Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stedt, William 1840 - ************************************************ 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 5, 2007, 11:15 am Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890 WILLIAM STEDT. The sterling traits that make the better class of the Germans desirable citizens are exhibited in the life and labors of this gentleman. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 26, Washington Township, where he owns eighty acres of fertile land. The estate is well-improved and bears good buildings, all erected by the owner and including every needful and convenient structure. Success is crowning his efforts and a competence waits upon his labors. In the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, the eyes of our subject first opened to the light in the year 1840. His parents, Joseph and Reirca (Sass) Stedt, had been born in the same duchy, and therein grew to maturity and united their fortunes. The husband and father was a sheep-herder. In 1856 the parents, with five children, sailed from Hamburg, believing that in the New World they could find larger opportunities than in their native land, for themselves and offspring. After an ocean voyage of six weeks they arrived in New York, whence they came direct to Illinois, settling in Du Page County. They began their life in the new home on rented land, determined to succeed in their intention to become land-owners and people of comfortable finances. The father died in that county when sixty-six years of age; the widowed mother is yet living, her present home being near West Union, Iowa. She is now seventy-seven years old. She has been all her life a member of the Lutheran Church, as was her respected husband. She is the mother of three sons and three daughters, all but one of whom, a daughter, lived to come to America. The subject of this sketch was about sixteen years old when the family came to the United States. His education was therefore obtained principally in the land of his birth. He became of age in Du Page County, and was there married to Miss Anna R. Bohl, to whose housewifely skill and domestic virtues he owes the joys and comforts of his home. Three years after their marriage the young couple came to Will County and began their life here on an almost raw prairie, which now stands as a monument to the enterprise that has made it into a fine farm. Mrs. Stedt was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, November 18, 1843, and came to America with her parents when thirteen years old. The family first settled in Du Page County, afterward removing to Will County, where the father, H. Bohl, died in 1885, when seventy-six years old. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, to which his good wife also belonged. She survived until the spring of 1889, breathing her last when eighty-two years old. Her maiden name was Mary Burling. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stedt has been blessed by the birth of five children, named respectively: William, Henry, Charles, Herman and Mary. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Stedt is a thorough Republican. Their upright and industrious lives, their kindliness toward their neighbors and all in need, and their desire to aid in the true development of the country, gain for them the hearty respect of all to whom they are known. 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/stedt471gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb