Freeman Laufer

  General Notes:

Mr. Lawfer (also shown as Laufer) was born July 25, 1845, in Illinois, and was married in Freeport, Illinois, on June 25, 1868, to Miss Vina Staley, who was born in Kent Township, Stephenson County, Illinois, July 25, 1848. This marriage resulted in the birth of six children, five of whom are still living (in 1905), namely: Myron, Cassie, Wallie, Mabel and Edna. The eldest son is teaching school in the vicinity of Warren. The others are at home with their parents. Mr. Lawfer has held the office of Supervisor for the last eight years; has served as Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Highways the same length of time. He was Town Treasurer, likewise, eight years, also Town Clerk, Collector and Assessor. Politically, he votes the straight Democratic ticket, and has served on the Grand and Petit Juries.


(From: "Portrait and Biographical Album, Jo Daviess County" 1889)

Freeman Lawfer, Supervisor of Ward's Grove. He has occupied the office for the last eight years, and has been incumbent of most of the other township offices, a fact which is sufficient indication of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. He is well-to-do, has been very prosperous in his agricultural operations, and has one of the best-regulated farms in this part of the County. His homestead of 120 acres is located on section 32, while he has 240 acres in Berreman Township, on section 8. His whole career has been a fine illustration of the result of energy and perseverance. Our subject comes from an excellent family, being the son of Joseph Lawfer, a native of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, who married Miss Elizabeth Frantz, a native of the same county. The paternal grandfather, also a native of the Keystone State, was a farmer in good circumstances, and spent his entire life in Monroe County, where his death occurred in 1869, at the age of seventy-five years. Grandfather Frantz was also a Pennsylvania farmer, and well-to-do.

The father of our subject worked on the farm in his youthful days, but upon approaching manhood learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed, in connection with agriculture, many years. After his marriage he purchased 100 acres of land, upon which he operated until 1857. He then made his way to Stephenson County, Illinois, and located in Kent Township, in the vicinity of Freeport, where he farmed and rented land one year. In 1857 he purchased forty acres in Ward's Grove Township, to which he added until he had 207 acres. This he improved and occupied until his later years, when he sold all but eighty acres, and retiring from active labor, removed to Lena, where he purchased a residence, and lived until his decease, at the age of seventy-six years. The mother is still living, and is now seventy-three years old. The elder Lawfer is a Democrat, politically, and a member of the Lutheran Church. The ten children of the paternal family are recorded as follows: Charles died in Pennsylvania; William is a resident of Mitchell County, Iowa, where also, lives Mary A. (Mrs. Tyrell); Freeman, our subject, was the fourth child; Julia died in Dakota; Lucinda, Amanda, Lizzie, Josiah and Henry are deceased.

The subject of this sketch, like his father and grandfather, was born in Monroe County, Pa., near Brodsheadsville, now Chestnut Hill Township, August 8, 1845. He lived there until eleven years old, then came to Illinois with his parents and attended the district school, while at the same time assisting with the labors of the farm. Upon reaching his maturity, he went to Mitchell County, Iowa, and taught school one winter. Then he returned to this county and rented part of his father's land. In 1879 he purchased 160 acres of land from the Illinois Central Railroad Company, broke and cleared a pert of it, and erected a dwelling, with other necessary buildings. That year he purchased the place, which he now occupies, from his father, and has since been steadily engaged in its improvement. He has planted forest and fruit trees, and added from time to time the embellishments and conveniences which go to make the property attractive and valuable. A stream of running water adds to the fertility of the land, being a branch of Plum River. Later, Mr. Lawfer added eighty acres to his first purchase, and is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising. He also buys and feeds a carload of cattle each year. His favorites are the graded Short-horns, of which he keeps about fifty head. He has about twenty-five head of graded Norman horses, eight of which are utilized in the operation of the farm.

Mrs. Lawfer is the daughter of Leonard and Catherine (Frank) Staley; the father, a native of Prussia, born in 1810, and the mother, born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, in the year 1806. Mr. Staley emigrated to America, and located in Lancaster County, Pa., where he was married, and followed farming until 1849. He then came to Northern Illinois, locating first in Ward's Grove, this county, where he purchased 120 acres of improved land and occupied it for a time, then removed to Berreman Township, where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away in 1863. The mother is still living, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Clay, in Jo Daviess County, Illinois; Mr. Staley was a member of the Dunkard Church, and politically, a Democrat. The mother was twice married. Of the first union there were born two children, Beedash rdd David. The elder, during the late war, served as a Union soldier in the 39th Illinois Infantry. David, in 1862, enlisted as a Union soldier in the 39th Illinois Infantry. David, in 1862, enlisted in Company D, 46th Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, and was killed at the Battle of Shiloh in April of the following year. Of the second marriage there were born six children, viz: Martha, a resident of Berreman Township; Henry, in Clay County, Dak.: Catherine, Mrs. Church, living near Spring View, Neb.; William, who is farming in Iowa; Fred, a resident of Berreman Township, and Vina, the wife of our subject. Henry and William, during the Civil War, enlisted in Company D, 153rd Illinois Infantry, serving from February, 1865 until the close.

Freeman married Lavinia (Vinia) Staley, daughter of Leonard Staley and Catherine Beeler, on 25 Jun 1868 in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illionois. (Lavinia (Vinia) Staley was born on 25 Jul 1848 in Stephenson City, Kent Township, Illlinois, died on 13 Jun 1919 and was buried in Stockton, Jo Daviess County, Illinois.)