USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 40
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Mr. Cornelius was happily married, October 6, 1897, to Miss Mary A. Whalan, who was born in Wilmington township, March 17, 1857, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Ryan) Whalan, both of whom were natives of Ireland. the former born in County Queens, while the latter was born in County Tipperary. They were married in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, the father having come to this country in 1849, on a sailing ship, from which he landed in New Orleans on the 1st of April of that year. He remained in that city for three or four years. being in command of a steamboat which plied the Ohio river. He later followed farming in Ohio, and it was during his residence there that he was married, subsequent to which time he located in Will county, where he purchased wild prairie land in Wilmington township, on which he built a log house and made many im- provements. He was a Jacksonian democrat and was a communicant of St. Rosa Catholic church at Wilmington. Both the father and mother are now deceased, the latter passing away in 1887. at the age of fifty-one years, while the father sur- vived for a long period and passed away in June. 1901, at the age of seventy-four. Of their family of thirteen children, six are now living, namely : Daniel, a resident of Flanagan, Illinois : Mrs. Cor- nelius; Catharine, the wife of Jacob Seston, and a resident of Will county: Nora, the wife of Will- iam MeGinnis. a resident of Reddick, Illinois ; Michael, who makes his home in Denver, Colorado; and Patrick, a resident of Minooka, this state.
Mr. Cornelius is a stanch advocate of demo- cratic principles and has served as pathmaster. while for twenty-five years he filled the office of school director. He is a communicant of St. Rosa Catholic church at Wilmington. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius are honored residents of Will coun- ty and have spent their entire lives within its
borders, so that they are widely and favorably known and they now occupy one of the most beau- tiful modern residences of Wilmington, where they are surrounded by a host of warm personal friends.
HENRY SCHWIESOW.
Ilenry Schwiesow is numbered among the early settlers of Will county, having come to this sec- tion of the state during the period of its pioneer development. He owns a fine farm of two hun- dred and eighty acres on section 2, Peotone town- ship, where he has made his home for almost four decades. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, January 2, 183%, a son of Carl Schwiesow, who was a laborer, and in 1864 emigrated to America but his death occurred one year later at the home of a daughter in Mokena, Illinois. His wife, Mrs. Sophia Schwiesow, died in the fatherland previous to the emigration of the father to this country.
Henry Schwiesow is one of five children born of his father's family, and is the only one now living. One brother, Adolphus, died in Will coun- ty, while two sisters, Louisa and Dora, passed away in Cook county. In order to avoid service in the Germany army. Mr. Schwiesow emigrated to the United States when a youth of eighteen years. The trip from Hamburg to New York city was made in an old-time sailing vessel, which was thirty-two days in making the voyage. but that was considered good time at that date. From New York he made his way at once to Mokena, where live:l his brother. Adolphus. His first work in this country was on the Michigan Central Rail- road, which was then being built to Joliet, and he was so employed for two months, receiving for his services one dollar per day. He was after- ward employed at farm labor, receiving one hun- dred and thirty-two dollars per year.
Desiring that his labors should more directly benefit himself he then operated rented land near Mokena. during which time he carefully hus- banded his resources, and in 1867 came to Peotone township and purchased forty acres of land, this constituting a part of his present home farm. His home was a little shanty, in which the family lived in true pioneer style for eighteen years, but
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twenty-three years ago the pioneer dwelling was replaced by a large and commodious frame resi- dence. There was also on the place a small stable which was covered with a thatch roof, but this, too, has been replaced by a large frame barn and there are many other outbuildings on the place, so that the farm in all of its equipments consti- tutes one of the valuable properties of this part of the state. For his first forty-acre tract Mr. Schwiesow paid twenty-eight dollars per acre, in- curring an indebtedness on the property. He, however, prospered in his undertakings so that in course of time he was able to liquidate his obliga- tions and add another forty-acre tract, to which he has since added until he now has two hundred and eighty acres of land, and at one time owned an additional one hundred and sixty acre farm, which he sold to his son. He has always been a hard working and industrious man, and through the careful management of his business interests is now in possession of a good farm and a com- fortable competence.
Mr. Schwiesow was married in 1865, to Miss Mary Schlemann, who was born in Germany, August 31, 1844, a daughter of John and Mary (Orntz) Schlemann, who emigrated to America in 1865 and settled in Mokena, where the father worked for many years as a laborer. His death occurred eight years ago, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-four years. The mother is still living at an advanced age, and makes her home in Joliet. She has great-great- grandchildren. and Mr. and Mrs. Schwiesow now have in their possession a picture showing the five generations.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, all of whom survive, namely: Em- ma, the wife of Henry Waltje, a farmer of Green Garden township; Henry C., a farmer of Peotone township; John, a business man of Monee; Charles, at home; August who is engaged in busi- ness with his brother John; Alvina, the wife of Theodore Knickrehm. a resident farmer of Green Garden township; Amanda, who resides with her parents ; and George M., who is operating his father's farm.
Mr. Schwiesow cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln but now gives his support to the democratic party. He has served as school director for three years. He was one of the or-
ganizers of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church and acted as one of its trustees for six years. He and his estimable wife are numbered among the worthy pioneer settlers of Will county. When they settled here the town of Peotone con- tained but one little shanty and a railroad station, while the prairie grass stood as high as a man's head. The early settlers endured many hard- ships and privations but they also enjoyed many pleasures which are unknown at the present time. Money was scarce and clothing high. Mrs. Schwiesow can well remember when she paid as high as fifty cents per yard for calico and other articles sold in proportion. This worthy couple are hospitable people and are ever willing to lend aid to the unfortunate ones who call upon them for assistance. They are highly esteemed in the community where they have so long made their home and are numbered among Will county's best citizens.
LORENZO D. BURVILLE.
Lorenzo D. Burville, who resides upon the home farm in Crete township, upon which he was reared, was born in Medina county, Ohio, January 29, 1844, but since 1855 has lived upon the old family homestead on section 16. His father, Reuben Burville, was a native of the state of New York and a son of William Burville, who came from Holland to this country and settled in the Empire state, although it was then numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. He was a farmer by occupation and at the time the colonies made the attempt to throw off the yoke of British oppression he joined the Continental Army and assisted in winning independence for the nation. His son. Reuben Burville, came to Illinois with his family in 1855. He was a soldier of the war of 1812 and followed farming in New York. Following his removal to the middle west he lo- cated on section 16, Crete township, Will county, where he secured seventy acres of land. He was an enterprising farmer and won a goodly measure of success in his business dealings. In politics he was a democrat. He married Lucretia Babcock, who was born in the state of New York in 1806, and they were married while still residents of the
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east. Mr. Burville died in 1865 and his wife passed away in 1844. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom five reached adult age: Ann Eliza, the widow of James Graham, who was a farmer of Iowa; Prudence, who is the widow of Daniel Sullivan and resides at Auburn Park, a suburb of Chicago; Laura D., who mar- ried Erasmus P. Dean, but both are now deceased ; Lorenzo D. of this review ; Helen, the deceased wife of Hiram Gilson ; and Eurette and Frances. who died in childhood. The father of this family was twice married and by his first union had three children, of whom one is living, Catherine, the widow of Lorenzo Tillottson. Mrs. Burville was also married twice and by her first marriage had a daughter, Clarinda, who is now the widow of Ulysses Merrick.
Lorenzo D. Burville was a youth of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois and he was reared to farm life, while in the district schools he acquired his education. He has always remained on the old homestead on sec- tion 16, Crete township, and since it came into his possession he has extended its boundaries by the purchase of an additional tract of thirty-five acres. Ile has a comfortable home in the midst of his farm, together with good barns and out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and in the care and management of his property he dis- plays practical methods that result advantageously.
