Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stoos, Joseph 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 1:43 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

JOSEPH STOOS, deceased, was at one time prominent in the public affairs of 
Joliet, and served as alderman from the third ward; also held the office of 
assistant supervisor, and for two terms was city treasurer. He was born in 
Oppenheim, Alsace, France, and in boyhood learned the carpenter's trade under 
his father, Sebastian, who was a contractor and builder of bridges and arches. 
When a young man he came to America with his brother, Andrew, now of 
Naperville, Ill., and after a short time in the latter city he came to Joliet 
in 1854. He was an expert builder, and had no difficulty in securing work at 
his trade. He was superintendent and architect of the Jefferson street bridge, 
which has since been torn down by order of the drainage commissioners. He had 
charge of the building of St. Francis' convent, Porter's brewery buildings, 
St. Joseph's hospital and St. John's Roman Catholic Church. He also erected 
the residence that he occupied at No. 515 North Hickory street. Some of the 
most substantial structures in the city were erected under his supervision, 
and he continued actively engaged in the business until ten years before his 
death, when he retired. In the organization of St. John's Church he took an 
active part, and afterward for years was one of its trustees and a trustee of 
the academy. He was a member of the Sharpshooters' Association. Politically he 
gave his support to the Democratic party and voted for its men and measures. 
As a citizen he was patriotic, and, although always retaining a love for his 
native land, no native-born resident of the United States was more loyal to 
its welfare than he. His death occurred April 16, 1890. In Joliet, November 
19, 1856, Mr. Stoos married Miss Mary Anna Hassinger, who was born in 
Herbstheim, Alsace. Her grandfather, Michael Hassinger, was a stone mason and 
contractor in Alsace, where he died. Her father, Joseph, was also a 
contracting mason. In the spring of 1846 he brought his family to America, 
making the voyage from Havre to New York on a sailing vessel, thence going up 
the Hudson to Albany, from there on the Erie canal to Buffalo, and thence via 
lake to Chicago, and finally to Will County. Here he engaged in contracting 
and building. He had the contract for all of the culverts on the Plainfield 
road. Besides this, he operated a stone quarry and superintended land that he 
purchased here. His death occurred when he was over sixty years of age. His 
wife was Mary Ann, daughter of Anton Drendel, a farmer of Alsace. She died in 
this county in 1884, when seventy-seven years of age. Her three daughters, 
Mrs. Stoos, Mrs. Michael Sheidt and Mrs. Peter Gans, reside in Joliet. Mrs. 
Stoos was eight years old when the family came to Joliet, where she was 
educated. She is well known among the members of St. John's Church, having 
long been a member of this parish. Eight children were born to the union of 
Mr. and Mrs. Stoos. Only four are now living. The son, Alfred J., is 
represented elsewhere in this volume. Theresa is the wife of Joseph Braun, 
Jr., whose sketch appears on another page. Mary married Prof. Henry Rolf, of 
Joliet, and Josephine is the wife of Robert P. Kiep, also of this city.

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

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