Ludwig H. and Hanna (Stitt) Tjaden 
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The following sketch is copied verbatim from an edition of "Woodford County, Illinois, Portrait and Biographical Album" Produced by CHAPMAN BROS. Chicago. Copyright 1889 |
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LUDWIG TJADEN, who resides at his pleasant home on section 2 in Palestine Township, is engaged in general farming. He is one of the representative citizens of the community, and is a successful business man. He now owns a fine farm of eighty-two acres, well-improved and cultivated, with good buildings and the best grades of stock. He has there made his home since 1870, and has largely increased the value of his land by the care and labor which he has bestowed upon it. Neatness and regularity everywhere abound, and its well-tilled fields and comfortable home indicate the owner to be a man of practical and progressive ideas. Mr. Tjaden was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1834, and is a son of Heike and Schwantja (Rheinders) Tjaden, both of whom were also born in the Kingdom of Hanover, where they resided for many years. The father made agriculture pursuits his life occupation, being engaged in that business at the time of his death, which occurred in the fifty-first year of his age. Ten children were born of union of this worthy couple, and after the death of her husband, Mrs. Tjaden, accompanied by three sons and three daughters, set sail for America. The brothers all became residents of Woodford County, Ill., and the daughters located in Mississippi, the mother making here home with them until her death. She died at the home of one of her daughters in 1889, at the extreme old age of ninety years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tjaden were members of the Lutheran Church, and their children have embraced the faith of that society. The subject of this notice was reared to manhood in his native land, and for two years served as a solder in the German army prior to his emigration to America. In 1857, when twenty-three years of age, be bade good-bye to his old home and crossed the broad Atlantic to the land where his life has since has passed. The same year he located in this county, settling in Linn Township, where he engaged in farming. Subsequently, he removed to Cazenovia Township, where he pursued the same vocation, and in 1868 rented land in the township of Palestine. Two years afterwards he purchased the farm on which he now resides, and for almost nineteen years has carried on the work of improving his land. After his arrival in Woodford County, Mr. Tjaden formed the acquaintance of Mrs. Hannah (Stitt) Pickerell, a sister of Samuel Stitt, in whose sketch is given a history of the family. He wooed and won the lady, and in October 1862, their wedding was celebrated in Cazenovia Township. Mrs. Tjaden was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1883, and in her native county was reared and educated. Previous to her removal she married George Pickerell, and by their union two children were born—Nancy, who is now wife of Luther E. Stowell, proprietor of a hotel in Fillmore County, Neb.; and William, who wedded Lizzie Flick, and is now engaged in farming in Fillmore County, Neb. After the death of Mr. Pickerell, his widow became the wife of our subject, and one child graced their union, Mollie, and intelligent and capable young lady, who is now keeping house for her father. She was married, Aug. 13, 1889, to John Charles Mezger, of El Passo, Ill. The death of the mother occurred at her home in Palestine Township, July 14, 1885, when fifty-one years of age. She was a member of the Christian Church and a lady whose many excellencies of character and kindness of heart won her many friends. Mr. Tjaden is numbered among the early settlers of this county, and ranks among its leading farmers. He has borne his part in the work of development and progress, and liberally responds when called upon to aid in the promotion of its public enterprises. He is valued and worthy citizen, who well merits the high respect in which he is held. In politics his views are accordance with the principles advocated by the Democratic party, and in religious belief he is a Lutheran. |