On the 17th of November, 1870, Mr. Burville was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Cool, who was born in the town of Bremen, now Tin- ley Park, Illinois, in 1848, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Nobles) Cool, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. Alexander Nobles, grandfather of Mrs. Burville, locating at Chicago in 1835, conducted one of the fow stores then in the frontier village. Mr. Cool was a farmer by occupation and owned and operated land near Blue Island. He was jus- tice of peace in Bremen township, Cook county, for forty years. He died in 1896, at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife passed away in 1874, at the age of forty-five years. They had six children: Mrs. Burville; Nelson A., a coal mer- chant of Blue Island; Edwin W., who is now a guard and was formerly a baliff in the Cook county jail and resides at Blue Island: Franklin B., a retired farmer of Blue Island ; Caroline J., who
died at the age of four years; and Julia, the wife of Frederick Ferrers, a farmer of the town of Bremen.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Burville was blessed with a daughter and three sons: Annie J., now the wife of Franklin B. Minard; Benjamin R., a farmer of Oklahoma; Hiram D., a mechanic of Laporte, Indiana; and Charles, who is upon the home farm. Another member of the household is their niece, Minerva Cool, who has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Burville since eleven months old and is now a young lady. Mr. and Mrs. Burville also have six grandchildren. Mrs. Burville belongs to the Congregational church, to the Ladies' Aid Society and the Order of the Eastern Star. In politics Mr. Burville is a demo- crat but has never been an aspirant for office, as he has preferred to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs. He has lived the quiet but honorable life of a farmer and has now a valuable property which gives him a good income.
ALBERT PERRY LILLEY.
Albert Perry Lilley, who throughout his en- tire life has followed general agricultural pur- suits and has also engaged in raising thorough- bred registered Hereford cattle and other stock. was born in LaSalle, Illinois, in 1851. His father, Fred P. Lilley, was born in Genesee county, New York, and is now living in Piedmont, Kansas, at the age of eighty-six years. In 1850 he came to Illinois and for about three years was a captain on a canal boat on the Illinois river. In 1854 he removed to Will county, purchasing a farm on section 3, Will township, whereon he resided until 1890, devoting his time and energies to the tilling of the soil and the care of the crops. In the year mentioned he went to Kansas, where he is now living with a son. He is of German descent and his father located in New York, where he founded the family.
Fred P. Lilley is a man of good education. He attended the common schools and has always been a great reader. He is also a farmer of ability and a man of good business judgment, who has prospered in his undertakings. He has raised
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FRED P. LILLEY.
ALBERT P. LILLEY. MRS. MABEL BARTON. VIOLA BARTON.
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good horses, finding this a profitable branch of his business. He was one of the organizers of his township, and the first town meeting in order to consider the subject of organization was held at his home. By all who knew him Mr. Lilley was accorded prominence and respect. He was considered a good neighbor, a faithful friend and a reliable business man. His political allegiance is given the republican party and he was a mem- ber of the Union League, while during the Civil war he served as a recruiting officer. He was supervisor of Will township for eleven years and was a collector for a number of different terms. He was also justice of the peace for several years and was school director from the organization of the first school district.
Fred P. Lilley was united in marriage to Mary A. Sutter, who was born in Alsace-Loraine, now Germany, in 1833, and is still living. She came to the United States with her parents when seven years of age. Her father, George A. Sut- ter, located with his family at St. Louis, Missouri, and finally removed to Chicago. He was a cabinet- maker by trade and conducted a hotel in Chi- cago for many years. His daughter, Mrs. Lilley, is a member of the Presbyterian church and has been a devoted and faithful wife and mother. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lilley were born five children : Albert Perry; George, who died in infancy; Charles C., who is with his parents in Kansas; Fred P., also in Kansas with his father and mother; and John H., who died in 1892 at the age of twenty-eight years.
Albert P. Lilley was reared upon the home farın and attended the country schools. He aft- erward engaged in teaching school for three terms and throughout his entire life has followed farm- ing. He came to Will county with his parents in the fall of 1854 and is now located on section 10, Will township, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land. . Here he raises thoroughbred registered Hereford cattle. He also has considerable other stock and in both branches of his business is meeting with gratifying snccess. He is also a director of the Eastern Will County State Bank, a director of the Peotone Mutual Insurance Company, and of the Eastern Will County Fair Association.
