USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 43
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Henry Fish, father of our subject, was born in Rutland, New York, December 19, 1819, and in 1834 came to Joliet, where he was employed by his brother-in-law, Joel A. Matteson, who was after- ward governor of Illinois. He was a poor, penni- less boy when he came to Will county and for some time worked for Mr. Matteson, while subsequently he became an employe on the canal and afterward was captain of a canal boat plying between Joliet and Chicago. He made steady progress in his business life, owing to his close application, un- faltering perseverance and energy, and at a later date was engaged in the lumber and grain trade. in which he continued until about 1860. By this time he had accumulated a competence which he invested in government bonds, although his friends advised to the contrary, saying that they would be worthless. ITis keen business judgment, however, was demonstrated in this investment and, retiring from active commercial pursuits, he en- gaged in loaning money until 1871, when he assisted in organizing the Will County National Bank and was chosen its first president. He remained an active factor in financial circles in the county for some years and was long accounted one of the representative and successful business men. He was a delegate to the convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln as chief executive of the nation and he was deeply interested in political affairs, yet was not a politician in the sense of seeking political preferment for himself. He died June 22, 1899, and was survived for four years by his wife, who passed away October 24. 1903. They were the parents of four children : George Manning, born January 27, 1855; Jennie ('lara, who was born March 31, 1857, and died September 3, 1858; Charles Manning, born Au- gust 1, 1859 ; and Henry Manning, born February 12, 1862.
The mother was born October 19, 1829, at Brownsville, Jackson county, Illinois, and also comes of an equally remote American ancestry, for the line of descent is traced back to Samuel Manning, who was born at Cambridge, Massachu- setts. July 21, 1644. He served as corporal in the state militia in 1682, as sergeant in 1684 and en- sign in 1699. He represented the general court of Massachusetts from 1695 to 169? and held a number of offices in his town, becoming a promi- nent man of his day. On the 13th of April, 1664, he was married to Elizabeth Stearns, who was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, and died June 24. 1671. He was afterward married on the 6th of May, 1673, to Abeil Wight, who was born Janu- ary 1, 1654, at Medfield, Massachusetts. Samuel Manning died February 22, 1210 or 1711.
John Manning, son of Samuel Manning, was born August 30, 1666, at Billerica, Massachusetts, and was a soldier in the expedition to Canada led by Sir William Phipps in 1690 against the French in King William's war. He married Sarah Spalding in 1620 and died February 3, 1717 or 1:18. His son, Samuel Manning, was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 20, 1703, and died November 6, 1223. He was married Octo- ber 21, 1728, to Elizabeth Manning, who was born Mareh 4, 1701, and died March 2, 1770. The next in the line of direct descent is Samuel Man- ning (second), who was born at Townsend, Mas- sachusetts, March 15, 1732. His name appears on the colonial rolls of Massachusetts as one of ('aptain John Stevens' foot company of Townsend. He was prominent and active in the Revolutionary war and in 1726, 1:22 and 1728 was a member of the committee of correspondence, inspection and safety. He died January 28, 1809. His wife, Abigail Avery, was born July 14, 1731, and died at Townsend, Massachusetts, January 21, 1810. Joel Manning, son of Samuel Manning (second), was born at Townsend, Massachusetts, August 31, 1264, and died at Ludlow, Vermont, March 5, 1841. He was married at Lunenburg, Massachu- setts, February 17, 1791, to Vashti Bradstreet, who was born July 2, 1761, and died May 15, 1846. Joel Manning (second), son of Joel Man- ning, was born in Andover, Vermont, October 9, 1793, and died at Joliet January 8, 1869, being the first representative of the family in the middle west. He married September 9, 1823, Diza Jen-
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kins, who was born October 15, 1806, in Tennes- see, and died November 27, 1861, in Joliet. They were the parents of Mary V. Manning, who became the wife of Henry Fish in Loekport, Illinois, February 15, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Fish settled in Joliet and soon afterward united with the Ottawa Street Methodist Episcopal church and were active and honored members of the same for nearly fifty years, giving largely of their means to all church and charitable enterprises.
Reared in his native city, Charles Manning Fish acquired his early education in the graded schools of Joliet and afterward pursued a course of study in Chester (Pennsylvania) Military Col- lege and was gradnated with the degree of civil engineer. He subsequently engaged in the manu- facturing business in Joliet for several years, but for some time past has concentrated his energies upon the real-estate business.
Mr. Fish was married February 1, 1887, to Miss Louise Steel, a daughter of William A. and Frances Louise (Sanger) Steel. Mrs. Fish was born September 23. 1866, and died February 8. 1892. leaving one child. Mary Louise, born June 5, 1889. On the 18th of May, 1898, Mr. Fish wedded Helen E. Thompson, a daughter of Major J. M. and Mary J. (Davidson) Thompson. Mrs. Fish was born April 8. 1872, and there were three children by this marriage: Jennie, born February 20, 1899: Manning, November 20, 1903: and Charles Thompson, May 11. 1906. Their home is one of the fine residences of Joliet and was built by Mr. Fish's aunt, Mrs. Cornelia A. Miller, the widow of Edmund Miller, of Waterloo, Iowa. Mr. Fish is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of Colonial Wars and the Society of Mayflower Descendants, and is a dimitted member of the Masonic fraternity.
WILLIAM C. ADAMS.
William C. Adams is numbered among the old- est settlers of Crete, where he has made his home since 1883 but he was for many years prior to that time engaged in general agricultural pursuits and at one time owned a farm of one hundred and forty-one acres in Crete township. A portion of this tract is now included within the village
of Steger. Mr. Adams still retains possession of forty acres, which is operated by his son Byron.
Mr. Adams was born in Lunenburg, Massa- chusetts, April 8, 1829, a son of Phineas H. and Mary P. (Clark) Adams, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New Hamp- shire. The father was a wheelwright by trade. In 1836 he left his native state and removed to Vermont, while in 1845 he took up his abode in Will county, making the journey from the east by way of the Erie canal and the Great Lakes to Chicago, from which city he continued his journey to Will county, settling on a tract of forty acres of government land, situated near Crete. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the very advanced age of eighty-four years, he was the owner of one hundred acres of land. His wife, however, survived her removal to Will county for only a year, passing away here in 1846, at the comparatively early age of forty-two years. After her death the father married again, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Cutler. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and a highly esteemed pioneer settler of his community.
William C. Adams is one of a family of fifteen children, and with the exception of three all still survive. Mr. Adams received only a limited edu- cation, this being pursued in the country schools. He was reared to the occupation of farming, assist- ing his father in his farm labor. He accompanied his parents on their various removals and was a youth of sixteen years when he arrived in Will connty. He remained under the parental roof un. til he had attained his majority, when in 1850, with a party consisting of Austin Hewes, Benjamin Hewes, R. A. Mott, Asa Kyle, II. Haslett. David Orr and A. P. K. Safford, he made the over- land trip to California, covering a period of four months. He remained on the Pacific coast for three years, during which time he was engaged in mining, meeting with fair success. Of this party of men, Mr. Safford later removed to Ari- zona, where he became governor of the territory. and with the exception of our subject, R. 1. Mott, is the only surviving member, he making his home at the present time in Faribault, Minnesota.
Mr. Adams returned from the Pacific coast by way of the isthmus route. Again taking up his
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abode in Will county, he purchased one hundred and forty-one acres of land in the northern part of Crete township, this land being partially im- proved. ' He at once began to further improve and develop the place and thereon made his home until 1883, in which year he retired from agri- cultural pursuits and removed to the village of Crete, where he has since made his home, now residing with his son Byron. He has since dis- posed of a portion of his landed holdings and now retains possession of forty acres, this being operated by his son.
In 1854 occurred the marriage of Mr. Adams and Miss Mary R. Wilder, who was born in Ohio, December 15, 1833. Her death occurred in Crete, November 13, 1905. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and by her marriage became the mother of five children, of whom four are now living, namely: Morton G., a resident of North Dakota; Byron E., who is operating his father's farm : Albert W .. who makes his home in Chicago; and Ilarry G., who is a bookkeeper of Chicago. The eldest child. Alice. died in infancy.
Mr. Adams has always supported the men and measures of the republican party and for fourteen years he served as school director, while for thir- teen years he was school trustee but aside from these offices he has never been active in local politics. He is thoroughly familiar with the pio- neer conditions which here existed at the time of the removal of the family to Will county. The near- est mills were located at Wilmington and Plain- field, where the products of the farm were hauled with ox teams, and there were also many other inconveniences which had to be borne by the family during that early period. He has ever lived an upright and honest life and commands the respect and good will of all with whom he is associated.
RICHARD HANCOCK.
Richard Hancock, superintendent of the pipe department of the Illinois Steel Company at the Joliet plant since 1895, was born in Cornwall, England, in 1864, and during his infancy was brought to America by his parents, who located in Jackson, Michigan. There Mr. Hancock was
reared and educated and after putting aside his text-books he learned the trade of plumbing and steamfitting under the direction of George H. Porter. Some years later he entered the employ of the firm of Davis & Rankin at Chicago, and was afterward with the Gill Manufacturing Com- pany of Albion, Michigan, with the American Wheel Company, the Smith-Biddling Purifier Company of Jackson, Michigan, and other large institutions. He came to Joliet to accept his present position. Throughout his entire life he has been engaged in the steamfitting and plumb- ing business and in 1895 he came to Joliet as superintendent of the pipe department of the Illinois Steel Company, in which capacity he has charge of from forty-five to fifty men. Under his supervision all of the steamfitting and plumb- ing in the entire plant is done. He is an excellent workman in his chosen field of labor and his ability is manifest in the responsible position which he is now filling.
Mr. Hancock was married in Joliet to Miss Augusta Lehman, a daughter of one of the early residents of this city. She was born here and by her marriage has become the mother of four chil- dren : Mattie May, Myrtle Agnes, Richard Charles and Clarence. In his political views Mr. Hancock is a republican. He belongs to the Modern Wood- men camp and Sons of St. George, aid he and his wife hold membership in the Episcopal church. They are located in a pleasant home at 203 Hen- derson avenue and have made many warm friends during their residence in Joliet.
HENRY F. BOICKEN.
The agricultural interests of Will county find a worthy representative in Henry F. Boicken, who is engaged in farming on forty acres of land, situated on section 24, Will township, and he also owns eighty acres in Washington township. Mr. Boicken is a native son of this county, his birth having oc- curred on a farm in Monee township in 1870. His father, Charles Boicken, was born in Germany, whence he came to the United States with his par- ents when a little lad of four years, the family home being established in Monee township. The father was a blacksmith by trade and both he and
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his wife are now deceased. Charles B. Boicken was engaged in farming in Monee township for a number of years. after which he removed to Will township, settling on a farm on section 25. He prospered in his undertakings and acquired a com- petence that in 1899 enabled him to retire, and he now makes his home in Beecher, at the age of fifty-nine years. He enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining a company in Monee. Ile is a republican in politics and has taken an active part in public affairs, having for four years served as supervisor of Will township, while for many years he served as road commissioner, school trustee and school director. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dorothea Matthias, was likewise born in Germany, and is now living at the age of sixty-one years. Their family numbers five children : Henry F., of this review: Emma, who is now the wife of Robert Salzmann, of Washington township : William, who resides upon the old homesteal in Will township: Mary, the wife of Edward Lan- greder, a blacksmith of Beecher: and Dorothea, the wife of August Wiechem, a resident of Peo- tone. The parents are devoted members of the German Lutheran church.
ITenry F. Boicken, the eldest child of his father's family, was reared to the occupation of farming and during the period of his boyhood and youth he pursued his studies in the district schools and the German school. He remained under the pa- rental roof until the time of his marriage, when he started out upon his own account. having always followed the occupation with which he became familiar as a boy. He is now farming on a tract of forty aeres, located on section 24, Will township, and he also owns eighty acres of land in Washington township. He is practical and progressive in his methods of farm labor and is meeting with a gratifying measure of sue- cess, each year adding materially to his financial resources.
On the 28th of October, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Boicken and Miss Louisa Wie- chem, who was born in Will township, in 1872, a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Engelke) Wie- chem. The parents came from Hanover, Ger- many, to illinois in 1853, and for a few years resided near Chicago, whence they came to Will township, Will county, where they are still living. in the enjoyment of the fruits of their former
toil. They are members of the German Lutherau church. Their family numbered eleven children : William, who is now residing on a farm of his own near Peotone: Henry, a resident of Peotone : Ernest, now farming his land, is in Will town- ship: Fred, also a farmer in Will township; Dick. a resident of Beecher, where he is in the lumber business ; Charles, who died at the age of twenty- six years; Louisa, who is the only daughter liv- ing; August. who now is a resident of Peotone : Frank, who died at the age of four years; Emma. who died in infancy : and Albert, the youngest. who died at the age of fifteen years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boicken have been born four children : Alma, Malinda, Albert and Mar- tha. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Boicken gives his po- litical support to the men and measures of the republican party. Both he and his wife are high- ly esteemed in the community where they reside. representing old and prominent families of Will county.
JOHN V. STEGER.
An analyzation of the life and work of John V. Steger would doubtless lead one to arrive at the conclusion that he has been actuated at all times by a sense of duty-the duty which he owes to himself to best improve his opportunities and the duty which he owes to others, a duty which also finds joy in its doing. Laudable ambition was per- haps the first foundation stone that he laid upon which he has builded a success that seems almost phenomenal. To this he added unfaltering energy and unabating persisteney of purpose, but all the time he recognized individual responsibility toward those whom he served and toward those who served him. It is this which has made Siver an ideal manufacturing town, the piano factory a veritable Eden in this work of turmoil and labor troubles, while the founder of the business and of the village is undoubtedly one of the best loved em- płoyers in America because of the just, fair and considerate treatment he gives those in his em- ploy, thus recognizing the brotherhood of man.
John V. Steger is a splendid type of the self- made man. It is this which has probably made
John V. Steger
C.G. eSteger
WRT
George Steder
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
him so fully in sympathy with his own workmen and the straightforward methods in his business career constitute the secret of an honor which is accorded him everywhere in business circles. He
STEGER PIANO FACTORY.
was born in the little city of Ulm, Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1854. He was reared amid humble and even inauspicious surroundings, yet he was destined to set an example to the world and formu- late a plan which would, when fully developed and exemplified, revolutionize and change the existing order of affairs connected with the world of labor and of industry. His father, a cabinet- maker by trade, apprenticed him to a woodworker, whom he served between the ages of fourteen and seventeen years. He then started for America, imbued with a desire to benefit his financial condi- tion by utilization of the broader opportunities of the new world. He had no knowledge of the Eng- lish language and his capital consisted of but twelve cents when he landed on American soil. This condition rendered immediate employment a
necessity, and within six hours he was at work, being employed at rough carpenter work on the reconstruction of ice houses on the Hudson river. His previous training fitted him for something better, for he was fully competent to earn more than he would receive at this work, but it was the best that he could get at the moment and he took it. He formed at that time a resolution to live within his resources and in fact to save a certain sum from all that he earned. Within two months he returned to New York city with more than half of the wages that he had received during that pe- riod. This sum he divided into two esual parts. one that was not to be expended under any cir- cumstances, the other to supply his wants and necessities until he could again be in receipt of wages. These facts are given in detail because it gives the keynote of the success of Mr. Steger. In the city he 'secured employment at the cabinet- maker's trade, his yearly wage averaging ten and a half dollars per week, and of this he placed at least five dollars and a half per week with the re- serve fund.
