Thanks to the kindness of someone on this list, the following short bio of John J. Tjaden can be shared with anyone interested. Now if I could only find some bios like this with my Tjadens as the subjects...<G> I'm not related to this Tjaden family but know others on the list who are. >From the book Portrait and Biograpical Album of Woodford County. Chapman Brothers, 1889. John J. Tjaden is one of the extensive farmers and stock raisers of Woodford County, and occupies a prominent place among the leading agriculturalists of Linn Township, whose highest interests he is subserving. He owns one of the largest farms in this part of the county, whose broad, smiling fields yield him abundant harvests in due season, and in its rich pastures graze fine herds of cattle and horses. Our subject is the son of the well-known Jacob and Maria Tjaden (of whom see sketch on another page in this volume). He was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, Aug. 18, 1846, and was in his tenth year when his parents brought him to America, and his life has since been passed in Illinois. He remembers attending school in Germany, where he gained the basis of his education, completing it in the public schools in Woodford County, where he was reared to man's estate and has passed the most of his life. As soon as he was large enough, he began to work on his father's farm, and from him gained a sound, practical knowledge of the best methods of carrying on farming. He made his home with his parents until his marriage, when he established one of his own, settling at that time on his present farm. His success as a stock raiser and general farmer has been great. Inheriting the sagacity, far-sighted forethought and large roundabout common sense so characteristic of his ! father, together with industrious, methodical habits, he has worked to a purpose, and has accumulated a valuable property. His farm comprises 587 acres of land of surpassing fertility, on which he has erected a neat and substantial set of buildings, including a commodious brick house and large frame barns, and has it well stocked with Short-horn cattle of excellent grade. March 11, 1873, the marriage of our subject to Miss Tjaka Reuben, was consumated, and much of his success in life has been brought about by her encouragement and co-operation. They became the parents of six children: Mena, Geske, Jacob, Catherine, Charlie, Tena. Geske, the second child, died at the age of six years, and Jacob, the third child, died when four months old. Mrs. Tjaden is, like her husband, of Hanoverian birth. Her paternal grandfather, George Reuben, was a lifelong resident of Hanover, and her father, Claus Reuben, was also a native of the German Province, where he carried on farming until his emigration to the United States in 1872, with his wife and two children. He settled in Linn Township, and still resides there. Though of foreign birth and antecedents, Mr. Tjaden was reared under American institutions, and the United States has no more loyal or law-abiding citizen than he, or one who more heartily approves of the Republican form of Government. In his calling he has displayed more than ordinary capacity for intelligent and skillful farming, and his labors have been crowned with remarkable success while he is yet in life's prime, as may be seen by a perusal of this brief biographical review. Religiously, the Lutheran Church has in him a valued member. In politics, the Democratic party finds in him an intelligent supporter of its policy. Amy Robbins-Tjaden atjaden@mindspring.com