USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 39
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nois Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at Louisville, Kentucky, being shot in the hand, and was again wounded at Franklin, Tennessee, No- vember 30, 1864, in the right leg, after which he was in the hospital up to the time of his discharge on the 20th of June, 1865, at which time he held the rank of first sergeant of Company G of the One Hundredth Regiment. He returned home on crutches and it was some time before he had fully recovered from his injuries sustained in battle. In March, 1867, he bought eighty acres of land in Wesley township, where he now lives, and to this he added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he owned three hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land. In 1906, however, he deeded one-half of this to his son John. In 1902 he retired from active farming and has since spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of the comfort and ease which has been secured to him through untiring activity and well directed effort in former years.
On the 7th of November, 1867, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Martha G. Hazelton, who was born in Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, Au- gust 31, 1852, a daughter of Norman and Almira (Frost) Hazelton, who are mentioned on another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born ten children, of whom nine are now living: Minnie, the wife of George Beckwith, a resident of Wesley township; Mattie, the wife of Dayton E. Charter, living in Essex, Kankakee county, Illinois ; Ernest S., who married Edith Scroggins and is living in Emmet county, Iowa ; John, who married Sadie Gray and is living in Wesley township; Jennie, the wife of A. C. Jones, of Wesley township; George L., who married Myr- tle Leauser, living in Wesley township; Walter I., who is carrying on his father's farm; Mabel and Edith, both at home. Charles, the eldest son, died in January, 1901.
Mr. Johnston has been somewhat prominent in local political circles, serving as justice of the peace for twenty years or more. He has received five commissions for this office, the last dated April 24, 1901. He has also been school director for more than two decades and was commissioner of highways from 1885 until 1888. He is a mem- ber of Boyd post, No. 17, G. A. R., of Wilmington, and is a member of the committee on the Soldiers' Widows' Home at Wilmington. In politics he has
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM JOHNSTON.
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been a stalwart republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. No native born citizen of America is more loyal to its inter- ests and institutions than Mr. Johnston, who in his life has manifested the sterling characteristics of the Scottish race-the industry, the persever- ance and the stalwart integrity.
BENJAMIN TIERNEY.
Benjamin Tierney, deceased, whom to know was to respect and honor, was one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Wilmington township. He was born in the state of New York, a son of Michael and Sarah Tierney, both of whom were natives of Ireland, whence they emigrated to the new world, locating in Will county, where the father died at the age of sixty-nine years. He is survived by his widow, who still makes her home on the old homestead with her son John.
Benjamin Tierney was a young lad when he located in Will county, and his education was ac- quired in the public schools of this county. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors of field and meadow, and when starting out in life on his own account he chose the occupation to which he had been reared, while in addition to carrying on general agricultural pursuits he also engaged to some ex- tent in raising stock. His death occurred May 19, 1892, at the comparatively early age of thirty- seven years, his demise being the occasion of deep and widespread regret throughout the community in which he had spent the greater part of his life. He gave his political support to the demo- cratic party and was a communicant of the St. Rosa Catholic church, at Wilmington. He served as school director and as road commissioner, ever discharging his public duties with the same promptness and fidelity that he displayed in the prosecution of his private interests. He was hon- ·orable in his dealings with his fellowmen and was everywhere known as a straightforward and reliable business man.
Mrs. Tierney, who still survives her husband, bore the maiden name of Mary Hayes and was 'born in Wilmington township, Will county, August ·4, 1855, while she gave her hand in marriage to
Mr. Tierney on the 26th of November, 1882. Her parents, James and Margaret (Feeney) Hayes, were farming people of Will county. The father was born in Ireland and died when the daughter was but an infant, the other living members of the family being Sarah and Robert, while one is deceased. The mother was born in Canada and is still living in Channahon township. By her marriage Mrs. Tierney has become the mother of five children, all of whom still sur- vive. Saralı, the eldest, who was educated in St. Mary's Academy, at Joliet, is now engaged in teaching in the district schools of Wilmington township. Michael and Agnes reside with their mother. Mary is now a student in St. Mary's Academy, while John is still under the parental roof. Mrs. Tierney still makes her home in Wilmington township, and she and her family are esteemed by all with whom they come in contact. She is an estimable lady, carefully managing her household duties, and carrying on her business in- terests with the aid of her sons. She possesses excellent business ability and her many sterling traits of character have endeared her to her neigh- bors and friends.
WILLIAM BELL.
William Bell, a man of upright life and high principles, who follows the occupation of farming in Channahon township, was born in the north of Ireland, on the 27th of April, 1839. He is the only one living of the four children of William Bell. His father, who was born in February, 1808, died in March, 1898, while the mother, also a native of Ireland, was born April 28, 1808, and died in January, 1900. In the year 1847 they crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Canada and after the removal of their son William to Illinois they came to Will county, where they remained for three years. They then returned to Canada, where their remaining days were passed.
William Bell was only eight years of age when he left the Emerald isle and came with his parents to America. He was reared in Canada, where he remained until 1868, when he came to this county. He was married on the 17th of January, of the
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same year, the lady of his choice being Miss May Latimer, who was born in Canada, November 22, 1845, a daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Latimer, nee Loney. In their family were ten children, of whom eight are still living: Mrs. Jane Stanley, of Canada ; Sander, also of Canada ; George, who is living in Texas; Millie, of Canada; William, who is in Victoria, British Columbia; Fred and Fan- nie, also of Canada. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bell has been blessed with ten children, of whom six are living: Fannie, who is teaching in the schools of Joliet: G. Ervin, in Chicago ; Milton, who is attending college ; Oliver. Leslie and Marie, at home. Although Mr. Bell received but limited educational privileges, he resolved that his chil- dren should not feel the same lack and has pro- vided them with excellent opportunities, which they have improved.
Mr. Bell owns two hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, of which eighty acres lies in Grundy county, while the remainder is on section 18, Channahon township, Will county. His farm is well improved, and he carefully cultivates the fields, following advanced methods of farming so that the best results are secured. He owes his success to his own efforts and is now accounted one of the substantial farmers of the county. He votes the temperance ticket and favors all the in- terests and movements which will uplift and bene- fit man.
CONRAD BORMS.
Conrad Borms is the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated on section 15, Peotone township, Will county, and is numbered among its representative citizens. He was born in Hanover, Germany, December 18. 1852. a son of Englehart and Elizabeth Borms, who emigrated to America in 1854, having then a family of six children. The family home was established in Du Page county, and the father, being in very limited circumstances, sought any employment that would yield him an honest living and enable him to provide for the support of his wife and children. For eight years he was em- ployed in various ways, and often worked for fifty cents per day. He was very industrious and
economical and through his careful management and close application he was enabled in 1862 to remove to Will county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Peotone town- ship. This was but slightly improved and the farm buildings were very poor. He, however, began the cultivation of the fields and in due time replaced the old buildings with new and substantial ones, while as the years passed and his financial resources increased, he added to his landed in- terests until at the time of his death he possessed four hundred acres, thus being able to give to each of his children a good farm. His success is indi- cated by the fact that when he arrived in Du Page county his capital consisted of but twenty-five dol- lars, and at his death, which occurred abont nine- teen years ago, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years, he was one of the large land- owners of Will county. He was one of the or- ganizers of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church in Peotone township, and for many years served as one of its officers, while he gave his political support to the republican party. His widow survived and died at the home of a dangh- ter, Mrs. Louis Carstens, when she, too, had reached the age of seventy-seven.
Our subject is one of the five surviving members of a family of eight children, the others being: Fred, a retired farmer living in Peotone; Ernest, a resident farmer of Green Garden township; Englehart, a grain dealer of Frankfort, Illinois ; and Emma, who makes her home in Frankfort. Those deceased are: one, who died in childhood ; Henry, who was a farmer of Peotone township; and Mary, the deceased wife of Louis Carstens, of Peotone.
Conrad Borms was but two years of age when brought by his parents to the United States. He was reared in Du Page and Will counties and ac- quired his education in the common schools. He remained under the parental roof until twenty- seven years of age, at which time he came into possession of eighty acres of land from his father's estate. It was improved with fair buildings but Mr. Borms has since replaced these with modern and substantial structures, having now a fine country residence, good barns and other outbuild- ings. He has added to his original holdings until he now has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and through the rotation of crops and the careful
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cultivation of his fields he annually adds to his financial resources, so that he is today accounted one of the leading and prosperous farmers of Peo- tone township.
In 1879 occurred the marriage of Mr. Borms and Miss Emilie Carstens, who was born in Will county, a daughter of John and Mary (Christo- phers) Carstens, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to America in 1852, settling in Green Garden township, Will county, where the father followed the occupation of farming. Both are now deceased. The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Borms are Mary, Lydia, Englehart, Laura, Conrad and Emily, while one died in infancy.
Mr. Borms gives his political support to the men and measures of the democracy, while he holds membership with the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which he has served as trustee for the past six years. He and his family are widely and favor- ably known and stand high in the estimation of their neighbors and friends.
CHRISTIAN KOEPKE.
Christian Koepke, living retired in Monee, was in his early business career identified with farming interests in Will county and later was successfully engaged in the conduct of a hotel in this village. He was born in Germany in 1840. His father, Jolin Koepke, was also a native of Germany, born in 1806. After attending the common schools of that country he learned the carpenter's trade in the place of his nativity. In 1853 he came from Bentzin, Mecklenburg, bringing with him his fam- ily, and on crossing the Atlantic to the new world located in Green Garden township, Will county, Illinois, where he purchased land and turned his attention to farming. In 1869, however, he put aside active agricultural pursuits and thereafter made his home with his son Christian until his death, which occurred in 1888, when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He was a prosperous agriculturist and a man of good business judgment. He held membership in the Evangelical church and was one of the organizers of the church in Green Garden township. His political views accorded with republican principles
but he was never an aspirant for office. In early manhood he wedded Miss Doretta Randt, who was born in Germany, in which country their mar- riage was celebrated. Her natal day was Feb- ruary 2, 1813, and all of her children were born in the fatherland. Mrs. Koepke was also a mem- ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church and died in that faith in 1870. In the family were three children : Maria, who became the wife of Chris Schlottmann, and afterward married John Block but is now deceased ; Doretta, who married Henry Eisenbrandt and after his death became the wife of George Boden of Monee; and Christian.
In taking up the personal history of Christian Koepke we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Monee and the surrounding district. He came to the United States with his parents, was reared upon the home farm and acquired a common- school education. He early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and was closely associated with farm- ing interests until 1869, when he removed to" Monee. Here he became proprietor of the German Hotel, which he conducted continuously for twen- ty-two years or until 1892, when he retired from active business life. He then built a home in Monce, which is the finest residence of the town, and he is here now living in comfort and ease.
Mr. Koepke was married in 1864 to Miss Mina Buethe, who was born in Germany in 1842 and ‹lied in 1904. She came from Germany in 1860 with her parents, Henry and Mina Buethe, who located on a farm in Crete township, Will county, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Koepke were born five children but Henry and Mary are now deceased. Doretta became the wife of C. A. Kolstedt and died in 1892, leaving two children, Harvey and Ruby. Lena is the wife of William Plagge, a retired mer- chant of Monee, and they have three children, Elma, Lnella and Norma. W. J., the youngest of the family, is a merchant at Peotone.
The parents were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and Mr. Koepke is serving as chairman of the finance committee. He votes with the republican party, has been constable in Green Garden township and in Monee has been a member of the board of trustees and president of the village. In all of these different positions he has been found notably prompt and faithful and
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he stands for all that is progressive in citizenship, giving his co-operation to many plans and meas- ures for the general good. In addition to his home property in Monee he owns four hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Green Garden township and from this derives an excellent in- come. Ile is a self-made man, for he owes his prosperity to his earnest and indefatigable efforts, his capable management and keen discernment. As hotel proprietor he became very widely known in this section of the state and has gained wide popularity by reason of a genial manner and many sterling traits of character.
JOIIN RITCHEY.
John Ritchey, deceased, was distinguished as being one of the pioneer settlers of Will county, and through a long period was an active partici- pant in the agricultural development and prog- ress that has here been made. Wherever known he was loved and honored, so that his death, which occurred August 12, 1892, was the occasion of deep sorrow not only to his immediate family, but also to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Ritchey was born in Ross county, Ohio, De- cember 1, 1819, a son of Matthew and Rachel (Davis) Ritchey. The former was born in Scot- land and died in the Buckeye state in 1822, at the age of sixty-five years, while the latter died in Wesley township, Will county, in June, 1862, at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. The father emigrated from his native land to America when a young man, and on his arrival in the United States at once made his way to Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He served as a soldier in both the Indian war and the war of 1812. Of their family of five children, all are now deceased.
John Ritchey was educated in the public schools of his native state, and was reared to farm life, carly becoming familiar with the duties and la- bors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Ile came with his family to Illinois in 1852 and es- tablished his home on one hundred and sixty aeres of land which he entered from the gov- ernment. This tract was located where the town of Ritchey now stands, the town having been
named in his honor. He erected a small frame house, in which the family took up their abode, and which was later replaced by a larger and more commodious country residence. He devel- oped and cultivated his farm, and in due course of time brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, annually harvesting good crops, which added materially to his financial income, so that he was at length enabled to extend the boundaries of his place, until at one time he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Wesley township, all of which was developed by him. He broke the land with ox teams and his wheat and other farm products were marketed in Chicago. The humber used in the construction of his house was also hauled from that city. He en- dured many hardships and privations during those early days, for the development of new land re- quired much hard and arduous toil, the work hav- ing to be done by the use of crude farm machin- ery. He, however, worked diligently and earnest- ly year by year and prospered in his undertakings, so that at his death he was able to leave his fam- ily in very comfortable financial circumstances.
