The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 83

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980

USA > Illinois > Will County > The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest > 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).

773

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

HORACE MESSENGER, farmer and .stock raiscr, Scc. 33; P. O. Lockport ; was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., April 26, 1807; he lived with his parents to the age of 20, farming, then farmed six years in Onondaga Co., N. Y., by the month; in 1834, he came to this county (then Cook) and made his claim ; then returning to Onondaga County, inarried and returned with his wife in 1835, and worked and improved the farm upon which he has ever since resided, containing over four hundred acres; Mr. Messenger is one of the carliest settlers in the coutny. Has been Highway Commissioner, but, although repeatedly requested, steadily has refused to hold any other office. Married Miss Fanny Shead (daughter of Stephen Shead, Onondaga Co., N. Y.) in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in April, 1835; she was born in Vernon, N. Y., June 13, 1810 ; they had seven children, six living-Horace, born April 26, 1807; Fanny S., June 13, 1810; Mary Jane, Nov. 4, 1838; Francis Ann, March 18, 1840 ; Horace Isaac, Feb. 5, 1844, and Helen Louisa, April 18, 1847 ; one dead-William H., born Feb. 20, 1836, died April 4, 1839.

JAMES W. MOONEY, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Lockport; was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1815, where he was engaged in farming, except four years, when he clerked in a grocery store; he came to this county in 1848, and first set- tled in Homer Tp .; in 1861 he moved, into Lockport Tp. and after remaining sixteen years, returned to Homer Tp, and for two years was engaged in boating on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and now resides with his sons, John H. and Charles W., who work the Garden Farm in this township. Was Township Assesor and Highway Overscer in Lock- port Tp. Married Lydia Ann Burt (daughter of Harlow and Hannah Burt, of Wayne Co., N. Y.) in Wayne Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1836 ; had eleven children- Jane M., born Aug. 16, 1839; Julia A., May 1, 1841; Francis, born Aug. 30, 1842, died Aug. 26, 1843 ; Charity, born Fcb. 3, 1844 ; dicd March 4, 1849 ; Mary, born April 14, 1846 ;. Helen, Aug. 24, 1847; John Henry, Dec. 30, 1849 ; Harriet Francelia, March 17, 1851; Lydia Josephine, Sept. 11, 1853; Will- .iam Burt, April 7, 1855, died May 4,

1856, and Charles Wesley, born July 7, 1857.

BARNEY OTT, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Gooding's Grove; was born in Baden, Germany, June 3, 1821 ; he lived with his parents fifteen years ; from that time up to the age of 21, he worked at the trade of weaver ; he came to America in 1842; and the first ycar lived in Onondaga Co., N. Y., working in a salt factory ; from there he went to Canada, remaining two years farming ; in 1846, he came to this State and lived in Du Page Co. nineteen years farming, when he moved to this county (1865), and purchased the farmn upon which he now resides, of 152 acres. He married Miss Elizabeth Walter (dauglı- ter of Andrew Walter, of Darmstadt, Germany,) in Du Page Co., Sept. 10, 1851 ; she was born June 8, 1831; they had thirteen children-Frank, born Feb. 16, 1853, died Fcb. 26, 1854; Michael, born May 10, 1854; Eva, Oct. 30, 1855; Catharine, born April 16, 1857, died Feb. 26, 1858; Mary, born Feb. 2, 1859 ; Lib- bie, Jan. 8, 1861; John, Aug 8, 1862 ; Katie, July 14, 1864; Peter, Jan. 2, 1866; Clara, March 20, 1868; Emma, March 9, 1870 ; Maggie, Oct. 21, 1872, and George B., Nov. 24, 1874.

DWIGHT PRESTON, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Gooding's Grove; was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Fcb. 21, 1823; he moved with his parents to Otsego Co. when he was 4 years old, and lived there until 1852, when he came to this county and settled on Sec. 11; in 1857, went to Marion Co., Ill. In 1861, enlisted in Co. F, 39th Reg. Ill. Inf., and was promoted to 1st Sergeant Nov. 15, 1862, serving until the close of the war ; he was wounded at Warebottom Church, Va., May 20, 1864, and remained in hospital until his discharge June 8, 1865; he then came to Will Co., and has remained here ever since. Has been Collector and Con- stable. He married Emeline Brooks, of Otsego Co., N. Y., Dec. 1, 1844; she died Nov. 28, 1872 ; they have two children --- Adelbert D., born Sept. 13, 1845, and Hannah E., June 15, 1848. His son Adel- bert D., married Lydia Coon Dec. 26, 1869 ; they had four children-Marion D., born Oct. 2, 1870; Grace E., Feb. 28, 1873 ; William Adelbert, June 23, 1875, died June 21, 1877 ; and Mary L., Aug. 25, 1877

774

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

NELSON REED, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Lockport; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Dec. 4, 1827 ; he lived with his par- ents until 9 years of age, when he was thrown upon his own resources, and has made his way in life upon his own exer- tions ever since ; he came to this county in January, 1852, and first settled on a farm in Sec. 9; in 1872, he purchased the farm he now resides on, his wife's parents, James and Eve Ritchey, residing with them from that time. Has been School Director sev- eral terms, and is so at present. Married Miss Margaret Ritchey in Homer Tp. Jan. 21, 1858 ; she was born on the " Ritchey Homestead," Nov. 6, 1838; they have four children-Carson, born Feb. 19, 1860; William R., April 14, 1866; Mary P., Dec. 8, 1868, and Harry, Oct. 25, 1874. JAMES RITCHEY, retired farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Lockport; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Oct. 30, 1800 ; he remained there until he was 4 years of age, when his parents moved to Ross Co., Ohio, and remained there until Oct. 20, 1830, when Mr. Ritchey and family moved to Fountain Co., Ind., and in Nov. 24, 1830, he came to this county, and took up his claim to the land he now resides on, and returning, brought his family . on in the fall of 1831; in 1832, himself and family were compelled to take refuge in Fort Dearborn for eighteen days ; his fam- ily then returned to Indiana, and he him- self came back to his farm, returning sev- cral times that season to visit his family; the fall of same year, he brought his fam- ily again to Will Co., where they have re- sided ever since. He married Miss Eve Thatcher (daughter of Sylvester Thatcher, of Ross Co., Va.) in Ross Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1823; she was born in Aug., 1801; they had eight children-Mary (now Mrs. Lewis Bush), born Dec. 5, 1824 ; Riley, Oct. 2, 1827, and died Nov. 7, 1862, at Cave City, Ky., from disease contracted in the army; George, April 26, 1830 (now residing in Oregon); Samnucl I., Aug. 16, 1833 (now living in Montana) ; John, May 24, 1836 (residing in Boulder City, Colo .; Margaret (wife of Nelson Reed ), Nov. 6, 1838; James Marion, April 7, 1841, and died at the age of 10 months, and Elizabeth R. (wife of Levi Poor, of Audrain Co., Mo.), Oct. 30, 1843. Mr. Ritchey and wife are the only living per-

sons who were in this township who were " forted " in May, 1832; when he came here there was but one family (the John- stons, now all dead); as a pioneer of this county, he has encountered many hard- ships and struggles in the wilds of this great West, when their only companions were the Indians and the wild beasts of the forest ; his recollection of the events of that early day are vivid and fresh to him, and he is now in the enjoyment of a hale and hearty old age, being near 78; he lost, however, his eyesight from inflam- mation in 1854; his journey to Indiana from Ohio, was made by horse-teams, and from there to this county by ox-teams, as the roads at that day were impassable to horses, being "mired down ;" he has made numerous trips to Indiana for pro- visions, it being the only place they could get them in the years 1831, 1832 and 1833, as they raised nothing until 1834 ; Chicago in 1833 contained only 170 per- sons.

PETER REUTER, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Lockport; was born in Trier, Rhenish Prussia, Oct. 10, 1834, and farmed until he came to America in 1864, and settled in Will Co .; in 1874, he purchased the farm of ninety-six acres upon which he now resides. He married Helen Bea- ver in Prussia, Jan. 7, 1862; she was born in 1840 ; they have nine children- Angelina, born Nov. 4, 1862 ; Susie, born Aug. 4, 1864 ; Mary, born Dec. 5, 1865; Louisa, born Feb. 2, 1867 , Lizzie, Jan. 2, 1869 ; Katie, Aug. 9, 1871; Peter, Aug. 19, 1872 ; Edward, Oct. 16, 1875, and John, born Nov. 21, 1877.

HENRY REED, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. O. Lockport; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov. 30, 1825 ; he lived there until there until the age of 27,engaged in farming; in January, 1852, he moved to this county and with his brother was engaged in buy- ing and selling cattle, near Gooding's Grove, for two ycars ; he then purchased- a farm near Hadley, and lived on it until the winter of 1864, when he returned East, and after remaining one year, returned and purchased the farm upon which he now re- sides, in January, 1868. Has been Super- visor two years, Assessor one year, Road Commissioner two years in Orland, Cook Co., Ill., and is now Road Commissioner of Homer Tp. Hc married Miss Mary Tot-

775

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

man of Ontario Co., N. Y., June 13, 1854 ; she was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 10, 1834 ; they had six children, five liv- ing-Morris A., born Aug. 8, 1860; Edna L., born Nov. 4, 1862; Wallace L., born Aug. 9, 1866; Frank L., born May 4, 1868, and Henry B., born Nov. 27, 1875; one dead-Emerson W., born Aug. 31, 1856, died June 20, 1859.

J. B. ROWLEY, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Lockport; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 11, 1811, where he resided fifteen years, and afterward in Monroe Co. seven years ; in 1833, he moved to this county and made a claim, and afterward purehascd the land upon which he now resides, at the land sale in Chicago in 1835 ; his farm now contains over 210 acres, which he laid out, and upon which he made all the improve- ments. Married Miss Ardelia Lanfear in Homer Tp.,April 13, 1836 ; she was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Feb. 17, 1818; they had six children, two living-Olive (now Mrs. Link), born April 21, 1838; Irvin E., born May 11, 1863, and four dead- Francis B., born April 17, 1844, died Dec. 9, 1844 ; Adelia Ann, born Feb. 25, 1846, died April 23, 1848 ; Albert, born Feb. 27, 1851, died April 6, 1865, and Ella M., born June 21, 1858, died Dec. 30, 1859. Mr. Rowley was among the first settlers, and passed through the many struggles of a pioneer life.

HIRAM ROWLEY was one of the earliest settlers of Will Co .; he arrived in . the year 1833 ; we are indebted to his son, John K. Rowley, of Chicago, the historian of the Rowley family in the United States, for the following extract from the proof- sheets, pertaining to the lineage of Mr. Row- ley ; he says, "After years of research, my conclusions are that the Rowleys are all related ; that Moses Rowley, who emigrated from South Wales in the year 1700, was the original Rowley in this country ; he married at Cape Cod, Mass., and set- tled in East Haddam, Conn. Joseph Rowley, the grandfather of Hiramn, resided in Richmond, Mass., where he enlisted Oct. 1, 1775, in the Revolutionary war; was in Col. Simon's regiment ; marehcd . to Lake George, thenee by boats to Ticon- deroga, N. Y., where trace is lost of his exploits. In 1776, he served under Col. Ford, hunting Tories ; in 1777, was in the same service under Col. Ashley. During

1778, 1779 and 1780, frequently volun- teered to go out in scouting parties after Tories and Indians. He was a brave soldicr, and would have served longer had it not been for an accidental fall, which rendered him unfit for hard service. He was born in Colchester, Conn., in 1752, and died at Victor, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1835. Col. Aaron Rowley, of Revolutionary fame, was a brother of his." Capt. Jirch Rowley, the father of Hiram, was twiee married. The second time to the mother of Charles M. and George M. Gray, well-known citizens of this county, as well as the county of Cook, in fact, throughout our whole coun- try. The Captain in business, was the Vanderbilt of his time, and distinguished himself as a true citizen and brave defender of his country in the war of 1812. More of his life will be found elsewhere in this history. Hiram Rowley was born Nov. 16, 1813, and was one of the family of eight children who grow to maturity by the first wife, consisting of one daughter and seven sons, all of whom are now living but three. Jireh Rowley, Jr., died Aug. 6, 1875. It is a singular coincidence, that he was named after the father of so large a family, and filled a similarly prominent place in the estimation of the public in Western New York, where he always lived. Hiram had none of the advantages in early life for cul- tivation children now have. His mother died when he was quite young, and to use his own language, " he came up instead of being brought up." The spirit of advent. ure seized him at thic age of 20 years, and he left his home in Vietor, Ontario Co., N. Y., and all the hallowed associations of his youthful days for the uninhabited West. The journey by boat and stage took three weeks. He settled on a tract of 376 aercs of land at Beebe's Grove, three miles east of Crete, where he commenced the struggle for a livelihood on his own account. Farm- ing in those days meant hard labor without any of the luxuries of life, and as an evi- dence, one year in particular, Mr. Rowley transported oats by ox-teams to Chicago, a distance of thirty miles, and sold them for 10 cents per bushel, and other cereals at a proportionate rate ; but notwithstanding all discouragements, he persevered and finally built on his place a comfortable log house,. and married Cynthia Kilc, in 1837, who, like himself, had come with her family

776

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

from an adjoining county in the Empire State. H. N. Marsh, Esq., of Joliet, mar- ried Miss Mary Kile, a sister of Mrs. Rowley, for his first wife. Aunt Cynthia, so called, on account of her eagerness to be doing Christian acts for everybody and everywhere, proved a helpmeet indeed, and the young couple, prospered in a worldly point of view. A few years later, they sold their farm and moved to Yankee Set- tlement, now Homer Tp., and settled per- manently upon the east half of his father's homestead, about one mile west of Hadley. Here is where the old settlers locate them, and where a thousand memories cluster, dear to their hearts, because the scenes en- acted there werc at a period in their lives when they had become matured and best calculated to enter into the arcna of life in earnest. They added farm to farm, and were honorably prosperous. The result of their marriage, has been three sons and one daughter. The eldest son became quite well known as a teacher in this county before he took up his abode in Chicago, where he has for many years been prom- inently identified in the banking and real estate business. The second son, Andrew W., also became known as a music teacher. His youngest son, Asa B., and charming daughter, Sarah E., the Benjamin of the flock, also became proficient in music before the family moved to Lockport, and after- ward to Chicago, where they all now reside. Mr. Rowley was too far advanced in life tu imitate his forefathers in the late rc- bellion, but the Union army had his hearty sympathy, and his sons, although they did not cnlist, aided with their means the fam- ilies of those who did enter the service. In politics, he has been an unswerving Re- publican since the organization of the party. The success of the Roman Catho- lic Church in this country has given him much uneasiness. He has always been a warm advocate of free schools and of hav- ing the Bible read in them. Personally, Mr. Rowley is of a sympathetic nature, and clings with great tenacity to the be- liefs he has once espoused. His house was a home for itinerant Methodist preachers, and he has for forty years bcen a zealous member of that denomination. He is hale, hearty and temperate, and has the promise of many years of life. His sons are all married and settled in life, and he has a

competence even in these depressing times,. and an abiding faith in the future that it will be well with him.

JOHN SUTTEN, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Lockport ; was born in Hackonby, Lin- colnshire, Eng., Sept. 21, 1819 ; he was engaged in farming up to the time of his coming to America, in 1854; he first stopped in Arnoldsville, Steuben Co., N. Y., eighteen months, when he came to Lockport; in 1870, he settled upon the farm upon which he now resides. He married Mrs. Ruth Beals (widow of Eben- ezer Beals, of Cambridge, Eng.) in Lock- port on Nov. 20, 1870; she was born in Dit- ton, Cambridgeshire, Eng., Dec. 24, 1814.

GEORGE SPERRY, farmer, Sec. 14 ; P. O. Lockport ; was born in Rochester, N. Y., April 27, 1826; he carried on ag- ricultural implements business two years, and taught school for three years in the State of New York ; in 1856, he came to this county, teaching school eight years during the winter months and farming during the summer ; in 1857, he came to the farm he now resides on. He cnlisted as a private in 1862, in the 100th Ill. V. I., serving two years, and was promoted to First Lieutenant 22d N. Y. Cav., serving as such six months, when he was promoted as Captain in the same regiment, and also served as Regimental Quartermaster, and subsequently, before being mustered out, as Brigade Quartermaster ; he was pro- moted to the rank of Major for service in the field in the capture of Early's army at. Waynesboro, Va., and remained such until mustered out July 4, 1865 ; Mr. Sperry, during his term of service, was responsible for over one million and a half of Govern- ment property, and, what very few offi- cers of our army can say, has certificates of non-indebtedness from every department of the Government from which he had drawn supplies, consisting of the Quartermaster's, Ordnance and Commissary. In 1873, he went to Kansas and took up a claim of 160 acres under the "Homestead Law." He married his first wife Miss Mary D. Cook (daughter of Hon. Bates Cook, for- mer Controller of the State of New York under the late Gov. De Witt Clinton) in Lewiston, N. Y., July 6, 1851 ; she died in Henrietta, N. Y., April 6, 1853; he married his second wife, Mrs. Oliver Peck, April 5, 1857.

777

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

HON. AMOS SAVAGE, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Lockport; was born in Homer Tp. June 18, 1836, on the homestead where his parents had settled in 1833; his educational advantages were limited, as was the case among the early settlers in the wilds of the West; the subject of this sketch taught district school from the age of 19 to 24 during the winter months, working upon the farm during the summer ; he was first elected Supervisor in 1861, and resigned shortly afterward to enter the army as Second Lieutenant of the 39th I. V. I., being afterward promoted to First Lieutenant, and then as Captain, serving three years and three months, until dis- charged on account of disability ; upon his return to the county he was again elected Supervisor, serving continuously until his election to the Legislature of Illinois in the fall of 1872, serving one term of two years, upon which he was again clected Supervisor, serving up to 1876, when he was elected to the State Board of 'Equali- zation for the Seventh Congressional District for the term of four years. Mr. Savage has always been active in politics, and has worked faithfully in whatever position he has been elected to fill to the best interests of the county. He married Miss Mary L. Slate (daughter of Asahel Slate, of Georgetown, S. C.), in Lemont, Cook Co., Feb. 25, 1864 ; she was born in Georgetown, S. C., June 22, 1837; has five children-Helen E., born ` Dec. 8, 1864; Frank M., born July 19, 1867; Jolın H., born June 25, 1870; Willard A., born Sept. 14, 1872, and Mary A., born May 13, 1874.

WILLIAM TILSY, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Gooding's Grove; was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, May 15, 1833; when he was 17 years of age, he came to America and worked on the canal, and afterward worked for many farmers in Will Co .- six years for A. B. Brooks ; he purchased his farm in 1856, and settled where he now lives in 1876; has been School Director six years. Married Miss Dora Holm, of Mecklenburg, Germany, in Chicago, Nov. 7, 1857; she was born Scpt. 3, 1838 ; they have five children- Lewis, born Scpt. 3, 1858; William, born May 3, 1862; Mary E., born Nov. 25, 1864; Henry, born Dec. 29, 1869, and Carrie, born Aug. 5, 1873.

P. P. THOMAS, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Gooding's Grove ; was born in Darien, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1834; he went with his parents to Naperville in June, 1835, and remained with them until the age of 12, when his mother died in December, 1846, and he was then thrown upon his own resources ; at the age of 13, he drove a notion wagon through Northern Illinois and Wisconsin; at the age of 16, hc worked in the lead mines near Mineral Point, and at various other places, and. smelted for Corwith & Co. at the age of 19, after which he worked at the trade of car- penter and joiner up to the spring of 1864 ; in May of the same year, he crossed the plains to Montana, mining and pros- pecting for five years ; in December, 1868, he returned to Chicago, and, in February, 1869, purchased the farm upon which he now resides, containing 320 acres; has been School Director. Married Miss Mary Rogers, daughter of D. B. Rogers, of Lu- zerne Co., Penn., Dec. 30, 1870.

MATHIAS WAGNER, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Gooding's Grove; was born in Rhenish Prussia, Germany, in October, 1822 ; he lived there until he was 3 years of age, when he came to this country in 1852 ; he first lived in Du Page Co., Ill., three months, and then lived with Augustus Gooding about a year; in the spring of 1854, he moved where he now lives; he owns 138 acres. He married his first wife, Annie Piefcr, of Rhenish Prussia, Germany, in 1852; she died in April, 1862; they had four children ; two died in infancy-Martin, born May 4, 1853; Mary, born in 1854, died the same year. Hc married Margaret Hermon, of Rhenish Prussia, in May, 1862; they have seven children-Mary, born Dec. 29, 1866; Katie, born June 28, 1867; Maria, born. March 14, 1869; Lena, born June 24, 1871; Attila, born March 24, 1873; Su- sanna, born Nov. 28, 1874, and Pete, born July 30, 1878 ; two dicd-Margaret, in 1864, and an infant.

ROBERT WHITE, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Lockport; was born in Cambridge- shire, Eng., March 19, 1833; he came to America in 1854; he farmed up to his comning to this county ; he settled in Yankee Settlement, Homer Township, the same year, and worked for Robert Bentley ; in 1865, he moved to Orland, Cook Co.,

778

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

Ill., remaining therc seven years farming, when he returned to- this township and settled where he now resides ; has fifty-one acres. He enlisted in Co. F, 100th Reg- iment Ill. Inf., and served during the war, being mustercd out with his regiment June 13, 1865 ; he was wounded through the thighs at Kenesaw Mountain, on June 27, 1864. Has been School Director seven years. He married Mrs. Francis Vande- water (widow of Daniel Vandewater) in Homer Township, March 14, 1861 ; they have eight children, three by Mr. Vande- water-Hannah (now Mrs. Martin O'Brien), born March 17, 1852; Sarah Jane, Sept. 3, 1855, and William D., Aug. 29, 1857 ; five by Mr. White-Robert J., born Dec. 31, 1861; John Thomas, Dec. 8, 1866 ; Elizabeth Ann, Jan. 25, 1869 ; Charles H., July 1, 1871, and George W. R., Nov. 29, 1873.

NICHOLAS WELTER, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Gooding's Grove; was born in Moltzh, Rhenish Prussia, Germany, Nov. 16, 1841 ; he lived there until he was 15 years old, when he came to America (1857) and first went to Chicago, staying there three or four years; in 1864, he came to Will County and settled upon his farm; in 1872, kept store at Gooding's Grove P. O., and came to where he now lives the

year after. Married Maggie Meyer, of Prussia, in Chicago, in January, 1862; she was born April 13, 1843; they had ninc children-Katie, born Oct. 27, 1863; Lina, Oct. 13, 1864, died Aug. 11, 1865 ; Nicholas, born Nov. 15, 1866 ; Lizzie, Aug. 6, 1868; Mathew, Sept. 15, 1869, died in October, 1874; Cecilia, born Jan. 25, 1872; Christian, May 4, 1873 ; Susie, Sept. 15, 1875, and Maggie, July 3, 1877.

MATTHIAS ZIMMER, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Gooding's Grove ; was born in Rhenish Prussia, Germany, July 16, 1832; he lived there twenty-five years farming; came to America in 1857, and first went to Chicago, and from there to Lake Tp., Cook Co., remaining fifteen years, and came from there to this county, and purchased the farm he now resides on; farms 190 acres. He married Catharine Yeager, of Rhenish Prussia, Jan. 7, 1853; they had thirteen children-Nicholas, born Jan. 6, 1851; John, March 4, 1856 ; Anthony, July 17, 1858; Matthias, Sept. 26, 1860; Mary, Oct. 26, 1862 ; · Pete, Jan. 25, 1866; Kate March 19, 1868; Clara, June 29, 1872 ; Christoph, Jan. 25, 1875; Susanna, Jan. 20, 1876, and three dead-Matthias, died Jan. 1, 1849 ; Ange- line, Oct. 19, 1865 ; Cecilia, Feb. 26, 1870.

NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP.

ABEL BLISS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. New Lenox; was born in Hampden Co., Mass., Feb. 9, 1810; came to this State in 1837, and settled in New Lenox Tp., Will Co .; the township at that time was called Van Horn's Point, deriving its name from the point or stretch of timber running south from Hickory Creek, and at that time owned by Mr. Van Horn. Mr. Bliss was married May 6, 1840, to Miss Lucinda Blake; she was born in Hampden Co., Mass., Oct. 14, 1816; they have had seven children, three of whom are living- Harriet M., Abel, Jr. and Alice P .; de- ceased-Ellen J., William S., Mary B. and Josie. Mr. B.'s farm contains 500 acres, valued at $60 per acre.

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.

The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 83

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980