Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Hostmer, Charles W 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 1:55 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

CHARLES W. HOSTMER, superintendent of the car department of the Michigan 
Central Railroad at Joliet, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., June 22, 1839, a 
son of Gottlieb and Minnie (Myers) Hostmer. He was one of nine children, of 
whom besides himself only two survive, Henry, a retired business man of Fort 
Wayne, Ind., and Louis, a contractor and builder in Fort Wayne. His father 
learned the milling business in youth, and, through good management and 
industrious efforts, in time became proprietor of a grist mill, but in later 
years turned his attention to farming. In 1836 he came to America, proceeding 
from Philadelphia, Pa., to Indiana and settling on a farm near Fort Wayne. 
There he spent his last years in retirement from business cares. He was a 
member of the Lutheran Church and in politics a Democrat. His wife was born in 
Germany in 1803 and died in 1892. When our subject was fifteen years of age he 
entered a dry-goods store at Fort Wayne, with the intention of adopting the 
mercantile business as his life work. However, his plans were subsequently 
changed. After three years he went to Chicago and apprenticed himself to the 
car-building trade in the Illinois Central shops. On the completion of his 
apprenticeship he remained in the same place as a salaried workman, and for 
twenty years he worked with them as a coach builder. He was then promoted to 
the foremanship of the car department of the passenger equipment, and remained 
in that important position until 1889, when he resigned to accept his present 
place with the Michigan Central Railroad, where he has charge of both the 
passenger and freight departments. In 1876 Mr. Hostmer married Miss Betty 
Battershall, who was born near Albany, N. Y., a daughter of William and Emma 
(Wilcox) Battershall, both natives of York state. Her father came to Illinois 
in 1861 and bought a farm at Hinesville, where he remained for a short time. 
He then removed into Chicago and opened a boarding house on the south side, 
where he resided up to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Hostmer had only 
one child, Charles, and he is now deceased. While not connected by membership 
with any church, Mr. and Mrs. Hostmer attend the Methodist Church and 
subscribe liberally to its support, as well as to the support of other worthy 
movements and charitable enterprises. In politics Mr. Hostmer is a stanch 
Republican, and fraternally is connected with Home Masonic Lodge No. 508, A. 
F. & A. M., of Chicago. The credit for his success is due to himself wholly. 
Beginning life in humble circumstances, but step by step, with commendable 
perseverance, he acquired a thorough knowledge of the car-building business 
and thus fitted himself for a position of trust and responsibility. His 
success is a fitting example of what is in store as a reward for energy and 
directness of purpose. He is a good representative of the progressive and 
enterprising men of this county who are of German parentage and who retain the 
industrious, thrifty habits of that nationality. 

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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