In 1874 Mr. Lilley was married to Miss Grace A. Ivers. who was born in Frankfort township
in 1853, and is a daughter of Dennis and Kath- erine Ivers, who were natives of Ireland and came to the United States in 1837. They located in Frankfort township after spending about two years in New York, and the father devoted his time and energies to general farming. Both he and his wife have now passed away. In their fam- ily were thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Lilley was the twelfth in order of birth, and by her mar- riage has become the mother of a son and daugh- ter. The elder, Albert Edgar, born in 1875 in Will township, where he acquired his education, married Miss Lilly Cook, of Monee township, a danghter of John and Mary Cook, who were pion- eer settlers of Monce township. There is one daughter of this marriage, Hazel, now two years of age. Mabel Grace Lilley is the wife of Elmer E. Barton, of Will township, and they have one child. Viola Grace, three years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert P. Lilley are members of the Presbyterian church and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for twenty- one years he served as township treasurer. He las also been township clerk for sixteen years and was assessor for one term, while for several years he served on the republican county central com- mittee. His political record is creditable and free from suspicions of any unworthy practices. He has ever been loyal in the cause which he esponses and his life has been guided by high and honor- able principles and characterized by a straight- forward conduct.
JAMES A. MCKEOWN.
James A. Mckeown, of the firm of Donahoe, McNaughton & Mckeown, attorneys at law of Joliet, was born in Kendall county, Illinois, June 9, 1871, his parents being Hugh and Mary A. (Kavanaugh) Mckeown. the former a native of Belfast, Ireland, and the latter of Queens county, Ireland. About 1840 Hugh Mckeown came to the United States and settled in Kendall county, Illinois. He was also a resident of Will county for several years and followed the occupation of farming as a life work, but both he and his wife are now deceased. In their family were three
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children: Mrs. Martin McCarthy. living on a farm in Kansas; John A .. a lawyer of the Chicago bar; and James A.
The last named was reared upon a farm and attended the country schools. He took up the study of law in 1895 and was admitted to the bar in 1898, but prior to this time he was employed in the wire mills of Joliet and afterward learned the barber's trade. He pursued lis legal studies during his leisure hours while thus providing for his own support and he began the practice of his profession in 1899. He is now a member of one of the most important law firms of this section of the state, with which he has been identified since 1903. In the same year he was elected city attor- ney on the democratie ticket and served for one term. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and of the White Cross.
On the 1st of January, 1900, Mr. Mckeown was was married to Miss Mary M. Ohlhaver, a native of Centralia, Illinois, and they had two children, Ruth and James A., but both are now deceased. Mr. Mckeown is a member of the Catholic church and his wife of the German Lutheran church.
HENRY E. BUSS.
Henry E. Buss is a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Will county, owning two hundred and sixty-two acres of land in Florence township. He is a native son of this township, his natal day being October 29, 1869. His paternal grandfather, John Buss, was one of the pioneer farmers of Jackson's Grove, and there spent his remaining days. His father. Edgar C. Buss, was born in Ohio, whence he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, the greater part of his life being spent in Will county, where he owned and operated two hundred acres of land, situated in Florence township, and he likewise engaged in raising stock to quite an extent. He gave his po- litieal support to the republican party and during anti-slavery days was a stanch abolitionist. Hle was a loyal defender of the Union cause in the Civil war, serving as a member of Company C, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry. At the battle of Chickamauga he sustained wounds, from which he never fully recovered. Tle returned home
after three years of active service in the army, having made an honorable record. Ilis death oc- curred August 4, 1887, at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years. He is still survived by his widow, who bore the maiden name of Selina Gurney. She is a sister of George F. Gurney, a resident of Joliet, and still lives on the old family homestead, which property was left her by her husband. Their family numbered six children, as follows: Jessie, who is now the wife of August Carlsen ; Henry E., of this review; Frances, the wife of Jesse Young; Leslie G .; Elmer C .; and Florence.
Henry E. Buss spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, assisting his father in the work of the farm, while in the winter months he pursued his studies in the public schools. At the age of twenty years he began the operation of the home farm, comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres, and there made his home until February, 1903, when he removed to his present farm, having purchased one hundred acres in 1899 and one hundred and sixty acres in 1902. He has made many improvements on the property, including a nice home and many substantial out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His land is under a high state of cultivation, while in his pastures are found full blooded Poland China hogs and Durham shorthorn cattle. He is prac- tical and progressive in his farming and stock- raising interests, so that the best possible results follow.
