Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Beseke, Charles 1825 - 
************************************************
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 5, 2007, 7:41 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

CHARLES BESEKE. An excellent example of the results of frugality, persevering 
industry, and prudent management, is to be found in the life of the above-
named gentleman, who is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of Washington 
Township. He is the owner of the northeast quarter of section 29, and the 
southeast quarter of section 20, in that township, together with ten acres of 
good timber land in Yellow Head Township, Kankakee County, and one hundred and 
sixty acres in Jackson County, Minn. All this has been accumulated by him 
since he came to this county in 1863 and established himself on his first farm 
on section 20. The land of which he then took possession was in its primitive 
condition but is now one of the most productive estates in the county, marked 
with all needful improvements, as is the farm on section 29. Mr. Beseke came 
to this county from DuPage County, in which he had lived for seven years and 
in which he began his life in America as a farm laborer at $90 per year. His 
earthly possessions at that time consisted of his clothes and $45 in money. 
With this capital and the education and training which he had received, he 
began the career which has resulted in the attainment of the property noted 
above and an assured standing in the financial circles of the county. In the 
kingdom of Hanover the eyes of our subject opened to the light of day October 
18, 1825. He began life for himself when about of age and in 1856 determined 
to seek a home in the New World, which he thought afforded better 
opportunities for an energetic young man of small means. Taking passage at 
Bremerhaven on a sailing vessel, he spent eleven weeks and three days on the 
broad Atlantic and after this tedious voyage landed in New York City. He at 
once came west to Chicago, and securing employment in DuPage County took up 
the labors whose result is so inspiring to others who are compelled to depend 
upon their own efforts for worldly success. The parents of Mr. Beseke spent 
their entire lives in Hanover, Germany, living to quite a good old age. Their 
family comprised four sons, Charles being the only one who came to the United 
States. The others are yet living in their native land where they have 
acquired considerable property. One of them is an old soldier and an officer 
of rank. In DuPage County, Ill., Mr. Beseke led to the hymeneal altar Miss 
Laura Wagoner, an estimable young lady who was born in Baden, Germany, in the 
fall of 1837, but was quite young when her parents emigrated to the United 
States. They settled in DuPage County in early days, but after some years 
removed to Will County where they died when near the age of four-score. The 
two daughters born to them are now living in Will County. To our subject and 
his wife eleven children have been born. Five died in infancy and a daughter 
Ellen after her marriage. The living members of the family are Conrad, who 
married Ellen Landorader and lives in Yellow Head, Kankakee County, where he 
carries on a mercantile establishment; Lena, wife of Louis Kerhoph, a merchant 
and farmer of the same town; Charles, George and Henry, who still reside under 
the parental roof. In connection with this personal sketch of Mr. Beseke, we 
present a view of his pleasant homestead to which we invite the readers' 
attention. Within his cozy residence, the many friends to whom years of close 
intercourse have bound himself and wife, are frequently entertained and are 
always sure of a hospitable welcome.

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/beseke13bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ilfiles/

File size: 4.3 Kb