JOHN BARDEL, located on section 3, in Silver Creek Township, is the owner of 211 acres at this point and a quarter section of land in Rock Run Township, besides forty acres of timber in Lancaster. His entire possessions of 629 acres, with the exception of a timber tract, is under a good state of cultivation, well watered and finely located, and he has distinguished himself as an intelligent and skillful agriculturist, forming an important factor among the agricultural interests of Northern Illinois.

Mr. Bardel came to Silver Creek Township in 1839, and first purchased 131 acres. He has been successful in tilling the soil and fortunate in his investments, and presents an example of thrift and enterprise pleasing to contemplate. He belongs to that class of German citizens who have contributed so materially to the development of Northern Illinois, having been born across the Atlantic, in Alsace, Aug. 19, 1816. His father, Jacob Bardel, also a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life in the same Province, which was then under the French Government. He was of German descent and lived to be about fifty-five years of age, his death taking place in 1841. He married in early life Miss Mary Bastian, who died when her son John, of our sketch, was three months old.

The father was subsequently married and John remained a member of the household until thirteen years of age, when he started out in the world for himself. Not being satisfied with his condition or his prospects in the Fatherland, he set sail for America on the English ship “Lorain,” and after a tedious voyage of forty-three days landed at Waterloo, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. He remained in the Dominion five years, employed as a common laborer. He then came to the States, soon afterward settling in Illinois, having arrived in this county with a cash capital of $3 in his pocket.

The lack of money, however, did not particularly trouble him, as he had a pair of strong hands, a willing heart and a heritage of honesty and integrity. He lived economically and saved his earnings, in the meantime employing himself at farm work, and in due time purchased a small tract of land in Silver Creek Township and put up a house of proportionate size. The only thing now needed to complete his happiness was some one to preside at the hearthstone, and accordingly on the 4th of July, 1850, he was married to Miss Philipena Gross. This lady was born in the Rhine Province, Germany, where she remained until twenty-four years of age, and then came alone to the United States. Her parents spent their entire lives in their native Germany. Her father, Christian Gross, was a miller by occupation. Her mother, whose maiden name was Philipena Long, lived to an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Bardel, became the parents of three children, two now living, namely, Philip, who remains at home with his parents, and Margaret, the wife of William H. Kachelhoffer. John died when a promising young man twenty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bardel are members in good standing of the German Lutheran Church, and our subject, a stanch Democrat, politically, has served his township as Road Commissioner and has been connected with many of the enterprises tending to the general welfare of the county.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 265-66