Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 908

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In politics he is a Republican, although he has never been in any sense of the word a political

FREDERICK KOLZE.

worker or an aspirant for office. He was for many years active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is not now affiliated with any lodge of that order.

In 1851 he married Miss Dorothee Seemann, a native of Suttorf, Hanover, the province in which was the home of his boyhood. Twelve children have been born to them, six of whom are yet liv-

ing. They are: Henry, a real estate and loan agent; Margaret, the wife of Henry Stillman; Al- vina, now Mrs. Henry Hartmann; George, who is engaged in the grocery business in this city; John, a resident of Chicago; and Lillian, wife of William Eickenberg. The family has a wide ac- quaintance, and enjoys a full measure of respect in the community at large.

FREDERICK KOLZE.

REDERICK KOLZE was born July 4, 1836, in the village of Nienhagen, Hanover, Ger- many. His parents were Frederick and Louisa (Koch) Kolze, and an extended account of his ancestry and family connections may be found in the biographical sketch of his brother, Henry D. Kolze, on another page. He came with his parents to America and lived at home until his marriage, which took place in 1863. In April of that year he took up his home at the place where his widow still resides, buying eighty acres on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 20, in Leyden Township, from the Illinois Agricultural Society. On this land stood a small cottage, built by Henry Strohmeier. The claim to the property passed from him to Fritz Bier- mann, and from the latter to Frederick Kolze, Senior, father of Frederick. When Mr. Kolze bought it in 1863 most of the land had already been placed under cultivation and he paid two thousand dollars for the tract. In 1877 he erected the house which was his home during the re- mainder of his life, and in 1891 he put up new and commodious barns. Mr. Kolze attended school in the old country, improving to the utmost suclı educational advantages as he enjoyed. He was a consistent and devout member of the Ger- man Lutheran Church and an active worker in the cause of religion. He liberally aided the

erection of St. John's Evangelical Church, of which Rev. Heinrich Wolf is now pastor. His life was one void of offense, and he com- manded the affectionate esteem of all who knew him.

He was married, April 10, 1863, to Caroline Wilhelmina, a daughter of Ludwig Banger and his wife, Wilhelmina Maier. Ludwig Banger was born in 1800. His father, Herman, was a carpenter and a prosperous building contractor, employing a large number of men. Ludwig Banger, with his wife and five children came to America in the spring of 1849, on the vessel "Little Eagle." The ship was a small craft manned by a crew of seven men and carrying only seventy-five passengers, but the voyage passed pleasantly and occupied only thirty-five days. His son Frederick had preceded him in 1847, and had settled at Schenectady, New York, where he was working on a railroad. Ludwig accordingly made that his objective point, intend- ing to make it his permanent home, and liad bought a sawmill, when he was attacked by cholera in such violent form as to cause his death within six hours. His widow, with her children, then came on to Chicago, where she had friends, the Fischer family, of Elmhurst, whom she had known in the fatherland. Mrs. Banger bought a farm of eighty acres near Lombard, Du Page

J. F. BORGĻUM.

County, but after three years sold it and removed to Chicago, where her boys readily found employ- ment. Mrs. Banger was born October 24, 1806, at the same village as her husband; she died January 27, 1891, at the home of her daughter Wilhelmina, with whom, she had passed the closing years of her long and useful life.

Mrs. Kolze's paternal grandfather was twice married. By his first wife he was the father of three girls and of Ludwig, the father of Caroline Banger. He was a farmer and landowner, and a soldier in the German army. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Kolze owned a chicory mill, which his son operated after his death.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kolze were: Herman Ludwig, born February 13, 1864, mar- ried Matilda Franzen, daughter of Henry Fran- zen. The second son was Edward Diedrich, born March 30, 1866, married Augusta Gruenwald

June 18, 1890, and resides at No. 305 Ontario Street, Oak Park. Gustav Heinrich is the third son, born May 23, 1868, married Emma Schroe- der November 5, 1893; she is the daugliter of August Schroeder, of the town of Maine, and was born December 29, 1871. Frank Karl was the next in order of birth, born May 24, 1870, married Clara Louise, daughter of Henry Kolze, of Turner Park, April 10, 1896. Amanda Louise was born July 29, 1872, and died March 17, 1893. Robert August was born March 29, 1874, and now resides in California. George Leonhard came into the world May 4, 1877, and makes his home with his mother. Matilda Wilhelmina was born September 27, 1879, and lives at home with her mother. Julius Frank, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kolze, was born on the 3d of January, 1885, and is still a school boy.

