Biography - Jacob F. Bauer
JACOB F. BAUER represents the lumber trade at Stewardson, having carried
on this business here since 1885, his residence in Shelby County dating from
1865. He is well known as a successful, substantial and honored citizen. In
connection with the lumber business Mr. Bauer deals largely in farm
machinery, builders' hardware and paints. Our subject was born in Hocking
County, Ohio, April 3, 1836. He is a son of Jacob F. and Julia (Reel) Bauer,
natives of Baden and Hessing, Germany, respectively.
The paternal grandparents of our subject came to the United States at an
early day and settled in Baltimore, where the grandmother died, and later,
the grandfather removed to Zanesville, Ohio, where he died. The father of
our subject had one brother, John G. Bauer, who stiil resides in Virginia.
The maternal grandparents also emigrated to the United States at an early
day, first living in Baltimore, and then in Zanesville, Ohio. Mr. Bauer's
mother had three brothers and one sister, whose names are Anthony H., John
H., and Henry William H. The two former died at Columbus, Ohio. Henry passed
away at Lima, Ohio, and William resides in Lancaster, Ohio. The sister,
Christine E. Reel, married and lives in Ohio.
Our subject's parents met and married in Zanesville where the families were
early settlers. The young couple later located in Hocking County, on a farm,
and there they lived, rearing a family of eleven children, nine of whom
lived to reach years of maturity. Of these our subject is the eldest. The
names of the children are as follows: Christena E., Anthony Henry, Julia,
Christian, Solomon, David, William and John, besides our subject.
Mr. Bauer's early life was spent upon a farm where he acquired a physical
vigor from outdoor duties that has been a great advantage to him throughout
his career. His school days were limited and the education that he has
acquired is a practical one, attained mostly in intercourse with his
fellow-men, and by the exigencies of the positions in which he found himself
placed. While a young man he learned the trade of a carpenter. In 1865 he
removed to Illinois and purchased forty acres of land in Prairie Township
and began work at his trade. This flrst purchase was the nucleus of the line
farm of which he finally became proprietor, comprising two hundred and
twenty acres of land, most of which was originally wild prairie land. He
however expended much time and money in placing fine improvements on the
place and made it his home until 1885, when he traded one hundred and twenty
acres of land for his present business.
Before coming to this State, Mr. Bauer had taken upon himself the duties and
obligations of married life. His marriage was celebrated in January, 1859,
in Hocking County, Ohio, his wife's maiden name being Catherine Ulmer. She,
like her husband, was a native of Hocking County, Ohio, her birth having
occurred February 25, 1839. She passed away from this life in 1873, leaving
her husband and five children to mourn her. The children's names are as
follows: Elizabeth, Julia, Caroline, Andrew and Mary. Elizabeth is the wife
of Charles Friese; Julia presides over the domestic realm of the household
of Ferdinand Kull; Caroline is the wife of George Kircher.
In 1874 Mr. Bauer persuaded Mrs. Wilhelmina Frede nee Kull, to take up the
reins of domestic government in his household, she was born in Fairfield
County, Ohio, and by her first marriage was the mother of five children. Mr.
Bauer and his present wife are the parents of five children. Only two of
whom are living: they are Tobias and Martha. The family are members in good
standing of the Lutheran Church. In his political preference, he of whom we
write is a stanch Democrat. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors
of his township for three terms, and has also held the positions of School
Director and Trustee. Our subject owns a beautiful home at Stewardson, and
nine acres of land. His residence is commodions and comfortable and contains
all the late improvements in interior arrangement that are so necessary to
modern living. Pecuniarily he is well fixed, and stands high in the esteem
of his fellow-townsmen because of his practical business views and his
honorable and upright dealings.
Extracted 16 Feb 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 588-589.
