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 83
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
715
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
sixteen years old ; Ida M., who died at the age of three and one half-years; Charles E., who died when an infant of eight months, and Wilhe Il .. who died when about two years old. The farm of Mr. Lanfear comprises two hundred and thirty-four acres, the larger part of which is devoted to general farming and the remainder furnishes ample facilities for the accommodation of live stock.
..
- AY GORDON. A good representative of the younger element of citizenship in Du- Page Township, is found in the person of Jay Gordon, who resides with his mother on section 16, and owns a half interest in one hundred and ninety acres of land in the township. He is meeting with success in the agricultural work to which he is giving his attention, as he formerly did in the field of pedagogy, in which he labored several winters.
The ancestors of our subject are supposed to have been English, and his parents were born in the Empire State. David and Tryphena ( Beebe) Gordon, removed to Will County. Ill., in 1853. when he of whom we write was but a few weeks old. They located in the western part of Du Page Township. on section 19, on land that was some- what improved a few acres having been plowed, and in an old frame house they took up their abode, residing there about two years. Then they removed to the farm that is now occupied by the widow and son, and where the father died July 23, 1880.
The means possessed by David Gordon when he came to this section were limited, and he and his family endured some of the privations incidental to pioneer life, but all was borne uncomplain- ingly by the sturdy man and wife, who felt that the future held comfort for them and their off- spring. Mr. Gordon was a citizen who could be relied on to bear a hand in whatever promised to advance the interests of the region. or aid those about him to greater ense and prosperity. He voted the Republican ticket. He was fairly suc- cessful in a worldly sense, leaving an estate of one
hundred acres of unincumbered land as the result of his life's work.
The widow of David Gordon and mother of our subject is now in her sixty-ninth year, and enjoys good health for one of that age. She has four sons, namely: Emory, who lives in Hamilton County, lowa; Jay, our subject; Frank. residing in Hamilton County, lowa; and Eugene, who was mar- ried February 22, 1882, to Miss Alvina Sears, of this township, and has three children, named, Nettie, David and George; he lives with his mother and brother Jay on the homestead. Mrs. Gordon is one of the oldest living pioneers of the township and is cherished by the older inhabitants, also having many friends among the younger peo- ple.
day Gordon was born in Jefferson County, N. Y .. May 8, 1853, but was reared in this county amid the scenes of pioneer life. He was educated in the public schools of the county, after which he at- tended the Northwestern College, at Naperville, DuPage County, for six months. Subsequently the young man engaged in teaching, acting as an instructor during thirteen fall and winter terms of school and during the summers devoting his atten- tion mostly to farming. He is a Republican, and on the party ticket was elected Clerk of DuPage Township, in 1881, officiating a year. His charac- ter is a manly and upright one, his manners are pleasing, and he has many friends who look for- ward to seeing him occupy a yet more prominent place in the county as years roll by.
D ANIEL BIRKETT is eminently a self-made man, and is a fine type of the class who, in building up their own fortunes have been important factors in securing the prosperity and promoting the growth of their State, county and township. This gentleman came to this county more than half a century ago, a poor man with scarcely a dollar that he could call his own, yet to- day he is numbered among the men of wealth in this part of the State. For many years he has
716
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and owns one of the largest and most valuable far's in this county. which is exceptionally well improved and under perfect management. Besides this he owns several other farms. His beautiful home in Plainfield, one of the finest residences in the village, is fitted up with all modern conve- niences, and is comfortably furnished.
Our subject is a native of England, born in the County of Cumberland, December 21, 1811. His father and his grandfather both named like himself. were also natives of that county. His grandfather was a farmer and landowner and lived to be up- wards of ninety years old. The father of our sub- jeet was reared and married in the place of his nativity, and there carried on the occupation of a farmer and spent his entire life, his remains now lying in Ireby Churchyard. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Railton, and she was also a native of Cumberland County. Her father, Joseph Rail- ton, was a tiller of the soil, and spent his entire life in that county. The mother of our subject died in the place of her birth. She and her hus- band reared seven children.as follows: John Joseph, Mary, Jane. William, Daniel. and Ann, our subject being the only one of the sous who ever came to this country.
