Klor, Charles MAGA © 2000-2011
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PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



Page 1113

CHARLES KLOR. - In the history of the men whose labors contribute to the agricultural development of Sangamon county, Charles Klor should be numbered, for in the conduct of his business affairs he has shown himself to be a practical farmer and capable manager who successfully manages his one hundred and twenty acres of rich land situated about three and one-half miles from the courthouse of Springfield. He comes from Germany, his birth having occurred in Baden, December 6, 1840, and in the same kingdom his father, J. J. Klor, was born in 1798. There the latter was reared and as a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Anna Barbara Ingobe, a lady of German birth. For some years they resided upon a farm in Baden, the father devoting his attention to its cultivation, and their children were born there. In 1856, however, they resolved to seek a home in the new world and bade adieu to the fatherland, sailing for the United States. On reaching the Atlantic coast of America they at once proceeded westward to Sangamon county, Illinois, where they had friends living. Mr. Klor first purchased a tract of land in Gardner township and upon this he built a home and improved a place, making it his home until his death which occurred when he was more than eighty years of age. His wife survived him for several years.

Charles Klor spent the first sixteen years of his life in the land of his nativity, and during that time he acquired a good education in the common schools, but his English education has largely been obtained through his own efforts since arriving at years of maturity. Whit his parents he came to America and throughout the period of his minority he remained with his father, assisting in chopping wood. In connection with the others of the family he also aided in buying more land until the home farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres. Later he left home and purchased forty acres of land which he now owns. the improvements upon the place were very meager. There was no house and he had to clear the fields before they were ready for cultivation. Building a small home, however, he began with characteristic energy to place his land under cultivation and he also rented and farmed over one hundred acres until he was able to purchase more land. As his financial resources have increased, however, he has made judicious investments in property and he now has one hundred and twenty acres in his home place. All of this he cleared, broke and fenced and his fields are now highly cultivated, giving promise of golden harvests. He has erected on the home place a large and attractive residence, a good barn and outbuildings and has planted fruit and shade trees, while everything necessary to the farm is here found, and in addition to this farm, Mr. Klor owns two hundred and twenty-six and a half acres in Gardner township.

On the 28th of May, 1868, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Anna B. Stremsterfer, who was born in Springfield, October 17, 1850, and is a sister of Herman Stremsterfer, who is represented elsewhere in this work, and a daughter of John Stremsterfer, one of the oldest settlers and farmers of this county. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Klor. M. Lena is at home with her parents. Anna Margaret is an accomplished musician and the wife of C. H. Werner, an extensive farmer of Curran township, by whom she has two sons, Jesse A. and Leigh Otis. Emma Elizabeth is the wife of George Hartman, a farmer of Loami township. John W., who now operates the homestead farm in Gardner township, married Nina Brittin, who was a school teacher in Menard county, Illinois, and they have one daughter, Gladys Elizabeth. Julia A. is a graduate of the Bettie Stuart Institute of Springfield and is now teaching school in this county. Fred is at home. Anna B., who is now engaged in studying music, makes her home with her parents. Karl is also under the parental roof.

While Mr. Klor has never been an office seeker or taken an active part in political work he has kept well informed on the issues and questions of the day, as every American citizen should do, and he gives his support to the Democracy. He was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church and now holds membership in the Grace Lutheran church of Springfield. Mr. Klor may be called a self-made man and deserves all the credit which that term implies. He began life at the very bottom of the ladder, yet by his industry and enterprise he has climbed to the plane of affluence and is now one of the substantial residents of his county, where for nearly half a century he has made his home. His life record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others who like himself have to start out empty-handed in life.


1904 Index