www.FranzosenbuschHeritageProject.org                     Home


Vial Family

Vial, Frederick Ketchum

Frederick, a resident of La Grange for many years, was a cousin of George Vial.  He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1885.  He became an authority on chilled-iron car railroad wheels and chief engineer of teh Griffin Wheel Company in Chicago.  He was president of District 204 school board from 1920 to 1928 after being first elected as a member in 1916.

Vial, George

George Vial, son of Samuel Vial, and his wife had a long history of public service.  He served as a deacon at the First Congregational Church, moderator of the Illinois Conference of Congregational Churches, and a delegate to the National Conference of Churches held in Kansas City in 1913. He became a member, then president of District 102 school board as well as on the first library board from 1905 to 1908.  Mrs. Vial was active in the Women's Missionary Union of the First Congregational Church.  They built their house at 124 South Seventh Avenue in 1892.  George lived there until his death in 1915. 

His daughter, Jenny, lived in the house until 1942.  His son, Charles H. Vial resided in La Grange for more than eighty years serving the community in many ways over those long years.  In 1975 he earned the first Honor Award from the La Grange Area Historical Society.

The porch was around in 1900.  The Vials owned the Vial Lumber Company which later merged with Lord's Lumber.

Vial, Samuel

One of Joseph Vial's sons was Samuel.  He married Margaret McNaughton, daughter of a pioneer neighbor.  After her death he married Mrs. Gertrude North, a widow.  He retired from farming in 1874 and built a home at the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 47th Street.  Samuel, his father and two brothers were founders of the Lyonsville Congregational Church in 1843.  In 1874 he became a founder and member of the first Vestry of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church.  In 1881 the First Congregational Church of La Grange was organized with Samuel as one of its founders.  Two of Samuel's sons, Joseph and George, lived and work in La Grange for many years.

Vial, Joseph (son of Samuel)

Joseph Vial (son of Samuel Vial, grandson of Joseph Vial -- an early settler) was the brother of George Vial.  He and George owned a lumber, coal and ice business which became the Vial Lumber Company.  The company was later merged with Lord's Lumber.  In 1900 he was appointed township school treasurer, a position he served until his death in 1941.

Vial, Joseph (father of Samuel, grandfather of Joseph)

John Vial, his wife and four children settled at Plainfield and Wolf Roads in 1833.  In the book La Grange Centennial History 1879-1979 he is quoted as saying, "That Indians were never troublesome after we came.  I remember old Shabbona, head chief of the Potawatomis.  He was about the noblest specimen I ever saw.  It was through his efforts that his tribe remained quiet during the Black Hawk War (1832)."

The first Vial home was about two miles southwest of the present Village.  His children included Samuel, Nathaniel and Robert.  Joseph and his three sons were founders of the Lyonsville Congregational Church in 1843.


Several sources were used in the compilation of these entries including but not limited to:

Last Modified:  11/24/2003