Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Drechsler, Philipp 
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Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

Philipp Drechsler was for many years actively identified with agricultural 
interests in Will county, but since 1903 has lived retired in a comfortable 
home in Peotone, where he is surrounded by many friends, and his earnest toil 
in former years now supplies him with all the comforts of life, so that he is 
enabled to spend the evening of his days in honorable retirement. He is a 
native of Bavaria, Germany, born October 20, 1833, and is a son of Andrew and 
Margaret (Spriesel) Drechsler, the former a shoemaker by trade. Philipp 
Drechsler lost his father when a little lad of six years, after which his 
mother was married to a Mr. Lindermeyer, her death occurring when the son was 
but nine years old. His step-father was married a second time and Philipp 
Drechsler made his home with his step-father and stepmother until after he had 
attained the age of eighteen years, during which time he was given good 
educational advantages. Mr. Drechsler, having heard favorable reports 
concerning the business advantages to be enjoyed in the new world, accordingly 
decided to try his fortune in America, and on the 5th of July, 1853, took 
passage on an old-time sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of thirty-three 
days, reached the harbor of New York. Mr. Drechsler had no money upon his 
arrival in that city, so that immediate employment was rendered a necessity. 
He possessed a stout heart and courageous spirit, however, and immediately set 
to work to secure employment, by which he earned the money to pay his way to 
Illinois, where lived some friends. In 1854 he went to Lombard, Du Page 
county, and the following year continued his journey to Monee, Will county, 
where he was employed during the succeeding four years at farm labor by the 
month. Having saved some money he was subsequently justified in engaging in 
business on his own account, and for one year operated rented land in Monee 
township. He then drove to Kankakee county and settled on a farm in Manteno 
township, operating land there for eight years. In 1868 he purchased a tract 
of eighty acres in Will township, this being wild prairie at that time. He at 
once set to work to break the land and prepare the fields for the plow, and in 
due course of time planted his crops, which yielded rich harvests. He made all 
of the improvements upon the place and continued to make his home thereon 
until 1903, when he purchased residence property in Peotone, and, having 
rebuilt and remodeled the house, now has a very comfortable home, in which he 
expects to spend the evening of his days in well earned ease. He came to Will 
county during its pioneer epoch and during his residence here, which covers a 
period of more than a half century, he has witnessed the many wonderful 
changes that have been made as the work of progress and improvement has been 
carried on along agricultural lines, and he has borne his full share in the 
work that has today placed Will county in the front ranks of this great state 
of Illinois. On the 18th of March, 1859, occurred the marriage of Mr. 
Drechsler and Miss Sophia Libke, who was born in Hanover, Germany, March 20, 
1840. She came to America when thirteen years of age, living with an uncle, 
Henry Libke, who was one of the early settlers of Monee. Unto our subject and 
his wife have been born eight children, namely: Mary, the wife of H. R. Meyer, 
a resident farmer of Manteno township, Kankakee county; John, who is married 
and makes his home in Chicago; Amanda, the wife of Emil Deising, also of that 
city; Caroline, the wife of Louis Meyer, of Chicago; Minnie, who died at the 
age of two years; Hattie, the wife of Ed Helt, of Chicago; Edwin, who wedded 
Ida Behrens and lives on his father's farm; and Emma, who is a young lady at 
home. Mr. Drechsler was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, but 
since coming to American has held membership with the Evangelical Association, 
in the work of which he takes a very active and helpful part, having served as 
trustee of the church at Peotone for many years, while for more than forty 
years he has acted as superintendent of the Sunday school, and his wife is a 
teacher in the latter organization. They are consistent Christian people and 
live in harmony with their professions. Mr. Drechsler is strictly temperate in 
his habits, has always supported the republican party, and while making his 
home on the farm served for fifteen years as school director. He has always 
been a hard working man and the rest which he is now permitted to enjoy comes 
as the merited reward of his former years of toil and industry. He and his 
estimable wife are numbered among the worthy pioneer people of Will county and 
can recall many incidents of the early days in this section of the state. They 
have a wide acquaintance in Peotone and Will township and the hospitality of 
their 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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