Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Beutien, William 1836 - 
************************************************
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 9, 2007, 12:44 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

WILLIAM BEUTIEN. If genius is a capacity for hard work, as it has been defined 
by a noted literateur, then this gentleman deserves to be called a genius. He 
has been a hard worker all his life, and this combined with close economy, has 
given him possession of a fine farm, in which he may well take pride. It 
comprises two hundred and sixty acres on sections 11 and 13, all in a body, 
and all under improvement and wisely managed. There are two residences upon 
the estate, that now occupied by Mr. Beutien and his family having been built 
in 1868 at a cost of $1,600. It is cozy and attractive, stands in fitting 
surroundings and is the center of a happy home life. The modern barn was put 
up in 1879, at a cost of $817. Our subject is the youngest of eight children 
born to Fred and Caroline (Race) Beutien. The father was a soldier in the 
Prussian Army, and both were natives of that kingdom. Mr. Beutien died in 
1853, and in 1860 the mother came to America, dying at a goodly age, in 1884. 
Four of her children are now living. William Beutien was born in Prussia, 
February 22, 1836. During his boyhood and youth he obtained a common school 
education, and at the age of seventeen years took his father's place at the 
head of the household. In 1857 he emigrated to America, landing at the 
metropolis, whence he came direct to Chicago, Ill., there securing a situation 
as a farm hand in the county. For two years he remained at one place, then 
spent two months on another farm, next becoming a laborer on a railroad in 
Southern Illinois. Nine months later he resumed farm work on an estate in 
DuPage County, where he remained three years and eight months. We next find 
Mr. Beutien in Will County purchasing a farm with the savings which close 
economy had secured, and while working his estate, putting in more or less 
time on the Illinois Central Railroad. At the two employments he occupied 
himself three years, then selling the farm, which he had changed materially 
from the condition in which he took possession of it, he bought that on which 
he still lives. He carries on mixed farming, and raises standard bred stock, 
hiring help as he needs on the estate. The wife of Mr. Beutien was known in 
her maidenhood as Miss Augusta Richter, and became Mrs. Beutien August 19, 
1863. She is a daughter of Charles and Fredricka (Deugge) Richter, of Prussia, 
her father having been a carpenter. He died in his native land in 1862. Mrs. 
Beutien was born in that kingdom March 25, 1842, and received a common-schuol 
education. To her and her husband twelve children have been born, eight being 
now alive. These are: Amelia, wife of Henry Monk, of Peotone Township; they 
have four children; Augusta, wife of John Knapp, and mother of one child, 
their home also being in this township; Mina, Bertha, Victor, Alvina, Edda, 
and Julius, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Beutien belong to the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church, in which he has been a Trustee. For eighteen years he has 
been School Director in District No. 1, and no member of the community takes 
greater interest in the cause of education than he. He saw to it that his 
offspring secured all that the public schools could give them. He is now 
Pathmaster, and was Road Commissioner three years. For eighteen years he has 
been a Director of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Green Garden. He 
votes the Republican ticket, and is quite interested in the political 
questions of the day. We may mention that when Mr. Beutien arrived in America 
he was $7 in debt, and that, the sum which seems so small to him now, was at 
that time quite a weight upon his mind.

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/beutien1538nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 4.4 Kb