Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 86

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

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was cast away and endured great hardships. Tiring of the dangers of a life at sea, he came to this country in 1874, Chicago being the objective point. Here he first found employment at the Union Stock Yards and was afterward employed by shipmen. He then secured a position in the employ of the city railroads for three years. At the end of this time he started in business for himself, and was established first on Center Avenue. At the end of a year he started at No. 265 Milwaukee Avenue, where he remained for seven years. He then removed to No. 273 Milwaukee Avenue, where he remained only a short time and started in again on a larger scale at Nos. 235-237 Milwaukee Avenue. At the end of five years he decided to move to the South Side and started in business at Randolph Street and Fifth Avenue. One year later he sold out,

587

J. H. JENSON.

and going to Turner County, South Dakota, he purchased a farm. He remained here for two years, but determining to return to Chicago, lie sold his farm. Upon his arrival here he again engaged in business for himself at No. 352 Mil- waukee Avenue and since that time has made only one other business change, when he removed to his present location, No. 365 Milwaukee Avenue.

Mr. Larsen married Miss Anna M. Bremner, a native of Norway, in Chicago, in 1876. They have no children, but have an adopted daughter, Nellie.

Mr. Larsen is at present connected with the following organizations: Keystone Lodge No. 639, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Eclipse Lodge No. 404, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Danish Brotherhood No. 18, White Cross No. I and United Workmen No. 90. He was at one time a member of eighteen lodges and clubs, but was obliged to give some up, as he could not find time to attend to then1.

Mr. Larsen is a self-made man. He came to this country and has made a place for himself, not that alone, but he has been able to help others and is highly esteemed by his associates.

JOHN H. JENSON.

OHN HANSEN JENSON is a native of Denmark, having been born at Wisby Ribe on August 3, 1839. Both his parents were natives of the same place, and liis ancestors on both the paternal and maternal side belonged to the hardy race of rugged Danish farmers. His mother's maiden name was Mette Torkildsen. His parents had but one child beside the subject of this sketch, a daughter, who died in early childhood.

Mr. Jenson was reared in his native town, and attended its common schools until he had reached the age of fourteen years, when he began to feel a strong desire to see more of the world than could be viewed from the little peninsula where he had first seen the light. Accordingly, he shipped before the mast on a vessel employed in seal fish- ing and on this craft he began a life which was destined to be, for many years, filled with travel and adventure.

On his return from his first voyage, which occupied six months, he had grown so fond of the sea that he went to the port of Hamburg, to

seek a vessel bound on a longer cruise. There he joined the crew of a vessel bound for Brazil, and, young as he was, he had profited so well by his first experience that he shipped as an ordinary seaman. He sailed between Hamburg and the South American country on three voyages, and altogether was engaged upon vessels sailing from that port for twelve years. At intervals, while on shore, he was employed at sail-making for some six months; and for a little over two years he was sail-maker on board ship. Among other countries that he visited were China and the East Indies, cruising along the coast of Asia and call- ing at the principal ports of that continent. He also made four trips between Hamburg and New York, on the steamer "Germania," serving as quartermaster, or wheelsman. He next shipped (again as wheelsman) on the "Key West," a steamer plying between New York and the Florida port of that name. The "Key Kest" was an American vessel, and her cargoes con- sisted largely of cotton. His next voyage was between New York and Santos, Brazil, in the

588

FREDERICK KOSCHE.

capacity of second mate of the "P. C. War- wick," a sailing vessel engaged in the coffee carrying trade.

In 1866 he went from New York to Buffalo, and from there he came to Chicago, where he secured work as a sail-maker in a loft on South Water Street, owned by George Foster. But his old love for the water once more asserted itself, and in August of that year he shipped aboard a lake vessel as a common sailor. He sailed the lakes for nine seasons, during four of which he served as mate on different vessels. Through the part of the year when navigation was closed, he drove teams, although one year he visited the land of his birth, where lay the hallowed graves of his parents.

In 1875 he purchased a horse and wagon and embarked in the express business. Eleven years later (1886) he bought the premises at No. 279

West Ohio Street, where he now resides. Here, in addition to luis express, he conducts a flourish- ing trade in coal and wood.

Mr. Jenson's success has been due solely to his own efforts. Coming to Chicago absolutely with- out means, he has won success without other aid than that given by industry, perseverance and integrity.

In 1876 he was married to Miss Christine E. Guldbrandsen, a native of Norway, but who has been a resident of Chicago since early youth. Six children were born of this union, of whom three-Walter, Howard and James-survive, and are still at home.

Mr. Jenson was a member of Scandinavian Lodge, Knights of Honor, for eighteen years, and is a prominent and active member of the First Norwegian Methodist Church, of which body he is one of the trustees.

FREDERICK KOSCHE.

REDERICK KOSCHE. For nearly half a century has Frederick Kosche, now a hale old gentleman of seventy-four years, resided in the city of Chicago, where he has many friends, besides securing a comfortable competence and earning an unsullied reputation. He was born at Breslau, Prussia, April 15, 1825, and comes of a prominent family. His father was Christian Kosche; and his mother's maiden name was Louise Fenning. He was but six months old when his mother was left a widow. Of her ten children he was the youngest and the only one to leave the land of his birth.

Until the age of fourteen years he attended the parochial school, and was then apprenticed for three years to learn the trade of a tailor. After becoming a journeyman he traveled, working in various cities, until he was twenty-six years of

age, when he entered the Prussian army. After nearly three years spent in military service he determined to bid adieu to the Fatherland and seek a new home beyond the sea. Accordingly, in 1852, he took passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen, bound for New York, disembarking on American soil after a remarkably stormy and tedious voyage of nearly three months.

Coming at once to Chicago, where he arrived in September, he found employment at his trade without remaining idle long. After four years of industry and frugality he had saved enough capital to enable him to embark in business as a grocer, which he did, on Clybourn Avenue, near Larrabee Street. There the same energy and integrity which have ever been among his leading characteristics, soon secured for him a prosperous and constantly increasing trade, and after several

589

JAMES GRENNAN.

years of close attention to business he disposed of the establishment to his sons. Since then he has led a life of retirement at his pleasant home, No. 607 Orchard Street.

He was married to Miss Julia Baumann, a na- tive of Baden, Germany, May 1, 1854. Nine children have been the fruit of the union, named as follows: Caroline, now Mrs. John Debos; Oscar, a broker; Ernst, a grocer; Augustus, now Mrs. Schimberg; Mary, wife of William Hanshaw; Amelia, Mrs. Thomas Furlong; Frederick, a grocer; Theresa, Mrs. George Shad, of Rochester, New York; and Charles, a grocer on Sedgwick Street. Most members of the family attend St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Mrs. Kosche is a daughter of Franz Baumann

and Abalone Schwartz, who came to America with their family in 1846, settling near Niles Center. Mr. Baumann died in Chicago in 1894, and the mother of Mrs. Kosche died of cholera, about 1849. Of their family, Theresa is the wife of Michael Lochner, of Morton Grove; Christian and Anton live in Niles, and Ferdinand lives in Decatur, Illinois.

Mr. Kosche has always taken a deep interest in political questions touching the welfare of his adopted country and the city of his home. He has never, however, been an active politician, and while affiliating with the Democratic party in national issues, in questions affecting municipal government has always held the interests of the city above partisanship.

JAMES GRENNAN.

AMES GRENNAN, who comes of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the Emerald Isle, is a valued and worthy citi- zen of Chicago. He first opened his eyes on the misfortunes and mysteries of this world February 9, 1829, in Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland. His parents were John and Nancy (Perry ) Grennan, he being named for his grandfather, James Gren- nan, who married twice. His second wife was Miss Frances Morrison, and her children were: James and Nancy. The maternal grandfather of the man whose name heads this article was John Perry, and by his first wife he became the father of James, William, Andrew and Nancy. His second wife's children were named John, Samuel and Jane. He was a weaver as well as a tiller of the soil.

John Grennan was a worthy son of his father, and followed the occupation of weaver in his na- tive land. His children are as follows: Nancy, born February 8, 1831; James, whose name heads

this article; Elizabeth, who is married and resides in New Richmond, Ohio; Fannie, who married Patrick Mooney, and is the mother of one child, William; John, who resides in Chicago; and William, of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

James Grennan came to America in 1862 and settled in London, Canada. In June, 1865, le removed to Chicago and was a sailor for a short time. He was employed in the lumber yard of F. B. Gardner for six months, and subsequently for three years was with the Wilmington Coal Company. He then purchased a team, and since that time has been occupied with teaming. Be- ing of an economical and ambitious nature, Mr. Grennan succeeded so well that in 1868 he was enabled to build a residence for himself and fam- ily, where he has since been located, at No. 1617 Armour Avenue.

Nothing is more conducive to the success of a worthy man than a pleasant, congenial and eco- nomical life partner. Mr. Grennan was success-

590.

C. W. GRADY.

ful in obtaining for a wife one of the most worthy and sympathetic of women, and his domestic life has been one long period of peace and harmony. January 2, 1865, he was united to Miss Mary Jane McCrink, daughter of Frank and Bethie (Chestnut) McCrink. Mrs. Grennan was born in Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland. Her chil-

dren were two in number. Elizabeth married E. J. Mulholland, of whom extended mention appears on another page of this work. James, born December 21, 1869, died when twenty- eight years of age, December 26, 1897, mourned greatly by his relatives as well as by his hosts of friends.

CHARLES W. GRADY.

HARLES WILLIAM GRADY, who has for eighteen years been one of the valued employes of the Chicago City Railway Com- pany, was born August 6, 1857, on Mohawk Street, near North Avenue, Chicago, and is a loyal and highly esteemed citizen. His parents were Stephen and Ant (Tyrell) Grady, and his grandfather, Thomas Grady, died in 1856, at the age of seventy years. The last-named emigrated from his native land after his wife's death, with the following children: Thomas, Michael, Will- iam, John, Martin, Stephen and Mary.

Stephen Grady, father of the man whose name heads this article, was born in Kings County, Ireland, and died in 1870, at the age of thirty- six years. His remains were interred in Calvary Cemetery, Chicago. He was a railroad clerk, being at one time employed by the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and later was with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. Stephen Grady was married October 25, 1852, to Miss Ann Tyrell, who died Novem- ber 5, 1876, at the age of forty-two years. She was born in West Meath, Ireland.

Mr. and Mrs. Grady were the parents of the following children: Charles William, Ann Eliza, Sarah (who married Michael Cole, and resides in Chicago), and eight others who died when very young. Ann Eliza married John Renan.

Charles W. Grady attended the Newberry pub-

lic school until he was twelve years of age, when he entered a grocery store. He was four years in his father's store, at No. 188 Dearborn Street, and subsequently was employed by Ed Quinlan, at the corner of Eighteenth and State Streets, five years. Since that time he has been em- ployed in the train department, as clerk, at the Chicago City Railway Company's offices.

Mr. Grady married Miss Mary Martha, daugh- ter of John Martin, June 27, 1888. Mrs. Grady was born in Kings County, Ireland, and came to America September 5, 1865. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Grady are as follows: Stephen, born May 26, 1889, died January 18, 1896; Es- tella Virginia, born October 29, 1890; Ruth Irene, born March 8, 1891, died at the age of six weeks; Mary, born February 29, 1892, died while still an infant; and Edna Marie, born September 20, 1894.

Mr. Grady is a very energetic, economical and ambitious man, and has been able to erect a resi- dence for the accommodation of himself and fam- ily at No. 6620 Jackson Avenue, which is a very comfortable house and was the first in the near vicinity. He lias never sought public favor in the form of office, but adheres to the principles of the Democratic party, giving them substan- tial support in the form of vote. He is a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Cross.

LIBRARY OF THE IVERSITY OF ILLIN

ADOLPH METZGER

(From Photo by W. J. ROOT.)

591

ADOLPH METZGER.

A DOLPH METZGER is one of the prominent German-American citizens of Chicago, where he has resided for forty-seven years, and in whose welfare he has always taken a lively in- terest. He was born in Langen, Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, March. 3, 1832, and having been left an orphan at the age of seven years, he was reared by an uncle. Upon leaving school at the age of fourteen years, he served an ap- prenticeship of three years to the butcher's trade at Frankfort, and subsequently worked as a jour- neyman in that city until 1852, when he resolved to follow the example of an elder brother, Will- iam, and emigrate to America.

Accordingly, October 18 of that year, he set forth on what was destined to prove a far more. eventful journey than he anticipated. He pro- ceeded from Frankfort to Rotterdam, and thence to Hull and Liverpool, England. At the last- named point he took passage for New York on the sailing-vessel "St. George." The comple- ment of passengers was one hundred and twenty- two, of whom six were Germans and the re- mainder Irish. When thirty-two days out from shore the ship caught fire. The captain and crew promptly deserted her, taking life boats and leaving the unfortunate passengers to their fate. They afterwards sent the boats back by some negro sailors from a vessel near by. About fifty of those on board the doomed craft were rescued, the remainder perishing miserably. The

vessel to which those saved were thus transferred landed them January 14, 1853, at Havre, France, where they were forced to remain four weeks.

Mr. Metzger lost his all, and had it not been for the kindness of the German Consul and the German Society his condition would have been yet more deplorable. They took their country- men in charge, and sent them on to New York by the vessel "William Tell," Mr. Metzger first pressing foot on American soil March 3, 1853, the twenty-first anniversary of his birth. From New York he went to Buffalo, and after working there about a month, proceeded to Chi- cago, where his brother, William, kept a meat market. Adolph entered his brother's employ and remained with him nearly five years.

In 1858 he went into business for himself, and opened a shop at the corner of Canal and Cath- erine Streets. Two years later his imagination became inflamed through tales of remarkable gold discoveries in the country around Pike's Peak, and he went there to seek the precious metal. For a few months he kept a meat market in Denver, but after nine months' absence he found himself back in Chicago. He then formed a partnership with his brother, William, under the style of Metzger Brothers. They carried on business at William's former location until 1863, when the firm was dissolved, and Adolph put up a building on the corner of Halsted and Henry Streets. Here he began business for himself for

592

C. A. FRANZEN.

the second time in Chicago, and the venture ginning, through industry, sobriety and thrift, proved successful from the start. He was burned he has accumulated a handsome fortune. out September 17, 1873, but immediately rebuilt and resumed business and continued until 1883, when he retired.

It is not easy to speak too highly of the energy and tenacity of purpose of such men as Adolph Metzger. Left an orphan at a tender age, and thrown wholly on his own resources at seventeen years, he has made his own way, and his sur- prising success is due to his own efforts. When he landed in New York his sole worldly posses- sions were ten dollars given him by the German Society of Havre, and a five-franc piece pre- sented him from a friend. From this small be- -

At one time he took an active interest in politics, as an independent. In 1871 he was candidate for alderman from the tenth ward, but the great fire prevented the holding of an election.

He was married in 1857, to Miss Mary Meyer, a native of Switzerland, by whom he was the fa- ther of eight children, only two of whom are liv- ing, Mary (Mrs. Herman Eckstard) and Kath- arine, now Mrs. Charles Lodding. Mr. Metzger subsequently married Mrs. Anna Ziegler, widow of John Ziegler, who has two sons, John and Louis Ziegler. The family is connected with the Lutheran communion.

CHARLES A. FRANZEN.

HARLES AUGUST FRANZEN first op- ened his eyes upon the farm lying in sec- tion 14, of Addison Township, DuPage County, September 28, 1852. His father was Johann Heinrich Franzen and his mother's maid- en name was Katharine Deters. The elder Franzen was born October 1, 1813, at Schale, Prussia. He emigrated in 1834, arriving June 27 at Baltimore, with his family, and finally made his home in Addison Township, where he located in 1835, and at one time he owned three hundred and forty acres of land. He was a farmer all his life, with the exception of his first year in Amer- ica, when he lived in Chicago. He established the first linseed oil mill in DuPage County and probably in Northern Illinois. This was suc- cessfully operated by him about thirty years, until Chicago competition rendered it unprofit- able. His second wife, the mother of Charles August, was a native of the same place as him- self, and was born September 14, 1824. She was married to Mr. Franzen in October, 1844, and bore her husband ten children, as follows: Bar-

ney L., born October 2, 1845, a farmer living one-half mile northwest of Bensenville, Ill .; Car- oline, born August 11, 1847, married J. H. Schutte, of Pingree Grove, Illinois; Emma Cath- erine, born April 6, 1849, and became the wife of Rev. G. Koch, living at Beecher, in this state; Henry F. D., born March 3, 1851, died August 14, following; Charles August is next; John Henry, born February 27, 1855, and died March 7, 1880; Dorothea, born January 25, 1857, widow of Frank Ort, of Bensenville; Gustav, born De- cember 14, 1858, and died September 10, 1860; William F., born March 18, 1861, now on the old homestead; and Herman H., born September 3, 1868, residing at Ithaca, Illinois, four miles west of the family's original home.

The father of Johann Heinrich, and grand- father of Charles August Franzen, was Herman Bernhardt Henry Franzen, a native of Prussia, where he was born October 14, 1772. He was the husband of Fenne Adelheit Elfring, who was born in Germany; March 18, 1781. The issue of this marriage was as follows: Anna Katharine

J. G. CARLSON.

593

Maria, born August 10, 1810, and married to Carl Schwerdtfeger, and whose son, Henry, is a teamster in the West Division, Chicago; Johann Heinrich, the father of Charles August; Anna Gasina, born February 29, 1816, afterward Mrs. Dietrich Fischer, and whose son, W. H. Fischer, is an attorney located at Room 510, 84 LaSalle Street, Chicago, with a home at Wheaton; Jo- hann Bernhardt, born December 3, 1818, and whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere; and Gerhardt Heinrich, born January 7, 1823, residing on section 11, Leyden Township.

Charles A. Franzen was educated in the coun- try schools and studied book-keeping for six months at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in 1869. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-two years old, when his father started his present business. For about eighteen months Charles August conducted it as his father's rep- resentative, and since 1875 has had entire con- trol of it. He deals in lumber, coal, feed, flour, seeds and kindred articles.

May 14, 1875, he married Mary Heuer, who was born in Cook County, September 5, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Franzen have been blessed with eleven children, as follows: Frederick Henry, who was born August 4, 1876, and lived but a single day; George Edward, born August 10, 1877; Ida Katharine Amalia, October 28, 1879; Reine Sophia Emma, January 16, 1882; Albert William, September 29, 1883; Walter Herman, October 23, 1885, deceased; Edna Dorothea Car- oline, November 17, 1887; Hulda Emma, Au- gust 7, 1890; Erwin Henry, February 8, 1893; Gilbert Henry, January 3, 1895; and Oscar Henry, June 15, 1897. The family belongs to the German Emanuel United Lutheran and Re- formed Church.

Mr. Franzen is a Republican in politics and is held in high esteem among his fellow-citizens, who have testified their appreciation of his worth by electing him, at various times, village trustee and school director, holding the last named posi- tion thirteen years.

JOHN G. CARLSON.

OHN GODFREY CARLSON. Few of Chi- cago's gallant fire fighters at present living have a record for so many years of continu- ous service as Captain John Godfrey Carlson of Engine Company No. 83.

His experience as a fireman dates back to 1857, when he joined the old Volunteer Fire Company, with which he was connected two years, when he quit the service, but only to re-enter it in 1862, becoming a member of Engine Company No. 1, commonly known as the " Long John " Company. For several years he served as pipeman, and was afterward transferred to Engine Company No. 4, and promoted to captain of that company in 1871, previous to the Great Fire. During that holo-

caust he did heroic service in the face of unprece- dented danger, and despite unparalleled fatigue, having been on duty uninterruptedly from the hour of being called out until Tuesday forenoon, and a circumstance which added not a little. to the men's fatigue was the fact that they had been at a fire on the Saturday and Sunday before, which called for their constant attendance and hard work for twenty-four hours without cessa- tion. Most of Captain Carlson's service has been rendered in connection with Engine Company No. 4, but he has been with his present company since its organization in 1897.

He was born in the Parish of Liared, Wester Gotland, Sweden, November 29, 1835, and is the

594

H. C. MARTENS.

son of Joseph and Gustava Carlson. He was educated in his native country, and after leaving school learned the trade of a tailor, which he fol- lowed, both in Sweden and Chicago, until he was enrolled in the paid fire department.

In 1852, the family, consisting of his parents, his two sisters and himself, emigrated to America, settling at Chicago. Here Mr. Carlson, Senior, died in 1855, his widow surviving him until 1894. The captain and his sister, Mrs. Emma C. Johnson, wife of John A. Johnson, are the only living members of his father's family.

In 1873 he was married to his countrywoman, Mathilda Johnson. The issue of this union has been three children-Albert Godfried, Hilldor and Arthur James. The family attends Emanuel Lutheran Church, which was organized in 1853, Captain Carlson being the only charter member now connected with the society.

Captain Carlson is a member of the Volunteer Firemen's Association, the Firemen's Benevolent Association, and the Mutual Aid Association. He is a man of independent mind and does not acknowledge allegiance to any political party.

HENRY C. MARTENS.

ENRY CHRISTIAN MARTENS. A de- tailed account of Mr. Marten's ancestry may be found in the biography of his brother, Charles Martens, on another page of this volume. Henry Martens was born in Gartow, Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, October 18, 1825. His father was Charles Christian Martens, and his mother's maiden name was Dorothea Dankert. He learned floriculture in the old country and followed that pursuit until his emigration, in the fall of 1847. On reaching America he came at once to Chicago, where for a time he turned his willing hand to any honorable toil that presented itself. He worked on the canal and as a farm hand, and helped build the Chicago & North- western railroad between Chicago and Elmhurst. In 1850 he enlisted as a private in Company B, Third United States Infantry, under Colonel Oli- ver L. Shepherd. Within eighteen months he had risen to be first corporal and was later a first sergeant. His regiment was sent to New Mexi- co to build and perform garrison duty at Fort Defiance, and he finally received his discharge at Albuquerque. This military service entitled him to exemption from draft during the Civil War,

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 86

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