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 89
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sponsible position in one of the oftest commission houses of Chicago, which he filled with credit until 1880, when he located on the present site of his place of business at the corner of Main and Ex- change Streets, under the firm name of C. Wil- koning & Co. The building they then occupied was an ordinary sized general store, and was soon found to be altogether too small to accommodate the stock of merchandise they desired to place be- fore the people of Eastern Will County. It was then moved south to give place for a building of brick, stone and iron, 51x60, two stories and base- ment, with fire and burglar proof vault and gallery on first floor.
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The establishment is one of which the citizens of C'rete are and well may be proud, and is gen- erally coneeded by travelers to be the most nicely arranged store to be found in the country, contain- ing the largest and best assortment of merchandise, and arranged in departments. In addition they trans- aet quite an extensive banking and exchange busi- ness. In all of this work he has been ably assisted by his father, John Wilkening, an early settler of the township, and his younger brother Fred. Ile was united in marriage to Miss Ida Riebling. of Pittsburg. Pa., in May, 1890, and is at present erecting an elegant residence, and will soon be able to say "at home" to his many friends.
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LEXANDER DOIG, who is identified with the agricultural interests of New Lenox Township, is the ninth child of Andrew and Isabella Doig, whose history will be found in the sketch of Thomas Doig. He was born in Washington. D. C., October 17, 1811, and came to this county with the parental family, who settled in Homer Township. When about twenty one years old he married, the happy event taking place December 31. 1862. and the bride being Miss Sarah C .. daughter of the late Gilbert Van Duser. The maiden name of the bride's mother was Ann M. Lynx. She is now the wife of Thomas Doig, Mr. Van Duser having died April 12. 1852.
Mrs. Doig of this sketch is the elder in a family
of two children and was born in New Lenox Town- ship. November 26. 1812. She has borne her hus- band four children named respectively, Melissa I., Graee B., Sadie and Gilbert A. The third born died in childhood. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Doig settled on Maple Street, in New Lenox Township, where they have spent the greater part of their married life. Their pleasant homestead comprises sixty-three acres, on which good build- ings have been ereeted and other improvements made. For nine years Mr. Doig was engaged in the livery business and during that time was a dweller in town. In politics he is a sturdy Demo- crat. He has served as School Director, but with this exception has devoted his time entirely to his personal affairs,
MOS EIB is the owner and occupant of a pleasant and fertile estate on section 7, Jackson Township, the same comprising one hundred and eighty-five acres. l'pon it are to be seen the usual farm buildings, but of better construction than many, while the appear- ance of fields, fences and stock give the impression that Mr. Eib understands tilling the soil and caring for the produce of his fields and the increase of his herds.
The birthplace of Mr. Eib was Harrison County, Va,, and his natal day July 29, 1823. He was a child of four years when his parents removed to Columbus, Ohio, two years later, the location of the family being changed to Fountain County, Ind. There they remained until 1833, when they came to this county and the youth of our subject was spent amid pioneer surroundings in the township of which he is an honored resident. The mother had died in Columbus, Ohio, and the father breathed his last in this county at the home of his son.
The marriage of our subject and Miss Catherine Gonter took place in Jackson Township, March 28, 1851. The bride was born in the province of Alsace. at that time a part of France, but now belonging to the German Empire, in April. 1831. Her parents, Michael and Catherine ( Arnholt) Gonter, made a
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settlement in Will County in 1810, and the father died in Jackson Township, The mother survives, now residing with her daughter, Mrs. William Brown.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Eib are, Levi 11. a resident of Minden, Neb. ; George W. a farmer in California; Albert N. a farmer of Jackson Town- ship; Clara E. wife of Albert Cotton, and Susan B. wife of Alvin Spangler of Jackson Township. Mr. Eib has been School Director. In polities he is a good Democrat. He is held in good repute by his fellow-men as a reliable citizen,an industrious farmer and a man of kindly nature and upright life.
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CI LLEN P. CARPENTER. This gentleman has done much to forward the business in- terests of Will County, and as one who is disposed to support all measures tending toward the continuation of its prosperity, he is well wor- thy of representation in this volume. He bought a number of acres of land in Channahon, lying along the Wide Water Canal, as early as 1865, which, aside from its value as a farm. is one of the most beautiful places along the route from this town- ship to Joliet.
Mr. Carpenter was born January 27, 1834. lle was reared in the place of his birth until he was nineteen years old, and then came to Will County. where his brother Henry and a sister, Lucinda, were then living. His brother is a carpenter and still a resident of Joliet. His sister was the wife of Dr. G. Randall. Of his other brothers and sisters the following is the record: Mary A. was the wife of Thomas Logan and died in Springfield, Ill .; Wilber lives in Joliet ; Charles in Dakota; Lu- cinda in Kansas, and a sister resides in lowa Al- fred Carpenter, the father of our subject was a resident of this county in 1819, and died just be- fore our subject came here in 1853.
Our subject taught school in Joliet in 1853, for one winter, and in the summer of 1854 went back to New York. Returning to this part of the country in the fall, in the following January he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Spencer and established a home. Ile lived on his farm in Channahon Town-
ship for three years, then was a resident of Troy for two years, and in 1860 commenced buying grain in Minooka, at the landing of the Wide Water Canal, and was thus engaged the ensuing five years, shipping both by canal and rail. In 1865 he turned his attention to farming, and bought one hundred and seventeen aeres of land lying along the Wide Water Canal, his warehouse being just across the canal. He immediately moved into his residence there and has sinee made it one of the finest in the vicinity. In the adornment of the grounds he has been greatly assisted by Mrs. Car- penter's taste and skill. She is a great lover of flowers and has a garden in which are many choice varieties of roses and other beautiful plants, all of which are tended by her careful hand.
In 1868 Mr. Carpenter formed a partnership with Mr. Truby to buy and sell grain and lumber, with their headquarters at Joliet and Birds Bridge, the business being conducted under the firm name of Carpenter & Truby. They were together for some years and built up a large business, keeping their own line of boats in the summer on the canal, and in winter shipping by rail on the Rock Island Rad- road, which runs close by their warehouse. These gentlemen were together until 1875, and then our subject sold out his interest to Mr. Truby, and has since lived on his farm. He has added to his orig- inal purchase seventy-one acres, on which is a good residence. which he uses as a tenement house, as he rents all of his land. Mr. Carpenter devotes his time to looking after his interest, investing his money as he sees fit and, as he is of a speculative turn of mind, he has taken many a bout with the bulls and bears on the Board of Trade in Chicago. Mrs. Carpenter was born in the city of Chicago, her parents being Thomas and Sarah A. (Van Dusen ) Spencer. ller mother was a daughter of John Bingham, and they were all of New York. She came to Will County in 1834 with her husband. Mr. Spencer subsequently died in Kendall County when Mrs. Carpenter was but four years of age. iler mother died in 1888 in Chicago, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Carpenter is a lady of no ordinary intelligence and attainments, and she has endeared herself to her many acquaintances by her pleasant ways and kindly arts.
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Mr. Carpenter is one of the most influential and trusted citizens, and is a man of brain, decided character, and admirable tact. He is one of the most efficient eivie officials, and through his lib- erality and publie spirit this community has been benefited in more ways than one. He is now serv- ing his third term of three years as Highway Commissioner of the township. having been re elected last spring. 1Ie is also Treasurer of the township, having served in that office with distin- guished ability for the last six years, and received his re-appointment last spring. lle takes an act- ive part in polities, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Although not a member of any religious organization, he has served as Trus-« tee of the church, which his wife attends, for the past fifteen years.
The chief sorrow of the otherwise happy wedded life of our subject and his wife has been in the death of their two children, a boy and a girl in in- fancy. But life's lesson may have taught them that it is better,
"Far better to smile with a deep content O'er their darlings quietly sleeping, O'er their little ones safe from all that can harm, Safe and quietly sleeping.
"The sun comes up and the sun goes down On sorrow and sin and aching. And to all the evil that's in the world Their darlings will know no waking."
E LDER STEPHEN R. BEGGS, the oldest preacher of the Methodist denomination in Northern Illinois, and an old-time and hon- ored resident of Plainfield, was born on a farm in Rockingham County, Va .. March 30, 1801, a son of James Beggs, who was born in the same county in 1768. Thomas Beggs, the grandfather of our sub- jeet was born in New Jersey, and James Beggs, his father, who was of Irish birth, came to this country in Colonial times and settled in that State. The grandfather of our subject was reared and married in his native State, Sarah Barnes becoming his wife, and before the breaking out of the Revolution,
migrated to Rockingham, Va. He joined the pa- triot army and became an officer of the Commissary Department and died in the service in 1779, or '80.
The father of our subject was reared and married in Rockingham County, and resided there until 1802, when he removed to Kentucky making the journey on horseback, his wife also riding on a horse and carrying Stephen in her lap. They re- sided in Kentucky three years and then settled in Clarke County. Ind., where Mr. Beggs cleared a farm from the timber and made it his home until his death May 13, 1835. ITis remains are buried in the Gazaway church yard. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Custer, and she was born in Virginia and of English ancestry. The father of our subject was a Whig and was a mem- ber of the Indiana Territorial Senate for ten years, Le and his wife both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter died July 7, 1833. They were the parents of five sons and four daugh- ters.
The subject of this sketch was set to work on a farm as soon as he was large enough to be of any assistance. In his younger days Indians still lin- gered in Indiana and were often hostile, and when the news of the Pigeon Roost massacre reached the settlement, all gathered at his father's and built a fortification around the house. They remained in that several days and then built block houses in different places. Our subject was early instineted in religion, and at the age of nineteen was con- verted, and at twenty-two commenced preaching at his father's home. In the same fall he joined the Missouri Conference that then embraced all of Illi- nois, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. He remained in Indiana until the fall of 1830, and then was ap- pointed to the Tazewell Cireuit, which included Peoria, Bloomington and Pekin. At that time there were three families residing on the present site of Bloomington, then called Blooming Grove. at Peoria not more than half a dozen families, and all the surrounding country was wild and unsettled. In July, 1831, he went to the village of Chicago and organized the first Methodist Church ever started there and he was the first minister ever stationed at that point. In 1832 he came to Plain- field and has called this his home sinee that time,
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though he has lived away from here one or two years at a time while preaching at different places. In 1831 he held a camp meeting at Walker's Grove, as Plainfield was then called, the first held in this section.
Elder Beggs has been twice married, first in Sep- tember, 1831, to Elizabeth L. Heath. a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and she died April 7, 1866. His second marriage, December 30, 1868, was to Sarah R. (Dibble) Frost, a native of New York State. Our subject was the father of four children by his first marriage, Mary E., James W., George W. and Charles W.
AMES JONES. The late James Jones de- serves more than a passing notice, not be- cause he acquired a solid financial standing, but because his home in Manhattan Town- ship was a resort for many of the best people of the county, and because his personal traits of heart and mind gave him the respect and affection of all who became acquainted with his good qualities. He was one of those whole-hearted men who are ever ready to give liberally of their means, as well as of their time and energy, to all movements for the public good, and who, while having special likes in church or party, give honor to whom honor is due and display no bigotry. Modest and unpretending, he was yet one of the finest scholars in the county, excelling particularly in penmanship.
The father of our subject was Robert Jones, whose family consisted of three sons and three daughters; he was a native of Delaware, in which State his boyhood was spent. When he became a man he went to New York City and engaged in the mercantile business, becoming prosperous and finally carrying on a wholesale clothing house; importing the finest goods from abroad. In 1830 he came West to look after some investments. driving in a carriage from New York City and bringing his boys with him. In Chicago they found no board- ing house but a shanty, were obliged to pay twelve and a half cents for a pail of water, and to buy bread to feed the horses and cattle which they had
brought with them. Mr. Jones had invested in Illinois lands, owning large tracts in various coun- ties. He also continued his business in New York City, where he breathed his last.
