Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Rehkopf, George A 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

George A. Rehkopf is one of the prominent, influential and valued residents of 
Peotone, his position in public regard being indicated by the fact that he has 
been president of the village, and to him may be attributed the excellent 
sidewalk system of the town. He is, moreover, active in commercial circles as 
proprietor of the Peotone Steam Laundry. He was born in Monee, April 30, 1867, 
and like many of the residents of this section of the county, is of German 
lineage. His father, Henry Rehkopf, was born in Germany and came to the United 
States in the latter part of 1865. He began farming on a tract of land in 
Monee township, Will county, and throughout his entire life was connected with 
agricultural pursuits. For three years he remained in Monee, after which he 
purchased a farm in Peotone township, living thereon until 1870, when he sold 
that property and came to Peotone, where he opened a hotel known as the New 
York House. This he conducted up to the time of his death, which occurred in 
1881, when he was fifty-two years of age. He came to this country without a 
dollar, and owing to his life of industry, frugality and perseverance he was 
enabled at his death to leave his family in very comfortable circumstances, 
and, moreover, left to them the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. He 
was a member of the Lutheran church and his political allegiance was given to 
the republican party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amelia Ippenjer, 
was born in Germany in 1823 and died in 1896. She was first married in New 
York city to William Ahlborn, and they became the parents of three children, 
of whom two are now living: Henry, a resident of Will township; and Amelia, 
the wife of John Caine, of the same township. George A. Rehkopf of this review 
is the only child born of his mother's second marriage. He pursued his 
education in the schools of Peotone, and after his father's death he assisted 
his mother in the conduct of the hotel until 1894, when Mrs. Rehkopf retired 
from business and her son purchased a half interest in a general store in 
Peotone, thus entering commercial circles as a member of the firm of Croxen & 
Rehkopf. The partnership was maintained for five years, on the expiration of 
which period Mr. Rehkopf sold out and established the Peotone Steam Laundry, 
which he is now conducting. On the 27th of November, 1897, occurred the 
marriage of Mr. Rehkopf and Miss Ida Gross, who was born in Peotone, March 19, 
1880, and is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Gross. The young couple are 
members of the Evangelical church and take an active and helpful interest in 
its work. Mr. Rehkopf is a Mason, and in his political views is a stalwart 
democrat. He was a member of the village board from 1892 until 1896, and 
during the succeeding four years was its president. He may well feel a just 
pride in the fact that he was the father of the sidewalk ordinance while 
occupying the presidency of the village. Moreover, he instituted many other 
movements for its improvement and upbuilding and he has always been a stalwart 
champion of the interests of the town and has done much for their furtherance. 

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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