Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stassen, Henry H ************************************************ 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 http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 29, 2008, 1:14 am Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 HENRY H. STASSEN. In public office and in private life Henry H. Stassen has been alike honored and respected and well deserves mention among the representative citizens of Will county. He has figured prominently in connection with agricultural and other business interests and in political circles as well and he is now devoting his energies largely to real-estate dealing. His birth occurred in the little town of Westrum, Jeverland, in the grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, March 2, 1838. His father, Harm H. Stassen, was also a native of Jeverland, born September 15, 1805. In early manhood he learned shoemaking and married Miss Metta Ulrichs. In 1854 he crossed the Atlantic to America with his family, reaching Monee, Illinois, on the 27th of June. Nine children had been born in the fatherland, of whom Henry was the third in order of birth, but five of the number had died in infancy, so that only four came with the parents to the United States. For two years after settling in Will county Harm H. Stassen engaged in shoemaking, subsequent to which time he established his home upon a farm near Monee. He died November 16, 1886, at the age of eighty-one years, having for more than twenty years survived his wife, who passed away September 3, 1865, at the age of fifty- seven years, her birth having occurred March 11, 1808. They held membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church and Mr. Stassen was one of the organizers of the church of that denomination at Monee in 1856. He gave generously to its support and took a most helpful interest in the various church activities, his entire life being in harmony with his professions as a believer in the Christian religion. In 1860 he and his son, Henry H., voted for the first time in America, both supporting the republican party. Henry H. Stassen had learned the shoemakers trade in his native land but in the new world at once took up the occupation of farming and in the month of July, 1854, worked for four dollars per month and his board. He was thus employed as a farm hand for a number of years. In 1865 he returned to his native country, where he was married on the 4th of February, 1866, to Miss G. Maria Dudden, who was born August 27, 1846, in a neighboring village to that of her husband, and there she lived until her marriage. She is a daughter of Hillerich J. and Anne Dudden, who died prior to their daughter’s marriage. In May, 1866, Mr. Stassen returned with his bride to the new world and for twenty-one years thereafter was successfully engaged in farming in Green Garden township, where he owned and cultivated one hundred and sixty acres of land. Practical and systematic in his methods, carefully tilling the soil and improving his place, he prospered as the years went by and became the owner of one hundred and fifty- five acres in Monee township in addition to his home property. He has worked persistently and diligently to achieve success and whatever he has enjoyed has come to him as the reward of well directed labor. While living in Green Valley township he taught school several terms in the latter part of the '60s and early '70s. His fellow-townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office. In 1872 he was chosen assessor of Green Garden township and in the spring of 1873 was elected to represent the township on the county board of supervisors, holding the office continuously with the exception of a period of one year until he resigned in 1886 in order to become county clerk of Will county. He filled the latter position for eight years and retired from the office as he had entered it—with, the confidence and good will of all concerned. This does not represent the extent of his political service, however, for in 1874 he was elected to represent the district in the twenty-ninth general assembly, where he served on various important committees, being a most able member of the committee on insurance, having thorough understanding thereof. In 1884 he was elected to the same office and served in the thirty-fourth general assembly. In the meantime he formed one of the famous "103" who were engaged in the six months' memorable struggle for the election of John A. Logan to the United States senate, brought to a successful termination for their candidate May 19, 1885. In 1876 Mr. Stassen was made the nominee of the Grangers for clerk of the circuit court, and served as mayor of Joliet from 1893 to 1895. His labors along other lines have been directly beneficial and the cause of education has found in him, a stalwart champion. He organized the first school in district No. 8, Green Garden township, assisted in building the schoolhouse and acted as director from 1869 until he removed from the district. In 1867 he assisted in organizing the Green Garden Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, the first corporation of the kind in the state, and in the spring of 1868 was chosen its treasurer and acted in that capacity for about nineteen years or until he resigned in January, 1887. This company began business without capital, charging one-half per cent premium per one hundred dollars on all property insured, and in 1886 had accumulated, after paying all losses and expenses of government and organization, fourteen thousand dollars. It had at that time over twelve hundred members. Its success was largely owing to the good management of its treasurer, who engineered it through many difficult places and frequently went security for large risks. Mr. Stassen also became interested in the Grange movement in 1873 and was prominent in the councils of the organization and in molding its policy. In 1884 he was elected president of the Farmers State Insurance Alliance and served for two years. After elected to the office of county court clerk Mr. Stassen removed with his family to Joliet in February, 1888, and has since made his home in the city, where he is now operating in real-estate, nor does he occupy a secondary position in this connection. On the contrary he has informed himself thoroughly concerning realty values and has negotiated many important realty transfers. Mr. and Mrs. Stassen have become the parents of five children but only two are living: Charles J., who resides on his father's farm, was married February 4, 1888, to Miss Anna Albers and they have four children, Nettie, Otto, Ida and Harry. Menno H., who has been engaged in the real-estate business in Joliet since 1897, was married May 17, 1896, to Anna L. Beckmann, who died February 1, 1907, leaving three children, Emil, Walter and Elsie. The family are connected with the United Evangelical Lutheran church. Mr. Stassen has had a notable record since coming to America as a youth of sixteen years. Starting out in life here as a farm boy at the meager wage of four dollars per month, he has gained a goodly measure of prosperity in his business life, has won high honors in political circles and at all times has enjoyed the confidence and good will of his fellowmen, who regard him as one of the leading and representative citizens of the county. 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/stassen2766nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb