Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 89

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

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The mother of Mrs. Taubert, Mrs. Muther, was born in October, 1818, and joined the great ma- jority February 16, 1870. Her remains were in- terred in St. Boniface Cemetery. Her second husband was Frank Joseph Muther and he was

C. A. TIDEN.

609

the father of Frank J., Josepha, Charles and Cecelia. Frank Joseph Muther was a carpenter, but followed the occupation of a farmer in Park Ridge. He died May 10, 1867, at the age of forty-two years. He had lived in Chicago since 1852. Of his children, Frank Joseph is the old- est, having been born December 25, 1848. He married Miss Fannie Cox, of Kansas City, and their children were named: Frank, Daisy and Georgia. He is a cigar manufacturer, and re- sides in Santa Rosa, California. Josepha, born January 15, 1850, married William Lang and their children are: William, Frank, Ida and Charles. The family of Mr. Lang resides in California, in the city of San Francisco, and he is a candy-maker. Charles, born in 1851, married Elizabeth Honsburg, and is with Lawrence, his half brother. Cecelia, born in January, 1852, died on the voyage to America in August, 1852, and his remains were interred in the ocean. John, born in November, 1853, is an auctioneer and picture frame manufacturer. He married Charlotte Cof- fee and resides in California. His children were

John and George Washington. The former died at the age of eighteen years. Michael, born in the fall of 1855, married Miss Emma Winhofer, and died in Santa Rosa, California, in 1888. Mr. Muther was a carpenter, and his widow and one child, George, reside in Lake View. Elizabeth, born August 18, 1858, is a traveling companion and is now in Honolulu. Amelia, born in 1861, died in 1864. William, born April 18, 1863, died September 2, 1897. He married Mary Har- bach and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their chil- dren were named: Alice, Mary and Charles.

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Taubert were the par- ents of six children: Ida Amelia Josepha, the oldest, at home with her parents; Edmond Con- rad Lawrence, born April 12, 1870; Emma Christina Elizabeth; Robert Henry, born March 18, 1875; Frederick Frank William, born Febru- ary 27, 1878, at home; and Clara Marie.

Mr. Taubert is a member of Germania Lodge No. 282, of the Society of Red Men. He was reared a Protestant and clings to the faith of his fathers, while his wife is a Catholic.

CHARLES A. TIDEN.

HARLES ABRAM TIDEN, of a nation of sturdy, muscular men, is one of the repre- sentative citizens of Chicago and a com- petent and valued employe of Spaulding & Com- pany, jewelers. He was born in the village of Sollefteo, Augermanland, Sweden, June 15, 1850. His parents were Olaf and Sarah (Olsen) Sell- stedt, and were natives of the same province. Olaf Sellstedt, grandfather of Charles Abram Tiden, was a tiller of the soil, and his children were: Nels, Olaf, Anna and Jonas. The last- named was a Lutheran clergyman.

The maternal grandfather was Olaf Olson, whose children were: Sarah, Nels, Magnus, Anna,

Mary and Carrie. Olaf Sellstedt, Junior, father of the man whose name heads this article, was born in 1814, and died in 1867. He was a tiller of his own land in Sweden. His wife was born in 1812, and died April 5, 1863. Her children were named as follows: Anna, Jonas, Olaf, Nels and Charles. All are deceased except Charles and Jonas, the former being the only one to emigrate from their native land.

Charles A. Tiden reached Chicago May 21, 1871, and has since been a resident of this locality. He attended school until he was fifteen years of age, in Sweden, after which he learned the trade of watchmaker. He practiced this profession in

610

ERNST JOHNKE.

Sundsvell four years and then served as journey- man in Guttenberg three years and two years in Stockholm. At that time he decided to seek his fortune in America, and immigrated to the United States.

He was employed by different concerns for six months and subsequently remained with Robert Seidel two years. He was in the service of J. S. Townsend, located at No. 1554 Wabash Avenue, seven years. From the spring of the year 1887, until August 6, 1898, he was employed in the well-known establishment. of C. D. Peacock. Since that time he has been in the service of Spaulding & Company.

May 11, 1892, Mr. Tiden was married to Miss Carrie Anderson, a daughter of Swen Anderson. Mrs. Tiden was born in Stengordsholt, Smoland, Sweden, September 21, 1853, and died February 9, 1897. Her remains were interred in Mount Hope Cemetery, and her loss was mourned by many friends, as well as by her relatives.

Mr. Tiden is not a seeker after public office, but a stanch upholder of the principles of the Republican party. He is a very ambitious man, and one of the finest workmeu in his profession in the West. He was enabled, in 1892, to erect a residence at No. 6312 Champlain Avenue, where his home has since been located.

ERNST JOHNKE.

RNST JOHNKE, who is car inspector for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road Company in Chicago, is a native of Germany. He was born August 3, 1847, in the village of Colberg, and is a true representative of the sturdy and energetic character of the Ger- man. His father was a respected man of the lo- cality where he resided at the time of his son's birth, whose name was Frederick Johnke.

He lived all his life in the land of his birth and tilled his own land. His wife died in 1848. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. F. Johnke-Gottleib, Wilhelmina, Hennette, Frederick, August, Al- bertine, William, Albert and Ernst-Gottleib, August, William and Albert are deceased, and of those who have passed the border, the first three are buried in Oakwoods Cemetery. William Johnke came to America in 1868 and located in Chicago. He married Miss Caroline Ledbuhr, and their only child is named August.

Frederick and August Johnke emigrated from their native land and located in Chicago in 1865. Ernst Johnke, whose name heads this article,

reached New York December 7, 1867, and ar- rived in Chicago April 3, 1848. He was in charge of the brick masons, who were employed on the Court House, and while thus occupied fell at one time, a distance of forty feet. He followed this work until he entered the service of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Com- pany, at its elevators, where he was employed until he accepted a position with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, eight years later. He has held his present responsible occupation for a period of seventeen years. This fact goes to show that his services are valued and that he is possessed of much stability of char- acter.

July 11, 1875, Mr. Johnke was married to Miss Amelia, daughter of William and Elvina (Cor- nell) Franke, all natives of the vicinity of Ber- lin, Germany. Mrs. Johnke was born July 20, 1855. Her parents and their nine children came to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 1865, where the family still reside. Mrs. Johnke came alone to Chicago August 2, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Johnke

611

WILLIAM PALMER.

became the parents of six children: Albert Will- iam Peter, born May 25, 1876, died April 2, 1884. George Carl Bernhardt, born June 9, 1878, died March 12, 1884. Elvina Wilhelmina Phillipina, born December 9, 1879, died March 28, 1884. Edward Henry Ernst, born June 25, 1885, was the next in order of birth. Alma Emma Henrietta was born December 5, 1886, and Emma Hermina Albertina, November 7, 1892. The first three died of scarlet fever.

Mr. Johnke has ever been of an ambitious and thrifty nature, and with a partner of similar tendencies he has accumulated considerable of this world's goods. In 1890 he was enabled to build a residence at No. 6334 Rhodes Avenue, where he has since resided. He votes in favor of the Republican party, though he has never sought public office. His ancestors were Luth- erans and he has been true to the teachings of his fathers.

WILLIAM PALMER.

ILLIAM PALMER, one of the best-known and most extensive building contractors of Chicago, has built much of the resident portion of the South Side. He was born Septem- ber 22, 1840, in Bathurst, Ontario, Canada, his parents being William and Mary (Wilson) Pal- mer. Mr. Palmer's grandfather, John Palmer, was a soldier in the British Army and served seven years in British India. Mr. Palmer's ına- ternal grandparents were George and Agnes (Reid) Wilson.

William Palmer, Senior, was born in Suffolk, England, and came to America when a young man. He passed away in 1886, having reached the age of eighty years. He was an agricultur- ist and was a consistent member of the Episcopal Church. His wife was born in Scotland, emi- grating when twelve years of age. All her liv- ing children are residents of Canada, except Will- iam, whose name heads this sketch.

An attendant of a country school until fifteen years of age, Mr. Palmer remained on the farm where he was born, two years more. He was then made apprentice to learn the trade of carpenter. After a short time spent at Bathurst, he located in Chicago, arriving September 3, 1863. He as- sisted in the erection of the North Side College,

the Reynolds Block and the first Chamber of Commerce building. He then made a short visit to Canada.

In May, 1866, with Duncan Mcclellan, Mr. Paliner established a partnership contract busi- ness which continued until the fall of 1868, under the firm name of Mcclellan & Palmer. Mr. Palmer then united with Alexander McDonald, but this partnership continned only a few months, however, when Mr. Palmer decided to operate his business unaided, which he did for some time. In November, 1871, Mr. Palmer established him- self in business at No. 39 Homan Court. He was thus located until the spring of 1889. Since that time he has given his whole time and atten- tion to building. In July, 1898, he located an office at No. 4305 Langley Avenue. He con- structed the Chicago Post-Graduate Medical Col- lege, the residence of Barry Brothers, thirteen houses on Ellis Avenue, six on Kenwood Ave- nue and other residences on the South Side, and performed carpenter work on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot and the first Young Men's Christian Association building. From 1876 to 1898 he resided at No. 3212 Forest Avenue.

November 26, 1864, Mr. Palmer was united

612

JOHN KANE.

in marriage to Miss Margaret Carrie Honden, who was born January 18, 1841, in Scotland. She passed away in October, 1898, her death being caused by a cancer. She was a woman of noble character, a practical helpmeet to her hus- band, a kind mother, and one whose loss is very deeply mourned, not only by her immediate fam- ily, but by neighbors and all who were privileged to enjoy her friendship. Throughout her long and painful illness, she uttered no word of com- plaint.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were five in number. William John, born August 11, Church.

1867, died February 11, 1882. George Wilson, born April 26, 1869, married Miss Helen Fuller. He is in the service of the Northern Trust Com- pany, and resides with his wife and only child, at No. 3212 Forest Avenue. James Davidson, born March 17, 1871, died February 4, 1882. A biography of Frank Burr, the next in order of birth, appears on another page of this work. Grace was born August 8, 1875. Though never an office seeker, Mr. Palmer is a stanch Repub- lican. He and his family are consistent and honored members of the Second Adventist

JOHN KANE.

OHN KANE, who is one of Chicago's repre- sentative citizens, was born in 1832, in Waterford, Ireland. His father was Michael Kane, and his mother, who was a Miss Tobin, died when her son John was but three weeks old. With his father and brother and sisters- Patrick, Mary, Bridget and Nora-John Kane came to America in 1846. He located in Chicago and was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. He went, sub- sequently, to Saratoga Springs, New York, where he was married. He came back to Chicago and was occupied as a laborer before he entered into the enterprise of teaming. In 1859 he purchased thirteen and one-half acres of land, between Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seventh Streets, and moved a house to this property. Since that time he has resided at No. 6619 State Street.

John Kane was married April 8, 1856, to Bridget Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mar- garet (Halnan) Guerin. Mrs. Kane was born August 15, 1830, in Parish Minoe, County Clare, Ireland. Mrs. Kane and her sister, Mary, immi- grated to America in 1851, and located in Esperus,

Schoharie County, New York. They remained a period of three years and some months, during which time Mrs. Kane was employed by Mr. Alfred Isham. She then located in Saratoga Springs, New York, and was a seamstress in the tailor shop of Mr. Wilcox two years, and was with Daniel Stewart, in the capacity of household assistant, one year. Her father died when she was about eight years of age, in his early man- hood. He was a tiller of the soil by occupation. His wife survived him until 1852, having reached the age of forty years. Her children are accounted for as follows: James, a tiller of the soil, is mar- ried and resides in the city of Melbourne, Aus- tralia; John died at the age of fourteen years; Mrs. Kane is the next in order of birth; Mary never married and died at the age of twenty-two years; Michael lived to be eight years old; Patrick died one year before reaching his majority; Thom- as, a freight house clerk, married Elizabeth Lahiff, and resides in San Francisco, California. Cath- erine and Julia, twins, died at the age of eighteen months; Maggie lives near Seattle, Washington, having married John Crane, an agriculturist.

613

F. A. BROWN.

Mr. and Mrs. Kane became the parents of eleven children. Mary was born March 1, 1857, and married Mr. McKicham, extended mention of whom appears on another page of this work. John, born November 6, 1859, died March 23, 1887. He was killed by a train of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, at Root Street. Michael, born August 29, 1861, married Mary N. Steinberg, and their children are Clarence and Grace. He is a gate-keeper and has occupied this position twenty-one years. Mar- garet, born August 13, 1863, married John Metz- ger, and resides at the corner of Seventy-ninth Street and Ford Avenne. Mr. Metzger is an engineer and his children are: Nellie, John, Fred- erick, Philip and Bessie (the last two named be- ing twins) Kate and George. Patrick Henry Kane, born March 23, 1865, married Sophia Lowie. He is a policeman, and resides at the corner of Sangamon and Seventy-second Streets. His children are Albert and Roger. Ellen, born

December 25, 1866, married Samuel Rank. Her children are: Grace, Mamie and Hattie. Thomas, born November 24, 1867, is a watchman in the employ of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company. He married Annie Brown and resides on Chauncey Avenue. Their chil- dren are named: George, Thomas, Theresa and Stephen. James was born July 17, 1869, and died at the age of fourteen months. Elizabeth, born March 23, 1871, married Eugene Hutton, and their only child is named Engene. Mr. Hut- ton is a paper-hanger and decorator and resides on Wabash Avenne. Nora, born January 4, 1874, died when four days old. Stephen, born December 25, 1876, was in Troop E, First Illi- nois Cavalry, in the war with Spain.

Mr. Kane was born of Roman Catholic parents and is a stanch Democrat in politics. He is not an office-seeker, but is interested in the fate of his party and never fails to offer his influence and arguments in its favor.

FREDERIK A. BROWN.

REDERIK ANIAS BROWN is one of those sons of Denmark who have found a home in America at an early age, and who, while yet in the flush of young manhood, have attained success through their own unaided ex- ertions. He was born January 19, 1866, at Nakskow, and is the oldest of four children born to Hans and Laura Brown, both natives of Den- mark. His father was a brewer and still carries on the same business in his native place.

The elder Brown was naturally desirous of training his son to his own trade. Accordingly, when Frederik was fifteen years old and had attended the common schools for the customary period, he was placed to work in a general store, where he might learn something of the funda-

mental principles of business, and later was sent to a brewing school (the only institution of the sort in Denmark), to learn both the science and practical art of brewing. At the age of twenty- one years he returned to Nakskow and took charge of his father's business. There he re- mained for a period of two years, when he left his native country to begin a new career at Chicago.

Arriving in this city he commenced work for the North Western Terra Cotta Company, in which employ he remained four years. He re- turned to this concern, after working as collector for six months, during the Columbian Exposition, and continued with the company for a year and one-half. His next venture was to start a brewery

614

G. I. HOFFMANN.

at Racine, Wisconsin, the only one of its kind in America making non-intoxicating beer. After two years he disposed of his interest in the busi- ness to his partner, who still carries it on. Re- turning to Chicago, he entered into a teaming contract with Kuh, Nathan & Fischer, wholesale dealers in clothing, with which concern he has since remained.

Before leaving Denmark he was married to Johanna Hansen, who was born in Copenhagen1. Mr. Brown is an active member of the Danish Veterans' Association, of which he is (1899) secretary. He was several years president of the Danish Turners' Society, which has gone out of existence. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and is a Republican in politics.

GEORGE I. HOFFMANN.

EORGE I. HOFFMANN is a native of Lok- ken, Denmark. He was born July 4, 1834, and is the fourth child and third son of Thomas Christian Hoffmann and his wife, Cath- erine M. Petersen. Both parents were natives of Lokken, where the father was prominent in both mercantile and farming interests. He died at the age of fifty-eight years. The mother died at the age of seventy-five years. Both parents spent their lives in their native place. Their family consisted of ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity.

George I. Hoffmann passed his boyhood in his birthplace, attending the local schools until the age of fifteen years, when he was apprenticed to a farmer. Here, by his industry and close atten- tion to business, he rose at the end of two years to be assistant overseer. One year later he left that position to take charge of the property of a deceased uncle. At the end of two years this farm was sold and he managed another place for two and one-half years. At the end of that time he decided to come to America, and spent six months in making preparations for the journey.

He was at that time engaged to his present wife, but left his young sweetheart to follow him later, and in 1861 he landed in this country, coming to Lee County, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for about two months; but

the war of the Rebellion had been declared and the young Dane was anxious to help his adopted land, so with two of his countrymen he enlisted in Company A, Second Illinois Cavalry, and served with that regiment until the battle of Fort Donaldson, in 1862, when he was wounded. He was unwilling to be left behind and stayed with his company until after the battle of Shiloh, when his condition became known to his officers and he was honorably discharged on account of dis- ability. This is a fine record for a man who had been but a few months in this country. No native-born American has a better. After leav- . ing the army he spent a short time at Dixon, Illinois, and arrived in Chicago in 1862.

He at once started in business manufacturing cigars, locating first at No. 37 Kinzie Street. He remained at this site until 1865. He then re- moved to No. 1472 North Wells Street, where he continued the same line of business as before. After a period of two years he moved again to No. 105 East Kinzie Street, but the fire of 1871 turned him out of both home and business. He was able to recover only a nominal amount of insurance, and, removing his family to West Chicago, he rented one-half of a store on West Kinzie Street, where he began to build up again the trade swept away when Chicago was de- stroyed. He was at this location until 1873, when

615

NELS FIELDSE.

he moved to No. 201 Milwaukee Avenue, and in 1888 removed to his present location, where he has been since that date.

Mr. Hoffmann was engaged to Miss Anna S. Larsen, who came on to Chicago from Denmark, and they were married August 18, 1862. They have a family of five children. They are: Kath- rene (deceased); Catherine S., who is at home with her parents; Ida T., who is engaged in teaching; Thomas C., who died at the age of two years; and L. Maria, who is a teacher of music.

Mr. Hoffmann is a firm believer in Democratic principles and is active in party work. He was elected county commissioner in 1876 and served in that capacity until 1879. He then took a trip to his native country, and on his return contin- ued at his business.

He is one of the most interesting of our large

and highly respected Danish citizens, being the founder of the Society "Dania," the great social and charitable factor among the Danes of this city. He is the last man living of the twelve who were its original promoters, and it was due to his per- sonal efforts that it reached its present prominence. He is also one of the founders of the Danish Lutheran Trinitates Church, which was the first church established in Chicago. He is a Mason of note, being a member of Hesperia Lodge No. 411, Washington Chapter No. 43, Siloam Coull- cil No. 53, and Chicago Commandery No. 19.

Mr. Hoffmann occupies an enviable position among his acquaintances and friends. He has overcome many difficulties in business life and has been enabled to help many of his fellow- countrymen, besides being a loyal American citi- zen from the moment he landed in this country.

NELS FIELDSE.

ELS FIELDSE was born January 31, 1844, at Flekkefjord, in the northwestern part of Norway. Both his parents were natives of the same place, and were of that hardy, virile stock which has made the name of Norseman a synonym for strength and endurance. They were the parents of nine children, and lived to celebrate their diamond wedding. Mr. Fieldse's father, Peter Fieldse, died at the age of eighty- five years, and his mother, whose maiden name was Anina Jacobsen, at eighty-tliree, both pass- ing away near the spot where they were born. All their children grew to manhood and woman- hood.

Nels Fieldse was the youngest. Until his fifteenth year he attended the common schools, and after passing through their various grades was apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinet- maker, the term of apprenticeship (as is usual in

Norway) being five years, with no more com- pensation than mere subsistence. After becoming a journeyman, young Fieldse, anxious to see more of the world, set out for Copenhagen, and afterward visited Breslau, Guttenburg and Berlin. Returning to Norway, he remained at home for about a year and a-half, when he determined upon removing to Chicago.

He reached this city while the great fire of October, 1871, was still raging. It was a time when every variety of labor was in demand, and he readily found work at his trade. For twenty years he was thus employed, having been a fore- man during a considerable portion of this period. While serving in that capacity he fitted up the First and Commercial National Banks, Spaulding Brothers' store, the Metropolitan Business College, the ceiling in the Cathedral of the Holy Name, besides some other handsome interiors.

616

ANTON ROHDE.

In 1891 Mr. Fieldse opened his present place of business, at No. 398 West Chicago Avenue, which he operates as proprietor, under the business style of the West Side Mantel Company. He en- joys the reputation of being one of the finest and inost artistic workmen in Chicago, and makes specialties of handsome mantels, tilings, railings, wainscotings, and other interior fittings.

He was married in Chicago May 3, 1873, to a Norwegian young lady, Miss Nicolene Planting. Five children have been born to them: Palmer, Jennie (who is married to Nicholas Moe), Harry, Clara and Anton. With the exception of Mrs. Moe and Harry, who is married, all are living at home.

Mr. Fieldse is an active member of the follow-

ing organizations: Sons of Hermann, a German order; Knights and Ladies of Honor; and the Norwegian Glee Club. Of all of these bodies he has been president, having filled that office in the Sons of Hermann ten times, besides twice in the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and six times in the Glee Club.

His success has been extraordinary. Coming to this city penniless, he has, through his own indus- try, thrift and good judgment, built up a pros- perous business and achieved an enviable reputa- tion, not only as a skilled artisan, but as a man of integrity and mental acumen. He is of a social disposition and his home is a happy one. He resides in a handsome three story and basement brick house, which he erected in 1880.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 89

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