Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Feil, John 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 4:08 pm

Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co

JOHN FEIL, member of the board of supervisors, is a well-known merchant of 
Frankfort Station. He is a man of good business ability, enterprising and 
persevering, and by his well-directed efforts has won prosperity. Since he 
began in business, in the fall of 1880, he has enjoyed a steady growth in his 
trade and now has in his store a stock that, for size and quality, is not 
surpassed by any establishment for miles around. Three clerks assist him in 
attending to the wants of customers. By his reliability, courtesy and well-
known integrity he has gained and held the patronage of people throughout his 
section of the county.

The entire life of Mr. Feil has been passed in this county. He was born April 
20, 1854, in Greengarden Township, to which his father, John, had come two 
years before. The latter was born in Codweilen, Prussia, Germany, in 1822, and 
in 1847 accompanied his parents, George and Elizabeth (Scheer) Feil, to 
America, settling in Frankfort Township, this county, but in 1852 removed to 
Greengarden Township, where he bought sixty acres of land and made his home 
for twelve years. In 1864 he moved a mile west, settling on section 8, where 
he devoted his remaining years to general farm pursuits.   

He was a successful farmer and owned two hundred and forty acres of land. 
Personally, he was quiet and reserved, but those who knew him well found him 
to be a man possessing many noble qualities of heart. At the time of his 
death, October 6, 1871, he was forty-nine years of age. His father, George, 
spent his life, after 1847, in this county, his closing years being passed in 
Mokena.

By the marriage of John Feil, Sr., to Catherine Klose, a native of Germany, 
thirteen children were born. The nine now living are as follows: John, of this 
sketch; Louis, who makes his home in Englewood, Chicago; Jacob, who occupies 
the old homestead; Charles C., who lives in Charles City, Iowa; Henry, of 
Joliet; Valentine, of Manhattan; Caroline, wife of Jacob Felton, of Huntington 
County, Ind.; Lizzie, who married Arnold Funstein, of Manhattan; and Lena, 
Mrs. Christian Hauck, of Joliet. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in 
Greengarden Township. When he was twenty-five he moved to Frankfort Township, 
and entered upon the life of a farmer here. In 1880 he traded his farm for a 
stock of merchandise, and, with Charles Deist as a partner, began his present 
business. In the spring of 1893 he bought his partner's interest and has since 
carried on the business alone.

In politics Mr. Feil is a Republican. For fourteen years he has served as 
police magistrate of the village. During President McKinley's administration, 
in 1897, he received the appointment of postmaster at Frankfort Station. In 
1898 he was elected supervisor for a term of two years. In this office, as in 
every position he has held, it has been his aim to advance the interests of 
the people and the welfare of the county. No laudable movement is allowed to 
fail for want of support on his part. Such citizens as he are a credit to the 
community. He is a member of the German Evangelical Church and in it served as 
a trustee for several years. Fraternally he is connected with the Court of 
Honor in his hometown. February 20, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Christina Deist, by whom he has had four children. Only two are now living. 
The son, Edward J., is a student in the Chicago Business College; the 
daughter, Esther E., is at home.


Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present

Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900

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