Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Wilkening, John 1819 - ************************************************ 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 8, 2007, 11:09 pm Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 JOHN WILKENING. After a series of years spent in persevering toil, the subject of this notice is now living retired from active labor and enjoying the comforts of a quiet country homestead, comprising one hundred and seventy acres of land on section 22, Crete Township. He has passed in and out among the people of his community for the long period of forty-one years, having come to this section in the spring of 1849. He then took up a tract of wild land comprising a part of his present farm, besides eighty acres in another part of the township, and one hundred and twenty acres in Washington Township, all of which he brought to a good state of cultivation, with the exception of ten acres upon which is a fine growth of timber. The possessions of Mr. Wilkening have been accumulated by his own industry and good management, as he commenced in life at the foot of the ladder, without means and entirely dependent upon his own resources. He was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, July 2, 1819, and was the second in a family of six sons, four of whom came to America and one of whom died in his native Germany. The eldest of the family is still living at the old homestead in Hesse-Cassel, unless having died recently. All those who came to the United States are residents of Will County, Ill., and occupied in farming pursuits. They, like their brother John are well-to-do, industrious and reliable citizens, and holding a good position in their community. The subject of this notice was reared at the little farm in Hesse-Cassel, and received a very good education in his native tongue. He remained a resident of his native province until a man of twenty-six years and then, still unmarried, determined to seek his fortunes in America. He embarked at the port of Bremerhaven on a small sailing vessel, the "Marburg," which after a voyage of six weeks landed him in New York City, July 3, 1815. Thence he proceeded to Albany, N. Y., via the Hudson River, and from there to Buffalo, where he boarded a lake vessel, and in due time reached Chicago, Ill., which was then an unimportant town. He at once sought employment and worked by the day, being occupied in a similar manner until he could obtain sufficient capital to secure his land. Iu Chicago, Mr.Wilkening was married, in 1847, to Miss Mary Kollir. This lady was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, August 12, 1827, to John and Sophia (Miller) Kollir, who were natives of the same province, where they owned a small farm. He was a weaver by trade. They were the parents of two children only, who were born before they emigrated to America, in the spring of 1845. They likewise made the voyage in a sailing vessel, landing in New York City, whence they proceeded in the same manner as our subject to Chicago, and from there to Will County, Ill. Mr. Kollir secured a tract of land in Crete Township, and with the assistance of his estimable wife improved a good farm, where they both spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Kollir died, in 1868, when sixty-five years old. Mr. Kollir survived his wife a number of years, dying in 1879, aged eighty-five years and six months. They were people greatly respected in their community and prominently identified with the German-Lutheran Church. Mrs. Wilkening was the elder of the two children born to her parents. Her brother Henry died soon after coming to this country, when a promising youth of nineteen years, in the bottom of a well from the effects of foul gas. Mrs. Wilkening was about eighteen years old when her parents came to America. She was trained in all housewifely duties by her excellent mother, and has proven a devoted wife to her husband and a kind mother to her children. The latter were nine in number, but two died when quite young: John at the age of six years; and Anna, aged twelve. The survivors are recorded as follows: Mary is the wife of John Brockman, a teacher in the Chicago city schools; Henry married Miss Mary Steiver, and operates the homestead in Crete Township; Conrad is represented on another page in this volume; Sophia is at home with her parents; Lena is the wife of Dr. Otto Miessler, of Crete; Frederick is occupied with his brother in a store at that place; Augustus remains under the home roof. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkening and all their children are members of the Lutheran Church, of Crete, to which they give a liberal support. Politically, Mr. Wilkening is a sound Republican. He has held the local offices of his township, and has always borne the reputation of a man honest and upright in his dealings and one whose word is as good as his bond. He furnishes a fine illustration of the results of persevering industry and, while surrounded by all the comforts of life, and many of its luxuries, he may justly feel that he has fairly earned them, and at the same time he has ever been willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. The father of our subject was H. Wilkening, likewise a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and who spent his entire life in the place of his birth. While perhaps not the hero of any thrilling event, he was an honest, hard-working man, who made a comfortable living for his family and earned the good will of his neighbors. He lived to number three-score and ten years, and from early manhood was an active member of the Lutheran Church. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine S. Buck. She likewise was of German birth and parentage, and proved the faithful helpmate of her husband, being industrious and economical and remaining with him until he no more needed her wifely offices. After his death she joined her children in this country, and died of cholera, in 1853, at the home of her son Christof, in Chicago. She was about seventy years old and, like her husband, a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. 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/wilkenin1400nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb