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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

LOUIS J- LEMENAGER.

Louis J. Lemenager the present supervisor of Ashkum township, now serving for the second year, is engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the breeding of fine short horn cattle. His farm comprises two hundred and forty acres of land and has been his place of residence for the past nine years. He is one of the native sons of Iroquois county, his birth haling o occured in Ashkum township, June 16, 1867.
His parents were Eugene and Antoinette (Aucremaune) Lemenager The mother, a native of Belgium, came to the United States when thirteen years of age. The father, who was also born in Belgium, died October 17, 1899, at the age of sixty years and nineteen days. He was born October 8, 1839 and came to America in the spring of 1856, locating in Ashkum township, where he secured a farm, upon which he resided until his death. He owned at that time four hundred and eighty acres of land all improved. His life demonstrated what could be accomplished by determined purpose and unfaltering energy. He was at one time supervisor of his township and he was justly regarded as a prominent farmer and highly respected citizen. His wife, who was born October 31, 1842, came with her parents to Iroquois county in 1855, the family home being established in Ashkum township. She " a daughter of Joseph Aucremane who was a brick manufacturer and spent about eight years in that line of business in Chicago, while subsequently be removed to a farm near Green Bay, Wisconsin, residing there until his death, ,which occurred about 1890. It was on the 23d of September, 1861, that his daughter Antoinette gave her hand in marriage to Eugene Lemenager. In the family were six children: Jules, a resident of Ashkum township; Arthur, who is living in the same township near the village of Ashkum; Mrs. Eugene Poskin, of Ashkum township; Louis J.; Hubert, of Ashkum township; and Mrs. Alexander Petit, of Danforth township.
Louis J. Lemenager was reared upon the home farm to the age of seventeen years and during that period spent the winter months as a pupil in the Plato school, this county. He afterward spent one year at Grand Prairie Seminary, in Onarga, and throughout much of his life he has carried on general farming. He also devotes considerable time to civil engineering and has assisted in several important surveys for drainage and other improvements this section of the county.
During the past nine years he has resided upon his present farm, ownings a valuable property of two hundred and forty acres in Ashkum township, which is well tilled and brings forth abundant harvests. In all of his farm work he is progressive as well as practical and excellent results have therefore attended his labors.
When twenty-two years of age, Mr. Lemenager was married to Miss Augusta Poskin, a daughter of August Poskin,. an early resident of Iroquois county, now deceased. Four children grace this union, August, Albert Stella and William aged respectively sixteen teen, thirteen, nine and seven years.
Mr Lemehager exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy and has served for five years as school trustee in Iroquois township and has been school director in Ashkum township nine years.
Socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the family attend the Catholic church. His entire life has been passed in Iroquois s county, where he has manifest the strong and sterling qualities that have gained for him a place among the substantial citizens and have also won for him the favorable regard of his fellowmen.

Source : Kern, J. W. : Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois; Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1907, 739 pgs.