Grundy-Will-LaSalle County IL Archives Biographies.....Woelfel, George March 25, 1831 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 10, 2006, 4:48 am

Author: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", 1882

George WOELFEL, tanner, Morris, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 25, 1831, 
and was educated in his native town. At the age of fifteen, he began an 
apprenticeship as tanner and currier, serving three years. According to the 
laws of Germany; he traveled and worked at his trade for four years, when, in 
1853, he came to the United States, landing in New York, December 1. He worked 
in Newark, N. J., Pittsburgh, Penn., and Joliet, Ill., as a journeyman 
workman. Was in business for himself for a time in Lockport, Ill. From 1861 to 
1863, he ran a leather store in Ottawa, Ill. In 1863, he settled in Morris and 
formed a partnership with Fred CASPARI, in the Morris tannery; in 1864, they 
bought a boot and shoe store which they ran in connection with the tannery 
until October 15, 1865, when the tannery burned. They rebuilt it in the winter 
of 1865-66. In the fall of 1866, CASPARI sold his interest to Charles SPARR, 
when the new firm added a harness shop to the other business. In this 
relation, they remained until 1880, when they dissolved partnership, SPARR 
becoming sole owner of the boot and shoe and harness store, and WOELFUL of the 
tannery. In 1881, our subject erected a large brick building on the site of 
the old one, at a cost of $5,000. The establishment has a working capacity of 
thirty hands. Our subject was married November 29, 1861, to Miss Margaret 
FLECK, who was born in Germany February 12, 1838, and came to the United 
States in 1851. The family now consists of six children - Edgar H., born 
October 28, 1862; George L., July 11, 1864; Annie L., August 12, 1867; Albert, 
October 19, 1871; Ernest, September 3, 1874; and an infant, born June 17, 1882.

[Source: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 
Historical Publishers, Lake Side Building, 1882]

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