Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 52

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

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the right became sightless through a sympathetic affection. The complete blindness came upon him in 1890, and since then his daughter has been his constant and devoted companion, amanuensis, entertainer and leader in his daily walks.

Colonel Melcher is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows. He was initiated in Cardigan Lodge at Alexandria, New Hampshire, in 1852 and the same year was elected noble grand of Promise Lodge. In the year 1871 he joined St. Louis Lodge No. 5, at St. Louis, and still holds membership in that society. He also holds membership in Penacook Encampment of the same order of Concord, New Hampshire, which he joined in 1854, and by virtue of his three score and ten years, bears the distinctive title of being the oldest living member of that organiza- tion. He wears the veteran badge of the order, having been a member in good standing forty- seven years. He is also a member of U. S. Graut Post No. 28, Grand Army of the Republic, hav- , ing been mustered into that body in 1880. In politics Colonel Melcher has always been an ardent and constant Republican and an active worker for his party.

MICHAEL CARROLL.

M ICHAEL CARROLL was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in October, 1838. He is one of a family of six children, all of whom emigrated to this country. John crossed the ocean in 1850, and at present resides in Englewood. Johanna is the wife of John Har- man. Alice married Bryan Donnell. Thomas lives on Bickerdike Street. Catherine, now Mrs. Patterson, has her home in New Jersey. The

father of the family died in Ireland in 1867, but his widow came to Chicago the following year, and died here in 1891.

Martin Carroll received his early education in Ireland, and was raised upon a farm. In 1859, having reached the age of twenty-one, he deter- mined to seek a home in a land where the yoke of British misrule did not grind his countrymen to the dnst, and to woo fortune where so many

354

FREDERICK WEHRHAN.

of his countrymen had won her smiles, in the free republic of the New World. He sailed from Liverpool, and after a voyage of twenty- eight days landed in New York. He remained in that city for a year, working as a day laborer. At the expiration of that period he came to Chi- cago, where for several years he followed the same occupation. He was industrious, energetic and economical, and, about 1867, he found him- self able to start in business for himself as a wool fuller. He bought a property on Braddon Street, where he built a shop. This he afterward sold to the Standard Oil Company, and purchased the premises at No. 376 Noble Street. He remained at his first location, however, until 1891, when, having through hard work, strict attention to business and unwavering integrity, accumulated a competence, he retired.

It is difficult to speak too highly of the perse- verance and pluck, the resolute purpose and un- flinching courage which have marked Mr. Car-

roll's career since early manhood. Starting in life in the humble capacity of a laborer, without money or influence to aid him, his motto has ever been " Onward and Upward." And to-day, at the age of sixty-one years, he is resting from his labors, looking back upon the past without shame, and his soul is illumined by Christian faith, gazing into the future without misgiving or fear.

Politically he is a Democrat, although never taking any active part in politics. In local issues he votes according to his own best judgment, without regard to party lines.

In 1863 Mr. Carroll married his country- woman, Miss Mary Kennedy. Their union has been blessed with seven children-Catherine; Mary Ann, wife of William O'Brien; Alice, now Mrs. James Clancy; Margaret; Elizabeth; Ann, a school teacher; and John. The family is de- voutly Catholic, active in membership, and lib- eral in the support of the church.

FREDERICK WEHRHAN.

REDERICK WEHRHAN, a wealthy re- tired German-American business man, and a prominent citizen in the northwestern sec- tion of the city, was born February 28, 1828, in Hameln, near the city of Hanover, Germany. He is the son of William and Sophia Wehrhan, and was educated in the parochial schools of his native country, where, also, he learned the trades of wagonmaker and wheelwright. He followed the latter in the old country until 1858, when he emigrated from Germany, on the advice of his sister Frederica, who had come to America four years before. The voyage from Bremen to New York consumed ten weeks, the vessel encounter- ing head winds during the entire passage.

Immediately upon landing Mr. Wehrhan

turned his face toward Chicago. After working at his trade here for a few years he went to Tol- leston City, Indiana, where he remained six months. While there he invested in two lots. From Tolleston he went to Gibson City, where he bought ten acres of land and a two-story house. After a residence of two years he re- turned to Chicago, but did not remain here long, going to Champaign, Illinois, near which city he went to work upon the very large farm of M. L. Sullivan, with whom he remained five years. It was his duty to keep the farm machinery in order. He had not, however, settled down to the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life, without making an attempt to witness more stirring scenes. He had attested his patriotism by enlist-

355

GEORGE L. TAYLOR.

ing, in 1862, in the Union Army. For six months he was stationed at Camp Douglas, when he was honorably discharged because of ill health.

