Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 90

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

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ANTON ROHDE.

NTON ROHDE, who has been a resident of Chicago over thirty years, and has risen to independence in the face of difficulties and misfortunes, was born in Fredensborg, Denmark, April 13, 1842. He is the youngest of three chil- dren of Dr. Frederik and Ida Rohde and is the only member of the family who has emigrated to America. Frederik Rohde was a graduate of the University of Copenhagen and practiced medi- cine for many years. He and his wife passed away many years ago.

After receiving an elementary training in the public schools, Anton Rohde entered a drug store as clerk, where he remained four years and, at the end of that time, had made considerable prog- ress in the study of pharmacy. He then took a course of two years in the University at Copen- hagen, graduating in 1866. He was then quali- fied to dispense drugs and at once accepted a position in a drug store, and continued as drug clerk in Denmark two years.

With a spirit of adventure natural to the pen- insular kingdom, he resolved to seek advance- ment in the newer country of America, and in 1868 made a journey across the Atlantic and on to Chicago. As he was not familiar with the language and customs of his adopted country, he was not at once able to make use of his knowl- edge of pharmacy, but spent one year in the factory of Mahler & Chappell. Having learned to speak English and having gained an acquaint- ance in the city, he was able to secure a more desir- able position and, during the next twelve months, was engaged in the drug store of Emil Dreyer, one of the most prominent Danes in Chicago at that time and for some years Danish consul.

But his natural courage and energy were not satisfied in serving others, and the next year, 1870, he opened a store of his own, at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Sedgwick Street, where he continued in business until the great fire swept away his property, leaving him in discouraging

617

ADAM SAUER.

circumstances. Shortly after this catastrophe he made a trip to the South, visiting Texas and Cuba. His intentions were to settle in the Danish island of St. Thomas, but he concluded his means were not sufficient to make a satisfac- tory beginning, so he crossed to New Orleans. He was unable to secure any advantages there, so he returned to Chicago and, borrowing capital, again opened a pharmacy, this time at the corner of Sedgwick and Oak Streets. He still had an account of three hundred dollars with the whole- sale druggists, Fuller & Fuller, which had been made previous to the fire, but when he asked to have this old account included in the new, they made him a present of the amount by throwing the bill in the waste paper basket. With an entirely new stock, Mr. Rohde began business again, but a short time after removed to Chicago Avenue. A few months later he found his health failing and disposed of his stock.

In 1872 he engaged in photography, though at first he was only able to make a living. He persevered, however, and after six years of hard work began to accumulate some capital. With his usual pride and energy he strove to become proficient in his art and to please his patrons. His work gradually increased in artistic merit

and his patronage grew in proportion. His work is much admired, and at the photographer's con- vention in Minneapolis, in 1888, he won a fine medal for the finest display of photographs. He opened his gallery at No. 90 West Ohio Street, corner of Milwaukee Avenue, and is still located at that number, being probably the only photog- rapher in the city who has been in the same lo- cation over twenty-five years. He is the oldest photographer on the street where he is located.

In 1876 Mr. Rohde was married, in Chicago, to Miss Augusta Traegarth, who was born in Sweden and came to Chicago with her parents at the age of two years. Her father, Sven Trae- garth, was among the prominent citizens in Chi- cago fifty years ago. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rohde, Ida and Sven, both of whom reside with their parents.

The subject of this notice is connected with several fraternal organizations. He has been a member of Thorwaldsen Lodge, Knights of Pythias, seventeen years. He is also a member of the order known as the Dansk Brodersamfund. With his brethren and among his acquaintances and friends, he is ever found to be a polished gentleman, and a genial and entertaining com- panion.

ADAM SAUER.

DAM SAUER, now deceased, was for many years a well-known business man in the northwestern section of Chicago. He was born February 18, 1846, in the village of Lohne, Kreis Fritzlar, Germany. His father was Martin Sauer, who apprenticed him to a cabinet-maker, after he had completed the curriculum of studies taught in the school of his native village.

In 1865, having served the prescribed term of apprenticeship, he came to Chicago, and here obtained work at his trade from a Mr. Clark, in whose employ he remained some five years. He then formed a co-partnership with a brother-in- law, and together they opened a grocery store on Milwaukee Avenue near Chicago Avenue. The business was not to Mr. Sauer's liking, and after

618

JOHN DE KOKER.

a few months he disposed of his interest therein to his partner and returned as a journeyman to Mr. Clark. Later he embarked for himself as a saloon-keeper, continuing in that line of trade until his death, which occurred September 24, 1886.

He was a man of sterling integrity and of a genial, generous disposition. He was noted for his public spirit, as well as for his genuine loyalty to the country of his adoption. In politics he was an ardent Republican and always an earnest worker for his party's success. He was a mem-

ber of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the Teutonic Singing Society. In religious faith he was a Lutheran.

He was married, August 9, 1868, to Miss Anna, daughter of Henry Hamil, a native of the same German village as himself. A more ex- tended notice of Mrs. Sauer may be found in the biography of Mr. Hamil, which appears else- where in this volume. The issue of the mar- riage was three children, the eldest of whom is deceased. Those yet living are: Alice S. and Alma M., the latter the wife of Otto Nottelman.

JOHN DE KOKER.

OHN DE KOKER was born March 17, 1862, and is a son of Abraham and Martha (Mo- balius) De Koker, the foriner a Belgian and the latter a Hollander by birth. Both died in Chicago. His father was one of the first settlers of Chicago and one of the first carpenters in the vicinity of Roseland, Pullman and Kensington. Five of his children now reside in Chicago.

Abraham, the eldest, resides on a farm at De Motte, Indiana. Mollie, who married John Oling, an employe of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, resides in Kensington. Jane married Charles Fraatz, and died in 1892, leaving five children. Cornelius, born April 13, 1856, con- ducts a catering establishment at No. 6321 South Park Avenue. March 3, 1879, he was married to Miss Johanna, daughter of Peter Mack, and a native of Holland. His children are: Peter, Annie, Maud, Abram, Joseph and Cora. James is a contracting carpenter, very successful in this enterprise, and resides at No. 2546 One Hundred Seventeenth Place. John is next in order of birth. Jacob was born November 26, 1865, and is occupied in the same business as his brother Cornelius. He was married to a native of the

Netherlands, Miss Nellie Leits, and a daughter of Jacob Leits. She was born in 1867, and her children are accounted for as follows: Maud, born in September, 1888, died in November of the same year; Maud, another child of the same name, was born in November, 1889, and died at the age of seventeen months; Martin, born June 5, 1891, and Abraham, born May 27, 1894, re- side in Chicago.

John De Koker attended school until he reached the age of fourteen years, subsequent to which time he was occupied in agricultural labors until nineteen years of age. Being very energetic and ambitious of character, he began the sale of fish and vegetables, with a market in the town of Pullman. After two years he began catching fish for sale. In the spring of the year 1890 he conceived success in another line of occupation and established a saloon at the corner of One Hundred Third Street and Wabash Avenue, a very desirable location. He entered the build- ing which he had erected for another, but in 1892 he changed his location to a building of his own, at the corner of the same street and Michigan Avenue. He remained there until May, 1895,

619

P. G. RUEHL.

when he removed to the northern part of the state of Michigan. August 16, 1897, he returned to Chicago and has since resided at the corner of Ninetieth Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.

Conducive to a life of success and realized ambitions through one's own efforts, is a worthy and helpful life partner, such as Mr. De Koker secured. He was married June 15, 1887, to Miss Bertha, daughter of John Stall. Mrs. De Koker was born in Holland and came to America when she was quite young. She is the mother of six very bright and attractive children: Maud, born

October 3, 1888; Abram, April 25, 1890; Jacob, November 5, 1891; Annie, in August, 1893; John, April 1, 1896; and Richard, March 5, 1898.

In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mr. De Koker is a member of Fernwood Lodge No. 228. He is independent in his political views, preferring to vote at all times for the man, rather than for the furtherance of party. He has served as judge of elections. By all men who have been fortunate enough to make his acquaintance, Mr. De Koker is regarded with respect and esteem, and is recognized as a man of honor and integrity.

PAUL G. RUEHL.

AUL GUSTAV RUEHL, belongs to the of the river. His partner was Mr. Reece. In great class of German-Americans which the year 1866 he sent for his family and sold his interest in the business in the old country to his brother. does so much for the upbuilding of the best and most substantial businesses of the metropolis of the west. He was born October 7, 1861, in Wiesbaden, Germany, a son of Gustav William and Minnie Byanky (Remmy) Ruehl.

The grandfather, William Ruehl, was in the business of cutting and dealing in stone, which was handed down to his sons. His children were: William, Gustav, Carl, Alvina and Rose. None emigrated from their native land except Gustav William. Siegfried Remmy, maternal grandfa- ther, was a Frenchman and has five children.

Gustav William Ruehl died May 1, 1871, and his remains were interred at Waldheim Cemetery. He was born August 23, 1829, in Wiesbaden, Germany. He conducted a stone yard in his na- tive land and followed the cut stone business in the town of Wiesbaden, in partnership with his brother, Karl. He left his family in Germany and came to America in 1859. He came to Chi- cago and established a business like the one he left in Germany, and his stone yard was between Polk and Harrison Streets, on the south branch

His first extensive contract was for the old Court House, on the North Side. He was the first cut stone worker in Chicago, and had a monopoly of the business for a long time. He was practically an invalid the last four years of his life, and lived retired. He lost all his ac- cumulations in the fire of 1871. Mrs. Minnie B. Ruehl, the mother of Paul G. Ruehl, died Jan- uary 3, 1890. She was born February 23, 1829, in Mentz, on the Rhine, Germany. Her chil- dren were Paul Gustav and a daughter, Frances, who was born July 14, 1853. She married Theo- dore Onsweiler, a cattle dealer, and resides in Wichita, Kansas. They have five bright, inter- esting children.

Paul G. Ruehl attended public schools until he reached the age of fourteen years. He was sub- sequently employed two years at the store of Marshall Field & Company and subsequently at clerical labor in the postoffice six years. For four years he conducted a billiard and pool hall

620

L. A. McDOLE.

at No. 2834 Union Avenue. He then entered the police department, and was patrolman for a period of nine years. He has since been one year with the Union Stock Yards & Transit Company.

Conducive to the success and happiness of a man's whole life is a pleasant, congenial life companion, such as Mrs. Ruehl has proven. Mr. Ruehl was married October 20, 1887, to Miss 'Edith Sophia Ann, daughter of George Parker. She was born in London, England, February 18, 1865, and came to America in 1869. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Ruehl are as follows: Paul

William, born July 21, 1888; Ruby Sophia Ann, September 2, 1891; William George Parker, March 9, 1893; and Minnie Olive Belle, July 3, 1894.

Mr. Ruehl is connected with the Policemen's Benevolent Association. He has served as judge of election, and casts his vote in favor of the Republican party. He is a worshipper in the Baptist Church and sanctions any move for the benefit of the people, and lends his influence, as well as financial aid, to charity. Coming of a very old and respected family, he is a credit to the name he bears.

LEMUEL A. McDOLE.

EMUEL ALEXANDER Mc DOLE was born February 8, 1857. At the time of his birth his parents, David and Catherine (Emmy) McDole, resided at Newport, now Maine City, Michigan.

The name was originally Dole, and the great- grandfather of L. A. McDole emigrated from France and settled in Vermont, marrying into a family of Whitneys. His son, David McDole, added the prefix to the name. He was born in Vermont, where his parents were among the first settlers. They later removed to Pappineauville, province of Quebec, Canada, where David Mc- Dole conducted a store. He married Miss Chloe Carpenter and had children as follows: Alexan- der, Lemuel, David, Cynthia, Fannie, Caroline and Olive.

David McDole left Canada during the war of 1812 and fought with the United States as an officer. The maternal grandfather of the man whose name heads this article, Frederick Emmy, came to America in 1840, and located in Detroit. He came from Strassburg, Germany, a city lo- cated on the Rhine River. His wife was a French

lady and their children were named: Frederick, David and Catherine.

David McDole, son of David McDole, Senior, was born June 11, 1827, in Pappineauville, Canada, and died May 17, 1898. His remains were interred in Oakwoods Cemetery. In his early manhood he removed to Oswego, New York, and served an apprenticeship in Goodsell's ship yards. He then located in Detroit, Michi- gan, and was in the service of E. B. Ward until 1865, when he began contracting for himself. At Newport, Michigan, he built the schooner, "Meers," and many others. He built more lake vessels than any other man and was part owner in the schooner "John Rice" and old brig "Prebel." In the spring of the year 1868 he lo- cated in Chicago, in what is known as South Chicago, where he made his home until his death. He had charge of dock work for the Calumet & Chicago Canal & Dock Company, under Charles Mears, doing the first dock work in the imme- diate vicinity.

He built the first schooner that entered the harbor of Calumet, now South Chicago. He

621

CONRAD KNUTSEN.

later put in the slip at the Brown rolling mills and completed the dock at Ninety-third Street. In 1865 he fell off a tug, and in after years his health was impaired by this accident, the fall being a distance of thirty-seven feet. He was known as one of the finest mechanics on the lakes. The children of Mr. and Mrs. David Mc- Dole were four in number. Charles Edward, born January 12, 1854, resides in Chicago. Lemuel A. is the next in order of birth. Olive Rosaline married Gest Westfeldt; and Clara, the youngest, married Harry Sellick. For his second wife, Mr. McDole married Miss Mary Donaldson, and her daughter, Ida, married Thomas Cart- wright, who resides in Montana.

Lemuel A. McDole was educated in Maine City Academy, attending until he was twelve years of age. He then became occupied at packing shingles, and subsequently worked in and around ship yards until 1869, when he went to school in South Chicago for a short time. After leaving school he was in the same interest as formerly, and went into the postal service under E. G. Clark, the first postmaster in South Chicago, who also owned and operated a coal yard.

After three years in this capacity his father started a coal yard. The old Volunteer Fire Company located in the vicinity, and L. A. Mc- Dole took the engine out to the first fire, which was the burning of the Casper House, across the street. He subsequently for one year occupied himself with the house moving business and for the same length of time was engineer for his

father on the tug "Meteor." For a short time he was on a pleasure boat, which had for its course the distance between Harrison Street and Lincoln Park. For a period of three years he was engineer on the boat "Pet," and took the first vessel load of lumber into Calumet Lake. He was in the government employ, being engin- eer on a government launch for two years. In 1881 he had charge of draining and putting in the artifical lakes in Washington Park, being in the employ of the Washington Park board until 1885, when he was made chief engineer of the Standard Oil Company's plant, located at the corner of Sixty-third Street and Prairie Avenue. Until 1890 he was engineer for Martin Ryerson, at No. 45 Randolph Street, after which he became inspector of elevators and machinery for the London Guarantee & Accident Company, with which concern he is still identified.

Being very ambitious and energetic, Mr. Mc- Dole succeeded in building a cottage at No. 6420 St. Lawrence Avenue, in 1888, which burned and was replaced by a fine two-story brick house, built in 1895. August 29, 1894, Mr. McDole married Miss Charlotta Olive Heavens, daughter of Frederick and Sarah Heavens. His wife was born in Dixon, Illinois, and her only child, Fred- erick, was born October 11, 1897. The family is connected with the First Baptist Church. Mr. McDole's father came of Protestant stock and his mother of Roman Catholic. He is a truly con- scientious man, enjoying the honor and respect of all who meet him.

CONRAD KNUTSEN.

ONRAD KNUTSEN is a native of Norway, but has been a valued and respected citizen of the United States for many years. He was born at Bergen, Norway, July 5, 1860. His

father, Knut Knutsen, was a shoemaker, who died in his native place at the age of fifty-seven. The mother, Caroline Eriksen, a sturdy Nor- wegian maiden, bore her husband six sons, of

622

MARTIN HANSEN.

whom Conrad is the oldest. Mrs. Knutsen is still living in her native land, in a happy and honored old age.

Young Conrad attended school until he was fourteen years of age, although about one half his time, after reaching the age of eleven years, was devoted to learning the art of making fish hooks, for which the fishing industries of the Scandi- navian peninsula create a constant demand. He believed, however, that the new world across the water was full of promise, and in May, 1880, he came hither. He went as far West as Iowa, where, in Winneshiek County, he went to work on a farm. Growing dissatisfied, he came to Chi- cago, and here, for a time, he supported himself by whatever labor he could find to do. Finally he secured steady employment with the Babcock Fire Extinguisher Company, and remained in the

employ of that concern nine years. By 1892 he had managed to save enough capital to open a yard for the sale of coal and wood. The venture proved successful, and he has continued in the business ever since, his present location being at No. 972 North Robey Street.

In October, 1885, he married a young lady of Chicago birth, but Scandinavian descent, Miss Hannah Nielsen. Mrs. Knutsen is a daughter of J. O. Nielsen, of Highland Park, who lays claim to the distinction of being an old settler, having resided there for some forty years. The marriage has resulted in the birth of three chil- dren, Henry, Cora and Ida.

Mr. Knutsen is a Forester, and a member of the Scandinavian Society Nora and a Knight of the White Cross. He is a Republican, but votes rather for men that for partisan issues.

MARTIN HANSEN.

ARTIN HANSEN has been a resident of Chicago twenty years, and is well known in the section of the city where he resides and carries on business. He was born in Sweden, June 9, 1861, the sixth of a family of nine chil- dren, all except one of whom are (1899) yet living. His father, Hans Hansen, a brickmaker, and his mother, whose maiden name was Bata Comeliesen, are still living in Sweden.

Martin left school at the age of sixteen years and began active life as a baker's apprentice. He did not complete his term, however, emigrating to America when but nineteen years old. He came to Chicago immediately after landing and for six years worked at any honorable toil which his hand could find to do. At the end of that time, through industry, temperance and thrift, he had accumulated enough to enable him to em- bark in a small business on his own account. He

opened a restaurant at No. 194 Wells Street, which he conducted three years. In 1894 he en- gaged in the business of a butcher, opening a meat market at No. 290 Milwaukee Avenue. The venture proved so successful that he has since opened a branch at No. 240 West Erie Street, and now conducts both establishments. It is not surprising that in looking back over his career in Chicago Mr. Hansen feels pardonable pride in reflecting that the poor boy of nineteen has grown to be the prosperous business man of thirty-eight, and that his success is due to him self alone.

In 1887 he married Sophia Jensen, a lady born in Denmark. She has borne him six children- Otto, Tillie, Lillie, Florence, Willbert and Irvin. In politics Mr. Hansen is independent, prefer- ring to exercise his own better judgment rather than blindly follow party dictation.

LIBRARY OF THE .VERSITY OF ILLI"

Marcus A Stanwell

623

M. A. FARWELL.

MARCUS A. FARWELL.

ARCUS AUGUSTUS FARWELL. Far- well is the anglicized form of the Norman- French word Fauvel. This fact suggests antiquity of family origin. The Farwells, as con- nected with the history of Great Britain, have been chiefly conspicuous in Yorkshire. As re- mote as the ancient days of King Edward I. (A. D. 1280), Richard Farwell was united in marriage to the heiress of Elias de Rillertone. From that time forth the name appears in local and state records in many honorable connections.

A descendant of this noble line, Henry Far- well came to New England, where he was ad- mitted as a freeman of Concord, Massachusetts, Marclı 14, 1639. He was the progenitor of nearly all the American Farwells. Later in life he removed to Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where he died August 1, 1670. He had a vigorous posterity, scions of which were actively scattered over the New England territory, as fast as new settlements opened up. New Hampshire and Con- necticut were especially early indebted to this stock for valuable colonizers.

The first generations became quite distin- guished as Indian fighters. In the various Colonial, French, Indian, Revolutionary and 1812 Wars, the Farwells have been actively en- gaged. As privates and officers they bear un- blemished records.

Samuel Farwell came from England to Marble- liead, Massachusetts, some time between 1720 and 1740. He had three sons and several daugli- ters. The sons were Absalom, Richard and John. Richard Farwell married a Miss Pickett,

and removed to Nelson, New Hampshire, about 1772. He cleared a farm which is still known as his place, and here he made oars, which he took to Boston and exchanged for such articles as could not be produced at home. April 12, 1776, nearly three months before the passage of the Declaration of Independence, he signed what was called the "Association Test," which read as follows: "We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleet and armies against the American colonies." Richard and his brother Absalom were soldiers of the Revolu- tion and fought under Stark at Bennington. A prominent and wealthy neighbor, named Batch- eldor, had joined the English forces, and Richard Farwell used to say that he saw Batcheldor there in the ranks of the British and "took as good aim at him as he ever did at a black duck." At the battle of Bennington, Richard and Absalom were in the thickest of the fight. Richard, who knew no fear, was standing out completely ex- posed to the murderous fire, while his comrades were behind trees and rocks. The fight was in the woods. Absalom, seeing him thus exposed, called out to him: "Get behind a tree, brother Richard, get behind a tree. They'll put your daylights out." But Richard continued to load and fire where he was. It was there he said he saw Batcheldor and fired at him. These Far- wells were so prominent, on account of their size and bravery, that Stark knew them, and said if

624

M. A. FARWELL.

he had a regiment of such men, he could drive the British into the Atlantic. Richard was also noted for his feats of strength. He lived to be about seventy-seven years old. His eldest son, Absalom, married a Lovejoy, and their son, Zopliar, was the father of the subject of this sketch. Zophar Farwell's wife was Miss Betsey Kuiglit.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 90

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