Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Harder, Theodore 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 2:43 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Theodore Harder, who is numbered among the prosperous and progressive 
agriculturists of Lockport township, owning and operating the old Harder 
homestead farm on section 22, was born in Columbia county, New York, October 
21, 1828. His father, Peter I. Harder, was likewise born in Columbia county, 
August 16, 1797, and was engaged in farming in his native state. In 1832 he 
removed to Madison county, New York, and in 1852 came to Illinois, locating on 
the farm where the son Theodore now resides. On the 4th of August, 1816, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Lena Van Dusen, who was also a native of 
Columbia county, born June 30, 1799. Both parents died many years ago, the 
father having passed to his reward on the 25th of August, 1870. His wife 
survived for a few years and passed away December 4, 1874, while on a visit to 
her son in Wisconsin. Her father bore the name of Robert Van Dusen. Both she 
and her husband were devoted members of the Baptist church, to the support of 
which they were liberal contributors. Their family numbered twelve children, 
as follows: Robert, who was born February 27, 1817, and died December 20, 
1867; Peter, who was born December 30, 1819, and died May 30, 1820; James, who 
was born August 31, 1821, and is a retired farmer living at Whitewater, 
Wisconsin; Jacob, who was born August 6, 1823, and died in 1882; Richard, who 
was born July 11, 1825, and died June 19, 1898; Theodore, whose name 
introduces this record; Peter, who was born November 7, 1830, and died May 7, 
1834; Elizabeth, who was born July 13, 1833, and died in 1904; Herman, who was 
born March 19, 1837, and passed away in Idaho; Edwin, who was born October 9, 
1839, and died February 14, 1841; Francis, who was born September 9, 1841; and 
Jane, who was born February 5, 1845, and first married George Stuart, but is 
now the wife of James Pendleton. Theodore Harder, the sixth in order of birth 
in his father's family, was reared to farm life, assisting his father in the 
various duties of the fields, while in the winter seasons he pursued his 
studies in the district schools. He was a little lad of four years when he 
accompanied his parents on their removal from Columbia to Madison county, New 
York, and was a young man of twenty-four years when he removed to Will county. 
He has always made farming his life work and now resides on the old family 
homestead, which was deeded to him by his father, the tract comprising two 
hundred acres of well improved land. He worked hard in former years, so that 
he is now enabled to enjoy the evening of his life in well merited rest from 
the arduous duties of farm work. Mr. Harder was married in 1853 to Miss Susan 
A. Billings, of New Lenox. She was born in Windhall, Bennington county, 
Vermont, January 27, 1834, a daughter of Menard and Anna (Mellen) Billings. 
Her father worked in the woolen mills in Vermont and in June, 1836, 
established his home in New Lenox, this state. She remained with her parents 
until the time of her marriage, after which the young couple took up their 
abode in that village, where they remained for one year, subsequent to which 
time they removed to Lockport, and now reside on the old Harder homestead. 
Mrs. Harder is a devoted member of the Baptist church, and by her marriage has 
become the mother of three children. Ida A. is the wife of Charles H. Merrill 
and resides in Joliet. Jason R., who was born in 1859, acquired his education 
in the schools of Lockport and Joliet. He was married, March 26, 1885, to Miss 
Elizabeth Bretz, who was born in 1862 and was educated in the schools of 
Lockport. She is a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Bretz, who lived in that 
city, and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons: R. Osgood Harder, 
who for the past three years has been a student in the University of Illinois; 
and Clinton R., who is with his parents and is attending the high school at 
Lockport. Edison E. Harder was born in 1864, and attended school at Lockport 
and Joliet. He was married November 25, 1885, to Miss Allie Louise Kirkham, a 
daughter of John Kirkham, a well known farmer of Lockport township. They have 
one daughter, Susan Grace, who was born November 21, 1888, and is now the wife 
of Gilbert C. Pierce, their marriage being celebrated November 22, 1905. Mr. 
Harder has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey and is 
now occupying a nice home on his farm in Lockport township, surrounded by a 
large circle of 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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