Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Lichtenwalter, Henry H 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 9:33 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

HENRY H. LICHTENWALTER. Since his settlement in this county Mr. Lichtenwalter 
has been known not only as a substantial farmer, but also as a progressive 
citizen and an earnest Christian. Although he started for himself with very 
little means (having only $68 at the time he came to Illinois), he has become 
one of the large land owners of Jackson Township, and his name is synonymous 
with successful agriculture. He is the owner of six farms, aggregating eleven 
hundred acres. This large property represents the results of honest industry 
and frugality, traits that have always been very noticeable in his character. 
Besides his farming and stock interests he acts as local agent for the 
Greengarden Mutual Insurance Company.

During the eighteenth century the Lichtenwalter family was founded in America 
by a German, who settled in Adams County, Pa., and remained there from that 
time until his death. The descendants of one of his sons may now be found in 
Lehigh County, Pa. Another of his sons, Abraham, was a native of Adams County, 
but spent his last years on a farm in Stark County, Ohio, and was buried at 
Canton, that state. His son, Solomon, was about twenty-one when the family 
removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio. He took up a tract of wild land, which he 
cleared and improved, and there he spent his remaining years. He was one of 
the leading farmers of Stark County. For many years he was an elder in the 
Lutheran Church and the old house of worship he helped to build is still 
standing, in good repair. The honor of being a delegate to the Ohio conference 
was conferred upon him. At the time of his death he was eighty-eight years of 
age. His wife was Catherine Hane, a native of Pennsylvania, who at four years 
of age had been taken to Ohio by her father, Charles Hane; afterward she 
resided in Stark County until her death, at fifty-two years. Of her twelve 
children seven are now living, namely: Samuel, a farmer of Stark County; 
Sarah, wife of Martin Metz, of Elwood, Ill.; John, also of Elwood; William, 
whose home is in Manhattan; Henry H.; Christian, a farmer and stock-raiser in 
Thayer County, Neb.; and Amanda, who married William Young and lives in Stark 
County.

The education acquired by our subject was sufficient to enable him to teach 
school, and in this occupation he continued for two years. For five years he 
followed the carpenter's trade. August 31, 1856, he bade farewell to his 
relatives and started for the west, full of hope for the future, and with all 
the determination that youth and health and an earnest spirit can give. He 
arrived in Joliet on the 1st of September. After two months in the city he 
went to the country, where he followed his trade for two years. In 1858 he 
rented a farm six miles south of Joliet, and there he tilled the soil for 
eleven years. In 1869 he purchased a farm in Florence Township and at once 
commenced the improvement of the property, on which he made his home for the 
next twenty-three years, meantime following the general lines of farming and 
stock-raising. He owned four hundred acres in partnership with his brother-in-
law, Hiram E. Guiss. With him he also, for sixteen years, operated a threshing 
machine, having contracts for work of this kind in Florence, Jackson, 
Manhattan and Wilton Townships. Their machine was one of the first threshers 
brought to the county. In 1886 he bought a farm in Jackson Township and five 
years later he moved to it.  He remained there until March, 1900, when he 
removed with his wife and daughter to Manhattan, his son remaining on the farm.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Lichtenwalter was on that ticket elected 
supervisor of Florence Township, road commissioner, justice of the peace, 
collector, school trustee, etc.  In 1858 he married Leah, daughter of John 
Guiss.  They have six children living, viz.: Orlando, Frank, Albert (of 
Florence Township), Frances (wife of R. F. Weibel), John and Addie.  The 
family are active workers in Grace Evangelical Church. Mr. Lichtenwalter was 
converted at the age of sixteen years and has since lived an exemplary 
Christian life.  Since 1890 he has been a member of the Illinois conference 
and in 1898 he was a delegate to the general conference of the United 
Evangelical Church at Johnstown, Pa.  In 1894 he donated land for a church 
building and he also contributed largely to the erection of the same, since 
which time he has been a liberal contributor to its maintenance.  He has 
filled the office of Sunday-school superintendent constantly and for some 
years has been a trustee of the church.


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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