Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 92

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

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made a Mason in John Jones Lodge in 1884. He is independent in political ideas, voting for the man best suited for the office, rather than for party. He was reared in the faith of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and is true to the teach- ings of his fathers.

FREDERICK C. GEBERT.

REDERICK CHRISTIAN GEBERT, one of Chicago's retired business men, is a promi- nent land-owner in the city, and takes an admirable interest in the welfare of his fellow- citizens. He comes of a stanch old race, born in Germany, and is a typical representative of the sturdiness and strength of character of his people. He was born February 19, 1848, in New Caliss, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. His parents were George and Dorothea Elizabeth (Rohlk) Gebert. His maternal grandfather was John Johachim Rohlk, who married Katharine Louise Rohr.

George Gebert died in 1849, having reached the age of forty-nine years. He crossed tlie Atlantic Ocean three times in a whaling vessel, and subsequently sailed in local German waters, and commanded small boats. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Miss Akoff. His second wife was the mother of the man whose name heads this article. Dorothea E. Rohlk was born September 1, 1811, at New Caliss, Mecklenburg- Schwerin, Germany. She died April 18, 1891, and her remains were interred in Oakwoods Cemetery.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. George Gebert were six in number. Mary Elizabeth, born Sep- tember 4, 1828, died April 4, 1875, her remains being buried in Oakwoods Cemetery. She left a husband, Henry Salto, to mourn her loss. George

Charles, the next in order of birth, was born October 4, 1831, and died September 14, 1898. He emigrated from his native land in 1856, ar- riving in Chicago in the spring of that year, and resided here until his death. Henry John is spoken of on another page of this work. Fred- erick Christian is the youngest of his father's family.

Frederick Christian Gebert reached Chicago June 28, 1857, and attended school in this city until he was seventeen years of age. He was employed in the flour and feed business by his brother, John, subsequently, for a period of four- teen years. October 1, 1879, he established a feed store at No. 3031 State Street, which he conducted eighteen months. He was later oc- cupied in a seed store, under the conduct of Wal- lace & Kingman. He was successively with the American Seed Company and Albert Dickinson Seed Company until April, 1891, when he re- tired from active business life, to enjoy a well- earned rest and the comforts of a very pleasant home.

He married, June 14, 1888, Miss Mada Marie, daughter of John and Christina (Hasenmeyer) Krohn. She was born in Peotone, Illinois, No- vember 18, 1859. Her father, John Krohn, was born1 November 17, 1825, in the village of Little Zein, Mecklenberg-Schwerin, Germany, and emi- grated to Lombard, Du Page County, in 1857.

632

C. A. ORNBERG.

He later removed to Peotone, Illinois, where he was one of the earliest settlers, and where he still resides. He occupied the position of coach- man in his native land.

Mrs. John Krohn was born January 27, 1836, in Wenn, Hanover, Germany. Her children are accounted for as follows: Mrs. Gebert is the old- est; Mary, born May 4, 1861, died at the age of eighteen months; Henry John, born July 18, 1865, resides at, No. 7257 Lexington Avenue, Chicago; Federick, born February 25, 1867, makes his home with Mr. Gebert; and Dena, born June 16, 1868, resides at home with her parents. The grandfather of Mrs. Gebert, Joseplı Krohn, married Miss Marie Miller, and her chil- dren are accounted for as follows: Joseph, born in 1822, never married; John and Christian are deceased, as are also Christopher and Frederick; Marie and two younger, whose names are not re- corded.

Mr. Gebert has been very successful as a busi- ness man, and in 1867 built a house at the cor- ner of Twenty-ninth Place and South Park Ave- nue. In January, 1872, he moved his house to No. 3036 Vernon Avenue and has resided at this location since that time. In 1891 he built a flat building at Nos. 114-116 Thirty-first Street, which is four stories in height, of brick, and con- tains six flats and two stores. In 1870 he erected a two-story brick building at No. 3031 State Street, which he has since disposed of. He owns a frame building located at No. 3034 Vernon Avenue.

Mr. Gebert is a descendant of Protestant peo- ple and has ever been true to the teachings of his fathers in regard to religion. He is not an office seeker, but upholds the Republican party at all opportunities. He is a man of influence and ability, and is well known and respected in the vicinity where he resides.

CHARLES A. ORNBERG.

HARLES A. ORNBERG is a native of Sjaland, Denmark, having been born at that place, January 17, 1854. He is the son of P. A. Ornberg and his wife, Catherine C. Bensen. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom were sons, and all grew to maturity. Charles was the fourth child and third son. His father was a prominent teacher and was em- ployed in the schools of his native place. He passed away in 1897, at the age of seventy-eiglit years. The mother was the daughter of a priest and a member of a notable family. She died in 1881, and was sixty-seven years old at the time of her death.

Mr. Ornberg attended school in his native town until he reached the age of fifteen years,

when he took an active part in caring for a farin owned by his father. He was nineteen years old when he began the practical study of farming, and at the end of two years he became manager of one of those hugh estates such as only exist in the old country and are quite different from what we style farms. This one contained between eighty and ninety thousand acres, and furnished employ- ment to over eighty men. He held this position three years and then served in the army seventeen months, and was promoted to the rank of cor- poral.

He then sailed for the New World, reaching New York May 18, 1881, and came direct to Chicago. He was first employed in the lumber business for a short time, when he went to New

633

BERNARD KOTZ.

Mexico and was in the employ of the Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad. He remained liere until the spring of 1882, when he returned to Chicago and was again in the employ of a lumber company.

At the end of the summer he went to New Orleans and was a sub-contractor on the levee, and at the end of two months started by boat for Vicksburg. In the night he was robbed of all his little savings, one hundred and eighty dollars. It was stolen by the negroes employed on the boat. This mishap did not daunt Mr. Oruberg. Landing at Vicksburg without any money, lie was able to get work there and at the end of two months returned to Chicago. He then engaged in the teaming business, which he followed two years. He was variously employed until April 1, 1886, when he started in business for himself locating first at No. 273 Milwaukee Avenue. One year later he sold out and started afresh on West North Avenue. One year later he sold this place and returned to and bought the old

place on Milwaukee Avenue. At the expiration of four years he again disposed of his business and purchased his present place at No. 468 West Erie Street.

He was married in Chicago, April 10, 1886, to Miss Carrie Hansen, a native of Sclileswig, Den- mark. They have four children, namely: Elna, Aage, Erig and Dagmar, all born in Chicago. Erig is a mute and is attending the Englewood School for Deaf and Dumb, where he will receive all the benefits that it is possible to bestow 011 those who are in a measure shut out from the ordinary advantages of school and business life. All the other children are at home.

Mr. Ornberg is connected witli the following organizations: Singing Society Harmonien, Dan- ish Veterans and the Danish Brotherhood. He has filled all the offices in the latter, from the low- est to president. He is highly esteemed by all his associates, whether business or social, and like most of his countrymen is an admirable citizen.

BERNARD KOTZ.

ERNARD KOTZ. Among our most worthy and influential citizens are those of Teutonic blood. They are hardy by nature and are equal to all the hardships which it is in the power of man to overcome. Persistent and persevering to an extreme, they succeed financially, invari- ably surmounting all difficulties. Bernard Kotz, born February 7, 1855, in Germany, spent his early years in the village of Brecht. His par- ents, Bertien and Mary (Ludes) Kotz, removed to the last-named village, when their son, Ber- nard, was but eighteen months of age.

In 1872 his mother and sister, Margaret, emi- grated from their native land, and he came to America with them. For six months after his arrival he was employed on the farm of his

cousin, John Ludes. He remained in the vicinity of Gross Point, Cook County, two years, engaged in farming and gardening. He then was occupied with section work for the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroad Company, one year, and later with teaming six months. After spending six years in a tannery, four and one-half years with T. F. Wheeler, in Waukegan, a short time with Sharp & Clark, in Chicago, lie was engaged five years in expressing, and a short time in firing a boiler for T. F. Wheeler, a former employer. He then entered the employ of the Chicago City Railroad Company and is among its force at the present time, being valued and honored by those to whose interests he is ever true.

July 26, 1882, he was married to Miss Barbara

634

G. A. WOOD.

Schucker, daughter of John and Katharine Schucker. Mrs. Kotz was born April 14, 1865, in Bavaria, Germany, and is a worthy helpmate and companion. In 1888 Mr. Kotz erected a residence at No. 6327 Evans Avenue, this being

the first house in the block on the east side of the street. This was raised to height of two stories, above a high basement, in the year 1899, making of it a valuable and handsome residence prop- erty.

GEORGE A. WOOD.

EORGE ALBERT WOOD. Of the rising generation of prominent and highly-es- teemed business men of the present time in the city of Chicago, how many are the result of excellent training and rearing of the teachings of their fathers in a business manner, and of their mothers in the way that they should go; and yet they are given the honor when the fathers and forefathers are forgotten. George Albert Wood was at one time well known among the business world of this city, but has retired from active life to give place to his sons, who do him credit in every sense of the word. He is to be honored and esteemed, as he truly is, for his part in the welfare of the world.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, January 13, 1827, he is the son of Calvin and Mary (Bond) Wood. He was left an orphan at the extremely youthful age of six years. Calvin Wood was born in America, but of Englishi parentage. He was barber, musician and correspondent for a local paper. He died in 1833, at the age of forty- two years, in the prime of life. His wife died when her youngest child, the man whose nanie heads this article, was six months of age. She was the mother of tliree children: Jesse was married and resided in California; he died at tlie age of forty years, leaving one child. Henrietta inarried Eldon H. Sigler and resides in Brook- lyn, New York; she is the mother of two chil- dren.

At the death of his mother, George A. Wood

was adopted by Mrs. Hannah Norris, widow of John Norris, and lived with her until he was seventeen years of age. When he was ten years of age she removed from her home in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she had lived but six months, to New York City. George A. Wood started to learn the cigar business in Poughkeepsie and kept at it for some time. After eight years in New York City he removed to Burlington, Ver- mont, where he continued at his trade. At one time he conducted a prosperous retail shoe busi- ness in that city. He subsequently decided to locate in Chicago, and arrived in that city in the fall of 1856.

He launched into the commission business and opened an office on Dearborn Street. He was later one year a clerk in the service of Mr. Pot- ter, on Raudolph Street. He then established a grocery store and meat market at the corner of Market and Madison Streets. October 20, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-second Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, remaining with this regiment nine months, when he was transferred to Company G. After three months he was mustered out at Vicksburg. He was in the bat- tles at Nashville, Jackson, Franklin and Mobile Bay.

Mr. Wood returned to Chicago and became an employe of Jameson & Morse, printers, located at Nos. 10-12 La Salle Street. He was thus oc- cupied eight years, and four subsequent years was with Culver, Page, Hoyne & Company, re-

635

CHRISTIAN LARSEN.

turning to the old employ, to be in that service five years. He then succumbed to the injuries received in the war, and for the past twelve years has been practically an invalid.

October 28, 1851, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth, dangliter of George Wash- ington Allen. Mrs. Wood was born July 13, 1829, in Burlington, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of seven children. Guilford Sigler, born in Burlington, Vermont, July 12, 1852, married Miss Carrie Stanton, and has a son and daughter, Chester Guilford, born in Novem- ber, 1884, and Gladys Marie, in June, 1891. Heis one of the most popular and well-known sales- men of the firm of W. H. Salisbury & Company, dealers in rubber goods and leather belting. Eveline Almina, born in Burlington, Vermont, May 21, 1854, is not married. George Allen, who was born in Burlington, Vermont, May 8, 1856, lives in Kansas City and is married. Leonard Jameson, born December 7, 1858, in Chicago, died September 3, 1859. Henrietta

Sigler, born April 2, 1862, in Chicago, married J. H. Barnette, an electrotyper. She resides in Austin, and her children are: Fannie Eckler, Joseph H. and Dorothy. Emma Frances, born June 15, 1867, married Charles H. Morgan, a traveling salesman, and their one child is Eveline Wood. Lilian May married W. E. Wood, a man who is no blood relation to the family, and they reside at No. 3518 Ellis Avenue. He has charge of the Douglas Club House, and his children are: Douglas and George Washington.

Mr. Wood was very successful financially, and being an economical and energetic man, suc- ceeded in building a residence for himself and family at No. 1201 Sixty-seventh Street, in 1891. He has since been located at this number. He never sought public office, but favors the Repub- lican party with his vote and sanction. He is a highly respected man in the community where he resides, and has been recognized as an actor in the great business turmoil of Chicago who will never be forgotten.

CHRISTIAN LARSEN.

HRISTIAN LARSEN, a well-known and highly esteemed member of the Danish colony in Chicago, is a man in the prime of life, having been born August 17, 1848, at Saug- land, Denmark. His father, Anselm Larsen, was a wagon-maker by trade, and died at about the age of forty. Of the four children born to his father, Christian is the youngest, and only two are yet living.

At the age of fourteen he quit school to begin the more hazardous, more exciting life of a sailor. His life aboard ship commenced in the capacity of a cook, a post more important than dignified. Within a year, however, he had learned enough of the mysteries of a sailor's craft to become an

ordinary seaman. His first voyage to America was made in 1864, and it was in the autumn of that year that he first landed in Boston. At that port he shipped as one of the crew of a coasting vessel, the "America," and sailed with that craft for six months.

Tiring of short voyages which such a life ne- cessitated he joined the crew of the United States man-of-war, "Canandaigua," as an able seaman, and sailed with that vessel under Admiral Far- ragnt three years and four months, making all the principal ports of Europe. Returning to the United States he set out for Buffalo, to try navi- gating the Great Lakes. He sailed on these in- land seas every summer until 1870, when his in-

636

PETER BUHL.

born love of adventure impelled him to seek a new clime. In that year he sailed on the "Can- andaigua" to Santiago, Cuba, where he re- mained for nearly two months, quite long enough to become acclimated, having nearly died of yel- low fever under the tropical sun.

In the spring of 1871 he came back to Chicago, and once more tempted the waters of Lake Michi- gan. For nearly eight seasons he led this ad- venturous, fascinating life, and in 1878 he mar- ried Miss Gorten Rolsen, a maiden from Norway. Thereupon, for some reason (perhaps remem- brance of the young wife, perhaps because he had tired of roving and adventure) he determined to settle down. Accordingly, he located himself at No. 322 West Ohio Street, where he still makes his home. His first venture in business as a landsman was the purchase of a milk route. In 1887 he established himself in the grocery trade,

and has continued in that line of business ever since, building up a prosperous clientage through industry and integrity. The same year in which he embarked in this new venture he built a small store, and ten years later, in 1897, he erected his present handsome three-story, stone-front flat building. In addition to this fine property he also owns a three-story frame building at. No. 370 West Erie Street. It would not be surpris- ing if, deep down in his heart, he rejoiced over the success which he knows that he owes to his own enterprise.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Larsen, and all on the spot to which he first led his bride, twenty years ago. They are named: Fred, Julius, Mamie, Harry, Gertie and Christian.

Mr. Larsen is a prominent member of the So- ciety Dania, and of the Danish Brotherhood, having held office in the latter organization.

PETER BUHL.

ETER BUHL. This well-known member of the Danish-American colony is a striking illustration of the success which may be achieved through perseverance and well-directed effort. He conducts a well-stocked establishment at No. 909 Milwaukee Avenue, where he deals in oils, paints, glass and wall paper, doing a prosperous business and enjoying the esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances.

He was born in Fredericia, Denmark, May 3, 1865. His father, Frederik Buhl, was a hotel- keeper in his native town, where he died, at tlie age of threescore years. His mother's name be -- fore marriage was Cliristine Hansen. She bore her husband eight children (seven of whom grew up) and died at the ripe old age of seventy-two years.

Of this large family Peter was the youngest. He attended the Latin school in his own town

until he reached his fourteenth year, when his parents sent him to Copenhagen, to pursue his studies at a military academy, an institution analogous to our own academy at West Point, from which institution he was duly graduated. On leaving the academy he was assigned to the Fifth Regiment at Nyborg. At the end of eight- een months he took an examination, passing third in a class of seventy-four, and was made a second lieutenant, and transferred to the Seventh Regiment, doing duty with that body of troops for one year. Having won a reputation for mil- itary qualities, and being endowed with mental abilities of a high order, he was sent to the inili- tary high school. This appointment was a rare distinction, having been given solely because of merit and being one of twenty which were inade by the government out of the entire army. What

637

W. G. FISCHER.

his career might have been cannot be told, had it not been that ill health compelled him to resign from the school at the end of eighteeen months. For half a year afterwards he once more served in the Fifth, and then left the army. He then accepted a position as instructor in the Fred- eriksberg Latin and Real School, at the same time attending a technical school for one term. During the same period he gave instruction in several Copenhagen institutions. Later he spent two and one-half years in Germany, as a decora- tor, and then came to America.

Chicago was liis first halting place. Here he readily found employment as a sign painter and decorator, sometimes working for day wages, as a journeyman, and sometimes being paid by the piece. In 1893 he first opened a shop of his

own at the same location where he is to-day. At first he confined himself to sign-painting and work on contract, carrying no stock for sale. Gradually, however, his business expanded, and he began to deal in the accessories of his trade. At present he has one of the best equipped estab- lishments in that section of the city, and is able to point with pride to the success which has crowned his own unaided efforts.

He was married in November, 1892, to Miss Agnes Rasmussen. Mrs. Buhl was born in Den- mark. She has no children. Mr. Buhl is presi- dent of the Danish Veterans, and a member of the Singing Society Harmonien. Front 1891 to 1897 he was teacher of the Danish Turners, an organization which disbanded in the last-men- tioned year.

WILLIAM G. FISCHER.

ILLIAM G. FISCHER is one of eight children born to Christian and Melusine Fischer, of Schmidburg, in the province of Brandenberg, Germany. Both his parents died in the Fatherland, and sleep beneath the shadow of the hills they loved so well. All their children emigrated to America, but William is the only one living in Chicago. They were named, re- spectively: Christian, August, Charles, Hannah, Gus, Ernestina, William and Minnie. Three of these, Christian, Hannah and Minnie, are de- ceased.

Mr. Fischer was born August 15, 1841, and in boyhood received the ordinary education given by the parish schools of his native place. After coming to Chicago he attended night school, with a view to acquiring a better knowledge of the English language and greater fluency in its use.

For a time after settling here he worked as a laborer in mills, but in September, 1861, while on a visit to his brother in Wisconsin, he enlisted in the Union army, joining Company B, of the Ninth Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers. He was made a corporal, and during the last two years of his service acted as bugler. He was a gallant soldier, and participated in all the battles, skirmishes and sieges in which his regiment was engaged, some of the most noteworthy being Pea Ridge, Cowskin Prairie, Vicksburg and Sabine River. He was thrice wounded but never seriously. In November, 1864, he was honor- ably discharged at Milwaukee and returned to Chicago.

From that time until 1882 he continued work- ing in and around machine shops, and in the last- mentioned year he was appointed a letter-carrier

638

A. C. WILSON.

in the city postoffice. This position he held until 1898, when he resigned. Since then he lias en- joyed a well-earned rest.

His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, and he has always continued to support the policy and candidates of the Repub- lican party.

He has been twice married. His first wife was Melusine Kruse, who was born at Addison, Du Page County, Illinois. Their marriage was solem- mized August 24, 1866, and was blessed with twelve children, of whom five are yet living:

Ernst, Emma, Paul, Martha and Frank. Mrs. Fischer died January 9, 1887. Three years later (April 11, 1890) he led to the altar Mrs. Kath- . erine Luehr, the widow of Henry Luehr. Of the issue of this marriage three are living, Henry Emil and Adolph.

Mr. and Mrs. Fischer are consistent and esteemed members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and are respected and loved by a large circle of friends who know and appre- ciate their unostentatious virtues and their gen- uine worth.

ANDREW C. WILSON.

A NDREW CHRISTENSON WILSON is the second son and third child of John F. N. Wilson, a noted educator in Bedehauus, Schleswig, Denmark, where he was a teacher twenty-eight years. He died there in 1898, at the ripe age of sixty-eight years. His mother was Bolette Andersen, whose family, father and son, had lived upon the same ground three centuries. She was born in 1830, and died in 1888. All their eight children are still living. Four of them have made homes in America, and three reside in Chicago, Andrew C., Julius P. C. and John F. N.

The subject of this brief sketch was born in Bedehanus, by Tondern, Schleswig, Denmark, February 19, 1861. He attended his father's school during boyhood, and, after acquiring the rudiments of a sound education, served an ap- prenticeship of three and one-half years at the baker's trade with one master, and a little over one year with another. In 1881, having reached the age of twenty years, he came to America, never ceasing his journey westward until reaching Aurora, Hamilton County, Nebraska. He re- mained there a year, and then came to Chicago.

After reaching this city he worked at his trade, and then embarked in the grocery business, as a trader on his own account, at No. 34 West Ohio Street. For twelve years (1883 to 1895), he con- tinued there in this line of merchandising, win- ning the favor of his patrons through his correct business methods and his unquestioned integrity. In 1895 he erected a handsome three-story build- ing at the corner of Maplewood Avenue and Hirsch Street, on the first floor of which he con- ducts his flourishing business.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 92

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