USA > Illinois > Will County > Portrait and biographical album of Will County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 23
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OIIN WILLIAM DIERSEN is a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, whose fine farm is located on seetion 15, Crete Township. Ile is the fortunate possessor of two hundred and forty acres of highly-improved land, besides thirty acres of timber, all of which formerly be- longed to his father, whom he succeeded in the ownership and operation of the homestead. It has been almost his life-long home, as he came to it
with his parents in his youth, having previously lived in Chicago some six years. The family ar- rived in America in 1846 from Ilesse-Cassel, Ger- many, where he of whom we write was born, Sep- tember 2. 1838.
John II. Diersen, father of our subject, was of good German blood, and in his native country was in the employ of a German nobleman bearing the name of Munchhausen, from the time he was a young man until he came to the United States. He married Sophia Ilue, who was, like her husband, a native of the Prussian Province of Hesse-Cassel and of pure llessian ancestry. After the birth of four children, one of whom died in infancy, Mr. Diersen set out for America with his wife, son and two daughters. They set sail from Bremen in May, 1846, and after a tedious voyage landed in the American metropolis, July 3. Thence they went up the Hudson River to Albany, thence on the canal to Buffalo, where they embarked upon a lake steamer. which anchored in Chicago in the latter part of the month. They remained in that city until 1852, when Mr. Diersen procured forty acres of Government land in Will County and be- gan agricultural labors as a poor farmer.
By hard work and the rigid economy best known to themselves, he and his wife got on in the world, linally becoming quite rich. They ac- cumulated the land now owned by their son, im- proved and occupied it for some years, finally removing to Crete Village, where both died. The death of Mrs. Diersen took place in 1885, and that of her husband in 1887. both being about seventy- three years of age. They were estimable people, well known in the vicinity and well respected. They were closely connected with the work of the Lutheran Church, to which they gave liberally. The only members of his family now living are our subject and his sister, Mrs. Sophia Brown, of Chicago. Before his marriage Mr. Diersen had served his country as a soldier in the Hanoverian War.
J. W. Diersen assisted his parents as his strength would permit, becoming of age on the farm he now owns and in the improvement of which he took part. He was married in this township to Engel Desenisz, who was born in Hesse-Cassel,
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Germany, August 28, 1842. When sixteen years old she accompanied her brother Philip to Amer- iea, their home being made in this county. Philip Desenisz served some time during the late Rebellion as a member of the Union army. Mrs. Diersen re- ceived a good practical education and excellent home training from her worthy parents, and dur- ing her mature years has exhibited marked ability as a housewife and great kindness in her domestic and social relations. Her mother,Sophia (Saller) Desinisz, died in the year 1881, being then quite old. Her father, Philip Desenisz, Sr., is still living in his native clime, where he has been a small farmer. Ile is a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, of which his deceased wife was also a communicant.
The wife of our subject has borne him twelve children, of whom we note the following: John is a hardware dealer in Crete, his wife being Sophia Piepenbrink; William is at present working in a grain house in the same town; Louisa is the wife of Phillip Pieperbrink, a farmer in Crete Township; Henry is now with his brother, assisting him in the hardware business ; August, Herman. Gotleib, Amelia, Emma, Walter, Anna and Otto are at home Herman is learning the trade of a black- smith. Mr. Diersen has held the minor offices of the township and is now acting in the capacity of School Director, and has been Highway Commis- sioner since 1871. and has also been Treasurer for the same length of time, and is Secretary of the Crete Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. He and the members of his family who are entitled to vote belong to the Republican party. The en- tire family, parents and children, belong to the Lutheran Church.
R EV. ERNST A. BRAUER. pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Crete. is one of the ablest men in the ministry and besides possessing natural talents of a high order, is finely educated, a close student and an extensive reader. For the last forty-three. years he has given his entire attention to the interests of
his church and people and is greatly esteemed in the community, not only among those with whom he is intimately associated, but by the people at large. Mr. Brauer eame to this place from St. Louis, Mo., where for six years he had been pastor of Trinity, one of the oldest Lutheran Churches in that city. Prior to this he was for ten years a Professor in Concordia Theological Seminary at St. Louis, to which he removed from Pittsburg, l'a., where he had been connected with the oldest church in that city for six years. During the Civil War he served with the Missouri Militia and assisted in quelling the disturbances in that State, although never having regularly enlisted.
Mr. Brauer assumed charge of his first congre- gation at Addison, DuPage County, III., in No- vember, 1847, during the pioneer days, when his salary, like his congregation, was exceedingly small and continued so for a number of years and he lived to see this society become one of the largest and most prosperons in the Synod, comprising the States of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and others. Ile was one of the earliest preachers of the Luth- eran denomination in Illinois which was not rep- resented by any other for a number of years. He labored faithfully in the service of the Master and was rewarded by witnessing in due time a bountiful harvest.
The subject of this notice was born in the King- dom of Hanover, April 19, 1819, his early home being in the vicinity of Northeim. He received his education at a cloister in Elfeldt, where he pur- sued his studies six years, but he afterward en- tered the University at Gottingen from which he was duly graduated and after this he became a pu- pil in the college at Berlin. Subsequently he be- came a private tutor in the family of Mr. Omp. teda, the German Ambassador at London, and was thus occupied two years. At the expiration of this time he sailed for America in October, 1817, and after a nine weeks' voyage landed in New York City. He had only intended remaining a few years in this country, but his labors have been attended with such prosperity and he has made so many friends, besides becoming greatly attached to its institutions that he has no desire of returning except to visit the scenes of his youth.
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While a resident of Addison, Mr. Brauer made the acquaintance of Miss Beate Reinmann, who be- came his wife September 9. 1849, the wedding tak- ing place in Chicago. Mrs. Brauer was born October 23, 1822, in the town of Schullmburg. Ilanover, and is the daughter of Richard Reinmann who was of pure German ancestry. She was care- fully reared and received a thorough education in her native tongue. She went to Paris, France, with an uncle and from there came to America in 1819. Of her union with our subject there have been born nine children, all of whom are living. Five sous and two daughters are married. Albert II. was born in 1850 and at an early age evinced more than ordinary talent. being fond of his books and ambitious to excel in his studies. lle was graduated at Ft. Wayne, ( Ind. ) College and later at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Hle now has charge of the Lutheran congregation at Beecher, Ill. Hle married Miss Louisa Stein, of St. Louis, Mo. and they are the parents of seven children. Jane became the wife of Prof. Theophile Mees, Rector of the Ohio Seminary at Woodville, Ohio; they have six children. Dorothea is at home with her parents; Charles HI. married Miss Anna Bart- ling and is living at Eagle Lake, Ill. He was educated in Springfield, Ill., and has charge of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Ile is the father of four children. August G. was educated in a Seminary at St. Louis, where he now lives engaged as a stove repairer; he married Miss Amelia Schuricht and they have four children; Helene is the wife of the Rev. Frederick Pfoten- haner, who has charge of a congregation at Lewis- ton. Wis, and they have four children ; Herman E. is the pastor of the Lutheran Church at Niles, this State; he was educated in St. Louis, Mo. and Springfield, IN., and married Miss Johanna Brock- man of Chicago; they have four children. Frederick E. was graduated at Ft. Wayne, (Ind.) Seminary and later at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and is now assistant pastor with his father, besides having charge of other local churches; he married Miss Anna Meyer of Lake View. Ill .; they make their home with our subject. William A. is a minister of the Lutheran Church, having charge of a flour- ishing congregation at Hammond, Ind .; he was
graduated from the college of his church at Springfield, Ill. Ile is anmarried.
Mr. Brauer and his son Frederick have a fine library of which they make constant use and which contains many choice volumes including some an- cient works of great value. The family holds a high social position, representing the culture and refinement of the community.
Q. 6 .04 ...
BRAIIAM GOCKLEY. A compend of biographies of residents in Jackson Town- ship would be incomplete if it did not in- clude that of the gentleman above named, a retired farmer who is now enjoying the fruits of his early industry. His farm is on section 24, where he has resided since April 1857. He now makes his home in Joliet. Ilis landed estate com- prises two hundred and seventy acres which he rents, feeling that he is entitled to repose in his declining years. The residence is of pleasing ar- chitectural design, well furnished and pleasantly located, and all of the outbuildings upon the estate are well built and sufficient in size and num- ber to adequately shelter stock. crops, and ma- chinery.
The early life of Mr. Gockley was spent in Lan- caster County, Pa., in which he was born May 17, 1827. lle was reared on a farm and early deter- mined to follow the business of farming and stock- raising, which he has done throughout his entire active life. He was married in his native county in October, 1848, to Miss Hannah Lutz, who was born in the same county in 1827. When the re- moval to this county was made the family in- cluded three children. The parents have had ten sons and daughters, five of whom died when they were young.
The living children of Abraham Gockley and his esteemed wife are: Ilenry, a resident of Joliet ; Sarah, wife of Ilarmon Deutschman of Jackson Township; Marinda, wife of Andrew Peterson, of Jackson Township; Albert, a resident of Joliet, and Mary, wife of Jerry Johnson, of Rice County, Kan. The devoted wife and mother was called
GRashley
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from time to eternity April 25, 1867. She was a member of the German Baptist Church, whose principles she ever endeavored to carry out in daily life.
The nature of Mr. Gockley is extremely genial and social, and his memory is stored with infor- mation and ineidents of earlier life, which make him an entertaining companion. Ile manifests a deep interest in the welfare of those about him, particularly in the cause of education and the spreading of the Gospel. He has been School Di- reetor for twelve years and is an active member of the German Baptist Church.
AMES R. ASHLEY. The subject of this notice is familiarly called "the father of all the wire mills of this county." He is one the oldest residents of the county, having come to Plainfield as early as 1837, when a boy of twelve years. Ile was born February 3, 1825, in Martinsburg, Lewis County, N. Y., and is the son of Riley B. and Sally (Searles) Ashley, the latter of whom died when her son James R. was only two years old, also leaving an infant daughter who died in early childhood.
The subject of this notice remained with his fa- ther in his native place until 1837, and then the latter decided to emigrate to Illinois, set out with his little family and in company with three other families journeyed overland with teams from New York to this county. After a tedious journey of one month they arrived in the embryo town of Joliet, June 9, following.
The father being a Baptist minister purchased a home in the village of Plainfield and also bought a farm in that vicinity, the latter of which he leased while he confined his attention to his pas- toral duties, He organized the first Baptist Church in the place and remained in charge of it for sey- eral years. Through his efforts various other churches were organized throughout the surround- ing country, and among these he labored faithfully, sometimes going as far as Chicago to preach. He maintained his home continuously in Plainfield and
died there in August, 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Ile had in the meantime con- tracted a second marriage and there were born to him three more children, only one of whom is now living. After the death of his wife he was married a third time, and his widow is at present residing in Leyden, N. Y.
,James R., of this notice, was reared by his father and step-mother in Plainfield, and was given a good education. completing his studies at Warren- ville, this State. Ile first engaged in business in Plainfield as a merchant in a small way and by the exercise of a wise economy, succeeded in accumu lating sufficient means to erect a large store build- ing in which he placed a first-class stock of merchandise. Ile conducted the business until July, 1870, and then sokl ont. In the meantime, when the township organization was effected he was elected Township Clerk, which position he held for a period of fifteen years. During that time he also held the office of Justice of the Peace two terms and in addition to this, from the fall of 1862 until the spring of 1870, was the United States Gauger for what was then the Eighth Congres- sional District, comprising six counties. He had the supervision of all the distilleries, wholesale liquor and rectifying establishments within his bailiwick, and was required to inspect all liquors made and collect the tax thereon. It will thus be seen that during those years he was a very busy man.
After disposing of his mercantile interests Mr. Ashley rested for a time, then, in 1874, removed to Joliet and became connected with the firm of A. B. Sharpe & Co., with whom he remained until Jan- uary, 1876. He then sold his interest in the con- cern and that same day he and his brother formed a partnership with 11. B. Seutt and William Wat- kins, for the purpose of manufacturing wire fence- Mr. Ashley furnishing, with the exception of $500, all the capital. The partners operated together until the summer of 1876, and resolved themselves into the Joliet Wire Fence Company, taking in several new men and Mr. Watkins dropping out. They located their plant at Adam's Dam until the Ist of August when it was destroyed by fire. Not finding a suitable location elsewhere, they took
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their machinery to the penitentiary and the com- pany continued to do business until January 1, 1879. Then Mr. Scutt, D. Robertson and Mr. Ashley purchased the interest of the other part- ners and formed the new firm of II. B. Sentt & Co., and they operated until September, 1881, when Mr. Ashley disposed of his interest in the business to his partners.
In the meantime Mr. Ashley organized another firm called the Joliet Wire Company, with a capital of $50,000, and in connection with it established a wire drawing company, which, however, was sepa- rate in its operations. At this time there had been no enterprise of this kind west of the city of Cleve- land, Ohio, and it was made a grand success. In July 1882, Mr. Ashley purchased the machinery of the Joliet Wire Company and took the contract for employing one hundred and twenty-five convicts for eight years. At the expiration of this time he or- ganized the present Ashley Wire Company, of which ke was made President and Treasurer. On account of his failing health, W. S. Brooks was appointed Acting President and Treasurer, while Mr. Ashley retained the chief supervision of the concern. At the last election of stockholders he was re- elected President and Treasurer. The company are re- moving their plant to the southwest part of the city on the banks of the canal, where they are erecting extensive brick buildings and will thus double their present capacity. In 1876, 11. B. Scutt & Co., constituted the third firm in the United States engaged in the manufacture of barb wire and solved the problem of the feasibility of such fencing on the western plains. Mr. Ashley has large real-estate interests in Joliet, and at one time owned forty thousand acres of land in Flor- ida, three-fourths of which he subsequently disposed of to parties in this city.
The marriage of James R. Ashley and Miss Julia F. Tyler was celebrated in Plainfield, October 27, 1850. Mrs. Ashley was born in April, 1825, in Bridgewater, Mass., and was the daughter of Daniel Tyler, who spent his last years in Troy, N. Y. The Tyler family left the Bay State in an early day. settling in Troy, N. Y .. where Mrs. Ashley spent her younger years. She came with her sister to Plainfield about 1811. Of this union there were
born four daughters, only one of whom is now living, Ella M., the wife of George W. Bush, of Joliet. Religiously, Mr. Ashley is a member of the Baptist Church in Plainfield, while in political affairs he is a stanch Republican, and in the coun- cils of his party occupies a prominent place. He has made for himself a fine record in business cir- eles while as a member of the community he occu- pies no secondary position among his fellow-citizens.
Elsewhere in this volume will be found a litho- graphic portrait of Mr. Ashley.
AMUEL S. WIIITE. Among the energetic men who came to Joliet a number of years ago, and who were identified with its in- terest for years, living an upright and use- ful life in the midst of their fellow-men, may be numbered the late Samuel S. White, who entered into rest February 3, 1884. Hle was born in Law- rence County, l'a . where he grew to manhood, ob- tained his education, and learned the trade of a painter. For some years after reaching man's es- tate he continued to reside in the Keystone State, finding abundant employment at his trade, in which he became proficient, and which he followed until his death.
At the home of the bride, in New Castle, of his own native county, on April 22, 1851, Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Inez E. Craw- ford. This lady was a native of the town in which her wedding took place, and had opened her eyes to the light July 25, 1835. She is the third of six children born to David and Rebecca (Hozack) Crawford, the parents having also been natives of the Keystone State. She possesses many virtues of character, much intelligence, and the cordial man- ners which add to the attractions of the true wo- man.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. White con- tinued to reside in New Castle some five or six years, after which, in 1856, they came to Joliet. In the spring of 1868 they settled on a traet of land not far from the city, and there Mr. White
8
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breathed his last. The widow still occupies the homestead, which consists of about eighty acres of fertile land, upon which such improvements have been made as are common to the homes of those who are in comfortable circumstances and pos- sessed of energy and good taste.
Mr. White belonged to the Universalist Church, in which he held good standing, and among the so- eial bodies was connected with the Knights Temp- lar. He was the father of live children, named respectively : Ella L., Lillian M., C. Harold, Da- vid C. and Florence R.
S AMUEL LOEBSTEIN. The late Samuel Loebstein, who died at his home in Beecher, March 15, 1888, was a prominent citizen of the place in which he had been the first to establish a general store. It was situated in what is now the eastern part of Beecher, but was formerly known as' Washington Center. A store buikling was erected and the business established in 1870, and the proprietor had from the start an excellent trade, which increased and brought wealth to the originator and extended his reputa- tion as an honorable and enterprising dealer. The store was well located to accomodate the country trade, and Mr. Loebstein thoroughly understood the needs of his customers and with the assistance of his able wife kept the establishment well stocked and the business carefully managed in every de- tail. During his active life at this place Mr. Loeb- stein was also extensively engaged in buying and selling stock.
The natal day of our subjeet was February 13, 1832, and his birthplace Hebenhausen, Wurtem- berg, Germany. He was the son of Jacob Loeb- stein, a native of the same kingdom, whose business was that of a horse dealer and who was a promi- nent man in his town. Ile had married a native of the same kingdom, who also passed her entire life there.
Their son, of whom we write, was but a boy when he lost his parents and after becoming of age he set out to try his fortune in the New World.
After landing in New York he went at onee to Chicago, Ill., from which point he traveled in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan for some time, tin- ally locating in Dwyer, Ind. There he began his career as a stock dealer, thence coming to what is now Beecher. Ill. Ile possessed excellent busi- ness qualifications and made a success of whatever he undertook. Hle belonged to the Masonic fra- ternity, being enrolled in Blue Lodge, No. 710, al Grant Park. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. Ile came of the okl Hebrew stock and was a firm believer in the Jewish religion.
The marriage of Mr. Loebstein and Miss Anna Iless was celebrated in Chicago. The bride was born in Aufhausen, Germany, September 23, 1819, and was quite young when her parents came to the I'nited States. In this country she grew to matur- ity and received her education. She possesses a cultured mind, friendly manners and a more than ordinary amount of business ability, which has been particularly manifested since the death of her husband in keeping the enterprise in which he had been engaged going with its normal success. Her judgment regarding stock, her shrewdness in buy- ing. and the thorough oversight which she gives to every detail of the business marks her as a worthy member of a race from which such able financiers as the Rothchilds and others have sprung. She is the mother of live children, of whom Min- nie, Jennie and Polly died in infancy. The sur- vivors-Emma and Fannie -- are now making their home with their maternal grandparents in Chicago and being well educated in the Douglas School of that eity. Mrs. Loebstein belongs to the Jewish Church.
The parents of Mrs. Loebstein are Lippman and Jetty (Leiter) Iless, natives of Aufhausen, Ger- many, where the father was born May 22, 1818, and the mother June 25, 1825. They were com- panions in youth and their childish regard strength- ened and led them to unite their lives and for- tunes. Mr. Iless was a manufacturer of vinegars in Germany until late in the summer of 1856, when he emigrated to America. The family which in- cluded three children, after crossing the ocean set- tled in Rochester. N. Y., later removing to Har- risburg. Pa., and still later to Freeport, Ill. They
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finally located in Chicago where Mr. and Mrs. Iless ran a hotel for some years. They have now re- tired from active labor and are still living on the South side. They are now quite full of years but smart and active, and are excellent representa- tives of their race. Mr. Iless is a man of much ability, recognized as sueli by all who knew him, and both have many friends in their wide circle of acquaintances. They are devoted adherents of the Jewish faith.
OHN H. ROBINSON, deceased, began his residence in Will County, in the fall of 1841, making his first settlement in Troy Town- ship, but several years later removing to Joliet Township. In the latter he breathed his last December 8, 1873. During the early years of his residence here he filled the official station of Supervisor. His birth took place in Tonawanda, Niagara County. N. Y., June 5, 1811, and at his native place he resided until he was nineteen years old, lle then came West as far as Ashtabula County, Ohio, which was his home until he removed to Illinois. During his residence in Ohio, he re- turned to his native State and in the town of lamp- ton, Washington County, was united in marriage with Miss Naney A. Ilulett. This worthy lady was a native of that place, where her eyes opened to the light October 14, 1813. Their union was blessed by the birth of six children, four of whom died in infaney. The survivors are Andrew J. and John 11., the former a resident of San Francisco, Cal., and the latter of the parental homestead in this county.
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