USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 9
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tha D. Risley of Will county, who was born in New Hartford, New York, and came to Illinois with her father, George Risley, in 1860. She is still living. Mr. Randall, however, passed away in 1889. Ile left the impress of his individuality upon the court records of Will county, where he was widely recognized as a prominent and able lawyer. He put the talents with which nature endowed him to the best possible use and left behind him an honored name and the record of a life of capable service for his fellowmen.
JOSEPH FRANK.
Joseph Frank is numbered among the worthy sons that Germany has furnished to Will county, and in this section of the state he has demonstrated the power of industry and perseverance as active factors in the attainment of success. He was born in Germany, March 21, 1833. His father, Erasmus Frank, was also a native of that country and was a cooper by trade. He possessed great physical strength, his prowess in that direction being unequalled by scarcely any resident of his part of the country. He died, however, when his son Joseph was only five years of age. The mother, Mrs. Margaret (Ludwick) Frank, was born in Elbach, Germany, and was a miller's daughter. She was a member of the Catholic church and died in her native country. In the family were three children: Elizabeth, now deceased ; Martha ; und Joseph.
In the schools of his native country Mr. Frank of this review acquired his education. He came to America in 1853, when a young man of twenty years. Having bade adieu to friends and native country, he took passage on the sailing vessel Jerome, which was three months in making the voyage. The supply of water and food became exhausted and the ship was held in quarantine in the harbor for ten days before the passengers were allowed to land. At length they first set foot on American soil at New York and Mr. Frank secured employment there at the butcher's trade at the meager salary of six dollars per month. He remained in the eastern metropolis for about a year and a half, and from New York went to Pennsylvania, where he worked twelve
hours per day for ninety cents. He then walked sixty miles to get back to New York, after which he took ship to New Orleans, remaining for a year in the Crescent City. During that period he made several trips to Mobile. While in the south he saved from his earnings a sufficient sum of money to enable him to make his way to Chicago. where he arrived with a capital of only ten dollars. Ile went up the Mississippi river to St. Louis and journeyed as far as Peoria by boat, for at that time the railroad extended only from Chicago to Peoria. Mr. Frank was married in Cook county and established his home in Lemont, where he conducted a butcher shop. He was quite success- ful in that undertaking and as his financial re- sources increased he invested in land, acenmulat- ing quite a fortune. Ile bought three hundred and sixty acres of land in Homer township and upon this farm is now living retired.
In 1862, Mr. Frank was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Ennesser, who was born in Kel- stet, Germany, August 21, 1846, a daughter of Louis and Barbara (Fernboch) Ennesser, who were likewise natives of Germany and spent their entire lives in that country. Mrs. Frank came to American in 1860 on the steamer Wanderbill, be- ing on the ocean for one week. She came with her eldest brother, Louis, who is now living in Chi- cago at the age of eighty-four years and is her only relative in America. She first met her future hus- band at the home of Andrew Kenny, in Homer township. They were married in 1862 and be- came the parents of five children. Joseph, the eldest, living in Chicago at the age of forty-three years, is engaged in the ice business. George has been manager for the firm of Swift & Company, at Joliet, for twelve years. Frances is the wife of Matt Webber, of Homer township, living on one of his father's farms, and they have four children, three daughters and one son. Rosie is the wife of Ebb Carroll, of Homer township, and they have three sons and two daughters. Millie is the wife of Steve Pootz, and they have one daughter.
As the years have passed Mr. Frank has pros- pered in his business undertakings and has paid as high as sixty-five dollars per acre for his land. IIe made all of his money in the butchering busi- ness and then judiciously invested in real estate, so that he is now the owner of a very valuable farm. He is also an expert in the manufacture
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of wine, making what he wants for home con- sumption and usually keeping about three bar- rels on hand. His wife is a member of the Cath- olic church and both are highly esteemed people, for Mr. Frank has been a most energetic man, diligent and persevering in all of his work, win- ning his success by reason of his own well directed labors.
JOHN J. HUNT.
John J. Hunt, deceased, who dated his resi- dence in Joliet, Will county, from the 17th of July, 1851, was for many years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and became the owner of valuable farm property, but for several years prior to his demise lived retired in Joliet. He was born in Glastonbury, Somersetshire, England, Novem- ber ?, 1832, a son of Joseph and Charlotte (Green) Hunt, both of whom were natives of the mother country and died in Lancastershire In their fam- ily were three sons and three danghters.
Mr. Hunt remained at home until he reached the age of eighteen years and then crossed the briny deep to the land which had attracted him by its promise of broader business opportunities for the exercise of the energy and perseverance which were his dominant qualities. After landing on the Atlantic coast he made his way to the Prairie state, reaching Joliet in midsummer of 1851. He soon afterward found employment on a farm on Hickory creek, where he worked by the month for about seven years, when, desiring that his labors should more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm belonging to William Ferguson. The following three years were spent as a renter on an estate belonging to William Hughes.
While living there Mr. Hunt was married, on the 7th of May, 1861, to Miss Olive J. Wheeler, who was born in Vermont, June 23, 1839. Her parents were David N. and Lydia (Stanley) Wheeler, also natives of the Green Mountain state, whence they came to Illinois in the '50s, settling in Frankfort township. Their family consisted of five sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Hunt is the eldest. For nearly two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hunt resided upon the Hughes farm, after which they purchased
property in Manhattan township, where they made their home for thirteen years. Mr. Hunt became the owner of two hundred acres in Manhattan township, and five acres on section 22 and fifty acres on section 23, Joliet township. He broke the land and improved the fields, placing the farm under a high state of cultivation. He devoted the greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and in this work was quite suc- cessful, becoming recognized as one of the lead- ing farmers of the county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were born four chil- dren : Joseph ( .. who is now a merchant at Duck- er's Corner, Joliet : Mrs. Cora E. Hinckley, a resi- dent of Chicago Heights: John W., a traveling engineer, who makes his home in Michigan City, Indiana; and Mrs. Edna E. Ingold, who is living in Joliet.
In his political views Mr. Hunt was a stalwart republican from the time when he became a nat- uralized American citizen. He has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his ef- forts and energies upon his business affairs. He knew the value of earnest, persistent labor, and as the years advanced he won a place among the fore- most representatives of agricultural life in Will county and at the same time made a most honor- able record for business reliability. He passed away January 27, 1899, being a resident forty- eight years in the county, during which time he gained a wide and favorable acquaintance. While he had a sincere attachment for the land of his birth, he regarded America as his home and was most loyal to its institutions, having the deepest love for the republic.
HARVEY SHAW.
That Joliet has become one of the important industrial centers of Illinois is due not to the la- bors of one man, but to the aggregate endeavor of many. Among those who have been leaders in this work and have pushed forward the wheels of progress is numbered Harvey Shaw, of the Silas Shaw Brick Company. He was born in Gales- burg, Illinois, in 1870, a son of Silas Shaw, who was born at Brockville, Canada, in 1836, and died at Joliet on the 28th of August, 1899, when sixty-
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three years of age. The brick manufacturing enterprise with which Harvey Shaw is now con- nected, was established in 1854 by his grandfather, James Shaw, who came to Joliet in 1852 and was succeeded by his two sons, Silas and J. E. Shaw, who conducted the business from 1871 until 1889. In that year Silas Shaw purchased his partner's interest and remained alone in the conduct of this important and successful enterprise until his life's labors were ended in death in 1899. The business was started on a small scale for the manu- facture of building brick and has steadily grown to its present capacity, which is thirty-five thousand brick per day. Employment is furnished to fifty men and the output is highly satisfactory so that a continuance of a liberal patronage is assured. Since the death of Silas Shaw the business has been continued by his two sons, Fred and Harvey. In the early days of the industry James Shaw took a contract from the British government to manufacture brick for the fort at Quebec, and from that time to the present the demand for the products of the house has continually increased and for more than a half century the trade has been conducted under the name of Shaw, the grandsons now carrying on the enterprise, which they are enlarging in its scope, at the same time keeping in touch with the progress and develop- ment that have been made along the line of brick manufacture. For a time Silas Shaw operated a brickyard at Wilmington and also established what is known as the Galesburg Brick Paving Company, conducting business in Galesburg, Illi- nois, for a time. The family were the first brick manufacturers in this part of the country. James Shaw died in 1872 but there was no diminution in the business and the safe, conservative policy which he followed was maintained by his sons and has been continued in turn by his grandsons, who are recognized as most reliable and enter- prising men. They have eighty-three acres con- nected with their yards where they secure their supply of clay, and located on the line of the Rock Island Railroad.
Silas Shaw was supervisor of Joliet and was chairman of the building committee when the present courthouse was erected. He always stood for improvement and reform in matters pertain- ing to the general welfare and his co-operation could always be counted upon to further progres-
sive public movements. He was a stalwart repub- lican and held membership in the Masonic frater- nity and the Presbyterian church.
Silas Shaw was married in Joliet to Miss Jane Mooney, who came to this city with her father, J. W. Mooney, by boat from the state of New York at a very early day. Seven children were born unto them: Edward, who is married and lives in Seattle, Washington ; Ella, the wife of J. F. Brady, of Atkinson, Nebraska; Fred K .; Bert ; Harvey ; Roy ; and Maud A.
Harvey Shaw in connection with his other business interests is one of the stockholders in the Joliet Pottery Company, which was organized for the manufacture of pottery. He helped to build up this enterprise and his sound judgment and business force have been the impetus in its growth and success. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with the business of manufactur- ing brick and is thoroughly acquainted with the trade in principle and detail. While he keeps in touch with modern business methods he also manifests the same spirit of reliability and trust- worthiness which has ever made the name of Shaw an honored one in business circles. In politics he is a republican and he belongs to the Masonic and Elks lodges and to the Presbyterian church.
AXEL FLINT.
Axel Flint, who is now at the head of an ex- tensive business, as a dealer in milk, cottage cheese, butter and also ice cream, which he manu- factures, was born in Sweden in 1864. His father, N. N. Flint, was a native of that country, born in 1834. He came to American in 1881, locating at lemont, where he worked as a common laborer in the rock quarry. His wife, Gertrude Flint, was also a native of Sweden and their family num- bered eight children: Nils, living in Sweden; August, who is a painter of Joliet ; Axel ; Thomas, of Joliet ; Oliver, who is alderman from the First ward of Joliet, and is in the dairy business with his two brothers, Axel and Thomas; Johanna, the wife of Peter Munson, of JJoliet; Anna, who is a deaconess in Omaha, Nebraska : and Minnie, the wife of Ernest Anderson, of Joliet.
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Axel Flint came to the new world about 1883. He was then a young man of nineteen years and the opportunities for more rapidly winning suc- cess in the United States caused him to hid adieu to friends and native country and come to Amer- ica. After two weeks spent upon the water he landed at New York and thence made his way to Lemont, where he remained for a short time. Hle afterward accompanied the family on the re- moval to Edmonson county, Kentucky, making settlement at a place now ealled New Sweden. Three months later, however, he returned to Le- mont, where he remained for about a year, then removing to Lockport, where he worked in the flour mills for a year. On the expiration of that period he accepted a position with Mr. Sprague, delivering milk in Joliet, for three years, after which he embarked in business on his own ac- count, opening a store at No. 406 Collins street, where he buys and delivers milk, also bnys and sells butter and manufactures ice cream. He be- gan the business in 1891 and continued alone for a year, after which he admitted his brother Tom to a partnership. When another year had passed their brother Oliver became a member of the firm, which is known as the Flint Sanitary Milk Com- pany. They now have an extensive trade, han- dling milk, cottage cheese, butter and ice cream, and they have steadily prospered, now doing a business which amounts to fifty thousand dollars annually. The excellence of their products has seeured to them a liberal patronage, which is eon- tinued by reason of their fair and honorable meth- ods and their earnest desire to please their cus- tomers. Mr. Flint has been dependent upon his own resources since coming to the new world and has made steady advance in business circles, thus winning his way to a position of affluence.
JJACOB BUEHLER.
Jacob Buehler, whose business life might be summed up in the one word "industry," is the owner of an excellent farm in Joliet township. A self-made man, whatever suecess he has achieved is due solely to his own earnest labor and inde- fatigable perseverance. He was born in Switzer- land in 1850. His father, Ulrich Buehler, was
also a native of the land of the Alps, born in the year 1819. He was a farmer by occupation and came to America in 1867, settling in the state of New York. He was there employed as a day laborer and died from a sunstroke in 1871. His wife, Mrs. Margaret Schoh Buehler, was born in Switzerland in 1831 and her last days were passed in Chicago, where she died in 1902, having long survived her husband. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters.
Jacob 'Buehler spent the first nineteen years of his life in the land of his birth and attended school there as opportunity offered. He then crossed the Atlantic to the new world and lived with his father until the latter's death, after which he came to Joliet in 1872. He had heard that better business opportunities could be en- joyed in the middle west and accordingly he came to Illinois, entering the employ of Adam Warner, for whom he drove a team at a roek quarry. He afterward worked by the month as a farm hand. He lived frugally and economically, worked hard and persistently and as the years passed made steady financial progress. When he first came to America he worked at ten dollars per month and later he received fifteen dollars per month. When he had saved enough from his earnings he purchased land and has sinee added to his property until he now owns a valuable traet of one hundred and ten aeres adjoining Joliet on the south. In connection with the enltivation of his fields he conducts a dairy and has an ex- cellent milk route. He also owns two houses ir Joliet and his own residence is a fine home, bor- dering what is known as the Orphans' Home car line.
Mr. Buehler was married in 1875, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Engimann, who was born in Switzerland in 1853 and is a daugh- ter of John and Eliza Engimann. Her father is now deceased and the mother is still living, her home being in Joliet. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buehler have been born a son and two daughters: Albert, who is living in Joliet and has a milk ronte there; Frieda, who is at home with her parents ; and Mary Elizabeth, who died at four- teen years of age.
The life record of Mr. Buehler should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others who have to start out as he did. He had
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no money to assist him when he began earning his own living but depended entirely on his labor, and as the years passed by he gradually advanced until he is today one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of his community. owning a valuable property adjoining Joliet.
WILLIAM DOUGALL, M. D.
Dr. William Dougall, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in Joliet, was born March 1, 1842, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His father, John Dongall, was born December 10, 1799, in Fintry, Stirlingshire, Scotland. The fam- ily name is derived from Dugall or Dhnghil, a son of Somerled, who died in 1164, and who was the founder of the clan of MacDougal. In 1230 A. D. the priory of Ardchattan was founded on the shores of Lock Etive, Scotland, by Duncan Dougal. The Dougalls were opposed to the claim of Robert Bruce to the throne of Scotland. This hostility arose from the murder of John, the Red Comyn, rightful heir to the throne, who was father-in-law of Alexander Dougal, the head of the clan of Dugall or MaeDugalls. In 1303 a bat- tle took place at Dalriechin, Perthshire, where Bruce was defeated and narrowly escaped capture or death, as he was being pursued by three of the most determined MacDugalls. They caught him while he was wading a ford on the River Almond, and had not the brooch which fastened his plaid given way he would have been taken prisoner. The brooch is still in possession of the clan at Dunolly.
John Dougall, father of our subject, was a leading cotton spinner in west Scotland. In 1858 he came with the other members of his family to America, settling at New Haven, Allen county, Indiana, where he died in 1874 at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, Margaret Houstoun, born January 1, 1801, in the town of Houstoun, Renfrewshire, Scotland, was a descendant of Sir Patrick Houstoun, a French Huguenot. He left France abont 1585 and built Houstoun Castle, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. John Dongall had six sons and six daughters, and eleven of the number were living at the time of her golden wedding, in 1872. She survived her husband for about four-
teen years, passing away June 17, 1888, in her eighty-eighth year.
Dr. Dougall pursued his early education in the common schools of Scotland and afterward at- tended, successively, the high school of Glasgow, the University of Michigan and the Chicago Med- ical College. He pursued at various times liter- ary, scientific and medical courses and was grad- uated in Chicago with the degree of M. D. in 1868. He was reared in a scientific atmosphere and manifested some leaning toward theology. He was passionately fond of a sailor's life, however, and enjoyed such an experience for a short time when he was fifteen years of age. In 1858 he came to America with his father, who wished to retrieve his fortunes in the new world, and in Indiana Dr. Dougall aided in clearing timber land for farming. In May, 1858, he left school and made his way with his father to Fort Wayne, Indiana, after which the family home was es- tablished on a timbered farm near New Haven. He aided in the support of the family by clearing land and raising the crops of the farm and thus amid pioneer surroundings he developed a spirit of self-reliance and energy which have been of benefit to him in later years.
At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, having been reared to believe in the cause of abo- lition, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in June, 1861, as a member of Company C. Fifteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. with the avowed purpose of aiding in making the whole country free. He participated in many im- portant engagements. including the battle of Rich Mountain, West Virginia, July 11, 1861; Green Brier, West Virginia, October 3, 1861; Shiloh, Tennessee, April 7, 1862; the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, from the 30th of April to the 30th of May of the same year : the battle of Munfordsville, Kentucky, September 14-21, 1862; Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862; Laverne, Tennessee. December 26, 1862; Stone River, Tennessee, De- cember 31, 1862 ; Tullahoma, Tennessee, June 24- July 3, 1862 ; Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 8, 1862; Johnsonville, Tennessee, November 2-4, 1864; Nashville, December 15-16, 1864; and a number of skirmishes. He served successively as corporal, sergeant and first sergeant of Company ('of the Fifteenth Regiment of Indiana Volum- teer Infantry and was examined by the West Point
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yours truly William Dougall. M.D.
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officers and commissioned captain of the Thir- teenth United States colored infantry in October, 1863. He then commanded a batallion of colored mounted infantry and led a charge of colored troops at Overton Hill, in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, where Hood was defeated by General George H. Thomas on the 16th of December, 1864. His company carried the colors and lost soventeen killed and thirteen wounded out of a total of forty-three men. Captain Dongall was slightly wounded, but not disabled until the fol- lowing day. He was severely wounded at the bat- tle of Stone River, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, December 31, 1862. He proved a brave and loyal officer, winning promotion in recognition of his capable and valorous service.
Returning to New Haven, Indiana, at the close of the war in 1865, Dr. Dougall, after providing for his father and mother, resumed the study of medicine and upon his graduation in 1868 located at Lemont, Cook county, Illinois, where the sum- mit level of the Illinois and Michigan canal was being deepened. Unassisted, he often performed surgical operations in the shanties of the laborers with good success.
On the 1st of October, 1872, Dr. Dougall was united in marriage to Miss Cassie Walker, the eldest daughter of Edwin Walker, of Lemont, Illi- nois, and removed to their present residence, where they have since lived. The lady was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, and her father for many years operated extensive stone quarries in Will county. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Dougall have been born a danghter and son, Mary Clapham and William Houstoun. The former was married De- cember 20, 1906, to Hon. Richard J. Barr, mayor of Joliet from 1905-1907, and senator of the for- ty-first district of Illinois since 1902, his incum- bency to continue until 1910.
Dr. Dougall has also filled some positions of public trust. He was postmaster of Joliet from 1879 until 1883 and he is widely recognized as a stalwart and unfaltering republican. He served as chairman of Will county republican central committee from 1876 until 1879. inclusive, and was closely connected with General John A. Logan in his election for United States senator in the work which was carried on for that end from 1876 until 1878. He is also prominent in va- rious organized societies of a fraternal, social and
professional nature. On the 18th of October, 1865, he became a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and was commander of Joliet command- ery, No. 4, K. T., in 1879 and 1880. In 1866 he joined the Grand Army of the Republic in Indi- ana and was commander of Bartleson post, No. 6, at Joliet, in 1890. He joined the military o: der of the Loyal Legion as a member of the com- mandery of Illinois, May 8, 1890. He was secre- tary and president of the Will County Medical Society, with which he has affiliated since 1875, and in 1877 he joined the Illinois Medical So- ciety and the American Medical Association. Through these avenues as well as by extensive travel, reading and investigation, he keeps in touch with the modern trend of thought and ex- periment and advanced learning in the medical profession and is today recognized as one of the most able and learned physicians practicing in Joliet. Socially he is connected with the Joliet Commercial Club, which he joined in 1906, and he is a member and vestryman of Christ Episco- palian church at Joliet. A glance over his history will show that his life has been one of untiring activity and of consecutive progress. Endowed by nature with keen intellectual powers, he has so developed his talents as to grow in usefulness as well as in learning, and in a profession which many regard as the most important to which a man can give his energies he has made for him- self a creditable name, gaining a goodly measure of professional and financial success.
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