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 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Mr. Wilder, in 1812. contracted a second mar- riage in Cook County, this State, with Mrs. Lonisa ( Wilson ) Raymond. This lady was born near London, England, and is of pure English stock as far back as is known. She emigrated to America when quite young, settling with her parents in Canada, where she was married to her first husband, George Raymond. They afterward removed to Michigan, where Mr. Raymond died when a young man. leaving three children. John died when thirty years old. The survivors are Christiana. the wife of 11. P. Gray. a machinist of Chicago, and Ann who married Clark Holbrook. a farmer of Cook County, this State. Of this marriage of our sub- ject there have been born two children: George HI.
married Miss Angusta Brown, and is farming in Cook County; Louisa is the wife of C. S. Howard, a leading business man of Denver, Colo., very wealthy and extensively engaged in the lumber business. Mr. and Mrs. Wilder are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Wilder for many years has been a lead- ing officer and to which he has always contributed a liberal support.
OHN O. MEIER, Supervisor of Crete Town- ship. has represented this township in the County Board of Supervisors for a period of nineteen years-a fact which sufficiently indicates his standing among the people. In former years he prosecuted farming successfully, but in 1885. retired from active labor and took up his abode in the village on the 2nd of November, that year. He is the owner of considerable town property and has three hundred and Afty acres of some of the finest farming land of Will County, besides thirty acres of timber. His land is now operated by his sons. Eighty acres of it was se- cured by him from the Government and through his industry and perseverance was brought to its present fertile condition and added to, until the acreage now amounts to three hundred and eighty.
A settler of February, 1848, Mr. Meier pur- chased in Crete Township his first tract of Govern- ment land, this comprising eighty aeres which he bought in 1817. Ile commenced without means and owes all his possessions to his industry, economy and perseverance. He is of German birth and an- cestry, his early home being in Hesse-Cassel, where he first opened his eyes to the light January 17, 1824. lle emigrated to America in the summer of 1814, and for a year thereafter was a resident of Chicago. Thenee he removed to DuPage Town- ship, Will County, and worked by the month until earning sufficient money to become a landowner.
The father of our subjeet was Conrad Meier, also a native of Hesse-Cassel, and a miller by trade. lle spent his entire life in his native province, dy- ing at the age of fifty-five years. He was a Lu-
519
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
theran in religion and married a lady of his own province -- Miss Sophia Schweer. She survived her husband many years and died at her native place at the advanced age of eighty-two and one-half years. She, like her husband. was a member of the Lutheran Church from her youth.
To the parents of our subject there was born a family of two sons and two daughters, all of whom - lived to mature years, were married and had fam- ilies. Of these Jolm O., is the only survivor, and the only one who came to the I'nited States. He attended school until fourteen years old, in the meantime also worked at his father's mill. At that age he set out for himself and when a young man of twenty years embarked on his voyage to Amer ica. from Bremerhaven on the sailing vessel "West- phalia." a three-master, which after forty. three days landed him safely in New York City. Thence he proceeded to Albany by steamer and from there by rail to Buffalo, where he took a lake vessel to Chicago, at which he arrived after seven days' pas- sage.
Mr. Meier now began work on farm land which is now included in the city limits of the World's Fair City, remaining in that vicinity for twelve months. While crossing the Atlantic he made the acquaintance of a maiden of his own country- Miss Anna Rinne-who was accompanied by her parents. This acquaintance resulted in their mar- riage October 18. 1848, at Chicago, where the pa- rents of Mrs. Meier settled. This union resulted in the birth of eleven children and after remaining the devoted helpmate and companion of her husband for a period of more than twenty years. Mis. Meier departed this life at her home in Crete Township. April 27, 1869. Five of their children are yet living. John W. married Miss Sophia Scheiwe, who is now deceased. and he lives in Ash Grove, this State; Sophia is the wife of Henry Was-man. and they live on a farm in Crete Township; William H. married Miss Rena Tadger, and they live on Mr. Meier's farm in C'rete Township; Mary is the wife of William Piepen- brink, a farmer of Crete Township; Louisa lives with her brother John, in Ash Grove.
Ilesse-Cassel, Germany, November 28, 1832, and lived there until December, 1869, at which time she emigrated to America, coming alone. Of this union there have been born two children-one of whom Leo, died when ten months old; Henry E. operates one of his father's farms. Mr. Meier and his present wife, as was also the first wife, are mem- bers in good standing of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Meier has given to his church a liberal support and officiated as a Trustee for a period of thirty years. Politically, he is a pronounced Republican. He has heen quite prominent in local polities and has held all the township offices, discharging the duties thereof with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He is Treasurer and Director of the Crete Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, which was established in 1861, and which has been a great success.
RTMUR C CLEMENT. senior member of the firm of Clement & Oliver. is with his partner transacting quite an extensive business in real estate, loans and insurance, making a specialty of his own property. He was born in the city of Joliet, JJanuary 16, 1852, and is a son of one of its earliest settlers, Charles Cle. ment. who at the time of his death was the oktest living resident of the place.
With the exception of a few years spent in New Hampshire, Mr. Clement has passed his entire life in the city of his birth. When a small child his parents removed to the Granite State, and made their home in Chester until the spring of 1862, the father in the meantime coming to Itinois when necessary to attend to his business. After returning to this State, in 1862, for permanent set- tlement. Arthur C. remained with his parents and pursued his studies in the city schools until 1868. Then going to Ithaca, N. Y. he entered Cornell l'niversity where he took a four years' course and from which he was graduated in 1872, with the de- gree of B. S.
After leaving the University Mr. Clement re- turned to JJoliet and during the winter following
Mr. Meier. on December 23. 1869, was married to Miss Engel Scheiwe. This lady was born in i occupied himself as a school teacher in Will Town-
520
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
ship. In the spring of 1873, he entered the office of Olin & Phelps, attorneys, and took up the study of law to which he gave his close attention for a year anl then entered the law department of Chicago University, and was soon afterward admitted to the bar. He then associated himself with a partner and the firm of Phelps & Clement transacted a successful business until the year pre- vious to the death of Mr. Clement's father, in 1878.
Mr. Clement being chosen to administer upon his father's estate, he found his time so taken up that he was obliged to abandon his law practice and give his attention to that in which he is now engaged. In 1885 he entered into partnership with Stephen A. Oliver. and they added insurance to the business which is being extended steadily as they are becoming known. Mr. Clement has Dem- ocratie tendencies. but has never had any political aspirations.
On the 15th of September, 1875, Mr. Clement was united in wedlock with Miss Georgia M. Smith, at the bride's home in Auburn, N. Y. This lady is the daughter of Alfred and Lanra Smith, who are now residents of Auburn, N. Y. There have been born of this union a son and daughter. namely, Charles Alfred and Laura.
Charles Clement, the father of our subjeet, was born in Windsor. Vt., in January, 1810. and there spent the early years of his life. After removing to Joliet he was married to Miss Cordelia, sister of Edmund Wilcox, who was a partner of Mr. C'le- ment upon first coming to Joliet. Mr. Clement settled here in the spring of 1833. after which he . erat party. went to Peoria and sojourned until the fall of that year. Miss Wilcox had come to the West on a visit to her brother and was married to Mr. C'le- mont in 1814.
cantile business two years. He in the meantime become a prominent man and was one of the Vil- lage Trustees prior to leaving for New Hampshire. After the return from New Hampshire he again embarked in the dry-goods business at the corner of Jefferson and Ottawa Streets, and was thus oc- cupied until 1865, while in the meantime he dealt largely in real estate. He finally retired from ac- tive business and died December 11, 1878, at his home in Joliet, Ill.
After Joliet had assumed the proportions of a city, Charles Clement represented his ward in the Council for a number of years. When first com- ing to the place he, in company with Messrs. Wil- cox & Allen established the Joliet Courier, the first issue of which bore the date April 20, 1839. This was the first paper published in the county, and Mr. Clement still preserves with care a copy of the first issue which contains a report of the proceedings at the incorporation of Joliet Town- ship. Upon that occasion the following officers were elected; William Scofield. President, Charles Clement, Treasurer, Charles Gardner. Clerk, and William Adam, Street Commissioner. In 1837, the father of our subject. in company with Mr. Wilcox, made a trip overland with a horse and wagon through Northwestern lowa, during which they spent only two nights at a hotel. There are still living of the parental family only two chil- dren-Arthur C .. our subject, and Alice C. who re- mains with her mother at the old place. Mr. Clement cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson and was a stanch adherent of the Demo.
ILLIAM S. NICCOLLS is the occupant of the old Haven homestead, on section 24. New Lenox Township. and the owner of two hundred acres of fine land in MeLean County. Ilis occupation is that of a farmer and stock-raiser, in both of which lines of work he has become a master.
The father of our subject about 1835, purchased one acre of ground situated at what is now the cor- ner of Exchange and Bluff Streets, paying there- for $100 and upon it put up the first frame build- ing in the town. this being the Old American House and which during the boom that followed two years later, he sold for the sum of $15,000. taking The Keystone State claims Mr. Niccolls as one of her sons and in that State his parents also first in part payment a stock of goods. Then in part- nership with Mr. Wilcox he engaged in the mer- , opened their eyes to the light of day. His father,
521
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
John Niceolls, was born in Westmoreland County, in April, 1810, and his mother, whose maiden name was Maria Steele, in Fayette County in 1807. After their marriage this worthy couple settled in Westmoreland County, remaining there until 1817, when they removed to the vicinity of Cadiz, Har- rison County. Ohio. Thence they journeyed to Bloomington. Ill., in 1851, and are now living in that city at an advanced age. They are the par- ents of eight children named respectively. William S .. Sarah J .. John. Violet. Cassius, Hattie, Albert. and Elliott.
The subject of this biographical notice was born in West Newton, Westmoreland County. l'a., OG- toher 13, 1831. He accompanied his parents in their removals, remaining in Bloomington. this State. from their arrival in 1851, until 1856. lle then came to this county. spending three years as a resident of New Lenox Township, after which he returned to Bloomington for a year. Coming again to this county he spent three years in farming at Reed's Grove, after which he went again to Bloom- ington, remaining at that place until December, 1886. During the greater part of his life he has been engaged in trading in stock.
Mr. Niccolls has been twice married. The first engagement was consumated in Bloomington. Oc- tober 3, 1851, the bride being Miss Elizabeth. daughter of Calvin and Lucinda ( Keyser) Barnes. Mrs. Elizabeth Niccolls shared her husband's joys and sorrows until October 10, 1879. when she . was removed from her sorrowing household by the hand of death. She had borne her husband ten children. six of whom died in infancy. Those who lived to years of maturity are John V .. . Josephine. William and Calvin B.
The second marriage of Mr. Niecolls took place in New Lenox Township. September 7. 1886. the bride on this occasion being Mrs. Lydia E. Haven ner Francis. She is a daughter of the late bra- ham and Mary A. J. (Davison) Francis, whose history will be found in the sketch of her brother. A. Allen Francis. She was born in this township. April 9, 1815. and is the sixth child in the parental family. She was reared to womanhood on her ather's farm where she resided until her marriage to Alvin S. Haven, which was celebrated Devem-
ber 19. 1865. Mr. Haven was the youngest son of the late Samuel and Hepsibah ( Denny ; Haven, whose history is included in the sketch of the Ilon. Dwight Haven. He was born on his father's home- stead in New Lenox Township. February 6, 1842, was edneate : in the common schools and grew to manhood on the farm. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of the old homestead. which consisted of about one hundred and ten acres, and at the time of his death owned two hundred and seventy one aeres, which is now the property of Mrs. Niecolls. He passed from earth November 29. 1878, mourned by many friends and acquaint- anees. having gained the esteem of all who knew him. He was a live Republican and had served as Collector two terms. He was the father of three children-Fred S., Charles F. and an infant who died unnamed. Charles F. died December 22, 1886, aged sixteen years, eight months and five days.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Niecolls belong to the Meth- odist. Episcopal Church, have high standing among its members. and throughout the community are looked upon with respect for the consistent lives which they lead as professors of Christianity. Both are well versed in general information and possess the cordial, friendly manners which favorably im- press strangers, and are known by their friends to be the ont ward token of kind hearts.
