Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 59

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed. > Part 59

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Jolın, father of Edward Nommensen, died in

1849 in Klickspiel. By occupation he was a la- borer. He was the father of four children beside the subject of this sketch, Nicholas, Johannah, Katharina and Peter. These children remained in the old country, where their families are still living. The father studied for the ministry, but joined the German army, and served throughout the Franco-Prussian war, his military experiences covering a period of eight years.

John Anderson, father of Mrs. Mary Nominen- sen, was born in 1804, and died when Mrs. Noin- mensen was a mere child. He was the father of three children. Meta Marie, the eldest, married George Peterson in the old country, came to Amer- ica in 1882, and is now living on Houston Ave- nue. Mary is Mrs. Nommensen. Christina married Lawrence Petersen in Germany, where they now reside, and is the mother of four chil- dren. The grandfather of Mrs. Nommensen, Andrew Anderson, was a tailor and had four chil- dren. Christina (Mrs. Hans Hollenson), Andrew, John and Christian. Broder Broderson, father of Mrs. John Anderson, had four children, Inge, Christina, Dorothea and Cliristian. Mr. Nom- mensen was an honest, hard-working man, and his modest, unassuming virtues are tenderly re- membered.

JOSEPH PECHER.

OSEPH PECHER was born May 21, 1823, in Doelitschen, Bohemia, and is a son of Mathias and Margaret (Croy) Pecher. The father was a tailor, and the grandfather a black- smitlı. The family was an old and respected one, and has representatives in various walks of life in the home country to-day.

Mr. Pecher grew to manhood in the old coun- try home, where he was married and reared quite a family before the spirit moved him to emigrate

to America. He crossed the ocean, and landed in New York October 18, 1866, having with him his wife, and his children, John, Joseph, Ernes- tina, Frank and Paul. One son, Charles, had come over six months before. The family came direct to Chicago, and settled on Blue Island Avenue. They are still together, with the ex- ception of Ernestina, Frank and Joseph. John was born November 15, 1850, in Vienna, and was a shoemaker in Germany. In Chicago he

406

R. E. LITTLE.

was a butcher until 1881, and has been engaged in the commission business since that time. Joseph was born in Vienna, November 29, 1852, and is a cabinet-maker. He wedded Mary New- man, and has four children in his South Morgan Street home: Joseph, Leo, and the twins, John and Addie. Ernestina, born May 25, 1858, mar- ried Jacob M. Strauch, for account of whom see sketch in this volume. Frank is also the subject of a biography in this work. Paul was born April 20, 1865, and is a hardwood finisher and painter, now in business. He was married February 7, 1888, to Annie Heinz, a Chicago girl. Her

parents were Christian and Catharine (Hartman) Heinz, and she was born October 31, 1866. She is the mother of one child, Maria, born February 18, 1889. Charles was born June 20, 1869, at No. 213 Blue Island Avenue, and died when six months old. Mrs. Joseph Pecher was born De- cember 4, 1825, in Machren, Bohemia, where lier parents were living on a farm. Their names were Frank Steppan and Annie Marie Groeber. They became the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Pecher is the youngest. The others were Theresa, Annie Maria, Anton, Barbara and Elizabeth.

ROBERT E. LITTLE.

OBERT ELLISON LITTLE. Among the "Jim," and for two years kept it on the lakes. names of sturdy Scotchmen who came to. "This was practically the close of his sailor's career. America in early youth, and among the best When Mr. Little was in South Chicago, he made his home with Mrs. Mary Hunt, widow of William Hunt. They were among the earliest settlers of South Chicago, and their home was located where the elevators now stand. The Hunt House was in early times a landmark for miles around. It was a favorite resort of hunters and visitors to the Calumet region. After the close of his sailing Mr. Little bought this house, in 1871, and conducted it till 1888. citizens and protectors of our national reputation and honor, will be found that of Robert E. Little. He was born November 4, 1840, in Stirling, Scot- land, and is the son of Robert and Jane (Liddell) Little, natives of that country. His father was a farmer and came to Goderich, Canada, in 1856. Here he purchased a farm, on which he lived until his death. He had nine children, of whom the eldest is Robert Ellison Little, the subject of this notice.

Robert E. Little was an ambitious youth, and when he was only fourteen years old lie followed his desire for sea life and sailed on salt water four years. In 1858 he came to America, and took command of the schooner "Experiment," and sailed the lakes five years. Then he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he spent eighteen months as a bookkeeper. After this he was nine months in Canada, with his parents, and in the spring of 1870 he located at Hyde Park, Chicago. He lived there a year, and then came to Southi Chi- cago, where he bought and fitted out the schooner

August 28, 1883, Mr. Little married Miss Anna, daughter of Gottfried and Marie (Sipple) Deist, who came to Chicago in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Little are the parents of three children, namely. Emma Bella, Robert Gottfried and Jolın William. Mr. Little has taken the degree of Master Mason, but is not at present an active member of any lodge. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He is a man who loves his home, and is a good husband and father. He is a generous, true-hearted friend, and has the respect of all who know hin.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

DR. ALFRED HAKANSON

(From Photo. by W. J. ROOT)

ALFRED HAKANSON, M. D.

407

ALFRED HAKANSON, M. D.

A LFRED HAKANSON, M. D., a prominent physician of South Chicago, was born May 12, 1866, at Geneseo, Illinois, and is the son of John and Hannah (Pearson) Hakanson. The latter's fatlier was Peter Johnson, who mar- ried Christine Monsen. Hakan Johnson, the pater- nal grandfather of Dr. Hakanson, was born in 1785, and died in 1825. His wife was named Elizabeth,

John Hakanson was born March 2, 1817, in Christianstad, Sweden, and emigrated to Amer- ica in 1860. He located in Henry County, Illi- nois, and lived there six years, removing to Henry County, Iowa, at the end of that time. In 1874 he moved to Clay County, Nebraska, and took up Government land. He has lived there ever since, and the land is much improved. He was married in Sweden December 31, 1847, and two of his children were born there, namely: Anna and Elizabeth. The others, Peter, John and Alfred, were born in the United States. Mrs. Hannah Hakanson was born February 9, 1823, in Sweden, and died July 9, 1891.

Alfred Hakanson was reared on a farm and had the advantage of a high-school education at Oakland, Nebraska. Later he went to Luthier Academy, Wahoo, Nebraska, from which he was graduated. After leaving the academy he went to Augustana College, at Rock Island, Illinois, where he took a select course through the sophomore year, taking also some of the junior

studies. In the autumn of 1886 he took.up the study of medicine, his first preceptor being Dr. John B. Ralph, city physician at Omaha, Nebraska; the next preceptor was Prof. D. C. Bryant, M. D., an oculist and aurist of the same city. March 27, 1890, he graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Omaha. He then practiced at Rockford, Illinois, for a year, and thence went to South Chicago, where he has practiced ever since

May 12, 1892, Dr. Hakanson married Bertha Wilhelmina, daughter of Martin and Mary Christine (Olson) Lindberg. She was born June 4, 1870, in Chicago. Dr. Hakanson is medical examiner of the Linnea Society No. 1, the In- dependent Order of Svithiod No. 6, and Court Norden No. 203, Independent Order of Foresters. He is a member of the South Chicago Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. He is a Republican in politics, and had the honor of serving as county physician for the period of two years. I11 1895 Mr. Hakanson took a post- graduate course at the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital, where he took a course in clinical medicine and gynecology. Though a comparatively young man, he has a good practice, and is one of the most reliable physicians of South Chicago. He is progressive in his ideas, is interested in the public welfare, favors public improvements, and is an honor to his profession.

408

H. S. SPARROW.

HANNAH S. SPARROW.

ANNAH STEELE SPARROW, M. D., is one of the leading eclectic physicians of the country, and a woman known throughout the city for her charitable work and connection with benevolent associations. She practices her profession and makes her home at No. 9125 Erie Avenue, Chicago. Her parents and their nine children emigrated from England in March, 1868, and came through to Chicago. Her father was born March 1, 1832, in Snainton, England, and died November 30, 1868. His profession was that of veterinary surgeon. The mother was born May 12, 1831, in Hutton Buscel, England, and now makes her home with Mrs. Sparrow. She owns property at No. 909 North Robey Street, Chicago, and has owned property on Crossing Street, and at No. 87 Commercial Street, in which neighborhood she was one of the old set- tlers, having kept a residence there for twenty- nine years. The children of this family are as follows: Hannah, the subject of this sketch; Eva, Mrs. William Salmon, now residing in Chicago; Agnes, who married Daniel Lucy, and also resides in Chicago; Robert Dunhill, who died at the age of eleven years; Charlotta, who married William Griffith, and resides at Dundee, Illinois; Mary, wife of William De Critehlar Langston, a resident of Chicago; Fred, also of Chicago; Caro- line, who married Terrence O' Neil, and lives in South Chicago; Ruth, Mrs. Edward Mann, a res- ident of Chicago.

Mrs. Sparrow's paternal grandfather was Thomas Steele, who was a veterinary surgeon in Snainton, England. His wife was a Miss Maria Dawson, and their children were: Mary, Robert, William, Dawson, Martha, George, Jane and

John. None came to America, except the father of Dr. Sparrow.

Tradition states that the Steeles were of French origin, and located in England at an early day and made a permanent home there until the members of the family came to America. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Sparrow was Leonard Dunhill, who died in January, 1878, at the age of sixty-four years. He was born in Hutton Buscel, England, and married Jane Leaper, of Leeds, England, who died in 1862, at the age of fifty years. Their children were: Caroline, who died in infancy; Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Robert and Leonard Wilson, who died an infant.

The great-grandfather was Leonard Dunhill, who married Caroline Charlotte Holt. Their children were: Robert, Leonard, William, Mary, Charlotte and Elizabeth. Mary and Elizabeth came to this country and reared large families, the latter being the wife of Thomas Sharp, and the former of David Gill.

Dr. Hannah Steele Sparrow was born January 2, 1854, in Hutton Buscel, Yorkshire, England, and is a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Dunhill) Steele. She pursued her studies in England until she came to America, and in 1881 she began the study of her profession with Doctors Wilson H. Davies and Henry C. Tucker, of this city. In 1887 she took her degree from Bennett Eclectic Medical College of Chicago. While at- tending school she had an office in the college building, and was subsequently located at No. 68 Oak Street, No. 23 Townsend Street, at No.3027 Fifth Avenue, and No. 9125 Erie Avenue, and has been in South Chicago since 1881. She never associated with a partner in practice.

. 409

ALFRED DIBBEN.

May 23, 1870, she married Richard Sparrow (see sketch elsewhere). Their children are : Willie Harold Steele, born February 28, 1878; and Richard Paul Steele, November 26, 1896.

Dr. Sparrow has a membership in the South Chicago Medical Society, the Woman's Medical Club of Chicago, and the Eclectic Medical and Surgical Society of Chicago.

She has a philanthropic and patriotic nature and takes an active interest in charitable affairs and the Grand Army of the Republic. She is identified with nearly all the leading benevolent associations in South Chicago. She is an ardent Republican, and always takes as active a part in politics as the limited franchise will allow. She was one of the six women who were instrumental in establishing a Woman's Hospital on the World's Fair grounds. This hospital was intended to take care of the sick and wounded or injured of all classes during the continuance of the Fair, and the plan was originated and carried to successful completion by women physicians. To Dr. Sparrow was assigned the arduous task of inspiring interest in the enterprise throughout the various States, among the lady physicians, and so well did she

succeed that the Woman's Hospital was pro- nounced one of the greatest successes of the Fair. All the labor and talent expended on this work were purely gratis, and given for the love of her profession and the good of mankind.

Dr. Sparrow has in her possession a certificate issued by the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition, which reads as follows : " This certifies that Hannah S. Sparrow, M. D., has been appointed by the World's Con- gress Auxiliary, a member of the Woman's Ex- ecutive Committee on a congress of eclectic phy- sicians and surgeons, to convene in the city of Chicago during the week commencing Monday, May 29, 1893. In witness whereof we have here- unto affixed our names and the seal of the Auxil- iary.

BERTHA HONORE PALMER,

President of Womau's Congress Auxiliary. ELLEN M. HENROTIN, Vice-President of Woman's Branch. C. C. BONNEY, President of World's Congress Auxiliary. CLARENCE E. YOUNG, Asst. Sec'y of World's Congress Auxiliary."

Only six of these signed certificates were issued.

ALFRED DIBBEN.

A LFRED DIBBEN, who comes of a family noted for healthı and strength, was born in Worthing, Sussex County, England, and is a son of Reuben and Mary Ann (Boyling) Dib-

ben. Reuben Dibben was a blacksmith, who owned his shop. He died in 1877, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, Mary Ann Dib- ben, was born in 1832, and is still living in the old home in England. They were the parents of eight children, namely: George, John, James, Alfred, Frederick, Walter, and two who died when they were young. George was a sailor,

who came to America in 1862. He enlisted and served through the Civil War. He now lives at No. 3439 South Marshfield Avenue, and works at Bridgeport in a rolling mill, as a ladle liner. John came in 1867, and is now a watchman, and lives at No. 994 North Lincoln Street, Chicago. James came in 1869. He was a clipper in the foundry at the North Chicago rolling mills. He returned to England in 1872, and in 1873 he was killed by accident. The subject of this sketchi came to America next. Frederick came in 1885, and worked as a cupola-man in a mill. He returned

410

A. A. PETERSEN.

on a visit in 1896. Walter emigrated to the United States in 1889, and returned in 1896. He was a runner-man in a mill, but was compelled to return to England on account of ill-health.

Alfred Dibben came to the United States in April, 1876, and entered the service of the North Chicago Rolling Mill Company at its North Works, as a cupola-man. In 1882 he went to South Chicago, and has lived there ever since. He built a home at No. 7949 Reynolds Avenue, in 1890, living there till 1895, when he went to his present home, No. 9120 Superior Avenue. He also owns lots in the city.

August 21, 1881, Mr. Dibben married Miss Caroline, daughter of James and Mary Turner.

They are the parents of the following children: Arthur Reuben, born January 14, 1884; Earl Chester, January 25, 1890; Carrie Pearl, June 15, 1892; and Frederick William, December 10, 1895.

Mr. Dibben is a member of Good Samaritan Lodge No. 90, Sons of Saint George. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as election judge in the Eleventh Precinct of the Thirty-third Ward. He is a devout member of the Episcopal Church. August 4, 1882, while Mr. Dibben was at work in the Illinois Steel Company's South Chicago Works, an explosion occurred, which covered his body with hot metal and water, and as a result of this accident he lost his right eye.

ANDREW A. PETERSEN.

Å NDREW ANDERSEN PETERSEN was born March 21, 1846, in Tandem, Germany, and is a son of Olde and Otelia (Wolfsen) Petersen. His father was a shoemaker, and died in 1861, at the age of fifty-seven. His widow sur- vived him many years, and died in 1891, when over eighty-three. She never came to America, but spent all her days in the land where she mar- ried and buried her husband. Their children were: Johanna, Christina, Peter Boysen, Othelia, Andrew Andersen and Johannis. All are dead except Johannis, Peter and Andrew, the last being the only one to leave the old country. An- drew Andersen Wolfsen, the maternal grand- father of the subject of this notice, was a tailor, and had reached the great age of eighty-nine years and five months at the time of his death in 1855. Two of his daughters, Annie and Cecelia, never married.

Andrew Andersen Petersen passed his boyish days in the German homestead, attended school

until it was time for him to go to work for him- self, when he became an apprentice at the trade of locksmith. He served several years at this branch of industry, and knows it in all its details. In 1867 he was summoned to serve in the Ger- man army, and was in the Franco-Prussian war from its beginning to the end. He was an artil- leryman, and passed unhurt through fifteen heavy battles, though on more than one occasion horses were killed under him. He was discharged from the army in 1871, and the same year he came to the new world, landing in Quebec. He had a friend in Chicago, a Mr. Schrader, and he imme- diately came to this city, and boarded in Mr. Schrader's home for a year or more, while lie did any kind of iron or sign work that he could find to do.

Mr. Petersen came to South Chicago July 15, 1874, and bought a small house, and in 1881 built his present home at No. 9932 Commercial Avenue. In South Chicago he was busy at gen-

411

DAVID KOENIG.

eral labor for a year, and then went into the ma- chine shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, where he was employed about the engines five years. He was in the service of the Illinois Steel Company as a stationary engineer from 1879 to 1890. The ensuing five years he spent in various ways, and in 1895 was engaged by the city to do repair work in the water-pipe department, and this position he still holds.

Mr. Petersen has been twice married, his first wife being Caroline Lorensen, whom he wedded May 12, 1873. She was born May 31, 1854, and died April 12, 1889. Her father's name was Christopher Lorensen, and she was the mother of a goodly family, of whom few representatives are now living. Christopher Olde was born Febru- ary 26, 1874, and died when seven years old. Johannis, November 19, 1876, lived four years; Peter Boysen, April 11, 1877, died when two years old. The next child, a girl, never lived,

and Christian Olde, June 28, 1880, is at home. Othelia F., June 21, 1882, is at home. A sis- ter Caroline died young. Andrew Andersen, born June 18, 1887, and Carolina Fredrika, Au- gust 9, 1885, are bright young girls at home.

Mr. Petersen's second marriage united him with Caroline Lissen, a daughter of Christopher and Annie (Lusie) Lissen. She was born in Ger- many, January 17, 1860, and came to this coun- try when eighteen years old. She is now the mother of four children: Peter Boysen, born August 12, 1890, died December 28, 1890; Peter Boysen, November 27, 1891; Anton Louis, April 12, 1894; and Herman Otto, August 11, 1895. Mr. Petersen belongs to the Krieger Verein, an association of veterans of the great war with France, and delights in the old memories. Heis a Republican in political principle, and is highly esteemed in all the business and personal rela- tions of his life.

DAVID. KOENIG.

2 AVID KOENIG, of the firm of Koenig & Gross, dealers in paints, oils, glass and wall-paper, was born on the 13tlı of De- cember, 1868, on Wentworth Avenue near Twen- ty-seventh Street, Chicago, and is the son of Theo- dore and Anna (Deist) Koenig. Theodore Koe- nig was born March 17, 1844, in Germany, and emigrated in 1858, locating in Chicago. Anna Deist was born February 3, 1841, in Germany. They were the parents of three children, namely: Mary, who married Arthur V. Daegling, and now lives at No. 9006 Houston Avenue, Chicago; Da- vid, whose name begins this sketch; and George, who resides in California.

David Koenig was a youth of great energy, and began life for himself at the age of thirteen years. He worked at first for his father at the

butcher's trade, and was subsequently employed by Mr. W. H. Stone. After this he attended school at South Chicago, feeling that a young man who has education has many advantages over one without. When he left school, he went to work for M. C. Magnussen, with whom he learned his present trade. He stayed with Mr. Magnus- sen eight years, which fact attests his faithfulness and skill. But his ambition was not satisfied with working for others, and in 1890 he attended public night school, and studied bookkeeping with a view to starting in business for himself.

In 1891 he began dealing in paints on his own account, and in 1894 he was joined by a partner, his brother-in-law, Henry Gross, and they have been associated in business ever since. They have from time to time enlarged their business, and at

412

J. H. HASKIN.

the present time are enjoying a very profitable trade. They are the leading dealers in paints, glass and similar materials, in South Chicago. Both are young men of business ability, the firm has a name for honest dealing, and the partners inlake a careful study of their line of business.

April 18, 1891, Mr. Koenig married Miss Mary Weimar, daughter of Theodore Weimar, of Germany. They are the parents of two children: Theodore, who was born May 14, 1892; and Al-

fred, September 21, 1895. Mr. Koenig is a mein- ber of Sherman Lodge No. 279, Knights of Pythias, which lie served two terms as vice chan- cellor, and is connected with the German Lutheran Church. In political opinion he is a Republican, and he is now judge of election for the Twenty- second precinct of the Thirty-third Ward. Mr. Koenig is a man of great sociability, and has many firm friends. He is well known, and is one of the representative business men of the city.

JOHN H. HASKIN.

OHN HAMILTON HASKIN (deceased) was for nearly a quarter of a century well known in the business and social circles of Chicago. He was born in London, Ontario, in the year 1842, and was a son of John H. Haskin. He had the misfortune to lose his mother in his earliest childhood, and at seven years of age he was orphaned by the death of his father. In con- sequence thereof his early life was devoid of that care and training which have so much to do in fit- ting the child for the duties of adult life.

When only a boy he came to the United States, locating in Chicago some years previous to the outbreak of the Civil War. He was an ambitious, energetic youth, and easily made his way, and having the faculty of making and retaining friends, his progress was rapid. The war coming on, he enlisted at Blackberry, July 26, 1861, in what was then called the Kane County Cavalry, but which became Company H, of the Fifteenth Illinois Cav- alry, Col. Warren Stewart commanding. He participated in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Mis- souri, August 10, 1861, and Belmont, Missouri, November 7, 1861. The following spring his regiment was assigned to Steele's division of Curtis' army, and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in which fight he was seriously

wounded in the breast by a piece of shell. He was confined in the hospital at Benton Barracks, Missouri, about ten months on account of this wound, and as it prevented his performing active service in the ranks, he was honorably discharged February 13, 1863. He was then detailed as re- truiting officer at Nashville, Tennessee, but re- mained only a short time. Subsequently he en- tered the quartermaster's department of the army, where for some time he did clerical duty. Late in 1864 he went into the ranks of Gen. George H. Thomas' army, and was in the battle of Nashville, when Hood, the rebel general, was overthrown.

In this battle he was again wounded. A mus- ket ball passing through his hand, glanced from the stock of his rifle and lodged back of the knee- cap. The surgeons were unable to extract it, and he carried it with him until the end of his life. This wound left him helpless on the field of bat- tle, where he remained throughout the night. Tlie war over, he studied law at Nashville, but never practiced, owing to ill-health.

At Elgin, Illinois, May 14, 1866, he was mar- ried to Miss Abbie Ellithorpe. Subsequently he went to Belvidere, Illinois, where he engaged in business, remaining there a year, then settled in Chicago. He became connected with the Steele

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 59

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 930