Biographies for Livingston County, IL

Biographies
for
Livingston County, IL
presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Joseph O. Albrecht, one of the foremost men of Waldo township, Livingston county, is a native of Illinois, born in Princeton, Bureau county, December 19, 1859, and is a son of John and Annie (Gacho) Albrecht, natives of Germany. In 1838, at the age of four years, John Albrecht was brought to this country by his parents, who settled in Bureau county, Illinois. In the early days of Chicago, the grandfather, Jacob Albrecht, hauled his wheat to that city from Bureau county in a wagon which he hewed out of logs. Throughout his life he followed farming, and at one time also owned and operated a brewery at Princeton. He died in 1877. In his family were eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom two, Christopher and John Albrecht, are prosperous farmers living at Tiskilwa, Bureau county.

The father of our subject followed farming in Bureau county until 1865, when he came to Livingston county and bought the west half of section 3, Waldo township, for which he paid ten dollars per acre. Here he prospered, and at the time of his death owned seventeen hundred and twenty acres of land besides several business blocks in Flanagan. He died February 12, 1900, at the age of sixty-six years, two months and twenty-two days. He was well known and highly respected, and had many friends throughout this section of the state. On the 8th of March, 1859, he married Anna Gacho, and to them were born the following children: Joseph O., our subject; August, who was born June 16, 1861, and died February 16, 1892; John, who was born May 12, 1863, and died February 21, 1885; Christopher, who was born December 24, 1865, and died October 30, 1890; Jacob, who was born February 20, 1869, and died April 16, 1889; and Benjamin, who was born November 23, 1871, and now resides in Waldo township, Livingston county. The mother of these children departed this life December 25, 1873, and on the 22d of November, 1874, the father married Barbara Nafciger, also a native of Germany, by whom he had eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Magdaline, September 18, 1875; Peter, February 17, 1877; Annie, March 5, 1879; Samuel, August 31, 1883; Lydia, July 5, 1886; William, September 12, 1888; and Daniel, February 16, 1894. the oldest daughter is now the wife of peter Good, of Waldo township.

The early education of Joseph O. Albrecht was acquired in the public schools near his boyhood home, and under the able direction of his father he soon acquired an excellent knowledge of every department of farm work. He has made agriculture his life occupation, and now owns and operated a quarter-section of land on section 9, Waldo township, and also has eighty-two acres of section 2, besides one hundred and sixty acres in Iowa. He is a wide-awake, progressive farmer, of good business ability and sound judgment, and is meeting with remarkable success in life.

On the 10th of February, 1884, Mr Albrecht was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie, daughter of Christopher and Mary (Ingold) Ringenberg, of Tiskilwa, Bureau county, and they now have one child, John W., born December 1, 1885. Mr Albrecht has held several local offices and takes a keen interest in the welfare of his township and county.

Peter Bauman, one of the representative German-American citizens of Livingston county and a prosperous farmer, residing on section 26, Pike township, two miles from Chenoa, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, April 30, 1834, and there grew to manhood. He had good educational advantages, attending school eight years, becoming familiar with the German language, but his knowledge of English has been acquired through his own unaided efforts since coming to the new world. In 1854 he was one of the passengers on a sailing vessel, which left the harbor of Havre, France, and arrived in New York after twenty-eight days spent upon the water, which was considered a quick trip at that time. He proceeded at once to Chicago, joining his brother, Michael Bauman, who had located in Illinois in 1849.

Our subject found employment on a farm in Woodford county, working by the month several years there and in Marshall county. His first purchase of land was a partially improved farm of one hundred acres in the latter county, on which was standing a small house, and there he made his home for several years. In 1888 he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, Pike township, Livingston county, where he now resides, and to its further improvement and development he has since devoted his time and attention, success attending his well-directed efforts.

While a resident of Woodford county, Mr Bauman was married, in January, 1861, to Miss Helen Balbach, who was born and reared in Bavaria, Germany, and is a daughter of August and Anna Elizabeth (Keeler) Balbach. The mother died in that country, and in 1854, the father, with his three daughters and one son, came to America, joining his older son, Jacob Balback (sic), who had been a resident of Woodford county, Illinois, since 1852, and who is now a merchant of Chenoa. The other son, Paul Balbach, is a farmer of Pike township, Livingston county. The father died in Woodford county, in 1856. Mr and Mrs Bauman have a family of eight children, namely: Mary, wife of Chris Pfeffinger, of Waldo township. Livingston county; Lizzie, at home; Effie, widow of Alaxander (sic) Black, and a resident of Woodford county; Peter, who is married and lives in Pekin, Illinois; Lena, Anna and Clara, all at home. The last named was educated at Chenoa, and the normal college at Valparaiso, Indiana, and is now one of the successful teachers of Livingston county.

Politically Mr Bauman is a stanch Democrat, and cast his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, in 1860. He has never cared for public office, but has preferred to devote his undivided time and attention to his business interests. His life has been one of industry and due success has not been denied him. His honorable, upright course commends him to the confidence and respect of all, and he is well worthy of representation in the history of his adopted county. [The Biographical Record of Livingston and Woodford Counties, Illinois (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1900) - Submitted by Amy Robbins-Tjaden]

John K. Oleson, who resides on section 8, Pontiac township, is one of the successful farmers of Livingston county. He is a native of Norway and was born June 20, 1831, just sixty-nine years from the day the notes for this sketch were taken. He grew to manhood on a farm in his native country and until about thirteen years old attended the parochial schools. He then had to begin making his own living and engaged in farm labor.

The life of a poor man in Norway is not one for envy, and the opportunity for advancement is not such as is afforded in the United States. Realizing this fact, Mr Oleson determined to emigrate to this country, and accordingly, in 1858, he took passage in a sailing vessel, cross the Atlantic, and landed in Quebec. From that city he came west to Chicago, and from there to La Salle county, Illinois, where he commenced work on a farm by the month, and continued to be thus employed for several years, saving as much of his wages as possible.

While yet living in La Salle county, Mr Oleson was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Olson, by which union two children were born. Ole R., the eldest is now married and has one son. He is engaged in farming in Livingston county. Emma is the wife of Old Knudson and they have four sons.

In 1870 Mr Oleson came to Livingston county and purchased a farm of eighty acres and also rented a place on which was an old log house. The place had formerly been worked, but when he obtained possession it had mostly grown up to grass and weeds and only about fifteen acres was fenced. Life in Livingston county was commenced under very discouraging circumstances, but he had grit and determination, and the unsightly weeds soon disappeared and the land was placed under cultivation. A small house was first erected, which in due time, gave place to a larger and better one, and the area of the farm was increased until the farm now comprises two hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under cultivation and the land tilled and well drained throughout.

Politically Mr Oleson is a Republican, with which party he has been identified since coming to this country. On his arrival the slavery question was being agitated and the country was almost in the midst of of the throes of a revolution. Lincoln and Douglas were holding their great debate, and the young Norwegian naturally took his place on the side of those who were fighting for freedom. His first presidential vote was cast in 1864 for Abraham Lincoln, while his last was cast for William McKinley. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and is yet a member of that church. His wife is also a member of the same church.

Mr Oleson was a poor man when he came to the United States, and for several years he had a hard struggle to obtain a foothold, but he persevered, with the result that he now has one of the best improved farms in Pontiac township, within three miles of the county seat, and he can calmly look the future in the face, knowing that he has sufficient to carry him through old age in comfort, if not in luxury. His forty-two years in this country have served to broaden his views and to make him progressive and thoroughly American in all things. All who know him have for him the utmost respect. [The Biographical Record of Livingston and Woodford Counties, Illinois (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1900) - Submitted by Amy Amy Robbins-Tjaden]