USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed. > Part 99
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When a young man of eighteen years George Ernst came to the growing city of Chicago to try liis fortunes. He was a cigar-maker by trade, and found employment readily. He was married in that city to Miss Anna Ludwig, a daughter of Mathias and Mary (Presean) Ludwig, natives of the village of Idersdorf, Trier, Germany, who came to Chicago when it was a mere village.
Mathias Ludwig was well known to the old
and respected, as an upright and honest citizen. He was a grocery merchant, and accumulated what was in those times considered a fortune. Late in life lie and his wife removed to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where both died. Mr. Ludwig had been educated in Germany with a view of taking up the life of a priest, but he fell in love with a pretty German girl, and gave up his desire for the sacred robe to marry her and come to America. Their six children who grew to ma- turity are: Barbara, Leonard, Nicholas, Susan, Anna and Mary. Barbara married Gilbert Budgeser and they have three children-Mary, Mathilda, and Minnie. Leonard and Nicholas are residents of Saint Paul, the former having one daughter. Susan married John Cody, an attorney, and Mary married Henry Stoebly, a shoe merchant of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Anna married Mr. George Ernst, the subject of this sketch.
George Ernst was a member of Long John Wentworth's Fire Brigade and was the first fire-
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EDWARD SIMONS, JR.
man in Chicago to receive any remuneration for his services. He was Captain of John Went- worth Hook and Ladder Company and served for many years, rendering the city valuable services in that capacity. He died in Chicago May 18, 1890, at the age of sixty-three years, and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery. Mrs. Ernst survives him and is to-day one of the oldest liv- ing pioneers of Chicago. She is a member of the German Old Settlers' Society, and at a picnic given in 1897, received a gold medal for being the oldest woman settler on the ground. She was well acquainted with the early notables of
Chicago, and is well remembered by the few sur- viving pioneers. She is the mother of three chil- dren, namely: George, who died at the age of forty years; Susie, who died at the age of thirty- eight years; and Louis, for twelve years a fireman but now an employe of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company. The latter married Lillie Whitchurch, and they have two children- Charlotta M. and Gertrude L. Mrs. Ernst is a genial conversationalist and her memory of the affairs of the city in its infancy is very clear and reliable, and it is a pleasure to listen to her remi- niscences of pioneer days.
EDWARD SIMONS, JR.
L DWARD SIMONS, a contractor of Chicago, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Cook County. He was born June 4, 1843, on Section 35, of Jefferson Township, now a part of the city of Chicago. He is a son of Edward and Laura B. (Sprague) Simons, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Simons received his early education in the common schools of Jefferson Township, and as- sisted his father on the farm until the opening of the Civil War. In July, 1862, thoughi still a mere youth, he enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery, and at once proceeded to the South. He participated in General Sherman's campaign in Mississippi, including the battles of Arkansas Post and Yazoo Pass, and the Siege of Vicksburg, and also in the Red River Expedition. In the spring of 1863, having been taken violently ill with swamp fever, he was placed on board the hospital boat, City of Memphis, and sent to St. Louis, where he was kept for some time. While at St. Louis he was discharged on account of disability, and later in the year was brought
home, though he had not fully recovered, and in fact suffered many years from rheumatism, due to his exposures.
In 1866 he took a course of business training in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, and since that time has engaged successfully in vari- ous lines of business, including real-estate trans- actions and contracting for buildings, street pav- ing and sidewalks.
October 5, 1871, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Simons and . Mary E. Orr, daughter of Robinson and Margaret Orr. Mrs. Simons was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, but during her childhood removed with her parents to Sauk County, Wisconsin. Robinson Orr was a mem- ber of Company D, of the Eighteenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, and died from injury and exposure during service. Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Simons, named as follows: Lottie, William W., Edith M. (now Mrs. J. H. Stube), Edna L., Mary F. and Frederick Glover. The first-named died at the age of two years.
The family is connected with the Pacific Con-
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FREDERICK BERGMAN.
gregational Church and Mr. Simons is a member of the following societies: George H. Thomas Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic; Court Black Forest, Independent Order of Foresters; Humboldt Park Lodge No. 813, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Court Justice No. 31, United Order of Foresters; and Camp No. 22, Patriotic Order Sons of America. Of the second,
third and fifth he was a charter member. Since attaining his majority he has been a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864. He has always contributed to the success of his party, and has held nearly all of the township offices, including the important ones of Commissioner of Highways, Supervisor and Collector.
FREDERICK BERGMAN.
REDERICK BERGMAN, a retired gardeuer of Chicago, has resided on the property he now occupies since 1853. He was born Oc- tober 28, 1836, in Westphalia, Prussia, and is the only living child of Frederick and Anna (Stern- brier) Bergman.
The father was a mason in his native land, from which he emigrated to America in 1839, first settling in New Orleans. He subsequently removed to St. Louis, whence he came to Chicago, and here located permanently. He shortly after- ward purchased two acres of land on North Wells · Street at what is now the corner of Carroll Street, and was the first settler in that portion of the city. Being without capital, he followed teaming and laboring for some years, and in 1848 bought twenty acres in section twenty-nine, Lake View Township, where he carried on farming and gardening. He disposed of his first purchase and later secured a tract of timberland farther north. Having left his wife and two children, a son and a danghter, in Germany, he intended sending for them as soon as he was able, but his wife died before this could be brought about, and shortly after the daughter followed lier, so that the son was the only one to reach America. About 1845 Mr. Bergman again married and of his second family three children are living: John,
Herman and Louise. Mr. Bergman died in 1879, but his widow still survives, having reached the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Frederick Bergman of this sketch was about three years of age when his father left for Amer- ica, and a year later was left an orphan. He was supported by friends of the family for a few years, but knew none of his relatives except an aunt with whom he lived one year. He received the ordinary educational advantages and since the age of six years has been practically self-support- ing. He earned his first wages during his seven- teenth year, in a brick yard, and a friend of his father's having looked him up for the purpose of taking him to Chicago, he left his clothes and what money he had earned in order to make the journey.
In August, 1853, he sailed from Bremen for New York, spending six weeks on the water. He proceeded at once to Chicago where he joined his father and remained with him until he be- came of age. He subsequently worked for others for two years, saving two hundred dollars, witlı which modest sumn he set up an establishment of his own after his marriage. By diligent applica- tion and hard work he accumulated one thousand dollars, which he loaned to a friend and lost. He then began investing his savings in building
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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CAPT. THOMAS BROWN
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THOMAS BROWN.
lots and at the time of his father's death owned ten lots and inherited eighteen more. He con- tinued his gardening operations until 1881, but since that time has devoted himself principally to building up and improving his property, also dealing more or less in real estate.
May 6, 1860, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bergman to Miss Augusta Arnhold, who was born May 11, 1843, near Nordhausen, Prussia, and came to Chicago the same year as her hus- band. Her parents, Christian and Justina Arı- hold, both died in Chicago, the former in 1890,
aged eighty years, and the latter in 1892, aged eighty-one years. Seven sons and seven daugh- ters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bergman, but only the following are now living: Frederick, in the employ of the United States Express Company; Augusta, wife of Henry Hachmeister, residing on May Street; George, Annie, Hattie and Frieda, living at home. The family is con- nected with the Independent Evangelical Church. Mr. Bergman has supported the Republican party since its organization, but has never consented to hold any public office.
CAPT. THOMAS BROWN.
D APT. THOMAS BROWN was born in Crail, Fifeshire, Scotland, October 28, 1823, a son of Alexander Brown1. The latter was born in Crail in 1796, and was reared in his native place, and educated in such schools as were then in vogue. He married Margaret Brown, (no relative) in 1820, and April 6, 1834, they, with their family, took passage on the "Roger Stewart," a sailing-vessel, from Greenock, Scot- land, for the United States. The good ship was five weeks and two days in plowing her way through the waters of the Atlantic to New York, where she arrived May second.
Chicago was the objective point and thither they traveled, by boat up the Hudson to Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, where passage was taken on a boat to Detroit. From that place they traveled by ox-team and wagon across Michigan to St. Joseph, where they again took boat, which landed them in Chicago June 8, 1834. Mr. Brown had been reared to farm pursuits. He was am- bitious for the future welfare of his children, and not wishing to change his vocation, soon after arriving he made a selection of a quarter-section
of land in Niles township, paying one hundred sixty dollars for a claim upon it held by an- other. There was a log house on this land, and though small and somewhat uncomfortable, it was made to answer the purpose of the family domicile for two years. He was a hard-working and in- dustrious man, and with such assistance as his wife and young children could render, he soon had a part of his land under cultivation and was on the way to prosperity.
When the land came into market he bought four hundred acres in all, at goverment prices. For a year or two after his settlement in Niles, they had a camp of Indians for near neighbors, who were very annoying on account of their largely developed thieving propensities. They were only dangerous when drunk, at which times they would become quarrelsome and murderous. Mr. Brown was a man who possessed the material which makes successful pioneers. He was hardy and courageous. No hardship daunted him. He was patient in his labors of conquering the pri- meval soil, which, in this section, stubbornly re- sisted man's effort at cultivation. He possessed
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THOMAS BROWN.
a high order of intelligence, which was supple- mented by a good practical education. He served as Justice of the Peace a great many years, and was universally respected by all who knew him. He and his estimable wife, who was in every sense a true and faithful helpmate, were Presby- terians and among the strictest of their faith. Mr. Brown took an active and leading part in erecting the first church in the township. It was a sort of a union affair, as all evangelical de- nominations used it. He took a keen interest in political affairs, and was an adherent of the Dem- ocratic party.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of eight children (five of whom were born in Scotland), namely: Andrew, Thomas, Alexander, William, Isabella, Grace, James and John. The last two were born in Niles Township, and Grace was born on the ocean. Mr. Brown died November 30, 1854, and Mrs. Brown passed to her final re- ward in April, 1849, aged fifty-one years.
Thomas Brown was a little more than ten years of age when he came to Chicago. He had learned to read and write in his native land. There were no schools here when the family arrived. Such education as he received in his youth was obtained in the "Land of the heather."
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-eightlı Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Soon after, he with his regiment was transferred to thie seat of war in Kentucky, and October 8 following, participated in the battle of Perryville. From this time on his command was in the thick of the fray, and fought at Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. It then went to the relief of Knoxville and the release of East Tennessee from threatened rebel dominion. Subsequently, when the Atlanta campaign opened, the Eighty-eightlı Regiment took an active and aggressive part, sus- taining in many a severe conflict its well-known and deserved reputation for the fighting qualities of its men. After the fall of Atlanta the regiment took part in the campaign against the rebel general, Hood, acting in the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, which so disastrously resulted in the annihilation of Hood's army. At Spring Hill Mr. Brown received a slight
wound, which, however, did not deter him from accompanying his regiment, in pursuit of Hood's flying remnant, in which large stores were cap- tured. Subsequently the regiment went to Hunts- ville, Alabama, where it enjoyed for two months a well-deserved rest, then went to East Tennessee, and after Petersburg fell, proceeded to Nashville, where it was mustered out of service June 24, 1864.
Mr. Brown enlisted and was mustered in as a private, and soon after was made company drill master; later, third sergeant. After Stone River was fought he was advanced to first sergeant, and after the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he received a first lieutenant's commission. A little later he was promoted to a captaincy and assumed com- mand of his company. His rise in rank was due entirely to the soldierly qualities of the man. Brave to a fault, clear of sight, decisive of action, qualities indispensable to a good soldier, he won the confidence of his superiors and the respect 'and esteem of his subordinate followers, whom he so gallantly led on many hard-fought fields. John Brown, brother of Capt. Thomas Brown, served throughout the war in the same company and regiment. He enlisted as a private and was discharged a corporal. He was a good soldier, and was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. He is now a resident of Cook County, Illinois.
When the war was over Captain Brown re- turned to Niles Township, and in the following spring settled in Chicago, where he has since re- sided. He was married June 30, 1849, to Miss Josephine Schroeder, who was born on Long Island, New York, in 1833. To them a child was born, Margaret Isabella, now Mrs. A. Caldwell Anderson, of Chicago. Mrs. Brown -came to Chicago with her mother, Sarepta Schroeder, in 1838. A few years after their arrival Mrs. Schroeder married John Toops. They settled in Northfield Township, where they lived until the death of Mr. Toops, in September, 1848. Mrs. Toops died in Chicago, in February, 1878. They had five children, namely: Charles, John, Mary, Anna and Almira. The last is deceased. Mrs. Brown, although but five years old at the time, well remembers the tedious journey of the family
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EDWARD SIMONS.
from New York to Chicago, being three weeks . His first presidential vote was cast for Henry en route. Aside from having held the office of Clay, but since the formation of the Republican party he has been a stanch supporter of its principles. Justice of the Peace for several years, Captain Brown has not been identified with public affairs.
EDWARD SIMONS.
DWARD SIMONS, deceased, was promi- nently connected with the early history of Chicago and Cook County. He was born in Hanover, Grafton County, New Hampshire, January 30, 1811, and was a son of Cady and Eunice (Loudon) Simons, whose ancestors settled in New England prior to the Revolutionary War. While he was a child his parents moved to Ripley, Chautauqua County, New York, where his father bought a farm, which he afterwards sold, and in 1820 moved to Conneaut (theti called Salem), Ashtabula County, Ohio. Here Edward received his education and, in the spring of 1830, he ac- cepted a position as clerk in the general store of Bloss & Woodbury, at Monroe, Ashtabula County. They also conducted a distillery and dealt in cattle. He remained with them two years, after which he had charge of a large store in Conneaut for a time. On the first of April, 1834, he left Conne- aut for Chicago, where he arrived on the eleventh. He liad formed a partnership with Sylvester Marsh, an experienced cattle buyer, butcher and packer. Some time during that summer he bought Mr. Marsh's interest and conducted the business alone, which included supplying the garrison with meat. A severe illness in the fall of 1834 compelled him to go out of business. While settling up his affairs he took charge of books in their market for Archibald Clybourn & Son, and later formed a partnership with Mr. Clybourn. This connection continuing about two years.
In 1836, he made claim to the southeast quarter of section thirty-five, Jefferson Township, then called Monroe Precinct.
December 17, 1837, Mr. Simons was married to Laura B. Sprague, and soon after this important event the young couple located on his land and began their domestic life in true pioneer style. They erected a small frame house, twelve feet square, which is still standing. He began the arduous task of developing a farm from the raw and wet prairie, and continued farming until the fall of 1847, when he opened a general store at No. 40 West Randolph Street, where he had bought property a few years previously, when the West Side began building up. Six years later he gave up merchandising, returned to his farm and engaged in its cultivation until his death, in 1876, at the age of sixty-five years.
On his arrival in Chicago the city contained a population of less than three thousand people. Not only did he witness the wondrous growth of the western metropolis, but nobly bore his part, and aided in the material advancement of both city and county. He was ever regarded as an in- telligent, enterprising citizen, and on the organiza- tion of Jefferson Township, was elected to the school board, being its first treasurer. In early life he was a Whig and later adopted the princi- ples of the Republican party. In religion he was a Universalist.
Laura B. Sprague was born in Hamburg, Erie County, New York, February 2, 1815, and is a
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GEORGE METZ.
daughter of Hosea Sprague and Lucy Warren, both natives of Vermont. The Sprague family was founded in that State in colonial times, the first immigrant being an Englislı Quaker. Jabez Warren, father of Lucy Warren, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and the son of an English officer. Mrs. Simons was educated in the district schools of Erie County, New York, and at the age of sixteen years began teaching. Two years later she entered Aurora Seminary, and in 1835 left that institution to inove. with her parents to Illinois. She was also acompanied by her brother, Jabez Warren Sprague, and her sister Almira, now Mrs. Brearley, of Rockford, Illinois.
The family left Erie County, New York, May 5, and reached Chicago June 3, having been four weeks and two days making the journey with a team of horses and covered wagon. They stopped over night at a hotel kept by Franklin Washburn, eighteen miles east of Chicago, and on arriving in Chicago they rested some days at the home of Seth Washburn, and then journeyed on to Du Page County. In the spring of 1836, they moved to McHenry County, which was afterward divided, putting them in Lake County.
Jabez W. Sprague made a claim to eighty acres of land in Vernon Township, which he bought from the Government in the fall of 1838. In the winter of 1837-1838, the first postoffice was estab- lished at Half Day, with Seth Washburn as post- master.
Jabez W. Sprague is still a resident of Lake
County. His father died there in October, 1837, and his mother in March, 1872.
Laura B. Sprague began teaching school August 1, 1835, at Zarley's Grove, near Joliet, in a small log house, at a salary of one dollar and a-half and board per week. In the fall of that year she re- turned to Half Day and taught the first school at that place, it being the first school established in Lake County. The schoolhouse was on the bank of Indian Creek, and was built of logs, with a puncheon floor. She had twenty-five pupils, children of the pioneers, and as compensation she received the munificent sum of one dollar and a-half and board per week. She was also the pioneer teacher in East Joliet, where she taught in the summer of 1837, in a small unfinished building that stood on what is now Chicago Street. Mrs. Sinions has been a resident of Chicago for nearly sixty years, and is one of the few remain- ing links that connect the pioneer days with the present. She resides with her daughter, Mrs. Winkleman, and although in the eighty-third year of her age and somewhat frail in health, re- tains her mental faculties to a remarkable degree, and converses interestingly of the times when the second city in the Union was in its infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Simons were the parents of seven children, four of whom grew to maturity, as fol- lows: Junius, of Washington, District of Colum- bia; Almira, wife of Frederick A. Wiukleman, of Chicago; Edward, whose biography appears else- where; and Charles B., a Chicago attorney.
GEORGE METZ.
EORGE METZ, a leading market-gardener of North Chicago, has the honor of being a native son of that city, born June 4, 1851. His parents, George and Katharina (Spoerer) Metz, natives, respectively, of Baden and Bavaria,
Germany, were married in that country, and set out to make their home in the New World, which held out so much better hopes of advancement than the Old, in 1848.
Mr. Metz was possessed of no capital, save his
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CORNELIUS KUYPER, JR.
good health, ambition, and ardent hopes for the future, all of which were shared by his faithful wife. In his native land he had acquired the trades of cooper and brewer, and for two years after his arrival in Chicago he was employed in this line of labor. In 1850 he established a brew- ery 011 State Street, which he conducted success- fully, until the great fire of 1871. About 1865, he built a brewery at the suburban town of Blue Island, and when the disaster of 1871 came he had built up a very extensive business. His loss at that time was nearly half a million of dollars. About forty men were employed by him in the two establishments. At this time his son-in law, Edward R. Stege, was a partner in the business, which was conducted under the firm name of Metz & Stege. Through the losses they sustained by the fire they were compelled to give up the Blne Island establishment also, and Mr. Metz did not again engage in active business.
Mrs. Metz died in 1873, and her husband sur- vived until May, 1880. As was natural in the case of an active and intelligent business man, Mr. Metz felt a keen interest in the welfare of his native country as well as the city of his home. He was a Republican in political principle, and acted upon the counsel of his party, but declined to accept office for himself. In religious faith both he and his wife adhered to the Lutheran Church. They had four children who grew to
maturity, and two of these are now living-the subject of this sketch, and Katharine, wife of Herman Prell, of Chicago.
George Metz was educated in the public schools of Chicago, and Dyrenfurth's Commercial Col- lege. After leaving the latter institution he vis- ited Germany, and spent two years in college at Munich, the capital of Bavaria, and at Wheinste- phan, the brewers' school of that kingdom. After this he traveled over Europe and worked in various breweries, becoming a thorough master of the arts there employed. On his return to America he was enabled through the knowledge thus gained, to be of great service to his father. In 1884 he engaged in gardening for the city market, in Lake View, and has ever since continued in this line of endeavor. He is at present engaged in supplying club-houses and restaurants with choice vegetables.
December 18, 1884, Mr. Metz was married to Miss Emma Junius, a daughter of Peter and Barbara Junius, of whom extended mention will be found in another part of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Metz have two sons, George and Charles. The family is identified with St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, and its head is a Republican in political principles. He is a reading man, and an intelligent thinker, and is recognized as one of the progressive and useful citizens of his native city.
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