JAMES F. BORGLUM.

9 AMES FIELD BORGLUM. Mr. Borglum's place of business is at Nos. 90 and 92 West Ohio Street, where he conducts a well ordered saloon. He is a well known and popular man in that section of the city, as well as among Danish- Americans in all quarters of Chicago, in which city he has resided since 1865. He is the young- est of a family of two sons and three daughters, of whom mention will be made later. His father was Soren N. Borglum, of Fauborg, Fyen, Den- mark, where James Field was born April 22, ^ 1839. The elder Borglum was a man of some local prominence and followed a sea-faring life all his days, dying after serving for several years as captain on a merchantman. He served in . the navy during the war of 1814, and died in his native country, at the age of about sixty-seven years. His widow reached the extraordinary

age of ninety-two years before she followed him to the grave. The eldest son, Galson, died in Denmark, after passing life's eighty-second mile- stone. Two daughters are also living in the old country, and one has passed away. James Field Borglum is the only living son, and the sole representative of the family in America.

His life has been by no means devoid of ex- periences abounding in interest. As a boy he attended the public school, and at the age of sev- enteen years set out to see the world. He first went to Hamburg, where he shipped before the mast, on the sailing vessel "Emily Farmen." His first voyage was to Calcutta, where he re- mained ten months, a portion of which time he spent in the hospital, a victim of yellow fever. He left Calcutta as a sailor on a vessel bound for New York, From that port he went to Boston,

H. H. HANN.

where he shipped on the sailing vessel "Ceylon," bound for Melbourne, which carried passengers as well as freight, and touched all East Indian ports. After two and one-half years thus spent he returned to Boston, and for nine months was employed in the revenue service, coming to Chi- cago in 1865. His love for the water was still strong, and for a year he sailed as one of the crew of a vessel navigating the lakes. At the end of that time he returned to Denmark, where he remained five years, and then determined to re-visit Chicago. This time he came as the leader of a party of seventy-five immigrants. Once more his fondness for a sailor's life over- came him and he spent another year as a common sailor on the great inland seas. But his love of adventure and desire for new scenes was not yet satisfied, and he made a trip overland to San Francisco, the journey occupying five months.

He remained in California for some two and one-half years, devoting himself to salmon fish- ing. He spent some time at Sacramento and Santa Rosa, and in the spring of 1871 returned to Chicago. During the following summer he was mate upon a schooner engaged in the lake

carrying trade. In the season of 1872 he com- manded the schooner "Cecelia," as captain, sail- ing from Chicago to Detroit and Buffalo, and this position he held eight years. For one year he was captain of the schooner "Clara," and for the next eight commanded the "Olga." ' His next vessel was the "Nellator," which he sailed a year, when the schooner was lost, during a vio- lent storm in December. With this experience his life as a sailor came to an end. He resolved henceforth to be a landsman, and to make Chi- cago his home, and he embarked in the saloon business, which he has followed nine years.

In 1872, at Chicago, he married Christina Jel- strup, a lady born in Denmark. They are the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are liv- ing: Edward, James, Annie, Augusta, Henry, Minnie, Lelia, George, Elizabethı and Edna.

Mr. Borglum is a charter member of Chicago Lodge No. 91, Ancient Order of United Work- men, and has been an active member thereof for twenty-three years. He also belongs to Court No. 58, Independent Order of Foresters, and was formerly, and for several years, a member of the Society Dania.

HERMAN H. HANN.

ERMAN HENRY HANN, the son of Lud- wig Dietrich Hann, is one of those young business men of Chicago who, while yet standing at the threshold of man's estate, have already given convincing proof of the possession of those qualities which command respect and in- sure success.

He was born on section 31, Leyden Township, July 1, 1875, and received his early education in the public and parish schools of Harlem, Cook County. At the age of fourteen he began the actual work of life as clerk for Martin Damman,

of Harlem, with whom he remained for eighteen months. His next employment was with Cook & Chick, of Chicago, steam fitters, and after a year thus spent he was admitted into partnership in the firm of Hann Brothers, grocers, August 31, 1895, and at present has charge of the Madi- * son Street branch of their business. He is un1- married, and makes his home with his parents. He is a member of the Turner and Low German Societies and of the Plattedeutchen Gilden. In politics he acts independently, paying little atten- tion to the dictates of partisanship.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLIN

W. T. JOHNSON.

WILLIAM T. JOHNSON.

ILLIAM THOMAS JOHNSON is one of farm, one of the best in the famed Mohawk Chicago's well-known and eminently re- Valley. His educational advantages were limited to the public schools, where he was instructed in the primary branches of an English education. When twenty years of age he went out from his parental home to seek fortune and position in Chicago, then as now, the "Eldorado" of the west. He arrived in that city a total stranger, without even a letter of recommendation in his pocket, but he had what was better-unlimited capacity for work, and a keen discriminating in- telligence. He at once secured work in the lum- ber yard of Hayes & Morris, where he worked a year, first as a common laborer, and later as foreman. spected citizens. He is a native of West- moreland, Oneida County, New York, born November 16, 1835, being a son of Thomas and Hannah (Temple) Johnson, the former born in Scarboro, England, in 1805. At the age of twenty years he was married to Hannah Temple. He was a farmer by occupation, and, being am- bitious for the attainment of better things than his intelligence and energy were likely to produce in his native land, on account of lack of opportu- nity, he decided to go to America, where oppor- tunities commensurate with his enterprise were to be embraced.

Accordingly, soon after his marriage, he, with his young wife, crossed the ocean and settled on a farm in Oneida County, New York. His in- dustrious habits soon won for him a substantial start and in time he became quite wealthy for a tiller of the soil. To him and his estimable wife were born nine children: George, now of Marshall- town, Iowa; John, deceased; Mary Ann, wife of John Holland, of Oneida County, New York; William T., of this notice; Henry, deceased; Juniette; James, of Oneida County, New York; Charles, deceased; and Edward, also of Oneida County, New York. Both parents lived to at- tain a ripe age, the father dying April 7, 1880, aged seventy-five years, and the mother, March 29, 1885, aged seventy-seven years and two montlıs.

William T. Johnson was reared on his father's

His observing mind, in the meantime, noted that certain young men of his acquaintance were filling positions more desirable than the one he was in, and it was then ambition urged him to aspire to be something more than a lumber piler. With that purpose in view he employed a teacher to instruct him in the intricacies of book-keeping, and so closely did he apply himself to his task, that, after a few months, he was qualified to take a position at the books of another lumber firm, that of Shearer & Payne, for whom the well- known W. W. Strong was general manager. In this position he continued a number of years, and then resigned to accept a better position with Mason & McArthur, proprietors of the Excelsior Iron Works. While there he acquired much practical knowledge of the iron business; and as well, acquired an intelligent comprehension of

W. T. JOHNSON.

the methods employed in the safe conducting of a large business enterprise, in which he was almost equally chargeable, with the members of the firm, with the conduct of the business. This close relation with the members of the firm ac- . quainted him with many of the leading business men of Chicago and the Northwest, whose confidence and esteem he possessed long before he went into business for himself. His em- ployers, recognizing his business ability, and his strict loyalty to their interests, advanced him in every way, and ere long he had accumulated a snug little fortune, the savings from his liberal salary. His correct business and social habits, and his frugality and thrift, observed of all his acquaintances, were as good as cash capital in hand, as it commanded for him an almost un- limited line of credit when he came to arrange for a manufacturing establishment of his own.

In 1864 he formed an association with a Mr. Holden, and together they built the Phoenix foundry, at that time the largest in the city, which they profitably conducted for two years. In 1866 Mr. Johnson entered into a co-partner- ship with H. P. Kellogg, to carry on a wholesale and retail hardware business on Clark Street, near Monroe Street, where they were when the great fire of October, 1871, swept away the store. This inflicted a loss which consider- ably impaired their individual assets. As soon thereafter as possible, they established a similar establishment on Randolph Street, where a suc- cessful business was carried on until 1891, when the firm dissolved, and Mr. Johnson retired from merchandising. The success of his career in a business and financial sense may now be partly measured by his large property holdings.

Mr. Johnson now spends his time chiefly in planning and erecting building improvements on such vacant lots and blocks as remain in his possession unimproved. He has built up many entire blocks in business and flat buildings, and is still carrying on improvements. "I was a pioneer on this ground," he has been heard to say, "and I shall not desert it until every lot feels the weight of a good building."

