Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Zendt, Henry M ************************************************ 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 http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:44 am Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885 Henry M. Zendt, a farmer of Jordan Township, resident on section 17, was born Feb. 21, 1825, in Baden, Germany. Jacob Zendti his father, was born also in Baden, and was a millwright by vocation. Elizabeth (Down) Zendt, his mother, was born in Baden. In 1830, the family, consisting of the parents and six children, emigrated from Germany to the United States. After a residence of three years in the city of Philadelphia, where one child was born, they removed to Montgomery Co., Pa. In 1851 another transfer, to Lancaster County, in the same State, was made. While living in Montgomery County, Mr. Zendt served three years as an apprentice in learning the trade of carriage-maker from a man named Abraham Kolb. He worked at that business as a journeyman six years in Montgomery County, where he was fore­man four years in a carriage shop. After removing to Lancaster County, he established a shop with business relations under his own control, managing his affairs at that point 12 years with success. His marriage to Catherine Groff took place Feb. 28, 1860. Mrs. Zendt is the daughter of B. M. and Lydia (Tombo) Groff, and was born in East Lampster Township, Lancaster Co., Pa., Sept. 24, 1841. When she was ten years of age she was removed from the care of her parents and was reared to womanhood by strangers. Her mother died in Lancaster County, in the summer of 1884. Her father is yet living. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Zendt have been born as follows: Lydia A., Oct. 18, 1863; Mary M., June 16, 1866; John G., Oct. 23, 1871. Two children died young: Franklin G., born Jan. 5, 1861, died June 1, 1864; Naomi T., born April 21, 1859, died May 17, 1873. They came to Sterling in the spring of 1864. Mr. Zendt followed the business of carriage- maker there 20 years with success. In 1873 he formed a partnership with A. B. Spies, and their business relations continued until the senior partner became a farmer. In May, 1867, he purchased 80 acres of land on section 18, Jordan Township, which was improved. In February, 1884, he made another purchase of 60 acres on section 17, which was also improved. He is also the owner of five acres of timber in Genesee Township. He has made considerable additional improvement on his property. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite Church, and Mr. Zendt is one of the Deacons of the society. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full- page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/zendt2191nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.2 Kb