Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Elerding, Conrad 
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Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

CONRAD ELERDING.

The industrial interests of Grundy county are well represented by this 
gentleman, who is now engaged in the manufacture of rolled oats in Morris. 
Success has attended his business career, resulting not from a combination of 
fortunate circumstances or from aid of influential friends, but coming as the 
result of continued endeavor, resolute will and honorable dealing, and while 
his life has not been marked by striking events his history yet contains 
valuable lessons, for it is that of one who has ever been true to his duty to 
himself, his fellow men and his country.

Mr. Elerding is a native of LaSalle county, where his birth occurred December 
15, 1844; and his father, Henry Elerding, was born in the principality of 
Westphalia, Germany, September 9, 1805, and like his father was a miller by 
occupation. During the stormy days succeeding the establishment of French rule 
in Westphalia by Napoleon I, and while Henry was still an infant, his father 
was called to active military service and so distinguished himself on the 
field of battle that he was rewarded with a medal of honor by King Gerome I.—a 
distinction that has been conferred upon but few. But war brought its 
hardships to the families of the soldiers, for the land was over-ridden by the 
troops. The sufferings and privations of those terrible days of the boyhood of 
Henry Elerding were such as to be long remembered. The family property, 
although not confiscated, was destroyed by fire and the lifetime work of his 
father was thus lost.

Under great disadvantages Henry Elerding secured an education while working in 
the mill. At length he determined to try his fortune in and at the age of 
twenty-seven sailed to the New World. After a voyage of sixty-eight days he 
arrived in New York city, November 1, 1832, without a dollar. Working his 
passage to Troy, New York, he secured there a position as a wheelwright, but 
soon after, learning of better opportunities in the west, he started on foot 
for Detroit, Michigan. At length he reached his destination, where he learned 
for the first time of the hamlet which was to become the future metropolis of 
the Mississippi valley. Chicago at that time contained a population of only 
one hundred and fifty, and with the little town he became identified May 30, 
1834. While there he formed the acquaintance of Judge Caton, who advised him 
to go to LaSalle county, and, acting upon that suggestion, Mr. Elerding there 
erected and operated the first sawmill on the Fox river, its location being 
one mile north of the present site of Sheridan. There he also built a 
gristmill, and at that place a mill is still operated by his nephew. Mr. 
Elerding remained in LaSalle county until 1858, when in the fall of that year 
he came to Morris, where he erected a gristmill, which he conducted till 1869, 
when he was succeeded by his son, Conrad. He was a very successful business 
man and his indefatigable energy and capable management brought to him a 
handsome competence.

In 1838 Henry Elerding was united in marriage to Mary Ann Hollenback, who was 
born in Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of Clark Hollenback, a pioneer 
settler of Kendall county, Illinois. She died in 1882 and was buried in 
Millington, this state. Of their union were born ten children: Melissa, 
William H. and Sarah, all deceased; Conrad, of this sketch; Louise; Annis, who 
has also passed away; George B.; Charles F.; Edward H.; and Wesley, deceased. 
Conrad Elerding was educated in the public schools, learned the miller's trade 
under the direction of his father and in 1869 succeeded to the ownership of 
the mill in Morris. He thoroughly mastered the business in all its details in 
early life and during the passing years has kept in touch with the progress 
and improvement that have been made in the business. He has a well equipped 
plant, supplied with excellent machinery, and since 1889 he has been engaged 
exclusively in the manufacture of rolled oats. His patronage has steadily 
increased until it has now assumed extensive proportions and yields to him a 
handsome income, the product of his mill reaching many markets, including 
England and continental Europe.

In 1876 Mr. Elerding was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza J. Elerding, the 
widow of his brother, William H. She was a daughter of John P. and Rebecca 
(Stone) Ridings, natives of Virginia. Her father was a descendant of Peter 
Ridings, the first representative of the family in America, who sailed from 
England and took up his abode in the Old Dominion. In 1859 Mrs. Elerding's 
parents came to Grundy county, where she has since made her home. By her first 
marriage she has one child, George W., who married Elva A. Lloyd and has one 
child, a son, Frank Lloyd, aged three years. This child represents the fourth 
generation of the Elerdings in America.

For many years the subject of this review has been a resident of Morris, where 
he is highly esteemed for his sterling worth. Prosperity has attended his 
efforts in industrial lines, and so honorably has it been won that even the 
most envious cannot grudge him his success.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p624-630

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