Minooka, Illinois

America, landing in New York in the spring of that year. He lived in New York about one year, then came to Pike County, Ind., where he lived until the fall of 1851, when he came to this township, and, for about six years, rented land, after which he made a purchase of eighty acres of unimproved land, paying for it $9 per acre, and has since added to the same, and now has 160 acres and some timber. In 1851, he married Elizabeth Welch, a native of Kings County, Ireland, daughter of AV^illiam Welch; they have two children - Margaret and Elizabeth; the former is the wife of Peter Briscoe, of this township.

Passage source: History of Grundy County, Illinois : Containing a History from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... , Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, Etc, published 1882.

WILLI.VM CO-MERFORD. Minooka, was born in this township September 15, 1859, eldest son of Pierce and nephaw of George Comerford, of thifi township. Pierce Comerford was born January, 1828, in County Wexford, Ireland, and came to this country with his father, William, at the time of his settlement here. He settled on land given him by his father, and engaged in farming on Section 2, in this township, and remained on the farm until his death, which occurred in January, 18(38. His widow yet survives him and resides on the homestead. She was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1S32, daughter of Dennis Dempsey; she came to this county in 1855. To Pierce Comerford was born William, Honora. Nicholas, Mary E. and Anna, all residents of this township, living on the homestead of which William has had charge since 1881. February 11, 1881, he married Katie Kinney, who was born in Morris July 26, 1860, daughter of Patrick Kinney. They have one child - Mary E.

Passage source: History of Grundy County, Illinois : Containing a History from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... , Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, Etc, published 1882.

County. Iowa, at a place called Denmai-k, where he worked in a cheese factory. In September, 1855, he came to this State and township, and engaged as a farm hand in the employ of R. Gai-diner for one year, after which ho worked on a railroad section c«ie year: then was switchman two years, after which he was in charge of the section as foreman on the railroad for three years. August 29, 1802, he enlisted as private in Company D, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war; was advanced to Corporal, then to Sergeant, and participated in many of the stirring and thrilling engagements of the wai-, and was at times Orderly on Gens. Grant's, McPherson's and Thomas K, Smith's sta£f. After his discharge, in May, 1865, he retm-ned to this place and resumed work for the railroad company, as switchman and baggageman, until the spring of 1867, when he engaged as clerk for Daniel Ferguson, one year after which he was appointed night storekeeper in the Au Sable distillery. In 1868, Daniel Ferguson having resigned as Postmaster, Mr. Dahlem was appointed in his stead and engaged in the grocery business, afterward adding dry goods. October 9, 1870, he was burned out, but rebuilt and as sociated in business with his nephew, Adam Stauffer, under the firm name of Dahlem & Staufifer, which copartnership lasted three years, when, owing to ill health, he sold out his interest to Samuel Persells, but retained the post office, where he continued. In August, 1876, he engaged with William Shepley, in general merchandise business, which association has since been kept up, the firm name being Dahlem & Shepley, the post office being still kept by Mr. Dahlem; he has been twice married - first, in 1854, to Susan Webber, daughter of John and Mary (Ruth) Webber; she died August 13, 1862, leaving one child - Jacob J. ; his present wife is Mary Staufi'er, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Stauffer; they were married October 28, 1805, and four children have blessed this union - Adam, Katie, Daniel and Mary. Mr. Dahlem has a snug home, a good business and is well and favorably known throughout the entire county. He is a member of the Minooka Lodge, No. 528, A., F. & A. M., and served several years as the Worshipful Master of that lodge; is also a member of the Chapter at Morris, and of the Commandery at that place. Has always been a stanch Republican.

Passage source: History of Grundy County, Illinois : Containing a History from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... , Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, Etc, published 1882.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Aux Sable Township - it names this place 30 more 30 times.