Once more coming back to Chicago, he built a house on leased land, on Lake Street, near Lin- coln. This was the pioneer structure on the block, and is still standing. Four years later he sold this property and bought more at the inter- section of Robey Street and Milwaukee and North Avenues. Here he built a house on what was then virtually unbroken prairie, there being but one house standing in the district now known as Wicker Park. His was a small lot, but it was on a corner, and here he opened a saloon in his dwelling house. A few years later he rented the saloon, and devoted his attention wholly to real estate speculation and investment, buying and leasing land, and erecting houses which he rented or sold. The fine block on Milwaukee Avenue in which he resides at present was erected in the summer of 1898. Mr. Wehrhan has done much toward building up the section of the city

in which he lives, and has at all times shown himself a useful, public spirited citizen.

He has been twice married. His first wife was Anna Bisbing, to whom he was united May 12, 1867, and who bore him three children-Bertha, Henry and August. Bertha married John Young, and is now deceased. The two sons are plumbers in Chicago. In 1874 Mr. Wehrhan visited Germany, accompanied by his wife and family; and remained one year. Mrs. Wehrhan died January 28, 1878, and October 7; 1879, Mr. Wehrhan married Louise Preuss, a daughter of August and Amalie (Umlauff) Preuss, who was born February 11, 1837, at Koenigsberg, Prus- sia. The issue of the second marriage has been one daughter, Emma.

The family attends the services of the German Lutheran Church, and contributes largely to its support. In politics Mr. Wehrhan has always been a Republican since becoming a citizen, although never, in any sense of the word, a pol- itician.

GEORGE L. TAYLOR.

G EORGE L. TAYLOR. Like many of Chi- cago's veteran firemen, George L. Taylor, Captain of Engine Company No. 70, belongs to a family of the city's pioneers.

His father, Ezra Taylor, was a business inan, a citizen universally and deservedly held in the highest esteem, and a soldier whose record for effi- ciency, gallantry and daring was unsurpassed. He was born at Avon, Jefferson County, New York, but removed to Chicago in 1834, and soon after his arrival became partner of Gordon S. Hubbard, in the provision trade. In 1840 he married Miss Sabina Langan, a native of Ireland, who accom- panied her parents to America as a child of seven years and came to Chicago in 1836. On the

breaking out of the Civil War Governor Richard Yates requested Ezra Taylor to accept the post of recruiting officer for the artillery quorum of the service. Mr. Taylor accepted, and so much energy and so high an order of executive ability did he bring to his responsible task that within two days after the capitulation of Fort Sumter he had dispatched Company A, of the Chicago Light Artillery, on its way to the front. This was Saturday, and on the following day he enlisted Company B, and a few weeks later left Chicago with them. He was not without some knowledge of military tactics, having been Colonel of a militia regiment before the outbreak of the rebellion. His promotion was rapid,

356

J. P. ANDERSEN.

until he attained the rank of Brigadier-General Volunteers. He was General Sherman's chief of artillery, and participated in all the hard fought, successful campaigns of that brilliant and intrepid commander. In the battle of Dallas, on the day before the lamented McPherson fell, General Taylor was severely wounded, the same ball that passed through him striking General John A. Logan. His injury incapacitated him for further service, and he could win no further military honors. At the close of the war he was appointed Government Inspector of provisions, at Chicago, and at the same time chosen to fill a similar position for the Chicago Board of Trade, enjoying the distinction of being the first to hold the last named office. He filled both posts, until his death, with rare ability and unquestioned in- tegrity. He passed away from earth on the 18th of October, 1885, the wife of his youth and mother of his children having preceded him in July, 1883.

George L. Taylor was born at Chicago, De-

cember 28, 1846, and is the only survivor of a family of nine children. He was educated in the public schools, and at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. He inherited the dashing, daring spirit of his father, the General, and February 1, 1864, before reaching the age of eighteen years, he became a member of the Fire Department, in which he has ever since served, with courage and distinction. He was promoted to a lieutenancy in '1872, and to a captaincy in 1880. He was originally a member of Company No. 3, but now commands No. 70.

He is a member of the Firemen's Benevolent Association, of the Mutual Aid Association, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

May 3, 1868, he was married to Miss Sarah Donovan. Two sons and three daughters have been born to them. The oldest son, William, is deceased. The names of those living, are May, Margaret, George and Ezra. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, with their children, are communicants in the Catholic Church.

JAMES P. ANDERSEN.

AMES PETER ANDERSEN was born near Copenhagen, Denmark, March 4, 1857. For several generations his ancestors have lived upon the same farm, where he first saw the light, his father being Anders Larsen, and his paternal grandfather, Lars Christensen. His mother's name before marriage was Maria Willadsen. She was the daughter of a farmer living in the same locality, and was born in the same house as her father. In a comparatively new country, where kaleidoscopic shifting of scene and place is the rule rather than the exception, these tangible demonstrations of stability and conservatism should be especially valued. Mr. Andersen's

father is still living (1899), but his mother en- tered into rest at the comparatively early age of forty-five years. He is one of a family of nine children, of whom seven are living, and five are residents of Chicago. Peter is a coachman em- ployed at the corner of Michigan Boulevard and Thirty-third Street; Mariane is the wife of Niels Hansen, of No. 4747 Kimbark Avenue; Tina married Peter Thompson, a milk dealer of No. 3827 Armour Avenue; Mary is unmarried.

James P. Andersen is the third in order of birth. He grew up on his father's farm, attend- ing school until he reached the age of fourteen years, and afterward spent four years as a car-

357

J. E. HANSEN.

penter's apprentice. Until 1892 he worked in Copenhagen as a journeyman, and in that year he came to America. For a time he secured em- ployment at his trade at the World's Fair grounds, and later, for four years, was in the employ of the Chicago City Railway Company, during the greater portion of that time being employed as a carpenter. Faithful attention to duty, joined to regularity of habits and frugality in expenditure, enabled him to embark in business as a jobber for himself. His present place of business is at No. 346 Fifty-first Street, where he has a remunerative trade. Among the Danish-

Americans of Chicago he has a wide acquain- tance, as well as among the citizens of his neigh- borhood generally. He is respected alike for his capability and his character, and is esteemed most highly by those who know him best. He is the secretary of the Danish Brotherhood, the diffi- cult and responsible duties of which post he has discharged with rare tact and unswerving fidelity.

He was married in 1882, at Copenhagen, to Caroline Balslew. One son has been born to this union, Peter, who came into the world in that city, and is at present living at home with his parents.

JACOB E. HANSEN.

1 ACOB ERNST HANSEN is too well and too favorably known, both commercially and socially, to a large circle of citizens on the south side of the city to need any detailed sketch of his career in order to perpetuate his memory. The record of success, however, is always more pleasant to read than the story of failure, just as the hope of reward is to every true man a more potent incentive than the dread of punishment.

Jacob Ernst Hansen was born September 29, 1854, in Dobbol, Schleswig-Holstein, then an undisputed part of the Danish kingdom. His father, whose initials were also J. E., owned and operated a mill, for years grinding the grain of his farmer neighbors, exacting no illegal or even inequitable toll, and dying in 1854, respected and mourned by all the country round about, only three weeks before Jacob Ernst was born. His mother was Anna Margaretta Muller, who was born on Christmas Eve, 1820, and still sur- vives, enjoying-at the age of seventy-eight years-a benign old age. Mr. Hansen had no

brother, but two sisters, neither of whom are now living.

He himself attended school until he reached his sixteenth year. After that, until he came to America in 1874, he divided his energies between working on a farm and in a brickyard. It was not long after landing on our soil before he came west, reaching Chicago in 1875. His first "job" (and not especially an enviable one) was found with Mr. Lasher on South Water Street. Later, at the corner of South Clark and Twenty-first Streets, he learned the cooperage trade, which he followed five years. During another five years he was in the employ of Underwood & Company, acting as time-keeper, in addition to discharging other duties, and having charge of the establishment at night. For a year he worked for the Chicago City Railway Company, and in 1888 he opened a livery and boarding stable at the same location where he now is. His begin- ning was small, but his business has prospered and increased from the first, so that to-day he

358

JACOB CHRISTENSEN.

owns and conducts one of the largest and best equipped establishments of its class in the city, extending from No. 3508 to No. 3516 on Indiana Avenue.

He was married in 1879 to Miss Elsie Christen Diedricksen, who was born in Denmark but came to Chicago in 1874. Of their eight children five are yet living, Ernst, Anna, Louise, Dora and Sophia. All reside with their parents. Mr. Hansen and family are identified with the Sixth

Presbyterian Church of Chicago. He is inde- pendent in spirit, and has not allied himself with any political party since becoming an American citizen.

The career of Mr. Hansen, who is a fine type of the man who carves out his own path to for- tune by industry, perseverance and integrity, affords a striking illustration of the grand results which a union of these characteristics may accom- plish.

JACOB CHRISTENSEN.

then for ten months as a railroad section hand and a helper in the cotton fields in Arkansas. Returning to Chicago he obtained employment as a coachman from A. S. Downer, at the corner of Vincennes Avenue and Forty-seventh Street. Af- ter several years spent as a driver of carriages and wagons he started a small stable of his own, near the corner of Calumet Avenue and Thirty- ninth Street. This he conducted for some three years with fairly good success. In 1887, during native of Schleswig-Holstein, where she died at - the mayoralty of John A. Roche, he accepted an

ACOB CHRISTENSEN first opened his eyes March 20, 1853, in the duchy of Schleswig- Holstein, then tributary to the Danish crown, but since 1864 an integral part of the German Empire. His father, Christen Christen- sen, was a native of Jutland, Denmark, and was a farmer, although in his youth he had served be- fore the mast. He died at the age of fifty-two years. Mr. Christensen's mother's maiden name was Anne Iversen, who, like her husband, was a the advanced age of eighty-two years. Jacob was the youngest of their seven children, six of whom lived to maturity. Of these only two liave crossed the ocean-Mr. Christensen and his brother Andrew, who resides at Lawrence, Kan- sas.

In was in 1869 that the boy of sixteen years landed in a strange country, whose language and customs he was totally ignorant of. Less than a year had elapsed since he had left school and the intervening time he had devoted to work in a blacksmith's shop, his original intention being to learn that trade. His primary objective point after reaching this country was Chicago. Here for eighteen months he worked as a laborer, and

appointment on the city police force and has since remained in the service, being at present (1899) attached to the Fifth Precinct.

He was married June 25, 1775, to Miss Ellen M. Larsen. Mrs. Christensen was born in Schles- wig-Holstein, June 16, 1855, being the daughter of Christen and Marie Larsen, both natives of the peninsula of Jutland. Her father died in Den- mark at the age of forty-nine years; her mother passed away at Mr. Christensen's home in Chi- cago, December 24, 1898. Like her husband, Mrs. Christensen is the youngest child of her parents, who raised a family of five children.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Christensen has been blessed with five children, two of whom

359

PATRICK BRENNAN.

died in infancy. Those still living are: Anna C .; Dora M .; and Ella M., all of whom reside at home.

Officer Christensen is one of the most esteemed and popular men on the city's police force. While fearless and upright, he is both sagacious and dis-

creet. His official record is as free of stain as has been his life as a private citizen of Chicago, which has been his home for thirty years.

He is a member of the Danish society Walhalla, of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the Policemen's Benevolent Association.

PATRICK BRENNAN.

2 ATRICK BRENNAN, a gentleman now living in retirement at No. 502 Ashland Boulevard, was born in County Carlow, Ireland, June 29, 1825, and is the son of Edward and Mary (Byrne) Brennan. Their family con-' sisted of ten children, one of whom died in child- hood, and nine grew to maturity, namely: John, Ann, Michael, Charles, Patrick, Martin, Bridget, Matthew J. and Thomas T.

In 1848 Charles came to America, and settled in Chicago, where he now resides. The parents, with four sons and two daughters, came to the United States and settled in Chicago in 1849, and Patrick and Martin followed them in 1851, land- ing in New York May 1, and coming directly to Chicago. The father of the family died of chol- era, August 3, 1850, and the mother died in Chicago in May, 1886. At the present time only four of the family are living, accounted for as follows: Charles, of Bridgeport, corner of Main and Lyman Streets; Bridget, widow of Peter Clowry, Fourteenth Street; Matthew J., who resides at No. 4018 Vincennes Avenue; and Pat- rick, of this article.

In the parish and national schools Patrick Brennan received what was considered, at that time, a good education. After the conclusion of his school life he was employed for a short time as a clerk in a store, subsequent to which he was apprenticed to a grocery and dry goods merchant at Leighlin Bridge, and made himself so service-

able that he received for his services ten pounds sterling, instead of paying a fee for instruction, as was the custom of the times. Subsequently he spent four years as a clerk in the same line of business at Carlow and received a very high recommendation from his employer, Mr. Robert Lawlor, as well as from a parish priest, the Bishop of the diocese, which are still among his cherished treasures.

On coming to Chicago he soon found employ- ment as clerk for Mr. Countess. Later he en- gaged in other pursuits for a few years until he accumulated a sufficient amount of money to start a business of his own. In 1854 he engaged in the grocery and provision trade for himself, in which he continued thirty-four years without in- terruption. By frugality and strict business methods, and occasional speculation in real estate, he acquired a competence. He retired from business in 1888, and has since attended to his property interests.

His interest in public affairs has been lively and continuous. In April, 1868, he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to the Board of Super- visors and was a member of that body when the Normal school was established in Englewood, and the insane asylum at Dunning.

Mr. Brennan has been three times married. April 28, 1855, he became the husband of Brid- get Nolan, who bore him seven' children, only three of whom arrived at maturity: John J., of

360

L. R. TOLL.

Grand Rapids, Michigan; Anna Maria, who died in a convent in St. Louis; and Mary E., who died in a convent in Dubuque, Iowa. Bridget Bren- nan died March 10, 1866.

September 16, 1866, Mr. Brennan married Elizabeth Nolan, by whom he had five children, namely: William F., Elizabeth C., James E., Lucy and Paul, the last named dying in infancy. The mother of these children died July 17, 1877. September 20, of the following year, Patrick Brennan was united to Theresa Delanty. Of this union one daughter-Ellen A .- was born. Mrs. Brennan passed away on the 17th of March, 1887.

Mr. Brennan and his family are staunch and influential members of the Roman Catholic

Church, to the support of which they contribute liberally. They feel a natural pride in their re- ligion, which has been that of their ancestors for generations, and which has more to do with the maintenance of the manners, customs and habits of his nation than any other factor in their life. The members of this family have ever been ar- dently devoted to the principles of liberty as well as their religious faith. Edward, father of Pat- rick Brennan, was a son of John Brennan, who, with his brother-in-law, Paul Cullen, and Thomas Hughs, was captured at the close of the Rebellion of 1798 and, without trial, was shot and killed by mercenary yeomen. Cullen was the uncle of Cardinal Cullen, and grand-uncle of Cardinal Moran, of Australia.

LOUIS R. TOLL.

OUIS ROBERT TOLL, well and favorably known to the building trade of Chicago, is of German birth and parentage. In per- sistent energy and rugged honesty he may be said to be representative of the best type of that great Teutonic race which has made its power and influence felt in every quarter of the habit- able globe. He was born in Niederspier, Schwartz- burgs, Undershausen, Germany, October 18, 1843. His father was named Charles and his mother Wilhelmina. Ten children were born to them, only one of whom is deceased. Mr. Toll probably inherits, to some degree, his genius for building from his father, who attained not a little reputation as a carpenter and millwright, as well as a careful and conscientious contractor. The elder Toll died in Germany in 1852; his widow survived him twenty-seven years, passing away at Chicago in 1879. The surviving members of the family, other than Louis R., are: Augusta, the widow of Charles Meister; Amelia, whose hus-

band is also Charles Meister, and who resides in Longwood; Oscar, of Crete, Illinois; Thilo, who holds a government position in Germany; Hilde- gardt, retired from business ,and living at No. 247 Cornelia Street; Otto, whose home is in Sawyer, Michigan; Theodore, residing on Cly- bourn Avenue; and Charles, living at No. 62 Pleasant Place.

Like most boys of his nationality, creed and condition in life, Louis R. Toll attended the parochial school of his native village until he had reached the age of fourteen years. On leaving school, he was apprenticed for a three-years' term to the stone mason's trade, after which he served for several months in the German Army. In 1865 he came to America in company with his mother and those members of the family who had not already emigrated, with the exception of his brother Thilo, who still remains in the Father- land. His first employer in Chicago was his brother-in-law, the late Charles Meister, with

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 52

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