USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 44
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While engaged in the stupendous task of estab- lishing, developing and controlling the new organi- zation Mr. Steger realized that an element of par- amount importance to his success was the comfort and welfare of his men. He keeps in close touch with them, many of whom he knows by name, and they feel that their interests are his interests. Mr. Steger made a close study of labor problems. He saw that thousands of workmen through the coun- try in large institutions were expending brain, brawn and muscle for their employers and that af-
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ter years of such labor they had not advanced in their individual positions in life and were not bet- ter prepared for the days of old age and inability to work. This fact appealed to Mr. Steger and af- ter much thought and planning he evolved from his fertile brain the solution of such conditions. His plans and ideas are shown in the results. To- day there are about twenty-five hundred people living in Steger, mainly composed of workmen in the extensive manufacturing plant and their fami- lies, yet there are others also who are engaged in business in the city and have chosen Steger as a place of residence to enjoy the delights of sub- urban life. It is a noticeable fact that the em- ployes are men. There are no women or girls and but few boys in the factory. He resolved to pay his men a good living wage, so that it would not be necessary for the feminine members of the household to engage in labor in order to eke ont a living, and the workmen receive from fifteen to twenty-five dollars per week. They work eight hours a day in well ventilated and well lighted buildings and their surroundings are such as to imbue the mind with the love of the pure and the beautiful and to give a feeling of rest and repose. Mr. Steger resolved. too, that the workmen should have comfortable. pleasant homes. For this pur- pose he built cottages, each with its garden and lawn and the homes were sold at from eight hun- dred and fifty to ten hundred and fifty dollars, re- gardless of the constantly increasing demand which would have much advanced the value. To those who work in the factories these homes were sold on payment of ten dollars per month. Mr. Steger is reported to have said that he proceeded on the theory that when a man became a real-estate own- er he appreciated the value of citizenship and thit it was his observation that men became better workmen, more careful of stock and more consid- erate in their associations just as soon as they pos- sessed an interest in a home. Another sentiment expressed by Mr. Steger will explain why it is that he has secured the unalloyed services, the de- voted support of each man who works for him. He said, "I believe in putting my men on their honor and encouraging honesty and strength of character by trusting them and letting them know I trust them. And as to labor troubles-when a man becomes the owner of a little home and feels that he is a factor in a community he has no time
to give to walking delegates. These fellows are an unknown quantity in Steger." There are no strikes in Steger, for each employe feels that his services to the company will be justly rewarded and each year the workmen have a share in the profits of the house according to their length of service and the merit of their work.
For the benefit of the workmen, thier family and friends, Mr. Steger has given twelve acres for park purposes. The intention is to make this park as beautiful as the landscape gardener of art can suggest and unstinted outlay carry into reality. Special attention will be given to equipments for the amusement and entertainment of the children who have a warm place in the heart of Mr. Steger. He sees to it also that there are theaters, amuse- ments and other entertainments of high class and there is probably no factory town of the size of Steger that has as little intoxication and lawless- ness of any kind. The employes are not forced to patronize company stores and thus turn their earn- ings back into the business from which they re- ceive them, for on the contrary the stores are not owned by Mr. Steger but by independent mer- chants. Hle is making the village a clean, health- ful, enjoyable and beautiful place of residence and is doing this because of the broad humanitarian principle which is one of the most strongly marked characteristics of his life.
Mr. Steger has found able assistance given to him by his two sons, C. G. and George F. Steger. who are associated with him in business, the forni- er having charge of the city headquarters at Wa- bash avenue and Jackson boulevard, while the lat- ter is the general superintendent of all the fac- tories. They receive practical efficiency and thor- ough training from their father, are thoroughly acquainted with the business and are displaying the strong traits which have made John V. Steger, the once penniless German emigrant, an American multi-millionaire.
The other members of the Steger family are: Mrs. Thomas E. Northen and Mrs. H. E. John- son, Jr., both residing in Steger ; and Miss Estella, attending school at Ferry Hall, Lake Forest. Illi- nois.
Such in outline is the life and work of John V. Steger. He has been called a theorist but he is an idealist. He is not a dreamer but is a man of action, working toward ideals by using practical
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methods whereby he secures the results he under- takes. He has come to a realization of the fact which others have preached but which few have had the courage to demonstrate, that the man who works for and with his employes serves best his own purposes and solves harmoniously the labor question which is today one of the paramount is- sues before the American people.
ENESHIA MEERS, LL. B.
Eneshia Meers has been a member of the Joliet bar for nearly thirty years, and the favorable opin- ion passed upon him at the outset of his career has in no degree heen changed or modified, but on the contrary has been strengthened with the passing years as he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems of the law. For a long period he has had a distinctly repre- sentative clientage that has connected him with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of this district.
Born in Bloomsbury, New Jersey, about fifty- one years ago, Mr. Meers is a son of Dennis and Anna Meers, who were natives of Ireland, and soon after their marriage crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling first in Massachusetts. They afterward lived in other eastern states, Den- nis Meers being engaged principally in railroad contracting. The greater part of his life was spent in New York city and the state of New Jersey, but in 1875 he removed westward with his family to Joliet, where he engaged in the hardware business, continuing in the same until his death in 1888. After becoming a naturalized American citizen he affiliated with the democracy and by his ballot stanchly supported its principles, but had no personal aspiration for office. He passed away at the age of seventy years, his widow still surviving him. During their early residence here they were members of St. Mary's Catholic church and after the division of the parish be- came communicants of the Sacred Heart church.
Encshia Meers spent his youth in New Jersey and in New York city. He took his collegiate course at Seton Hall College, a well known edu- rational institution at Orange, New Jersey, of which Father Corrigan. afterward archbishop of
New York, was president. Upon the removal of the family to the west he took up the study of law in the office of Egbert Phelps. Later he con- tinued reading with Judge McRoberts, and subse- quently became a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in the class of 1877. Returning to Joliet, he formed a partnership with C. W. Brown, a lead- ing lawyer of the city, the business connection between them terminating on the election of Mr. Brown to the position of state's attorney. Mr. Meers has since practised alone except a few years as a partner of John W. Downey, and has long been recognized as one of the able trial lawyers at the Will county bar, being strong and logical in argument and forceful in the presentation of his cause. He adds to his comprehensive understand- ing of the law a ready command of language and as occasion demands employs the wit so charac- teristic of people of his nationality.
Mr. Meers has been called to public office, serv- ing from 1879 until 1883 as city attorney, and had he aspirations in that direction undoubtedly could easily secure further political honors, but while an active worker in support of democracy he prefers that his time should be more largely given to his professional duties rather than to political service. He has, however, addressed many public audiences upon the questions and is- sues of the day and his analytical reasoning and clear deductions often prove an influencing force upon his hearers. He belongs to various civic and social organizations, including the Commer- cial Club, Elks lodge and Knights of Columbus. He lives with his family in a fine home on West- ern avenue, where he located seven years ago.
AUGUST EHRHARDT.
August Ehrhardt, county treasurer of Will county, in which position he is rendering effi- cient, faithful and expert service, came to the county in 1855, at which time he located in Crete. He was born in Saxony, Germany, April 3, 1840, and was a youth of fourteen years when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States with his parents, Christoph and Sophie ( Werner) Ehr- hardt. The family located at Blue Island, Illi-
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nois, and the father followed the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family. He died in the year 1876, while his wife survived until 1882.
August Ehrhardt lived with his parents near Blue Island for some time and then came to Will county, settling at Monee, where he carried on general farming until 1865, save for the period of his service in the Civil war. He enlisted in 1862 in the Eighty-second Illinois infantry as a private and was a valorous soldier until the close of hostilities. When the country no longer needed his services he returned to Monee, and for fifteen years was engaged in business with August Schif- fer. He then removed to Beecher, where he car- ried on general merchandising, purchasing the store of Mr. Matthias. He also assisted in locat- ing the creamery at Beecher and still owns the business block in which it is conducted. The mer- cantile business of which he became proprietor had been established about ten years before. In its control he has displayed excellent business judgment and discernment and has made a cred- itable record in the condnet of the enterprise. Ile served as postmaster at Beecher under President Harrison and again under President Mckinley, during which time there were established three rural routes from this office. In 1906 he was elected county treasurer of Will county and is now filling the position, the duties of which he discharges with promptness and fidelity.
Mr. Ehrhardt was married in 1865, at Blue Island, Illinois, to Miss Louise Kline, who was born in Germany, June 14, 1843, a daughter of August Kline. They became the parents of two sons : Arthur, who now has charge of his father's store ; and Carl, who is cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Beecher and who was deputy pro- bate clerk.
Mr. Ehrhardt has always taken an active part in politics as a stalwart champion of the repub- lican party and was committeeman of his town and township for twenty years. In all life's rela- tions he has displayed the same fidelity to his country and her welfare that he showed when on southern battlefields he followed the old flag. Socially Mr. Ehrhardt is a member of the Ma- sonic order at Peotone and he has been com- mander of Chicago Heights post, G. A. R. His religious faith is that of the Evangelical church.
At all times and under all circumstances, whether in official service, in business life, as a member of the army, or as a private citizen he has displayed fidelity to the interests of his country and her welfare and his record has been creditable.
NAT J. ROWELL.
Nat J. Rowell, deceased, was a representative of one of the old and prominent families of Jol- iet. He was but a child when his parents re- moved to this city and he became one of the lead- ing business men here, dealing at different times in gravel and sand, also conducting a real es- tate and insurance business, while for a short time he was editor of one of the local papers. His birth occurred in Clarkson, Monroe county, New York, June 26, 1857, his parents being Hopkins and Mary E. (Blood) Rowell, who were likewise natives of Monroe county. The father's birth occurred in Clarkson in 1809 and he con- tinned to make his home there until 1860, when he came with his family to the west, locating in Will county. He settled on a farm near Joliet and there carried on general agricultural pursuits for twelve years, after which he removed to the city to live retired. Indolence and idleness, how- ever, were utterly foreign to his nature and he found it impossible to entirely put aside business interests. He therefore dealt to a greater or less extent in real estate and so continued up to the time of his death. Bothi he and his wife passed away in Joliet.
Nat J. Rowell attended the public schools and supplemented his preliminary education by study in Joliet Academy. He afterward became a stu- dent in the University of Minnesota, where he remained for a year, and subsequently he spent four years in the Chicago University, from which he was gradnated in the class of 1878. Returning to Joliet he became interested in newspaper work and for one year was city editor of the Republic and Sun. He then accepted a government position in the treasury department at Washington, D. C., where he remained until 1885, when he returned to Joliet and established a real estate office. buy- ing and selling city property. He engaged in that business together with insurance until 1889, when
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he began dealing in gravel. He owned several large gravel pits on East Washington street and conducted a thriving business as a dealer in gravel, cobble stones and sand. He built up an excellent trade, his sales largely increasing annually nntil he became one of the well-to-do business men of the city, continuing in that line until his death.
Mr. Rowell was married in 1892 to Miss Amie W. Strong, a native of Joliet and a daughter of William A. and Charlotte A. (Buell) Strong, the former a native of Waterloo, New York, and the latter of Rochester, that state. Mr. Strong was born in 1828 and was educated in the public schools of his native city, subsequent to which time he clerked in his uncle's store in Waterloo for five years. He then came west with his uncle in 1850, settling in Joliet, where they established a hardware business under the firin style of W. A. Strong & Company. This connection was con- tinned for five years, after which the firm became Brooks & Barrett and subsequently Strong & Company. Mr. Strong continued his connection with the enterprise throughout all these years until 1865, when he withdrew from the hardware trade to become president of the Joliet Gas Com- pany, which position he held for several years. Turning his attention to the field of real estate operation. he purchased one hundred and twenty- five acres of land adjoining Joliet and laid out the subdivision of Glenwood. In this way he contributed much to the substantial development and improvement of the city. About the same time he was elected mayor of Joliet and filled the office for one term, his administration being char- acterized by a spirit most business-like and bene- ficial. He was also a director in the First Na- tional Bank of the city and for a few years he was connected with the business of quarrying stone, but real estate chiefly claimed his time and attention during the latter part of his life and lie negotiated many important realty transfers, whereby the improvement of the city was en- hanced, while his individual success was also aug- mented. He always made Joliet his home, but his death occurred in St. Clair, Michigan, and his wife passed away in Thomasville, Georgia, March 20, 1889. Both were consistent communi- cants of the Episcopal church.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rowell were born three children : Lilla, Robert Strong and Nat J., all
of whom are with their mother. The death of the husband and father occurred in Joliet, October 23, 1904. He was always a republican, but never an office seeker, yet in community affairs he was deeply interested and was a co-operant in many plans and measures which were based upon the needs and possibilities of the city for general de- velopment. He held membership in the Episco- pal church, to which his wife yet belongs, and in its activities was greatly interested. His helpful spirit as manifest in church relations and in eiti- zeuship, his genial manner as displayed in social circles and his genuine worth of character, caused his death to be deeply regretted by many friends as well as his immediate family. Mrs. Rowell owns a beautiful stone residence at No. 523 West- ern avenne-the old Strong homestead-where she and her children reside, and in social circles in Joliet she is quite prominent.
ELIAS BROWN.
Elias Brown, a farmer of Will county, at the present time serving as supervisor of Jackson township, is a native son of Will county, born No- vember 12, 1851, and is a son of Ara B. and Martha ( Hougham) Brown. The father came with his parents. Peter Brown and wife, from his native state, New York, to Will county in 1834. He remained with them during the period of his boyhood and youth, and when starting out in life on his own account engaged in farming on section 15, Jackson township, continuing in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which oc- eurred in 1865.
Elias Brown, whose name introduces this sketch, is the the fourth in order of birth in his father's family, the other living members being: Mrs. Sarah B. Sharp, a resident of Danville, Indiana ; Mrs. D. F. Higgins, a resident of Joliet : Frank, a resident farmer of Jackson township; and Nancy J. and Martha M. Brown, both of whom reside in Joliet.
Elias Brown was reared to farm life in Jack- son township, assisting his father in the oper- ation of the home farm during the summer sea- sons, while during the winter months he pursued his studies in the district schools. While private
ELIAS BROWN.
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business interests have claimed much of his time and attention Mr. Brown has also found time and opportunity for public interests.
The lady whom Mr. Brown chose as a com- panion and helpmate bore the maiden name of Miss Mary A. Mapps, their marriage being cele- brated February 28th, 1878. She was a native of Jackson township, and after a happy married life of more than twenty-seven years she was called to her final rest, her death occurring July 18, 1905. She was an estimable lady, devoted to the welfare and happiness of her family, and her death was the occasion of deep regret not only to her immediate household but to a large circle of friends. The four children who still survive are: AAra B., who wedded Miss Lauretta Myers, by whom he has one child Loretta, their home being in Jackson township; Elias A., Jarvis J. and Paul, all at home.
MARCUS KRAKAR.
The utilization of the splendid stone deposits of this section of the state constitutes one of the most important industries of Will county and among her most successful men are those who are connected with the quarrying of stone at Joliet. To this class belongs Marcus Krakar, a business man of marked enterprise and keen discernment, who in the careful control of his interests has gained a place along the substantial residents of the city.
He was born in Libach, Austria, April 24, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Agnes Krakar, who were likewise natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives. The father died in 1887 and the mother passed away in June, 1839, only six weeks after the birth of her son Mareus. Joseph Krakar was a farmer and shoemaker. He was twice married and there were two children of the first union, while three children were born of the second marriage. Four of the number are now living: Joseph and Marcus, the sons of the first union ; and Katharine and Jacob, who were born of the second union.
