Joseph J. Dufner, deputy sheriff of Macoupin County,
Illinois, and a prominent citizen of Carlinville, was born in 1864, at
Springfield, Illinois, and is a son of the late Joseph and Amelia (Fehr)
Dufner.
Joseph Dufner, whose death took place on his fine farm of
240 acres, in section 14, South Otter township, July 6, 1894, was one of the
most highly respected citizens of this part of the county. Born in Germany
in 1831, at the age of 22 years he came to America, where through his
industry and thrift, he soon secured enough capital with which to send for a
younger brother and sister, in order that they, too, might enjoy the wider
advantages offered in the United States. After two years spent at Cleveland,
Ohio, he removed to Springfield, Illinois, where he was engaged for farm
work by Gen. John Williams, with whom he remained many years. Steady,
plodding, reliable, the young man was advanced to a responsible position on
the Williams estate. In 1858 he returned to Germany in order to bring to his
home his aged mother.
In 1862, when Mr. Dufner married Amelia Fehr,
he united, with his life an estimable woman, who, like himself, had
unselfishly remembered the claims of kindred, assisting her mother for
years. Mrs. Dufner was born in Germany and came to America in 1854, with her
mother and seven other children. For six months the family lived at
Louisville, Kentucky, moving from there to Madison, Indiana, and 18 months
later to Missouri. Amelia then removed to Alton, Illinois, where a brother
was located, and to that place, she brought her mother and, after seeing her
installed as her son's housekeeper, secured work for herself. This was the
admirable woman Mr. Dufner married and who became the estimable mother of
his nine children, namely: Joseph J., deputy sheriff of Macoupin County;
Caroline, wife of Joseph Bartch of Salt Lake City; Alfred, who resides with
his widowed mother and attends to the farm; Frank, a resident of
Carlinville; Helen, who married Frank Klaus and died February 21, 1903,
leaving- a son, — Paul; Henry, who resides at home; Mary, who married James
Cooper of Carlinville, and has two children, — Mildred and Cyril Oswald; and
Amelia and William, both of whom reside on the home farm. In politics Mr.
Dufner was a Democrat. After his marriage, he and wife remained at
Springfield, where he worked after the close of the war, engaged in hauling
for the United States government, until he was prepared to purchase his farm
in South Otter township. He was a man of the highest integrity and was a
prominent member of the Catholic Church.
Joseph J. Dufner, the
eldest son of the late Joseph Dufner, was educated in Macoupin County and
worked on his father's farm until after his marriage, when he went to St.
Louis and for a time was associated with his father-in-law in business. He
has always taken an active part in politics and has held many responsible
positions. From 1887 to 1888 he was collector for South Otter township and
for a number of years has been a member of the Democratic Central Committee.
He has served as deputy sheriff since December, 1903.
Mr. Dufner
married Annie S. Warner, who was a daughter of Charles H. Warner, a merchant
of St. Louis. She died May 26, 1898, aged 32 years, leaving two children, —
Robert, born in August, 1891; and Amelia Marie, born in September, 1895. Mr.
Dufner is a member of the Catholic Church.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 175-176.
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