My Genealogy Hound

STEPHEN JANY, the owner of one of the fine farms of Randolph County, living on section 9, township 7, is a native of Poland, and his birth occurred there on the 10th of January, 1845. His father, Joseph Jany, was born in the same locality, and lived and died in his native home. He married Wilhelmina Singer, who was also born in Poland, and who spent her entire life in that country. Under the parental roof our subject was reared, the days of his childhood and youth being quietly passed. When a young man of twenty-four years, he determined to seek a home beyond the Atlantic, for he believed that better opportunities and privileges were here afforded than in the older and more thickly settled states of the east. On landing on the shores of America he came at once to the west, taking up his residence in Chester, Ill.

For three years, Mr. Jany worked as a farm hand, for he had no capital. During that time, however, he saved enough from his earnings to make a purchase and bought the farm on which he now resides. He has placed the land under a high state of cultivation, and has erected good buildings and made other improvements that add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He has a well upon his farm which was made at a cost of $250. The well tilled fields and neat appearance of the place indicate the careful supervision of the owner, who is justly numbered among the practical and progressive agriculturists of the community.

In the year 1871, Mr. Jany was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gorzny, a daughter of Valentine Gorzny, and by their union has been born a family of six children, who in order of birth are as follows: Frank, Joseph, Mena, Mary, Rosa and John A. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death, and the children are all yet under the parental roof. The Jany family is one of prominence in the community, the household is the abode of hospitality and good cheer, and its members rank high in the social circles in which they move.

In his political views, Mr. Jany is a Democrat. He is somewhat conservative and has never aspired to public office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success. His enterprise and industry overcame the difficulties and obstacles in his path and he has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence. He and his family are all devout members of the Catholic Church and are worthy of representation in this volume.