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 70
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year later at the age of eighty years. They left eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth.
Hle of whom we write, grew to manhood in Law- rence, Mass .. and received an academic education. lle was in the dry-goods business for several years and when about twenty-three years of age began studying for the priesthood and completed his studies at Montreal, Canada, in 1878, being the same year ordained a priest. Ile immediately came to Wilmington and took charge of the present parish where he has continually resided since that. time. Hle has besides his work here, charge of St. Patrick's Church at Wilton. this county, and is a man held in high esteem by all the citizens of Wil- mington and elsewhere with whom he comes in contact.
A fine portrait of Father O'Gara is shown on an- other page of this volume.
ERNY SPANGLER. A stranger would not not be in this country long without hearing the name which stands at the head of this biographical notice, and learning that it is the cognomen of a prominent citizen of Jackson Township and one who is widely known through- out the county. At present this gentleman hokls the office of Sapervisor. a position in which he has served his fellow-men for several years, his contin- nance in it proving conclusively that the duties have been discharged in a satisfactory manner. This is not the only publie capacity in which Mr. Spangler has acted. In 1882 he was elected County Treasurer. and for four years his financial ability and integrity were made useful in that capacity.
ATHER THOMAS F. O'GARA. Pastor of St. Rose's Church at Wilmington, was born in Ireland in 1816 ; his parents Thomas and Pennsylvania was the native State of David Spangler and Amelia Batey, who became man and wife and reared a family of nine children. They removed to Summit County. Ohio.in which the latter years of their life were spent. There their young- est childl was born February 26. 1837. he being the gentleman of whom we write. He remained in his native State until he was twenty years oldl. in the Bridget ( McGinnis) O'Gara. having also been na- tives of the Emerald Isle. They came to America when our subject was an infant of one year and lo. cated in Lawrence. Mass .. where they resided for several years. In 1879, they removed to Ottawa, Ill .. where they were both called to the land of eternal happiness, the father in 1887. at the ad- vanced age of eighty-two years. and the mother one 2 meantime becoming well versed in the management
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of a farm, as his father was an agriculturist, and acquiring a good education.
Upon leaving his native State, Mr. Spangler re- paired to this county and at once made a settle- ment on seetion 12, Jackson Township, engaging in agricultural pursuits. So snecessful have been his labors that he now owns five hundred and sixty aeres in Jackson and Manhattan Townships and has an assured financial standing. Every detail of the work carried on upon his place is under care- ful oversight, and every part of the large estate evinces the taste and ability of the owner. A full line of buildings may be seen thereon, all substan- tial and well designed, while stock and machinery are excellent and sufficient in number and quantity.
The pleasant home of Mr. Spangler is presided over by a la ly whose intelligence and grace add to the attractions of the hospitable dwelling. She was known in her maidenhood as Miss Rachael Grove, and was a native of Summit County, Ohio, in which her marriage to our subject took place. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have four living children, named respectively, Samuel M., Ellery G., Alvin O. and Dora A. They mourn the loss of a daughter, Almeda M., who died at the age of nine years. Mr. Spangler is a Democrat and has taken quite an active part in political affairs. The family is re- garded as a credit to the seetion in which they re- side, and were a wish expressed regarding them, it would be that they might long continue their resi dence here, as their present health promises will be the case.
X AVIER MUNCH. Nowhere in the Missis- sippi Valley can more beautiful farms be found than in the Prairie State, and in no section of it are any more attractive than in Will County. On seetion 19, Joliet Township, lies a body of land sloping to the south and comprising one hundred and twenty-two productive acres, which, under the hand of a progressive and intel- ligent farmer produce abundantly. The estate is a home of which any man might well be proud, all the improvements upon it being excellent and in- cluding every convenience and proper means of
adornment. The owner of this fine estate, although of foreign birth, has spent the greater part of his life in America.
The ancestral home of the Munch family was in that section of Europe the possession of which has been a subject of controversy between two of the most powerful nations of the earth,and which is now included in the German Empire. This country- Alsace-was a part of France when Xavier Munch, Sr., was born near Strasburg. Ile married Cecelia Potter, and after the birth of four sons and three daughters emigrated to America, crossing the ocean in the spring of 1839. During that summer the family lived in Lemont, Ill., and in the fall removed to Joliet, where they made their home about two years. They then returned to Lemont for a short sojourn, but in April, 1842, rented land in Troy Township, Will County, of the late Andrew King. Upon it Mr. Munch resided about two years, when he settled on the farm now oecu- pied by our subject, remaining here until April 18, 1852. IJe then went to California to engage in mining, but never returned, and it is supposed that he died there. Mrs. Munch breathed her last in Joliet, November 8, 1856.
The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced, is the second child in the parental fam- ily, and was born in Alsace, July 31, t823. He had but fairly outered his teens when the family eame to America, and he followed his father in his vari- ous removals until 1847. Ile then enlisted in the regular army and participated in the Mexican War, returning in 1848 to loliet, and again taking up his residence under the parental roof. There he remained until his marriage, February 9, 1849, to Miss Mary M. Pfleger. Hle then settled on seetion 18. Joliet Township, whence tive years later he re- moved to bis present home. Not only has he manifested ability in his agricultural eareer, but has lived an upright life, dealt honorably with his fellow-men, and in every domestic relation has been kindly and considerate. In politics he is in- dependent, but generally votes with the Democrats. Both he and his wife belong to the Catholie Church.
The lady, who in the summer of 1849 became the wife of our subject, shared his joys and sor-
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rows until June 22, 1860, when she was called from time to eternity. Like her husband, she was a native of Alsace. Their union resulted in the birth of seven children. named respectively; Ma- tilda, Ferdinand, Daniel, Marion, Lawrence, Eliza- beth and Frances.
Mr. Munch contracted a second matrimonial al- liance in Joliet. choosing as his companion Mrs. Catherine Shaw Freedel. also an Alsatian. She has borne him eight children-Kate. Frank, Rose, Louis, Anthony. Sophia, Celia and Charles. Her former marriage had resulted in the birth of five children, of whom the survivors are : Joseph, Mary, and Al- fred Freedel. She is an efficient helpmate, a good neighbor and a devoted mother.
B ENJAMIN D. RITCHEY. This gentleman has done much for the growth and develop- ment of the section in which he resides and for many a year has been known and hon- ored as a worthy citizen of Wesley Township. After years of activity he has retired from business pursuits. disposed of the farms which he owned, retaining only an interest in buildings in the vil- lage of Ritchey. and is now taking his ease, as far as labor for sustenance is concerned.
The father of our subject was Matthew Ritchey. a native of Scotland, whose parents came to Penn- sylvania at a very early day, whence he subse- quently removed to Ohio. In the latter State he married Rachel Davis, a native of Virginia and a daughter of a Welshman. This was the third mar- riage of Matthew Ritchey and resulted in the birth of four children. two of whom are now living. The father departed this life in 1821, the mother sur- viving until 1862.
The subject of this brief biographical sketch is the first-born of his mother's children, his natal day being October 24. 1815. Ilis birth took place in Ross County, Ohio, where he spent his early years, beginning a personal career at an early age. When twelve years old he hired out by the month on a farm and continued to support himself in this way till he had reached the age of twenty years. He had
conceived the idea of buying a farm and working out its payment, and he and his brother John carried out the idea successfully, thus becoming the owners of one hundred and fifty aeres in the Buckeye State. In the fall of 1855 they sold, and removing to Ilinois settled in this county and the township wherein our subject still resides. Hle purchased a partly improved farm and engaged in mixed farm- ing, having cattle and horses which he had brought from Ohio.
In 1862 Mr. Ritchey and his brother embarked in the mercantile business, but after a time sold out, our subject subsequently buying the business him- self and carrying it on for several years in addition to operating his farms. Never having married he has had families keep house for him, and during the past twenty-eight years has made but one change. He has proved his ability as a manager and money-maker and insured himself against want unless an overwhelming catastrophe befalls him. Not only so but he has been useful in local offices and in various movements which would tend to improve the country. Ritchey Station takes its name from himself and brother.
Mr. Ritchey for several years belonged to the Grange, of which he was Master. He was Town- ship Assessor and Collector, and has been offered the position of Township Supervisor but declined it. In 1880 he was appointed United States Census Enumerator for Wesley Township. and he has been Postmaster at Ritchey for seven years. He has fre- quently been administrator of estates both in Illinois and Ohio, and has also been guardian in the latter State. This fact alone will suffice to show that he is looked upon as a man of the strictest integrity and great prudence.
Mr. Ritchey has always taken an active interest in political issues, has frequently been a delegate to county conventions and otherwise borne a fair share in the local campaign work. He became of age a few days before the Presidential election of 1836, and cast his first vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison. Four years later, during the ever memor- able "hard cider" campaign in the Buckeye State, he east his second vote for "Tippecanoe" who proved the successful candidate. Some years later, when the Republican party came into existence he voted
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for John C. Fremont, and 1888 he had the pleasure of voting for Gen. Benjamin Harrison, a lineal de- scendant of the old hero who had been his first love when becoming a voter.
In 1844 Mr. Ritchey rode ten miles on horseback on two consecutive nights to hear the eloquent and renowned temperance orator, John B. Gough, and enlisting under his banner has been a consistent temperance man from that day.
G EORGE W. BARTLETT, Insurance, Real Estate, Loan and Collection Agent, although comparatively a new member of the busi- ness circles of Joliet, is advaneing rapidly toward the front with bright prospects of soon reaching a place second to none in the community. Ile is a stirring and energetic man, with such qualifications as especially fit him for his present business, in which he is building up a good trade. He has fol- lowed this occupation for the past fourteen years, during which time he has represented such com- panies as the North America, of Philadelphia; the Phoenix, of Brooklyn; the Hartford, Etna, Con nectient and Ilartford, of Hartford; the Royal, of Liverpool; and the Traders', of Chicago. Those which he now represents are the Continental, of New York, and the Agricultural, of Watertown, N. Y.
In Genesce County, N. Y., Nathaniel Bartlett and Emily Gilbert were born, reared and marrried. They came West in 1855, locating in Grundy County, Ill., where they are yet living. Their family comprises three children-Fred A., a jew. eler at, Lockport; Elmer E., a mokler in Joliet; and George W., our subject. The father is an en- gineer by trade and has always pursued that avo- ration.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was born December 20.1856, in Grundy County, and spent the first thirty- two years of his life there. Quite early in life he began to manifest the energy which is so prominent a characteristic of his nature, taking up the occupation of a newsboy in Morris, and learning telegraphy while still a boy, although
he never pursued this work. For some time he clerked in a dry-goods store and then took up the insurance business, carrying on at the same time other lines of work. For seven years he clerked for C. H. Gould, President of the Grundy County National Bank, and also looked after the gas fitting in the place. He was the builder and manager of the Telephone Exchange, at Morris, and also of the toll line south of that city, which united the towns of Mazon, Hill Park or Wauponsee, Verona, Kinsman, Gardner and Minooka with the county seat.
An important step in the life of Mr. Bartlett took place in September, 1881, it being no less than his marriage with Miss Fannie Zimmerman, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Casper Zimmerman, have lived in Grundy County a number of years. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of one bright daughter, Carrie M., in whose growing intelligence the parents take great delight. Mr. Bartlett is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Repub- lican party.
C HARLES N. SPRAGUE, senior member of the firm of Sprague & Hess, forms, with his partner, one of the important factors among the business interests of Joliet, operating a creamery and dairy. He has been engaged in the creamery business since 1880, following this for a period of six years very successfully. The firm now turns out two hundred pounds of butter per day, and besides this, deals extensively in but- ter and cheese in a wholesale way. Hle associated himself in partnership with Mr. Hess March 1, 1890, enlarging the milk route and increasing his facilities for handling all kinds of dairy produce. The firm unquestionably stan 's at the head of the dairy interests in Joliet.
Our subject was born in DuPage Township, this county, January 19, 1846, and is the son of one of its earliest settlers, Thomas J. Sprague, a native of New York. The mother bore the maiden name of Lydia Swift. The parental family consisted of nine children, six of whom are living, making their
56Scarles
. Truly yours H. V. Hearles.
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homes mostly in Illinois. The father prosecuted farming in DuPage Township until the spring of 1890. then retired from active labor and took up his residence in Joliet, where. with his estimable wife, he still lives.
Mr. Sprague has all his life been familiar with agricultural pursuits. He obtained his education in the district school. and when a young man of twenty-two years established domestic ties, being married November 25. 1869. to Miss Allie C. Kill- mer. Mrs. Sprague was born November 10. 1850. in DuPage Township, and is the daughter of R. W. and Hannah Killmer, who are natives of New York. The father is now living in Joliet, and the mother is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are the parents of three children. two of whom are living. these being daughters-Hattie and Mabel. Mr. Sprague and his family live modestly in a com- fortable home and enjoy the esteem and confidence of their neighbors. In politics Mr. Sprague votes the straight Democratie ticket. He is one of the prominent men of the city, and while a resident of Dul'age Township officiated as Assessor and Town- ship Clerk. He has been for some years connected with the Masonic fraternity.
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D EWITT CLINTON SEARLES. The por- traits on the opposite pages will be imme diately recognized as those of a highly respected citizen of Will County and his estimable wife. Mr. Searles is well and favorably knowi. throughout this county. both in business circles and public life. As an agriculturalist of superior in- telligenee and progressiveness, he has wichled a potent influence in placing this county in the front lanks of its sister counties, and Troy Township finds in him one of its most enterprising citizens and a leader among its farmers and stock-growers.
Mr. Scarles was born January 30, 1830. in Sum- mit County, Ohio, and was reared near Columbus. Ilis parents were Amos and Hannah (Hulburt) Searles. They had come from Connecticut and were early pioneers of that part of Ohio. Ilis mother was a daughter of Isaiah Hulburt, a Revo-
lutionary soldier, who enlisted when fourteen years of age, and faithfully served throughout the entire war, being under Washington the whole seven years. Amos Scarles was a descendant of people who came to this country carly in the seventeenth rentury and settled on Long Island, where some of the family still reside.
Our subject passed the early years of his life within eighteen miles of Columbus, and when twenty-one years of age left his old home to try his fortunes in the Prairie State. Ile bought a farm about three miles from where he now lives, which he disposed of three years later and in 1856 purchased the one on which he now resides. It was at that time a tract of wild prairie and much hard labor was required to bring it to its present high state of improvement. He put up a building in which he lived, using a part of it for a barn, until the latter part of the summer when he erected a small house. This latter was afterward burned, and clearing away large quantities of the hazel brush which stood on his land, Mr. Searles erected a more substantial residence. He has since put up an excellent set of buildings, erecting his present house in 1866, and now has one of the best places in the county, consisting of six hundred acres of land in a fine state of cultivation. His farm is well stocked with cattle and hogs of the best breed, as he makes a specialty of feeding that class of stock.
Mr. Searles was married in 1866, to Miss Harriet Walker, of Plainfield, III., a daughter of Capt. J. Walker, who is credited with being the first settler in Will County and who was a soldier in the War of 1812, taking part in the battle of New Orleans and in many Indian fights. During the Black Hawk War he was Captain of a company and was Very active in subduing the Indians. In 1828 he came to this county with his family from St. Clair County. Ill .. and pre-empted for his first claim a part of the land on which the village now stands.
The mother of Mrs. Searles bore the maiden name of Walker, and was the daughter of Jesse Walker, who came here as a missionary in 1826. He was from East Tennessee, while the family origi- nated in Rockingham, Va. I'pon arriving in Illi- nois in 1801, Jesse Walker, who was a minister in
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the Methodist Church, settled in St. Clair County. During this long journey he had been accompanied by his family, who made the trip on horseback. HIe became very well known in the county and State, and was a contemporary and associate of Peter Cartwright. Mrs. Capt. Walker, prior to her marriage, was a missionary among the Indians. The first frame building erected in Chicago was built of lumber sawed at Capt. Walker's mill in Plainfield, this county.
Possessed of a noble character and fine mental endowments, Mr. Searles would have been an honor to any community. A man of broad views, keen observation and extensive information. he has a fine library well supplied with choice books. In the management of public affairs he has taken an important part. and for eight years was Supervisor of the township, which is strongly Democratic. He is a stanch Republican, but his well-known ability and popularity carried the day.
Mr. Searles and his wife have had four children, of whom three are living, one having died in in- faney. Maud is a young lady at home; Linn W. operates the farm, and Edna is a maiden of fifteen years. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are active workers. Socially, their friends are many, for their refinement has made them respected wherever known.
R ICHARD O. GREENLEAF. Cashier and bookkeeper for the Bates Manufacturing Company, assumed the duties of his present position soon after the organization of that company in Joliet. He has been a resident of this county sinee June, 1881, and first engaged in mer- cantile business. In 1881 he was proffered his present position and arranged his private affairs so that he could conveniently accept.
A native of Sonth Burwick, Me., the subject of this notice was born January 31, 1828, and was the son of Richard and Eliza ( Akerman) Greenleaf, the former of whom removed from Newburyport, Mass., the old home of the family, to Charlestown, that State, where he engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness. A few years later he died, leaving his widow with one child, the latter. Richard O., our subject, with whom the mother now makes her home. She was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1805, and has consequently now arrived at the advanced age of eighty five years.
Mr. Greenleaf grew to mature years in Newbury- port, Mass., where he completed his education and soon afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits, re- maining in the Bay State until 1857. He then re- moved to Nashua, N. H., where he sojourned until 1861. The Civil War now having broken out, he on the 19th of April, that year, immediately after the firing upon Ft. Sumter, raised a company under the call for one hundred days' men and this being assigned to the Army of the Potomac, they repaired thither and remained in the service until the 9th of August. Being then mustered out Mr. Greenleaf returned to New Hampshire and immediately raised Company B. which was assigned to the Fourth New Hampshire Infantry,and of which he was made Cap. tain. Soon after repairing to the South, they en- countered the enemy at various points and saw considerable active service including the siege of Morris Island, near Charlestown.
Returning North soon afterward with his regi- ment, C'apt. Greenleaf with his company was as- signed to the Tenth Corps, Army of the James, and he thereafter followed the fortunes of his regiment until the expiration of his term of enlistment in September, 1861. He had in the meantime been promoted to the rank of Major, with which title he was mustered ont.
We next find Mr. Greenleaf in Hillsborough County, N. H., where he remained until 1872, and then came to Illinois engaging in mercantile busi- ness until 1878. In October of that year he re- turned to Nashua, N. H., where he remained until 1881. and that year became a resident of Joliet.
Mr. Greenleaf was married September 16, 1861. in Nashua. N. H .. to Miss Martha A., daughter of Samuel Flinn. Of this union there are no children. Mr. Flinn was a native of Ireland and one of the organizers of a large cotton manufactory in New England; he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. Greenleaf, politically votes the Democratie ticket. About 1858 he indentified himself with the Masonie
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fraternity in Nashua. N. 11., and is now a member of Rising Sun Lodge. Ile also belongs to John Gi. Foster Post. at his old home in New Hampshire. in which he is Post Commander. Socially, and in busi- ness circles Mr. Greenleaf bears an excellent repu- tation, and is well worthy of representation in a work of this kind.
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ERMANN STUDTMANN. Northern Illi- nois, like all of the other States of the I'n- ion, owes no small share in its rapid growth and development to the energy and indus- try of its substantial German citizens. They came here mostly poor in purse but well fitted by hab- its of industry and economy to battle with the dif- ficulties attending the opening up of new farms, and instituting homes in the land of their adoption. Among these may be properly mentioned Peter Studtmann. the father of our subject, who came hither from the Fatherland in October, 1873. as- sisted his sons as best he could in his labors, and died at his home in 1885.
Peter Studtmann was a native of the Kingdom of Hanover as also was his son Hermann, of this sketch, the latter being born May 13. 1848. The mother bore the maiden name of Mary Vonderohe. She spent her entire life in her native Hanover, dying about 1865. The parental family con- sisted of two children, both of whom came to America. Hermann was a youth of nineteen years when crossing the Atlantic, and after landing at New York City, he made his way to Chicago. IH .. but only sojourned there a few weeks. We next find him in Peru. this State, of which he was a resident for about five years. In September, 1873, he came to New Lenox Township and se leeted a traet of land on section 20, where he took up his abode and has since lived. He commenced in life dependent upon his own resources and while in La Salle County was employed by the month as a farm hand. Ile is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land. all of which is in a productive condition, embellished with neat modern buiklings and having all the
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