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 87
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mainder of their days. The mother passed away January 8, 1860. Mr. Lynk survived his wife over eighteen years. his death taking place April 8, 1878.
Nine children were born to the parents of our subject and he was the eighth in order of birth. His sister Sarah became the wife of Frank Mesick, and died at her home June 16, 1877; Peter died in Iowa in 1879; Ann M. is the wife of Thomas Doig of New Lenox Township; William is retired from active labor and living quietly in the village of New Lenox; Sylvanus lives in Marshalltown, Iowa: Louis lives in Florida; Norman is a resident of this county ; Catherine P. is the wife of Addison Collins of New Lenox Township.
Mrs. Lynk was born November 9, 1836, in Phila- delphia, Pa., and is a daughter of Andrew, Sr., and Isabella (Fife) Doig, both of whom are natives of Scotland and who are represented on another page in this Ammy. They came to Will County in 1847, and settled in Homer Township where the mother died May 1. 1861. Mr. Doig departed this life in New Lenox Township, February 17. 1887. Their family consisted of ten children. of whom Mrs. Lynk was next to the youngest.
ON. CHARLES B. GARNSEY. Judge of the County Court of Will County, was elected to the office he now holds in 1882, and at the conclusion of his first term of office, in 1886, was re-elected. He was born in Liv- ingston County, N. Y., October 25, 1842, and is a son of N. B. and Emily Garnsey. The father was a native of Saratoga County, but was educated in Massachusetts and adopted the occupation of farm- ing. Judge Garnsey came to Will County in May. 1859, and has practically made Joliet his home ever since. llis literary education was obtained in the East, and his legal studies pursued at the Chicago Law School, from which he was graduated in 1862. 1
He entered the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry. July 30, 1862, and served through the war, with his command.
of his profession in the city where he has since practiced continually. In 1877 he became asso- ciated with A. F. Knox, under the style of Garn- sey & Knox, the partnership still existing. He was Corporation Counsel of the city of Joliet for two years.
Our subject was married in Wilmington, No- vember 4, 1867, to Miss Mary A. Henderson. Mrs. Garnsey, who is an educated and refined wo- man, is a daughter of John D. Henderson, an old merchant of Wilmington, who is still living in that town. They have two sons-Jolin H. and C. B., Jr., both of whom are now in school and will re- ceive excellent educational advantages as they ad- vance in years and knowledge. Judge Garnsey belongs to the Masonie fraternity, being a member of Joliet Commandery, No. 4.
b ON. HENRY H. STASSEN. Clerk of the Court of Will County, has faithfully dis- charged the duties of this position for the past three years with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. Ile has just passed his fifty-second birthday, having been born March 2, 1838, and is a native of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, the parental home at that time being in the town of Westrum, Jeverland. His father, Harm II. Stassen, was also born in Jev- erland. September 15. 1805. He learned shoemaking in early manhood and was married to Miss Metta Ulrichs. To them were born nine children in Germany, of whom Henry H .. our subject, was the third. The family emigrated to America in 1854, landing in Monee. this county, on the 27th of June. The household then included four children, tive of them having died in infancy. Maria E. died when forty-six years old; Metta became the wife of Christian Shrader and removed to Kansas, where she died; Mina is the wife of Frederick Peters, of New Baden, Tex.
The elder Stassen followed his trade two years after coming to this country, and then settled on a farm near Monee. Ilenry Il. also learned shoemak-
In 1865 Mr. Garnsey was admitted to the bar of this State, and at once entered upon the practice | ing. at which he worked until he arrived in this
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country. The father died November 16, 1886, at the age of eighty-one years. The mother passed away over twenty years prior to the deccase of her husband, her death taking place September 3, 1865, when she was fifty-three years old, she having been born March 11, 1808. Both were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a congregation of which the father assisted in organizing in 1856 in Monee, Ill., and to the support of which he re- mained a liberal contributor. Hle rendered sub- stantial aid in the erection of the church edifice and from first to last maintained a warm interest in the welfare and advancement of the society. He east his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, together with his son, our subject, and both from that time forward gave their allegiance to the Republican party.
The subject of this notice learned shoemaking in his native land, and upon coming to America at once changed that occupation for farming. Dur- ing the month of July which followed he worked for &4 and his board. In 1865 he returned to his native country (Germany ) and on the Ith of Feb ruary, 1866, was wedded to a maiden of his own province, Miss G. Maria Dudden. This lady was born August 27, 1846, in a neighboring village to that of her husband, which remained her home un- til her marriage. She is the daughter of Ilillerich .1. and Anne Dudden, who died in middle life and before their daughter was married.
In May, 1866, following his marriage, Mr. Stas- sen returned to this country arriving in Will County on the Ith day of the month, and for twenty-one years thereafter followed farming in Green Garden Township, where he had a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Ile was prosperous in his labors and invested his accumulated capital in additional land, so that in addition to the farm mentioned he has one hundred and fifty-five acres in Monee Township. His possessions are the result of his own unaided efforts, as he began at the foot of the ladder, without other resources than his na- tive industry and energy.
Mr. Stassen is a man of more than ordinary in- telligence, and in 1872 served as Assessor of Green Garden Township. In the spring of 1873 he was elected to represent the township in the County
Board of Supervisors, and with the exception of one year held the office by continuous re-elections until his resignation in 1886, when he entered upon the duties of his present position. He has always been a liberal and public-spirited man, interested in educational matters, and all other matters caleu- lated to advance the people. Ile organized the first school in District No. 8, Green Garden Township, assisted in building the schoolhouse and officiated as Director from 1869 until leaving the distriet. In 1867 he assisted in organizing the Green Garden Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, the first cor- poration of the kind in the State, and in the spring of 1868 was elected Treasurer of the company, which position he held until his resignation in Jan- nary, 1887. This company began business without capital, charging one-half per cent. premium per $100 on all property insured, and in 1886 had ac- cumulated, after paying all losses and expenses of Government and organization, 88,000. 16 had at that time over twelve hundred members. Its suc- ress was largely owing to the good management of its treasurer, who engineered it through many dif- fieult places, and frequently went security for large risks.
Mr. Stassen also became interested in the Grange movement in 1873. which he has represented at various times and upon various occasions at their meetings and conventions. Ilis title of Honorable has been fairly won by his service in the Twenty- ninth General Assembly, to which he was elected in 1871. Hle served on various important commit- tees, including Insurance, he being well qualified by experience as a member of such committee. He served his term acceptably, and in 1884 was once more nominated, serving this time in the Thirty-fourth General Assembly. In the meantime he formed one of the famous "one hundred and three" who were engaged in the six months' mem- orable struggle for the election of John A. Logan for United States Senator and in which, it will be remembered, they succeeded on the 19th of May, 1885.
In 1876 Mr. Stassen was made the nominee of the Grangers for Clerk of the Circuit Court and made an admirable race, although defeated as was expected. In 1886 he was elected to his present
yours Truly August Eriksson
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position. taking charge of the office December 6. Ile superintended the operations of his farm for a year thereafter, but in February, 1888, he removed his family to Joliet. During the summer of 1889 he put up a commodious, modern residence at the corner of Oneida and Nicholson Streets, where he now lives. In 1884 Mr. Stassen was elected Presi- dent of the Farmers' State Insurance Alliance and served two years. Religiously, he belongs to the United Evangelical Lutheran Church.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born five sons, of whom but two are living. Charles J. married Miss Anna Albers and they re- side on the farm; Menno H. lives with his brother and assists in the labors at the homestead. Com- ment is unnecessary relative to the position which Mr. Stassen holds among his fellow.citizens. He has become fully identified with the interests of this county and has contributed in no small degree to its growth and prosperity.
I'GUST ERIKSSON. The results of unflagging perseverance, prudent economy and investment, and good habits, probably find no better exponent in the city of Joliet than in the above-named gentleman, whose portrait is presented on the opposite page, and who is the proprietor of a line stone quarry, being also engaged in contracting and building. The Eriksson stone quarry is located at the foot of Bowen Avenue on South Richard Street, and has a four hundred foot face: flagging stone from two to ten inches in thickness is gotten out, seventeen hundred carloads having been cut in the past year. and the best steam appliances being used in the quarry.
Mr. Eriksson was born in Sweden, January 7. 1851, was reared upon a farm, and came to Amer- iea in 1876, without a trade upon which to depend, but full of pluck and energy. His first place of abode was Des Moines, lowa, where he remained about three years, after which he returned to his native land. Having already with his own empty hands made a start in life, he embarked in business, ! to the First Lutheran Church.
but in April, 1881, decided to return to America. Crossing the Atlantic, he traveled westward to Joliet, Ill., where he began working for Sanger & Moody, soon getting into mason's work, but being a non-l'nion man. he was obliged to stop working, and he was thus forced into contracting. His principal contraet was a three-story business block which he put up in 1882.
The first large contract of Mr. Eriksson was with George H1. Munroe for the Munroe Block, and the second for a Catholic school at Lemont; the next large contract was for the Lombart and Bishop Wire Mill, and in 1883 he put up a block for Ed S. Munroe. In December. 1883, he bought the stone quarry described above, which in connection with his building, gives occupation to from lifty to one hundred men at different seasons of the year. In the summers of 1888 and 1889 he contracted for the office building and for the Fox plant for the Ilinois Steel Company, the latter a $22,000 job, and also the Atheneum Building. He now has the contract for the stone work for the new Masonic Temple and the new Presbyterian Church.
Besides the business enterprises mentioned, Mr. Eriksson is also building up a fine farm, having in the fall of 1887 bought twenty-five hundred aeres in Greeley County, Kan. Its improvement was begun in the spring of 1888, and during the two years that have passed seven hundred acres have been placed under cultivation. He also builds and sells houses. All his worldly possessions, with the exception of $2,000 received by him three years since, have been earned by his own exertions and saved by his prudence. Few, if any, men of his years can show so good a record financially speaking, or have a higher standing among their fellow-men for manly character and upright habits.
In the winter of 1882, Mr. Eriksson paid a sec- ond visit to Europe, and in 1885 spent the Christ- mas holidays in his native land, accompanied on this occasion by his family. Ile is a stockholder in the Borrowers' and Investors' Association, of which he was one of the organizers and is now a Director. llis vote is always given to the Repub- lican candidates, as he is a firm believer in the principles of that party. He and his wife belong
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Mr. Eriksson found a worthy companion and helpmate in Miss Anna Christine Anderson, a na- tive of Sweden, with whom he was united in mar- riage in Chicago, December 6, 1881, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. C. B. L. Boman. ller wise oversight of household affairs, her intelli- gent mind and pleasing disposition make the home a pleasant one. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of four children, the three now living forming a bright and interesting group. They are named respectively: Frank A., David Alfred and Carl Antonias. The deceased child, who was the second born, bore the name of David Abiel.
ILLIAM ADAM, an old and honored resi- dent of Joliet, has long been connected with its business interests as the oldest lumber dealer in the city, having a large and well- stocked lumber-yard on the corner of Des Plaines and Van Buren Streets. Ile is also President of the Joliet Paper Company, which was incorporated here in 1888, with a capital stock of $15,000 by himself and his son, and they also have a barbed fence and wire factory in the same building as their paper mill.
Mr. Adam was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, February 4, 1821. He was a lad of eleven years when he came to this country in 1832 with his par- ents, James and Margaret Adam. They located in Montreal, Canada, and there the remaining days of his youth were passed. In 1850 he became a resi- dent of the l'nited States, coming to Joliet with his family, and for a period of forty years his life has been spent in this city. In 1853 lie established a lumber yard here. and that being before the advent of railways in this part of the country, all of his lumber was brought to him by the canal. He also took charge of a grain business. and was much prospered in both ventures. and gained capital whereby he was enabled to branch out in other directions. Ile built the city roller flouring mill, in which he engaged in the manufacture of flour until it burned in 1887. Ile rebuilt on the same spot, and uses the present building as a paper mill,
a wire mill, and a barbed fence factory, and is largely interested in the manufacture of those arti- eles. This business, which is an extensive and con- stantly growing one, is conducted by himself and son, William J., under the firm name of William Adam & Son, a corporate company, which was in- corporated in 1888, with our subject as President, and his son as Secretary and Treasurer.
Mr. Adam is also prominently connected with the Peoples' Town and Homestead Association, - of which he was one of the first stockholders, he giving great encouragement to the organization of the concern. He has avoided all official and politi- cal life, although he is well adapted for both, and he has given his whole attention to his business affairs. Ile is a man of keen intelligence, and in his travels he has gleaned an interesting fund of knowledge, and from his well-informed mind draws original topics of conversation, and is apparently well-versed in all questions of general importance. Last winter he passed the season in California, and has visited other parts of the country, and is quite a tourist.
Mr. Adam has been twice married. By his mar- riage with Jane Roach, in Canada, he had born to him A. R. and William J. His second marriage was with Miss Jane E. Martin, of this city, and to them have come two children, R. M. and Jeanette, now the wife of J. S. C. Royer, of Chicago.
As their interests are so closely connected, we are pleased to incorporate a sketch of the life of the son in this biographical review of the life and work of the father.
B ELVILLE A. GRANT. Lockport is not without its share of able business men and influential citizens, and chief among them is the gentleman above named, whose career has been marked by a degree of tact, energy, and success rarely equaled. The business in which Mr. Grant is engaged, is that of manufacturing wire, and his goods find customers in all parts of the United States. He has patented an appliance by
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which fusel oil is used as a fuel. and this important piece of machinery is in successful operation.
The natal day of Mr. Grant, was October 23, 1814, and his birthplace Fleming County, Ky., in which he lived until about four years old. Ilis parents, William S. and Mary A. (Tolle) Grant, then removed to Henry County, lowa, where the son passed his youth in acquiring an education and a knowledge of the pursuits of a farmer and miller. After completing the course of study in the com- mon schools he attended the high school at Mt. Pleasant, lowa. In 1864, while he yet lacked some months of having reached his majority, he entered the Union army as a member of the Forty-fifth lowa Infantry, and displayed his gallantry in Mis- souri, Mississippi, and the West.
At the close of his honorable career as a soldier, young Grant returned to his former peaceful pur- suits, ere long becoming a resident of the Prairie State, arriving in Lockport, June 1, 1867. Here he was engaged in various lines of business until 1878, when he entered the employ of II. B. Seutt & Co., wire manufacturers, as Superintendent. Ile re- mained with the company until 1881. when they sold out, and he, having thoroughly mastered the business, established a wire factory in Lockport, under the firm name of Grant, Harmon & Richards. Mr. Grant soon absorbed the whole business, and formed a stock company, by whom the business was continued for a year, after which it became the Baker Wire Mill.
Mr. Grant drew the plans and superintended the erection of the buildings for the new organization, and his great executive ability in the management of the business is shown by the fact that the mills which started on a capacity of fifteen tons per week, now use four hundred tons weekly. From the original plant has grown an establishment which employs three hundred and fifty men. and disburses large sums of money each month by which various departments of industry in the town are benefited.
The personal popularity of Mr. Grant is extreme. as was indicated by his election to the Mayoralty in opposition to two of the strongest men in the city, his candidacy being supported by the best element of society. He is a member of Gooding Post. G. A. R. The beautiful home of which he
took possession in the year 1888, is presided over by a lady of refinement and culture, with whom he was united in marriage on the Ist of December, 1886. She is a native of Will County, and was known in her maidenhood as Miss Ella Cagwin. To her has been born one daughter, Bertha Eloise, whose natal day was November 30, 1887, and who is a child of striking beauty, giving promise of be- coming a charming woman.
BIJAU R. STARR, the pioneer florist of .Joliet, for many years conducted a flower garden attached to his residence grounds at the corner of MeComber Street and Bowen Place. He came to Joliet in the spring of 1871 and soon afterward established the business which he conducted until 1888. Ile then sold out and rented his ground, and since that time has not been engaged in any active business. He had one of the finest gardens in the country and met with phe- nominal success. Ilis life-long habits of industry, however, will probably not permit him to remain long in idleness and it will not be surprising if in the near future he resumes his old occupation.
The subject of this notice was born March 25, 1832, in Ithaca, N. Y. His father, William R. Starr, emigrated from New York to Ilinois in the pioneer days, settling in what was then Thorn Grove, but is now Crete Township, in 1834. He took up a tract of Government land .from which he opened up a farm and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1856. Although not a politician he was a staneh supporter of the Abolitionist party, and for a time officiated as the Postmaster of Crete. He was born in Dutchess County, N. Y. He was there married to Miss Harriet L. Royce, who died at the family residence in Joliet, August 23, 1884. Abijah R. was the only child.
The subject of this sketch was only two years old when his parents came to this county, but when of suitable years and attainments he was sent back to his native place, where he completed his educa- tion. He was also a student in the boarding school at Berkshire, Tioga County. Then returning home
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he remained with his father until a youth of eight- een years. In 1850. being seized with the Califor- nia gold fever he crossed the plains via St. Joseph and Ft. Kearney, being on the road from May I un- til July 31, and locating in Hangtown. He worked in the mines about two years with fair success, then, anxious to reach home, sacrificed valuable interests and returned to the old farm. Ilis father in the meantime had removed to Chicago and engaged in the hotel business.
Mr. Starr now had charge of his father's farm until the latter's death. In the meantime he was married, October 21, 1853, to Miss Sarah Ann Mogg. In 1864 he went to Wheaton, DuPage County, this State, where he engaged in the nursery business and became somewhat prominent in local affairs. serving as Street Commissioner. Ile also be- came interested in the mercantile business. Finally, returning to this county, he occupied himself as a general merchant until 1874. To him and his es- timable wife there have been born three children, viz: Mary, born July 18, 1854. and now the wife A. C. Johnston, manufacturer of optical goods at Detroit, Mich .; Ellen A., born January 30, 1858, and the wife of Dr. C. H. L. Souder, of Rockwell ; this daughter was graduate'l from the Homeopathic College of Chicago, and is engaged in the practice of medicine. Attie C. was born March 20, 1860, and married George T. Relyea, a wholesale grocer of Joliet.
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The paternal grandfather of our subject was Abijah Starr, who was probably a native of New York, whence he removed to Patterson, and lived there until 1816. Thence he removed to Ithaca, where he died in 1824. He was a surveyor by pro- fession, and married Miss Hannah Watts. Among the children born to them was William Russell Starr, the father of our subject, a native of Patterson. N. J .. and born August 1, 1807.
Mrs. Sarah A. ( Mogg) Starr was born in the town of Clay. Onondaga County. N. Y., June 1. 1830, to Jared and Lany (Young) Mogg and was there reared to womanhood. She came to the West in 1852. lared Mogg was a native of Connecticut and born August 1, 1791. He was bound out at an early age but, being an ambitious lad and impatient of restraint, ran away to Schoharie County, where
in due time 'he met and married his future wife. They settled down upon a farm and Grandfather Mogg engaged in agricultural pursuits until his ‹leatlı.
Mrs. Lany ( Young ) Mogg was born in Seward, Schoharie County, N. Y., and was the daughter of Jeremiah Young, whose family consisted of twelve children. Jared Mogg's family consisted of four- teen children. Thirteen of these grew to mature years and there are still living six brothers and five sisters. Mr, Starr, politically, is a sound Repub - lican, while he and bis good wife are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of .loliet.
LAUS PAULSEN. The German-American citizens of this county have an excellent representative in the person of Mr. Paulsen, a successful farmer of Washington Township. His pleasant homestead is located on sections 25 and 36, and consists of one hundred and sixty broad and fertile acres, supplied with all the needful buiklings erected substantially and designed attract- ively. When the present owner took possession of the place in 1863, there was but a small piece bro- ken, the rest being wild land. Ile put forth his best efforts to make of it a home suited to his taste and the needs of his family, and well has he suc- ceeded.
The natal day of Mr. Paulsen was February 25, 1841, and his birthplace Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- many. He is the youngest child in a family circle that included nine brothers and sisters, but four of whom are now living. He and two sisters came to America. The parents, John and Catharine ( Brandt) Paulsen, passed their entire lives in their native kingdom, Schleswig-holstein. Ile of whom we write grew to man's estate in the land of his birth, gaining a good education under its excellent school laws. When twenty-one years old he determined to seek a home in the land across the sea, of whose advantages he had heard.
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