Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Sonneborn, George 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 6:59 am

Author: Past & Present, 1907

George Sonneborn, vice president and director of the Eastern Will County State 
Bank at Monee, figures prominently not alone in financial circles but also as 
a representative and progressive citizen who has been honored by his fellow 
townsmen with the offices of village president and trustee. He was born in 
Baltimore, Maryland, in 1853. His father, George Sonneborn, was a native of 
Ballenborg, Germany, born in 1816, and he died in 1892 at the age of seventy-
six years. He came to the United States in 1850 and located in Baltimore, 
Maryland. He was a tailor by trade and remained in Baltimore until 1861, when 
he removed with his family to Monee township, Will county, Illinois, making 
his home for a brief period with his wife's people. He afterward spent six 
years in Cook county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade and also clerked 
in a store. In 1867 the family returned to Monee, where the father invested in 
village property. He established a clothing and tailoring business, being the 
pioneer in that line in Monee, and he continued in the successful management 
of the enterprise up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1892. He was 
a good business man of sound judgment who prospered in his undertakings and 
followed methods which commended him to the confidence and trust of all. He 
was conservative and made no purchase except when able to pay cash. He held 
membership in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, of which he was one of 
the trustees, and when in Baltimore he was a Redman. His political allegiance 
was given to the democracy and he filled the office of trustee in his village. 
He was a man held in the highest esteem, possessed a charitable, benevolent 
spirit and gave generously according to his means. His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Katherine Bischel, was born in Schwarznau in the province of 
Westphalia, Germany, in 1823, and died in 1904. She came to Baltimore in 1851 
from Germany and was married the same year, having known her husband while 
they were still residents of the fatherland. She was also a member of the 
German Evangelical church. Their family numbered two children, George, and 
John B., who was born in Baltimore, September 15, 1855. He is now a member of 
the firm of G. Sonneborn Sons. He married Emma, daughter of John and Magdalena 
Kolstedt, and they have one child, Leola. The sons attended school in Monee 
and in 1868 George Sonneborn entered the postoffice as a clerk, there 
remaining until 1871. At that time he became employed in a general store in 
Chicago, where he continued until the fall of 1877. He then returned to Monee 
and took charge of his father's business, admitting E. R. Freese as a partner 
in the conduct of the grocery store. Mr. Freese remained in the firm for 
twelve years. The brother, John Sonneborn, returned from Chicago, where he had 
been engaged in clerking for eight years and entered the store, being still a 
member of the firm. Both of the sons are stockholders in the Eastern Will 
County State Bank, of which George Sonneborn is vice president and a director. 
His name is well known in commercial and financial circles and the firm of 
Sonneborn is doing an extensive and growing business as dealers in groceries 
in this place. On the 9th of December, 1877, Mr. Sonneborn was married to Miss 
Charlotte Bischel, who was born in Germany in 1860 and is a daughter of Henry 
and Charlotte (Shilling) Bischel, who were early settlers of Monee township. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sonneborn were born seven children: Lydia, the wife of Ewalt 
Loehr, a machinist of Milwaukee, by whom she has two children; George, Oscar 
and Arthur, all now deceased; Henry, who is studying for the ministry in a 
college at Elmhurst, Illinois; Roscoe at school; and George. Mr. Sonneborn is 
a member of St. Paul's Evangelical church, as is his brother and his wife. Mr. 
Sonneborn is well known as a stalwart advocate of the Odd Fellows society, in 
which he has filled all of the chairs and has been secretary for the last 
twenty-five years. His political support is given to the republican party and 
he has been both president and trustee of the village and has been treasurer 
for many terms. He is also a trustee and treasurer of the church and his 
efforts in behalf of public progress have been far reaching and beneficial. 

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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