Mr. Ritchey was married prior to his removal to this state, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha K. Jones, whom he wedded in Ohio, May 3, 1849. She was born in Ross county, that state. February 17, 1831, a daughter of John T. and Sarah (Rudesill) Jones, both of whom were na- tives of Pennsylvania. They located in Illinois in 1850, where the fathered entered government land in Wesley township. His first home was a log house, which was later replaced by a cement residence, wherein he spent the greater portion of his remaining days. He was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Will county, carrying on agri- cultural pursuits during his active business career. Disposing of his farm to his son Thomas, he pur- chased a home in Kankakee, and, removing to that city, lived retired. His wife died there in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years, after which he made his home in Ritchey, dying at the home of his daughter in 1889, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-six. Their union was blessed with sixteen children, of whom six are now living, namely : Elizabeth, the widow of David Gay and a resident of Sheldon, Illinois: Martha K., now Mrs. Ritchey; Thomas W., a resident farmer of Wesley township: Mary, the wife of
JOHN RITCHEY.
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Jeremiah Gay, residing in Fremont, Nebraska ; Clara, the widow of George Umsted, a resident of Wilmington; and Charles, who is married and lives in Chicago. Mr. Jones gave his early polit- ical support to the whig party and after the organi- zation of the new republican party joined its ranks. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church and a highly respected citizen of Will county.
Mr. Ritchey, although leading an active and busy life, yet found time for public office, serving as school director for many years, while he like- wise filled the office of township supervisor and collector for a long period, and also justice of the peace for many years. He gave his early political support to the whig party and after the organiza- tion of the new republican party was a stanch advocate of its principles. He was a devoted member of the New Jerusalem church and lived a life in harmony with his professions. He pos- sessed many sterling traits of character which endeared him to all with whom he came in con- tact. He was ever ready to lend his aid to the un- fortunate ones of the earth and was likewise interested in every movement or measure that tended to advance the interests of his locality or the county. He was a companionable, entertaining and genial gentleman, winning friends wherever he went, and his death came as a personal be- reavement to many citizens of Ritchey and Will county.
Mrs. Ritchey, an estimable lady, is now living in a comfortable home in Ritchey, surrounded by many friends to whom she has endeared herself by a charitable spirit and kindly disposition. Al- though she is now seventy-six years of age she is still an active lady and takes great pleasure in entertaining her many friends.
JAMES CORNELIUS.
No richer or more productive land in Illinois can be found than is embraced in the agricultural districts of Will county, and a fine farm of two hundred and sixty acres situated in Wilmington and Channahon townships gives illustration of the thrift and energy which has characterized the life of James Cornelius in his earlier years, so that
he is now able to live in a beautiful home in Wil- mington, from which place he supervises his farm- ing interests. He is a native son of Wilmington township, his birth having occurred November 11. 1845. His parents. Charles and Catharine (Dunn ) Cornelius. were both natives of the Emerald isle, the former born in County Kings, while the latter was born in County Queens. The father emi- grated to the new world in June, 1836, making the voyage across the Atlantic on a sailing ship. Reaching New Orleans, he there remained for a year or two, and in 1843 he located in Wilming- ton, Illinois. He worked on the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal for two or three years, during which time he carefully husbanded his resources so that he was finally enabled to pur- chase one hundred and sixty acres of land in Chan- nahon township. He cleared the land of the tim- ber and prepared it for the plow, and he likewise erected a log house. He removed to his property in 1848. and throughout a long period was there engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Catharine Dunn, and their union was blessed with three daughters and two sons but only two of the num- ber are now living, the sister of our subject being Eliza, the wife of Daniel Fisher and a resident of Joliet. The father was a Jacksonian democrat and was a communicant of St. Rosa Catholic church at Wilmington. He died in Will county in August, 1896, at the age of seventy-four years, having for many years survived his wife, who died in July, 1863, at the comparatively early age of thirty-six.
James Cornelius was reared to agricultural life, assisting his father in the operation of the home place during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he pursued his studies in the dis- triet schools. He began earning his own living at the early age of fourteen years, being first em- ployed as a farm hand, receiving for his services thirty-five dollars per month. He was thus en- gaged until he attained his majority, when he re- turned home and assumed the management of the homestead property until the death of his father in 1896, subsequent to which time he began farm- ing for himself. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of well improved land in Channahon township and sixty acres in Wilmington township, all of which has been improved and placed under a
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high state of cultivation. He engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising for several years, but in 1905 he purchased four lots in the city of Wilmington, whereon he erected a beautiful resi- dence. in which he has since lived retired, his only business connection being that of the supervision of his farming interests. His rest is well merited for from an early age he has provided for his own support and during his active connection with farming interests worked earnestly and persistently in his efforts toward success.
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