Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Offermann, Franz ************************************************ 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, 4:54 am Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 Franz Offermann, who is living on section 32, Joliet township, was born in Germany in 1830 and though he is now in comfortable financial circumstances he started out in life empty-handed. His father, Hubbard Offermann, spent his entire life in Germany, as did the mother, Mrs. Catherine Offermann. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters. Franz Offermann pursued his education in the schools of his native country and remained in Germany until 1857, when he bade adieu to friends and fatherland and crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He took passage on a sailing vessel which was forty-two days in making the voyage. Landing in New York, he continued on his westward-way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and, while there, in order to earn a living, he chopped cordwood, receiving about two shillings per cord. He afterward made his way to Joliet, spending two weeks in the city, and later continuing his journey on foot to the vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri. He worked as a farm hand near that city for about two years and after the outbreak of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for aid to crush out the rebellion, enlisting at Belleville, Illinois, in 1861 as a member of Company B, Twelfth Missouri Infantry. He participated in several skirmishes, proceeded southward to Jackson, Mississippi, and was afterward at Vicksburg and Lookout Mountain. At St. Louis, Missouri, he was mustered out, having made a creditable record as a valiant and fearless soldier. He then started for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, purchasing a ticket to that place, but when he arrived at Joliet he decided to stop here. Six weeks after his arrival he was married and then began farming on his own account, purchasing ten acres of land about three miles southwest of the city in Joliet township. Later he disposed of his first tract of land and bought a larger farm and to this he has added until he is today the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of rich, cultivable and productive land on section 32, Joliet township. He has a good farm here, well improved, and in its care and development he displays excellent business qualifications and thorough understanding of the best methods of carrying on agricultural interests. Mrs. Offermann bore the maiden name of Susan Korst. She was born in Germany in 1825, came to the United States with her brother, was married in Joliet, in 1864 and died in 1896 in the faith of the German Catholic church, of which she was a devoted communicant. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Offermann were born two sons. Joseph is employed in the Spot Cash store in Joliet, having been with the firm for a number of years, and is regarded as a splendid young business man, having the entire confidence of the house which he represents. Nicholas, the younger son, lives with his father. In 1892 he married Matilda Schweizer, who was born in Joliet in 1873, and acquired a good common-school education here. Unto this marriage there have been born six children: Viola, Joseph, Frederick, Alfred, Margaret and Henrietta. Mr. Offermann gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a member of the German Catholic church. He was a faithful soldier of his adopted country at the time of the Civil war and has always been loyal to its interests and its welfare, while in this locality, where the greater part of his life has been passed, he is known as a public-spirited man as well as a successful farmer. 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/offerman2569nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb