Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Alonzo HEMSTREET, retired butcher, Plainfield. Non-sectarian; Democrat. Owns house and twelve 
acres in the village; was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Oct. 6, 1815; his parents removed to 
Lewis Co., N. Y., when he was 2 years of age; he remained there with his parents until he was 
22 years of age; he then went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained nine months, during which 
time he was employed variously in a lumber-yard and grocery; he then came to this place, 
arriving July 3, 1837; he soon after hired out to Daniel ASHLEY, and worked nine months on 
a farm, after which, he worked five months for Daniel W. LAMB; he then went to Fox River, and 
worked another year on a farm, after which, in company with Daniel ASHLEY, he built a shanty, 
and broke 100 acres of prairie, and sowed it to wheat; the rust destroyed it, and this 
enterprise was a failure; this was the first time wheat ever blasted in this county (1840); 
in 1841, he drove an ox-team to Prairie du Chien for Ralph SMITH and Alonzo WALDO, where he 
remained two years; he then came to Plainfield and rented a saw-mill of Jonathan HAGAR, and 
run it two years; in 1846, he commenced butchering, and followed it for twenty years. Mr. 
HEMSTREET married Augusta M. FOSTER, daughter of Lyman FOSTER Esq., Oct. 26, 1848; she was 
born in Esperance, Otsego Co., N. Y., Dec. 20, 1826; have had seven children, only two of 
whom are living - Albert E. and Andrew J.; the names of the deceased are Harriet E., Esther 
A., Charles D., Alonzo Monroe and, Frank F. Has held the office of Constable twelve years: 
President of Village Board of School Directors, which office he holds at present. Mr. H. has 
always been a strong Democrat.