Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Wilkening, Conrad 1856 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 10, 2007, 3:07 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

CONRAD WILKENING. The subject of this sketch was born in 1856, in the township 
of Crete, attended the common schools until the age of fourteen, at which time 
he entered a general store in the village of Crete, and there by his aptness 
soon learned the rudiments of the business that in after years made him 
successful. Not being satisfied to enter the business world without a better 
knowledge of its methods, he took a course of study in the best business 
college of Chicago, graduating with honor. He at once secured a responsible 
position in one of the oldest commission houses of Chicago, which he filled 
with credit until 1880, when he located on the present site of his place of 
business at the corner of Main and Exchange Streets, under the firm name of C. 
Wilkening & Co. The building they then occupied was an ordinary sized general 
store, and was soon found to be altogether too small to accommodate the stock 
of merchandise they desired to place before the people of Eastern Will County. 
It was then moved south to give place for a building of brick, stone and iron, 
51x60, two stories and basement, with fire and burglar proof vault and gallery 
on first floor. The establishment is one of which the citizens of Crete are 
and well may be proud, and is generally conceded by travelers to be the most 
nicely arranged store to be found in the country, containing the largest and 
best assortment of merchandise, and arranged in departments. In addition they 
transact quite an extensive banking and exchange business. In all of this work 
he has been ably assisted by his father, John Wilkening, an early settler of 
the township, and his younger brother Fred. He was united in marriage to Miss 
Ida Riebling, of Pittsburg, Pa., in May, 1890, and is at present erecting an 
elegant residence, and will soon be able to say "at home" to his many friends.

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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