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 72
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and was succeeding in his career when he deter- mined to try his fortunes in the New World. Cross -. ing the Atlantic he selected Will County, Il., as the scene of his future labors and the second year after his arrival bought land near Mokena and set- tled upon it. He began store-keeping on his farm, but when the railroad was built through the neighboring village Le abandoned his former oc- enpation and gave his entire attention to farming. His early experiences were not always pleasing, including as they did the hauling of goods from Chicago with oxen, which on one occasion ran away into the canal.
Mr. Brumund became the possessor of three hundred and seventeen acres in the home farm, and some seven hundred acres in Green Garden Township, together with Iowa land and two sec- tions in Stoddard County, Mo. As he was able to get land cheap from the Government when he first came and soon became successful in his farm work, it is easy to see one reason for his great prosperity. He bought soldiers' land warrants, in this way also adding to his real estate and like- wise adding to the funds at the command of the lads who were not able to cultivate the ground. Hle was a fine mathematician and seholar, possessed a large amount of the spirit which desires the devel- opment of the country, and became well known, not simply as a man whose labors are crowned with worldly success, but as a worthy citizen and and upright man. He belonged to the Evangeli- val Lutheran Church and helped in building the edifice in which the congregation worshipped. Hle breathed his last February 17, 1885, in his sixty- seventh year.
The wife of Diedrich Brumund, Sr., bore the maiden name of Nicholine Folkers. Like her hus- band, she was a native of Oldenburg, in which city their marriage was celebrated. She is now living in Englewood, Cook County. When she and her husband came to America they were ac- companied by four children. Others were added to their family. seven being the number who grew to maturity. Of these the oldest. G. Il., enlisted in 1861 in the Twentieth Hhnois Infantry and af- ter serving three months came home seemingly at the point of death. He recovered his health how-
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ever, and again enlisted, becoming a member of the Sixty-fifth regiment, with which he served un- til again taken very ill. He was removed to the Quiney Hospital and finally taken to his home. He lived until 1883 when he breathed his last in Florida. Next on the family roll were Peter and llelen, twins, the former of whom became a physician and died in Colorado in the fall of 1889; his twin sister married L. Jorndt, and is living in Stoddard County, Mo. The next of the family cirele is the subject of this notice, and following him are Julia, wife of Prof. J. Leuder, of Elmhurst Col- lege, and Lina and Lizzie who live in Englewood.
This gentleman whose cognomen forins the head- ing of this sketch, was born November 16, 1848, in Oldenburg, Germany. Ile was still an infant when his parents left Bremerhaven on the sailing vessel "Ornholt Boming" and seven weeks later landed in New York. His boyhood was spent upon the farm in this State and he attended the district schools. He was early taught to work and no man in the county has labored harder than he. Hle plowed when he was so small that the handles were scarcely within his reach. When twenty years old he and his brother, G. IL., went to the Indian Territory to cut hay, the latter having a cattle ranche. They traveled by rail to Leaven- worth, Kan .. and there bought a team with which they continued their journey to Baxter Springs on the Spring River, which they made their head- quarters. They remained there six months. put- ting up some six hundred tons of hay, paying the Indians twenty-five cents per acre for the privi- lege of cutting.
Young Brumund liked the country and had no objection to his employment, but he could not stand the chills and in November returned by stage to Fi. Scott, and thence by cars to his home. Af- ter spending two weeks with his friends he went to Bloomfield, Stoddard County, Mo., and taking possession of one hundred and sixty acres of his father's land near there, he improved and operated it until the following July. He then returned to the Prairie State and led the lady of his choice to the hymeneal altar, the interesting ceremony which united their lives and fortunes taking place in Joliet, August 29, 1870. The young couple began
house-keeping on the Missouri farm, remaining there until November, 1872, when they again be- came residents of Illinois.
Mr. Brumund operated his father's place near Mokena six years and in March 1879, traded his own Missouri property for one hundred and twenty acres of the farm upon which he now lives. With the exception of a small house no improve- ments had been made. and the new owner at once began the course which has resulted in making of the property one of the most pleasant homes in this section. He broke the land, put in tiling, built an excellent house, barn and other editiees, set out an orchard and grove, and enclosed and divided the land by good fenees. The barn is eighteen feet high and has a ground dimension of 30x68 feet; the corn crib is 10x26 feet, and the other structures are of corresponding size. Addi- tional land has been purchased by Mr. Brumund and he is carrying on a successful business in the cultivation of grain, principally corn and oats, and in the raising of hogs, cattle and other stock. He now has about twenty head of Holsteins of good grade.
The lady to whose housewifely skill and amiable disposition Mr. Brumund owes the comfort of his home life, bore the maiden name of Dorothea Bat- tenhausen. She was born in Kur-Hessian, Ger- many, March 19, 1850, being the oldest child of Adam and Catherine ( Walper) Battenhausen, who were born in the same village as herself. The other members of the househokl in which she spent her maidenhood are Henry, now living in Martin County, Minn .; Mrs. Jenny Baumgartner of Peotone; and Mrs. Katie Saunter of Frankfort Township.
In 1853, Mr. Battenhausen emigrated to Amer- ica, settling in Cook County, IH., where he con- tinued his former occupation of a farmer. In that county he died in 1864, at the age of forty- seven years. He had been a soldier in the Ger- man army and for some years had official rank. Hle belonged to the Evanglieal Church. Mrs. Bat- tenhausen survived until February, 1888, being an inmate of our subject's home during the latter years of her life. She was sixty-seven years okl when called from time to eternity.
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Mr. and Mrs. Brumund are the parents of five children, named respectively. Lydia K., Diedrich A .. Frank G., Alvin L. and Lina 1. The older daughter was graduated at Valparaiso. Ind., taking the business coarse in the college there and nearly completing the two years' teacher's course. She is now engaged in teaching in the neighborhood of her home and is successfully pursuing her chosen vocation. The oldest son is now pursuing his studies in the Wentworth School, Chicago. For seven years Mr. Brumund has been a member of the School Board of which at this writing he is Clerk. He held the office of Assessor for one year. In politics he is a sturdy Republican and his ser- vices have been called into requisition as a mem- ber of the Central Committe, and delegate to county conventions. He is enrolled among the members of the Evangelical Church at Peotone. and was formerly Trustee.
ACOB ADLER, senior member of the tirin of Adler Bros., is with his brother Peter, conducting successfully a large meat market, prominently located on Exchange Street. Joliet, and forms no unimportant factor in the business community of this thriving city. An experience of thirty years in the cattle and meat trade, has given him an insight into all the details of the business, and succeeded in making him com- paratively independent, financially. He is of Ger- man birth and ancestry, and possesses in a marked degree the substantial and reliable quahties of one of the best nations on the face of the globe.
The subject of this sketch was born in the Prus- sian Province of Greis Metsig Brodorf. March 17, 1837. to Michael and Margaret (Sebastian ) Adler. The family in 1838. emigrated to America, landing in the then unimportant city of Chicago, May 20. Later they located in Will County. where the father engaged in farming. The family comprised then but two children, one of them being JJacob who is now the only member of the family living
who was born in the Fatherland. The farm lay in the vicinity of New Lenox. The father was a resident of Joliet Township from 1813, to 1870. He had therein a tine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, besides considerable city property and town lots. Ile finally removed to Joliet, which re- mained his residence twenty-one years prior to his death which occurred July 10, 1889. He had then arrived at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The mother died December 15. 1888, aged eighty- four. Michael Adler was born November 2, 1803, and his wife, Margaret, December 6, 1801. Both were members of St. John's Catholic Church.
The elder Adler, upon becoming a voting eiti zen, identified himself with the Republican party with whom he remained until after the extinction of slavery, when he wheeled over into the ranks of the Democracy. He became quite prominent in local affairs, served on the School Board and in some of the minor offices. He accumulated a comfortable property, putting up buildings on Jef- ferson and Chicago Streets. His honesty and integ- rity caused him to be highly respected in his com- munity. He was a self-made man in every partic- ular, commencing at the foot of the ladder and climbing up to a good position, socially and finan- cially among his fellow-men. To him and his good wife there was born a family of eleven chil- dren, four of whom died in early life. The sur- vivors are JJacob, our subject; Margaret, the wife of Frederick Rappal of Cook County; Angeline is with the sisters of St. Francis; Peter, who lives with our subject; Veronica and Mary live together in the old homestead; Jasper died at the age of twenty-six years.
The subject of this notice developed into man- hood on the old farm in Will County, remaining a member of the parental household until reaching his majority. Hle then joined the caravan going to Pike's Peak, journeying across the plains from Leavenworth and following the old trail, making the first part of the journey with horses, then tak- ing oxen and being on the road three months. Arriving at his destination he engaged in mining and remained in that vicinity until the approach of winter. Then satisfied with his experiment in the wild West. he returned to his native haunts
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and the following year engaged in shipping cattle to Chicago. Boston and New York City. Ile also commenced butchering and established himself in the meat business. Ile purchased many of his cat- tle in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado. Kansas and Mis- souri. shipping mostly to the East. Later he be- gan buying cattle which he shipped to Chicago and to this he has given his attention largely for the last ten years.
Mr. Adler established his meat market about 1861 and has been engaged off and on in the meat mar- ket and agricultural business for a term of years, be- ing fortunate in his business enterprises. For the last five years his brother Peter. has been his chief assistant, although he operated with him con- siderably previous to this time. He is the owner of the National Hotel Block, in which his market is situated and he has other improved property on Joliet and Chicago Streets, and also farm property.
Mr. Adler cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and voted for three Republican Presidents thereafter; then feeling that he had reason to change his views. he allied himself with the Democratic party, of which he is a stanch sup- porter. He is a man prompt to meet his obliga- tions, and occupies no secondary position among the business men of his adopted city. He has represented the Sixth Ward in the City Council four years, but otherwise has refrained from as- suming the responsibilities of office.
Mr. Adler was married JJanuary 13, 1866, to Miss Emily Erhard. Mrs. Adler was born in July, 1842. in Joliet, and is the daughter of George and Louisa ( Perilot ) Erhard, who were natives of Ger- many and early settlers of this county, to which they came in 1835. They are now deceased. To Mi. and Mrs. Adler there have been born eleven children, of whom only seven are living. namely: Louisa. Jacob, Emily, Lawrence. Michael, Patricia M. and Catherine. They form a bright and inter- esting group and will be given the best advantages the city affords from an educational point of view. Mr. and Mrs. Adler are connected with St. Jolm's Catholic Church, whose church edifice Mr. Adler assisted materially in building, and he has always contributed liberally to the support of the society. The family occupies a neat, modern residence ou
South Chicago Street,and they number their friends by the score among the people where they have lived for so many years.
S HELDON YOUNG. A list of the old set- tlers of this county would be incomplete without the above name, which is borne by one of Jackson Township's most intel- ligent and public-spirited citizens. He is one of the older members of a large family born to Phillip and Sarah (Teeple) Young. His father was born in Montgomery County. N. Y .. and died in Oneida County. His mother was born in Schoharie County, and there breathed her last. In the county which was his father's birthplace he of whom we write was born, December 3, 1820, and continued to live until the fall of 1838, when he became a citizen of Illinois.
After reaching this State, Mr. Young determined to make WiH County his future home and at once began his residence in Jackson Township. Ilis taste led him to adopt the vocation of farming which he has been successfully pursuing from early life. Ilis home is a pleasantly located farm, upon which good buildings have been erected and other improvements made, and many fond memories cluster about it. To it he brought his bride not long after their marriage, and here an interesting family has grown up about him; here also some griefs have befallen him, some of his offspring having been removed from him by death, and his true hearted wife having here breathed her last, June 28, 1887.
The lady whose sterling qualities won the regard of Mr. Young in his early manhood, bore the name of Eliza Hougham. She was born in Ohio, August 18, 1822, and came to this county about 1839, rid- ing about one hundred and fifty miles on horseback with her father. The latter. Jonathan Ilougham, died in Indiana, her mother having also breathed her last in that State, in Parke County. Miss Ilougham became the wife of our subject Decem- ber 1, 1842, the marriage rites being celebrated in Jackson Township. They became the parents of
George Whiteer
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twelve children, eight of whom reached mature years and seven of whom are yet living. The children were named Ara B., Nancy .A .. Lana A., Jonathan. John S., Albert L .. Laura. Mary E .. Emma. Julia E., Mattie E., and Walter H.
Of the surviving members of this family circle we note the following: Ara is now living in Min- den. Neb .: Lana is the wife of E. D. Williams; Mary E .. is the wife of Levi HI. Eib; Emma is the wife of Marion Palmer; Julia married Robert Eaton ; Mattie is the wife of Frank Pierce ; Walter, who is still at home, possesses a fine education being a graduate of Brown's! niversity, at Prov- idence. R. I. Mr. Young's abilities have been made useful to his fellow men, whom he has served as Supervisor. Road Commissioner and School Trus- tee, for many years having been incumbent of the last named position. In polities he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Baptist Church of which his wife was also a member.
G EORGE WIHTTIER. Of the enterprising citizens of Joliet who have been called from the active scenes of life, none have been better known perhaps or more sincerely mourned than Mr. Whittier. Ilis portrait, which we are pleased to present on the opposite page. represents a gentleman whose long and successful business career in the city of doliet gained for him the reputation of being honest. public spirited and generous. His business qualifications were fine, while as a neighbor and friend it was universally conceded that he held the good will of the commu- nity in which he lived, always assisting those in need and ever having a kind word for those around him. A marked trait of his character was. that whenever he pledged himself to any obligation or the performance of any task. he never failed 10 redeem his pledge.
This gentleman was born in Sommers worth, N. Il .. November 27. 1830. his parents being Jo- seph and Nancy ( Locke ) Whittier. When he was six years of age his parents moved from that Stato to the land of Penn, locating in Philadelphia. Pa ..
but with that restlessness which characterizes Americans as a rule, before many years had passed, they made another change of residence. For a time they resided in Penobscot, Me., whence the father came to Illinois in 1859, and established him- self in the lime business. Hither the son, our subject. came two years later and joined his father in the enterprise, in which success crowned their efforts. After a worthy and honorable life the father was called hence, August 12, 1889, at the advanced age of ninety-five years, eight months and eleven days. He had thus almost rounded out a full century, and his life was filled with good deeds and worthy actions. Starting in life poor. he seemed to have taken for his motto. " Either 1 will find a way or make one." In his honorable endeavors he was successful and prosperous.
Joseph Whittier was a cousin of the far-famed poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, whom Americans delight to honor and whose fame has penetrated distant lands. Unto Joseph and Nancy Whittier were born the following children, besides George. our subject: Samuel, now a resident of New Brunswick; Joseph, who is engaged in the lumber trade in East Saginaw, Mich .; Mrs. Adeline Buffom, deeensed : Mrs. Lydia Jones, whose husband is an attorney in Bangor, Me .; Charles, of San Jose, C'al .: Mrs. Eliza Walworth, wife of a I'niver- salist minister in Baltimore, Md .; and Mrs. Ellen Smith, of San Diego, Cal.
A few months after the death of the father. our subject also passed to rest. November 10. 1889, and now lies buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Joliet. lle left a widow and three children, daughters. 10 mourn their loss. Many friends also had been made during the years of his residence in Joliet. He had. politically, been a stanch Democrat, and socially, was welcomed in the best cireles of the city. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah M. Lindsay, and their wedding ceremony was cele- brated at the home of the bride's parents, James and Eliza ( Purrington) Lindsay, February 10, 1851. James Lindsay followed the occupation of a cooper and farmer, and unto him and his wife were born the following children: Henry II .. now a resident of Lincoln. Me .; Mrs. Eliza E. Hasey, in Joliet; Mrs. Luey Severance, also of Lincoln, Me .;
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and Mrs. Whittier. The latter was born in the Pine Tree State, in the town of Chester, January 16, 1832. Iler marriage with our subject was blessed by the birth of three children-Mrs. Ange- line Stedman, of Oak Park, now a part of Chicago; Mrs. Lucy M. Wayman, of Chicago, and Miss Claire, who is yet with her mother. The widow and daughter occupy the homestead, where they enjoy the fruits of a life that was spent in provid- ing for their welfare. Their home is one of cul- ture and refinement. and they are held in high es- teem by those to whom their characters and attain- ments are known.
C HRISTOF BATTERMANN. Those who believe that comfort is not to be found in country life, have but to visit the home of the above-named gentleman, to see conclusive evi- dence to the contrary, and to learn that a farmer's family may be surrounded with evidences of taste equal to those found in the majority of city homes. The estate to which we allude is located on section 19, Crete Township, and comprises two hundred and thirty-eight acres of well developed land. It is well stocked with domestic animals and farm implements and machinery of the best models, the evidences of progressive agriculturism being every- where manifest. The buiklings which adorn the place are commodious and well designed, and in- clude every convenience for household and farm work.
The subject of this notice is a native of the kingdom of Hanover, having been born near the city of the same name, April 22. 1822. He is the son of Henry Battermann, a native of the same kingdom. who was reared when cloth-weaving was the predominant industry there, and who was thor- oughly skilled in that trade. While following it in the capital city. he married Miss Dorothea Batt- mann, who was born just beyond the limits of the kingdom, but grew to womanhood within it, her parents having settled there when she was quite young. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bat- termann remained in the city, working hard, and
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rearing a family of three sons and one daughter, onr subject being the youngest son.
When he had reached a proper age to learn a trade, our subject served an apprenticeship of three years as a weaver, after which he worked as a jour- neyman for a short time. The accounts which had reached his cars of the country beyond the sea, convinced him that a broader field for life's labors was to be found in the United States, and he de- termined to come hither and make himself a home. Accordingly, on March 11, 1847, he took passage at Bremerhaven on a sailer, and after a tedious voyage of several weeks landed in New York City, anchorage being made June 6. After making ar- rangements for coming West, he went to Albany, and there took passage on a canal boat, but tiring of the trip, he disembarked, and began work as a laborer, earring money with which to reach Chi- rago. When he arrived in this country, he was in debt $19, but he has since made a comfortable little fortune, doing it all by his own persistent ef- forts. The comfortable home which he possesses is not only a pleasant abiding place for his own later years, but he looks forward to its being the home of his children after he is gone. It became his home in 1852. for three years prior to which date he had lived in Cook County, although he did not purchase land until after he had come here, previously working as a farm laborer. After he had been in this country some years, his parents came to America with an okler son, finally reach- ing this county, where both died when about sev- enty years of age. They were life-long and active members of the Lutheran Church, and worthy people. who left to their descendants an honored name.
The wife of C. Battermann was born in Bremer- haven, Germany, on Christmas day, 1833. She is the third child and second daughter of Herman and Johanna (Steffen ) Doescher, and one of a family of six children. A fuller account of her family is to be found in the biography of Herman N. Doescher, on another page in this volume. She was ten years of age when her parents came to the I'nited States, their settlement being made in Lake County, Ind., where she grew to womanhood, acquir- ing useful habits and an estimable character. Iler
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marriage to our subject was celebrated in this county. October 10, 1852, and has been blessed by the birth of nine children. The daughter-Johanna- died in infancy. The record of the surviving children is as follows: Herman married Anna Barger, and is farming near Brunswick. Lake County, Ind .; Henry, who is a harness-maker in Dyer. Ind., married Lena Richard; Edward, a blacksmith at Hobart. Ind., married Carrie Richard ; Charles is at home, operating the farm : Albert mar- ried Lena Olstermier, and their home is on a farm in Lake County. Ind .; Henrietta is the wife of Charles Berger, a harness-maker in Hobart. Ind .; Matilda is still living under the parental roof; August is an engineer and blacksmith, living in Hobart. Ind.
In politics Mr. Battermann is a sound Republi- can, and his six sons are equally stanch in their support of that party. He and his wife are active members of the Lutheran Church. The financial ! prosperity of Mr. Battermann is due to those quali- ties which win respect from one's associates, and his moral character and intelligence add to the repu. tation in which he is held.
ILLIAM M. CLOW is the son of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Will County, who located in Wheatland Town- ship in an carly day of its settlement. and ever since the name has been closely connected with its de- 1 velopment and material prosperity, its present representative wearing worthily the mantle of his sire. As a wide-awake, intelligent and progressive farmer and stock-raiser, our subject bears an in- . portant part in sustaining and extending the great agricultural interests of his native county. Ile owns a farm on section 11. that compares favorably in all respects with the best in this locality.
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