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Abraham Gund was one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of Silver Creek Township, where he owned and improved 330 acres of land, which formed a beautiful and valuable homestead. He was born on the other side of the Atlantic, in Baden, Germany, Nov. 19, 1828, and departed this life Feb. 27, 1883. The history of his parents will be found in the sketch of his brother, Frederick Gund, of Freeport, on another page in this volume.
The subject of this biography was a youth of eighteen years of age when he left his native Province to seek his fortune in the New World. He sailed alone in the spring of 1847, and was joined by his parents a year later. The fame of the Prairie State had reached many countries across the water, and our subject, after landing on American shores, proceeded directly to Northern Illinois, locating at Galena. He landed in this section just before the California gold excitement, and three years later joined the caravan moving toward the Pacific Slope. He remained in California until 1855, following principally the trade of a blacksmith, which he had learned before leaving Germany. He also employed himself at times in the mines, and was fairly successful. Upon returning, he deposited his proceeds in the bank of Page & Bacon, at St. Louis, Mo., which failed, and Mr. Gund thereby lost the whole of his hard earnings, but in settling its affairs the bank paid forty cents on the dollar. He did not permit himself to lose his courage on account of this calamity, but returned to Illinois, via the water route, and located on the old homestead in Silver Creek Township. In the meantime, in 1850, his parents died of cholera, and he then purchased the property of the heirs, and added to the acreage until he had quadrupled the original amount. His good judgement and industry as applied to his farming operations brought him success, and he became quite wealthy. He had received a good education, and his natural intelligence inclined him to keep his eyes open to what was going on around him. He became prominent in local affairs, represented Silver Creek Township in the Board of Supervisors, and was finally elected Treasurer of Stephenson County, of which office he was the incumbent at the time of his death. He voted with the Democratic party, and was an influential member of that organization in this county: in fact, he was one of the prominent and substantial citizens of this section, and it is with pleasure that we present his portrait in this volume.
The widow of our subject, who became his wife on the 9th of October, 1856, was formerly Miss Emeline Schottle. She was born in New York City, Jan. 21, 1837, and is the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Butz) Schottle, also natives of Baden, Germany, whence they emigrated to this country in their youth. They were married in New York City, and Mr. S. followed the trade of tailor there for several years. In 1852 they migrated westward, and settled in Silver Creek Township, this county, where they afterward engaged in farming pursuits, and secured a snug homestead, including 120 acres. This they afterward exchanged for a tract of forty acres, which was supplied with good buildings, and where they made their home until 1883. That year they sold this property and removed to Freeport, where they now live, the father being seventy-nine years of age, and the mother seventy-three.
Mrs. Gund was the third child of a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, born to her parents. She received a good education in her native State, and was sixteen years of age when her parents came to Illinois. She afterward engaged in teaching in the district schools of Silver Creek Township, and continued until her marriage with our subject. Of this union there were born eight children, all of whom, with one exception, are living: Clara is the wife of Christian Fisher, a prosperous farmer of Ridott Township; Caroline married William Taggart, and they reside in Burdett, Pawnee Co., Kan., where he is engaged in the banking business; Alice is the wife of William Fisher, who carries on a farm in Ridott Township; Charles is a graduate of the Commercial College at Dakota, Ill., and lives on the homestead with his mother; George has the management of the farm; Lizzie is a teacher, and Emma is a student at Freeport. Mr. and Mrs. Gund always moved in the best society, and numbered among their friends the cultivated people of their community.
Contributed by Carol Parrish
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