FRANCIS E. JOSEL, Superintendent of Freeport Water-Works and also City Engineer, is an Austrian by birth, and completed his education in engineering and architecture in the city of Vienna. He was born in Stecken, a village in the Province of Bohemia, June 26, 1840, and is the son of John and Maria (Langhams) Josel. His father, a man of more than ordinary ability, was General Superintendent of farming in the district comprising a portion of his native Province, and the soil of that section under his supervision received the most thorough and systematic cultivation. Both parents passed their entire lives in their native land, and long since entered upon their final rest.

Our subject graduated from the schools in Vienna when a youth of nineteen years, just in time to participate as a soldier in the Crimean War, and was in the service two and one-half years, being present at the battles of Magenta and Solferino, the terrible record of which is remembered to this day by the readers of both countries. During this war young Josel received an honorable wound which, however, disabled him for a short time, and at the close of the war he returned to his old home and there remained until setting sail for the United States. He embarked on a steamer in the month of May, 1863, and after a voyage of twelve days landed in New York City. Thence he proceeded southwestward to St. Louis, Mo., where he had already acquired an interest in the lead mines of that locality, and which he now disposed of. This accomplished he returned to Austria, where he remained until 1865. In the meantime Mr. Josel was united in marriage with one of his childhood associates, Miss Sophia A. Koehlar, a native of his own Province. Thus fortified for the further battle of life, he returned with his bride to this country, and again seeking his old haunts in St. Louis, soon afterward secured a position as civil engineer, and became the assistant of Capt. Eads in the construction of the great bridge spanning the Mississippi at that point.

Mr. Josel came to Northern Illinois in 1867, and departing somewhat from his former occupation, established the Freeport Vinegar Works, and carried this on until the enacting of the law relating to the manufacture of vinegar. This law proved adverse to his success in this business. He then disposed of his interest therein and returned to his former vocation. He was elected City Surveyor, and subsequently County Surveyor, which position he creditably filled for a period of four years. In the meantime he made use of his skill as an architect in which he had become efficient in his native country. In all his operations in this line, his natural adaptation to the business is uniformly apparent, and he has taken pride in perfecting himself in its finer and minutest details.

In the spring of 1884, Mr. J. was appointed Superintendent of the Freeport Water-Works, the operation of which he has conducted economically and with excellent judgment. The machinery under his supervision has been kept in the best order is consequently capable of better and longer service. His operations as a surveyor, engineer and architect, have covered a wide range of work, and there are few points in his profession with which he is not thoroughly familiar. The only accurate map of the city was drawn by Mr. Josel in 1876, and is a marvel of correctness. From the first his aim was to excel in his profession and the result is he has attained to the highest excellence.

The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Josel died while young. Our subject and his amiable lady number many warm friends among the intelligent people of Stephenson County. They occupy a handsome home, where they are surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Jr. Josel, socially, belongs to the following: Evergreen Lodge No. 170, A. F. & A. M.; Royal Arch Chapter No. 23; the A. O. U. W. No. 23; Freeport Legion No. 14, I. O. O. F.; Freeport Lodge No. 239, and Stephen A. Douglas Lodge No. 100.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 235