JOHN P. CASE FAMILY

John P. Case was born at York Center, DuPage County in 1897. His father’s family had moved to DuPage County in 1865 and bought the farm on Roosevelt Road in 1869. At that time they purchased 80 acres for $5,000.00. 

In February of 1922, John married Esther Penfold of Chicago. A month later, they moved to the Seiler farm on Greene Road and rented the farm consisting of approximately 250 acres.

In 1928, they also rented the Caldwell farm, which was just north of the Seiler farm. They farmed these two farms until 1938 when they purchased all 120 acres of the former Bauer farm on Bauer Road. Now they had 590 acres to farm.

Over time, they also purchased the Barkdoll farm, Mengedoth property, the Priegnitz and the Carr farms. In the early 1940’s, they quit farming the land south of town.

The Cases specialized in purebred stock. They raised Holstein cattle, Poland China hogs, Angus steers and Scotch collies. Taking charge of raising the collies, Esther sold their offspring. 

Mr. Case was one of the charter members of the Pure Milk Association, which was organized in 1926. Esther was a charter member of the Lisle Home Bureau. In 1937, John P. Case started a small-scale operation raising hybrid seed corn. In 1938, he also helped organize North Corn Belt Seed Growers, which later became part of P-A-G. In addition, John P. Case helped start the DuPage County Board of Health.

Esther and John P. Case had nine children, five of whom reached adulthood: Joan, Jane (Mrs. Robert Koller now deceased), Lois, John J. (married Joyce Burg) and Connie (Mrs. Richard Lally).

Today, his son, John J., lives in Naperville and still is involved with raising hybrid seed. An active and respected community leader, John currently serves on the DuPage County Board.

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