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 53
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In 1840, when a young man of twenty years, the subject of this notice emigrated to America, land- ing in New York City. Thence he made his way . to Buffalo, and from there emigrated to Chicago, Ill .. and a short time afterward we find him in Joliet. this county, occupied at whatever honest labor he could find to do. For a time he was em- ployed on a canal. but later worked for a farmer in DuPage County, remaining with him three years. In the meantime he made the acquaintance of Miss Sarah Wise, to whom he was married at Naperville, in 1811. After the birth of one child, Mr. Fredrick, in 1848, removed to Joliet where he lived one year. Ilis next removal was to the farm which he now owns and occupies, and which lies a short dis- tance west of the city limits.
Since his removal to this place Mr. Fredrick bas given his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. Ilis fine farm with eighty acres is embellished with good buildings, while he has made fenees, planted fruit and shade trees, and gathered together all the comforts and conveniences of modern farm life. To him and his estimable wife there has been born a l'amily of twelve children, eight of whom are liv- ing. Joseph married Sarah Smith and lives in Joliet ; Frank E. married Miss Margaret Parks and is a resident of Joliet ; Sarah is the wife of Thomas Bossom, and they live in JJoliet; Josephine. Charles A .. Oswald J., William W. and Anna A. are at home with their parents. The deceased children were taken from the household circle at a tender age. Mr. Fredrick politically, attiliates with the Democratic party. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, to which he still loyally ad- heres.
Mrs. Fredrick is the daughter of Jacob and Sarah ( Martin) Wise, who were natives of the kingdom of Bavaria and of German parentage and
yours Respectfully George Alexander
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ancestry. They emigrated to America in 1831. settling first in Pennsylvania. where they lived seven years. In 1837 they came to Illinois. settling in DuPage County, where they spent the closing years of their lives. There was born to them a family of seven children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Fredrick is the third child and likewise is a native of Bavaria, her birth taking place August 4. 1827. She was a child of three or four years when coming to America, and remained under the paren- tal roof until her marriage.
G EORGE ALEXANDER, who ably repre- sents the township of Channahon, on the County Board of Supervisors, and whose portrait will be noticed on the opposite page, is the oldest native-born citizen now living here. Hle is well known throughout this part of Ulinois as one of its keenest and most sagacious business men, and one who has been variously identified with its interests for many years; by his energetie and res- olute force of character and talent for affairs he has given a great impetus to the growth of this section of country, and is still actively forwarding various schemes for its advancement in important directions. Hle is one of the foremost farmers and raisers of stock, and owns one of the largest and finest farms in this part of the State.
Mr. Alexander was born on the Reed place, in the east part of this county, October 27, 1837. le comes of an old pioncer family, his parents, John and Elizabeth ( Turner) Alexander, coming here in the early days of the settlement of the country, and moving on the farm where our sub- ject now resides, when he was a year old. They lived there until death. the mother dying in 1853. and the father in 1856. he being killed by a kick from a horse. lle was a native of Scotland but was reared in England, and was there married and in 1836 came to this country with his wife. and located here permanently. He crossed the Atlan- tic live times, and in 1835 first set foot in Chicago, which was then but an insignificant hamlet.
Our subject is the third in a family of six chil-
dren, and was reared amid pioneer scenes to a stalwart manhood, bred to agricultural pursuits. Ilis father was a well-educated man, and taught school in the early days of the settlement of this com.ty, and our subject besides attending the local school received the benefit of instruction from his father, and thus obtained a liberal education. Ile started in business for himself with thirty-five acres of land, and has met with more than ordinary suc. cess, being now the possessor of seven hundred and fifty-five acres. all of which lies within five miles of his home. His homestead is on section 15, Channahon Township, lying on the banks of the Desplaines River. The Chicago & Alton and Santa Fe Railroads rum through the farm near his house, and a station has been located about a mile from there. Ile carly gave his attention to the grain and cattle interests, and also to raising horses, having made a specialty of the stock bus- iness. shipping to Chicago, Buffalo, and even to Albany, and has been thirteen days on the road with his cattle. This he followed a long time, be- ing in partnership with C. C. Smith for nineteen years; they also opened a butter factory in the village of Channahon, which they managed to- gether for several years, handling as many as six- teen thousand pounds of milk per day, making butter and cheese. Our subject has by no means confined himself to agricultural pursuits, but has been engaged in other directions. He was con- nected with James Bruce in quarrying and ship- ping stone, furnishing the fluxing stone to the rolling mills, he having a specially fine stone on his place adapted to that purpose. At different times he contracted with the State to furnish the prison with meat, in company with C. C. Smith.
