Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Telfer, John W 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:39 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

John W. Telfer, a prominent citizen of Saratoga Township, Grundy county, is a 
native of Edinburgh, Scotland, his birth having occurred May 27, 1843.  His 
parents, James and Margaret (Wilson) Telfer, also of Scotland, emigrated to 
the United States.  The father, in company with a brother, Alexander, put down 
the first shaft and mined the first coal ever taken out of Grundy county, it 
being shipped by canal to Chicago.  The shaft referred to was on the old 
Peacock farm in Morris township.  This was the commencement of an industry 
which has resulted in great wealth to the people of this section of the state, 
and employment has been afforded quite an army of workmen.  James Telfer, on 
coming to this country, settled in California, and afterward located in 
Saratoga township, Grundy county.  He was highly respected by all who knew 
him, and died in Saratoga township; but his widow is still living, and though 
in her eightieth year enjoys excellent health, and reads and sews without the 
aid of glasses.  She was the youngest of twenty children, and, with the 
exception of one brother, Alexander, of Scotland, now eighty-four years of 
age, is the only survivor of their family.  At present she is making her home 
with the subject of this sketch.  Her only daughter, Agnes, who died in this 
township about twelve years ago, was the wife of William Gray.  Their only 
child, Margaret, became the wife of Robert Blair, of Saratoga township, and 
three children bless their union, namely:  Agnes, George and Euphemia.

The early education of John W. Telfer was acquired in his native town, and at 
the close of the civil war in the United States he, in company with his 
parents, concluded to come to America.  Since arriving here he has been 
actively interested in mining operations, and at the same time has 
successfully carried on a farm, his present home being located upon section 
34, Saratoga township.  Recently he has sunk a new coal shaft not far from the 
old one and now is developing the mine, which promises to be one of the best 
in this locality.  He has expressly avoided politics, in the sense of office-
seeking, and only because he is specially interested in the cause of education 
did he consent to act as a school director for two terms, or six years.

On the 14th of December, 1866, John W. Telfer was united in marriage to Jane, 
daughter of Thomas and Katherine MacAlpin, both natives of Scotland.  She had 
three brothers and three sisters, namely:  Frederick, a stationary engineer of 
Chicago; William, after serving in the British army for twenty-one years, died 
in England, leaving one son; Alexander, who was a soldier in the English 
service for seven years, and came to the United States in 1866, was killed on 
the railroad in Grundy county; Margaret, who married James Ronaldson, of 
Scotland, died in Edinburgh in 1890, and left five sons and three daughters to 
mourn her loss; Jessie is the wife of James Brown, a plumber in Chicago, and 
of their eight children six are now living; and Maggie married John Duncan, a 
native of Scotland.  He died in Morris, Illinois, and she, with their five 
sons and two daughters, survive.

To the marriage of our subject and wife eleven children were born, and not one 
of the family circle has been called away by death.  Katherine, born in 1867, 
is the wife of Frederick Flanders, a brick manufacturer in Conover, Vilas 
county, Wisconsin, and their two children are John and Lillian.  James, born 
in 1869, is a molder by trade, employed in the Coleman Hardware Company’s 
shops at Morris, Illinois.  He chose for his wife Alice, the daughter of Henry 
Ohlendorf, of Morris, and they have two children, John and Louisa.  Margaret, 
born in 1871, married John Larsness, a farmer of Felix township, Grundy 
county, and their only child is named Genie.  McKenzie, born in 1873, is an 
engineer at Conover, Wisconsin; Frederick, born in 1875, also lives in 
Morris.  William, born May 1, 1877, resides at home and assists his father in 
mining.  Gideon, born August 9, 1879, Ernest, October 23, 1881, Agnes, March 
23, 1883, Thomas April 19, 1885, and Harrison, November 4, 1887, are still 
living with their parents, and are being given good educational advantages and 
training in citizenship.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p469-470

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