lle was reared and married and remained in his English home until 1835. He was of an ambitious, venturons turn of mind and resolved to try his fortunes in the United States of America, and in that year set sail from Liverpool in the month of January, on the good ship "St. Lawrence," and on the 6th of March disembarked at New York, after a voyage of six weeks and four days. He was ac. companied to this country by his wife, and they stayed in New York City nearly two years before coming to Illinois, making the journey hither by the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence by lake to Chicago, which they then found to be a small place. At that time our subject was very poor and was glad to find employment on the canal which was then in process of construction. Mrs. Birkett proved herself to be a true helpmate, and shouldering a part of the burden of support of the family, she boarded forty of the workmen. Mr. Birkett built an oven of stone and clay for her
to cook by, as when they commenced housekeeping they had no furniture. He bored holes in a log of their cabin and inserted poles to make a bedstead, using their chest for a table and boxes for seats. Mr. Birkett worked on the canal for one season and then located on land in Cook County, living there until 1839, when he came to Will County. This was then very sparsely settled, the land was in the hands of the Government and for sale at $1.25 per acre. Deer, wolves, and other wild animals were roaming at will over the wild prairies and were often troublesome to the new settlers. At that time there were no railways in the State and Chi- cago was the nearest market, to which the pioneers took their grain with ox teams. Mr. Birkett rented land two or three years, and then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of the Government in what is now Wheatland Township. Hle built a frame house and broke a few acres and then sold the land and all his stock. He then invested in another traet of wild prairie land in the same township, and for a year rented improved land, and during the time broke and fenced and built on his own prop- erty, and then settled there. Ile continued to live on that place until 1856, when he disposed of it at an advance and located on another tract of one hundred and sixty aeres of wild land adjoining the farm that he had previously purchased. He erected suitable buildings, improved the land and resided on it until 1872, when he sold the farm and bought a place near by on which he built a dwelling, which he made his home until 1880. His next move was to Aurora, where he bought land and built and there dwelt for a few months, when he sold at a good price, and returning to Wheat- land was there until 1885, and in that year came to his present beautiful home in Plainfield.
Mr. Birkett and Miss Ann Ray were united in marriage .June 2, 1834. She was a native of Cum- berland County, England, born May 22, 1815. Her grandfather, John Ray, who was of Scotch paren- tage, was a landowner in that county and there spent his entire life engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Mrs. Birkett's father was also a farmer, and passed his whole life on his native soil. Mr. and Mrs. Birkett have reared seven children, of whom the following are recorded: Ann, married Thomas
717
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
King; Daniel R .; Louisa M. married John Varley ; Elizabeth Esther married Charles Varley ; Olive A. married Nicholas Kanaff; Lavina J., who is the widow of William Irwin, lives with her parents; and Mary J., who married Jay Hyland. The wedded life of our subject and his wife has not passed without its attendant sorrows in the death of four of their children, as follows: Jane died at the age of two years; Henry R .. when eight months old; Mary J. at the age of eight years and eight months; and John. aged six weeks.
Mr. Birkett is a man of strong character, selt reliant and self helpful, and has always managed his affairs in a thoroughly business-like manner. evincing remarkable discernment and discretion. With the wealth thus acquired he makes judicious use, being liberally and charitably disposed and doing his share to promote all schemes for public benefit. This venerable gentleman and his estima- ble wife are honored and respected not only for what they are. but for what they have done to pro- mote the growth of the county and establish its material prosperity, and they are well worthy of a place in this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
the wealth of Mr. Piepenbrink was made by cheese and butter making, from which he has now some- what withdrawn. He has in former times kept more than one hundred cows, and made all the milk into cheese and butter, which went to the city of Chicago. The homestead, situated on see- tion 11, has been occupied by our subject for the last twenty years, and is a well-improved farm, occupying a prominent place in the list of Will County's rural homes.
