Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Sehring, Frederick 1834 - ************************************************ 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 ddhaines@gmail.com May 9, 2007, 12:15 am Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 FREDERICK SEHRING. The brewery interests of Will County acknowledge as among their leading men the subject of this notice, a portrait of whom appears on the opposite page. He is prominent in the affairs of Joliet and has been a member of the City Council since 1874. Of German birth and parentage, he was born in Langen Duchy, Hesse-Darmstadt, December 19, 1834. His father, Weigand Sehring, was a soldier in the War of 1813, in Germany, and married Margaretha Keim. They came to America in 1847, settling in Frankfort Township, Will County, where the father occupied himself as a farmer until 1854. That year he removed with his family to Joliet and conducted an hotel until 1860, while in the meantime, Frederick, who was fond of his books, devoted himself to study. At their home in Joliet, the parents both passed to their last rest. Mr. Sehring began his business career as a Deputy Clerk in the Recorder's office of the county, where he remained until 1863. He was then elected County Treasurer and served two terms; in March, 1874, he was elected to represent his ward in the City Council, where he has since served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He at an early age evinced unusual business capacities and in 1868, had accumulated sufficient means to go into business, which he did in company with a partner under the firm name of Joseph Braun & Co. With $6,000 capital they established what has now become one of the finest breweries in the Northwest. This was conducted successfully until January, 1883, when it was enlarged and incorporated under the title of the Fred Sehring Brewery Company, with our subject as President; Henry Sehring, Vice-President; H. F. Piepenbrink, Secretary and Treasurer, and L. J. Sehring, Superintendent. The new corporation started in with a capital stock of $50,000, and the following month bought out the brewery of Henry Eder opposite. The brewery now has a capacity of thirty thousand barrels per year and give employment to twenty-five men. The plant occupies about five acres of ground and with its buildings and machinery is of great value, being one of the leading institutions of Illinois and furnishing the beverage not only to city of Joliet, but the towns surrounding. The subject of this notice was married January 16, 1855, in Joliet, to Mrs. Louise Bez, and to them have been born six children, all living and named respectively: Susan E., Louis J., Maggie, the wife of H. F. Piepenbrink, Henry, Anna and George. The eldest son, Louis, was born in Joliet April 12, 1858, acquiring his education in the city schools and at an early age learned the brewing business at which he engaged with his father. He served through an apprenticeship with this at New York and Chicago, and then returning to Joliet, took charge in 1878, of the business of which he has since been Superintendent. Like his honored father he has been prominent in local affairs, representing the Third Ward in the City Council for two years, (1885-86). Aside from this, however, he has devoted himself mainly to business and displays ability and judgment beyond that usually evinced by men of his years. He belongs to the various civic societies of the city and is highly spoken of by all who know him. The father certainly has reason to be proud of his son. Our subject, politically, is a stanch Democrat. He has for many years been prominently connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, representing it in the Grand Lodge and is likewise identified with the Masonic fraternity. He has gained considerable distinction in politics, being nominated in the fall of 1874 by the liberal Democrats to the State Senate, against O. M. Marshall, the Republican, and C. Frazier, the Granger candidate. Mr. Marshall was elected by twelve majority over Mr. Sehring, who contested the election and proved the existence of one hundred and forty illegal votes—the committee reporting these in his favor. When put to the regular vote the Republicans and Grangers stood twenty-six for Marshall and twenty-three for Sehring. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/sehring1502nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb