Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Nacke, John ************************************************ 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 5, 2008, 11:36 pm Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 John Nacke, living on section 18, Crete township, owns and cultivates one hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land in that township and also has twenty-five acres of timber land on section 12, Monee township. He was born in this township July 25, 1855, his parents being Christof and Sophia (Luecke) Scheiwe. When he was two and a half years of age he was adopted by Frederick and Charlotte (Luecke) Nacke, who never had any children of their own. Mr. Nacke was a native of Hanover, Germany, born December 29, 1819, and in 1847 he came to the United States hoping to better his financial condition in the new world, where labor is not handicapped by caste or class. For three years he worked in Chicago on the railroad, and the canal and in a brickyard, and in 1852 he came to Crete township, Will county, where he invested his hard- earned savings in eighty acres of raw prairie land, upon which our subject now resides. This was entirely uncultivated at the time, but he made substantial improvements upon it and converted it into a fine farm, continuing its cultivation until 1882, when he retired to the village of Crete, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He died in December, 1903, and the community thereby lost a worthy and valued citizen, whose well spent life entitled him to the regard and good will of his fellowmen. He was long a devoted and faithful member of the German Lutheran church and for thirty years was one of its Trustees. Throughout the community he was spoken of as a good man and a prosperous farmer and his life record proved that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Luecke, was a daughter of Ernest and Sophie Luecke, who were farming people of Washington township, but both are now deceased. Mrs. Nacke was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in January 29, 1829, and is now living on the farm with her adopted son, in the seventy-eighth year of her age. John Nacke was educated in the public schools and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the task of planting in the early spring and of gathering the crops in the late autumn. When Mr. Nacke retired to Crete he took charge of the home farm, which he has since carried on keeping the fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements and equipments. He now owns one hundred and eighty acres of well improved land on which are good buildings, and he is successfully engaged in general farming. On the 12th of June, 1879, Mr. Nacke was married to Miss Sophia Ohlendorf, a native of Crete township and a daughter of Conrad and Dorothea (Meyer) Ohlendorf, early settlers of Crete township. Mrs. Nacke died September 17, 1903, after a lingering illness of about three years. She left one son, Fred, who has married Clara Halfelt and they reside with his father. Mr. Nacke is a member of the Lutheran church and for ten years was one of its trustees. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the republican party, but he has never sought or desired office as a reward for party fealty. On the contrary he has concentrated his energies upon the further development and improvement of the home farm, which he has made a valuable property. 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/nacke2488nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb