Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Ranft, John 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 8:35 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

JOHN RANFT. Through an honorable career as a business man, Mr. Ranft laid the 
foundation of the large trade that is to-day efficiently managed by his widow. 
He was born in Oberverein, Waldeck, Germany, January 16, 1843, a son of John 
and Elizabeth (Schneider) Ranft, who lived upon a farm in that country. At an 
early age he began to support himself, working at any occupation that offered 
an honest livelihood.  In 1864 he crossed the ocean to the United States, and 
for a time worked on a farm in New Jersey, receiving $15 a month.  On coming 
west he spent a short time in Chicago and then settled in Joliet, near which 
city he worked on a farm for two years.  Afterward, for five and one-half 
years, he worked for the Sehring Brewing Company.  In 1884 he bought out Mr. 
Paige and remodeled the bottling works, after which he engaged in the 
manufacture of ginger ale, soda water and similar beverages.  He was a member 
of the Joliet Sharpshooters, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
Joliet Saengerbund.  In the latter society his fine baritone voice made him 
especially prominent and popular.  Politically he voted with the Republicans. 
He continued to carry on business in Joliet until his death, which occurred 
July 10, 1892.

The first wife of Mr, Ranft, who was Catherine Metzger, a native of Joliet, 
died in this city, leaving one child, Annie, who is now living. October 24, 
1884, he was united in marriage with Auguste Ernestina, daughter of Henry and 
Annie (Eggers) Reimers, all natives of Lunden, Holstein, Germany.  Her father, 
who was a carpenter and builder, died when she was twelve, and her mother had 
passed away two years before.  Of the family, three are living, her brother 
John being a farmer in Greengarden Township, this county, while Gustav lives 
in Joliet.  She was reared in Lunden, and came to the United States in 1883, 
settling in Frankfort, this county, where she remained until her marriage.  In 
religion she was carefully reared in the Lutheran faith, and has always 
adhered to its teachings.  She is the mother of five children, Bertha, Mamie, 
Linda, Otto and  Flora.  Since her husband's death she has continued the 
business so successfully that she has built up a large trade, not only in the 
city, but throughout Will and Grundy Counties, and has gained a reputation as 
an efficient business woman.


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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