The members of the parental family are: Sarah, now living in New York City; Anna, who died in 1872: Maria, living in New York; Frederick, for- merly a merchant in that city, who died in 1875; James, our subject, and Robert, who came to Will County when our subject did, owned and operated three hundred and twenty aeres of land here. but finally returned to the metropolis, where he died in 1889.
James Jones was born in New York City in the " year 1820. During his boyhood and youth he sometimes accompanied his father to the West, en joying the journey and the seenes which they en- countered, as a bright boy can. He became a eadet at West Point and was graduated from the Military Academy at the age of twenty-one years. His fa- ther then started him in life with $150,000 which he invested in ships, establishing a line which plied across the ocean. For several years he gave his time and attention to the shipping business.
One of his best vessels went down with all on board, and refitting another he sent it out under charge of a captain who had been highly recom- mended to him, for the purpose of trading his cargo for other goods in Africa. The captain sold the goods, reloaded the vessel with a return cargo. for which he did not pay, and absconded with his employer's momey. News was sent to Mr. Jones, who at once crossed the ocean, visited the Gover- por of the place, but found that he could do noth- ing in the premises, as the absconder had fled into the interior. Returning with his cargo Mr. Jones determined to abandon the sea. and so embarked in the wholesale crockery, glass and pottery business with a partner.
The junior member of the firm of Jones & Decker ere long succeeded in getting funds into his hands, with which he ran away, and our subject became so disgusted with his experiences that he determined to come West. Ilis good nature and leniency had proved his financial enemies, as they do that of many a man in a world which contains so many sharpers. Telling his father of his desire
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to try a new home, our subject was given section 9, of Manhattan Township, this county, and in 1848 came to this vicinity. For some time he made his home with his uncle, Eben JJones, in New Lenox 1 Township. near the old Red Mill. looking after the improvements of his place, but doing little else, although at one time he and his brother owned a mill ou Bluff Street, Joliet. This was destroyed by tire.
In 1855 Mr. Jones took possession of the large brick house which he had built upon his land and engaged in farming. The brick which were used in his residence were made on the site by a Mr. Shaw. Mr. Jones proved to be but a poor farmer and manager, so he finally acted on advice and rented his farm on shares. He had four tenants on the land, which was divided into five improved places. Under this order of things he did well and ere his death had the section of land free of debt, to- gether with funds in the Joliet Bank. His beautiful home was under the care of a competent house- keeper, who furnished good cheer for the owner and his many friends.
Mr. Jones was a great hunter, delighting exceed- ingly in the sport. At different times he served as Justice of the Peace. but beyond that never aspired to office. Ile was tendered the nomination of member of the Legislature. but refused to run al- though, being a stanch Republican, he would un- doubtedly have been elected. In New York he had belonged to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, but being of a liberal mind he helped the different or- ganizations in this section. having been a main in- strument in suggesting and building the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in Manhattan Township.
AFAYETTE M. HENTZE. This gentle- man is "mine host" of the Hotel Monroe, in Joliet, which he conducts in an admir- able manner, every department of the excellent hostelry being carefully overseen. The hotel con- tains seventy -two rooms. is well furnished through- out. and its table supplied with a bill of fare
which includes all the substantials of the cuisine and the appetizing luxuries which add a relish to the more needful foods and appeal to the palate of the more dainty. The acute perception which at once detects the needs of guests, and the cordial manner which makes them at home, are manifested by our subject in a commendable degree and add to the popularity of the house over which he has control.
The forefathers of our subject lived in Holland, whence at the time of the Revolution, his direct progenitor came to America as a Hessian soldier. Settlement was then made in the States of which the family have been citizens since that time. Henry lentze, who was born in Vermont, mar- ried Miss Charity Gould, of New York, and reared several children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. The father was for many years a hop raiser and teamster in New York, whence he came to Illinois in 1850, accompanied by his son L. M. The same year other members came, the group in this State then comprising the parents, two sons and three daughters, and two married daughters remaining in the East. Of the entire family those now living are Sarah, wife of George Monroe, of Joliet; Mrs. Polly Ford, of Aurora; Mrs. Louisa Northam, of the same place; Mrs. Cornelia Parker,of Watertown, N. Y .; George W .. a dealer in cigars and tobacco in Joliet; and the subject of this sketch.
The birth of L. M. Hentze occurred in .Jefferson County. N. Y. December 6, 1833, and in his native State he passed his boyhood and early youth, ac- quiring his early education in the common schools. Ile was not yet seventeen years of age when he became a resident of Illinois, where he continued to make his home under the parental roof until af- ter the breaking out of the Civil War. On July 9, 1862, he was enrolled as a member of Company 1. One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, and from that time until the close of the war accompanied his regiment in their various campaigns, with the exception of four months spent in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn. After having taken part in va- rious battles, skirmishes and weary marches, endur- ing the hardships of a soldier's life and manifest- | ing his loyalty and gallantry throughout his career
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as a soldier, he returned to the pursuits of agri- culture in the southern part of this county.
In 1870, Mr. Hentze went to Dakota, where he ! continued his agricultural labors seven years. Ilav- ing been seriously tormented by grasshoppers, he determined to leave the field to the inseet hordes and returned to the Prairie State. He secured employment with Monroe & Sons in Joliet, re- taining his position ten years, after which he spent two years in the employ of Monroe & Seavel. llis next enterprise was to assume the manage- ment of the hotel over which he still has charge. He is a Republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
An important event in the life of our subject was his marriage, April 9, 1856, to Miss Ann E. Pelton, who has proved her worth as a wife and mother and is respected by her acquaintances. They are the parents of three children-Henry A .. a painter in JJoliet; William J., manager of the hotel: and Anna S., who assists in the oversight of the affairs of the hotel.
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ILLIAM A. NICOLAUS. Among the en- terprising firms of the city of Joliet, none are more so than that of Nachhour & Ni- colaus. Young in years, its members have thor- oughly imbibed the spirit of progress characteristic of the age, and furnish models of what may be ac- complished by persistent effort and close applica- tion to business. Their dry-goods establishment, occupying the lower floor of the Barber building, (the best in the city), is a model in systematie ar- rangement, completeness in everything which goes to make such an establishment first class, and would reflect credit upon the efforts of dealers in much larger cities. The success of the young men is in many respects phenomenal. From an humble be- ginning they have steadily advanced to the man- agement of a large and constantly increasing busi- ness.
The subject of this sketch was born in Muscatine County, Iowa, December 23, 1861. Ilis father, Henry J. Nicolaus, a grain dealer, possessed sys-
tematie business habits which were imparted to his children. Ile died November 4, 1872. His widow now lives in Wilton, surrounded by her children with the exception of the subject of this sketch, having three sons and one daughter near her. She bore the maiden name of Margaret Frenzel, indica- tive of the German origin of her ancestors. The boyhood of our subject was passed in the quiet of home life until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he began laying the foundation for his future steeess, by becoming a clerk in a dry-goods establishment where he remained six years.
At the expiration of this time, young Nicolaus visited Chicago looking for a suitable location, and from that city came to Joliet in September, 1883. Engaging as clerk with a firm here, he acted in that capacity until the following January, when he be- came a partner in the business, the firm name being changed to Nachbour & Nicolaus, under which the business is still conducted. Mr. Nicolaus takes great interest in everything calculated to promote the welfare and prosperity of the city and the coun- try contiguous thereto. He and his partner take just pride in owning some of the best horses to be found in Northern Illinois.
Mr. Nicolaus set up his own household on Janu- ary 10. 1883, when he was united in marriage with Miss Louella L .. daughter of L. L. Lane, of Musca- tine, lowa. This pleasing and intelligent lady in- vests their dwelling with the attributes of true home life, making of it the center of their social existence. Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaus are the happy parents of one child.
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EROME DOXTADER, whose life work has been farming, owns and occupies a valuable tract of land on section 21, New Lenox Township, in addition to which he owns property in the village of New Lenox. In a quiet and unassuming manner Mr. Doxtader has pursued his way in life, conscientiously discharging the du- ties which lay in his pathway, accumulating a com- fortable share of this world's goods, and gaining esteem from all who know him.
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