Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Hennebry, Michael F ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 1:54 am Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 Michael F. Hennebry, engaged in the practice of law at Wilmington, where for six years he has served as city attorney, while his specialty in private practice has been in probate work, was born in Felix township, Grundy county, Illinois, on the 14th of March, 1872. His parents were William and Johannah (Cooper) Hennebry, who were pioneer residents of Will county, locating within its borders in 1848. They took up their abode at Aitens, now Lemont, and the father followed the occupation of farming. They were both natives of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the father, who was born in Glen Arlagh, died in Wesley township, Will county, Illinois, on the 12th of April, 1893. The mother still survives, being a resident of Wilmington, in her seventy-fourth year. They were married in Wilmington in 1854 and remained residents of that place until the early '60s, when they removed to Grundy county, Illinois, settling on what was known as the old Shoemaker farm. In 1879 Mr. Hennebry made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres about three miles east of the village of Mazon, Grundy county. They removed to Will county in 1888 and purchased what is known as the old Elnathan Jones farm in Wesley township, for which they paid twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Hennebry started on his business career without capital and became one of the leading agriculturists of Will county, owning valuable property interests, from which he annually derived a good income. He never cared for public office, although he was a stanch advocate of democratic principles. In his family were eleven children, of whom eight are now living: Thomas, Mary, Margaret, William, Patrick, Hannah, Michael and John. The first named is a resident of California. Michael F. Hennebry spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and, having acquired his preliminary education, continued his studies in Notre Dame University in Indiana, pursuing commercial, English and law courses. He was graduated from the law department in the class of 1897. He had lived and worked upon the home farm until he reached the age of twenty years and in his youth his time was largely occupied with the duties of the fields, his opportunity of attending school being limited to the winter term. He early developed a strong desire for a professional career and when his father's financial resources permitted he was sent to more advanced schools, thus preparing for the walk of life upon which he entered following his graduation. He opened a law office in Wilmington and in his practice has largely made a specialty of probate work. He is also interested with his brothers in the farm in Wesley township, to which his parents removed in 1890. He has been city attorney of Wilmington for six years, proving a capable and efficient officer, and in the trial of causes entrusted to his care by reason of his office he has displayed a comprehensive knowledge of the law and unfaltering fidelity to duty. Mr. Hennebry is greatly interested in the political situation and tilt; questions which divide the two great parties. He votes with the democracy and was elected a member of the house of representatives, serving in the general assembly in the session of 1899. He was defeated for a second term through a mistake in the counting of the ballots under the old cumulative system of voting. Mr. Hennebry is a member of the Joliet council of the Knights of Columbus, which he joined in 1899, and he also belongs to River camp, No. 124, M. W. A., with which he has affiliated since 1896. In 1901 he became a member of Wilmington district court, No. 196, of the Court of Honor. He is a Catholic in religious faith, being a communicant of St. Rose of Lima at Wilmington. The predilection which he manifested at an early age for a professional career seems to have had a good basis in his natural tendencies and abilities, for in the profession which he has chosen as a life work he has won substantial success, being regarded as one of the strong and able members of the Will county bar. 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/hennebry2519nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb