BIOGRAPHY - FRANK REISING
Frank
L. Reising, who located on his present farm in the spring of 1888, now owns
one hundred and sixty acres of land, eighty acres on section 20 and eighty
on section 17, Brenton township, which is well kept, constituting one of the
model farms of the locality and all of the improvements have been placed
upon the farm by the present owner, whose life of intense and well directed
activity has brought him the measure of success that he is now enjoying.
He was born in Cazenovia, Woodford county, Illinois, August 28, 1857, and was therefore in his ninth year when, in 1866, his parents removed to Brenton township, Ford county. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Rossman) Reising, who were natives of Byrne, Germany. The father, who was born in October, 1830, went with his parents to Ohio in 1837 and afterward accompanied them on their removal to Woodford county, Illinois. For many years he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits and is now living retired in Chatsworth, Illinois, in the enjoyment of the rest which he has truly earned and which he deserves. His wife also survives and is now seventy-four years of age.
In their family were nine children: Kate, the wife of John Holdfelder, of Chicago; Frank L., of this review; Peter, living in Iowa; George, a resident of Brenton township; Mary, the wife of Frank Burger, of Iroquois, Illinois; Anna, the wife of Mike Rosenberger, a resident of Livingston county, Illinois; Gertie, who is at home with her parents; Ida, the wife of John Herr, of Chatsworth, Illinois; and Edward, a resident of Chicago.
Frank L. Reising was largely reared in Brenton township and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, working in the fields when not busy with the duties of the schoolroom. He has continuously lived in this township with the exception of two years spent in Chatsworth. In the early days he could drive across the country to Chatsworth without fences or buildings to impede his progress. There were no roads and the entire countryside was largely undeveloped, while the privations and hardships of pioneer life were to be endured. The labors of the early settlers, however, have wrought a marked change and transformed Ford county into one of the richest agricultural districts of this great state. Mr. Reising has resided on his present farm since the spring of 1888 and here now owns and cultivates eighty acres of rich and productive land on section 20, Brenton township, and eighty on section 17. It is now a well improved property and its present excellent appearance is due to the labors and energy of the owner.
In 1879 Mr. Reising was married to Miss Mary A. Westerhausen, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, in January, 1860, a daughter of William and Mary Westerhausen, who were natives of Germany. The mother is still living and now resides with Mr. Reising. The father, however, has passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reising have been born seven children: Alfred G., William F., Ford J., Agnes C., Dora, Clarence E., and Stephen.
Mr. Reising is a communicant of the Catholic church at Piper City and his political endorsement is given to the democracy. He has never desired nor sought office, however, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests and his careful control and development of his farm has made him one of the substantial agriculturists of this part of the state, with a valuable property from which he derives a gratifying annual income. For more than four decades he has made his home in this county and has therefore been a witness of almost its entire growth and development. The facts which have shaped its history are largely familiar to him and he has rejoiced in what has been accomplished for the improvement of the county along substantial lines.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 774-776.
