Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor

Page 1371:

KORNACK, AUGUST, a prominent and successful farmer of Capital Township, Sangamon County, Ill., is a public-spirited and useful German-American citizen and has the respect and good-will of all who have had dealings with him, in business or social life. He was born in Prussia, November 16, 1852, son of Andrew and Lena Kornack, both natives of Germany. They were farmers and came to America in 1881, locating in Riverton, Sangamon County, Ill., where their son August lived with them for some time. Both parents died on this farm, the father in 1890 and the mother in 1888. They had three daughters and one of these, Lena, married Mr. Hartwick, of Farmingdale, Ill. One son, Anton, lives in Springfield.

August Kornack received his education in the schools of his native country, which he attended until he was fourteen years of age, then worked on a farm and fishing until he came to America. He landed in New York after spending fourteen days on the trip and came direct to Riverton, Sangamon County, where he remained one year, then for four years worked for the Wabash Railroad Company. He returned to the farm, where he spent four years, then purchased 100 acres of his present farm. Both he and his father had served in the German Army before coming to the United States.

Mr. Kornack was married in Prussia, in February, 1879, to Adeline Blum, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her husband and died in 1881. Her parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where they spent their remaining days. Two children were born of this union: Charles A., a farmer of the vicinity of Des Moines, Iowa, and one child deceased. Mr. Kornack was married (second) in 1883, to Wilhelmina Gosh, a native of Germany, whose parents died in that country, and eight children were born of this union: Fritz, Otto, Henry, Albert, George; Emma, wife of Franz Clayton, lives in Peoria, Ill.; Bertha, wife of Ed Wells, lives near Springfield; Lizzie and Basil. There are three grandchildren in the family.

Mr. Kornack has 120 acres of excellent land in Capital Township and is accounted one of the representative and prosperous farmers of his community. He is active interested in public affairs and is a Democrat in politics. He belongs to the Lutheran Church. He and his wife have lived many years on their present farm and have many friends in the neighborhood.