That part of the Kingdom of Prussia which is known as Hesse.Cassel, has furnished to this county a number of her best citizens and most enterprising farmers. To it we are indebted for the subject of this sketch, who was born in that far-away land April 24. 1826. His father, II. H. Piepenbrink, was also born in Prussia, and was of pure Ger- man ancestry. His occupation was that of a farmer. He married Miss Lottie Meier, who was born and reared in the same German State as himself. They spent their entire lives in their native country. the husband dying when fifty-live and the wife when forty-five years of age. They were numbered among the most worthy citizens of the section, both being active members of the Lutheran Church and earnest in their discharge of every duty. Their family consisted of three sons and a daughter, he of whom we write being the second son and child. He is the only member of the family who came to America, and with the exception of his sister, the only survivor.
OHIN O. PIEPENBRINK. A high place among the farmers, stock-raisers, and dairy- men of the county must be accorded the gentleman above named. who has made a .I. O. Piepenbrink grew to manhood under the parental roof, receiving an excellent education, his advantages being more favorable than those of many of his countrymen. His father was wealthy, and able to bestow upon his children all the learn- ing they desired, although the property ai his death fell to his chest son. After he became of age our subject received an appointment in the army, but was induced by his father to let the latter pay the tax for his release and return to his home. He married a lady of his own village, Miss Sophia Wille, with whom he set sail from Bremer- haven April 3. 1849, landing in New York City on the Ist of May following. They came by rail and water to Chicago, and thence to their new fortune by hard labor, prudent economy and busi- ness shrewdness. He has experienced all that is known to a poor man who makes a settlement in a new county, among the disadvantages under which he labored being that of having to pay thirty-six per cent. per annum for the money which he bor- rowed. He always managed to meet his payments when due, and his ability to make money has been clearly demonstrated. He came to Crete Township in 1849. taking up his abode in a small log house. which had not sutlicient cover on it to keep the snow and chilly blasts of winter from entering. From this small beginning has grown a landed es- tate of more than seven hundred acres, a part of which is now owned by the sons. A good part of , home in this county, where they have since made
718
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
such a splendid record and where they have many friends. particularly among the natives of their own country.
Mrs. Piepenbrink is a daughter of Conrad and Sophia (Okrag) Wille, who were reared and mar- ried near llesse-Cassel, Germany, and began life after the style of the well-to-do Germans. They spent their lives in comfort on a large farm-for that country-dying shortly before reaching the age of fifty years. They were prominent members of their community, and active in the work of the Lutheran Church. Their family consisted of seven children, most of whom came to the United States and are yet living. The wife of our subject is the fourth of the family, and was born January 2. 1826. She was well reared and received a good German education, and the knowledge of domestic affairs which has been useful to her as a helpmate and mother.
Eight children make up the family circle of our subject and his wife, all being residents of Crete Township. ... Otto and Henry F. are the subjects of biographical sketches which appear in this vol- ume. J. Otto married Miss Dora Orkenberg; Henry F. was married to Miss Maggie Sehring; Conrad married Sophia Engelking; William mar- ried Sophia Meier; John married Louisa Do- mier; Phillip married Louisa Diersen. All these are farmers. Ellen married Henry Sporleder, also a farmer; Sophia is the wife of John Diersen, a hardware merchant in Crete Village. Mr. Piepen- brink is not an office-seeker, but is a sound and re- liable Republican. Ile and his wife take an active part in the work of the Lutheran Church, to the support of which they contribute liberally; they are charter members of the organization in this county.
G EORGE MUNROE. The wholesale grocery interests of Joliet are worthily represented by the subject of this notice with the firm of George T. Relyea & Co., of which he is the senior member.
Mr. Munroe belongs to one of the best nationali- ties on the face of the globe, having been born in
Lanarkshire, Scotland, and first opened his eyes to the light April 4, 1821. His parents were Daniel and Jane ( Richmond) Munroe, who were likewise of Scotch birth and ancestry, and who emigrated to the United States in 1827, settling in Brownville, Jefferson County, N. Y. They brought with them three children-George, Angus and Barbara. The family remained residents of Jefferson County until 1819, then emigrated to Illinois, locating in Will County where the father died in 1860. The mother had passed away at Brownville, N. Y., about 1829.
For thirteen years after coming to this county Mr. Munroe engaged in farming in Florence Town- ship. In the meantime he was recognized as a valned addition to the community and filled with credit many of the local offices. In 1862 he was elected Sheriff on the Democratic ticket and that same year removed to Joliet, assuming the duties of his office in November following. Subsequently he served three years as County Treasurer, but in the meantime in company with his son, George Il., engaged in the retail grocery trade, being first lo- cated at the corner of Jefferson and Chicago Streets. They remained there ten years and then removed to the Opera House Building where they did busi- ness six years. The well-known firm of George Munroe & Son has existed since 1865.
Mr. Munroe with his son, George IL., established the first wholesale grocery store in Joliet, and with his old book-keeper, Mr. Relyea, is the oldest repre- sentative of the wholesale grocery business in this eity. G. Munroe & Son put up the Hotel Munroe Building which they still own and they occupied the ground floor for their wholesale trade until 1889, when they erected an elegant stone building, 65x120 feet in dimensions and three stories in height into which the new firm, G. T. Relyea & C'o., removed and which they now occupy. For the last five years George and George II. Munroe have dealt extensively in real estate, under the firm name of George Munroe & Son, the latter, George II., being the active manager, and who has con- tributed largely to the building up of the business part of the city.
Mr. Munroe occupies a fine residence. No. 1204 Cass Street. Ile has been prominent in local affairs. representing his Ward in the City Council, serving
719
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
as School Trustee and in various other capacities. Socially, he belongs to the Blue Lodge. Chapter and Commandery. A. F. & A. M. in each of which he has hell the different oflives and he is prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. serving as Trustee at the present time. He has been in some official capacity in the church since com- ing to JJol'et and gives to it a liberal support.
Miss Sarah M. Hentze of Brownville became the wife of our subject December 22, 1812. Mrs. Mun- roe was born in Brownville. N. Y., April 30, 1822, and is the daughter of Henry and Charity (Gould) Ilentze, who were natives of New York and spent their last years in California and Illinois. This union resulted in the birth of five children, four of whom are living, viz: George H., Jane Amelia, the wife of Rev. G. R. Van Horn, now Presiding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rock- ford; Mary Elizabeth, Mrs. C. B. Hayward; Edwin, traveling salesman for the firm of Reed & Mur. dock, Chicago Street.
HARLES F. BAUMANN, is an intelligent and enterprising man, very popular in the community in the best circles of which his family move. He was born in Saxe-Weimar. Ger- many. March 6. 1835, and reared in his native vil- lage. Ile is the third of five children born to Charles F. and Caroline W. R. ( Krauca) Baumann. The latter was a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Krauca. : minister of the Lutheran Church and both parents were born in Wetsdorf. The father was a linen- weaver and fuller, and he also operated a small farm.
In 1853. he emigrated to America, making his first location in Richton Township, Cook County. Ill., where he engaged in farming. He subsequently rented a farm in Will County and still later bought eighty acres in Frankfort Township, where he re- sided until his death in 1871. Ilis wife had died the previous year. He belonged to the Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church.
The parental household included Paulina, Mrs. I Steckish, who died in Frankfort; Mrs. Caroline
Metz, who lives in Minnesota; our subject ; August who was killed at Ft. Donelson. having been Cor- poral in the Twentieth Hinois Infantry, in which he had enlisted in 1861; and William, whose home is in Wihnington.
The subject of this notice was reared in Germany and attended the common schools until fourteen years ofl. He then worked at his father's trade until the spring of 1853, when the family came to America They embarked at Bremen on the sailer "Yorkshire" which made Quebec in fifty-three days. Coming at once to Hlinois, the young man worked on his father's farm a few years and in the spring of 1857, went to Minnesota. He drove an ox-team at st. Peter, but not being pleased with the country he returned in the same manner after a sojourn of but three months. He was still unmar- ried and had gone to Minnesota to acconunodate : brother-in-law.
When Mr. Baumann returned to linois he re- sumed farming and the following spring rented lund in partnership with his father and brother. In 1862 he purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Frankfort Township, broke the soil upon it and improved and operated it until 1866. Hle then sold the farm, stock and implements. and locating in Frankfort started a saloon in partner- ship with his brother. They subsequently dissolved the connection and buying out the business, our subject has continued it alone from that time. He put up the building which he now occupies in 1868, it being 53x38 feet and occupying two and a half lots. Besides this property Mr. Baumann owns seven acres adjoining town. and one hundred and sixty aeres in Martin County, Minn.
The lady who presides over the home of our sub. ject became his wife JJuly 26, 1863, the ceremony taking place at her home in Franklin Township. She bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Klebber, and is a native of Gietzenheim, Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany. She is a daughter of John Klebber, a farmer who settled in this county abont 1852, and who is now living with our subject.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baumann ten children have been born. John W. is clerk for Burrell & Co., in Chicago, and Charles B. is now in Coal City, Il .; the latter formerly clerked for Barney Belshawski.
720
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
of Frankfort for six years. The children still at home are, Annie, August. Lizzie, Freddie, Caro- line, Ida, Oscar and Arthur.
Mr. Baumann is a Republican of the stanchest sort and has served his party as delegate to county conventions and in other capacities. He was Vil- lage Trustee for six years. Ile belongs to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. holding member- ship in a Joliet lodge and is a member of the Evan- gelical Church. He is one of the most influential men in Frankfort and is an efficient worker for the upbuilding of the town.
n EEDHAM P. COOPER. A pleasant farm of about three hundred and forty acres in New Lenox Township is owned and operated by the gentleman above named. who has erected an excellent set of buildings and made other good im- provements upon his estate. Ilis home is located on section 10, where the greater part of his life has been passed. He was born in Brown County, Ohio, May 29, 1833, and was about eighteen months old when his parents removed to the Prairie State. where he grew to manhood upon his father's farm. Ile is the fourth of seven children making up the parental family, the others being William, who lives in Kankakee County; John W., deceased; Ann. deceased, who was the wife of Robert J. Broadie: Thomas F., a farmer in New Lenox Township; Elizabeth E .. wife of Samuel Love. and Lydia .1 .. deceased, who was the wife of Norman Carl.
The father of our subject was the late John Cooper who was born in Pennsylvania in October, 1800, and who died in this county m 1875. The mother was Lydia ( Perry) Cooper born in 1807, in Brown County, Ohio, where her marriage took place and she and her husband lived until the fall of 1834. They then came to what is now Will County, and settled on section 10, New Lenox Township, taking up the burdens which the early settlers endured. Mrs. Cooper breathed her last in the fall of 1853.
The gentleman of whom we write was married June 26, 1856. to Miss Margaret Louisa Francis.
She was born on the old Francis homestead in New Lenox Township. Jannary 3, 1834, and is probably the first white child born in Will County. She is a daughter of the late Abraham Francis, whose his- tory is incorporated in a sketch of A. Allen Francis, elsewhere in this Arney. She was the mother of seven children, as follows: Ella, who died in in- fancy; John, who died when about two and one- half years old; Frankie, who died when twenty months old; Margaret L., who is the wife of Jeffer- son Doig of New Lenox Township; N. Perry, who lives at home: Allen F., who is cterking in New Lenox, and Jessie M.
Mr. Cooper acts with the Republican party. Ile has served as Assessor one year and as Constable four years. He and his good wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he has held the offices of Steward and Trustee.
ILLIAM II. FLAGG, a son of one of the very first settlers of the county, whose biographical sketch appears in this volume. was born on the farm that he now owns and oc- cupies in Plainfield Township, one mile from the village on the Chicago road. May 8, 1811. being the date of his birth, he being the ninth child of Reuben and Betsey ( Kendall) Flagg. He was reared under pioneer influences, and since attaining manhood has taken his place among the most in- telligent and progressive of the farmers and stock- raisers of his native county. whose interests he seeks to promote materially and morally.
Our subject received his education in the prim- itive pioneer schools of his early days, and as soon as large enough went to work on the home farm, always remaining with his parents until death sep- arated them. Hle gained a good practical know- ledge of agriculture and inherited a part of the old homestead, whose acreage he has since increased by purchasing other tracts of land, till it now con- tains one hundred and sixty-five aeres of land, whose fertility and productiveness is unsurpassed in this county. It is under a high state of culti- Vation and is amply provided with modern machin-
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.