OHIN WILKENING. After a series of years spent in persevering toil. the subject of this notice is now living retired from active la- hor and enjoying the comforts of a quiet contry homestead. comprising one hundred and sventy acres of land on section 22. Crete Town- ship. He has passed in and out among the people of his community for the long period of forty-one years, having come to this section in the spring of 1819. He then took up a tract of wild land comprising a part of his present farm, besides eighty acres in another part of the township, and one hundred and twenty acres in Washington Township, all of which he brought to a good state
522
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
of cultivation, with the exception of ten acres upon which is a fine growth of timber.
The possessions of Mr. Wilkening have been ac- cumulated by his own industry and good manage- ment, as he commenced in life at the foot of the ladder, without means and entirely dependent upon his own resources. Ile was born in Hesse .Cassel, Germany, July 2. 1819, and was the second in a family of six sons, four of whom came to America and one of whom died in his native Germany. The eldest of the family is still living at the old homestead in Hesse-Cassel. unless having died re- eently. All those who came to the United States are residents of Will County, Ill .. and occupied in farming pursuits. They, like their brother John. are well-to-do. industrious and reliable citizens, and holding a good position in their community.
The subject of this notice was reared at the lit- the farm in Hesse-Cassel. and received a very good education in his native tongue. Ile remained a resident of his native province until a man of twenty-six years and then, still unmarried. deter- mined to seek his fortunes in America. Hle em- barked at the port of Bremerhaven on a small sailing vessel, the "Harburg," which after a voy- age of six weeks landed him in New York City. July 3. 1845. Thence he proceeded to Albany. N. Y., via the Hudson River, and from there to Buffalo, where he boarded a lake vessel. and in due time reached Chicago, Ill., which was then an un- important town. Ile at once sought employment and worked by the day. being occupied in a simi- lar manner until he coubl obtain sufficient capital to secure his land.
In Chicago. Mr. Wilkening was married. in 1847, to Miss Mary Kollir. This lady was born in Hesse- Cassel, Germany, August 12, 1827, to John and Sophia (Miller) Kollir. who were natives of the same province. where they owned a small farm. lle was a weaver by trade. They were the par- ents of two children only, who were born before they emigrated to America. in the spring of 1845. They likewise made the voyage in a sailing vessel, landing in New York City. whence they proceeded in the same manner as our subject to Chicago, and from there to Will County, III. Mr. Kollir se- cured a tract of land in Crete Township, and with
the assistance of his estimable wife improved a good farm, where they both spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Kollir died, in 1868, when sixty-five years old. Mr. Kollir survived his wife a number of years, dying in 1879, aged eighty-five years and six months. They were people greatly respected in their community and prominently identified with the German-Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Wilkening was the elder of the two ehil- dren born to her parents. Her brother Henry died soon after coming to this country, when a promising youth of nineteen years. in the bottom of a well from the effects of fonl gas. Mrs. Wil- kening was about eighteen years old when her par- ents came to America. She was trained in all housewifely duties by her excellent mother, and has proven a devoted wife to her husband and a kind mother to her children. The latter were nine in number. but two died when quite young: John at the age of six years; and Anna. aged twelve. The survivors are recorded as follows: Mary is the wife of John Brockman, a teacher in the Chi- eago city schools; Henry married Miss Mary Stei- ver, and operates the homestead in Crete Town- ship: Conrad is represented on another page in this volume: Sophia is at home with her parents; Lena is the wife of Dr. Otto Miessler, of Crete; Frederick is occupied with his brother in a store at that place: Augustus remains under the home roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkening and all their children are members of the Lutheran Church. of ('rete. to which they give a liberal support. Politically, Mr. Wilkening is a sound Republican. He has held the local offices of bis township, and has al- ways borne the reputation of a man honest and upright in his dealings and one whose word is as good as his bond. He furnishes a fine illustration of the results of persevering industry and, while surrounded by all the comforts of life, and many of its luxuries, he may justly feel that he has fairly earned them, and at the same time he has ever been willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate.
The father of our subject was Il. Wilkening, likewise a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and who spent his entire life in the place of his birth.
i
1
1
Witam Y Paddock
525
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
!
While perhaps not the hero of any thrilling event, he was an honest, hard-working man, who made a comfortable living for his family and earned the good will of his neighbors. Ile lived to number three-score and ten years, and from early manhood was an active member of the Lutheran Church. His wife hore the maiden name of Catherine S. Buck. She likewise was of German birth and parentage, and proved the faithful helpmate of her husband, being industrious and economical and remaining with him until he no more needed her wifely offices. After his death she joined her children in this country, and died of cholera, in 1853, at the home of her son Christof, in Chicago. She was about seventy years old and, like her husband, a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.
ILLIAM J. PADDOCK. Prominent among those who spent their younger years wisely and profitably and are now living retired from life's active labors, may be properly mentioned Mr. Paddock, whose well-regulated home- stead is on section 21, Homer Township. His surroundings indicate a man of more than or- (linary enterprise, the farm being embellished with suitable buildings and having about it the air of thrift and prosperity, which is the inevitable result of industry, prudence and good management. Personally, Mr. Paddock is genial, liberal and pub- lic spirited, a man who is held in high esteem in his community, and who has acquitted himself in a worthy manner among his fellow. men.
The subject of this notice was the third in a family of fourteen children, and was born May 5, 1816, in Camillus. Onondaga County. N. Y. Ile was reared to manhood in his native county, where he lived until coming to Illinois, with the excep- tion of one year spent in Cayuga County. We first find him a resident of this county in the win- ter of 1836, when he located on the land which hi- father had previously secured on section 21, llomer Township. lle has thus been a resident of this town- ship for the long period of fifty four years, and
until retiring from labor was continuously engaged in farming pursuits. He is now the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of good land, which through his careful management has not only yielded him a handsome income, but enabled him to lay by something for a rainy day.
Mr. Paddock was married in Homer Township. October 30, 1838, to Miss Emily E. Oliver. This lady was born in Monroe County, N. Y., August 13. 1815, and by ber union with our subject be- came the mother of three children. The oldest born, Edgar L., died when about two years old; Eliza E. is the wife of Samuel W. Jones, and they live with our subject; Frank E. married Miss Anna Murphy, and resides in this township. Mr. Pad- dock cast his first Presidential vote for Harrison, and has always taken an active interest in political affairs, giving his uniform support to the Repub- lican party. He has held the office of Township Collector, and has been a Highway Commissioner for several years. Ilis long experience and close observation of men and things have conspired to make him a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence, and he has watched the various events dur- ing a long and useful life with a thoughtfulness which has maintained him in a position in the front rank among the readers and thinkers of the pres- ent day.
A fine portrait of Mr. Paddock appears on another page.
G EORGE E. ROCKEY. For over a quarter of a century this gentleman has made his home in Joliet. and perhaps no resident of the place takes greater interest in its growth and up- building than he. He is a quiet, unassuming citi- zen. who has taken little part in politics, except to generally vote the Democratic ticket and who has borne his part in public life, content to perform bis duties as an individual and sufficiently occupied with his personal affairs.
The parents of the gentleman of whom we write were William and Elizabeth (Maize) Rockey, whose funily comprised three children, of whom George
526
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
E. is the only survivor. The father was a harness- maker, and their home was in the Keystone State.
George E. Rockey was born in Mifflinburg, Pa., October 1, 1819, and learned the trade of a carpen- ter, although he never followed it except to do the wood work on threshing machines for a brother-in - law, David Herr. Ile went to Center County, where he opened a foundry in 1844, and where he resided ten years. He then came to Illinois and, locating in Plainfield, this county, worked for Dillman & Co. until 1862, when he removed to Joliet. In 1866 he bought a planing-mill, which he operated until 1886, when he transferred it to his son Franklin.
In Miss Susan Wolf, Mr. Rockey discerned the qualities of mind and character which won his regard, and after a successful wooing she became his wife December 15. 1842. Throughout their long and happy married life they have found no cause to regret the union. They have had five children, of whom four are now living in Joliet, the other having died in infancy. The survivors are: Mrs. Margaret Dice, Franklin, Mrs. Jennie Pomeroy and Edward.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.