Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Koepke, Christian 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:50 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

Christian Koepke, living retired in Monee, was in his early business career 
identified with farming interests in Will county and later was successfully 
engaged in the conduct of a hotel in this village. He was born in Germany in 
1840. His father, John Koepke, was also a native of Germany, born in 1806. 
After attending the common schools of that country he learned the carpenter's 
trade in the place of his nativity. In 1853 he came from Bentzin, Mecklenburg, 
bringing with him his family, and on crossing the Atlantic to the new world 
located in Green Garden township, Will county, Illinois, where he purchased 
land and turned his attention to farming. In 1869, however, he put aside 
active agricultural pursuits and thereafter made his home with his son 
Christian until his death, which occurred in 1888, when he had reached the 
ripe old age of eighty-two years. He was a prosperous agriculturist and a man 
of good business judgment. He held membership in the Evangelical church and 
was one of the organizers of the church in Green Garden township. His 
political views accorded with republican principles but he was never an 
aspirant for office. In early manhood he wedded Miss Doretta Randt, who was 
born in Germany, in which country their marriage was celebrated. Her natal day 
was February 2, 1813, and all of her children were born in the fatherland. 
Mrs. Koepke was also a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and died in 
that faith in 1870. In the family were three children: Maria, who became the 
wife of Chris Schlottmann, and afterward married John Block but is now 
deceased; Doretta, who married Henry Eisenbrandt and after his death became 
the wife of George Boden of Monee; and Christian. In taking up the personal 
history of Christian Koepke we present to our readers the life record of one 
who is widely and favorably known in Monee and the surrounding district. He 
came to the United States with his parents, was reared upon the home farm and 
acquired a common-school education. He early became familiar with all the 
duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and was closely 
associated with farming interests until 1869, when he removed to Monee. Here 
he became proprietor of the German Hotel, which he conducted continuously for 
twenty-two years or until 1892, when he retired from active business life. He 
then built a home in Monee, which is the finest residence of the town, and he 
is here now living in comfort and ease. Mr. Koepke was married in 1864 to Miss 
Mina Buethe, who was born in Germany in 1842 and died in 1904. She came from 
Germany in 1860 with her parents, Henry and Mina Buethe, who located on a farm 
in Crete township, Will county, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Koepke were born 
five children but Henry and Mary are now deceased. Doretta became the wife of 
C. A. Kolstedt and died in 1892, leaving two children, Harvey and Ruby. Lena 
is the wife of William Plagge, a retired merchant of Monee, and they have 
three children, Elma, Luella and Norma. W. J., the youngest of the family, is 
a merchant at Peotone. The parents were members of the Evangelical Lutheran 
church and Mr. Koepke is serving as chairman of the finance committee. He 
votes with the republican party, has been constable in Green Garden township 
and in Monee has been a member of the board of trustees and president of the 
village. In all of these different positions he has been found notably prompt 
and faithful and he stands for all that is progressive in citizenship, giving 
his co-operation to many plans and measures for the general good. In addition 
to his home property in Monee he owns four hundred and sixty acres of valuable 
land in Green Garden township and from this derives an excellent income. He is 
a self-made man, for he owes his prosperity to his earnest and indefatigable 
efforts, his capable management and keen discernment. As hotel proprietor he 
became very widely known in this section of the state and has gained wide 
popularity by reason of a genial manner and many sterling traits of character.

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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