USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The History of Stephenson County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches war record statistics portraits of early settlers history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, &c. > Part 74
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THOMAS W. JOHNSON, retired, residence, Galena avenue ; is a native of England, and was born Jan. 19, 1825 ; he came to the United States when only 14 years of age; landed in New Orleans, came up the river to Galena, and walked from Galena to Freeport, and arrived here in the spring of 1839 ; he grew up and attended school here, working his own way, sawing wood to pay for his schooling. His industry attracted the attention of Mr. D. A. Knowlton, a prominent citizen and a leading mer- chant of Freeport, and he offered him a situation as clerk in his store ; he accepted it, and received $50 and his board as compensation the first year ; he remained with Mr. Knowlton for eight years, saving his earnings and investing in real estate. In 1853, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Emily Lezotte, she is a native of Vermont, but of French descent. Mr. Johnson was with Mr. George Maynard, now the oldest merchant in the city, and remained with him for eighteen years, a part of the time, having the entire charge of the business, which he successfully managed with acknowl- edged ability ; his success in life is owing to his own efforts, his industry and integrity. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children-one son, Holland C., and one daughter,
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Althea C .; Mr. Johnson's parents are still living in England at an advanced age, and are both active and well.
F. L. JONES, proprietor of the 99-cent store, Stephenson street ; is a na- tive of Stephenson Co., and was born at Eleroy Oct. 6, 1853; he grew up and attended school here; after reaching manhood. he sold goods on the road for four years, and established his present business in 1879, and is building up a good trade ; he is a mem- ber of Winnesheik Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the encampment. Mr. Jones was united in marriage, Sept. 23d, 1878, to Miss A. V. Gilman, a native of Stephen- son Co .; they have one daughter-Flora Imogene
F. E. JOSEL, City Surveyor ; is a native of Austria, and was born June 26, 1840 ; he grew up and attended school there, and completed his education in engineer- ing and architecture in Vienna, Austria ; he came to the United States in 1866, and the following year came to Freeport ; he has been engaged in surveying and engineer- ing; he was elected County Surveyor and held that office four years ; he was elected City Surveyor in 1875, and is now serving his fourth term in that office ; Mr. Josel has had large experience in his profession ; has made the only accurate map of the city. He married Miss Sophia Koehler, a native of Austria, Feb. 17, 1856 ; they have had one son, who is not living.
LOUIS JUNGKUNZ, shaving and hair-dressing saloon, Chicago street ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 12, 1833 ; he came to the United States in 1853, and the following year he came to Stephenson Co. and located in Freeport, and estab- lished his present business ; he has carried on the business over a quarter of a century -a longer time than any barber in Stephenson Co. In 1856, he married Miss Caro- line Lucke, a native of Prussia, Germany ; they have four children-Adele W., Will- iam Fred, Julia and Louie R .; Mr. Jungkunz belongs to Freeport Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to the Stephen A. Douglas Encampment.
REV. CLEMENT KALVELAGE, Pastor St. Joseph German Catho- lic Church ; is a native of Oldenberg, Germany, and was born Nov. 23, 1845; he came to the United States in 1858, and received his education at St. Francis Seminary, Milwau- kee, and in Chicago, and was ordained in Milwaukee Jan. 29, 1869 ; he first officiated over St. Francis' Church, Ottawa, Ill., and remained there five years, and in 1874 was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Church, and since then has officiated.
JOHN KERCH, proprietor of the New York House, 53 Galena street; is a native of Germany, and was born March 5, 1819; he came to the United States in 1842, and came to Stephenson Co. and settled in Freeport in December, 1853; the following year he opened a hotel, and has carried on the hotel business since then, a period of twenty-six years; the New York House is the oldest hotel in Freeport. In 1845, Mr. Kerch married Miss Mary Hoof, a native of Germany ; they have one daugh- ter-Mary Kerch.
I. F. KLECKNER, County Clerk, Freeport ; is a native of Stephenson Co., and was born Jan. 31, 1843; he grew up to manhood on his father's farm. Upon the breaking-out of the war in 1861, when only 18 years of age, he enlisted in Co. B, 46th I. V. I .; he participated in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and was severely wounded at Shiloh. After his return, he entered school, and afterward en- gaged in teaching ; he was elected County Superintendent of Schools in 1869, and held that office four years ; in 1873, he was elected County Clerk, and was re-elected in 1877. Mr. Kleckner was united in marriage to Miss Emma T. Robinson, from Taze- well Co., Ill., in 1870 ; they have two daughters-Eva and Cora.
I. KLEIN, wagon and carriage manufacturer, Bridge street; was born in Prussia March 3, 1834; he grew up and began to learn his trade there; he came to America in 1854, finished learning his trade in New York State, and came to Chicago and worked in the extensive wagon factory of Peter Schuttler ; he came to Freeport in 1856, and established his present business in 1859; has successfully carried it on for twenty-one years, and has a large trade. In 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth Miller, a native of Germany; she came to this country when only 3 years of age; they have
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nine children-five sons and four daughters. Mr. Klein had nothing when he began, and owes his success to his own good management.
DEXTER A. KNOWLTON, deceased; was born in Fairfield, Herki- mer Co., N. Y., March 3, 1812; during his infancy, his parents moved to the hills of Chautauqua Co., in the western part of the State; here, upon a farm in the town of Stockton, were passed his childhood and youth ; his parents were poor, but devout Christians, and trained their children in habits of frugality and industry; even in his boyhood he exhibited much of the energy and thriftiness which, more fully developed in after years, paved for him the way leading to his present prominent and enviable. position ; as he grew older, he manifested an ardent desire to engage in trade, or enter a store for the purpose of procuring an insight into the details and workings of active business life, but his father, dreading the baneful effects of evil associations, endeavored to fix his attention on farming and agricultural pursuits ; he was resolved, however, to follow the bent of his inclinations, and, not desiring to succeed at the tr de of shoe- maker, which his parents had desired that he should embrace, determined to prepare himself to enter into a mercantile business, by securing a more thorough and varied education ; after much opposition on the part of his father, who held in det'estation the loose and vicious courses of many of the careless students, he succeeded, finally, in enter- ing the academy then flourishing at Fredonia, and there prosecuted diligently his stud- ies, in the interim, by means of his own exertions, paying for his board and tuition, and also furnishing a man to take his place on the parental farm; shortly before arriving at his majority, he returned to his home fully decided to leave the farm, and find employ- ment in a store or mercantile house ; in 1838, he started on a peddling trip to the West, and in January, 1839, settled at Freeport, Ill., where he opened a general store, meeting with gratifying success ; in 1842, he first went to New York to buy goods, and soon established his credit in that city, and also in Chicago; in 1843, began his invest- ments and operations in real estate, those ventures resulting, ultimately, in the Knowl- ton Additions to the town of Freeport, from which he realized a large sum of money ; during 1847-48, he bought wheat heavily, in opposition to all the merchants of the town, and succeeded finally in carrying his intentions to a victorious issue ; he was importantly and pecuniarily interested in the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, which was one of the first roads projected out of Chicago; in 1850, he was elected a Director of the company, and during the following twelve years was annually re-elected to the same position, whose duties he performed with energy and ability ; he never cared for or sought political preferment, and when the nomination for Governor of the State was urged upon him by the Free-Soil party, he accepted it only because he knew that its pow- ers were too weak to elect its candidate; in 1855, he built a house at Westfield, N. Y., purposing to withdraw from the turmoil of active business life, but he was restless in the retirement, which cramped his energies and activities; in 1861, he purchased, for $100,000, the Empire Spring at Saratoga, and afterward joined the proprietors of the famous Congress Spring, and, in conjunction with them, organized the Congress and Empire Spring Company ; after living on Brooklyn Heights for a period of four years, he returned to Freeport, Ill., in 1870, in order to be near his six children ; three of his sons were associated with him in the banking business in this town, and are favorably known for their business abilities and trustworthiness. He was married, Jan. 15, 1834, to Evelina Arnold, to whom he attributes a great measure of his success in life, and who died in August, 1874. He continued in the banking business until his death, which occurred March 10, 1876.
H. P. KOCHSMEIER, foreman of factory of William P. Emmert ; is a native of Stephenson Co., and was born in Freeport, July 27, 1851 ; he grew up and attended school and learned his trade here, and worked in manufacturing agricultural implements for some years ; he has held the position of foreman of the factory of W. P. Emmert since 1875. Mr. Kochsmeier was united in marriage to Miss Dora A. Jastram, in this city, May 20, 1878.
JOHN KOEHLER, proprietor livery, sale and boarding stable, corner Mc- chanic and Galena streets ; is a native of the State of Ohio, and was born Oct. 26,
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1837 ; his parents came to Stephenson Co. in 1839, and he grew up to manhood on a farm ; in 1862, he engaged in his present business, and has carried it on for the past eighteen years; he has a nice stock of horses and has a good trade ; he is a member of Freeport Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also of the Encampment and the Germania Society. He married Miss Theresa Miller, in this city, Dec. 18, 1861 ; she is a native of Ger- many ; they have six children-Eda, Emma, Clara, Otto, Florence and Walter.
A. C. KRAFT, of the firm of Kraft Brothers, proprietors of Kraft's Hotel, east side the river ; is a native of Baden, Germany, and was born April 11, 1843 ; he came to the United States in 1854, and came to Freeport the same year ; he grew up and attended school in this State and Iowa; he has resided here permanently since 1867 ; he built the Kraft House in 1870, and since then the Kraft Brothers have con- ducted this hotel. In October, 1867, Mr. Kraft married Miss Matilda Zimmer, a native of Hanover, Germany ; they have one son-Arthur W.
EDWARD KRAFT, of the firm of Kraft Brothers, proprietors Kraft House ; was born in Baden, Germany, in 1847; came to America in 1854; he grew up to manhood in this State and Iowa; he has lived here since 1863; learned the baker's trade, and in 1870 engaged in the hotel business, built the Kraft House, and have conducted it since then. In 1873, he married Miss Agnes Hess, of Darlington, Wis.
JACOB KROHN, manufacturer of fine cigars and wholesale dealer in cigars, tobacco and smoking goods, 103 Stephenson street; is a native of Germany, and was born in Prussia, Feb. 22, 1832; he grew up and learned the trade of manufacturer of cigars and tobacco ; after reaching manhood he came to the United States, in 1852 ; he came West to Illinois and located in Freeport in May, 1855, and established his present business in a small place on Stephenson street ; thoroughly understanding his business and applying himself closely, he built up a good trade, and has successfully carried on the business over a quarter of a century. Two years after coming to Freeport, Mr. Krohn returned to New York, and on the 22d of March, 1857, was united in marriage to Miss Dora Fleischman, a native of Bavaria, Germany. Mr. Krohn has held many offices of honor and trust ; in 1864 he was elected Alderman, and was re-elected to the same position in 1866; in 1873 he was elected Mayor of the city, and in 1875 he was elected Supervisor, and was a member of the Building Committee for building the court house, and gave it his personal attention; in 1877 he was again elected Mayor of the city ; he was a member of the Board of Education three years, and was chosen Presi- dent of the board one year. Mr. Krohn is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been prominently identified with the order for a quarter of a century ; while living in New York he joined Ulster Lodge 193 A., F. & A. M., at Saugerties, Feb. 7, 1855 ; after coming to Freeport in 1856 he joined Excelsior Lodge, 97; he is also a member of Freeport Chapter, and is serving his second term as presiding officer of that body ; he also belongs to the Freeport Consistory, and has held the position of Treasurer for the past three years ; he has held the position of Grand Junior Warden and Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge; was elected Grand High Priest, and afterward, in 1875, was elected Grand Patriarch ; in 1876 was elected Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge ; he is a Director in the Illinois Masonic Benevolent Society, and holds the responsible position of Chairman of Finance Committee, and to his earnest efforts more than any one else does the society owe the establishment of its permanent reserve surplus fund; there are few men better known to the order in this State than Mr. Krohn; Mr. Krohn is also prominently connected with the fraternity of I. O.O. F .; he became a member of Winnesheik Lodge, No. 30, in 1856; in the following year he withdrew to organize Freeport Lodge, No. 239, and was one of the charter members ; he was a member of Western Star Encampment, No. 25; he afterward was prominent in organizing Stephen A. Douglas Encampment, No. 100, and was chosen the first pre- siding officer of that body. Mr. Krohn has been actively and prominently identified with the interests of Freeport and Stephenson Co. for twenty-five years, and is noted for his generosity, and is one of the most successful men in this section of the State. He has been a Director of the Second National Bank for many years. Mr. and Mrs.
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Krohn have eight children-one son and seven daughters ; they have one of the finest and most attractive homes in the city or in this part of the State.
D. KUEHNER, wholesale and retail dealer in furniture, corner of Galena and Exchange streets; is a native of Germany, and was born Sept. 1, 1830; he grew up to manhood, and learned the furniture trade; he came to the United States in 1851; lived in Ohio five years, and came to Stephenson Co. in April, 1856, and located in Freeport. The following year, in 1857, he bought the lot on the corner of Galena and Exchange streets, and established his present business, and has carried it on for twenty- three years on the same corner; he is the oldest furniture dealer in Freeport; when he began he only had a little ; but by close attention to business and good management he has established a large trade, and is one of the most successful merchants in this city. In 1869, he built the large block corner Galena and Exchange streets ; he has erected several stores on Galena and Stephenson streets. In January, 1854, Mr. Kuehner married Miss Hannah Leander, a native of Germany ; they have five children-Louis J., Willie, Fred, Hannah and Darius R. Mr. and Mrs. Kuehner have one of the finest homes in the city, located on Stephenson street.
THEODORE KUNDINGER, of the firm of Kundinger & Hart, dealers in clothing and gents' furnishing goods, and merchant tailors, 123 Stephenson street ; is a native of Germany, and was born April 16, 1835; he came to the United States in 1851, and came West to Illinois in 1857; lived in Peoria; he came to Freeport in 1866; in 1874, he engaged in the clothing business, and has carried on the business since then, and the firm have built up a good trade. In July, 1866, Mr. Kundinger was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Cobbs, from Jacksonville, Ill. ; they have three children-Dora, Birdie and Mary.
DANIEL KUNZ, bakery and restaurant, No. 88 Stephenson street; is a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and was born Aug. 28, 1822; he came to the United States in July, 1846; he lived in New York City ten years, and was engaged in the bakery business; he came to Stephenson Co. in January, 1856, and settled in Freeport, and engaged in his present business, and has carried it on for twenty five years. He has been twice married; his first wife was Sophia Graeser, from Baden, Germany ; his present wife was Kate Stes, a native of Germany ; he has three children- Lena. George, and Emma.
W. S. LAMB, of the firm of T. A. Stiles & Co., founders and machinists, manufacturers of cultivators, Bridge street ; is a native of Delaware Co., Ohio, and was born Dec. 1, 1828; he grew up and attended school there; after reaching manhood he engaged in business, and was for eight years a member of the firm of Bradley, Burn- ham, Lamb & Co .; they were extensively engaged in the manufacture of engines, boilers and machinists' tools ; he came to Freeport in 1859, and remained a short time ; then returned East ; in 1868, he came here and located permanently ; in 1876, he asso- ciated with his present partner, Mr. Stiles, and engaged in their present business, and they have built up a large trade. In 1864, Mr. Lamb was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Fry, daughter of Hon. C. J. Fry, of this city ; they have one son-Robert Belden Lamb.
O. C. LATHROP, attorney-at-law, corner of Stephenson and Chicago streets ; is a native of Washington Co., Vt., and was born May 12, 1840; his parents came West to Illinois, and located at Aurora in 1843 ; he grew up and attended school there, and then went East and completed his literary course at the Lamoille Grammar School, in Vermont ; after his return he decided to study law ; and, on the morning of the day he began reading law, news came of the attack upon Ft. Sumter; he enlisted the same day in Co. C, the first company from Aurora, in the 7th I. V. I .; three-months service. Upon his return, he pursued his law studies in Aurora and Chicago; and was admitted to the bar in 1865 ; he practiced law then until 1869; then went to Michigan, and was engaged in practice there six years ; he came to Freeport in 1875, and since then has practiced his profession here; he has held the office of City Attorney here.
JOHN LAWLESS, of the firm of Lawless, Wohlford & Lawless, manu- facturers of lime, and dealers in lime, cement, stucco and plastering hair ; came to
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Stephenson Co. when quite small, and has grown up to manhood here; in 1877, he engaged in manufacturing lime ; the present firm established their business in Freeport in February, 1880, and are building up a good trade.
MICHAEL LAWVER, residence on Lincoln avenue ; is a native of the State of Pennsylvania, and was born in Mifflin Co. (now Juniata Co.), Jan. 3, 1812 ; he grew up to manhood there ; in 1846, he came West by wagon, and was about six weeks on the way, and arrived in this county May 26, 1846 ; he located at Lena, en- tered land where the town now stands, and made a farm ; he was one of the early set- tlers there, and was prominently identified with the laying-out, starting and building up of that town ; there were few persons in the county more ready to aid settlers who came here without means ; he entered land for them, loaned them money to enter their land, and waited until they could repay him, without obliging them to pay 25 per cent interest ; he was actively engaged in mercantile business and railroading. He held the office of School Trustee of the town over fifteen years, and was Clerk and member of the Board of Supervisors a number of times, and other town and school offices. Mr. Lawver owes his success in life to his own efforts. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Catharine Shellenbarger, a native of Pennsylvania; she died in January, 1869, leaving eight children-John (now in Missouri), Aaron (in the U. S. Mint in California), Jennie (now Mrs. H. C. Burchard), Isaiah (an attorney in St. Louis), Susan (now Mrs. George Fry, Chicago), Peter (physician, Washington), Mary (now Mrs. Charles Leggett, Grand Rapids, Mich.), Fannie (now Mrs. C. B. Fitch, of this city). In 1870, Mr. Lawver married Mary Louise Williams, a native of Connecticut ; they have three children-Charles, Ida and Hiram.
