Among the highly cultivated farms of Rock Run Township, the quarter of section 36, which belongs to the subject of this sketch, invariably attracts the eye of the traveler on account of its beauty of location and the general air of thrift and prosperity which surrounds it. The farm residence and out-buildings are shapely and substantial and admirably adapted to the purposes for which they were constructed. The machinery and stock are of the best description and the premises indicate the supervision of the intelligent and progressive farmer, as will be acknowledged at once upon examination of the faithful copy of the dwelling and its adjuncts as given by the artist upon another page.

Our subject has been uniformly successful in life, and besides the valuable property already spoken of owns thirty-six acres in Winnebago County and a half section in Dodge County, Minn. The greater part of his possessions have been acquired by his own industry, and while now withdrawing from the more active labors of life, he is but enjoying that to which he is amply entitled.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Andrew Kloster by name, and his son, Andrew, Jr., the father of our subject, were both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. They were both engaged in agricultural pursuits and spent their entire lives on their native soil, the first-named passing away when seventy years of age and his son, Andrew, when sixty. Grandmother Kloster was, in her girlhood, Miss Ann M. Nutzbaum, a native of the same Province as her husband, and survived him several years. Andrew Kloster married Miss Mary Rabb; also of Hess-Darmstadt, who survived her husband and lived to be seventy years old. Their six sons and six daughters were reared under the parental roof, and but two besides our subject are now living, Valentine and Lorenz, residents of Iowa.

John Kloster was the oldest child of his parents, and in accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, was placed in school at a tender age and thoroughly drilled in the common branches of study. Upon reaching his majority he entered the army and fought in the Revolution in 1848. Three years later he emigrated to the United States, and coming directly to Northern Illinois, located in this county which has now been his residence over thirty-five years. He arrived here without means and made it his first business to seek employment. This he found without difficulty and in due time felt justified in establishing a home of his own. His first important step in this direction was his marriage with Miss Barbara Schultz, which was celebrated in Rock Run Township, in March, 1852.

Mrs. Kloster is a native of the same Province as her husband and came to this country with friends, among whom was Miss Elizabeth Kloster, when a young child. She was born Dec. 23, 1829, and is the daughter of Balsan and Catherine (Priester) Schultz, also natives of Germany, and who spent their entire lives in the Province of Hess-Darmstadt. Mr. Schultz died while comparatively a young man, at the age of thirty-nine years. The parental household included seven children, the father dying when his daughter Barbara was a child five years of age. The mother never married again, but devoted herself to her children, and died after passing her eighty-first birthday. Mrs. K. was twenty-three years of age when she crossed the Atlantic and came directly to Stephenson County. Of her marriage with our subject there were born fourteen children, and one died in infancy. Nicholas married Mary Brenman, and lives in Rock Run Township; Mary is the wife of William Dunlap, of Minnesota; Hattie, Mrs. Robert Dunlap, lives in Dakota; Theresa married William Bist, of Rock Run Township; John married Jennie Hoar, and lives in Dakota; Gertrude became the wife of William Schlamp, and continues a resident of this county; Anna is at home; Frederick is a resident of Davis; Catherine became the wife of Jacob Sullivan, and resides in Davis; George is engaged as a clerk in Davis; William, Frank and Walter, the three youngest, remain with their parents. Mr. Kloster has been farming continuously since his marriage, and the home which he has built up is a silent but forcible witness of his good judgment and perseverance. He is a solid Republican, politically, and is accounted among the representative citizens of Rock Run Township. Mr. Kloster and his family are members of the Evangelical Church at Davis.

Contributed by Carole Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888