February 11. 1860, Mr. Alexander was united in marriage with Miss Emeline, daughter of Nelson Bedford. of New Jersey. They have had seven children, tive of whom survive. namely: Nettie, Hattie, Mary. John and Ruth, the latter a child living with her parents. Nettie, the oldest keeps house for her brot er John, who is now managing one of his father's farms in Wilmington Township; llattie is the wife of William Jennings, formerly of Will County, now residing in Crawford County, Kan .. and they have three children-Emma, George
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and Blanche; Mary is the wife of Allison Tryon. of Channahon, and they have two children-George and Louis.
Mr. Alexander is a man of fine physical and men- tal endowments and his honorable, conscientious course as a business man, his far-seeing qualities, taet and enterprise make him an invaluable citi- zen of his native county, and it is to the influence of such men of fertile brain and liberal spirit that Will County is indebted for its high standing and pros- perity. He is generous, frank and kind, genial and courteous in his intercourse with others and ocenpies a warm place in the hearts of his many friends. He is a leader among the Democrats of this section, takes a prominent part in public affairs and was elected Supervisor on that ticket, a position for which he is peculiarly well fitted. He is identified with Channahon Lodge, No. 262, A. F. & A. M.
EVI HARTWELL. " Deacon " Hartwell as he has been known from boyhood, is numbered among the oldest and most hon- ored settlers of Homer Township. There are living but two or three of the men whom he found in this township when first coming to Will County. Not only has he maintained his residence here for the long period of fifty-seven years, but he has been one of the township's most prominent and useful men. identifying himself with its most worthy enterprises and giving his moral and substantial aid to whatever was calculated for the promotion of its best interests. He is a man whose opinions are thoroughly respected and who is looked up to by his neighbors as one possessing more than or- dinary ability and whose integrity has been main- tained unquestioned during the changes of a long and useful life. Ilis occupation has been that of a farmer, in which he has been successful, securing a home to defend him against want in bis declining years.
Mr. Hartwell is descended from excellent stock which flourished in New England during the Colo- nial days. Ilis father, the late Samuel Hartwell.
was a native of Hadley, Mass., and born in 1789. llis mother who bore the name of Abigail Davis. was born in 1799, and it is believed was of French parentage, being also herself probably born in France. The parents after marriage settled in Rochester, N. Y., where the father ocenpied him- self as a carpenter and farmer. Later they became residents of Pittsford, Monroe County, where the mother died in 1828.
After the decease of his wife Samuel Hartwell returned to his native State, and in 1834 met an accidental death by falling from what was known as Dry Bridge, near Hadley, where he was found with life extinct. The parental family consisted of three sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was the eldest. He was born in Hadley, Mass., December 10, 1817, and at the early age of eleven years was thrown upon his own resources and compelled thereafter to look out for himself. He entered upon an apprenticeship at blacksmith- ing, serving seven years with the late John Lane. In June, 1833, he came in company with Mr. Lane, to this county which was then a part of Cook County. After completing his apprenticeship he followed his trade mostly in Homer Township, un- til 1870, but at the same time operated his farm in connection therewith. In due time he engaged in business for himself and manufactured steel plows which were sent all over the country, there being shipped to California alone seven hundred of these, which was sufficient indication of their popularity and utility. Mr. Hartwell also mann- factured other agricultural implements and from this source realized handsome returns.
In 1839, Deacon Hartwell purchased thirty aeres of land on section 20, Homer Township, and which was considered practically worthless, being mostly a marsh. Its condition to-day illustrates in a marked manner the results of good management, industry and perseverance, as combined with what he subsequently purchased. it now comprises some of the most valuable soil in WUl County.
Wisely making provision for a family before he assumed the responsibilities of one, Mr. Hartwell remained unmarried until approaching the twenty- fifth year of his age and was then wedded Novem- ber 3, 1842, at the bride's home in Homer Town-
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ship to Miss Louisa, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Morris) Poor. The young people commenced the journey of life together at their own home, and la- bored with a mutual purpose in gathering around themselves the comforts of life and acquiring a competence for the future. Mrs. Hartwell was like- wise from an excellent family. Her parents were natives of South Carolina and came to Ilinois in 1830. locating among the earliest pioneers of Homer Township. The father secured land and followed farming and built up a good home where he and his estimable partner spent the remainder of their days.
Mis. Hartwell was born near Attica, Ind., Septem- ber 11, 1823. Iler parents had emigrated to that State when it was practically a frontier, and thus endured twice the experiment of life in a new country peopled principally by wild animals and Indians. They were most excellent and worthy people and without making any great stir in the world, performed their duty faithfully to those de- pending upon them and are held in kindly remem- brance by all who knew them. Edward Poor, is supposed to have purchased the first land secured from the Government in Homer Township, the deeds of which were the first entered upon the conty records for this township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell there were born five sons, the eldest of whom, William E., died when two years okl. William E., second, during the late Civil War served in the Union Army as a member of Company A, Third Illinois Cavalry, and died in the hospital at Eastport, Miss., during the early part of May, 1865. at the age of nineteen years. Charles R. died at the homestead of consumption, he being also nineteen years okl; Levi, Jr., also died at the age of nineteen years. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell were called to part with three prom- ising sons upon whom they had fastened many hopes. In their great affliction they were tendered the sympathy of many friends. Samuel follows agricultural pursuits and lives at the homestead. lle married Miss Emma West. Mrs. Lonisa. Hart- well departed this life at the homestead in Homer Township, October 26. 1867.
On the 22d of April, 1868. Mr. Hartwell con- tracted a second marriage in Chicago, Il., with
Miss Emma A. Trask. This lady was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y .. November 10, 1816. and died of diphtheria in Homer Township, March 3, 1886. The Hartwell farm is embellished with first- class buildings and now embraces one hundred and ten acres all of which has been brought to a high state of cultivation. In politics our subject is in- dependent and although not a member of any re- ligious denomination, believes in the establishment and maintainance of churches and contributes to the support of the Gospel. He held the office of Constable in 1838. being the first official of this kind in the town of Homer. He has been a School Trustee in his distriet and Overseer and Commis- sioner of Highways for many years. He repre- sented Homer Township in the County Board of Supervisors two years, and was the Poor Master for one year. No man has taken a warmer interest in the advancement of the best interests of the com- munity and none have given a more cordial support to the enterprises calculated to aid its progress, so- cially, morally and financially.
RS. ELIZABETH M. FARGO, widow of Orange T. Fargo, is a native of Rock Is- land County, IN., where she was born May 21, 1841. Her parents, Lucias and Harriet ( MeLean) Mears, moved to Kendall County when she was six years of age. Her father was a carpenter and upon the breaking out of the gold fever he went to California. While on his way home he was stricken by cholera and died on board a Mississippi steamer, May 21. 1851. The widowed mother is still living, now in Chicago. She has one son, J. M. engaged in the commission business in that city, and two daughters, Mrs. C. N. Check and Mrs. W. A. Taylor, residing there.
The lady whose name stands at the head of this sketch has been twice married. She has a son, II. 11. Delos, by her first husband, a noble young man of whom she is justly proud. He is now Treasurer of the Chicago and Aurora Refining and Smelting Company. He has recently taken a companion in life, his bride being Miss Edith, daughter of
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Charles Pettigrew, of the Illinois Steel Company. with whom he was united in marriage January 22. 1890.
On February 18, 1872, our subject was united in marriage with Orange T. Fargo, with whom she lived happily until November 3, 1871, when he en- tered into rest. Ile was a native of the Empire State in which he opened his eyes to the light Feb- ruary 10, 1829. He was a most excellent man highly spoken of by all who knew him, his habits being unexceptionable and his whole life most ex- emplary.
Mr. Fargo, politically, during his life was a stanch Republican. When first widowed in 1868, Mrs. Fargo, then Mrs. Delos, began dressmaking in Chicago, and has pursued that vocation ever since. She has enjoyed a very large patronage among the best citizens of Joliet, and has made many friends in the years of her residence here. She owns the elegant buiding known as the Fargo Block, on the corner of Ottawa and Van Buren Streets. She is a devoted member of the Presby- terian Church in whose work she takes deep in- terest.
NI'D PEDERSON derives a comfortable in- come from his farming operations, which he is carrying on very successfully in Will County. Ile is a representative of the Scandinavian element that has played so important a part in the settlement and development of the great West, and his thrift and industry make him a most desirable citizen.
Mr. Pederson was born October 7, 1827, in the province of Thronhyem, Norway, a son of Peter and Anna (Knud) Lawson, also natives of that country. His father was a tailor by occupation. but in the Swedish Norwegian War he served as a soldier four years. He departed this life in 1839. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, three of whom died young, five of whom are still living, as follows: Mrs. Emily Erickson, of Evans- ton, IH .; Knud and Lewis; Mrs. Anna Hanson, of Chicago; Mrs. Regana Schellstad, of Seattle, Wash.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Lewis Pederson. a native and a farmer of Norway. He was the father of three sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter reared families. The mother of our subject came to the United States with him, and died in his home in 1871, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. She was a daughter of Knud Garmo, who took his name from the farm on which he lived. He and his wife reared a large family of sixteen children.
The subject of this brief biography passed his early life on a farm, and after his father's death, worked out as a farm laborer by the month until he was twenty-seven years old. Hle then took to a seafaring life, which he abandoned after being wrecked in 1862, and subsequently came to Amer- ica to try his fortunes here, accompanied by his mother asal sister Anna. They located in Chicago, to which place his other sisters had preceded him some three years before. After settling here, he again became a sailor, and was engaged on the lakes three years. In the spring of 1866, he came to Will Township, having decided to resume the calling to which he had been bred. He bought one hundred and fourteen aeres on section 6, and since then has been busily engaged in its improvement, and has wrought a great change, putting the land under excellent tillage and providing it with suit- able buildings and everything needful to carry on his operations successfully.
Mr. Pederson has had the assistance of a good and faithful wife since his marriage, February 14. 1864, to Inga Margretta Olson, a native of Norway, and a daughter of Ole Sehinner. She crossed the waters alone from the land of her nativity in 1863, her parents following her in 1872, with three of their children. Our subject and his wife have been blessed by the birth of six children, four of whom are living -- Peter, Oliver, Louie N. and Arthur W. The great sorrow of their wedded life has been the death of their daughter Clara, at the age of fifteen years, and their son Arthur (second), at the age of two and one half years.
Mr. Pederson has managed his affairs shrewdly and well sinee turning his attention to agriculture nearly a quarter of a century ago, and may well be pleased with what he has accomplished by his own
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hands with steady and persevering toil. Ile and his wife are greatly esteemed in the neighborhood, and are among the respected members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
P ETER KNEPPER. The results of industry. thrift and wise judgment have been mani- fested in the career of this gentleman, who in all matters pertaining to his finan- cial standing has fairly earned the title of a self- made man. Ile owns and occupies eighty acres of valuable land on section 14. Green Garden Town- ship, and every part of the estate gives evidence of the prudence and good judgment of its owner, and likewise betokens that he is a man of good taste and domestic instincts.
It will not be amiss to devote a brief space to the progenitors of our subject ere entering upon our outlining of his own life. Ilis father, John Knepper, a native of Luxembourg, was a farmer and stock-raiser who gained independent circum- stances and a landed estate of one hundred and forty acres, which is a large farm for that country. Hle was a participant in the Franco- Belgian War, was Mayor of Mertzig six years and Treasurer of his home district twenty-eight years. Ile lived to the ripe age of eighty-two years, dying in 1885. His wife, formerly Mary Welter, was born in Pla- ten, being a daughter of Philip Welter, a well-to- do farmer of that province. She had a brother in the Franco-Spanish War four years, and who after- ward took part in the Franco-Russian War. She died in 1887 at the age of eighty one years.
The parental family comprised seven children of whom our subject is the sixth in order of birth. The first-born. Mary, is deceased; Lena. Mrs. Ma- jarus. living in her native duchy; Anna is de- ceased; John is living in Luxembourg; Philip resides in LeMars. Iowa; Frank resides in Chicago.
The gentleman of whom we write was born at Mertzig. Luxembourg, February 2. 1842. and was reared in his native place. having the advantages of good schools from his sixth to his fourteenth year.
He acquired a more than ordinarily good education, receiving instruction in both German and French, which languages he speaks readily.
The young man remained upon the home farm until twenty-seven years of age when. being desir- ous of securing a home of his own and land being high in his native country, he determined to come to America, where he thought he could better his financial condition. He therefore bade adieu to home and friends in 1869, and set sail from Ilavre, January 14. on the steamer "Manhattan" which reached Liverpool three days later. There he em- barked on the steamer "Palmyra" which anchored in New York Harbor, January 28. Mr. Knepper started for Dubuque, lowa, but when he reached Chicago was somewhat ill and so remained there some days. Mr. Eisenbrandt persuaded him to lo- cate in this State and in Will County. He there- fore came into Green Garden Township on the 2d of February, and spent the year in working for Mr. Eisenbrandt. His services was engaged by the year the second time and after that experience as an employe, he began farming for himself.
Mr. Knepper rented one hundred and twenty acres from his former employer and operated it quite successfully. In 1871, he purchased the eighty acres which he now occupies and which at that time bore some old buildings. On this he en- gaged in the labors which have brought him a competent support and a reputation which is cred- itable to his intelligence and enterprise. He at one time owned forty acres adjoining, but sold it, re- taining but his first purchase. The land is all till- able, is well fenced, tiled and furnished with a full set of adequate and substantial buildings. Mr. Knepper has set out groves and orchards which add to the beauty of his home as well as to its monetary value. The residence is five miles from Frankfort. Mr. Knepper divides his attention be- tween the raising of grain and graded stock, in- cluding Norman horses.
In Joliet October 12, 1870, the interesting cere- mony took place which gave Mr. Knepper a wife. The lady with whom he was united was Miss Mary Henzpeter, who was born in Mecklenburg. Ger- many, and accompanied her parents here in 1869. She is well informed and has the knowledge of
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housewifely arts which is almost inseparable from the training of a German maiden, while her charae- ter is an amiable and loving one. Her parents, Fred and Dora (Koester) Henzpeter. have five children of whom she is the first-born and the only daughter. Her brother Fred lives in Frankfort Township; Charles. in Marcus, Iowa; John, in Joliet; and Henry in lowa. The parents are living in Green Garden Township and the father is en- gaged in farming.
The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Knepper has „heen blest by the birth of four children. three of whom-Bertha. Clara and Charles -- are at home. The first-born. Caroline, is residing in Joliet. Mr. Knepper is an active Democrat and has been a delegate to county conventions. Ile has served in publie capacities, among them being that of Col- lector. which he held one year, Township School Treasurer, in which he has served during the past six years and of which office he is yet the ineum- bent, and School Director which position he held six years. Ile belongs to the Green Garden Evangel- ical Church. His knowledge of the English language was acquired by personal effort, his evenings being devoted to study until he had sufficiently mas- tered it.
ILLIAM DAY, deceased, was for many years a well-known and greatly respected member of the farming community of Whatland, and his name is linked with its growth. lle was of English birth and antecedents, born in Lincolnshire, November 1, 1833, a son of John and Rebecca Day, who were also natives of England. Ile was reared to man's estate in the country of his birth and was engaged mostly in farm work.
His educational advantages were limited, but he made up for that by the knowledge that he gleaned as an observant, intelligent man. He was ambitious to secure a competence, and having an idea that he could do so more advantageously in the United States of America, he crossed the waters to this country, accompanied by his young wife, in 1861, taking passage at Liverpool on a sailing-vessel, and after a voyage of thirty-one days, landing in the
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