Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fahs, Tobias 1811 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2007, 8:15 pm

Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890

TOBIAS FAHS. 

Through the efforts of such men as Tobias Fahs, the prairie lands of Peotone 
Township, that once were covered with the rank growth of coarse grasses and 
brilliant wild flowers, have become the fertile fields, fruitful orchards and 
velvety lawns of an advanced civilization. The farm which is the home of our 
subject lies on section 14, and is furnished with all needful buildings and 
the other improvements which indicate to the passer-by that it is under the 
control of a man of industry, good judgment and taste. The Fahs family is of 
Swiss stock, and has been represented in America for several generations. In 
Maryland, Abraham Fahs, the father of our subject, was born and made his home 
during his entire life. He was a whitesmith by trade. He married Elizabeth 
Siess, a native of the same State, daughter of George Siess, a blacksmith, who 
in later life became a large farmer and the owner of several farms. Abraham 
Fahs died in 1813, and the widow subsequently married Conrad Willhide. She 
died in 1832, and Mr. Willhide in 1839. The fruit of her first marriage was 
four children, all now deceased except our subject. Her second marriage was 
also blessed by the birth of four children, of whom one is deceased. The 
subject of this biographical review was born September 2, 1811, in Frederick 
County, Md. He attended a subscription school about two months in the winter 
season, and even in boyhood had to work very hard on his stepfather's farm. 
His experiences were the ordinary ones of a farmer's boy, and his time and 
labor were given to his stepfather until he was nineteen years of age. He then 
bought some mountain land, and worked in the timber, getting out bark, posts 
and cooper's stuff for five or six years. In 1841 he removed to Perry County, 
Pa.,where his brother had a large tannery, working there eight years as a 
finisher of leather, and during the last two years tending a store of his 
brother. The health of Mr. Fahs became somewhat impaired, and he was obliged 
to return to farm labor, as better suited to his constitution. He operated a 
farm in Pennsylvania until 1856, then came to Illinois, settling in Knox 
County, but sojourned there but a year. He then came into Will County, 
purchased a farm on section 14, and began his labors as one of the pioneer 
farmers of the township. The section was but thinly settled, and although the 
country is level, he could see but two houses from his home. His farm was all 
raw land, which he placed in good condition, retaining it in his possession 
until some three years since. Since that time he has made his home with his 
son, Cornelius L. Mr. Fahs was fortunate in his choice of a life companion, 
securing for his wife Miss Araminta Willyard, oldest child of Peter and 
Elizabeth (Miller) Willyard, natives of Maryland. Miss Araminta was born in 
Frederick County, September 22, 1812, receiving a common-school education and 
a training in useful accomplishments and good principles from her worthy 
parents. Of the seven brothers and sisters who once composed the family 
circle, she and two others are all that now survive. The union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Fahs was celebrated April 3, 1833, and ten children have come to bless their 
happy home. Those who have been reared to mature years are Harriet S., wife of 
Christ. Schryer, their home being one mile south of Peotone, and their family 
including five children; James A., who married Ruth E. Winslow, has one child, 
and lives at Hinckley; Elizabeth, widow of August Chase, has one child; Julia, 
wife of John Gloss, and mother of seven children, their home being in 
Carbondale, Kan.; Maria, wife of the Rev. Joseph J. Tobias, of Chicago, and 
mother of two children; the Rev. David W., who married Jennie Kerr, lives at 
LeMars, Iowa, and has three children; Cornelius and Amelia, who are still 
single and at home. Cornelius Fahs displays marked talent as an artist, doing 
beautiful work in free-hand drawing, without instruction, and also painting in 
oil and water colors exceedingly well. He has taken two painting lessons from 
the artist Bigelow, of Chicago. Many specimens of his work adorn the walls of 
the home, and afford pleasure to his parents and many friends. All of the 
brothers and sisters have received a good common-school education and take 
advantage of the means afforded by the press to add to their store of 
knowledge and keep pace with the world. Mr. and Mrs. Fahs, their children and 
their sons-in-law and daughters-in-law belong to the Presbyterian Church. The 
only exception is the Rev. J. J. Tobias, who is identified with the Methodist 
Episcopal denomination. All are actively interested in the Sunday-school, in 
which the father has been a teacher. He is an Elder in the church. He has been 
School Director and School Trustee for many years, manifesting the interest in 
the cause of education which would naturally be expected of a gentleman as 
intelligent as he. The first school in this locality was on his farm, the 
first teacher being Ruth E. Winslow, now Mrs. J. A. Fahs. The Rev. J. J. 
Tobias was also a teacher in the same school. Mr. Fahs was elected Township 
Supervisor, serving in that office two terms. He has always been strongly on 
the side of temperance, and has belonged to a temperance society. In politics 
he has been a Whig, a Know-Nothing and a Republican. During the Civil War he 
was a warm advocate of the Union cause, supporting it very liberally with 
money as well as with his personal influence. He helped to organize the first 
church in this neighborhood, and was one of the charter members. His religion 
is not put on as a Sunday garment, but is a clothing for every-day life; his 
tastes are refined, his mind aglow with intelligence, and take him all in all, 
he is one who may well be taken as a model citizen and man. 

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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