Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Wilkening, C 1855 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 10, 2007, 12:06 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

C. WILKENING. The name which stands at the head of this biographical outline 
will be at once recognized as belonging to one of the most energetic business 
men of Crete and one of its leading merchants. He ranks as one of the finest 
salesmen in Northern Illinois in which region he commenced building his 
fortunes and where he has gained a competence. Under the firm title of C. 
Wilkening & Co., our subject and his brother Frederick are operating one of 
the most complete dry-goods establishments in Will County and commanding a 
large portion of the patronage of its best citizens. The brothers were 
assisted in the establishment of their present enterprise by their honored 
father, a man of more than ordinary ability and from whom the sons have 
inherited the talents which have brought them success. The present firm was 
organized in 1880, and located in a fine building at the corner of Main and 
Exchange Streets, the most eligible business site in the town. In due time, 
owing to the rapid increase in trade, more room was needed and so they removed 
their old brick store, 26x60 feet, to another lot further south and began the 
construction of one of the best buildings in the city, which they now occupy. 
The second floor of this building was designed for a public hall, but the firm 
are obliged to utilize it for the storage of a part of the $40,000 stock of 
goods which they carry. The Wilkening Block, two stories in height, is 51x60 
feet in dimensions, facing on Main Street and comprises two stores with a 
basement joining the old store-room. The latter is used for a grocery 
department and there are three large warehouses in the rear from which many 
hundred pounds of butter and many thousand dozens of eggs are shipped monthly. 
The main building was completed in 1886, and contains a full line of a finely-
selected stock of dry goods, tastefully arranged and which never fails to 
attract attention. Besides these there is a special cloak and shawl 
department, also clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods, together with 
different departments for carpets and oil cloth, toys, etc. It is thus most 
properly called the Department Store and neither time nor money has been 
spared to make each attractive and convenient. The business career of Mr. 
Wilkening began at an early period in his life and from the start he has kept 
in view one end and aim—that of excelling in his chosen calling. We find him 
officiating as a clerk at the age of fifteen years and he completed his 
business education in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. His father in 
former years was a farmer, owning land in Crete Township, and at that 
homestead our subject was born March 24, 1855. He grew up vigorous in mind and 
body and at an early age learned the self reliance which has been largely the 
secret of his success. Both in social and business circles he is a general 
favorite, being prompt to meet his obligations and more than ordinarily well 
informed. In politics, he is a Democrat and in religion he conforms to the 
doctrines of the Lutheran Church. In all that goes to make a man reliable and 
trustworthy, he is a fine exponent of his substantial German ancestry. With 
the single exception that he still remains a bachelor, Mr. Wilkening has 
creditably performed all the obligations of an honest man and a good citizen. 
In addition to his mercantile interests Mr. Wilkening deals quite extensively 
in real estate and from this source also realizes handsome returns.

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 

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