Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Bronk, Peter A 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 3:04 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Peter A. Bronk is numbered among the prominent and highly successful farmers 
and stock-raisers of Will county, while he is perhaps one of the largest 
landowners of this section of the state. In connection with his sons, Eugene 
and Edward C., he owns and operates five hundred and twenty acres of land, 
three hundred and ninety acres of which comprises the home place on section 
23, Plainfield township, while the remainder lies in Troy township. Mr. Bronk 
was born in Albany county, New York, July 18, 1836, and when eighteen months 
was brought to Illinois by his parents, Ephraim and Charlotte (Van Dalfson) 
Bronk, who settled on a farm in Kendall county just across the line from Will 
county. The father there purchased a tract of eighty acres from the 
government, to which he later added an eighty-acre tract. He was there engaged 
in general agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which occurred 
in April, 1865, when he was more than sixty years of age, while his widow 
survived until 1874, passing away on the home farm. Mr. Bronk served as road 
commissioner and as school director, and although he and his wife were not 
identified with any church organization, they were attendants and supporters 
of the Congregational church. Their family numbered three daughters and two 
sons, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Jerome T. Smith, a resident of 
Plainfield, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Peter A., of this 
review; Mary, the widow of Joseph Brown and a resident of Kendall county; John 
V., who owns and operates the old home farm in Kendall county, and who is 
married and has three daughters; and Amelia, the wife of Solon Smith, a 
resident of Santa Barbara, California. Peter A. Bronk, the second child of his 
father's family, was reared in Kendall county, assisting his father in the 
work of the home farm, while in the winter months he pursued his studies in 
the district schools, although his advantages in that direction were somewhat 
limited, for he left school at a very early age. He has, however, through 
reading, observation and investigation in later years become a well informed 
man. He remained a member of his fathers household until he reached manhood, 
when he started out in life on his own account, operating a farm which he 
purchased in Manhattan township. He there made his home for twelve years, 
subsequent to which time he sold that property and invested his money in two 
hundred and eighty acres of land in Troy township, wdiich he still owns and 
operates in connection wdth his sons. In 1888, however, he purchased his 
present home farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 34, Plainfield 
township, and for more than two decades has been engaged in its cultivation. 
In 1902 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres adjoining. He has a well 
improved property, on which stands a nice country residence and many 
substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. In addition to 
raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also raises stock to 
some extent, and both branches of his business are proving a profitable source 
of income to him. Choosing a companion and helpmate for life's journey, Mr. 
Bronk was married to Miss Harriet E. Storrs, who was born in Clinton county, 
New York, in 1840, a daughter of William and Kate (Thew) Storrs. Mrs. Bronk 
came to Illinois in company with a brother-in-law, the time of her arrival 
being January, 1856, she being then a young lady of sixteen years. In June 
following she was joined in Kendall county by her parents, who there resided 
throughout their remaining days, the father passing away in June, 1881, at the 
very advanced age of ninety-five years, while the mothers death occurred in 
1879, when she was eighty-two years of age. William Storrs served his country 
as a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Bronk is the youngest of ten children, 
of whom only four are now living, her three sisters being: Mrs. Sarah Baker, a 
resident of Kendall county; Mrs. Kate C. Gleason, also of that county: and 
Mrs. Emily Foss, who makes her home in Plainfield. Unto our subject and his 
wife have been born five sons and one daughter, all of whom survive, namely: 
Eugene J., as above stated, is interested with his father in the ownership of 
a farm in Troy township, Will county. He wedded Miss Alice Hahn, by whom he 
has two sons, Clare and La Vergne. Ephraim A. is at home and assists his 
father in the operation of the farm. Edward C. is a resident farmer of 
Plainfield township, where, in connection with his father, he owns a good 
tract of land. He wedded Miss Sadie Smith, a daughter of Milton Smith, of 
California. Rosalthea, Emmett D. and Ernest R. are all yet under the parental 
roof. Mr. Bronk has always given his support to the republican party since age 
conferred upon him the right of franchise, yet he has never been an aspirant 
for office, for his extensive business interests have fully claimed his time 
and attention. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, holding 
membership with the blue lodge at Plainfield. Mrs. Bronk was formerly 
identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, and the daughter Rosalthea is 
now identified with that organization, while Edward C. likewise holds 
membership therein. The son Ephraim belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows at Joliet. Mrs. Bronk is a Spiritualist in her religious belief, while 
her husband favors the doctrines of the Universalist faith. Mr. Bronk has 
lived to see Will county placed in the foremost ranks of the great state of 
Illinois, for he can remember when much of the land in this and Kendall 
counties was still unclaimed, when the homes of the settlers were widely 
scattered, there being but four houses between Plainfield and Chicago and the 
products of the farm being hauled to the latter city. Although he started out 
to face the responsibilities of life with a limited education and with little 
assistance from his father, he has gradually worked his way upward year by 
year until he is now one of the wealthy farmers of Will county. All that he 
possesses has been acquired through persistent effort and honorable and 
reliable methods, for he has never been known to take advantage of another in 
any trade transaction. He and his family are prominent in social circles and 
the hospitality of their own pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by their many 
friends. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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