USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899 > Part 87
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
Charles Meister learned the business of a stone and brick mason in the Fatherland, and became proficient in every detail of the trade. In 1850 he married Miss Augusta Doll, a native of the same place as himself, and in 1854 they came to the United States and located in Chicago, where for three years he worked at his trade for
wages. In the year 1857 he began taking con- tracts for building on his own account. He car- ried on a successful business for many years, and built numerous residences and business places, and at times furnished work for large numbers of skilled mechanics and laborers. His operations along this line continued up to 1896, when, hav- ing accumulated a comfortable competence, he retired from active work and was succeeded by his son, Louis Meister.
From the time he came to the city he lived in the Sixteenth Ward, and during his long resi- dence and successful business career in Chicago, made many warm friends. He enjoyed the con- fidence and respect of all with whom business or
599
WILLIAM SENGER.
social relations brought him in contact. Hiswas a quiet but industrious and unostentatious life of usefulness, and in his demise the community lost a good citizen.
In social orders he took especial interest, as he was many years a member of Goethe Lodge No. 329, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Humboldt Encampment No. 101, of the same
fraternity, and also of the Sons of Herman. He leaves a widow, who was his faithful companion nearly half a century, and two sons and one daughter, Oscar, Louis and Emma. The latter is the wife of Swan Swanson. The first was born in Germany and the last two in Chicago. All are members of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church and respected members of society.
WILLIAM SENGER.
ILLIAM SENGER belongs to that class of German people who adopt the United States as their home and prosper as many Americans cannot do. They possess that stamina and stability of character that persevere in spite of all obstacles. Born September 20, 1846, in the village of Jenkendorf, Posen, Prussia, he is a son Ludwig and Louisa (Jans) Senger. Hereached Chicago November 26, 1869, and although he cherishes a fond memory of his native country, is loyal to the interests of his adopted country and its people.
He entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, first on track work, and for thirty years has been a valu- able servant of this corporation. Hehas worked his way upward until he now occupies a position of trust. For six years he was in the same place and was then made section foreman, covering the tracks from the crossing at Forty-third Street to the one at Twenty-second, including the yard. After filling this station five years, he was given charge of the tracks from Forty-third Street to Englewood, which was in his care three years, and in 1881 he was made a clerk in the road- master's office. He was subsequently made assistant road master and fills that position at present.
In 1887 Mr. Senger purchased his residence at No. 5920 La Salle Avenue, and has since resided there. He erected a house at No. 4043 Armour Avenue in 1872, and lived there until he moved into his present home, and now rents the house on Armour Avenue. He was first married in 1869, to Miss Louisa Radtke, daughter of Lud- wig Radtke. Mrs. Senger was born February 29, 1852, in the same village as her husband, and came to America in 1869. She died May 24, 1879, deeply mourned by family and friends, and her remains were interred in Oakwoods Cemetery. She had four children, who are thus mentioned: John William, born January 5, 1871, married Harriet Soylon, March 20, 1892. He is a clerk in the service of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, at its shops at the corner of Sixty-third and State Streets. His children were named: Harriet; Robert, who died at the age of three months; and Nellie. Karl August, the second of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Senger, was born February 28, 1873, and is following the trade of a carpenter. Emma Louisa, born July 23, 1875, married August Huntstein, a laundryman, and resides No. 4618 State Street. Louis Frederick, born February 14, 1877, re- sides with his father.
For his second wife Mr. Senger married Miss
I
600
J. S. BIELFELDT.
Louisa, daughter of Frederick Shweppe, Decem- ber 20, 1884. Mrs. Senger died December 8, 1893, at the age of thirty-five years, her remains being interred in Oakwoods Cemetery. She had three children: George Frederick, born January 17, 1885; Charles Gustav, December 9, 1887; and Elizabeth Annie, March 12, 1889.
May 26, 1895, Mr. Senger was married to Miss Emily Othelia, daughter of Christoph and Bertha (Pipher) Erdman. Mrs. Senger was born in Posen, Prussia, Germany, January 23, 1870, and
came to America in 1891. Her children are: Helen Augusta, born January 31, 1896, and Adolph Albert, October 25, 1897. Mr. Senger is a stanch Republican, and comes of a Protestant family. He is one of the prosperous German- born citizens who help to make up the better part of our city. He has been faithful to the trust reposed in him, and came near losing his life in the discharge of his duties, sustaining serious injuries, whose effects remain to the pres- ent time, and was for a time unable to be about.
JOHN S. BIELFELDT.
OHN SIMON BIELFELDT, who comes of a very old and respected family, is the most prominent citizen of Thornton, Illinois, which town was insignificant until the family of Bielfeldt located there, and the name Thornton is associated with the large breweries owned by the man whose name heads this article. He was born January 26, 1834, in the town of Hemme, Hol- stein, Germany, and is a type of the popular German-American citizen who has adopted this country for his home. His parents were Simon and Katharine (Paulson) Bielfeldt, and his father possesses many of the energetic and sterling qualities which he inherits.
The great-grandfather of Jolin Simon Biel- feldt, Henry Bielfeldt, was a tiller of the soil and lived to the age of ninety-three years. He had two sons, Henry and Simon, and three daugh- ters. The maternal great-grandfather was John Peters, who lived to the advanced age of ninety years. He had four children: John, Cornelius, Katharine and one other whose name is not recorded. J. S. Bielfeldt's maternal grandfather was a carpenter and joiner and died in 1826, at the age of fifty years. His wife died in 1851, aged eighty-eight years. Her children by Mr.
Paulson were: Hermann, Simon, Henry, Kath- arine and Elizabeth. He was twice married, this being his second wife.
Simon Bielfeldt, father of the subject, was born May 1, 1810, a son of Simon and Katrina (Peters) Bielfeldt, in the province of Schleswig, Germany. He learned several trades, but followed that of carpenter and wagon-maker after locating in America. He was married in October, 1831, to Miss Katharine Paulson, daughter of John Paul- son. Mrs. Bielfeldt was born in 1803 and her children were: John Simon, Frederick, Katharine, Elizabeth, and three others. With their chil- dren, Mr. and Mrs. Bielfeldt emigrated from their native land in 1851, and located in Blue Island, where they remained one year. They subsequently removed to Homewood, where they conducted a hotel two years.
In 1857 John Simon Bielfeldt, the son of Simon Bielfeldt, and the oldest of his father's children, located in Thornton and erected a brewery, and started in business in 1858, with a ten barrel kettle. In 1876 he built the building which is on the site at the present time and began a twen- ty barrel business. In 1895 he was enabled to place a fifty barrel kettle, and in 1896 put up an
601
JAMES SKALLERUP.
ice plant, having increased the size of the brew- ery the previous year. He is doing a thriving business, the market being in the surrounding towus, mostly in Blue Island, Lansing, Hege- wisch, Thornton and other towns.
In 1876 he erected a residence, and also owns property on Bowen Avenne and on Thirty-eighth Street, near Langley Avenue. He also possesses residence property on South Chicago Avenne, near One Hundred and Second Street, and in Chicago Heights. January 26, 1858, Mr. Biel- feldt was married to Miss Criscentia, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Ladoux. She was born September 13, 1835, in Canton Berne, Switzer- land. Her death occurred Angust 14, 1895.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Biel- feldt. Elizabeth was born February 18, 1859, and resides with her husband, Henry Templin, in Thornton. Of William Simon further mention appears elsewhere in this volume. Frederick Joseph, born May 22, 1863, married Minnie Mil-
ler and resides at Homewood. Emma died at the age of nine months, and Tena was born Novem- ber 27, 1866. John Bernhardt, born October 13, 1868, resides at home with his parents. Edward died at the age of three years. Dorothea Char- lotte, born January 12, 1873, married Rudolph Schreiber, a machinist, and lives at Roseland. Amelia Mary was born May 15, 1876, and Francis, August 19, 1878.
Mr. Bielfeldt is a Republican, and was honored one term with a seat in the Legislature, but find- ing it took too much of his time, he declined to serve another term. This was in 1877, and he was on Committees on Roads, Bridges and License. His ancestors were German Lutheran. The town of Thornton was settled in 1834, and as has been stated, amounted to next to nothing until the family of Bielfeldt settled there. The brewery has increased the business of the section and the most of its growth has been during the past two years.
JAMES SKALLERUP.
AMES SKALLERUP, who has made a repti- tation for excellent business methods and stong personal qualities in the city of his adoption, was born near Thisted, Denmark, Jann- ary 4, 1858. He is a son of Christian Nielsen and Anna (Jens-daughter) Skallernp. The parents of Christian N. Skallerup were natives of the village of Skallerup, and when the father entered the Danish army he was given the cog- nomen of Skallerup as a surname. Christian N. and Anna Skallerup emigrated to America in 1869, with their family of seven children. The two youngest died soon after their arrival, a son Otto, aged three years, and a daughter, Karen, aged oue year. The other five children are still living. Niels resides in Chicago; Mary is the
wife of Charles K. Foster, of Colesburg, Iowa; James is the next in order of birth; and Christ H. and James Peter are in the commission business in South Water Street, Chicago. The mother of this family died in 1894 in Pine River, Waushara County, Wisconsin, and in spite of his advanced age of seventy-four years the father is now en- gaged in buying and shipping produce at Sey- monr, Wisconsin.
James Skallerup resided on the farm operated by his father until the family emigrated to Amer- ica. He attended school three years and learned the elements of the language of his native land. At the age of ten years he found himself in the rapidly developing city of Chicago, which was to be the scene of his future activities. He was
602
WILLIAM GARBER.
able to supplement his education with a few months in the public school located at the corner of Harrison and Halsted Streets. At the age of twelve years he was apprenticed to a cigar maker, and subsequently worked eighteen years as a journeyman. So well did he attend to the busi- ness which he had chosen that he became very proficient in his art and when, in 1890, the Daily News offered a medal in a contest given at Far- well's Hall, Mr. Skallerup won the prize as the speediest workman.
In 1890 he launched into business for himself, at No. 869 North Whipple Street, where he has built up a successful trade. He erected a con- venient factory at the above number, and has made a reputation as a careful manager. His best known brand is "The Expert."
The subject of this notice has taken an earnest interest in all affairs affecting the laboring classes and has been for many years influential in labor unions. He is a stirring member of the Cigar Makers' Union, which he has served as treasurer and president. In 1889 he was a delegate to the International Cigar Makers' Convention at New York, and again in 1891 at Indianapolis. In 1890 he was president of the Chicago Trade and Labor Assembly, which comprises sixty-eight local unions, and served as grand marshal of the Labor Day parade of that year. In 1891 he was
honored by the Cigar Makers' International Union of the United States and Canada with the office of fourth vice-president.
The same qualities which have made Mr. Skallerup a leader among his associates in labor circles have won for him the respect of his fellow- citizens of all classes. Early in life he became affiliated with the Republican party and has used his customary energy in working for the success of his principles. In 1891 he was elected by his party to the office of county commissioner and filled the post with such credit that he was given the nomination again the next year, only to meet defeat with many others in the Democratic vic- tory of that year. He is ready in the expression of his views and is a prominent member of the Northwest Debating and Improvement Club. He is a member of other societies, including the Valhalla Society, the largest Danish society in America; Dagmar Lodge No. 446, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor; and the North American Union, a fraternal insurance society.
October 1, 1880, Mr. Skallerup was married to Miss Midde Jensen, one of twin sisters born in Abenrade, Schleswig, Germany. This union has been blessed with six children, of whom the three youngest, Harry W., Walter T. and Otto R., are living.
WILLIAM GARBER.
ILLIAM GARBER, the leading merchant of the village of Lyons, is a native of Buf- falo, New York, born on the first day of the year 1848. His parents, Christian and Lucy J. (Raber) Garber, were natives of Switzerland, who emigrated to America previous to 1830 and settled in Buffalo. The father was a tanner by trade, and engaged in the business of making
leather at Buffalo, where both he and his wife ended their days. Their children were named: Frank G., John J., Christian C., Eliza (now Mrs. F. Trankle) and William.
The last-named was but four years old when his parents were taken away. He came to Chicago at the age of eleven years, in 1859. He busied himself at various employments, such as
603
ANDERS LAURSEN.
a boy might undertake, and supported himself from his arrival in this city. From 1860 to 1865 he worked in a grocery store, and for the next six years served the interests of the American Express Company.
From 1871 to 1892 he was employed as travel- ing salesman by Sherman S. Jewett & Company, among the largest manufacturers of stoves in the country. This long term in the service of one concern proves the sterling nature of his charac- ter, as well as his integrity and industry. In the fall of 1892 he embarked in business for himself at Lyons, opening at that time a general store, which he has since conducted successfully. The same qualities which have enabled him to serve others faithfully have contributed to his own suc- cess, and he is recognized as a factor in the busi- ness community.
November 14, 1886, he was married to Miss Jennie, daughter of Ambrose D. and Martha (Wiley) Hayward, of Chicago, formerly of Massa- chusetts. They settled in Chicago in 1856. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Garber are named, in order of birth: Irene, William, George, Ethel and Edna-the last two being twins.
Mr. Garber is an active and useful member of the Masonic brotherhood. He has always taken an intelligent interest in public affairs, and has wielded considerable influence in the local coun- cils of the Republican party. Though he has never sought official honors for himself, he has helped many others to attain success politically. In the way of performing his duty toward his fel- low-townsmen, he has accepted and filled the po- sitions of village trustee and member of the Board of Education in Lyons.
ANDERS LAURSEN.
A NDERS LAURSEN, who adopted Chicago as his home over thirty years ago, was born in Denmark February 12, 1840. In his native land he learned the trade of tailor, and later spent two and one-half years in the Danish army. He was subsequently a revenue officer for a term of three and one-half years. Like many others of his countrymen, he resolved to leave the crowded cities of Europe and seek for- tune in the new and roomy West.
Therefore, severing his connections in Den- mark, he crossed the Atlantic and in a few weeks found himself in the busy young city of Chicago. He soon found employment at his trade, and be- gan learning the language and business customs of the New World, and in a few years began a clothing-cutting business for wholesale clothing houses. In this he found his greatest success, and has continued the work up to the present time.
In 1877 Mr. Laursen erected a residence in what is now Artesian Avenue, and in 1887 built a fine three-story brick building at the corner of Rockwell Street and West North Avenue, where he has since made his home. The lower floor is occupied by a drug store, and portions of the rest are also rented. At the time Mr. Laursen located there very few buildings had been built in that section, the nearest house on the north side of North Avenue being at California Avenue.
The subject of this notice was first married in Denmark, and to this union was born a son, who was christened Loritz C. The latter resides with his father, and is engaged in the tea and coffee business at No. 317 East Division Street. Mr. Laursen was married a second time January 22, 1876, to Martha Ericksen, a native of Sweden.
Being a man of rare social qualities, Mr. Laursen is sought after by all classes and, very
604
B. J. CIGRAND.
naturally, has become identified with various social and benevolent orders. He is a member of Humboldt Park Lodge No. 658, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Dania Lodge No.
2665, Knights of Honor. He is president of the latter, and has held that office once before. He was one of the organizers of the Danish Mutual Aid Association, and was its first president.
B. J. CIGRAND.
B J. CIGRAND, B. S., M. S., D. D. S., al- though still a young man, has crowded into his few years of active life more of mental activity than makes up the life history of many of his fellow-men. He was born October 1, 1866, at Fredonia, Wisconsin, and it was there he re- ceived his early education. Having graduated from the high school, he spent some time on the state survey-his share of the work being usually to attend to the compass. With a desire to help himself to a higher education, he in 1882 entered the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valpa- raiso, Indiana, and, dividing his time between teaching and study, finished his pedagogical course in 1885. He pursued a scientific course the next year, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Sciences, and then taught four terms in the schools of his native town, two of which his principal subject was German.
He had already spent one year in the study of medicine preparatory to taking a course in dental surgery at the Northern Indiana Normal School, and he accordingly entered the dental de- partment of Lake Forest University, from which he was graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1888, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. With a full determination to thoroughly equip himself for his life work he continued his studies in various institutions; was graduated from the Chicago School of Sciences in 1891, the Haskell School of Prosthetics in 1892, and, with a view to rounding out his mental develop- ment, took a non-resident course in Industrial,
Educational and Political Economy in Chicago University in 1892 and 1893.
During part of this time Dr. Cigrand was also engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he met with the success which his educa- tional career seemed to foretell. He has since greatly added to his clientage and numbers among his patrons the best citizens of his section. He has been located in the northwestern part of the city about twelve years, his office being at the corner of North aud Milwaukee Avenues.
Aside from his large practice he has found time to devote to many matters growing out of his rank as one of the professional dentists in the country. In 1892 he was elected to the chair of Prosthetic Dentistry in the American College of Dental Surgery, and received an additional pro- fessorship in metallurgy the following year. He was president of the same institution for several years and conferred the degree of D. D. S. on upwards of three hundred students. He was elected to the chair of Dental Prosthesis in North- western University in 1896, at which time the America College of Dental Surgery became con- solidated with the university.
It is natural that a man of his prominence should be sought after as a member by various organizations and he is a valuable member of several. Among them might be mentioned the Illinois State Dental Society, the Chicago Dental Society, the Odontographic Society, the Hayden Dental Society, Dental Protective Association and the Columbian Dental Club. He is an hon-
ยท
605
JOSEPH WEYER.
orary member of the Southwest Michigan Dental Society and of the Northwestern University Alumni Society. He is a member of the Psi Omega Greek Letter Society of the Northwestern University, of the Masonic fraternity, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the National Union, the Knights of the Maccabees, and was formerly a state officer of the Sons of America. He was a member and held an official position at the Columbian Dental Congress, as one of the editorial staff of the Dental Review, and in 1894 was elected to membership in the National Asso- ciation of Dental Faculties. In 1894 he was instrumental in organizing the Alumni Associa- tion of the Northern Indiana Normal School, and was its first president.
He has been invited at various times to address state dental gatherings and has always acquitted himself with credit. One of the most notable of these conventions was the Dental Congress held at Baltimore in 1898, and has been a clinitian before many dental conventions.
The subject of this notice has been a very pro- lific writer on many subjects, and those on den- tistry appear in the leading journals of the profes- sion. He is the author of a "Compendium of Dentistry" and a "History of Dentistry," both of which are used in dental colleges. He has served as editor of various periodicals, dental and other- wise, among them being the Chicago Argus; the Dental World; Home, School and Nation; The American Standard Magazine; and he is at pres-
ent associate editor of the standard dental publi- cation, the Dental Digest. He has also contrib- uted numerous articles to periodicals and to the Chicago dailies, for which he receives compensa- tion. Among his other literary works are "The Story of the Great Seal of the United States," in two volumes, and containing seven hundred origin- al engravings; "The Genealogy of the Cigrands," and "Historical Queries and Answers."
Dr. Cigrand possesses a commendable public spirit and is especially interested in the education of the youth of the country. He was influential in the organization of the American Flag Day Association, of which he was its first secretary and twice elected president. He has been for a num- ber of years on the list of speakers appointed by the Cook County Memorial Society to address the pupils of the schools on various patriotic occasions. He was also chosen on the committee to award Victor Lawson Medals in the schools during 1896, 1897 and 1898. On1 January 12, 1898, the North- ern Indiana Normal School conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of Science. In 1898 he was elected president of the Illinois Vol- unteer Relief Society, auxiliary to the Army and Navy League of Chicago.
In 1889 Dr. Cigrand was married to Miss Allie Needham Crispe, of Chicago, and is the father of three children: Bernie, Joice and Elroy. The family occupies a magnificent residence, which was erected in 1898 at the northeast corner of Logan Square and Humboldt Boulevard.
JOSEPH WEYER.
OSEPH WEYER, a promising young citizen of Chicago, has lived his entire life in this city. He was born here July 21, 1869, and comes of a well-known and refined family. He has received a good education, and fully appre-
ciates the advantages that have been afforded him. For his ancestry refer to the biography of Frederick Weyer on another page of this work. Joseph Weyer attended the Jones School until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he
606
BEN DUXSON.
resolved to fit himself for a business career and was in Bryant & Stratton's school one year, tak- ing a course in stenography. He subsequently entered the employ of the South Branch Lumber Company. Later Mr. Weyer became private secretary for W. Renshaw, superintendent of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. He proved himself faithful and competent, and his services have ever been compensated accordingly.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.