Marcus Krakar attended the public schools of his native country for a short time and in 1857, in company with his brother Joseph, sailed for
America when in his eighteenth year. They landed at Baltimore, Maryland, after a voyage of seven weeks upon a sailing vessel and in that city, on his eighteenth birthday, Mr. Krakar drank his first glass of beer. He did not tarry long on the Atlantic coast but made his way direct to Chicago, three days being required for the train journey. On reaching the future metropolis of the west he hired out for twenty-three cents per day and his board and thus worked for nine months, during which time he saved every cent of his wages. With the money thus earned he bought a little stock of merchandise and notions and began ped- dling. Thus he traveled all over the state of Illinois for four years and in the new venture met with success.
Mr. Krakar was then married and in 1861 lo- cated in Joliet, where he turned his attention to the shoemaking business, which he had learned un- der the direction of his father in the old country. He followed this for a number of years and sub- sequently engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Joliet. He afterward turned his attention to stone quarrying and has since conducted this enterprise in the most successful manner, being half owner, president and general manager of the Joliet Quar- ry Company, which ships stone all over the United States. The output has constantly increased and the business has long since reached profitable pro- portions.
Mr. Kraker has also been prominent in public life in the city and has represented the fourth ward in the city council. He has also been school di- rector and his co-operation can be counted upon to further any movement or measure for the public good, yet he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to give his un- divided time and energies to furthering his busi- ness interests. He has invested in real estate in Joliet and owns a beautiful home on the west side, also a fine new six flat building with modern ap- pointments, just completed.
Mr. Krakar was married on the 29th of October, 1861, to Miss Jakobina Gorges, a native of Prus- sia, Germany. They became the parents of fifteen children. of whom ten are now living: Sophia, the wife of Joseph Comp: Anna, the wife of Leo Miksche, a merchant of Minnesota; Lena, the wife of Matt Vertin; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry K. Schuster, of North Dakota; Gertrude, the wife
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of William Huppeler, of North Dakota ; Angeline, the wife of Joseph Zirbs, of Joliet; Myrtle, at home ; Marcus J. and Jacob, also of Joliet.
Mr. Krakar is a member of the Knights of Co- lumbus and St. John's Benevolent Society. He came to this country without a cent of capital save his railroad fare. His education after crossing the Atlantic was exceedingly limited but for a year he was a student in a private night school. He has constantly broadened his knowledge through experience and observation and has made progress in the business world until he now has a com- petency secured through his own industry and hon- esty. He is looked upon as one of Joliet's sub- stantial and enterprising citizens and well de- serves representation in this volume.
MRS. ELIZABETHI HAYNES BURCH.
Mrs. Elizabeth Haynes Burch is one of the prominent pioneer women of Will county, hav- ing here made her home for the past forty-six years. She is the owner of large landed interests. having an excellent farm of two hundred acres sit- uate:l on section 29, Homer township, which is be- ing operated by her only son, with whom she makes her home, and from her property she derives an income which is sufficient to supply her with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of lite, so that she is able to spend the evening of her life in the enjoyment of a well earned ease.
Mrs. Burch claims the Empire state as the place of her birth, her natal year being 1839. Her par- ents. Thaddeus and Elizabeth ( Howe) Haynes, were likewise natives of New York, where they lived and died. The father was a farmer in the cast, following that pursuit throughout his entire life, and his death occurred November 8. 1888, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years. In his political views he was a stanch democrat. His mother bore the maiden name of Martha Wil- son and was reared in New York state. The mother of Mrs. Burch passed away in 1845, at the age of forty-nine years. The daughter was then a little maiden of only six years and was the third in order of birth in a family of three daughters and one son, the other members of the family being: Mary Jane, the widow of Charles Reed, a farmer
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