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 38
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George W. Flagg, of whom these lines are writ- ten was reared on a farm and educated in the dis- triet schools, of this his native county. He early displayed the patriotism that made him a good sol- dier and before the war became a member of the Plainfield Light Artillery, and at the time of the first call for troops. in April. 1861, he was Second Lieutenant of his company. which offered its ser- vices to the government and was sent to Cairo, and was there organized as Company K, Tenth Ilinois Infantry, and mustered in for three months. Our subject served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, and in September, 1861, again volunteered for the defence of his country, enlist- ing in Company K, Eighth Ilinois Cavalry, and was mustered in as Second Lieutenant. He was with his regiment until 1862, when he resigned on account of ill health and returned home to resume farming ou section 31. of Du Page Township and lived there until 1872. In that year, as his health was not good. he went to Greeley. Col .. and there engaged in live stock business for five years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Will County and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits here. He owns five hundred acres of as fine farming land as is to be found in the county, located in Du Page and Lockport Townships. He has a handsome and substantial residence which he vc- cupies in Plainfield, and is managing his large agri- cultural interests with more than ordinary success. In 1861. Mr. Flagg and Maraya Colegrove
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Wheatland Township, Will County, and a daughter of Lester G. and Lucretia ( Ingersoll) Colegrove, of whom see sketch. Two children have resulted from this marriage, George K. and Jerome F. Chester Ingersoll. the grandfather of Mrs. Flagg. kept the first hotel that was opened in the city of Chicago.
Mr. Flagg's loyal course when our country was threatened with ruin, and his straightforward, manly conduct in all the affairs of life, both be- fore and since that time, mark him as a man who is an honor to the citizenship of his native county.
C HARLES PAULI, proprietor of the Na- tional llotel at Joliet,, counts his friends by the score among the traveling public, and whoever is so fortunate as to sojourn once under his hospitable roof, repeats the experiment at the carliest opportunity. The National is comfortably equipped with all the requisites for rest and ro. freshment. "Mine host" exerts himself to be courteous and obliging, and is evidently operating with a thorough understanding of his business.
The subject of this notice, a native of the King- dom of Saxony, was born May 28, 1837, and is the son of an old soldier of the German army, Henry Pauli, who died in Germany, in 1873, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. He had distin- guished himself for bravery and fidelity to duty, and for many years was in the enjoyment of a pension from the Government.
In accordance with the laws and enstoms of his native country. Mr. Pauli was placed in school at an early age and pursued his studies several years, acquiring a good education in his native tongue. lle remained a resident of his native place until a man of twenty-eight years, and then resolved to seek his fortunes in America. Accordingly, in the summer of 1865 he set out for the New Work on a steam vessel named New York, which in due time landed him safely in New York City. Thenee not long afterward he repaired to St. Louis, Mo., and from there migrated to Edwards County, Kan.,
where he sojourned two years. Hle afterward fol- lowed cigar making in Detroit, Mich., three or four years, from 1877 to 1881. In the spring of the latter year he came to Joliet, where he pursued his trade of a cigarmaker until purchasing the hotel of which he is now proprietor.
I'pon becoming a voting citizen Mr. Pauli iden- tified himself with the Democratic party. Ile is eminently social in his instincts. belonging to the Old Soldiers' Society. a German order flourishing wherever there is a large number of German soldiers. He also belongs to the sharpshooters and the Vocat Minstrel Society of Joliet.
Mr. Pauli took unto himself a wife and helpmate in October, 1880, being wedded to Miss Lena An- hardt. This lady was born of parents who were natives of Germany, and who are now deceased. Of this union there are no children. Mr. Pauli's mother bore the maiden name of Doretta Boek; she is now deceased. The National Hotel is a solid stone building, containing seventy two rooms and thoroughly equipped for the purposes to which it is adapted. It was the first building of the kind erected in Joliet, and although an old timer, is in a perfect state of preservation and good for many years to come.
ASON L. WILSON. Among the live real- estate men of the flourishing little city of Joliet, is found Jason L. Wilson, who was born in this city. November 11, 1858. He is a son of George and Martha ( Eaton) Wilson, both of whom are natives of Manchester, N.H. The fether started out in life as a farmer, but learned the carpenter's trade, which he subsequently fol lowed. In 1852 he left the Granite State to find a home in the prairie lands of the Mississippi Valley, bringing with him his family, which then com- prised two children. These were John, now cashier of the rolling mills. and Mrs. Jennie McGuire, also of this city. After Mr. and Mrs. George Wil- sou became residents of Joliet four children were born to them. Two of these, George and Eaton
Jours Truly William Davidson
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are deceased ; the living are Charles, a grocery dealer in Joliet, and our subjeet.
The gentleman of whom we write received a good common-school education and began his act- ive life as a elerk in a grocery store, in which he remained about four years. He then became a clerk in the local office of the Alton Railroad, spending eleven years in the employ of that rail- road corporation, four of which were passed in Chicago as chief clerk of the local oflice there. Ile returned to Joliet as agent of the Chicago & St. Louis, now the Santa Fe Railroad. continuing in that capacity five years. In 1889 he entered upon the sale of real estate. which he still pursues, hav- ing in December of that year formed a partnership with Henry II. McGuire.
In Miss Laura Vandenburg, a cultured and lov- able young lady of this city, Mr. Wilson found the qualities of heart and mind which he desired in his life companion. After a successful wooing. the rites of wedlock were celebrated between them July 22. 1882. They have three living children, named respectively: George. Martha and Anita. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of W. L. Vandenburg, originally of the Empire State. Mr. Wilson af- filiates with the Masonic fraternity. He possesses decided business ability, is well informed regard- ing the world's progress, and is reputed honest, ro- liable and straightforward in all his dealings.
ILLIAM DAVIDSON. It is frequently said that the pedestrian learns much more of the country than he who travels by public conveyance, as he is brought much closer to the people and has a better opportunity to observe their habits and to learn their characteristics, and also sees, as rapid transit will not permit. the nat- ural beauties or blemishes of the landscape. Did time and space allow of a detailed account of the experiences of the subject of this sketch. much of interest might be learned regarding the appearance of various sections some years since and the man- ner of life of the citizens. Although his experi-
enves were not always agreeable, yet his labors in life were beguiled by many scenes both entertain- ing and instructive. The stubborn determination which is so characteristic of the race from which he sprung and the feeling which has been so thor- oughly embodied in the well-known expression of one of England's most noted men, that "England ex- prets every man to do his duty, " has characterized his life labors and led to his success and present assured financial standing.
The remote ancestors of our subject were Danes, but for many generations they have been num- bered among the English race. Hle of whom we write was born in Tallantire, Cumberland County, England. October 28, 1827. and is one of six sons and two daughters born to Robert and Esther ( Howe) Davidson, who were natives of the same county. The father was a farm laborer. Three sons and a daughter came to America, Joseph and William making the voyage in 1850.
An old Englishman had been sent from Connec- tieut to the Mother Country to secure one hundred and fifty quarrymen, and under an engagement with him the two Davidsons came to the I'nited States, Joseph paying his own fare but William being brought by the company. The latter from early boyhood had longed to cross the ocean and rejoiced in the opportunity presented to him. They landed in New York April 21. 1850, and began their labors in the Connecticut quarry the follow- ing day. Previous to leaving his native land young Davidson had been railroading for six years and prior to that time had been a farm hand.
Mr. Davidson worked ninety-nine days in the quarry, paying his passage money and quitting the employ of the company when they owed him $40, which they have never paid. Borrowing $7 from his brother, he went to Philadelphia and thence to Baltimore. from which point he started on a tramp with his kit on his back. He went to Little York, Pa .. and had worked six weeks when the quarry stopped and he tramped three hundred miles, re- turning to within a mile of his starting point. There he worked on a canal six weeks, after which he walked to Dalton, Ohio, where he engaged to lay track for the Ft. Wayne Railroad. Nine months were spent in the employ of that company,
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during which Mr. Davidson put in the switches and side tracks from Pittsburg, Pa .. to Massillon, Ohio. His next change was to Michigan City, Ind., where he took a job of spotting ties on the New Albany & Salem Railroad. The little money which he should have made was lost. as his contract was but a verbal one. and his employers thought he was making too much for an old country man.
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After this hard treatment Mr. Davidson left the company and coming to Chicago in 1852 was ill for two weeks, after which he went on the Illinois Central Railroad at Kankakee. before there was a house at that point. Hle got out all the stone used on the road from there to Cairo, working at it about four years. after which he took up his abode in Joliet, where he has resided for thirty-four years. He came here with Robert Cunningham and the first work he did in this place was to get out stone for the Universalist Church. He began work in the quarry of which he now owns a share. his em- ployers being Wilson Bros. of Chicago, whom he served eleven years as a foreman. lle and W. A. Strong then bought the Swalm quarry, and after- ward the Wilson, carrying on the two abont four years, when our subject bought his partner's inter- est, besides other property. In 1869 he sold a fourth interest to his brother and, in 1885. taking in Henry Kerber, organized as a joint stock com- pany. The output has been from $100 to $150,000 per year.
Mr. Davidson has been four times married. His first wife, Jane Sterling, was a native of Canada and was of Scotch descent; she died about three years after their marriage. Mr. Davidson con- tracted a second marriage with Ann Finney, a lady of English birth; she was a widow with six chil dren, the youngest of whom was two years okl at the time of her second marriage. She bore Mr. Davidson two children, one deceased. while the other a daughter. Etta .I., is the wife of John Pierce and resides in Colorado Springs. Colo. After the death of Mrs. Ann ( Finney ) Davidson our subject took unto himself as a wife and helpmate Mrs. Melissa Dewey, who lived twenty-one years after their union. No children were born of this mar- riage. Mr. Davidson married his present wife, a most estimable lady, in the fall of 1885. Her
maiden name was Amelia Ilegbom, and she is of Norwegian birth.
In connection with this sketch we present a lith- ographic portrait of Mr. Davidson. Politically. he is a strong Republican. ITis character as well as his business energy entitle him to respect, and he is numbered among the most reliable citizens of the city in which he has resided so many years.
OIN KIEP,senior member of the firm of Kiep Bros., is with his partner conducting a well regulated market occupying No. 117 Chi- cago Street, Joliet, where he has been en- gaged sinee 1875. Mr. Kiep is one of the native- born citizens of Joliet, and first opened his eyes to the light November 24, 1858. His father, Philip Kiep. a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States, in 1856, when a young man, coming imme- diately to the young town of Joliet, and in due time was married to Miss Helen St. Julian.
The mother of our subject was a native of France and born in 1834. She was thus four years younger than her husband whose birth took place May 1, 1830. They were married in 1857, and Philip Kiep sometime afterward opened a board- ing house which he is still condueting. He and his excellent wife are still living. being hale and hearty and in the enjoyment of a comfortable sup- ply of this world's goods. There was born to them a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom with the exception of P. Robert, the fourth child, who works in the Elgin Watch Factory, are residents of Joliet. The others were named respectively : John, Joseph, Frank L., Philip D., Josephine, Mary and Theresa. and one, Philip, dead.
The subject of this notice attended the public schools of loliet and when starting out in life for himself entered the employ of W. C. Wood, who was engaged in the insurance business. Later he was variously occupied until 1875, when he estab- lished his meat market in partnership with James MePartlin in 1881. In 1881, selling out he went to California where he remained until April the fol-
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lowing year. He was married in Joliet, June 21, 1885, to Miss Mary A. Rappal. Soon afterward. in company with his brother Joseph, he established the present market which is one of the most im- portant institutions of the kind in the city. doing a large business. He has made as fine displays during the holidays as any market man in the State of Illinois, priding himself at this season. He is a fine judge of good meats and is fully appreciated by his patrons who comprise the best people of the city. He gives very little attention to politics, with the exception of voting the Democratic ticket at the general elections.
Mrs. Mary A. (Rappal) Kiep was born June 13. 1864, in Joliet and is the daughter of Michael and Antoinette Rappel who were carly settlers of the township and who are still living; they are pleas- antly located on a farm two and one-half miles from the court house. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kiep were named respectively Loretta and Ambrose. Being a descendant of a people he- living in compulsory education, Mr. Kiep designs giving his children the best advantage in his power. He is a Catholic in religion, belonging to St. Aloysius Society in Joliet.
b ERMAN N. DOESCHER. Crete Town- ship is not without its share of the fine farms for which the State of Illinois is boted, and on one of these lives Herman Doescher. a successful farmer and stock-raiser. This estate of two hundred and eighty acres of line land near Endor has been the home of our subject for fourteen years, and to his efforts is due its present state of improvement. He began his ros- idence in this township in 1851. buying one h'in- dred and twenty acres in the southern part. upon which there was but little improvement. He has since improved the farm and inereased the acreage, and made a small fortune by his persistent efforts in agriculture and stoek-raising.
In the town of Hanover. Germany. April 28, 1833. he of whom we write opened his eyes to the light of day. He is the second in a family of
eight children, one of whom was born in America, and was about nine years of age when the family emigrated to America, a settlement being made in Lake County, Ind., where he grew to manhood. There he completed his schooling, becoming pos- sessed of a practical education, while under the careful training of his estimable parents,he acquired right principles and useful habits. At Hanover, in that county, he was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Meier, who has been his efficient companion and sympathizing helpmate for many years.
Mrs. Doescher was born in Hanover, Germany. November 3, 1834, and there reared to womanhood. She lost her mother in Germany and subse- quently came to America with two of her brothers to join their father, Henry Meier, at Hanover, Ind. The latter afterward went to lowa, and died at Jefferson, Greene County, when about four score and five years of age. His life work was that of farming. Mrs. Doescher was married about a year after her arrival in this country. She is the mother of twelve children, seven of whom died young. The survivors are Alvina, Lizzie, Bertha; and Edwin and Julius (twins), all at home. Mr. Doescher has been Highway Commissioner some years. In politics he is a staneb Republican. The entire family are attendants at the Lutheran Church, and are regarded with respect by their fellow-citizens as worthy representatives of their nationality and the families from which they are descended.
The parents of our subject were Herman and Johannah (Steffen) Doescher. The father was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, and bred to the trade of a rope maker, carrying on a rope-walk at Bremer- haven for a number of years and until he came to America. The mother was born and reared near Hamburg, and was of pure German blood. After the birth of all of their children but one, 1 they set out from Bremerhaven on a sailing ves- al for the United States. After a voyage of , seven weeks landing was made in New York City, whence the family at once journeyed to Lake County. Ind. This was in the fall of 1842. The parents purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hanover, where they began their farm life.
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and where they lived for abont forty years. There the mother died in 1881, at the age of seventy- eight years. Her husband afterward went to En- dor, Ill., and died at the home of his son Charles. December 2. 1887. Ile had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years, He had been successful in worldly affairs and in gaining the esteem of his fellow-men to whom his honesty and kindli- ness were well known. Ilis wife was an excellent neighbor, ever ready to perform deeds of kindness and both had many friends, particularly among the German residents of the county in which they lived.
G EORGE PICKEL is numbered among the industrious, thrifty members of the farm- ing community of Plainfield Township, where he has an excellent farm, that is under good tillage, is provided with comfortable build- ings, and yields a good income. Our subject is a veteran of the late war, in which he suffered all the hardships and privations of a soldier's life for the sake of his country. He is a native of New York, born near the town of Albion, Orleans County, July 3, 1839, a son of John Pickel. He was but four years old when he was deprived of the care of his father by his premature death. The mother of our subject married a second time, be- coming the wife of William MeQuenn, who was a veteran of the War of 1812, and took part in the battle of Plattsburg. In 1848. the family came to Will County, and here our subject was reared amid the pioneer influences that obtained here thus early in the settlement of this section of the State. Joliet was then but a village and the sur- rounding country was but sparsely settled, giving but little indication of its present prosperous con- dition. Our subject attended the public schools and obtained a fair education, and when very young entered upon his career as a farmer, gain- ยท ing a good practical knowledge of agriculture, and . he continued to pursue that calling till he entered the army. He had been watching the course of the war with patriotte interest, and August 8, 1862,
in the very prime and vigor of a stalwart man- hood, he being then but twenty-three years of age, he proffered his services in the defence of the Stars and Stripes, and was enrolled as a member of Company E, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, and served faithfully from that time until his hon- orable discharge in June, 1865, with the exception of the time when he was languishing in rebel pris- ons.
At the battle of l'errysville the regiment was held in reserve, but it took an active and gallant part in the battles of Stone River and Chicka- mauga. In the latter engagement Mr. Pickel and his comrades were captured, and for more than a year suffered the horrors of life in rebel prisons. After two days in Libby Prison, Richmond, they were taken from there, and were then transferred to Pemberton Prison, where they remained until December. and were then taken to Danville. In the month of April, they were dispatched to Andersonville, were confined there seven months and after that taken to Florence. S. C., and from there to Goldsborongh. N. C., thence to Wilming- ton, and were there paroled after being in the hands of the enemy seventeen long and weary months, when they must have often despaired of ever seeing home and friends again. Mr. Piekel, though naturally of a vigorous constitution, suf -. fered extremely and became so emaciated that whereas he had weighed two hundred and five pounds just after the battle of Stone River, when he was released from captivity he only weighed one hundred and sixteen pounds.
After our subject and his comrades were paroled they were ordered to St. Louis, and thence went to Camp Butler, Springfield, and were inus- tered out of the service. After his terrible exper- ience in prison, on the march and on the battle- field, Mr. Pickel returned to Will County, and as soon as able resumed his farming operations, that had been interrupted when he laid aside the har- vesting instrument to take up sword and rifle. He followed agriculture in Jackson Township until 1878, and then bought his present farm, which he. is managing with good financial success, and he is a shrewd, skillful farmer. His land is well tilled. his buildings are suitable and convenient, and he
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has good machinery to work his farm, and does what he can to promote the highest interests of his adopted township, and as a practical farmer is contributing to its material prosperity.
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ON. ABIJAU CAGWIN. The growth and prosperity of any city depends very largely upon the efforts of a comparatively small number of her residents. to whose faith in the future of the place and wise judgment as to methods by which to secure a rapid development, otlier citizens owe the benefit which acerue to them. In the city of Joliet an important part in the upbuilding and official work of both city and county has been taken by the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, and who merits the good will of the citizens for labors which have resulted beneficially to all who then made or now make it their home.
The birth of Mr. Cagwin took place in Verona, Oneida County, N. Y .. May 19, 1807, and he lived in his native place until he was nineteen years oldl. He had learned the trades of tanning, currying and shoemaking in Rome, and going to Brockport. Monroe County, he built a tannery, continuing in business there until 1835, when the tannery was destroyed by fire, entailing a severe loss. The people of the community were very anxious that the owner should rebuild and offered him material assistance, but he thought it would not be for the best, although very grateful to them for their good feeling and generosity. Some leather had been left uninjured by the fire, and this he made up into harness, which he shipped to Chicago, having made up his mind to come West.
Mr. Cagwin left his old home in the Empire State in company with one Hiram Janes, but took on his own account a stock of goods, which he peddled on the way through to Peoria, Ill. He visited a brother in Pekin, and then, having de- termined to settle at loliet, which was then in Cook County, he loaded up the goods which he had left in Peoria and set out for this place. He bought a house and lot on the west side of the Des-
plaines River and sold out his goods at auction. Just before his settlement he undertook to eross the river in a boat, but came very near being car- ried over the dam by the current and drowned. lle was within twelve feet of the verge when he was rescued by having a bed cord thrown out to him attached to a pole, which he finally succeeded in getting holl of.
In 1835 the land sale took place in Chicago, and Mr. Cagwin purchased eighty acres southeast of Joliet, after which he returned East and bought the necessary equipments for a sawmill, which he shipped to Chicago, and brought with a team from that place to Joliet. He had some time before purchased one hundred and sixty acres of timber land, on which he purposed to begin the lumber business. On his return from the East he pur- chased a horse in Detroit, Mich., completing his journey from that point on horseback. He began getting out timber for his mill, doing what he could until the following winter, when on horse- back he went back to the Empire State, returning in the spring with his family, which consisted of a wife and four children, the journey being accom- plished by teams. In the party were four other adults.
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