The office of Tazewell County Clerk was the first Countywide Office established on April 10, 1827. Since then, only 22 individuals have served in this vital County Government position. Two of them were surgeons, two owned cigar companies, one was a race car driver. The youngest elected was 22, while the oldest elected was 64. One later served in the State Legislature, while another was appointed Assistant Secretary of State, and five received numerous United States Presidential Appointments to positions within the Federal Government.

Each month on the 10th as we approach the Bicentennial we will be placing a floral wreath from The Greenhouse Floral Shoppe in Pekin at the gravesite of these 22 individuals. This is the thirteenth in this series of twenty-two recognitions. Additionally, we will share the biographies and signatures of these county government leaders, thanks to the research to Susan Rynerson of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society and Jared Olar of the Pekin Public Library. Please join us as we build momentum for the historic Tazewell County Bicentennial by honoring and recognizing these tremendous individuals.

This month we recognize Fred L. Bergstresser, 1906 - 1910, of the Democrat Political Party. Following his father Lot Bergstresser’s retirement as Tazewell County Clerk, he campaigned for the office himself, and they became the only Father/Son combination to serve in this vital County Government Office.

Fred L. Bergstresser was born on June 13, 1877, in Pekin, Illinois, to Lot and Anna Crittenden Bergstresser. His father was an active Pekin businessman and political leader. He married Margaret Kraegar (1877-1955) in Pekin, who was the daughter of John and Maria Herget Kraeger. They would have three children: Dr. John (1903-1991), Richard (1905-1982), and Virginia (1913-1996).

He worked for his father during his terms as Tazewell County Clerk from 1898 to 1906 as a Deputy County Clerk. Following his father’s retirement, Fred L. Bergstresser was elected himself Tazewell County Clerk, serving from 1906 to 1910. He was 29 years old when elected. The family moved to Springfield, Illinois, in 1914 and he served as Assistant Secretary of State of Illinois from 1914 to 1917. By 1918, he was operating a coal mine near Edinburg under the Christian County Mine Company name, listed as the President of the company.

The family moved again in 1924, this time to Kansas City, Missouri, and he worked for an oil company. In 1927, he formed the realty firm Fred L. Bergstresser & Son. Later the firm grew to include insurance as well.

He died at his home on August 14, 1949, following over seven months of illness. He was cremated in Kansas City. The wreath for Fred L. Bergstresser has been placed at the entrance to the Tazewell County Courthouse.