resides. His property is the visible evidence of his life of thrift-the proof of his unfaltering perseverance and diligence. Starting ont in this country empty-handed, he re- solved to win success if he could do so through earnest and honest effort, and he is today one of the large landowners and influential farmers of the county.
Mr. Steiber was married in 1854 to Miss Ellen Heine, who was born in Hesse, Germany, Decem- ber 2, 1832. and died on the 1st of August, 1894. She came to the United States, June 11, 1854, met Mr. Steiber at Whiting, and they were soon after- ward married. Eight children were born of this union : Mary, who was born February 20, 1850. is the wife of Henry Wilkening, a retired farmer, and they have ten children; Sophie, born June 15, 1861, is the wife of Chris Behrens, of Crete township, and they have five children; Henry, who was born February 25, 1866, and is living on the home place, married Sophie H. Kraeft, a daughter of Frederick and Mary ( Claus) Kraeft and a native of Crete township, born in 1870, while by her marriage she has six children; Wil- liam C., born June 8, 1868, is living in Crete township and has six children; Augusta, born .January 2, 1872, is the wife of William Schu- macher, of Cissna Park, Illinois, and they have three children ; Ellen M., who was born December 9, 1864, died on the 16th of the same month; John, born November 5, 1870, died two days later ; and Herman, born April 6, 1875, died the fol- lowing day. Mr. Steiber also has thirty grand- children.
In his religious faith Mr. Steiber is a Lutheran and his wife was a member of the same church. He has always voted the republican ticket since the organization of the party and is loyal to the institutions and interests of his adopted land, for within its borders he found good opportunities for business advancement and the ready reward of labor. He has worked diligently and per- sistently but has found that labor does not go unrewarded here as it often does in a country where caste and class divisions prevail. As the years have gone by he has prospered and is now
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
in possession of valuable farming property, which makes him one of the prosperous residents of the county, and his life should serve to encourage and inspire others to put forth strenuous effort. Ile is now a venerable citizen of eighty years and as such receives the respect of his fellowmen.
JAMES E. MARTIN.
James E. Martin, a resident farmer of Channa- hon township, owning and cultivating two hundred and forty acres of land on section 34, was born April 4, 1857, in this township and is of Irish lineage. His parents, Thomas and Ellen (Kiney) Martin, were natives of County Longford, Ireland, the former born in 1820 and the latter in 1816. They were married in their native country and the father afterward left his wife in Liverpool while he came to America in 1852 in order to provide a home for his family in the new world. He worked for a short time in New Jersey and in 1853 he came to Channahon township, Will county, Illinois, and soon after sent for his fam- ily. In order to provide for the support of his wife and children he worked at farm labor for some time, when in 1868 he invested his savings in one hundred and sixty acres of land. Ilis remain- ing days were devoted to agricultural pursuits and he brought his farm under a high state of cultivation. He died in the year 1886, while his wife survived until the 19th of Angust, 1893. They were the parents of six children, of whom James was the fifth in order of birth. Those still living are: Mrs. Mary Cruise, a resident of Wil- mington ; Thomas and John, who are living in Wilmington township; and Mrs. Ellen Smith, of the same township.
James E. Martin acquired a common-school edu- cation in his youth and during the periods of vacation assisted in the work of the farm. Ilis entire life has largely been given to the work of the fields and as the years have passed he has shown himself to be a practical, energetic and prosperous farmer, managing his business interests so capably that he is now is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich land, constituting one of the excellent farms of the township.
On the 29th of April. 1890, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Riley, of Channahon township, who was the second of the seven children of Thomas and Catherine (Carroll) Riley, both natives of County Roscommon, Ire- land. The mother, who was born in June, 1833, died March 16, 1905, while the father, whose birth occurred in 1816, passed away December 10, 1890. He crossed the Atlantic to America in 1835, and for about two years remained in New York, whence he went to Canada, where he spent eight years. In 1849 he arrived in Channahon township and in 1850 he married Catherine Carroll, who had come to the United States in 1843 and to this county in 1848. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Martin are: Mrs. Mary Woods, living in Wilmington township : Bernard P., a resident of the same town- ship; Mrs. Catherine W. Raleigh, of the city of Wilmington : Thomas G., of Chicago : Michael F., of Channahon township : and James J., of the same township.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin have five children ; Mary, Thomas, Ellen, Catherine and James E., Jr. Mr. Martin supports the democratic party but has never sought or desired office. for his attention is fully occupied with his business interests. He has an excellent farm and carefully manages the work of improvement and development.
CONRAD BUCK.
A good farm of eighty acres on section 20. Washington township, improved with substantial appointments, is the property of Conrad Buek, one of the worthy German-American citizens of Will county. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, in 1840. his parents being Conrad and Marie Buck. The father was a laborer and died in Ger- many. The mother came to the United States after the death of her husband and lived with her son Conrad until she passed away in her sixtieth vear.
