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Named after Christian County in Kentucky through the influence of emigrants from that county.
Established February 15, 1839 as Dane County (Laws, 1839, p. 104). Name changed to Christian County in 1840.
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CONRAD STORK is the fortunate possessor
of one of the best improved farms of Stonington Township,
his home being made on section 33. The farm is located only two miles south of Stonington Station. Mr. Stork, who
is one of the representative farmers of Christian County
and a native of Germany, was born November 21, 1837, in Bavaria, being the youngest in
his father's family.
John and Barbara (Mauelem) Stork, the parents
of our subject, were, like him, natives of Bavaria.
The father was a wagon-maker by trade, which calling he followed until his death, which occurred when he was in
the prime of life, at forty-four years of age. His wife did not long survive him but was called from this life
in her fifty-first year .
A lad of only eight years at the time of
his father's death, Conrad Stork went to live with an uncle on a farm, where he continued to make his home for
five years. He was only thirteen when he crossed the Atlantic and went to work on a farm near Utica, N. Y., for $3 per month.
At this employment he continued for five years, afterward going to Adams County, Ill., where for four years longer he worked by the month for farmers.
Going from there to Logan County, he was employed
at farm work until the 9th of August, 1862, when he enlisted for the defense of his adopted land, joining Company
B, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, he served until the close of the war but never participated in an important
battle, He was discharged from the service July 12, 1865, at Pine Bluff, Ark.
On his return from the war, Mr. Stork clerked
for three years in a general store in Logan County,
after which he rented and operated a farm one year. For fourteen years subsequently he rented land in Austin
Township, Macon County. Coming to Stonington, this county, in 1885, he became the owner of one hundred and sixty
acres of partly improved land, on which he still resides. It is now one of the best pieces of property in the township.
The owner has made many improvements upon it and has set out several acres of fruit trees.
The marriage of Mr. Stork and Miss Mary
E. Schick was celebrated October 28, 1865, soon after his return from the South. The lady was born in Logan County, Ill., and is a daughter
of Frank and Margaret (Young) Schick, who were old settlers of that county and both natives of Germany.
Mr. Schick located in Illinois in 1839, and for
many years prior to his death, which occurred at the age of seventy years, he was engaged in merchandising in Pulaski.
Seven children have been born to our subject
and wife. Frank is still at home and assists in managing the home farm; Annie is the wife of Henry Polk, a farmer
of Nebraska; Katie married William
Colbrook, a farmer of this county; Lizzie, Maggie, Christina and John
complete the family. Mr. Stork and the other
members of his household are members of the Catholic Church. He deposits his ballot in favor of the Democratic party. |
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