Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Cann, John 1851 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2007, 6:16 pm

Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890

JOHN CANN stands among the leaders of the stock-raising and farming interests 
of Will Township where he owns a farm which in point of cultivation and 
general improvement is scarcely surpassed by any in the neighborhood. Mr. Cann 
was born and bred in England, Tavistock Parish, Devonshire, being his native 
place, and April 30, 1851, the date of his birth. His parents, Thomas and 
Elizabeth (White) Cann, were also natives of that place. During some period of 
his life his father moved to Plymouth, England, where he had a position on the 
police force. He was a farmer and butcher by occupation. He was the father of 
six children, of whom four grew to maturity, namely: Salina, now deceased; 
John; George (living in England), and Samuel H. The mother, who died in her 
native land, was a devoted Christian, and a member of the Church of England. 
The father came to the United States in September, 1875, and made his home 
with his children. He was one of a family of three sons and three daughters, 
of whom he was the only one who ever came to the United States. The names of 
his brothers and sisters were Joseph, John, Elizabeth, Julianna, and Mary. Our 
subject's mother was a daughter of John White, who had three sons and three 
daughters: John, who lives in Iowa, and Mary, wife of James Joslyn, of Kansas, 
being the only members of the family to come to this country. John Cann, of 
this sketch, passed his boyhood and youth in his English home, receiving his 
education in the local schools. In the month of April, 1860, in the dawning of 
a vigorous, manly manhood, he embarked for America to begin life anew on this 
soil, accompanying thither his cousin, George Berry. For awhile after landing 
on these shores he lived near Niagara Falls. In April, 1871, he removed to 
Peotone, and worked on a farm there, and was also employed at one time in 
Chicago, till 1876. In that year he located on his present farm, and two years 
later he began his independent existence as proprietor and manager of a farm 
of his own, buying this of its former owner and from its rich harvest fields 
he reaps a good income. It is pleasantly located on section 8, and its one 
hundred and sixty acres are in a fine state of cultivation. He does a good 
general farming business and for the past six years he has been paying 
particular attention to raising Short-horn cattle. To the wife who has 
materially assisted him in making their cosy home and looks so carefully to 
the comfort of the household, Mr. Cann was united in marriage August 21, 1872. 
Mrs. Cann's maiden name was Amelia Ahlborn, and she was born in New York City, 
July 31, 1856, to William and Amelia (Epson) Ahlborn, who came from Germany to 
Monee in 1855, and located on a farm, where the father subsequently died. His 
widow now resides in Peotone. Of the three children born to her, two are 
living, Amelia and Henry. She has married a second time, taking as her husband 
Henry Raphof, by whom she has one child, George. The wedded life of our 
subject and his estimable wife has been blessed by the eight children born to 
them: George, William, Herbert, Clarence, Thomas and Richard. Two of their 
children died, one in infancy and one at ten years. The years that have passed 
away since our subject landed in this country have been fraught with much care 
and labor, but every obstacle has been steadily conquered by a quiet 
determination to turn everything to his advantage as far as practicable, and 
by wise economy and thrifty management he has placed himself in an honorable 
position among his fellow-townsmen, he having increased the small capital of 
$5 with which he landed in this country, to a comfortable competence. He is 
always interested in the welfare of his adopted township, and has aided in its 
material and moral elevation. At one time he served as Road Commissioner, 
working faithfully to improve the local highways. His wife belongs to the 
Presbyterian Church and identifies herself with all its good work. 

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

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