Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Arbeiter, Carl 1827 - ************************************************ 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 8, 2007, 11:45 pm Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 CARL ARBEITER, a highly respected resident of Plainfield Township, where he is profitably engaged in farming and stock- raising, may be denominated one of the pioneers of this portion of Will County, although not one of its earliest settlers, as in improving his present valuable farm, he has greatly aided in its development and has materially added to its wealth. Mr. Arbeiter was born in Germany, July 25, 1827, in the town of Kappits Ki, Grottkau, Ober- Schlesien. Henry Arbeiter, his father, was born in the same village, where his father, of the same name as himself, carried on farming and spent the whole of his life. The father of our subject was bred to agricultural pursuits and according to the laws of his native land, as soon as old enough, served in the army in the years 1813-14-15, and fought against Napoleon. After returning to private life he resumed farming and was thus engaged until his death in his native village in 1857. He was twice married and reared nine children, only two of whom ever came to America, our subject and his brother William, the latter now a resident of California. He of whom we write received excellent educational advantages in the land of his birth, attending school until he was fourteen years of age. He then commenced to work on a farm and afterwards learned the trade of a brick and plaster mason, serving an apprenticeship, and then doing journey work in different parts of Germany. He was not satisfied with his prospects in Germany and thinking that he could do better in America, he sailed for this country in 1854, embarking at Bremen on the ship "Adler" and landing at Quebec on the 17th of June, after a voyage of seventy-two days. He spent four weeks in that city and then came to the States and making his way to Chicago resided there one year. In 1855 he came to Will County, and engaged himself to work on a farm at $15 a month, and was thus employed three years. He subsequently rented the farm that he now owns and soon bought the place which comprised eighty acres of land. He has done so well at his calling, that he has bought other land and now has two hundred and forty acres, divided into two farms that are classed among the best in the place, both being under good improvement and excellent tillage and provided with suitable buildings. In 1860, Mr. Arbeiter, by his marriage with Miss Catherina Siller, a native of Germany, secured a wife who has been to him a faithful helpmate, actively co-operating with him in his work, and by her skillful management with her household affairs contributing to their prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Arbeiter have five children, four of whom are living, as follows: Joseph, Charles, George and Mary. The latter is now the wife of Christian Larsen and resides in Chicago. For thirty-five years Mr. Arbeiter has been a resident of this county, and in that time has built up for himself a solid and enduring reputation as a man of good character, whose dealings with others are always in strict accord with the laws of justice and honor. He is an active, wide awake man, possessing keen foresight, and is quick to take advantage of any opportunity to improve his finances. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/arbeiter1451nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb