Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Gatter, Frederick 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 3:30 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Frederick Gatter, whose home is in the outskirts of Frankfort, was born in 
Wurtemberg, Germany, October 27, 1835. His father, Casper Gatter, was also a 
native of Wurtemberg, born in 1792, and passed away in 1844. He came to 
America in 1841. In Europe he was a master mechanic and on crossing the 
Atlantic to the new world he secured a position in the mills at Wilkesbarre, 
Pennsylvania. Two years later he started with several other families to 
Wisconsin. They remained for a few days at Kiles Tavern in Chicago and were 
afterward persuaded to locate in Frankfort township, Will county, where Mr. 
Gatter purchased sixty acres of land from the government at one and one-half 
dollars per acre. He was driving a span of gray horses at the time and he was 
offered eight acres of land where Chicago now stands for the two horses. 
Refusing this offer he located two and a half miles northeast of Frankfort and 
for several years carried on general agricultural pursuits there, passing 
away, however, in 1844. His political allegiance was given to the republican 
party. He married Rosina Colp, who was born in Germany in 1807 and was a 
member of the German Lutheran church. Frederick Gatter had one step-brother 
and three step-sisters but was the only child born of his father's second 
marriage. He was a little lad of six years when brought to the United States 
and his education was acquired in the schools of Pennsylvania and of Chicago. 
After his father died he went to that city and was employed as a salesman in a 
hardware store for about a year and a half. He then returned to the farm in 
Frankfort township, where he lived for a number of years. He is now the owner 
of one hundred and eight and seven-eighths acres in the home place and fifteen 
acres at the north edge of Frankfort, where he is now living. His farming 
interests return to him a good income, so that he is comfortably situated in 
life. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but his time 
and energies are devoted mostly to his business affairs, which have been 
capably conducted and have thus brought him a goodly measure of success. On 
the 21st of January, 1862, Mr. Gatter was united in marriage to Miss Catherine 
Maue, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 23, 1843, a daughter of Francis 
Maue, now deceased, who was a farmer of Frankfort township, living near 
Mokena. Mrs. Gatter holds membership in the German Reform church. By her 
marriage she has become the mother of four children. Charlotte, who was born 
May 11, 1863, died September 3, 1867. Albertena, who was born August 4, 1865, 
died December 6, 1871. One child, born November 26, 1868, died in infancy. 
Freddie, born July 13, 1873, married Philip Stellwatgen and they lived upon 
Mr. Gatter's farm in Frankfort township. They have one child, Frederick, named 
in honor of the grandfather. Mr. Gatter has led a life of industry and 
perseverance, devoting the greater part of his time and attention to 
agricultural pursuits and as the years have gone by he has displayed that 
persistency of purpose which is a strong element in prosperity and which 
enables many a man to overcome difficulties and obstacles.

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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