Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Ondesco, George ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 7:33 pm Author: History of Grundy County, 1914 ONDESCO, George. - A number of the progressive farmers of Grundy County are dividing their attention between farming and stock raising, realizing the immense profits to be obtained through the latter line of business, and recognizing the fact that the land here is specially adapted to feeding purposes. One of the men who has made a success of this, as well as kindred lines, is George Ondesco, a native of Austria Hungary, born in 1862, son of John and Mary (Kotch) Ondesco, natives of Austria, who lived and died there. They were the parents of five children: John, a resident of Austria Hungary; Andrew, deceased; Mike, a resident of Central City, Ill.; George; and Anna, deceased. George Ondesco received but six weeks schooling in his native land, and was employed on a farm until the death of his parents which occurred when he was but a child. He then became a herder of sheep and cattle, which vocation he followed until 1881, when he embarked for America, locating in Ohio. Here he was employed by a railroad company, and received only one penny for his first month’s service, the company deducting his cost of transportation. He remained in the East until 1884, then went to Braidwood, Ill., subsequently to Bracevllle, where he secured work in the mines as coal digger, fireman and engineer. He followed this line of work until 1907, when he purchased 160 acres of land in Maine Township, which he has since improved and upon which he does general farming. He is the owner of cattle and hogs, and his specialty is the raising of good work horses. In 1888, his marriage to Susie Dancisak, native of Austria, was solemnized, and to this union have been born six children: a babe, who died in infancy; John; Mary, a school teacher; and Anna, Andy and Emma. The Greek Catholic Church holds Mr. Ondesco’s membership. His political views are Republican. Mr. Ondesco is in every sense of the word a self-made man, and there are few who stand higher in his community than he. His success is merited, for it has been earned through hard work. pages 877-878 Additional Comments: Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Publishers; 1914 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/ondesco943nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 2.8 Kb