My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH SINGER, who is engaged in general farming on section 2, township 7, range 7, Randolph County, is a native of Prussia. He was born on the 15th of March, 1836, and is a son of John and Rosa (Wengkin) Singer, both of whom were born in Prussia, although the latter was of Polish parentage. They spent their entire lives in their native land.

The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of his native country, and thus acquired a good education. As he approached years of maturity and thought of the future before him in which he would be dependent upon his own resources, he resolved to seek a home in the New World. He was a young man of eighteen years when he bade adieu to friends and Fatherland and crossed the broad Atlantic to America. On reaching this country, he at once made his way to Wisconsin, where he secured work as a farm hand, and was thus employed four years. On the expiration of that period he came to Chester, Randolph County, and with the capital that he had acquired by his own industry and perseverance he purchased the farm on which he now resides. He has since devoted his time and energies untiringly to agricultural pursuits, and as the result of his continued labors, his well directed efforts and good business ability, he has acquired a comfortable competence.

On the 1st of March, 1861, Mr. Singer was married to Miss Sophia Jany, a daughter of John and Anna Jany, who were both natives of Prussia, but in an early day located in Randolph County. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed with a family of nine children, and with the exception of Andrew, who died at the age of two years, all are yet living and are still with their parents. They are, Julia, Mary, Anna, Frank, John, Joseph, Herman and Edward.

Mr. Singer and his family are all consistent and faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church. They are people of prominence in this community, widely and favorably known, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers a record of their lives. In his political views, Mr. Singer has always been a supporter of the Democracy, but has never aspired to public office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with a signal and well merited success.