Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Maier, Jacob 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 6:59 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

MAIER, Jacob - Although now living in quiet retirement at Seneca, enjoying the 
ease that his long years of toll has brought him, Jacob MAIER still takes a 
keen and active interest in agricultural affairs, although he now rents out 
his large tracts of land in Grundy and LaSalle Counties, and is accounted one 
of the substantial citizens of his part of the state.  He has spent his entire 
life in this locality, having been born at Ottawa, Ill., August 31, 1855, a 
son of Lazarus and Catherine (BECHT) MAIER, natives of Germany.  Lazarus MAIER 
came to the United States when twenty-five years of age, and on the same ship 
came Catherine BECHT, whom he soon made his bride, and they commenced 
housekeeping in Ottawa, where Mr. MAIER accepted such employment as 
opportunity presented, being willing to work at anything that was honorable.  
Several years later he began renting land, and at the end of six years was 
able to purchase a farm located north of Seneca, residing thereon until 1903, 
when he retired and moved with his wife to Seneca, and they still reside in 
that place.  He is aged eighty-three years, and his wife is eighty-one years 
old.  They have twelve children.

Jacob MAIER was the next to the oldest of his parents' children, and was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, in the meantime securing his education in the 
German Catholic schools of Ottawa.  He remained with his parents until 
reaching the age of twenty-three years, at which time he became a renter in 
Erienna Township, Grundy County, where he remained two years.  He next spent 
three years as a renter in Vienna Township, and then purchased 137 acres of 
land in Section 19.  On this property there were located a number of old 
buildings, which he soon replaced with new ones, and from 1887 until 1908 he 
rented his farm and moved to Seneca, where he has since lived in retirement.  
He also owns fifty-three acres in Brookfield Township, LaSalle County, and 154 
acres in Highland Township, Grundy County, and these farms he also rents to 
good tenants.  His land brings him a handsome revenue and he is justly 
considered one of the affluent men of his community.  He takes a keen interest 
in matters of public importance, and acts with the Democratic party.  He is a 
member of the Catholic Church at Seneca, and belongs also to the German 
Benevolent Society at Ottawa.  At all times he may be relied upon to use 
judgment and discretion in matters pertaining to the welfare of his county, 
the interests of which he has always sought to advance.

Mr. MAIER was married February 3, 1880, to Miss Nora DONOVAN, who was born at 
Seneca, Ill., daughter of Patrick and Anna (STAHLA) DONOVAN, of Ireland.  Four 
children have been born to this union:  Anna, who married William DEVANEY and 
resides at Seneca; Charles Edward and Jerome, who are working on one of their 
father's farms; and George, who is married and works the farm in Highland 
Township.

page 857

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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