Shared Photo: Walter B Hess

Question

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I wanted to share this family photo of Walter Hess with the community. Location: Momence, Kankakee, Illinois USA. Date: 1869. Walter is my husband's second g-grandfather. He was also one of the earliest settlers in our hometown of Momence, IL.  Our town was settled in 1834 and Walter settled in Momence in 1839, making him the 10th or 11th settler.

Almost every citizen in Momence today has some connection to Walter in one way or another.

He was the Sheriff, and breed expensive horses. He was also a farmer. His family was originally from Germany and settled in Palatine, New York with nothing.

I am proud of everything that Walter Hess accomplished and who the Hess family is today.

Thank you for looking at my picture.

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (2659 x 3899).

Answer 1

Cheryl, this is a really great pic. Doesn’t Walter look very stern? Looks like he’s wearing a cold weather suit to me, but then it was in Illinois! My wife won’t let me grow my mustache that long, and I probably wouldn’t even if I could. Thanks for sharing Walter’s story with us.

Answer 2

Amazing photo of Walter, the photo are so very clear, amazing when the photo are so old

He most have had a very exciting live being a sheriff

And a farmer too. Look like Walter did had a very busy life

Thank you for sharing this wonderful photo

Comments

Thank you Susan. His life was very busy. He was married 5 times and had 12 children that we know of. After arriving in Momence, he did great things for our community and his legacy lives today. One of his five wife's did outlive Walter.

Here is a picture I took of his headstone showing three of his wife's names on it.

https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Hess-4075-2

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How excepting wow 5 wife only king Henry the 8 can beat that, 12 children he really was a busy man.

What a fantastic beautiful headstone thank you for sharing this story

Answer 3

What a great story Walter has, thanks so much for sharing his photo.

Comments

You are welcome. I love researching Walter. He is my husband's 2nd g-grandfather, and everything about him was so very interesting.

Answer 4

A rugged handsome man. His clothing fits the time era.. I always look for the watch. I did notice the large knot in his tie. How did he do it? The knot in my tie is always so small :)

Answer 5

I just wanted to acknowledge what a wonderful story and I love the picture.  Thank you for sharing this.

Comments

Thank you Nicole. That was very kind of you!

God Bless!

Answer 6

we are related back to Johann Hendrick II born 1721-1771, his brother Augustinus 1718-1782 is my line. next Frederick 1749-1795, Henry Sr 1782-1867, these were all settlers of the Mohawk Valley in New York. Henry Sr. lost his first wife and moved with 2 sons to Deleware County and remarried Permelia Sally Axtell and had several children. One of them was David 1821-1901 my gg grandfather, then Levan David Hess 1857-1933 and my grandmother Reva Keeler Hess 1896-1992.

Comments

Sorry I am late to answer. We just got home from a wedding in Indiana. Yes were are related. Isn't it wonderful to run into your relatives? We have the entire story of Augustinus Hess back in the early 1600's. There are three of us in the United States that are writing the Hess book and trying to connect all of the Hess family member's that we can starting from him.  It is very nice to meet you, and I hope that we stay in contact.

May you have a blessed Sunday.