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FREDERICK REULECKE is one of the progressive agriculturists of Assumption Township, his home being on section
28. He is one of the early settlers of Christian County, having located on the farm where he still resides in 1867,
when there were but five houses between his home and Taylorville.
He is a native of Germany, born in Hanover May 24, 1828. After receiving a fair education in his mother tongue,
he learned the gardener's trade and then concluded to emigrate to the New World. In 1854, he took passage at Bremen
in a sailing-vessel, and at the end of forty-two days arrived at his destination, New York City. He worked as a
gardener at Freehold, N. J., and after a residence
there of two years came West to Illinois. This was in 1856, and his first settlement was in Menard
County, near the town of Athens. For two years he worked by the month on a farm for a Mr. Kendall, after which
he rented an eighty-acre farm, which he carried on for ten years. At the end of that time he bought a tract of
forty acres in this county, a part of his present farm, and five years later bought an adjoining forty acres. In
time he erected a good residence and barn and planted a good orchard on the place. Other improvements, such as
tiling, fencing, etc., have added greatly to the value of the farm. It is one of the most thrifty farms of the
township, and the osage hedge which surrounds it adds much to its appearance. Mr. Reulecke is now well-to-do, and
in addition to his home farm owns two large tenement houses in Assumption.
In June, 1856, our subject was married in New York to Miss Johanna
Helenberg, who was born and reared in Brunswick, Germany. She was engaged to our subject at the time of his leaving
the Fatherland, and according to agreement came to New York to meet him, where they were married. Four daughters
have blessed this union. Louisa is the wife of James Locke, a substantial farmer of this county; Mary is the wife
of L. V. Patton, a farmer who is now carrying on the Reulecke farm; Emma became the wife of Samuel Michael, of
Shelby County; and Maggie is Mrs. Frank Goodhouse, her husband
being engaged in farming in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Reulecke have also eight grandchildren.
In regard to the question of politics, our subject is a Democrat. His first Presidential ballot was cast in 1856
for James Buchanan and he has never failed to vote for Democratic nominees for the Presidency since that time.
He has served as Highway Commissioner, but has preferred to devote his attention mainly to his farm and business
interests. With his wife he was a member of the Lutheran Church in Germany, but now attends the Presbyterian Church.
During his long residence in Illinois, he has witnessed vast changes and has been a factor in her progress and
development. As a man and citizen he is highly respected in this and adjoining counties and has the good-will of
one and all.
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