Choosing a companion and helpmate for life's journey, he was married February 12, 1890, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Miss Alice Coop, who was born in Girardville, Schuylkill county, Pennsyl- vania, a daughter of Albert and Harriet (Coop- ham) Coop, both natives of Beaufort, Eng- land, the former born November 12, 1848. and the latter September 30. 1854, Her father emi- grated to the United States in 1869, landing in Boston on the 6th of June of that year. From that city he made his way to Pennsylvania. where he was engaged in mining for a time, and was there married on the 22d of September. 1820, after which he, removed with his family to Ohio. where he spent a few years, and later he made a permanent settlement in Illinois. His first home was at Braidwood, in which city he lived during the succeeding sixteen years, and in 1895 took up
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
his abode on a farm in Florence township, being thus engaged for three years, when he removed to C'hannahon township. this county, but once more returned to Florence township, but is now operat- ing a farm in Grundy county. He has filled a number of public offices since coming to Will county, having served for one year as assistant supervisor, while for one year he was mine in- spector of Will county. In his political views he is independent, supporting the candidates whom he deems best qualified for public office, regardless of party affiliation. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, while he belongs to the Odd Fellow's lodge, No. 495, at Braidwood, becoming identified with the order thirty years ago, or in 1876. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coop have been born eleven children, of whom seven still survive, namely: Alice, now Mrs. Buss; Evelyn, who was born March 7, 1875, and is now the wife of William Baskerville, a resident of Iowa; Joseph H., who was born November 13, 1879, and is now a resident of New York city; Hattie, who was born February 14, 1887; Ray- mond, whose birth occurred February 6, 1891; Mildred, born July 18, 1895; and Alvin, born August 1, 1897.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buss have been born five children: Lulu May; Edgar C .; Hattie I .; Al- bert L., who died in infancy ; and Bertha A. Mr. Buss supports the men and measures of the re- publican party but has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his private business interests, in which he is meeting with success. He and his family are highly esteemed in their home locality and are numbered among Will county's best citi- zens.
EDWARD COLLINS.
The agricultural interests of Will county are well represented by Edward Collins who is an enterprising farmer, owning and operating three hundred acres of land on section 14, Wilmington · township, and he is likewise raising good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. He was born in Crea- ton, Galloway, Scotland, in 1847, a son of Owen and Bridget (Gilmore) Collins. The father was
born in Ireland, while the mother was born in Galloway, Scotland, and died there in 1856. Mr. Collins was a quarryman in his native country and had he remained there would have received a pension by reason of his length of service in that connection, but his children having emi- grated to the new World, in 1867 he. too, crossed the Atlantic in order that he might spend his remaining days with them. He died in Joliet in 1890, having reached the advanced age of eighty years. He was a communicant of the Ro- man Catholic church. His family numbered six children, of whom only three now survive; Ed- ward, of this review ; Daniel, a resident of Sonth Dakota : and James, who makes his home in Joliet.
Edward Collins was reared and educated in his native land, there remaining until he attained his majority. when. having heard favorable reports concerning the advantages to be enjoyed in the new world, he decided to try his fortune in Amer- ica, and accordingly, in 1868, took passage on a steamship bound for the United States. Reaching Boston Massachusetts, he made his way thence to Middletown, Connecticut, where he remained dur- ing the succeeding two years, subsequent to which time he continued his journey westward, settling in Wilmington township, Will county, Illinois. He was here employed in a quarry for a time, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits, op- erating rented land from 1842 until 1901, during which time he had saved a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm in the latter year, when he became owner of three hundred acres, situated on section 14, Wilmington township, constituting one of the valuable and well improved farms of this section of the state. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he likewise raises good grades of cattle, horses and hogs, and this branch of his business is proving a gratifying source of income. He follows only the best methods of farming, keeping abreast with the progress of the times through reading, inves- tigation and experiment.
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