The oldest known member of this family is Lenhardt Gurrad. He moved his family to America in 1846, when he purchased four tracts of land in Bremen Township of southern Cook County IL near a town called Cooper's Grove, which later became Tinley Park. My grandmother always said that he arrived in America with a money belt filled with gold; he must have, because he purchased nearly 500 acres of land at $1.25 an acre
He was living in an area that was populated mainly by emigrants from Germany. His sons Francis Louis and Lorenz married the Ruff sisters, daughter of Andrew Ruff, who settled in Cooper's Grove the same time Lenhardt did. His daughter Margaret married John Ruediger, who came to the area in 1854. His daughter Mary, also known as Sally, married Jacob Blesch of nearby Palos Township. Matthias married Louise Fehsel, daughter of immigrant Henry Fehsel.
Like many German-Americans of the time, the Gurrad brothers enlisted to fight in the Civil War. Matthias served in the 13th IL Cavalry, "The German Guides", and Francis Louis served in the 39th IL Infantry. He was captured and spent time in Andersonville Prison. Lorenz is also believed to have served, and died during the war, but no records for him have been found.
Additional information on the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be added as they are found. For more information on these generations, please go to Ruedger, Foster, and Related Families at WorldConnect.