Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Adler, Jacob ************************************************ 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 September 5, 2007, 2:16 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Company JACOB ADLER. After having for years conducted a large and successful meat business in Joliet, Mr. Adler in 1897 turned the business over to his sons, Jacob C., Jr., and Lawrence, and his son-in-law, Daniel Lennon, who continue it under the title of J. C. Adler & Co. Since that time he has, with his youngest son, Michael, been extensively engaged in raising and selling cattle, having a valuable farm of two hundred and sixty acres in Troy Township, three miles from Joliet, and a forty-acre tract at Enterprise, where he has his slaughter house. In addition to the management of these interests he has been interested in the packing business at intervals since 1861, and he has also dealt extensively in real-estate in Joliet and farm property, including a farm in Missouri which he now owns. Among the prominent business men of the city he was one of the few who safely weathered the financial storm of 1873. He has been helpful in promoting local enterprises by assisting in making up the required bonus, and was particularly interested in the starting of the tinplate and rolling mills. While he is a Roman Catholic he has contributed to every church, no matter what its creed, that has been erected in Joliet. He assisted in organizing both St. Patrick's and St. John's churches, and is actively connected with the latter. In the building up of St. Francis Academy he took a prominent part, and has since served as a member of the board of directors. During war times he supported Abraham Lincoln and the policy of the administration, after which he joined the Democratic party and is now a believer in the issuing of greenback currency and in the free coinage of silver. For four years he served as alderman from the sixth ward, during which time he was a participant in many measures for the benefit of the city and the enlargement of its business interests. Mr. Adler was born at Bachen, Canton Trier, kreis Mertzig, Prussia, March 17, 1837, a son of Michael and Margaret (Sebastian) Adler. In the fall of 1837 the family left Havre on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of almost four months landed in New York, thence went via Albany and the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence up the lakes and to Chicago, where they secured an ox-team, driving on to Indiana and buying a farm there. However, in July, 1838, they came to this county and settled at Sagg's bridge. In the spring of 1839 the father bought a farm on what is now the site of New Lenox. Four years later he settled two miles south of Joliet, where he improved a valuable farm. After a busy and active life as a farmer, in 1868 he retired to Joliet and made his home on South Chicago street until he died, aged eighty-six years and six months. His wife died at the same place December 15, 1888, aged eighty-three years. Of their eleven children seven attained mature years, namely: Jacob; Mrs. Margaret Rappal, of Chicago; Angeline, now Sister Liguori of the Order of St. Francis; Peter Paul, who died in 1896; Veronica and Mary, of Joliet; and Jasper, who died at twenty-nine years of age. Among the pupils in the first log school house built in New Lenox Township was the subject of this sketch. Afterward he attended school in Joliet Township. In 1858 he began to cultivate some of his father's property. He had already acquired considerable experience in agriculture. In fact, when he was only seven he had driven the oxen that were attached to a breaking plow and seven years later he began to push the plow—no easy task, as all know who have engaged in breaking prairie soil. When the Pike's Peak gold excitement started in 1859 he started west with a party of five. Arriving at Leavenworth, Kans., they outfitted with three yoke of oxen and three wagons. He and his partner, Clemence Erhard, went in a wagon via the Smoky Hill route direct to Denver. At one time, while crossing the plains, they counted five hundred buffaloes in one herd, and they saw as many as fifty antelopes in a drove, while at night the wolves howled on every side. The trip from Leavenworth to Denver took from April 15 to June 3. Proceeding to Gregory's Diggings, in the Clear Creek district, Mr. Adler en route had many hazardous experiences, and afterward engaged in mining there and at Russell's Gulch. In the fall he returned to Denver, thence by mule team to St. Joe, Mo., where he traded his team and wagon for a farm in Missouri; the latter, however, he soon sold, never occupying it. Returning to Joliet he started soon for the Michigan pineries, but at Centreville, Ind., he bought horses and cattle and came back home. In the spring of 1861 he opened a meat market in Joliet, having Joseph Richmond as a partner for three years. He then bought Mr. Richmond's interest and his brother-in-law, Frederick Rappal, became his partner; the latter in turn was bought out by Jasper Adler. They bought cattle in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, and shipped to the east. Two years later he opened a meat market on Chicago street and his brother, Peter, became his partner, to whom he later sold the shop. In 1877 he bought the National Hotel block and started a market at that location, also fitted up the National hotel and four store buildings in the block. He continued in the meat business until 1897, when he transferred the business to members of his family. His residence is at No. 113 South Eastern avenue. January 11, 1866, in Joliet, Mr. Adler married Miss Emily T. Erhard, who was born at the family home on Bluff street November 11, 1842. She was one of seven children, the eldest of whom, George Clemence, now of Joliet, was the first male child born of German parents in Will County. Joseph is a farmer in Manhattan Township. Lawrence is a Roman Catholic priest, and Louisa makes her home with him. The father, George Erhard, was born in Wertsburg, Bavaria, May 7, 1807, a son of John Erhard. He came to America in 1833 and worked in Detroit, Mich., but soon walked from there to Chicago, and in April, 1836, came to Joliet, where he built and for many years operated a brewery on North Bluff street, the stone work of which is still standing. Afterward he settled on a farm that was then one mile from Joliet, but now adjoins the constantly- growing city. The last two years of his life were spent in Somonauk, Ill., where he died June 28, 1890, at the age of eighty-three years, two months and eleven days. His wife, Louisa (Periolat) Erhard, was born in Alsace and came to the United States in 1834; she died on the home farm July 27, 1887, aged seventy-three years. The seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Adler who reached maturity are named as follows: Margaret Louise, wife of Daniel P. Lennon and mother of two children, Jacob J. and Daniel; Jacob C., Jr., who was educated in Niagara University and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, and is now connected with the firm of J. C. Adler & Co.; Lawrence, who attended Niagara University, and is also a successor to his father in the meat business; Emily V., who was educated in Niagara Convent; Michael, who was a student in Notre Dame University and is now engaged in the cattle business; Patricia and Catherine, who have been given good educational advantages in St. Francis' Academy. Of the above, Jacob C. married Elizabeth Young, daughter of Henry Young, proprietor of the Young building. They have one son, George Henry. Michael married Angelia Murphy, a native of Joliet and a daughter of David Murphy, whose father, David Murphy, was a pioneer of Will County. Daniel P. Lennon is a son of John Lennon, a well-known early settler of Will County and a pioneer in the marble business in Joliet. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/adler895gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 8.4 Kb