Thinking that business conditions were still more favorable in the west, Mr. Steger left the Atlantic coast for Chicago. His capital was indeed small at that time, but he was rich in determina- tion and a fixed, unchangeable resolution to live economically, to add to his stores rather than to deplete them, and thus was made possible the creation of one of the most wonderful of all American towns and the foundation of a system of industrial economics which the world can not but admire and which would solve all labor ques- tions if it were universally adopted. Soon after his arrival in Chicago Mr. Steger wedded Louise R. Jacobs, to whose assistance, advice and co- operation he attributes much of his success. For eight years he worked for others, saving the great- er part of his earnings, until his accumulated sum amounted to thirty-nine hundred dollars. He then made his start in the piano business at No. 154 State street, Chicago. The greatly increased trade necessitated a removal to larger quarters in 1881, and within three years another change was neces- sitated and the business was opened at Adams street and Wabash avenue. He suffered heavy losses in the Langham hotel fire, and the succeed- ing four years were devoted to retrieving his lost possessions. In 1891 he removed to the present
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
location, at the northeast corner of Jackson boule- vard and Wabash avenue, where he has established a trade second to none in the United States. These quarters and adjoining property at 233 Wabash avenne have lately been acquired by Mr. Steger on a ninety-nine year term of lease, where he will soon erect a magnificent fourteen-story building specially adapted to his business and needs. It is estimated that nothing finer will find place in Chi- cago. Mr. Steger contemplates to make this build- ing a monument to perpetuate the name "Steger" and establish a home for the "Steger Piano."
In Will county is found a town bearing his name, but, more than that, bearing the impress of his individuality, his lofty purpose and his recognition of the rights of others with his own individual responsibility. All the theories that have been expounded and the plans that have been pro- mulgated have never solved the labor question as have the practical workings of Mr. Steger in the establishment and development of the piano fac- tory and of the town. When he announced that Columbia Heights, now Steger, a little cross-roads village out on the prairie, would be an ideal situ- ation for a piano factory, those who knew him laughed at the idea. Former plans, however, had awakened derision from those who were less far- sighted than he, and again time has proven the merit of his ideas and plans. Ile built the piano fac- tory, began the manufacture of pianos and has con- tinnonsly found it necessary to enlarge the plant to meet the growing demands of the trade until today in Steger, Illinois, stands the largest ex- elusive piano factory in the world. This is due to two causes-his treatment of employes from whom he receives in return faithful and efficient service, and his close study and able management of the business. The equipment of the Steger factory when it was organized in 1879 was small mechanically but it had a mental equipment which made ample amends for this deficiency. Mr. Steger had given years of thought and study to the development of the pianoforte. He had a complete understanding of the needs of the instrument from the perform- er's standpoint and was one of the first to realize the error of striving to keep the piano in compe- tition with the orchestra. He had also a capacity for organization and he also studied the question of economics in manufacture. Up to that time all the instruments with any pretentions as to quali-
ty were expensive. Mr. Steger at the beginning of his career was firmly convinced that the cost of manufacturing the best pianos could be materially reduced without any sacrifice of musical quality, and his judgment has been fully and continuously confirmed from the time the first Steger pi- ano was completed. The guiding principle in the factory has always been not to merely produce a piano "as good as it could be made for the money." but to make a piano worthy of being selected pure- ly on its merits by the most discriminating people. That is the primary purpose of the company. Af- ter that comes the arrangement of the processes of manufacture and distribution so as to eliminate all waste-all useless expense of every nature; and to secure the maximum efficiency in all depart- ments, thus making it possible to sell an instru- ment of the highest possible attainment and worth at a moderate price. The product takes first rank with the finest pianos manufactured in Europe and America. The output includes the upright and grand pianos and the recent extension of the busi- ness includes the manufacture of the Steger self- player, which is an inside player and supersedes the old style of the mechanical player which is at- tached to the front of the piano and strikes the keys from the outside mechanically. This em- bodies nothing of the experimental nature but is constructed according to the best known scientifie principles of pneumaties. In connection with the extensive plant at Steger, Mr. Steger has other fi- nancial interests. He is a director of the bank of Steger, Bank of Chicago Heights and Monroe Na- tional Bank of Chicago and is also one of the large stockholders of the Flanner-Steger Land & Lum- ber Company, owning extensive lumber interests in Wisconsin, together with a splendidly equipped sawmill, from which point logs and lumber are shipped to Steger to be used in the factory here.
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