Conrad Buck remained in his native land until 1854 when, at the age of seventeen years, he bade adien to friends and country and came to the United States, living for some time with an unele, Conrad Wehmhoefer, in Crete township. He after- ward went to another uncle in Lake county, In-
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diana. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and on the 10th of September, 1861, offered his services to the government for active duty at the front. He joined Company D, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, at ('rete, and served until the 12th of February, 1863, when he became ill and was discharged on ac- count of disability. He then returned to Crete and when his health was improved, re-enlisted in October, 1864, becoming a corporal in Company A, Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He received his final discharge at Louisville, Ken- tucky, July 16, 1865, after the war had been brought to a close. He was a good soldier, never faltering in the performance of any military task that devolved upon him. In 1867 he settled upon the eighty acres of land where he now lives. Up- on the place he had a little board shanty and prairie stable. Today he has a nice frame dwell- ing and good barns, and utilizes the latest im- proved machinery to carry on the work of the fields.
In 1867 Mr. Buck was married to Miss Mary Wille, a native of Will county, Illinois, who died in February, 1885, at the age of thirty-five years. They became the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Sophie, the wife of William Ackerman of Minnesota; Mary, the wife of John Barry of Indiana ; and Lena, the wife of William Jessen, also of Minnesota. Those who have passed away were: Fred, who died at the age of twenty- one years; and Henry, who died at the age of nineteen years. In 1886 Mr. Buck was again married, his second union being with Charlotte Waterman, who was born in Germany in 1850, the danghter of Carl and Elizabeth Waterman, who came to the United States in 1862 and settled in Crete. The second wife of Mr. Buek is still liv- ing and by this marriage there are three children : Minnie, Clara and William, all at home.
Mr. Buck has been a member of the Evangelical church since his boyhood days and has been a sup- porter of the republican party since he became a naturalized citizen. His allegiance to these two organizations indicates one of the strong traits of his characterhis unswerving loyalty to any cause which he esponses. He is numbered among the early settlers of this county, for during almost a half century he has lived within its borders. Ile has never had occasion to regret his determination
to seek a home in the new world for here he has found good business opportunities-which, by the way, are always open to young men-and by the improvement of the advantages which surrounded him he has become one of the substantial resi- dents of the community. He has not sought to obtain wealth but has believed in enjoying lite as the years have gone by, gaining, however, a com- petence sufficient to supply him with the necessities and many of the comforts of life.
EDWARD BUSS.
Edward Buss, a well known citizen of Jackson township and one of the old settlers of Will county, was born on the 8th of March, 1824, in the prov- ince of Wurtemberg, Germany, and remained un- der the parental roof until he was twenty years of age. Ile then entered the German army as all able-bodied young men are compelled to serve their country a certain length of time, and he re- mained in the service for six years, having re- enlisted as a substitute for the son of a rich man, who paid him a bounty. One half of the sum thus received he gave to his parents and with the re- mainder he came to America in 1856, making the journey alone.
On landing in the United States Mr. Buss went direct to Chicago, but after spending a few days in that city he came to Will county and settled at Jackson's Grove in Jackson township, where he has since resided. For several years he worked on a farm by the month and in 1869 entered the em- ploy of George Linebarger, who erected the first elevator in Elwood, remaining in his service for thirty-four years, when, on account of old age, he resigned his position and has since lived retired, enjoying a well earned rest.
Mr. Buss is a son of Edward and Elizabeth Buss, in whose family were nine children. but he is the only one of the number to come to the new world. On the 22d of December, 1859, he wedded Miss Mary Yonker, who was born in Switzerland, April 10, 1841, and come to America in 1856 in com- pany with her parents, Nicholas and Mary (Mil- ler) Yonker. They first stopped in Chicago and from there removed to Wilmington, Will county. Of the nine children in the Yonker family five
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are still living, namely: Mary, wife of our sub- ject; Mrs. Elizabeth Munger, a resident of Mokena, Illinois; Nicholas, of Peotone; Margaret Yonker ; and Mrs. Emma Myers.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buss were also horn nine children, of whom seven are living, namely: Mrs. Ida Sanders, a resident of Edwardsburg, Mich- igan ; Albert, of Elwood, Illinois; Mrs. Julia Bowers, also of Edwardsburg, Michigan; Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Mrs. Sarah Barnes and Mrs. Nel- lie Sorenson, all residents of Joliet; and Edward, Jr., at home with his parents. The family are widely and favorably known. Mr. Buss is a mem- ber of the German Lutheran church and by his ballot always supports the men and measures of the democratic party.
WILLIAM JOHNSTON.
William Johnston, an honored veteran of the Civil war and for many years an enterprising and progressive agriculturist of Will county, is now liv- ing retired in Wesley township. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, June 10, 1838, his parents being John and Mary (Campbell) Johnston. The father was born in Galloway and died in Scotland in 1842, while his wife, coming to the new world, passed away in Morris, Illinois, in 1887 at the age of sixty-seven years. John Johnston followed the occupation of farming in his native country and much of the character of the man is indicated by the fact that he was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Presbyterian church. In the family were seven children, three sons and four daughters, but only three are now living: Joseph, a resident of Wilmington ; Mary, the wife of Thomas McComb, living in Rich Hill, Bates county, Missouri ; and William.
In the schools of his native country William Johnston acquired his education, remaining a resi- dent of Scotland until fifteen years of age, when in 1853 he crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel to New York city. He thence proceeded up the IIudson to Albany and by rail to Joliet, where he arrived in the month of Angust. He continued a resident of the city until August 5, 1862, when in response to the call of his adopted country he enlisted in Company G of the One Hundredth Illi-
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