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.

Michael SHENK, farmer; P.O. Braidwood; the subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster Co., 
Penn, Aug. 20, 1818 and is the son of Christian and Magdalene (WOLF) SHENK, of Pennsylvania; 
his father was a miller by trade and died when Mr. SHENK was very young; from Lancaster Co., 
with his mother and children moved to Erie Co., Penn. and remained there until 1858; he then 
emigrated west to Illinois and settled on the place he now lives on; he first purchased 160 
acres at $20 per acre; when he arrived here the country was wild; he made all of the 
improvements on his farm; Mr. SHENK, with hard labor, industry and good management to-day 
owns 240 acres of fine, improved land, and ranks as one of the successful farmers of Will 
Co. Married in 1841 to Miss Sarah Ann CARTER; have eight children. His mother, Magdalene 
SHENK, died in Erie Co., Penn.