Charles Hoss, the popular cashier of the First National Bank of Earlville. LaSalle county, is one of the native sons of this county, his birth having occurred in Troy Grove township, October 19, 1859. His ancestors were of sturdy German stock, and he possesses many of the qualities which have made the people of that nation great and honored.
The paternal grandfather of our subject lived and died in Prussia, attaining a ripe age. He reared several children, one of whom was William, father of Charles Hoss. He learned the trade of weaver in the Fatherland, but after his arrival in the United States, in 1846, he devoted his attention to agriculture. Locating in Troy Grove township, LaSalle county, he entered eighty acres of land, which he improved and continued to cultivate until well along in years. He departed this life at the old home, where he had passed so many happy years, January 25, 1899, when within two months of the eighty-fourth anniversary of his birth. His wife, Elizabeth, died many years previously, in April 1870, at the age of forty-two years. They were Catholics originally, but in their later years became liberal in matters pertaining to religion. The father of Mrs. Hoss was John Bellinghausen, who came to this country from Prussia, and after living in Peru, Illinois, for a number of years passed to the silent land, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a carpenter by trade, and provided well for his large family. Two of his sons, Charles and John, were soldiers in the war of the rebellion, enlisting in the ranks.
Charles Hoss is one of the six children born to his parents, the others being Theodore, Adolph, William, John and Minnie. With them he passed his early years on the homestead in Troy Grove township, a portion of his time being devoted to the acquisition of an education in the district schools. When in his thirteenth year he went to Peru, where he commenced clerking in a dry-goods store, and for ten years was thus employed. By this means he gained an excellent idea of business methods, and his stability and general trustworthiness were the foundations of his later success. When he was in his twenty-fifth year he was offered a position as a bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Peru, in which capacity he acted for about a year. Desiring to see something of the west, he went to various points in that great territory, but eventually returned and for six months was employed in the Peru Plow Works. In 1885 he came to Earlville, and for nearly fifteen years he has been the cashier of the First National Bank of this city.
In addition to this, Mr. Hoss has been interested in various local enterprises, and is a truly patriotic citizen, in the best sense of the word. He has been the local agent for several fire-insurance companies, and is a notary public, as well. During the past four years he has been the city treasurer, and for one term he served as a member of the school board. In his political views he is an ardent Republican.
The marriage of Mr. Hoss and Miss M. Bella Stilson, daughter of Samuel T. and Sarah T. (Lukens) Stilson, was celebrated October 25, 1888. They have two children, Carl S. and Herman H. The family occupy a pleasant modern house, which was erected on Ottawa street by Mr. Hoss the year of his marriage. It stands upon land which was a part of the original homestead of Samuel T. Stilson, one of the worthy pioneers of this place. Mrs. Hoss is a member of the Methodist church, and, like her husband, is interested in everything which tends to elevate society and benefit humanity.
Extracted 26 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 2, pages 459-460.
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