Although Mr. Johnson's life has, almost since

his arrival in Chicago, been fraught with weighty and incessant business cares, he has, withal, been personally identified with many official positions of trust. As early as 1890, he became interested in politics and in that year took an active part in the local campaign for Mr. Lincoln. Unaided, he succeeded in raising in the settled portions of the West Side, enough young men to form a re- spectable company of "Wide-Awakes," the first company of the kind in the United States. The night of their initial appearance they marched down Lake Street, on which street the Honorable Joseph Medill then lived, in a small frame house, and gave him a rousing serenade. Mr. Medill evinced his appreciation of the honor by making a short speech to the boys, complimenting them with a donation of $5 and a suggestion that they could partake of liquid refreshments at his expense at a nearby bar. That exciting campaign introduced Mr. Johnson into politics and he soon appeared in the councils of the Re- publican party, as a delegate to conventions and as committeeman. He very soon became the acknowledged leader of a very enthusiastic fol- lowing, and in 1878, entirely without solicitation on his part, he was nominated for the State Senate and was triumphantly elected. He was well received by his associates in the Senate, and assigned to some of the important committees. He soon won an enviable reputation as a debater, and by his logic and eloquence secured the passage of every measure for which he became responsible, some of which were of great im- portance. The bill for registration of voters was his, and was passed and became the first law on the subject in this State. Of even more local importance was his park refunding bill for the West Side, whose passage he secured and which proved of immense benefit to the parks and people of that division of the city. Successful as he had been as a Senator, he was not a candi- date for re-election.

In 1880 he received the nomination for county treasurer and was elected by a large majority. At the time of his election the tenure of that office was two years, but during his in- cumbency the legislature passed an act extending

FRANK SCHWEINFURTH.

the time to three years. He was appointed railroad commissioner by Governor Oglesby in 1884, and so satisfactorily did he discharge the duties of this somewhat difficult position that lie received the warmest commendation of all parties. He also held the office of indian commissioner, having been appointed to that position by Presi- dent Garfield.

Subsequent to Mr. Cleveland's inauguration, the commissioners were holding a session in Washington and, although Mr. Johnson believed the civil service law a good thing, he, at that time, was of the opinion that the new president should be allowed to choose hisown indian com- missioners and accordingly he offered a reso-

lution that the commissioners resign in a body. To this his colleagues demurred, but he acted upon his own convictions and tendered his resig- nation to the President, which was accepted.

Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, being connected with Lafayette Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Chicago Commandery, No. 19, Knights Templar. He was married May

21, 1862, to Miss Kate A. E., adopted daughter of Judge Nathan Allen. Three children have resulted from this union, namely: Catherine Grace, wife of H. L. Bleecker, of Los Angeles, California; Etta Alice, who died in 1898; and Mabel, wife of Dr. W. B. Marcusson, of Rush Medical College.

FRANK SCHWEINFURTH.

RANK SCHWEINFURTH, SENIOR. This veteran of the war of the Rebellion, who has been identified with the history of Chi- cago since 1852, was born at Wiesloch, Baden, Germany, May 29, 1837. His father, who was the proprietor of a noted bakery, was named John, and his mother, Mary. Both died in the Fatherland they loved so well, but the six of their children who reached maturity emigrated to America. Mary, the first born, arrived in 1846. She was the wife of Victor Jones, and both she and her husband are now deceased. In 1852 came Barbara, who fell victim to the chol- era shortly after her arrival. Clara, the young- est daughter, married Frederick Edler, and died in 1863. George is a flour merchant, doing busi- ness at Nos. 377 and 379 West Lake street, and Philip is deceased.

Mr. Frank Schweinfurth, after receiving an el- ementary education in the public schools, learned the baker's trade, and followed that pursuit some years, after whichı for five years he drove a bak-

er's wagon. When President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers in April, 1861, young Schweinfurth joined the ranks of the ninety-day recruits, in the Turners' Union Cadets. He re- enlisted for three years in the Twenty-Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with such gallantry that January 1, 1862, he was promoted to a second lieutenancy in Company K, and in the following June was commissioned first lieu- tenant of Company E. He commanded his com- pany at Chickamauga, in which battle he was made a prisoner. For ten months he was con- fined in Libby Prison, and was then taken to Macon, Georgia, and later to Charleston and Co- lumbia, South Carolina, and to Raleigh and Wil- mington, North Carolina, spending eighteen months in rebel prisons. At Wilmington he was exchanged, and in March, 1865, was mustered out of the service by general order of the War Department, at Annapolis, and was paid off at Washington.

Returning to Chicago he engaged in business

CHRISTOPH VOELKER.

on liis own account, purchasing an interest in his brother's bakery at No. 413 Soutlı Clark Street. Soon afterward he disposed of this place and em- barked in the wholesale flour business, in part- nership with his brothers, George and Philip. For a year the firm was located on West Erie Street and was then dissolved. The second year Philip and Frank reopened business at No. 28 Market Street. Thence they removed to Nos. 250 and 252 South Water Street, and just before the great fire of 1871 they established themselves at No. 403 South Clark Street, where they opened a bakery in connection with their flour store. Here business was not so good as Mr. Schwein- furth wished, and for several years he has not been engaged in the trade, living quietly in retirement.

Mr. Schweinfurth cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and until within recent years has been an active worker in the Republican party, standing high in its coun- cils, but never seeking reward in the shape of political preferment. In his earlier years he was

fond of social pleasures and a member of numer- ous organizations, among them being Hose Com- pany No. 3, of the old Volunteer Fire Depart- ment, which he joined in 1855; the Masonic fra- ternity, the order of Odd Fellows and various singing societies. He was also a charter member of Lyon Post No. 9, Grand Army of the Repub- lic. He is still a member of the Chicago Turn- Gemeinde, with which he has been connected since 1855. When this society built its present hall he was treasurer and a member of the build- ing committee.

December 5, 1865, he was united in marriage to Eva Margaret Walter, who has borne him sev- en children, six of whom are yet living: Anna, Katharine, George J., Frank, Junior, Clara (who died May 1, 1897), Julia and Philip.

Mr. and Mrs. Schweinfurth, with their chil- dren, are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the family is universally held in high esteem in the community in which they have lived so long.

CHRISTOPH VOELKER.

HRISTOPH VOELKER. For forty-six years Mr. Voelker has been a resident of Chicago, having accompanied his father's family on their emigration from Germany in the fall of 1853. He was born at Rockwitz, Meck- lenburg-Schwerin, Germany, January 30, 1844. His father's name was Ernst Voelker, of whom a more extended mention may be found in the biographical sketch of William Voelker, brother of Christoph. The latter was educated at the parish school of Saint Peter's Evangelical Luth- eran Church in this city, and at the age of eigh- teen years began learning the cooper's trade, serving his time as apprentice with Mr. Barr, since the completion of which he has worked at

his trade as a journeyman. He has been indus- trious and economical, painstaking and temper- ate, and through judiciously investing his earn- ings he has accumulated a competence. In 1886 he bought the property at No. 336 North Paulina Street, where he now resides, whose value has greatly increased.

He was married September 16, 1863, to Louise Goetzke. Mrs. Voelker is a daughter of Gilbert and Marie Goetzke, and was born at Kesslin, Germany. Both the parents died in the Father- land, but all the children emigrated to this coun- try. The family is scattered, however, only Mrs. Voelker and another sister, Lena, Mrs. August Schwerdfeter, of No. 125 Cleveland

C. H. BOESENBERG.

Avenue, residing in Chicago. The others are: Henrietta, of Colehour, Indiana, who married Charles Davis, of Dundee, Illinois; Hannah, wife of John Thons, of that place; Emelia, widow of August Daus, of Clintonville, Illinois; Rica, now Mrs. Volkstroff, of Elgin; Albert, a resident of Saint Paul; and Mrs. Augusta Rickow, of Crete, Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Voelker have two bright, intelli- gent daughters, Anna and Ida. The former is the widow of Adolph Schwank, and, with her

daughter, Mabel, lives in Elgin, Illinois. Ida is the wife of William Moffatt, a stationary engi- neer of Chicago. They have one son, named Thomas.

Mr. Voelker and his family are members of Saint Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and take a deep interest therein, being active in both church and Sunday School work. Mr. Voelker is a Republican, but has never taken any active interest in politics, beyond exercising his right of suffrage.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : La Salle Book Co. Number of Pages: 908

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 908