J. R. LEIGH, Sheriff of Stephenson Co .; is a native of Washington Co., N. Y., and was born April 19, 1832 ; he grew up to manhood in that State, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner ; he came West to Illinois in 1856, and located in Stephenson Co .; engaged in working at his trade. After the war broke out, he enlisted in the 92d I. V. I., and was Orderly Sergeant of Co. A; he served three years and participated in many severe battles and skirmishes ; he was wounded in the battle of Aiken, S. C. After the war he engaged in buying grain. In 1876, he was elected Sher- iff of this county, and was re-elected in 1878. In 1359, Mr. Leigh was united in mar- riage to Miss Harriet L. Pickard, a native of Stephenson Co .; they have four children -Clarence W., Iva C., Jessie and Jennie.
GEORGE LICHTENBERGER, of the firm of Lichtenberger Broth- ers, dealers in fresh and salt meats, Chicago street, between Stephenson and Galena ; is a native of Germany, and was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Aug. 20, 1834 ; his parents came to America, and arrived at New Orleans Christmas morning, 1847 ; they came to Freeport in 1848 ; arrived here about the 1st of August ; the following year he went to New York City, and lived there until the spring of 1853; then returned here ; in 1855 he began the butchering business ; in 1860 he went out to the moun tains ; after his return, in 1861, he established his present business ; he and his brother are associated together, and have a leading trade, and their market is one of the oldest in the city. Mr. Lichtenberger has held the office of City Treasurer ; he has been con- nected with the Fire Department since 1856, and has served as Assistant Foreman and Foreman, Assistant Chief, and was chosen Chief Engineer of the department, which position he has recently resigned. Mr. Lichtenberger married Miss Mary Colley, a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1859; they have four children-Edmund J., Clara, Agnes and Louise.
HENRY LICHTENBERGER, of the firm of Lichtenberger Bros., proprietors Center Market, dealers in fresh and salted meats, Chicago street ; is a native of Germany, and was born Sept. 29, 1837; his parents came to the United States in 1847. and the following year came to Stephenson Co .; he engaged in his present busi- ness in 1861. He was elected City Alderman, and served in that position six years ; he was elected Supervisor in 1878 and re-elected in 1879, and again re-elected in 1880, serving his third term as a member of the board. In 1862 he was united in marriage
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to Miss Johanna Meyer, a native of Hanover, Germany ; they have six children-Fred, Albert, Ellen, Martha, Josephine and William.
C. H. LITTLE, wholesale and retail dealer in crockery, 72 Stephenson street ; is a native of the State of Massachusetts; he grew up to manhood in that State, and came West to Illinois and located in Freeport in 1855; in 1859 he established his present business, and has successfully carried it on over twenty years, and has a large established trade ; he carries a large stock of goods, occupying two stores; his retail department is arranged with great taste, and he has one of the most attractive stores in the State or in the West. . Mr. Little had nothing when he began, but by great energy and close attention to business has become one of the most successful merchants in Northern Illinois. In 1857, Mr. Little was united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. Dyss- lin, from Springfield, Mass. ; she is a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y.
JOHN LOOS, manufacturer and dealer in harness ; also, dealer in saddles, trunks, valises, etc., Galena avenue, north of Galena street ; is a native of Germany, and was born Dec. 6, 1840, in County Reinich. Grand Duchy of Luxemburg; his parents came to America in 1852, and located in Ogle Co .; he came to Freeport in 1862, and learned his trade here ; he engaged in business for himself in June, 1869, and has estab- lished a good trade. Mr. Loos was united in marriage at Freeport Nov. 27, 1865, to Miss Mary Sohns, born May 14, 1847, at Eblington, Grosherzogtum Boxberg Baden ; they have eight children-Ferdinand, born Nov. 1, 1866; John, born Dec. 24, 1867 ; Da- mien, born May 11, 1869; Mary, born Nov. 6, 1871; Elizabeth, born May 14, 1872; Franzceskus, born Oct. 24, 1873; Anna, born Sept. 7, 1875, and William, born Dec. 13, 1877.
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