Will County IL Archives Biographies.....STANNER, THOMAS ************************************************ 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: Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 18, 2007, 5:33 pm Author: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD THOMAS B. STANNER has been one of the most successful farmers of Dupage Township. While he was not obliged, as are many, to start in life wholly unaided, yet he none the less deserves credit for the success he has gained. When he began for himself his father gave him eighty acres of land in this township. With this for a beginning, he steadily worked his way forward, by industry and good judgment adding to his holdings, until his property now represents thousands of dollars. In his home farm he has one hundred and sixty acres, and also owns an eighty-acre farm, besides valuable property in Columbus, Ohio, and nine buildings in Romeoville, Will County. He has rented his farm and expects to remove to Chicago, with the intention of spending his declining years in retirement, surrounded by the comforts his industry has made possible. Mr. Stanner was born in Chicago November 11, 1837. His father, Martin, was a native of England, and engaged in farming in Ireland, where he was also a collector of rents and taxes. About 1835 he came to America, accompanied by his wife. He settled in Chicago and secured work in a brewery. He was offered the lots where the McCormick factory now stands in payment for one week's work, but refused to take them. From Chicago he came to Dupage Township, working for a farmer at Barber's Corner. Later he bought a claim of fifty acres, which he brought under cultivation. He then bought a tract just east of the Indiana boundary. His next purchase was one hundred and two acres, which he improved, and on which he made his home until the outbreak of the Civil war. After a short visit to Ireland he enlisted in Washington, D. C, and was a member of the guard at Booth's grave. While with General Rosecrans in Texas he was three times taken a prisoner, but each time was exchanged. His service was principally in the west and southwest. At the close of the war he enlisted in the regular army, and was assigned to Columbus, Ohio, where he had charge of the engines, etc., at the barracks. He stood high among the other officers, and was given many privileges not usually accorded soldiers. While on duty at Columbus he died suddenly of heart- disease, when sixty-three years of age. The mother of our subject was Mary Cain, a native of Ireland. Like her husband, she was a faithful adherent of the Catholic Church. Her death occurred on the home farm in this county when she was sixty-seven years of age. Of her six children, four attained mature years. The eldest of these was Thomas B., of this sketch. He took charge of the home farm when his father enlisted in the army, and subsequently maintained its supervision, having resided here ever since with the exception of two years in Chicago. During that time he was proprietor of the Hatch house, but not finding the occupation congenial he sold the place and returned to his farm. Both he and his wife are Roman Catholics. For several years he held the office of chief ranger in the Catholic Order of Foresters. In politics he is a Democrat in national affairs, but liberal in local matters. For seventeen years he held office as justice of the peace, a position that he filled with excellent judgment, tact and impartiality. By the marriage of Mr. Stanner to Annie E., daughter of Martin Dixon, six children were born, namely: Fannie and Nellie, both of whom are married; Martin C, who died at twenty-one years of age; Kittie, who was four years old at the time of her death; Thomas, who operates a farm belonging to his father in this township; John B., now of Chicago, who enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry during the Spanish-American war and served until he was honorably discharged in Cuba, April 3, 1899; James E. and Louella, both at home. 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/stanner1720nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb